Cook Yourself Thin Book

Your kitchen needs a good set of kitchen cookware and kitchen tools to be fully utilized. These kitchen essentials offer ease in food preparation, in cooking or baking as well as in kitchen cleanup and organization. Kitchen cookware and tools refer to the things that you usually use and grab as you prepare and cook a simple to special dish in kitchen. The list of kitchen tools vary from one person to another for the list would depend on one’s cooking style and system in using the kitchen. It is so hard following other people’s list of essential kitchen tools or top kitchen tools for it might not work for you. Hence, making your own list of essential kitchen tools is crucial to making your cooking attempts successful. Follow these simple ways on which you can do that.

First, you should read your favorite recipe books. The methods of food preparation and cooking used by your cookbook would dictate which kitchen cookware and tools you should have. For instance, if the recipe book requires thinly sliced vegetables and fillet fish or chicken, you certainly need a good knife to do that. If you are into baking, you should have all the necessary tools such as the measuring cups and spoons, spatula and whiskers to get through the recipe from start to finish.

Second, visualize your cooking style. As you gain cooking experience, you wane on following your cookbook word for word. Eventually, you will try to improvise and simplify the other instructions to suit your preferences. Take note of the usual food preparation and cooking methods you to pick the kitchen tools and kitchen cookware that will work for you. Write down the things that you picture yourself using while cooking. Here is a list of kitchen essentials that you may use as you cook:

- Cookware such as saucepans, saut?ans, stock pot and fry pans – Prep work tools which include mixing bowls, measuring cups and spoons and casserole dishes – Kitchen utensils such as spatula, slotted spoons, tongs, cutting board and rolling pin – Cookie sheet for your French fries and cheesy breads, muffin pan and other baking pans – Knife set which includes some of the special pieces; boning knife, bread knife, carving knife, chef’s knife, paring knife and the Santoku knife – Multiple cutting boards with each piece intended for specific cutting purposes to prevent and avoid cross contamination – Colanders for washing and draining food and vegetables – Kitchen scissors as a great alternative to cutting chicken apart or slicing pizza or snipping herbs into the salad – A portable timer to prevent being enslaved by the stove – Multi-tiered food storage for its space-saving and great kitchen organization features – Non-stick spray for perfect roasting and baking as well as for easy kitchen cookware cleanup

Finally, it’s time to shop. Completing your kitchen tools and gadgets is very much like shopping for a whole new wardrobe to fill your closet. When clothes fill your closet, kitchen cookware and kitchen tools fill your kitchen. Their purpose; to make you a better cook by standing by your side, attending to your needs while keeping everything in the kitchen organized. Go over your list of kitchen tools as well as kitchen cookware and complete everything that is listed there. If budget permits, choosing pieces of better quality is advised. For your kitchen essentials, quality matters for it tells how well and how long that kitchen tool will serve you.

Cooking is the process of using heat to prepare foods for consumption. Many common cooking methods involve the use of oil. Frying is cooking in hot oil, sautéing is cooking in a small amount of oil, stir-frying is a Chinese technique of frying quickly in small amounts of oil in a wok, deep frying is completely submerging the food in large amounts of fat, etc. As people have become more health conscious, preparing foods in oil has become less desirable. With the advent of nonstick cookware, sautéing can be done at lower heats using vegetable broth and fruit juices instead of oil. Stewing refers to cooking slowly in a small amount of liquid in a closed container. Slow stewing tenderizes tough cuts of meat and allows flavors to mingle. Another slow-cooking method is braising, in which meat is first browned, then cooked slowly in a small amount of liquid in a covered pan. Poaching is cooking food in liquid below the boiling point, while steaming is cooking food that has been placed above boiling water. Roasting means baking in hot dry air, generally in an oven. Baking refers to cooking in an oven and differs from roasting mainly in its reference to the type of food cooked-for example, one bakes a cake, but roasts a chicken. Another form called broiling means to cook by direct exposure to heat, while barbecue refers to cooking marinated food by grilling. Dining with others is one of the most common and frequent social activities. It can involve a family dinner, a meal with friends, or form part of a ceremony or celebration, such as a wedding or holiday. More and more people study cooking in schools, watch how-to programs on television, and read specialty magazines and cookbooks. In fact, cookbooks as a group outsell any other kind of book except for religious works. Cooking is the act of preparing food for consumption. It encompasses a vast range of methods, tools and combinations of ingredients to improve the flavor and digestibility of food. It generally requires the selection, measurement and combining of ingredients in an ordered procedure in an effort to achieve the desired result. Constraints on success include the variability of ingredients, ambient conditions, tools and the skill of the person cooking. The diversity of cooking worldwide is a reflection of the myriad nutritional, aesthetic, agricultural, economic, cultural and religious considerations that impact upon it. Cooking frequently, though not always, involves applying heat in order to chemically transform a food, thus changing its flavor, texture, appearance, or nutritional properties. There is archaeological evidence of cooked foodstuffs (both animal and vegetable) in human settlements dating from the earliest known use of fire. While cooking if heating is used, this can disinfect and soften the food depending on temperature, cooking time, and technique used. 4 to 60°C (41 to 140°F) is the “danger zone” in which many food spoilage bacteria thrive, and which must be avoided for safe handling of meat, poultry and dairy products. Refrigeration and freezing do not kill bacteria, but slow their growth.

Mom bought a bunch of stuff at Bobbitt’s Pharmacy. Two days later, she realized she hadn’t been charged for a $3.00 item. We drove to Bobbitt’s with item and receipt in hand, so she could “prove” she hadn’t paid for it. She gave the cashier $3.00 and apologized profusely that she hadn’t realized it sooner. She was concerned for the person who had tried (unsuccessfully) to balance the cash register drawer two days before. The cashier was grateful and a bit surprised. It seems that kind of thing didn’t happen very often.

It isn’t unusual to be told about the importance of honesty – especially if there is a risk of getting caught.

Seeing someone demonstrate honesty – even when there is no chance of getting caught – or even after already “getting away with it” – is a true and powerful gift – one that makes it possible to build rock solid foundations of trust with others.

Mom also taught us about education.

Though her “formal” education ended long before I was born, she never stopped going to school. She took classes at Salem College, Forsyth Tech, The School of the Arts, Wake Forest University, The Reynolda House, The Southeastern Center for Contemporary Arts, and on and on. Even if she wasn’t enrolled in a class, she frequently had a book in her lap.

She didn’t “preach” about education. She just showed us through example that there is so much to learn, so much to explore and that it is fun to do it – for as long as you live.

A powerful gift – even more so now in our rapid world of change.

She taught us that answers and explanations can frequently be found in unexpected places.

In the 6th grade, I ran for Secretary of Brunson Elementary School. It was time to write my campaign speech and I was stuck. No idea what to say.

Knowing how I loved to cook, she said, “Why don’t you look in a cookbook?”

In my “what a dumb, idea, Mom” tone of voice, I said, “Why would I do that?”

But I was desperate, picked up a cookbook and flipped through the pages. Then it hit me! What if I made up a Recipe for a Good Secretary? You know – 2 cups of good handwriting, 2 cups of dependability, etc.

My speech was a success. I won the election.

Even more important – I learned the value of looking in unusual places for answers and explanations – a very helpful tool when working with clients who are in tough situations, have tried everything and need a different perspective.

She also taught the value of encouragement.

At 9 years old, I went to summer camp for the first time.

As I packed my clothes into an Army green footlocker, I was very nervous about this new adventure. Now that I’m a Mom, I realize that she was most likely more nervous than I was!

When I got to camp and opened my locker, I discovered that she had pinned a note to each pair of shorts so that I would get words of support and encouragement from her each day.

Camp was a breeze.

When Mom and Dad came to pick me up, I cried. They thought it was because I didn’t want to go home. There may have been a touch of regret – but more of it was relief and pride that I had “made it”!

Sure – I would have made it without her notes. But having them made it easier. She gave me a little support in making it on my own. She also made me feel appreciated and special.

Thirteen years later, I became a manager. I signed all the paychecks and remembering the power of my Mom’s notes, wrote a personal note on each staff member’s paycheck. For one, it might be a congratulatory note on signing a new contract. For another, it might be a thank you for working extra hours.

On payday, I delivered each person’s check with a verbal and written “thank you.”

Initially the preparation of these personalized paychecks didn’t take very long. As our company grew and our staff grew – the project took three to four hours each pay period – six to eight hours per month – a big chunk of time considering other demands of the job.

After about six years of this, we went to an automated payroll system. The checks were prepared and signed by a computer. They arrived at our office in sealed envelopes and were placed in each person’s mailbox.

It was no longer possible for me to write notes. I was somewhat relieved by being forced to let go of this time-consuming chore and chased away any regret by saying to myself, “They probably didn’t care about those notes anyway.”

A few month’s into this new system – several members of my team let me know how much they missed my notes – saying they always eagerly opened the envelope – anxious to see what I had said “this time”. Some even showed me file folders or drawers or boxes where they kept such notes of encouragement – to refer to in tough times.

It seems that my notes gave them strength and courage to do their jobs without me – more so than I even imagined. The notes also gave them reassurance that they were appreciated – a powerful motivator.

It became very important for me to find another way to give that support and encouragement – a subject for another article.

One more thing about my Mom.

There was never a question that Mom would prefer to have us right by her side. It was also clear that she considered it her job to give us the knowledge and tools needed to “leave the nest”.

In her “mothering” she modeled good management. Not hanging on to manage every little thing – not preventing every little fall or fixing every mistake or solving every problem – but giving each team member the knowledge and tools needed – and then stepping aside – letting them do it – coaching or correcting when necessary – and then stepping aside again.

The sign of a superior manager is that things run smoothly when he or she is not around. It’s the sign of a good Mom, too.

Mom died seventeen years ago. I miss her terribly, yet continue to learn and be supported by her every day.

Just like the notes she left “pinned to my shorts” when I went to camp, she left me in this world with words of encouragement, support and wisdom in the form of visions and memories – some at the front of my mind – some archived in the hard drive somewhere.

All I have to do is slow down, retrieve them and learn from them. It fascinates me the way the same stories and memories bring different lessons as I grow and experience more of life.

Mother’s Day is a good day to retrieve those memories – celebrate them, be grateful for them, learn from them.

Actually – every day is a good day for that.

What about you?  What did you learn from your Mom that has contributed to your success?  Will you share with us?

If you are looking to buy a new hand blender, you should consider investing in a magic bullet blender. Here are 5 reasons why this could be a great choice for you, your home, your family and your pocket.

You Can Create Your Own Homemade Smoothies

Instead of spending lots of money on buying smoothies, you can produce your own very quickly and very easily. Making your own at home means you know exactly what ingredients are in your smoothie. You also have the chance to experiment and try different combinations of your own choosing.

You Can Make Individual Servings

The great thing about using a small hand blender is that you can make individual portion sizes. This is great if you only want to do a single serving so that there is no waste or if you are making two or three different types of smoothies or juices or even cocktails. You can make sure everyone gets exactly what they want.

You Can Save Time With Food Preparation

If you enjoy cooking, the magic bullet blender is great for cutting, chopping, grinding and crushing your ingredients together. This will no doubt help to get your finished meal on the dinner table in a lot less time.

You Can Get Rid Of All Your Other Kitchen Appliances

With one small handy kitchen device you will be able to get rid of all those other appliances that take up valuable space on your kitchen counter. There is no need for the cumbersome food processor, the coffee grinder or your old mixer. Everything can be done with one piece of equipment, with minimal effort and it takes up very little room on your kitchen counter top.

You Get A Handy Cookbook

The magic bullet blender comes with a handy cookbook which gives you lots of helpful ideas and recipes about all the wonderful food you can create in your own kitchen. So these are just a few reasons why I like this time saving device. It is a really handy kitchen aid.

If you are thinking about buying a small hand blender find out a little more about the advantages of the magic bullet blender.

      You are now a career writer…you are working on your first novel, let’s say a western but you also want to bring in some money, recognition and just build your web presence.  This is where last week’s question of “who do I write for?” is answered.  A better question would be to first ask, “What do I want to write about besides the novel?”

     A good way to start would be to pursue one of two avenues, maybe even both:  Article writing and short stories.

     What is article writing?  Article writing is non-fiction writing, focusing on an area that you have some expertise in.  This expertise could come from a hobby, your job, family, or social work/ministry.  Let’s say your hobby is quilting or restoring old cars.  Either of these subjects could create many articles on a variety of subjects pertaining to quilting or car restoration.  Your job as a nurse or ministry working with disabled children would support articles that would be widely read.  Do you love to cook and are always pouring over cookbooks?  Write about it.  Have you raised twins or give care to elderly parents?  Write an article.

     I can suggest three places you can submit articles:

(1)  Free article websites- these are websites that offer articles free of charge for people to use in newsletters, e-zines and other places.  You might hate the thought of giving your work for free but you can get noticed, build your presence and help others through article websites.  An article I wrote on my child graduating and the mixed emotions I experienced was noticed by an e-zine editor and now I am a contributing writing for her on-line magazine.  Google “free article websites” and check guidelines to see what is needed.

(2)  Magazines are always looking for well-written non-fiction articles concerning their subject matter.  Diligently search out what magazine your article will fit best and follow guidelines completely.

(3)   Your own website- if you love quilting or nursing or cookbooks, consider starting a website on the subject and publish your own articles.  You can create a following that will be familiar with your writing and ready to purchase that novel when it is completed.

Short Stories

     Short stories are simply what their name infers-fiction or true to life stories that are short, some people consider a short story less than 5000 words and some less than 10,000 words.  People just beginning to write short stories  would probably be helped by picking a genre such as western, romance or modern day sports story to keep them from being overwhelmed.  My dad always told me to write about what I know.  When I was a teenager, I tried to write a short story about a teenager in Alaska and it didn’t flow well at all.  The fact was I had never been to Alaska and the research wasn’t giving me a comfortable experience of trying to write about it.  I changed the place to my own home state and things went much better.

Three places to submit a short story:

(1)     Literary journals- these are magazine which print short stories and poems exclusively.  They usually publish one to four issues a year and are looking for new writers.  Read the journal of your choice and get a feel for it before submitting work.

(2)     Contests and anthologies- There are many short story contests on the internet; make sure to research for legitimate ones.  Many literary journals have contests and some contests require a small fee to enter.  Anthologies of poetry and short stories are often looking for “new” stories; one example being “Chicken Soup for the Soul.”

(3)     Magazines-many magazines have short story contests or print one to two short stories per issue.  Again, check out the magazine and look over guidelines carefully.

I hope you see that writing articles and short stories can be a great way to build up a following eager to see what you are writing next…next week join us as we discuss building a web presence…your own website…