10 Critical Ways To A Perfectly Food-Safe Kitchen – Food
10 Critical Ways To A Perfectly Food-Safe Kitchen
Terry Nicholls
Food poisoning is related to unsafe food, a dirty kitchen, and dirty kitchen appliances. If you follow some safety rules, food poisoning will never occur.
Your Refrigerator
1. Freezing does NOT kill bacteria; it only controls their growth. Common bacteria grow rapidly at 60
Save Time in the Kitchen. Cook Pasta the way Restaurant Chefs Do – Food
Save Time in the Kitchen. Cook Pasta the way Restaurant Chefs Do
Skip Lombardi
Have you ever wondered how a restaurant can get a dish of pasta to your table in about four minutes when you know it takes ten minutes just to cook the pasta Does the water on their stoves boil at a higher temperature than the water on yours Do they know a trick that you dont As a matter of fact, they do.
They parboil, or partially pre-cook their pasta; so when an order comes in to the kitchen, a cook can turn out a dish of perfectly al dente pasta in a minute or two. Pre-cooking is a worthwhile technique for home cooks, because it enables them to pull together a great sit-down meal in practically no time, no matter how busy their day may have been.
Its also a great method to use when you plan to serve pasta for a crowd. I once catered a party for fifty, where I had a "pasta bar." With the assistance of one helper, and two propane burners, I served fifty portions of freshly cooked pasta al dente without holding anyone up in the buffet line.
To parboil pasta at home, bring a large pot of salted water at least six quarts to the boil. Add one pound of pasta and stir until the pasta wilts in the case of spaghetti or linguine and becomes submerged. When the water returns to a full, rolling boil, cook the pasta for exactly two minutes, then drain, shock in ice water, and drain again. Note: Strand pasta like spaghetti or linguine will be brittle, so handle them with care.
Place the pasta in a container large enough to hold it, then add enough olive oil to just coat each strand. Cover and refrigerate until needed. Parboiled pasta will keep, refrigerated, for four to six hours.
Note: Coating pasta with olive oil flies in the face of conventional wisdom that says, "Never coat pasta with olive oil. The sauce wont adhere to the pasta." Well, conventional wisdom aside, sauce sticks to parboiled pasta like glue. What else can I say
When its time to cook dinner, bring a large pot of salted water to the boil, add the pasta Youll note that the pasta has softened over the time youve had it refrigerated. This is perfectly fine., cook for one or two minutes, then drain in a colander. Be sure to taste after a minute or so. The pasta cooks quickly. Serve as you would any pasta that you had cooked for eight to ten minutes.
Again, this is a great, worthwhile technique to use at home, because you can parboil the pasta at a time of day when youre not juggling three or four other tasks, like preparing a sauce, or a salad. And when its time to prepare the rest of dinner, youll feel more confident in the outcome, because you can focus more of your attention on the other parts of the meal.
Try this technique once, and you could be hooked. You may not be serving fifty or sixty people per night, but youll be cooking just like a chef in a neighborhood Italian restaurant.
About The Author
Skip Lombardi is the author of two cookbooks: "La Cucina dei Poveri: Recipes from my Sicilian Grandparents," and "Almost Italian: Recipes from Americas Little Italys." He has been a Broadway musician, high-school math teacher, software engineer, and a fledgeling blogger. But he has never let any of those pursuits get in the way of his passion for cooking and eating. Visit his Web site to learn more about his cookbooks. http://www.skiplombardi.com or mailto:info@skiplombardi.com.
Thinking of Remodeling Your Kitchen – Home
Thinking of Remodeling Your Kitchen
Mike Yeager
If you like to cook, or even if you just do it from necessity, having a homely, organized, and modern kitchen is probably important to you. Although, the traditionally kitchens are still out there, there are so many new, modern elements that can add luxury and class and convenience to any home. Kitchens have changed with the way humans have changed in the last few years. We have become more demanding of our time and having less of it to spend cooking. Many of us are on the move, always busy, looking for time saving methods. Then, there are those of us who are more interested in having a stylish kitchen, rather then workable. Others, prefer the look and feel of a country kitchen. With so many options out there and so much to consider, it is easy to become frustrated.
Consider your options and your needs when remodeling or even building a kitchen. Your options for kitchen equipment will be the first priority. What do you need and want in your kitchen Do you want state of the art appliances or will ordinary models do Do you want two ovens as opposed to the standard one Dishwasher What type of refrigerator will you want Side by side, drawers under the counter Maybe a larger freezer section Also to consider is the amount of work surface you will need. Maybe a center island would provide extra room for preparations Would you like a breakfast nook Do you want all of your dining area to be in the kitchen or do you have a dining room How many people will you plan to serve on a regular day If you have children, you will want to ensure their safety in regards to appliances and counters.
Yet another thing to consider is space. How much space you have will depict what you have room for. Cabinets and pantry style storage is important as well. Perhaps you like modern style kitchens. An option for space here is to use more of a mobile kitchen. From the entire work surfaces and cooking surfaces to just appliances, many things within the kitchen can be mobile. Manufactures make products that can literally pick up and go at a moments notice.
Once you have your kitchen needs and appliances set, consider the style you are going to decorate it in. Maybe a country kitchen is the look you like. If so, adding some rustic items to your collection would add charm and a relaxed feel. A big farmers table and chairs would be an added touch. Is the space you are working in outdoors Outdoor kitchens are also a big hit these days. Just about any type of appliance and cookware can be made to work outdoors. Grilling is the most thought of outdoor cooking style, but it is far from the only.
There are many stores that specialize in kitchens as well. Kitchens Etc and KITCHENS are two. These places offer an immense amount of options for whatever style you are looking for. Some carry large appliances as well. Small utensils, cookware, even decorations can be found in just about every make and model. You can shop these store online if you cannot find one near you. They make a great way of adding to or helping to remodel any kitchen. Definitely a place to start when looking for ideas of what you want your new kitchen to look like.
About The Author
Mike Yeager
Publisher
http://www.a1-kitchen-cabinets-4u.com/
mjy610@hotmail.com