PajMon Information Blog

Posts Tagged ‘cooking’

For many many years, going back to the ancient Greeks and Romans, people have used presses to extract olive oil from the olive, the press is used to separate the olive oil and vegetation water from the solid body of the olive. Once these two have been separated, a decanter is used to separate the oil from the water. In able to gain a fine olive oil, there is a process that must be used before the olive is pressed.

First of all the olives should be harvested and the bad olives removed from the bunch. The olives are then put under a special stone called millstone or in some areas a ground stone. The olives should stay under the stone for just over a half an hour to turn them into a paste, also to guarantee that the paste collects the right aromas and smell that come from the fruit enzymes and forms into the olive oil drops.

Once this process is over and the olives are converted into a paste, the past is spread onto fiber disks. Once fully and evenly spread onto the disks the paste is placed into the press machine. The press will then apply the necessary pressure needed to compact the past and percolate the oil forms and the water in the paste. Water is placed in the sides of the press to simplify the process of percolation.

When the pressing is finished the oil and water must be separated to achieve a pure olive oil. With the traditional process both the oil and the water a put into a decanter but there is another process that is a lot quicker than the decanter. The faster process is one called vertical centrifuge and is used to complete the whole process of oil and water separation a lot faster.

Once the extraction process has been fully completed, the cleaning process begins. This process has to be done thoroughly because if not the remaining past will begin to ferment on the millstones and disks causing other oils to get contaminated and change the taste of the oil completely. Every time new oil is to be made, a complete check that the press and millstones are completely clean must be done.

Using this traditional method of making olive oil has some advantages, these include that the olives are very well ground and easily pomaced. But the complication at the time of cleaning, the hours of extra manual labor and the time it takes to wait after the harvesting to the time of pressing the olives to make the oil can be classed as disadvantages when using this method, and because of this people have invented other methods that save time.

Mexico offers a unique cuisine that is delicious and healthy. Ancestral home to the Mayan, Aztec and Zapotec civilizations, Mexico has a long history in cultivating food. Native staples included avocados, sweet potatoes, corn, beans, tomatoes, peppers, and a variety of squash. For meat, they hunted deer, turkey, quail, and rabbit. Chocolate is a native plant in this area, and was prepared as a beverage for the Aztec royalty.

When the Spanish arrived in Mexico, they brought their favorite foods with them. Pork, beef, cheese, and cream were added and combined with the native foods. The Spanish brought sheep, chickens, wheat, and sugar. Three hundred years later when Spain finally gave up control of Mexico, their influence on Mexican food was well established.

Corn is a major part of Mexican meals. Cornmeal, known as masa, is made into a dough that can be formed into tortillas, empanadas, or tamales. Corn is also added to soups, stews, and other dishes. Tortillas made of flour are more common in northern Mexico. Chili peppers are also a main part of the Mexican diet. Jalapenos, poblano, and Serrano chilies are just a few of the common choices in the Mexican household.

Beans also provide a good source of protein in Mexican meals. Pinto beans are found in the north, while black beans are popular in the Yucatan peninsula. There are many different varieties used throughout Mexico to make dishes like frijoles (refried beans).

There are many regional favorites found in the typical Mexican meal. Beef is used frequently in the north, as it is hot and dry, with good grazing grounds. The Pacific coast is known for coffee production and its corn stew. The Gulf coast offers a wide variety of seafood and fish dishes, tropical fruits and vegetables. Central Mexico has the most distinctive Spanish influence, and the Yucatan people commonly eat seafood, shellfish, eggs, corn, and black beans. Herbs are used liberally throughout Mexico.

If you want to try making an authentic Mexican meal at home, there are many recipes online to try. Mexican rice recipe are easy and delicious. They are a good dish to start out with. Once you have tried making rice (arroz in Mexico), you will find yourself adding it to your menu frequently.

Try something new and experiment. Adding a different bean can change the texture or flavor to a dish. Add tortillas or refried beans as a side dish, or throw together some fresh seafood and citrus juice to make a cooling ceviche on a hot day. Mexican food is great for kids to make, too. Let them make their own quesadillas or tacos.

For something new, try a Mexican breakfast. In the summer, a simple bowl of mixed tropical fruit is an authentic choice. On a colder day, try some scrambled eggs mixed with salsa. Fill a tortilla with a fried egg, tomatoes, ham, chilies, and cheese and serve it up with some refried beans for a taste you will find exciting.

What kind of pancakes do you like to make? Basic, plain pancakes are delicious when they are fluffy and golden brown and they are smothered in butter and drizzled with syrup. You could also make banana, chocolate, or blueberry pancakes, or you could make silver dollar pancakes.

How are silver dollar pancakes different from regular pancakes? They actually aren’t that different, usually. They are essentially just basic pancakes that are much smaller. They are smaller than the usual pancakes that are about the width of a cantaloupe in size.

Silver dollar pancakes are about the size of the width of an apple or so. Think of silver dollars from the sea, that’s how big they are. How do you make them? Most people just use a plain pancake recipe and make tiny pancakes.

Do you want to make silver dollar pancakes that are tiny and delicious? Here is how to do it very easily. The first step is to look for a good basic pancake recipe. If you have recipe you use all the time, use that. Otherwise, look for a great one on the web or ask around.

You could also use a recipe that is made for silver dollar pancakes. Like I already said, some of these are just basic pancakes, but others are different. Some are completely different by still have a great texture and flavor.

Look over your recipe and start making pancakes. Combine the dry and wet ingredients in separate bowls and then pour the wet over the dry and stir to combine. Gently stir it, don’t beat, or else you will end up with tough pancakes.

Once the batter is mixed and ready, get the griddle ready. Heat it to about medium high heat and use oil or nonstick cooking spray to lightly grease it. Now pour the batter onto the pan a little at a time to form tiny pancakes.

You won’t need to cook them longer than a minute, if that, because they are smaller. Just cook them until they are golden brown then flip and brown on the other side. Serve them hot with butter, syrup, and a tall glass of milk.

Dropping a few unwanted pounds is really a matter of common sense. For example, you can’t eat 1/2 of a grapefruit and a bowl of oatmeal for breakfast, then reward yourself with a greasy, fast-food burger for lunch. Sorry, but the breakfast doesn’t cancel out the burger. Healthier living is a mindset. So if losing a little flab is high on the list, consider these 10 common-sense approaches:

1. Fast food is a no-no. Anything processed should be avoided as much as possible. While you might think they taste good, food and drinks such as candy, ice cream, Coke, Pepsi, cake, etc. often contain hidden sugar and fat.

2. Be more active. Get the blood pumping. Dust off the bike, swim, take a stroll around the block — anything that will burn some calories and help to curb your appetite. If you’re not sure how much you can take, ask your doctor.

3. Be conscious of your fat and carb intake. Obviously, if both of these are high, you’re going to gain weight. You want to find the right balance based on your daily calorie intake. Cut back slightly on one until you see the results you want. You can’t cut both out completely. That’s not healthy either. You need to maintain certain fats in your diet to help break down others.

4. Cut out the fat. Read the labels. If you’re a meat-eater, choose low-fat varieties of fish, skinless chicken, reduced-fat ground turkey, etc. When I cook chicken, I use my kitchen shears and cut off all visible fat. A pain in the neck? Yes. But my health is worth the effort.

5. Scale back on the sweets. As I said earlier, a piece of cake or pie every so often certainly won’t do major damage. But if you have a sweet tooth, you have to discipline yourself to limit how much sugar you’re ingesting.

6. Be mindful of your alcohol consumption. Apart from the other obvious risks, most alcohols are sugar-heavy.

7. Eat smaller meals more often. This will tend to curb your appetite a little more. If you starve yourself all day, you tend to overeat at dinner. Not a good thing, especially when dinner is generally the highest-calorie meal of the day.

8. Occupy your time. Get yourself a hobby. If you have something that will divert your attention, you’ll have less time to think about food.

9. Switch to healthy foods. Eat raw fruits and vegetables as often as possible. Avoid fried and processed foods. Natural foods will provide you with the fat-burning qualities you need.

10. Be disciplined enough to push yourself away from the table. If you begin to eat a lower-fat diet, you’ll find that you’ll be less satisfied because you’re not ingesting as many of the things that made you full before. If you have to snack periodically, choose foods that are lower in fat and/or carbs.

It may be difficult to make the adjustment at first. But if you stick with it, you’ll see results. Just don’t do anything drastic at first. Slowly begin to tweak your diet and see what works best for you.

Is rice healthy for you? Many people think that starchy foods like breads, rice and pasta are fattening but in reality they are not. If you add fats like margarine, oil, mayonnaise, cheese sauce or gravy to them, you will be adding many extra calories. Grain products such as bread, cereal, rice, and pasta are good for you as they are important sources of carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals.

Rice is the principal food in Asia and most rice is eaten in the country where it is grown and it is the main reason why Asian diets are so low in saturated fat. The finished product of paddy rice is a long black grain that you can find on most grocery store shelves. Asians view rice as the focus of the meal while Americans tend to view rice as a side dish to a meat-centered diet.

Cooking rice is simple; all you have to do is to simmer it until the rice is cooked soft. If you don’t have a rice cooker, you can always use an oven or a pot. Mill-husked rice is more expensive than wholly unpolished rice. You can clearly notice the difference between paddy rice and wild rice during the cooking process.

When you remove the outer inedible husk from a rice grain, you will get the brown rice. Brown rice has a light tan coating which is very nutritious and high in fiber and it is quite chewy and taste like nut. The fiber in brown rice is very useful for controlling the blood sugar level so anyone with diabetes problem should treat brown rice as a staple.

The fiber in brown rice can also help to protect you against colon cancer since fiber binds to cancer-causing chemicals, keeping them away from the cells lining the colon, plus it can help normalize bowel function, reducing constipation. While traditional brown rice requires about 45 minutes of cooking time, quick-fix brown rice is now available that takes only 10 minutes to prepare.

Are your kids tired of clowns, pinatas, and pin the tail on the donkey? If you are fresh out of party ideas, don’t worry, there is always breakfast. Huh? Yes, breakfast. You can have a pancake party! Throwing a pancake party is something different that your child’s friends probably haven’t had. It is fun and unique and very simple! Keep reading to find out how easy it is to throw a pancake bash.

First come up with some kind of theme. You can make shapes, color the pancakes, etc. Try to be as creative as you can. For example, you can make it a chocolate theme and make everything chocolate, or you can make a fruit theme if you don’t want to give them so much sugar. Get lots of different toppings to make it more creative.

Next, you will need to purchase your ingredients and supplies. Wait until you know how many kids will be coming before you do this so that you have enough but not too much. Make a list and use a recipe to make sure you don’t forget anything. You will need basic ingredients such as flour, eggs, and milk, but also make sure you have enough supplies for the kids to use such as spatulas, spoons, bowls, and pans.

Of course, you will also need serving supplies such as utensils, plates, napkins, and cups. Use fun colorful tablecloth designs or colors that will match what you are doing. For example, you can do a tropical theme with colorful fruit and tropical decorations and use a lot of fruit with the pancakes. If you are coloring the pancakes, use bright colored tablecloths, cups, plates, and napkins.

Start with a good plan. If you have no plan, the kids will no it and take advantage of you. Come up with a schedule and stick with it. Set up stations for each thing or have the pancakes made ahead of time and just have the kids decorate their own pancakes.

This is a perfect idea that you can personalize. Have the kids draw their names in batter or in icing on the pancakes. Let them each use different colors. Have available many different toppings and let them do whatever they want. Make sure to warn them when you think some foods wont go well together so that they don’t waste food because it tastes bad. You can even have party favors such as baking utensils or cookies.

Don’t fret too much about the specifics of the party. Make sure the kids are having fun and you’ve met your goal. be creative and watch the kids and maybe you’ll have a little fun too!

Baby showers are not complete without sweets! Desserts, fruit, and pastries add sweetness and charm to special events. Sweets are an important part of a baby shower, so do not forget to include them in your menu. If you have reservations in a restaurant, the restaurant will probably offer a dessert menu from which you can choose your selection of sweets and post-meal indulgences.

If you are hosting the baby shower at a banquet hall or at someones home, the dessert menu is completely up to you to decide on. You can make desserts fun, sweet, and baby themed to match your event. If there is a specific theme that you are focusing on, like “Pink Tea,” design your dessert menu around your theme. Popular sweets for baby showers are pastries, clairs, truffles, fruits, chocolates, and the ever-classic cake.

Pastries and clairs can be bought or baked. Visit your local bakery to find out about any special deals and offers that they can offer for a large quantity of pastries purchased. You can also find some good recipes online or in a cookbook, and bake the pastries yourself. A great alternative to this is to buy frozen pastries at your local grocery store, or better yet, at a wholesale grocery store. These are affordable and scrumptiously delicious. B.J.s and Costco supermarkets have amazing clairs that nobody will ever know were bought frozen.

Trufas are a Latin American version of truffles. Truffles are not necessarily made out of chocolate in Hispanic countries, but can be made with coconut, vanilla, and other flavors. Two popular flavors in Latin America are coconut and cocoa-flavored truffles. An easy recipe for truffles calls for one can of sweetened condensed milk, a box of crushed vanilla wafer cookies, and a half of a teaspoon of vanilla extract. Cocoa, sweetened shredded coconut, and sprinkles are good add-ons.

Crush the cookies until you end up purely with cookie crumbs. Slowly add the sweetened condensed milk until you reach the desire consistency of tough clay. Add the vanilla flavoring along with the chosen flavor (cocoa, coconut, etc.). Use you own taste to decide how much cocoa or coconut to use. Roll into small, round truffles. As a finishing touch, roll the coconut truffles around in shredded coconut, and roll the cocoa truffles in cocoa. Sprinkles are optional.

Fruits and dip is a healthy and fresh option for a sweet treat. Serve apple slices, strawberries, pineapple, grapes, and melon alongside fruit dip, and you have got a fabulous and nutritious treat! Popular choices for fruit dip are caramel, chocolate, and yogurt dip.

Chocolate is a must-have for any baby shower. Small chocolates can be bought in bulk and served on tiny cupcake cups, for an elegant touch. You can also buy pastel-colored white chocolate (sold in bags in most craft stores), melt it, and pour the melted chocolate into small baby-themed molds (also can be found at a craft store). Refrigerate, and voila: delicate and adorable little chocolates!

Whichever sweets you decide to include in your menu, and whether or not you decide to make or buy them, do not forget about the cake! Whether you order it and have it made especially for your shower, or make it yourself, make sure that you are 100% satisfied with its outcome and that it ties into your baby shower theme.