Tag: cooking

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by James Adam

Summer Cooking Just Got Easier


Lifestyle

Hello, summer!

This season is a time to try new things, from going cliff jumping to backpacking to just checking out the latest restaurants around town and taking advantage of patio season. The days are long, and the cares are short.

Summer is also a season when people want to eat more fruits and vegetables because they’re fresh, in season, and available for much cheaper prices at the market. A lot of people choose to experiment with fruit and veggie dishes to take advantage of this time of the year.

But we all know the feeling of inviting everyone over for a get-together and having no idea what to make for your guests. Aunt Betty always finds something to complain about with the pasta salad; the kids don’t seem to be fans of anything green. You’ve tried every recipe your grandmother passed down to you, and nothing seems to work with the family.

What do you do next?

No need to worry! You can test run your barbeque dishes before making a large batch of summer goodness. Now is the perfect time to check out a Clean Eating Meal Plan Subscription service.

For every subscription, YOU get to customize your recipe box to fit YOUR lifestyle and dietary restrictions. A Clean Eating Meal Plan Subscription is an awesome way to try new recipes that are focused on healthy, filling meals, rather than trying to restrict the food you eat.

You’re in control and can decide what dishes you want to make through the week with a customizable meal plan, rather than a company choosing what your meals will look like. This means that if you absolutely love one dish, you already have the recipe and the grocery list of what you need to make it at hand, it becomes easy to shop for a large party.

Creating your own food menu is joyful

The absolute beauty of creating your menu is that you can also craft your meals around what you think your family will want to try as well. You can all be introduced to new, exciting, fresh meals without having to spend eons searching Pinterest for some less than mediocre dish. Every meal is tried and true, with a community standing behind each recipe.

You can wow your guests with the food you’ve prepared, and it’s so easy to share the recipe to them! Since it’s already saved to your device, you can simply email it to them, rather than taking the time to write it out on some scrap of paper that they’ll inevitably lose.

And the best part? Every weekly meal plan is designed so you can prep every single one of your meals in one fell swoop and spend only ONE HOUR in the kitchen doing it. That’s right! An entire week of meal prep can be done in just 60 minutes, so you can get back outside and enjoy your summer with the family.

Make your summer meals easier, simpler, and more adventurous this year. Check out our subscription options here!


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by Rania Bellos

5 Most Daunting Cleaning Tasks & How to Tackle Them


Homes

House cleaning is a daunting task that must be done. Even if you have better things to do with your time, cleaning should be an important part of your routine. Because if you don’t want your home to turn into a disaster, you shouldn’t put off housework.

Good thing you can make cleaning tasks easier by following these tips.

1 – Appliances

You use your appliances every single day but often neglect to clean them. They should undergo thorough cleaning once in a while to remove spills, grime and any residue. But before you attempt to clean any of your appliances, make sure to unplug it first.

  • Microwave

The easiest way to clean this appliance is to microwave a safe container that has water. Wait until it boils then let it rest for a few minutes. After the steam loosens the filth, wipe with clean cloth. Add a slice of lemon in the water for extra effect and a fresh aroma.

  • Refrigerator

The space at the back of your fridge gathers gunk, dust and other dirt particles. To facilitate proper cleaning, take note of the following.

  • Pull out the refrigerator and vacuum any dirt you find under or beneath it. Make sure to also mop the floor to remove stains that have been there for a long time.
  • Replace loose gaskets and check your refrigerator manual for replacement parts. With a tighter seal, you can save energy and enjoy a cooler fridge.
  • Wipe the refrigerator gaskets with warm and soapy water. Rinse then dry.
  • Use soapy water or vinegar solutions to clean the internal and external parts of your fridge. Whenever there are spills, make sure to wipe them down before they become harder to clean.
  • Stovetop

If you love cooking, your stovetop may be an area with quite a bit of filth. Here’s how you can clean it up to make it look brand new.

  • Vacuum crumbs or dirt between the counter and stove top.
  • Fill your sink with hot and soapy water. Soak the knobs, burners and hood vents for a few hours then scrub. Repeat the process if there are still filth left.
  • Replace metal drip plates with stains if they’re beyond the aid of steel wool.
  • Toaster

Pull and wash the crumb catcher of your toaster. Shake the machine gently over the sink to remove any food residue.

Make sure that you dry your toaster thoroughly before plugging it back.

2 – Walls

Your walls need cleaning too. But since your house consists mostly of walls, this can be quite a strenuous task. Here’s a simple way to clean your walls to avoid putting it off any longer.

  • Prepare a good microfiber duster or mop and an all-purpose cleaning spray.
  • Pull furniture and items away from the wall you’ll be cleaning. Spray the entire wall with an all-purpose cleaner and then wipe it clean using a microfiber mop. Start from the top then work your way down.

3 – Air Vents and Ducts

When cleaning air vents and flexible ducting, it’s more efficient to do them at the same time.

  • Remove vent covers and soak them in hot water in your bathtub. Add a squirt of grease-cutting detergent. Leave them for a few hours while you move to cleaning the ducts.
  • Use an attachment on your vacuum to clean the dirt and dust from the air ducts.
  • Take out the vent covers from the tub and lay them out to dry. If any covers still have grime, wipe them off using a microfiber cloth.
  • As a final step, spray your air vents and ducts with a dusting spray to prevent dust and dirt build-up.

4 – Blinds

Most people hate cleaning the blinds because it’s such a time-consuming task. Depending on how dirty your blinds are, a good dusting spray is great for removing dust from the surface layer.

Also, make use of a good dusting tool (tall enough to clean the top and bottom) to cut your cleaning time in half.

What you’ll usually find on blinds is dust build-up. Dust and water can create quite a mess. It’s best to start dry when cleaning your blinds.

  • Open the blinds and run your dusting tool along them from the top to bottom. Make sure that you start from the top so that you can remove dust falls as you work your way to the bottom.
  • After dusting all the way down, use a vacuum cleaner attachment to clean dust falls.

5 – Carpets

A half-hearted vacuuming of your carpet isn’t impactful. It may make your carpet look spic and span temporarily but it won’t completely remove the dirt.

Here’s how you can make use of baking soda to ease the cleaning process your carpet.

  • Sprinkle baking soda generously over your carpet.
  • Leave the baking soda powder overnight or at least 30 minutes. This allows the powder to work by consuming carpet odors and softening stains.
  • Once done, use a vacuum to remove the baking soda.

Cleaning is an important chore that you shouldn’t take lightly. The health and safety of your family rely on how you keep your house clean and tidy. If you don’t have the time to do deep cleaning yourself, you can always let a cleaning service to do the work for you.

Remember, any daunting cleaning task can become easy with the right cleaning tools and enough patience.

by Incredible Planet Staff

What To Look For When Buying a Food Processor


Lifestyle

If you want to begin cooking and becoming a better chef, then I recommend that you begin investing in the right equipment. A food processor should be one of the first on your list, which can cut the time and effort of preparing your food. But with the many food processors available out there, it can get quite tricky looking for one that suits your budget and household!

Fortunately, there are ways to help you out. So read on as I show you the different factors and tips to consider when you’re buying a food processor!

Power

Make sure that what you choose has the power to pulse through all the different fruits, vegetables, nuts, or other ingredients you add in. It should be able to handle tough jobs, such as kneading dough, chopping raw vegetables, or shredding cheese. If not, then you’ll end up having a burned out motor and a food processor that won’t work. Go for a motor that has at least 600 watts.

Attachments and Accessories Included

There are some food processors which come with a ton of accessories to make your machine even more useful. Some come with different work bowls or blades, others have discs that grate and slice, or attachment with speed settings that enable you to use your processor as a juicer or kneader. But before you spend more for the extra accessories, consider whether you’ll be using it or not.

Brand and Price

Yes, the brand does matter because with trusted names and companies, you’ll be assured something built to perform effectively. I would recommend that you look into reviews like what babes has to offer, starting out with reputable brands with more positive, legitimate reviews from babys. But you should also take account your budget, as processors can range between $50 to $200! Choose a good brand with features you need and the efficient performance.

Blades

An effective food processor should have different types of strong blades, which will be able to do different things such as grind, puree, chop, or others! But look into the material as well, which should be made out of quality stainless steel to chop through hard ingredients like nuts or vegetables. Not only that but they are extremely durable as well!

Size and Capacity

There are different-sized food processors, some of them accommodating three cups or a whopping 20 cups! The latter is best for restaurant kitchens or for those usually cooking in big batches at home.

The size would mostly depend on the number of people you accommodate when you cook your meals. For those who usually cook for a family of four, a ten-cup processor will work just fine.

Functions and Features

Most food processors usually come with one motor speed with a small tube opening to add ingredients while you process food. I recommend that you get processors that have a pulse button for small bursts of power, as well as a smooth touch pad for controls. Consider the price and need if you’re looking at processors with more speed controls.

Warranties

The standard warranty for most home appliances is one year, with some manufacturers offering extended warranties, specifically for the motor. Quality food processors offer longer warranties on certain parts as well, some of which going for up to five years. They may be a bit more expensive than others but their warranties make it a good deal.

Can You Juice?

If you want to juice with your food processor then there are separate attachments called juice extractors or juicers. You can invest in these for better juicing if you want quality juice or opt to find a processor that will be able to juice when needed. Again, consider what controls you need!

Dishwasher Safe and Solid Body?

Lastly, you’ll want to make sure that your food processor has the solid body built to last! I recommend that you go for processors that have solid bodies and wider bases for stability. Additionally, it should also be dishwasher safe for effective and easy cleaning rather than do it manually!

Wrapping It Up

Through investing in the right kitchen equipment, you will be able to achieve better quality dishes and quicker time preparing! There’s no more need to cut or chop on your own anymore. But that is, if you choose the right one for YOU!

 

I hope that this article on what to look for when buying a food processor helped you find out what you need to invest in for your kitchen. So don’t wait any longer and make the right investments today!

If you have any questions or would like to share your tips and experiences on purchasing a food processor then comment down below. I would love to hear what you have to think.

by Incredible Planet Staff

10 Essential Kitchen Tools for Beginner Cooks


Lifestyle

When you are getting started as a beginner cook, you might be confused about which kitchen tools are essential for getting the job done. Kitchen stores are full of single-purpose gadgets that promise to solve your problems, but these tools are generally a waste of money.

Instead, spend your money on the kitchen basics that will help you with any recipe from fried fish to birthday cake. This is not an exhaustive list, but it will give you a boost in stocking your kitchen, so you can cook with confidence.

  1. Spatulas
    A good set of spatulas helps with nearly every recipe. Start with turners, a type of spatula made for flipping and serving food. Choose turners made to be used in high heat situations, with sturdy metal or silicone. These are great for flipping fish in the pan or for scraping the bottom of a pan.
    Use rubber or silicone spatulas for scraping mixing bowls and jars. These are especially great for baking, where they can be used for mixing soft batters.
  1. Knives

    It is better to spend more to get a few essential knives than to buy a cheap set of knives. Some beginning chefs may be intimidated by using “real” kitchen knives, thinking that they are more dangerous, but more people cut themselves on dull knives than on sharp ones.
    A chef’s knife, a paring knife, and a bread knife are three essentials. Add more over time as your cooking skills develop. When you are shopping, look at the best knives reviewed.
  1. Cutting Boards
    Along with knives, cutting boards are one of the kitchen tools you will use the most often. It pays to have a variety of cutting boards in different materials and sizes. Many people like to have cutting boards that are reserved for meat and poultry, using the rest for vegetables and fruits. Sturdy acrylic cutting boards can go in the dishwasher to be sanitized.
  1. Measuring Cups and Spoons
    Every chef needs a good set of measuring cups and spoons. Get measuring cups for dry ingredients and wet ingredients. Glass or plastic measuring cups are best for wet ingredients – these have measurements marked on the outside. A graduated set of measuring cups is best for dry ingredients. Measuring spoons should go from 1/8 teaspoon up to 1 tablespoon. They should be well marked and easy to use.
  1. Timer

    While many ovens and microwaves come with timers, it pays to have a reliable stand-alone timer. Timers should be easy to set and reset and should have an audible tone to tell you when food is ready. Digital kitchen timers are a good purchase, but for short time periods, some people still like to use the traditional wind-up timer with a knob.
  1. Instant-Read thermometer
    If you want to cook meat or poultry, an instant-read thermometer is a great purchase. Simply cooking meat with a timer often means that your food will be undercooked or overcooked. An instant-read thermometer works by simply sticking the thermometer directly in the food. Check meat at its thickest point.
  1. Locking Tongs
    One kitchen item that you will use as often as you use knives is a set of locking tongs. Tongs are good for picking up small and delicate foods as well as helping you wrangle large cuts of meat. Choose tongs with scalloped points and non-slip grips. Locking tongs are a kitchen item you will use almost daily, so be sure you pick the best quality possible.
  1. Graters

    A box grater helps you grate large quantities of cheese or vegetables. This is great for recipes like macaroni and cheese. Grating cheese yourself presents a huge cost savings when compared to pre-grated cheese. A quality box grater will get the job done quickly.A microplane grater is good for grating citrus peel and chocolate. You might find that you don’t use the microplane grater as often as the box grater, but both are good to have in the kitchen.
  1. Cast-Iron Skillet
    An essential pan to have in your kitchen is a cast-iron skillet. This is a versatile tool that helps you cook everything from frittatas to cornbread. You can even deep fry food in a cast-iron skillet. Cast-iron skillets heat evenly and keep their temperature constant, making them perfect for any frying or sautéing task. Taking care of a cast-iron skillet can be time-consuming, but their advantages outweigh the inconvenience.
  1. Enameled Dutch Oven
    An enameled Dutch oven is a great companion to the cast-iron skillet. They heat evenly and keep their temperature as well as a cast-iron pan. They are perfect for soups and stews, and you can also deep-fry in them. In a pinch, you can use them as a stockpot for boiling water. The enameled surface makes them much easier to clean than cast-iron.Use our ten essential kitchen tools to help you get started on the road to be an accomplished cook. Buying good quality utensils will save you money in the long run and will eliminate frustration from using subpar items.
by Incredible Planet Staff

Tips For Spending The Afternoon With a Child


Lifestyle

Virtually every little child loves to spend time with his parents, wants to play with them, watch a cartoon with them on the TV, eat, sleep and read books together… But unfortunately, as modern parents, we usually don’t have too much time for it. So it’s important that the moments we do spend with our children, is in fact considered quality time. Only this way can we strengthen our parent-child bond which is so important for mutual trust, respect and love.

Below you’ll find some basic ideas to spend a truly nice afternoon with your own kid away from a computer and TV. Without need to travel far away, spend a lot of money or any other great effort. What is needed here is just your goodwill and some of your time.

  1. Play together

But if you think about computer games or PlayStation then stop right away! That’s too absorbing to call it truly quality time. So when we say “play” you should rather think more about a sport or classic outdoor & indoor games.

Most of the children love to play such games but the problem is that in modern times, not all of them know the rules of “Hide & seek” for example. So teach them! It’s a really great opportunity to exercise your bodies, brains and have some laugh together. Just take a ball and go outside to play a football game. One on one will do. Bad weather? It’s also not a big deal. You can play many games indoors. For example “Hide & seek” mentioned above. Just use your imagination and pick games which will be interesting for all of you. It’s also a good idea to invite your neighbor and his kids to play together. The more participants the better! But just two of you is also fine.

  1. Coloring pages

Your kid isn’t a very sporty type? Well, that’s really not a big problem. Of course, you shouldn’t force him to do what he doesn’t like in his free time. There are several other ideas to spend this time together in a nice way. One of them is trying coloring pages. This is one of the classic forms of entertainment for children, which bravely resists the passing of time. And its advantages are numerous. Coloring is very cheap, doesn’t require any special skills or equipment. It’s also easy to start and most of the children just love it. The first step should be finding several coloring pages that really suits your child. There’s a lot of free coloring books on the internet. Then you can color pictures together or separately but be close to each other and talk. Mute your mobile phone. You don’t want to disrupt this rare moment of calm and tranquility, do you?

  1. Books

Reading is a lot of fun but you should know exactly how to do it right. To make this activity more attractive try to change your voice according to the changing action in the book, make funny faces or simple characterizations. Make it right and your child will love reading! He’ll most probably look forward to it every day. For example, before going to sleep. But don’t read any scary or stressful stories. Rather ones with a lot of interesting adventures, some hilarious twists of action and a happy ending.

  1. Build a castle

Sounds bold?! Don’t worry too much. We don’t mean here anything very spectacular or expensive. Your own, very unique castle can be built of chairs, blankets, sticks, foil, sand, snow etc. Your imagination plays a vital role here. Your child will surely be delighted seeing that his own parent made a true castle for him! Even if its quality is objectively very questionable. This is really not what this is all about. What is important is your initiative and a shared adventure!

  1. Cook

Before you say that you’re not too good cooker let me ask you a question. You can do scrambled eggs, right? Well add to it hot chocolate and that’s more than enough to be a true master chief in the eyes of your child. Just let your children help a little during meal preparation. They usually are not very helpful in the kitchen but who cares! Just enjoy your the time spent together. And a flour from the floor can always be cleaned later.

As you can see spending quality time with children doesn’t have to require a lot of money or fuel. Just try any of mentioned activities or figure out your own. Life is too short to spend most of it at work, away from your relatives. I know that it’s easier to say than do but let’s at least try hard.

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by Robert Allam

12 Must-Have Features Of A Custom Luxury Home Kitchen


Homes

Kitchens are the most popular room to remodel in individually designed homes. Today, a lot goes into designing and building a custom luxury kitchen. You must keep practicality in mind, as well as pay attention to the look and feel of the space.

Now is the time to make your vision for your kitchen a reality. Maximize this essential home space with the help of the following must-have features that will take your kitchen to its peak functional and aesthetic form.

1. Double Ovens

Having a double oven will make your kitchen look stylish. The main oven can be used without requiring you to bend over with difficulty, while the secondary oven is used for additional baking and plate warming.

By separating the ovens from the burners, you can also install a nice cooktop which can open up new floor-plan possibilities.

2. Island Cooktop

A kitchen cooktop will provide countertop burners. If it is built into a huge island, you can have wide workspaces and some room for other provisions underneath, like a warming drawer. You can have a downdraft exhaust system installed to avoid a view-blocking range hood above it, and in some cases commercial hood cleaning can save you buying a new hood exhaust. Long cabinets can also act as tower bars.

3. Coffee Bar

Enjoy having a special area just for making your favorite drinks. Functional and stylish kitchen coffee stations can stock everything you need in one location, such as coffee cups and condiments.

 An area like this will provide functionality away from the main meal preparation and cooking area.

4. Built-In Refrigerator

Built-ins will keep the look integrated and smooth. Shallow refrigerators line up perfectly with lower cabinets. They have articulating hinges so they open fully. Moreover, customized panels blend your freezer and refrigerator into its neighboring cabinetry, and this can help boost the overall aesthetic appeal of your kitchen.

5. Enclosed Trash and Recycling

A trash and recycling area is a feature that you’ll use on a daily basis, and you will love the convenience it offers. However, this can take up floor space and attract pests. Interior designers thus recommend keeping it hidden. For instance, you can include compartments for your waste containers in custom cabinets.

Also, you can choose to put it in a pantry, either under the sink or in a pull-out drawer. Another tip is to consider if you’re already following a perfect diet or not, since it can go a long way to reducing leftovers if the food is so good it gets eaten straight away!

6. Divided Storage

Organize your kitchen utensils with internal drawer dividers. Built-in dividers will also provide a cleaner, more finished look to space as compared to organizers bought separately and placed inside the drawer.

7. Dishwasher Drawers

Dishwasher drawers are better options than the regular dishwasher or a full-sized dishwasher. Opt for dishwashers that have the look of a typical drawer that can be pulled out for fast and easy sink-side cleanup.

These appliances are efficient if you only need to clean few dishes. Install one in a basement game room, near a meal prep area, or in a butler’s pantry.

8. On-Counter Appliance Garage

This is quite similar to a garage for cars. It houses all the appliances that you often use but don’t want to keep in plain sight. An on-counter appliance garage has a roll-up aluminum door that closes to hide the blender or juicer, leaving a counter space in front.

9. Deep Drawers

Interior designers recommend having a deep drawer beside the kitchen range so you can have easy access to big cooking pans and pots. Typical drawers are limited in their size by the cabinet housing them. Deep drawers offer marvelous utility.

10. Proper Lighting

Consider having layers of light and multiple fixtures to cover each area in your kitchen. Use hanging lights to cover the island with ample lighting. Recessed ceiling lights can be used to shine down on work surfaces. For proper task lighting on each counter-top, install under-cabinet lights.

The kitchen deserves a clever lighting plan that will address the room’s different roles. Make sure your kitchen is a welcoming place for your family and friends to gather with excellent overall lighting. The helpful Trendsetter blog emphasizes that a well-lit kitchen typically displays three types of light: accent, task, and ambient.

11. Sustainable Flooring

The kitchen is one of the areas in a home that gets the most traffic. This also requires frequent cleaning. An ideal flooring option for your kitchen is ceramic tile. This material offers an unmatched combination of durability, maintenance, and good aesthetics.

12. Pot Filler

Finally, a pot filler is a smart convenience you will love if you enjoy cooking. This has a swing-out faucet on a jointed arm, which is mounted near or over the stove. You can use pot fillers not just for cooking but also for getting hot water for coffee or tea, making gravy, and adding water to soups.

The sky’s the limit when outfitting a custom luxury kitchen. Since the kitchen is often the main activity hub in your home, it is considered the most popular room to modify to fit the whole household’s needs. So if you are ready to build your luxury kitchen and quite unsure about where to start, get in touch with reputable luxury home builders who can provide expert help.