All-Purpose Flour
All-purpose flour is a kind of processed wheat flour that contains neither the germ (the sprouting part) nor the bran (the outer coating) of wheat. The wheat germ is replaced by niacin, riboflavin, thiamin and iron, and sometimes vitamins A and D are also added. That’s the reason; these flours are labeled as enriched.
All-purpose flour comes in two forms— unbleached and bleached. The flour that is bleached naturally as it ages is called unbleached. Bleached flour is chemically treated to accelerate the aging process and treated to improve its consistency and baking properties. Bleached flour is fine in texture and white in color and has less protein than unbleached flour, which is coarse and yellowish.
Bleached flour is best for making cookies, pound cakes, pancakes, pie crusts, and waffles while unbleached flour is suitable for making yeast breads, puddings, cream puffs, and popovers. Though both flours can be used interchangeably, the effect in texture and color would not be same.
Since, the germ and bran part is stripped away from the all purpose flour, its shelf life is longer. Store the flour in an airtight container and in a cool, dark, and dry place. You can store the flour at room temperature in your pantry for about one year. If you choose to refrigerate or freeze it, it will go for about two years.
All-purpose flour is easily available at any grocery store, or you can buy online at amazon.com. You can also explore other online resources for buying all-purpose flour. ...Continue Reading
All-purpose flour comes in two forms— unbleached and bleached. The flour that is bleached naturally as it ages is called unbleached. Bleached flour is chemically treated to accelerate the aging process and treated to improve its consistency and baking properties. Bleached flour is fine in texture and white in color and has less protein than unbleached flour, which is coarse and yellowish.
Bleached flour is best for making cookies, pound cakes, pancakes, pie crusts, and waffles while unbleached flour is suitable for making yeast breads, puddings, cream puffs, and popovers. Though both flours can be used interchangeably, the effect in texture and color would not be same.
Since, the germ and bran part is stripped away from the all purpose flour, its shelf life is longer. Store the flour in an airtight container and in a cool, dark, and dry place. You can store the flour at room temperature in your pantry for about one year. If you choose to refrigerate or freeze it, it will go for about two years.
All-purpose flour is easily available at any grocery store, or you can buy online at amazon.com. You can also explore other online resources for buying all-purpose flour. ...Continue Reading
Black Pepper
Native to South India, black pepper, in whole or powdered or crushed form, is used as a spice or seasoning all over the world. In ancient times, black pepper was so expensive that it was used as a currency or collateral. Even today, black pepper is known as king of spices and is highly demanded spice around the world.
Black pepper powder is made by grinding the black peppercorns. Black peppercorns are made by picking the pepper berries when they are half ripe. Then they are dried in sun over a period of time, which causes them to shrivel and become dark in color. Because of their hard and shriveled texture, black peppercorns are easily ground in a pepper mill and taste best in this form. You can also powder the peppercorns by slightly roasting for 2-3 minutes and then grinding in a spice or coffee grinder (as always, do not use the same grinder for spices and coffee). As with all spices, roasting enhances the flavor of peppercorns. Buy peppercorns that are blemish free, heavy for their size, and compact.
Black pepper in any form is very flavorful and pungent and is used around the world to brighten the taste and aroma of a variety of dishes, from appetizers to desserts. In addition to enhancing the taste of food, it also acts as an appetite and taste buds stimulator and improves digestion. It acts as an antioxidant and is a good source of dietary fiber, vitamin K, and minerals such as iron and manganese.
Whole as well as ground/powdered black pepper is stored in air tight container in a cool, dark, and dry place. Black pepper powder can be stored at room temperature for 4-6 months while whole peppercorns last up to a year. You can also freeze them to last for up to 2 years.
Whole black peppercorns or powdered black pepper is available in any grocery store. You can also buy it at online grocery stores. My favorite is amazon.com. However, you can explore other online resource as well. ...Continue Reading
Black pepper powder is made by grinding the black peppercorns. Black peppercorns are made by picking the pepper berries when they are half ripe. Then they are dried in sun over a period of time, which causes them to shrivel and become dark in color. Because of their hard and shriveled texture, black peppercorns are easily ground in a pepper mill and taste best in this form. You can also powder the peppercorns by slightly roasting for 2-3 minutes and then grinding in a spice or coffee grinder (as always, do not use the same grinder for spices and coffee). As with all spices, roasting enhances the flavor of peppercorns. Buy peppercorns that are blemish free, heavy for their size, and compact.
Black pepper in any form is very flavorful and pungent and is used around the world to brighten the taste and aroma of a variety of dishes, from appetizers to desserts. In addition to enhancing the taste of food, it also acts as an appetite and taste buds stimulator and improves digestion. It acts as an antioxidant and is a good source of dietary fiber, vitamin K, and minerals such as iron and manganese.
Whole as well as ground/powdered black pepper is stored in air tight container in a cool, dark, and dry place. Black pepper powder can be stored at room temperature for 4-6 months while whole peppercorns last up to a year. You can also freeze them to last for up to 2 years.
Whole black peppercorns or powdered black pepper is available in any grocery store. You can also buy it at online grocery stores. My favorite is amazon.com. However, you can explore other online resource as well. ...Continue Reading
Sugar
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Butter Milk
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Olive Oil
Olive is one of the oldest known cultivated trees in the world. It is said that Olive trees are being cultivated before the invention of written language. Olive trees are draught tolerant and are native to eastern Mediterranean region. The trees can survive and bear fruits for a thousand year. Olives are small fruits of the Olive tree. During prehistoric time, people use to grind and drain the pulp of olives to get oil for cooking and lighting lamps. Oil extracted from olives was also used for cosmetic purposes.
Today, olive oil is popular than any other oil for culinary use and health benefits. About 90% of the olive fruit produce goes toward the production of olive oil. The oil is produced by pressing the whole olives and is used for cooking, cosmetics, pharmaceutical uses, and as fuel for certain lamps.
Olive oil used for cooking and eating is broadly classified as extra virgin, virgin, pure, and light. The difference is mainly in the process of production of different verities, due to which they contain different levels of antioxidant and have different smoking point.
Extra virgin olive oil is the best quality and is extracted using mechanical process such as cold pressing and centrifugation. The olives are pressed at normal temperature without the use of heating and chemicals. This method of extraction helps preserve most of the antioxidants and hence, makes the oil of high quality. The extra virgin olive oil smokes at a very low temperatures ranging from 200 to 372 degree Fahrenheit depending upon the quality (the better the quality have higher smoking point). Therefore, extra virgin olive oil is considered cold dishes like salad dressing and dips as well as cooking at a medium heat. You can use the good quality extra virgin oil to sauté vegetables, shallow frying eggs, and meats. It’s not recommended to use extra virgin olive oil for deep frying at higher temperatures.
Virgin olive oil is extracted using the same process as extra virgin. It has same levels of monounsaturated fats, antioxidant, and has the similar smoking point. It’s different from extra virgin because it’s made using relatively ripe olives, which gives it light flavor. The usage of virgin oil for cooking is same as extra virgin oil.
Pure olive oil has the same monounsaturated fat content, but has less antioxidant. Pure olive oil, also called olive oil, is a blend of virgin oil and refined pomace oil (also called refined olive oil). Pomace oil, a leftover during the extraction of extra virgin and virgin oils, is refined before mixing it to the virgin oil. The blend contains only about 5 to 10% of virgin oil. It’s lighter in taste, and has higher smoking point that makes it fit for sautéing and frying.
Light olive oil has the same percentage of monounsaturated fat, but lowest level of antioxidants. It’s basically refined olive oil, manufactured by the using some chemical and heat to get rid of impurities. It’s smoking point is highest and is ideal for high temperature cooking, such as deep frying and baking.
At higher temperatures, required for deep frying, extra virgin and virgin oil lose their antioxidant properties and flavor. Therefore, many cooks use pure or light olive oil for frying. Some views suggest that cooking with extra virgin and virgin olive oil at high temperatures is harmful for health; however, there is no substantial evidence to support such views. This might be a myth or a truth. Therefore, to be on the safe side, it’s advisable to use pure and light olive oil for higher temperature cooking such as deep frying, and use good quality extra virgin and virgin olive oil for cold dishes and cooking at medium temperature such as sautéing.
Because of the higher monounsaturated fat content, all kinds of olive oil lasts longer than other oils. After opening, close the cap or lid completely and store in a cool, dark, and dry place, and use it within 3 – 4 months from opening. Due to the presence of antioxidant substances, extra virgin and virgin oils are more resistant to damage by oxygen in air. However, the chlorophyll in the oil makes them vulnerable to damage by light. Therefore, always store the extra virgin and virgin oil in a dark place away from light. Refrigeration slightly solidifies the oil, which comes back to its liquid state when kept at room temperature, but will lose its flavor.
Olive oil has high content of antioxidants called polyphenols, carotenoids, and tocopherols. It’s high in monounsaturated fat and has low saturated and polyunsaturated fat. This composition makes it healthy for heart and for prevention of many medical conditions like, cancer, high blood pressure, and diabetes. According to some recent research, consumption of olive oil improves calcium absorption; hence, prevents the onset osteoporosis.
You can buy olive oil at any grocery store. It is available at online grocery stores such as www.amazon.com. Type the kind of olive oil you want to buy on search bar, you will be able to choose from several options. ...Continue Reading
Today, olive oil is popular than any other oil for culinary use and health benefits. About 90% of the olive fruit produce goes toward the production of olive oil. The oil is produced by pressing the whole olives and is used for cooking, cosmetics, pharmaceutical uses, and as fuel for certain lamps.
Olive oil used for cooking and eating is broadly classified as extra virgin, virgin, pure, and light. The difference is mainly in the process of production of different verities, due to which they contain different levels of antioxidant and have different smoking point.
Extra virgin olive oil is the best quality and is extracted using mechanical process such as cold pressing and centrifugation. The olives are pressed at normal temperature without the use of heating and chemicals. This method of extraction helps preserve most of the antioxidants and hence, makes the oil of high quality. The extra virgin olive oil smokes at a very low temperatures ranging from 200 to 372 degree Fahrenheit depending upon the quality (the better the quality have higher smoking point). Therefore, extra virgin olive oil is considered cold dishes like salad dressing and dips as well as cooking at a medium heat. You can use the good quality extra virgin oil to sauté vegetables, shallow frying eggs, and meats. It’s not recommended to use extra virgin olive oil for deep frying at higher temperatures.
Virgin olive oil is extracted using the same process as extra virgin. It has same levels of monounsaturated fats, antioxidant, and has the similar smoking point. It’s different from extra virgin because it’s made using relatively ripe olives, which gives it light flavor. The usage of virgin oil for cooking is same as extra virgin oil.
Pure olive oil has the same monounsaturated fat content, but has less antioxidant. Pure olive oil, also called olive oil, is a blend of virgin oil and refined pomace oil (also called refined olive oil). Pomace oil, a leftover during the extraction of extra virgin and virgin oils, is refined before mixing it to the virgin oil. The blend contains only about 5 to 10% of virgin oil. It’s lighter in taste, and has higher smoking point that makes it fit for sautéing and frying.
Light olive oil has the same percentage of monounsaturated fat, but lowest level of antioxidants. It’s basically refined olive oil, manufactured by the using some chemical and heat to get rid of impurities. It’s smoking point is highest and is ideal for high temperature cooking, such as deep frying and baking.
At higher temperatures, required for deep frying, extra virgin and virgin oil lose their antioxidant properties and flavor. Therefore, many cooks use pure or light olive oil for frying. Some views suggest that cooking with extra virgin and virgin olive oil at high temperatures is harmful for health; however, there is no substantial evidence to support such views. This might be a myth or a truth. Therefore, to be on the safe side, it’s advisable to use pure and light olive oil for higher temperature cooking such as deep frying, and use good quality extra virgin and virgin olive oil for cold dishes and cooking at medium temperature such as sautéing.
Because of the higher monounsaturated fat content, all kinds of olive oil lasts longer than other oils. After opening, close the cap or lid completely and store in a cool, dark, and dry place, and use it within 3 – 4 months from opening. Due to the presence of antioxidant substances, extra virgin and virgin oils are more resistant to damage by oxygen in air. However, the chlorophyll in the oil makes them vulnerable to damage by light. Therefore, always store the extra virgin and virgin oil in a dark place away from light. Refrigeration slightly solidifies the oil, which comes back to its liquid state when kept at room temperature, but will lose its flavor.
Olive oil has high content of antioxidants called polyphenols, carotenoids, and tocopherols. It’s high in monounsaturated fat and has low saturated and polyunsaturated fat. This composition makes it healthy for heart and for prevention of many medical conditions like, cancer, high blood pressure, and diabetes. According to some recent research, consumption of olive oil improves calcium absorption; hence, prevents the onset osteoporosis.
You can buy olive oil at any grocery store. It is available at online grocery stores such as www.amazon.com. Type the kind of olive oil you want to buy on search bar, you will be able to choose from several options. ...Continue Reading
Scallion
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Baking Powder
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Baking Soda
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Salt
Salt is a mineral composed of a chemical compound called sodium chloride. It is essential for human body to regulate fluid balance and to control function of nerves and muscles. Human body cannot produce its own salt and depends on various sources of salt in food for necessary daily intake.
In addition to being just a diet supplement, salt helps in extracting the real flavors of savory as well as sweet dishes. No other seasoning has been found so fulfilling to replace salt. However, the overuse of salt results into a lot of health problems, such as hypertension, heart disease, and strokes. Use salt mildly in your food to you can enjoy its goodness. ...Continue Reading
In addition to being just a diet supplement, salt helps in extracting the real flavors of savory as well as sweet dishes. No other seasoning has been found so fulfilling to replace salt. However, the overuse of salt results into a lot of health problems, such as hypertension, heart disease, and strokes. Use salt mildly in your food to you can enjoy its goodness. ...Continue Reading
Egg
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Shredded Sharp Cheddar
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