Archive

Archive for January, 2010

cutting board

January 29th, 2010

There are several kitchen mainstays used for food preparation. Aside from knives, the cutting board provides the chopping platform for cutting pieces of food used for cooking and serving meals. Traditionally, cutting boards were mostly made of hardwoods. But advances in technology have seen the emergence of other cutting boards made of various substances.

But regardless of the type of material used, cutting boards can become a vehicle for food contamination if they are not used and cleaned properly. To ensure safety, wash cutting boards in hot soapy water immediately after use and occasionally sanitize it by adding chlorine to the water. Also, avoid using the same cutting board for raw food and ready-to-serve foods to prevent chances of food poisoning.

CookMan Kitchen Appliances

steak knives

January 29th, 2010

I love to eat. My favorite food bar none is steak. I don’t care what cut as long as it’s steak. The only thing that can keep me down when eating steak is when the steaks are so hard that not even steak knives can cut through it. I traveled all around the world and tasted different steaks. I even have my own rating.

The best steaks in my opinion are the Japanese steaks. Kobe beef or Wagyu are still eons away from other steaks. I ate one in Japan and I swear you won’t need steak knives. You can cut it with a fork. Of course Kobe beef and Wagyu are expensive. My steak cost in excess of $500. The next is a steak place in Singapore. Their beef rib is to die for. After that is a famous Chicago steak place famous for their 2 inch cut meats. Next to that is a small steak place off the free way between San Francisco and LA.

CookMan Kitchen Appliances

baby food grinder

January 26th, 2010

Babies’ gums are very tender. Since they may or may not yet have teeth, chewing on hard or chunky foods can be difficult to these little tots. Process what he eats with a baby food grinder. This will ensure that baby won’t choke on big parts that may even be dangerous for his health.

Baby food grinders grow with your baby. You can make super smooth concoctions for your toothless infant and make chunkier baby food as he sprouts more and more teeth. The slow transition would help prepare him for the day when he will finally have to eat true solid foods.

CookMan Kitchen Appliances

cutlery

January 26th, 2010

In the western way of eating, the fork, spoon and knife are used. These implements, together with other utensils used in preparing, serving and especially eating food is collectively called cutlery. We also refer to it as silverware or tableware. There is a whole range of cutlery sets that we can choose from. The most common is made of stainless steel. On the other end of the spectrum are high end pieces that may be made of real silver or other metals.

Sterling silver cutlery is prized possession that is collected and handed down through generations. They are heavier than the ordinary stainless steel pieces that are for everyday use. They also need some special care to keep it from tarnishing as this is an undesirable quality of sterling silver. Silver is a soft metal and will scratch easily. It is important to use the least abrasive cleaning material available.

CookMan Kitchen Appliances

Lodge cookware

January 13th, 2010

A man named Joseph Lodge began making cast iron cookware in 1896. He began what would be an enduring standard of quality carried on by the next four generations in his family. Today, Lodge cookware still has a privately held metal formula, precision molds and exacting mold wall thickness. These are the results of years of dedication to improving quality that began with the first skillet Joseph made from the first sand mold.

The company remains family-owned and operated. They produce the most extensive selection of quality cast iron goods on the market. Lodge offers an expanded line of cast iron cookware that includes Dutch ovens, cast iron skillets, deep fryers, country kettles, and more. Lodge Cast Iron also has a line of camping cookers and grills with unparalleled quality.

CookMan Cookware

espresso machine

January 13th, 2010

Coffee shops have sprouted everywhere, even in small towns. I have always wanted to put up my own coffee shop. I even attended a seminar on how to put up a coffee shop and how to prepare coffee recipes. I learned that the espresso machine basically does most of the work. If you have a good machine and the right beans, the rest should be easy.

If you decide to put up a coffee machine, you should invest in a good espresso machine. The machine should be able to make more than one cups of coffee so that you can quickly serve a lot of customers. You also need to know how to make coffee drinks. Every coffee shop has their own version of a cappuccino and the better yours, the more people will come for it. You should also have a range of hot and cold coffee flavors.

CookMan Kitchen Appliances

pie pan

January 13th, 2010

Make your own pie crust at home instead of buying ready-made ones. Homemade pie crust will make your pies more delicious. To make, mix 12 ½ cups of white flour, 2 tbsp sugar and ¼ tsp of salt. Add ½ cup cold butter that has been broken into small pieces then pour in 8 tbsp ice water. Mix everything until the dough holds together.

Transfer the dough onto a lightly floured surface, knead then divide in half. Flatter each half into a disk, wrap in saran wrap and chill for half an hour. Roll out a disk on until you make a 12″ diameter circle. Place the circle in a 9″ pie pan and trim any extra dough from the edges. Place in the refrigerator until you are ready to make the pie.

CookMan Bakeware

old mountain cast iron

January 13th, 2010

A major issue about cast iron cookware is the need to pre-season it before it can be used. This is a process of letting oil absorb into the material, producing a blackened non stick surface. The process is simple enough. Wash the cast iron piece with hot soapy water, rinse and dry. Coat completely, inside and out with melted vegetable shortening. Place in a preheated oven for about 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, remove cookware and wipe it almost dry to prevent pooling of shortening or oil. Place back in oven for another 30 minutes.

With old mountain cast iron, you don’t have to go through all this. Just follow simple cleaning instructions and you are ready to go. Of course you have to take care that the seasoning remains intact. This is made possible by avoiding using harsh detergent in cleaning it as this will wash away the seasoning. Just wait for it to cool down and clean with hot water. Spraying a bit of oil on the surface after washing will keep it ready for use.

CookMan Cookware

rice cookers

January 13th, 2010

Feed your family without having to spend hours in front of a hot stove. Take advantage of modern conveniences such as microwaves and crock pots. Using a slow cooker allows you to simply add chosen ingredients and let dinner cook while you attend to other things. Other great kitchen appliances are rice cookers.

Rice is an important part of many cuisines such as Japanese, Chinese, and Indian foods. It is filling, inexpensive and adds texture to a variety of dishes. Using a rice cooker is as simple as mixing rice with the right amount of water and pressing a button to turn on the cooker. You no longer need to watch rice cook as the cooker will automatically turn off by itself.

CookMan Kitchen Appliances

espresso makers

January 12th, 2010

Start saving more money this year by avoiding frequent visits to the coffee shop. Enjoy delicious coffee at home instead. Check out the many types of electric home espresso makers. It works by heating water that has been poured into a reservoir to boiling point. This pressurized water is then used to both steam the milk and brew the espresso.

Many coffee lovers prefer having an espresso maker so they can brew coffee a bit stronger than the drip method. These machines are relatively inexpensive. The units usually include a carafe for espresso collection. They feature simple to use electronics and incorporate just a few switches and a dial for easy operation.

CookMan Kitchen Appliances