Good
Showing posts with label kitchen. Show all posts
Showing posts with label kitchen. Show all posts
Cooking dinner can be a real chore, especially if it’s for a family. So much food to make, and so little time to do it all in. Let alone learning new recipes. When you’re crunched for time and don’t know what to make, you’ll often end up eating junk food, or going out to a restaurant and spending more than you mean to. Fixing dinner only gets harder if you don’t have much in terms of skills in the kitchen on top of it all. Luckily, we don’t live in the 1860s. Cooking today can be made much simpler and faster by having the right kitchen gadgets for making life easier.
One of the fastest things you can make in the kitchen with the most options is a sandwich, but that can get pretty boring pretty fast. There are about a million options for this though, and one way to add new life to your diet is to get a panini maker! These awesome kitchen gadgets add whole new life to your simple sandwich, and make you more excited to take a few steps to make fancier ones. A panini maker is a grill that heats both on top and on bottom. The idea is to take a sandwich (commonly filled with meat and cheese, but the possibilities are endless) and butter (or lightly brush oil) on the outside of the bread and grill it in a few minutes on the press. Voila! A fancy new meal option. You can also use your press to grill things like asparagus, tomatoes, or tofu.
A more complicated and expensive purchase, but one you can do a lot more with, is a food processor. This is definitely a kitchen gadget that will make your life easier. Cooking is a lot of tedious jobs-chopping, slicing, dicing, grinding, mincing, pureeing, and kneading doughs. These are all things a food processor can take care of. So if you’re going to make a nice soup full of different ingredients, you can just switch the blades in your processor and take care of all these tasks with one machine, in just a few minutes. You can also use this to grind up your coffee beans, and replace your old coffee grinder. This saves you time and hassle.
There are a lot of advantages to life with all of the fancy gadgets available to us in this day and age. It’s easy to overlook technology in the kitchen and only think about how it affects your entertainment, but today’s technology can make cooking so much more fun. These kitchen gadgets are making life easier, and making the kitchen a less intimidating room of your home.
There is a lot out there for easy to make food. For exciting sandwiches check out Panini Makers, and to make cooking amazing things simple, check out food processors, like the bullet food processor.
Lately it seems as if the news is filled with horror stories of food-borne illnesses. We’re all familiar with the E. Coli that can lurk in undercooked meat, salmonella in chicken and now even spinach and peanuts are dangerous. These foods are common in our kitchens, and many others are possible carriers of harmful germs.
We can fight back by keeping a healthy kitchen. Food preparation surfaces and cooking utensils must be disinfected regularly to stop cross-contamination. Soap and water alone will not kill germs; they may only spread the germs around. Only a disinfectant can kill harmful bacteria and viruses that may be hiding in your food.
With these “best practices” for kitchen cleaning and maintenance we can prevent our families from getting sick.
1.Isolate potentially dangerous foods, such as raw meat, seafood and chicken, from other foods. Clean and disinfect all surfaces and utensils with which they came in contact before preparing another food. That includes your hands!
2.Clean cooking surfaces, counters, and tabletops with a disinfecting cleaner. Handy single-use disinfecting wipes are good to keep within reach.
3.Use a solution of bleach and water (1 tablespoon of bleach per gallon of water) to wash down refrigerators, freezers, and other appliances that come into contact with food. However, don’t use this on steel or aluminum surfaces. This diluted bleach solution can also be used to disinfect cutting boards, pots and pans, and cooking utensils.
4.Wooden cutting boards should first be washed in detergent, and then soaked for several minutes in a stronger bleach solution (3 tablespoons of bleach per gallon of water.
5.If you use sponges, run them through the upper rack of the dishwasher. Or, better yet, replace them with disinfecting wipes to wipe down surfaces.
6.Use a multi-purpose spray cleaner to remove stains on walls, floors and cabinets.
7.If you have grouted kitchen tiles, use a bleach gel pen to remove grout stains.
Being physically disabled can certainly present its share of daily challenges in the struggle for independence, especially in the kitchen. Cooking can be a daunting task. However, with the right game plan anything is possible. Here’s a bit of helpful advice to consider if you plan to create a beautifully accessible kitchen.
Where to Start
Putting pencil to paper is a wonderful place to start and with a good, reliable, company like Mike’s Country Kitchens & Woodworking, a custom cabinet design company for kitchens and bathrooms, you’ll really be able to bring your ideas to life. They have done beautiful work and their willingness to accommodate their clients is definitely a plus. They have a unique team of designers with years of experience who offer personal consultations where you can bring in their ideas in and work together with a designer to breathe new life into your kitchen designs.
Counter and Storage Accessibility
This will be the key factor in any kitchen built for someone with disabilities. There are, of course, the standard low work stations and cut away counters which allow a wheelchair to easily pull up to. Don’t be afraid of these designs. There are some great ways to make these styles function well and look beautiful. For instances, instead of just empty space under a cut away counter you could add a rolling cart or island to fit inside the space. This way it will offer addition accessible storage and provide another easy to reach counter top that can be placed and used anywhere in the kitchen. Lower pull-out drawers with a flat surface inside can also add more counter space. Narrow, pull-out, pantry drawers, with accessibility from both sides, offers an easy-to-reach storage system. Another amazing innovation is an overhead cabinet with a small lift motor which lowers the entire cabinet and pushes it forward for extremely easy access of those, high, hard to reach cabinets.
Safer Appliance Ideas
Nowadays, standard appliances lend themselves to easier accessibility. Something as simple as lowering a microwave or sink can be helpful. But for someone who enjoys actual cooking there are stoves whose doors easily open sideways, like a cabinet door. This will allow for the chef to ride right up to the front of the stove, instead of stretching from the side. Another thing taken for granted might be the ability to look directly at what you’re cooking on a stove top. Those in wheelchairs are much lower and can have a hard time seeing into a pot on the stove. A simple solution for this could be a hung magnified mirror over the stove. Stoves with knobs and setting on the front instead of the back panel is another thing to consider, as someone in a wheelchair will have a difficult time reaching over scolding hot pots and pans.
A Quick Bite for Inspiration
Building a disability friendly kitchen automatically lends itself to creating an incredibly unique look and layout that most kitchens lack. Houzz.com has gathers some design ideas for accessible kitchens. Let the inspirational juices flow. Alternatively, you can also take a look at local home improvement stores, such as Lowe’s, for other inspiration and cabinetry ideas.
With so much at your fingertips the possibilities are simply endless. With the right design team and enough imagination physical limitations will be a thing of past in a beautifully accessible kitchen.
The post Beautifully Accessible Kitchen Ideas for Those with Special Needs appeared first on .
Encouraging children to help out in the kitchen is a great idea. More productive than watching TV; an afternoon cooking or baking teaches valuable life skills, encourages healthy eating and provides opportunities for parents and kids to have fun together.
Of course, there are dangers in the kitchen such as sharp knives, hot stoves and electrical equipment but with a little care and common sense; there is no reason why children cannot enjoy time in the kitchen safely.
For very young children and toddlers,extra care should be taken. It’s estimated that over 40,000 children under the age of five require hospital treatment each year following a kitchen incident. Young children should therefore never be left in the kitchen unaccompanied. It only takes a split second to pull over a hot pan or pick up a sharp implement. However, if you take the time to explain the risks to children as they are growing up, by the time they are teenagers they should be confident in the kitchen and able to prepare a meal by themselves.
Here are a few simple precautions you can take to ensure they stay safe:
- Use the back rings of the hob and turn pan handles to the back so that little hands can’t grab them.
- Put childproof locks on drawers or cupboards to stop children finding knives, glassware, plastic bags and chemicals.
- Keep hot drinks away from counter edges.
- Keep matches out of sight and have a fire blanket to hand for emergencies.
- Know where your first aid kit is in case accidents do occur.
- Keep treats out of sight. Many parents put chocolates and biscuits on top shelves so that children cannot reach them. However, if children can still see the goodies, they may be tempted to climb onto worktops or try and create their own ‘step ladder’ to reach them.
- Ensure alcohol is out of sight and locked away.
- Make sure children always wear shoes or slippers in the kitchen to protect their feet in case knives, hot food or glass falls on the floor.
As children get older, you can allow them to help out more with food preparation. Start by giving them easy tasks that are safe such as stirring cake mixes or weighing out ingredients. As they gain confidence, show them other techniques. Let them watch you completing more complex tasks such as using knives or heating ingredients, and show how you ensure the steps are carried out safely. You can also take the opportunity to explain things like the importance of washing hands, keeping cooked and raw foods separate, and how to follow a recipe.
Make sure older children know what to do in the event of an accident. Show them where the first aid kit is and make sure they know what to do if a fire breaks out.
To find easy recipes that you can make with your children, visit: www.greatgrubclub.com
Written by Jenny Catton
Discovering that your child has a food allergy is never easy. And if they have multiple allergies or a severe allergy to certain ingredients, it will probably mean making lots of changes to how you arrange your kitchen. You will want to consider everything from how you store food and prepare meals to how you plan family mealtimes. But once you get into a routine, dealing with an allergy doesn’t have to be stressful.
Common food allergies include allergies to dairy, gluten, eggs, nuts, fish and soy. It might not be practical to remove these from your kitchen entirely – particularly if you have other children at home. However, there are a number of simple things you can do in the kitchen to make managing food allergies easier.
A common concernfor parents ishow to avoid cross-contamination between different food types. This might sound like a challenge but with a little planning and clever organisation, you can protect your child from allergens whilst maintaining normal mealtimes and eating habits for the whole family.
Here are seven ways you can use your kitchen to help manage food allergies:
Clear the Clutter
Reduce the clutter on your worktops to an absolute minimum. This way you’ll be able to clearly see what ingredients and utensils you are using, making it easier to avoid cross-contamination. Less clutter also means less hidden spaces for food crumbs to lurk.
Create an Allergy-friendly Cupboard
Designate a cupboard, fridge shelf or storage space specifically for the person with the allergies. Here you can store everyday ingredients plus utensils, crockery and cutlery that is just for them.
Introduce Zones at the Dining Table
Ensure the allergy sufferer always sits at the same space at the dining table. This means even if you serve a meal before everyone has arrived at the table, you’ll know each person is going to get the right plate. It also makes cleaning the table at the end of a meal easier as you can clean their area first to avoid cross-contamination from dishcloths.
Keep Cleaning Products to Hand
Keep your cleaning products on your counter top so that they are easy to reach if you need them while preparing or serving a meal.
Know Where Emergency Medication Is
People often store allergy medication in handbags or bathrooms but it might be better to store it in the kitchen or dining room as this is usually where an allergic reaction is most likely to occur.
Use your Freezer
It can be frustrating for children to see their siblings arrive home with unexpected treats that they are not allowed to share so keep a stash of suitable treats in your freezer which you can quickly take out and defrost so that they don’t need to miss out.
Pin Up the Rules
If a food allergy has recently been diagnosed, it may take a while to adjust to a new routine. Use a noticeboard in your kitchen to keep a visible list of what is – and what’s not, allowed.
Remember, every individual is different so always ask your doctor or health professional for specific advice when organising your kitchen and dining routines.
For more information about food allergies, visit: www.allergyuk.org
Written by Jenny Catton
Herbs are a cook’s best friend – an essential ingredient for adding flavour and interest to a whole host of savoury dishes, drinks and even desserts. Even if you don’t have a garden, you can still create your own kitchen herb garden on a sunny windowsill. Alternatively, you could grow different herbs in pots around your back door – making it really easy to grab a handful of a particular herb whilst you are cooking.
Many different herbs will grow successfully on a kitchen windowsill so experiment with different varieties. You could try basil and rosemary for Mediterranean dishes whilst mint will add zing to a potato salad or lamb dish, and then there’s the great all-rounder – parsley which is particularly good with fish dishes.
Of course, if you don’t have the time or patience to wait for your own herbs to grow – a wide selection can be found in most large supermarkets. These can be expensive though so you’ll want to make them last as long as possible. One clever way to make your herbs last longer is by freezing them. Simply take a few leaves from each herb and pop into an ice-cube tray – then add water and freeze. When you next need a particular herb in a sauce, casserole or soup, just pop the ice cube straight into the hot dish.
An alternative way to preserve fresh herbs is by drying them. The process is simple – just take a bunch of your herb and tie a piece of string or kitchen twine around it to create a loop. Then hang the herb bunch upside down in a spot that’s cool and dry. Within ten days, the herbs should be dry and crisp. You can now pick the leaves from the stems and place in a jar. Seal tightly and remember to add a label with the name of the herb and the date. If kept in a cool, dark place, your dried herbs should keep their flavour for around six months. You will find that less delicate herbs such as thyme, oregano, sage and rosemary are particularly well suited to drying.
If you find you have an abundance of a particular herb, you might want to find new ways to use it other than in your cooking. Well, many kitchen herbs are also known for their medicinal properties. Basil for example is said to have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, mint can be used to aid digestion, whilst rosemary is thought to be a great anti-oxidant.
You could also use herbs to fragrance your kitchen – rosemary and mint are both strongly scented so will add a beautiful smell to your room.
If you enjoy flavoured olive oils – why not have a go at making your own. Simply place a few sprigs of your herb into a bottle of oil – thyme and rosemary work particularly well. Over time the oil will absorb the flavour of the herb.
For a refreshing and cheap alternative to traditional tea – try putting a few mint leaves in a teapot – cover with boiling water and leave to infuse for a few minutes before enjoying a delicious cup of mint tea.
For more advice about growing herbs in your kitchen, visit: www.rhs.org.uk
Written by Jenny Catton
If you’re trying to be more ecologically aware at home, then the kitchen is a good place to start. Of all the rooms in your house, the kitchen is perhaps the one where you can make the most changes. From electrical equipment to detergents, there are plenty of ways to turn your kitchen from an eco-disaster zone into a planet-friendly space.
Here are some ideas:
Oven
Avoid heating up the oven just for one small dish. Instead, cook several things at once to make the most of the heat created.
Fridge
Fridges are most energy-efficient when they are full or nearly full. So if your fridge is looking a bit bear try filling empty shelves with cans or bottles that you might have stored elsewhere. Alternatively, fill pitchers of water to fill the space and you’ll have easy access to a cold glass of water anytime.
Dishwasher
Only turn your dishwasher on once it is full. Running half loads is incredibly inefficient. Check that your detergent is eco-friendly and when buying a new dishwasher (or washing machine), choose an energy-efficient model.
Recycling
Pretty much all kitchen waste from tin cans to plastic bottles can now be recycled. Keep recycling bins to hand so that you remember to recycle as much as possible. If you have a garden, you might want to invest in a mini composter for your fruit and vegetable peelings.
For more ways to reduce your carbon footprint around the home, visit carbonfootprint.com
Written by Jenny Catton
Everyone wants their kitchen to smell fresh. And a kitchen that smells clean is bound to be healthier than one full of nasty whiffs. After all, bad smells are usually a sign of dirt or germs – not something you would want in your kitchen.
Keeping a kitchen smelling clean isn’t always easy though and one of the biggest causes of unpleasant aromas is your kitchen bin. Used several times a day, bins can quickly become a breeding ground for germs and in turn, bad smells. Here are some tips for keeping your bin smelling fresh and hygienically clean:
Empty Regularly
The easiest way to stop food waste from rotting in your kitchen bin is to empty it regularly. You may find it’s better to use a smaller bin that you empty daily, rather than a large one.
Line the Bin
You probably already use a bin liner but try also lining the bottom of your bin with cardboard or newspapers as these will absorb any liquids that seep out of your bin liner and can be easily replaced each time you empty the bin.
Remember to Wash
Give your bin a thorough wash at least once a week with hot water and detergent.
Keep Out of the Heat
Make sure your bin is in a cool spot – away from sunlight or heat from your cooker.
Clean Rubbish Only
Rinse out cans and cartons before putting them in the bin to minimise waste and smells. If you have something particularly pongy such as fish skin or pet food, put these straight into your outdoor bin.
For more advice about kitchen hygiene, visit: www.kitchenadvice.co.uk
If you share your home with a pet, it’s probably impractical to ban them from the kitchen completely. In fact many pet owners find that the most suitable place to keep their pet’s food dishes and sleeping basket is in the kitchen. But of course, pets aren’t famous for their impeccable table manners so how can you ensure that your pet and the health of your kitchen can exist in harmony?
Here are a few simple steps you can take to ensure that having a pet in the kitchen doesn’t have to be unhygienic.
Keep food out of reach
Even if your pet can’t see food, if they can smell it they will try to get to it so always keep food in a sealed container. If you have a particularly clever pet that has worked out how to open the fridge or cupboards, you might want to invest in safety catches to stop them helping themselves to food whilst you are out.
Don’t allow pets onto counter tops
You may think that your cat keeps herself clean but grubby paws can harbour all sorts of bugs and germs so never allow your cat to walk on your counter tops. If you find it impossible to keep your cat off the surfaces, keep a disinfectant spray close to hand and use before preparing food.
Keep bins well sealed
If your dog has a tendency to rummage through your rubbish looking for a snack, you may need to invest in a sturdy bin that he cannot get into – or alternatively keep your bin outside. If you’ve been cooking something particularly tempting such as chicken, it’s a good idea to put the waste straight into the outdoor bin to keep enticing smells at bay.
Don’t feed pets at the dinner table
It can be confusing for pets if you sometimes tell them off for trying to steal food but then give them treats at other times. It’s therefore best to never feed them at the dinner table so that they learn that the only place they are allowed to eat is at their own food bowl.
Keep your pet’s food area clean
When the weather is warm, pet food bowls can be a magnet for flies so try to encourage your pet to eat all of their food when it is served, rather than snacking throughout the day. If your pet is a messy eater, try popping their food bowls onto a wipe clean placemat to help keep things tidier.
Muddy paws
Whether your dog has been for a walk, or your cat has been playing in the garden, muddy paws on the kitchen floor can be a big problem. You can help by putting a large mat by the door which the pet can walk over to remove the worst of the dirt – however, the only way to ensure clean floors is to mop regularly.
For more information about pet hygiene, visit: www.pdsa.org.uk
For many students, food is simply fuel – a quick snack grabbed from the corner shop before lectures, or a late night kebab after a night out. But student food doesn’t have to revolve around quick fixes and junk food. Nor does it have to be toast and pot noodles. With a little planning, you can kit out a kitchen so that students can eat healthily, quickly and cheaply. So whether you’re soon to become a student, or are a parent helping your own children prepare for their first few years away from home, here are some things to consider:
Size Matters
Most student kitchens are small and you may be sharing your space with several other people, so before you start buying lots of equipment and ingredients, find out how much space you will have. If space is limited choose equipment that is multi-purpose – for example mini casserole dishes that can double up as serving bowls or weighing scales that include a mixing bowl.
Communal Cooking
It can be tempting to buy useful kitchen kit as a gift for a student who is leaving home for the first time but it’s often better to wait a week or two and find out what their housemates already have. After all, there is little point six students turning up on day one, each carrying a brand new slow cooker but with no can opener between them. Communal cooking is a great way to keep costs down and it’s sociable too. You can make better use of supermarket two-for-one deals and buy in bulk without worrying about ingredients going off before you’ve had chance to use them.
Keep it Simple
Between classes and socialising, there probably won’t be much time for cooking so buy ingredients and equipment that help create quick meals. If you keep a few packets of rice, pasta and tins of tuna and tomatoes in the cupboard, you’ll always have the basis of a quick and easy meal. If you’re never sure exactly where you will be at mealtimes, it’s wise to buy tinned goods rather than fresh ingredients – then you don’t need to worry about food going mouldy before you’ve used it.
Get your Five-a-Day
When you are studying and partying hard, looking after your diet can sometimes fall to the wayside but it’s really important to stay healthy when at university. Common illnesses get passed around really easily and so you’ll need to keep your immune system in tip-top condition and that means getting your 5-a-day. Invest in a cheap blender and you can make tasty soups and smoothies that are cheap and nutritious. Alternatively, buy a slow cooker for creating huge casseroles – it’s the perfect way to use cheap but healthy ingredients to feed a crowd of hungry students.
Everyday Essentials
Here’s a quick list of the everyday essentials every student kitchen needs:
- A small and a large saucepan
- Frying pan
- Measuring jug
- Mixing bowl
- Wooden spoon and spatula
- Sieve
- Chopping board
- Can opener
- Cheese grater
- A general purpose kitchen knife
…and of course most important of all, a corkscrew!
Once you’ve kitted out your student kitchen, you just need to decide what to cook. Take a look at www.studentrecipes.com for inspiration.
A survey conducted by insurance company Direct Line has discovered that 65% of British people own expensive gadgets that they never use. In fact, they have found that there could be as many as 123 million bread makers, coffee machines, food processers and other kitchen devices sitting at the back of cupboards.
Of course, when we first buy costly kitchen gadgets, we’re full of good intentions, believing that we will use them regularly. We may even justify the high price by telling ourselves that the gadgets will save time, improve our culinary skills or make us healthier. But all too often, after just a couple of uses, our sparkly new gadgets are consigned to life at the back of the cupboard and never see the light of day again.
So how can we avoid spending money on gadgets that won’t get used? Well the obvious answer is don’t allow yourself to be tempted by clever marketing that makes you buy gadgets you simply don’t need. For example, a food processor is a great investment if you cook all of your meals from scratch and make lots of dishes that require fiddly preparation. However if you only chop a few vegetables each week, then a good quality kitchen knife is all you need and of course, the added benefit is that it’s much cheaper and will take up less space in your kitchen.
Equally, a coffee machine might seem like a great buy – particularly if you love your daily dose of caffeine. But if your mornings are spent rushing to get to work, then you’ll probably find you stick to instant coffee as it’s so much quicker.
If you already have a cupboard full of gadgets that are not being used, why not take them out, give them a clean and remind yourself why you bought them in the first place. Put them on display and you’re more likely to use them. Here are five common gadgets that are worth putting to good use once more:
- Juicer – homemade juice is delicious and a great way to get one of your five-a-day. Make juicing part of your daily routine for maximum health benefits.
- Breadmaker – homemade bread tastes so much better than supermarket loaves and avoids the preservatives and additives often found in processed bread. Always keep a supply of ingredients in your kitchen cupboard and you’ll be able to make delicious loaves each week.
- Slow cooker – a slow cooker is ideal for making affordable and nutritious meals. Set your slow cooker going in the morning and you’ll have a tasty meal waiting for you when you get home from work.
- Ice-cream maker – if you own an ice-cream maker but don’t use it because you think ice-cream is unhealthy, try making low-calorie frozen yogurt and sorbets instead. Show the kids how to use the ice-cream maker and it’s sure to get plenty of use!
- Hand blender – if you have a hand blender that’s tucked away in a cupboard, it’s easy to forget about it. Keep it on the kitchen counter instead and it will always be to hand for making delicious soups and smoothies from left-over fruit and vegetables.
If you’re looking for new recipe ideas to help you get the most of your kitchen gadgets, visit: www.bbcgoodfood.com
They may look harmless but research has shown that kitchen sponges could harbour up to 200,000 times more bacteria than a toilet seat. This is because the moist crevices inside a sponge are the perfect breeding ground for bacteria. In addition, they tend to be left close to the sink where they stay damp for hours. That’s not good news for anyone that uses a sponge to do the dishes or to wipe down kitchen worktops.
Many of us choose to use the little brightly coloured kitchen sponges because they are cheap and effective. However, if you are using the sponges to wash the dishes, wipe down counter tops and clean your table; you could be spreading bacteria across all of your kitchen surfaces – including food preparation areas. This could lead to stomach upsets or food poisoning. It’s important therefore to know how to use sponges safely.
Keep it clean
Remember to clean your sponge each time you use it. There are a few ways you can do this. One way to ensure your sponge is germ-free is to give it a quick blast in the microwave before using it. Simply wet the sponge and then pop it into the microwave for two minutes to kill the bacteria. However, to avoid fires, you should never microwave a dry sponge or one containing metal. Also, to avoid scolds, make sure you let the sponge cool before handling.
If you don’t want to use a microwave to clean your sponge, you can soak it in a bleach solution or for a natural alternative to bleach, make a solution using white vinegar and water.
Discard used sponges regularly
Because they are cheap and can be bought in large multi-packs, it’s easy to swap a used sponge for a new one on a regular basis. So remember to discard used sponges every few days. If your sponge becomes smelly or looks grimy, throw it away immediately. If you’re worried about the environmental impact of discarding old sponges, you may wish to look at using traditional re-usable dishcloths instead. But like sponges, dishcloths can also harbour germs so remember to wash them regularly on a high temperature to keep them clean.
Leave to dry
A damp sponge is more likely to contain harmful germs than a dry one as bacteria thrives in damp conditions so don’t leave your sponge lying in the washing up bowl or on a damp countertop. Instead, wash away any loose food after use, wring out the sponge and leave to air in a dry location – if you can peg your sponge up or even rest it on one end, it will dry more quickly.
Stick to one job
It’s best to just use your sponge for one specific task such as washing the dishes. Then have a different cloth for wiping down worktops and tables. This helps prevent the spread of bacteria from one surface to another.
For more tips on how to get everyday items clean: visit: www.howtocleanstuff.net
Dining out is, without a doubt, one of life’s great perks, but doing so regularly can lead to not just expense but also bad health. If you’re trying to maintain a toned physique, spending every day at your favourite restaurant isn’t the best way to achieve it. The good news though is that you can recreate some of your favourite dining experiences at home, for a fraction of the cost and calories, and still enjoy the restaurant feel. Restaurants really aren’t your friends when it comes to a healthy diet. You can make things better by opting to have your dressing on the side or your chicken grilled rather than fried, but the real importance lies in the nutritional value in what you’re eating. There’s no substitution for a home cooked meal, where you can really make healthier choices across the board. And once you get into the habit of cooking at home you’ll want to do it more and more! The kitchen is a place where you can really get into a creative mind-set – the world is your oyster with regards to home cooking, so get to work creating some delicious and healthy meals for you and your family. The first step towards creating a good environment for cooking is to ensure that everything is clean and organised. With a little bit of planning and strategy, you can capture the quality and the aesthetics of a really great restaurant kitchen – all conducive to a healthy cooking environment! You also need to ensure that your kitchen is immaculate in terms of cleanliness so as to keep the kitchen a place you want to cook regularly. This means keeping work surfaces clean and uncluttered, keeping the fridge clean on a daily basis and checking the dates on food so as to avoid wasting too many ingredients.
You should have one designated shelf in the fridge for uncooked meats, a drawer for vegetables and a shelf for dairy produce, so that everything remains uncontaminated. After you’ve cooked a meal, you should wipe down the stove top, the worktops and anywhere else you’ve handled the ingredients to remove the risk of bacteria forming. Also, you need to maintain your motivation to eat healthily. Create lists for your week for each day of meals so you know what you’re making when, and create a collage of phrases and photos to maintain your motivation to achieve a healthy body – believe it or not, it does actually work! Organise your kitchen so that you keep all of your unprocessed foods together and away from any processed foods that the rest of your family may be buying. This will limit your temptation to snack on things you shouldn’t be. Keep a large bowl filled with fresh fruits next to the blender so you’ll be motivated to make your morning smoothies and juices. Put your grains and measurable foods in clear jars so that you can see them clearly and will be encouraged to use them in your dishes. You should also keep an accurate inventory of the food you have so you can plan your weekly shop properly. These tips will help you to create a really inviting place to cook and eat, so that you can avoid dashing out for takeaways and last-minute meals at restaurants instead of cooking a family meal. So start cooking today and see your wellbeing improve by the second!
Did you know that that anti-aging remedies you are looking for could be in your kitchen cupboards? If you want to improve your natural wellness and wellbeing, you don’t have to be shelling out thousands of pounds on surgery or buying the most expensive products on the shelves at the beauty store, you just have to have a bit of a rummage in your very own kitchen.
Some items are common knowledge – such as cucumber slices over the eyes to help reduce their puffiness, but there are a number of other products that you may not be aware of that can do just as good a job (if not better) than any store-bought product.
Oatmeal is one such product. Colloidal oatmeal – or regular oatmeal popped in a blender and made into a powder – can be put in the bath to help relieve eczema, a condition that causes dry and itchy skin. It can also be used to treat other itchy skin conditions, such as chicken pox.
It’s best for mild cases of eczema only and is not medicinal, so if your eczema is severe it’s best to talk to your doctor and get something stronger. For mild cases, though, it can replace topical anti-itch creams such as hydrocortisone.
Yoghurt is also a fantastic product and can help to cleanse and smooth your complexion. Try making up a face mask using honey and plain yoghurt and then applying it straight onto your skin. Leave for around 15 – 20 minutes and then rinse off again. This can be used instead of all kinds of cleansing or skin conditioning treatments and shop bought face masks.
Avocado is also a great product, and can be used to condition or strengthen your hair. Mix it with mayonnaise or use it on its own to make your hair soft and beautifully shiny.
Your kitchen is more than a place to prepare food; it’s a creative space at the centre of family wellness. If you want to take care of your family’s wellbeing by cooking and eating well, the first thing you need to do is sort out your kitchen wellness. According to natural personal chef and holistic nutritionist Marni Wasserman, ‘The kitchen should really be the centre point of your home.’ So, how do you give your kitchen a healthy makeover?
1. Let your light shine: In many homes, spacious, well-lit kitchens are where everyone congregates and connects, so make sure you let in as much natural light as possible, even if that just means opening the blinds. Wasserman details, ‘Connecting with nature will inspire your food choices. We installed a skylight, which brightens my kitchen when it’s sunny and provides a cosy, comfortable feeling when it’s raining.’
2. Go au naturel: Natural, earthy tones like greens, browns and yellows make for good bases colours when you’re repainting your kitchen. Wasserman notes, ‘I always say, the more natural the better, but it’s really about finding a colour palette that makes you feel good.’ If natural is a bit too neutral for you, spice up your room with bright artwork or a funky-patterned glass backsplash. Another good way to add some colour and freshness to the room is to create a beautiful and simple centrepiece of a glass bowl filled with fresh and exciting fruits. Don’t just go for the staple apples and oranges but branch out and keep replenishing the bowl with whatever colourful fruits are in season. Not only will this liven up the kitchen, but it will give you lots of exciting options when you’re cooking or in the mood for a snack.
3. Always go for glass: If you want to keep your counters organised and your ingredients fresh, but still have a gorgeous kitchen, glass bottles, vases and mason jars are just the thing you need. Wasserman suggests, ‘Fill an oversize vase with lemons to give your room some colour.’ Another good idea is to store nuts, grains, seeds and beans in glass jars and display them on your countertop in an organised fashion, as this will make them more tempting to eat. However, while you should have these things on display, it’s important to keep them out of direct light.
4. Plant an indoor garden: Bringing a little bit of the outdoors to the indoors is always invigorating in any room, but why stop at fresh flowers (which will soon be not-so fresh) when you can instead plant a small indoor herb garden? Fresh herbs will infuse your kitchen with natural aromas and ‘potted basil and oregano will liven up your windowsills and add flavour to your favourite recipes,’ says Wasserman.
5. Update your appliances and cooking utensils: Inspire your inner chef with some shiny new toys to play with. Wasserman recommends, ‘When choosing a stove, a gas burner is ideal. It looks great and the quality of cooking is much better.’ However, you don’t have to install a new oven if yours is working perfectly well (why would you?) Instead, try updating your cooking tools to match the vibe of the room. If you have earthy tones in your kitchen, displaying bamboo utensils in a matching basket works really well. If, on the other hand, black and silver is more your style, mount a brushed stainless-steel utensil rack near your stove. Wasserman adds, ‘Titanium pots and pans are the nicest looking and best quality for cooking.’
Your kitchen may be slowly killing you, but not in the way you think. While you may predict this article is about to warn you about the wellness dangers of radon or gas links, your wellbeing is actually at risk from kindness and proximity.
According to Neil Izenberg, founder of KidsHealth.org and a paediatrician at Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, ‘When my 1840 Philadelphia row house was built for its seafaring owners, the kitchen was in the basement — like every other home on the block. If the family wanted a hot meal, someone had to tramp downstairs and stoke up the fire. Fire and smoke inhalation were chief among the many health hazards the 19th-century kitchen presented. In an era without refrigeration, food poisoning was a constant danger. Home-preserved foods filled in dietary gaps, but if stored improperly botulism became a real — and deadly — risk.’
Now, however, we’re less at risk to these hazards, so you don’t have to worry about kitchen wellness anymore, right? Izenberg notes, ‘Our kitchens, like our girths, have grown substantially, in terms of size and of function. They’ve become part of expansive entertainment complexes in our homes. A recent survey by the National Association of Home Builders reports that three out of four new-home buyers want their kitchen and family room to be a combined space. That makes sense. People like to hang out and socialise in their kitchens. Now great spaces are full of wonderful, convenient devices — with super-size refrigerators, stoves that could service a restaurant and large enough cabinets to store provisions for a small army. Even our dinner plates are bigger than they used to be. Comfy chairs, computer stations and a large-screen TV — virtual necessities — round out the picture.’
It’s a nice picture, but it perhaps covers up a dark underbelly; bigger kitchens mean bigger people. With all that storage for food, all those appliances and all those nice places to sit and eat together, there’s nothing but opportunity to sit and eat together. As a wellness writer, one tip I often hand out is to avoid “family-style dining” as this can cause you to keep dipping into a host of dishes on the table, without really realising how much you’re eating. However, if the dining room and the kitchen are one room, how can you help but keep going back for more – it’s all right there! Izenberg comments that his plans for his new kitchen will give him a similar problem of convenience: ‘Soon I’ll be able to amble (or, more likely, roll) a mere five feet from my kitchen counter stool to my couch to watch Chopped, Top Chef or Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. The refrigerator, pantry and containers of food will remain alluringly in sight (and all beautifully lighted, I might add). I won’t even have to leave the room during a commercial. And why would I leave at all? The kitchen has Wi-Fi.’
He continues, ‘Many of the safety issues of yesterday’s kitchens are gone. No one in my family is likely to tumble into an open hearth. But new kitchens pose a more subtle danger to our health by doubling as a comfortable social, entertainment and eating hub. Retail marketers have long known that when tempting food is within close range of our eyes or nose, we tend to eat more of it. In our new kitchens, it’s just too darn easy to get to addictive snacks and calorie-rich drinks…There are, of course, many reasons for the nation’s obesity epidemic, with its staggering health implications. But surely modern home design plays an important and under-appreciated role.’
If you are looking to improve your wellness through diet and nutrition, there are three key ingredients that you should not ignore. These common household staples can make a real difference to your wellbeing, if taken on a daily basis. They are: garlic, honey and apple cider vinegar.
When used every day, these three simple products could actually cure many common health problems. You could either take them alone or you can mix them together, and you can either take them ‘neat’ on a daily basis or you can simply ensure that you include them as ingredients in things that you cook on a daily basis.
Apple cider vinegar is packed full of minerals and has trace elements of calcium, potassium, phosphorous, magnesium, sodium, chlorine, copper, sulfur, silicon, iron and fluorine. It’s also rich in vitamins A, C and E as well as B1, B2 and B6 and is packed with amino acids and beta carotene. It has been used for centuries as a cleansing agent and healing elixir.
It can boost your metabolism, reduce your cholesterol, regulate your blood pressure and improve your circulation. It can also help with allergies, sinus infections, flu, acne, chronic fatigue, sore throats, gout and arthritis. It’s great for breaking down fats too and can be used for weight loss.
Garlic is well known for lowering bad cholesterol. It can help your body to prevent the formation of fatty deposits within the arteries, thus warding off heart disease. Regular garlic can also help you to fight off colds and other infections.
Honey is great for boosting the natural energy reserves and supporting a healthy immune system. It is frequently used as a very effective remedy for the symptoms of a cold such as sore throat, cough and respiratory problems.
Are you worried about maintaining a hygienic atmosphere in your kitchen? Well here’s presenting some tips that can help you clean the room well. Paying extra attention on how you rinse and wash the kitchen can keep the bacteria way.
Counter top
What happens: While you are baking a cake, you might spill some egg batter on the counter top and there is a possibility you don’t wipe the area well. Later you make yourself a turkey sandwich right there on the unclean surface.
Solution: Opt for a disinfecting spray after cooking any food. Choose a product that claims a 99.9 percent germ kill as this will keep the bacteria away.
Chopping board
What happens: The board is used to cut soft or hard pieces of vegetables as well as roast beef.
Solution: Wash the board with hot soapy water and rinse. Also spray the board with one teaspoon of bleach mixed with 16 ounces of water. Wash the board nicely in hot water of keep it in the dishwasher on high. Opt for a plastic or a glass board. Discontinue the usage of board if it has lot of knife cuts. If you prefer using a wooden one, see to it that your dishwasher has been treated with micro-ban, an antimicrobial compound.
Knife block
What happens: You are using a knife to cut a fish or meat. As soon as you are done chopping you wet the knife with water and keep it back in the block. This will cause mold that grows in less than a two days time.
Solution: Scrub the knife with soapy water or use the dish cleanser liquid. Hot water is preferable. Dry the knife properly with a cloth and keep it back in the block. You can also keep the knives in a drawer or a magnet strip.
Faucet filter
What happens: While you are preparing food, you may throw a dirty rag at the faucet or spill some food over there. In that case your faucet is attacked by bacteria. If you are using hard water, lime scale residue can also appear.
Solution: Once a week, soak the filter in white vinegar.
Sponge
What happens: You use the sponge to wipe almost everything from meat juices to small tidbits. You might keep it on the edge of your sink or in its holder.
Solution: Keep your sponge germ free by soaking it in water and bleach. You can also keep the sponge in a bowl of water and warm it in a microwave for 2-3 minutes. Don’t use this trick for a metal scrubber sponge.
Dish towel
What happens: Salmonella alert! While you are busy making a delicacy, you might rinse your hands on the dish towel right after cleaning or washing chicken pieces.
Solution: While you are cooking a raw meat, opt for paper towels and dispose them. Wash your hands immediately with water using soap.
Sink
What happens: All the utensils rinsed in the sink leave behind veggies or meat substances like blood or juices, a perfect environment for bacteria to grow.
Solution: Rinse the sink with bleach and water right after you cook. Especially if raw meat, poultry or eggs on the menu for the day.
The leftovers
What happens: You might get involved in cleaning the kitchen and the rest of the food is sitting right there.
Solution: After a meal, place the leftover food in the refrigerator. Bacteria grow faster between 40 to 140 degrees. See to it that the hot food kept outside cools down to less than 40 degree. While reheating the food, make sure the temperature goes beyond 165 degrees.
Environmental wellness doesn’t just mean protecting the planet from human damage; it also involves utilising the world around you to improve your own health and wellbeing. In the context of human health, you’ve probably already heard of the Chinese medicinal herb ginseng, but did you know you could grow it in your own home or garden?
Ginseng is an ancient medicinal herb of which many wellness experts toast the benefits. In fact, ginseng tea has been declared as one of the healthiest beverages available to you, but it’s not always the easiest thing to find. True, you can purchase packaged ginseng from a supermarket, but how do you know that it’s trustworthy? And why would you go for pre-packed ginseng – and pay top dollar for it – when you can grow your own reliable ginseng in the comfort of your own home. Sure, popping to the shop to get it may seem more convenient, but it is actually astonishingly easy to grow ginseng at home – you can even grow it indoors!
So how do you grow ginseng in your own kitchen garden? Firstly, the seeds are the most important aspect of planting the ginseng root. This is because the seeds need to be stratified in order to be effective. It’s easy enough to stratify your ginseng seeds, but this may delay the process somewhat. Stratification involves placing the seeds between two equal layers of sand, covering this with a cloth, and then refrigerating them for six months. However, if you don’t want to stratify them yourself, you can buy ready-stratified ginseng seeds.
Once the seeds are stratified (which can take six to eight months if you’re doing it yourself), take them out of the fridge and discard any seeds that have decayed. The best seeds for planting are the ones that have grown in size and started sprouting. You can grow your ginseng as a potted plant – all you need to do is fill the pot with eight inches of well-draining soil, and then plant the seeds three inches deep. Ginseng plants like moderate sunshine, so place your pot in indirect sunlight and water the plant regularly for six months. As soon as the berries and leaves appear, you can use them, although it takes eight years for the root to mature – which is the healthiest part of ginseng.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
