Bake and prepare the layers
When you want to create a multi-tier cake, proceed by baking the first layer of the tiered cake. After that is done, trim it with a plain layer of icing. Place in the refrigerator to firm up the icing. You can then bake the second tier of the cake, but you will need to measure your cake stand to ensure that it won’t be too big. Again, trim this layer with icing and place it in the refrigerator to firm.

Final Touches
After they have firmed you can begin to prepare the decorations for the cake. This will depend on the celebration or event that you are baking the cake for, but you should have a general design in your mind. For example, birthday cake decoration will be quite different to wedding cake decoration. Once you have decorated the cake it should be placed back into the refrigerator so that the decorations can set.

You can repeat the above process for all layers to create a multi–tier cake. Be sure you have enough horizontal space in the fridge to place them comfortable in. When the last layer is finished, refrigerate that as well. You won’t need to assemble the cake until two or three hours before it is to be sent of set on the table. You need to do the final trimmings while the previous layer of icing is still cold to prevent smearing.

What the heck’s that? Well, it’s the thing responsible for the smokey flavours in your barbeque. The fantastic meaty bits on the bottom of a just-used frying pan (you DO deglaze those into a sauce, right? ) The charring on grilled chicken. Most of the flavour of meat, fried onions, roasted coffee, and of course toasted bread.

Maillard reactions are named for the chemist Louis Camille Maillard, who is pretty much only known for the reaction that he discovered. It happens when a foodstuff is heated high enough that a reaction occurs between its amino acids and the reducing sugars present in the food, triggering a waterfall reaction that amongst other things produces ketosamines which then degrade further into a huge and complex range of organic compounds. Other sugars are also produced at the same time, hence the slightly sweet taste of grilled meat or toast.

The promotion of Maillard reaction is the desired result of “browning” meat before cooking it in a stew or similar (although there is some disagreement as to whether, thanks to the lack of reducing sugars in meat, whether this is indeed a true Maillard reaction or simply something quite similar). Many cookbooks will tell you that you brown the meat in order to “seal” the juices in, which is total rubbish – the sizzling sound of a “sealed” steak cooking is actually the sound of water evaporating, proving that the thing is about as sealed as a wad of cotton wool.

However, the practise is sound even if the principle isn’t. Meat in particular benefits hugely from hitting the Maillard temperature, which is around 155C  (310 F) – either sear it in a hot pan, taking care to press it down, or use a blowtorch on its surface before cooking. Mince is tricky to sear this way, but can be seared by plunging it into very hot oil.

Thank goodness for Maillard and his reaction! If it didn’t exist, all our steak would taste like it had been cooked in an electric kettle. And let’s face it, no-one wants that.

I love to plan a unique menu each week.  I try to stay away from the standard hot dogs, hamburgers and chips in favor of things that are more unique.  I love to serve things toasted goat cheese ravioli with red pepper dip, corn and avocado won tons and spicy sausages.  For those that can’t live without their burgers, I do a burger bar with sliders and unique toppings like guacamole and roasted red peppers.  When the weather gets cooler, I will even pull out my fondue set and make my favorite cheese fondue.  It is something that people don’t get all the time, and it always gets rave reviews.  Those who are not as much into the game seem to especially appreciate the fondue experience.

Dessert just wouldn’t be the same without the use of my chocolate fondue fountain.  Young and old alike are always thrilled to dip pound cake and fresh strawberries in the swirling chocolate.  It really makes for a memorable evening!

Planning unique menus takes some time, but it is always worth it.  I love to see the smiles on my friend’s faces when they walk in and see the spread I have put on! I love the fact that I can show them a good time!

If you are planning on having parties this fall, why not take the time to make them unique?

There are many benefits from drinking fresh fruit and vegetable drinks that we can make at home. They are packed with vitamins and minerals as well as enzymes and come in a hydrating drink. Having at least one of these drinks per day is a great way to have a beneficial effect on the way we feel throughout the day. They can even help us ward off illness and have a brighter outlook on life. Both of these effects are welcome.

So should you purchase a Green Star GS-1000 or some other kind of juicer. First of all, there are a host of different juicing appliances on the market today. These include centrifugal juicers, citrus presses, masticating juicers as well as wheat grass juicers and twin gear juicers like the Green Star GS-1000.

To be honest, twin gear juicing appliances are aimed at experienced juice makers. They are the Rolls Royce of juicing appliances. But just because they are expensive does not necessarily make them appropriate for you. The thing is, they are actually quite complex to operate. And they take longer to clean up after use than some other kinds of juicers. So if you are new to the juicing lifestyle, you may be better off buying a Breville BJe200XL or some other type of centrifugal juicer instead of the Green Star GS-1000.

First, decide where you would like to celebrate your bbq party on the beach and what time it will start. Families with children would prefer to have it from mid to late afternoon so that their children will have the chance to play on the sand and maybe take a swim on the beach. However, if you want to have an adult only beach bbq party, it is ideal to have it early in the evening when most day trippers are gone and your guests can enjoy the calmness of the beach scene.

It’s also more convenient if you hire people to provide the equipment that you need for the party – bbq grills, loungers and umbrellas. You could always call the beach and ask them if it’s a possibility. It takes care of the hassle of having to pack up so much in your car to take to the beach. Make sure to bring enough charcoal and fire-lighting fluid or gas bottles to manage all the barbecuing and cooking. You could also get some bbq party ideas online. Most of the websites offer not only tips to a great bbq party, but information to bbq party catering as well. In that way, you need not worry about serving a sumptuous bbq party food to your guests.

A stainless steel juicer doesn’t rust and hence it’s safe and hygienic to using these extract juices from fruits. Plastic juicers on the other hand tend to develop tiny cavities and cracks on the surface. If dirt or residue enters these cracks it settles in these openings and is difficult to clean. This dirt can contaminate juices extracted from fruits and vegetables. The components of a stainless steel juicer can be washed under running water or rinsed by dishwashers. Stainless steel juicers with the hydraulic press and masticating mechanism are preferred as they extract juice of a fruit or vegetable to its entirety.

A stainless steel juicer is affordable and blends well with the interiors of a kitchen. This type of juicer looks beautiful in kitchens with stainless steel cabinets and marble counter tops. The design and structure of a stainless steel juicer is sleek and compact which makes the layout of appliances in a kitchen look roomy. These juicers make minimal noise and come packed with a host of features. All reputed stainless steel juicers come with a warranty and are available in shapes that enhance the visual aesthetics of your kitchen.

Vinegar and oil is used when cooking to dress dishes or to help add flavor to food at the table. Your guests will appreciate these well-designed bottles because they make it easy to get the perfect amount of oil or vinegar every time. They also help personalize the table setting because you can choose bottles that match your room’s decor. If you have a modern home, you can find bottles in a number of modern styles. If your home is older you can choose a retro or Victorian style bottle instead.

There are dozens of styles of bottles from which to choose, the most common being a simple cruet set in a caddy. If you prefer ceramic to clear glass you can also find ceramic bottles that can hold your oil and vinegar as well. Many of these come hand-decorated with lovely designs or patterns. Keep in mind however that you are going to want to be able to distinguish the vinegar from the oil, so look for designs that incorporate grapes or olives or other distinguishing features. Ceramic bottles can be rather expensive if they are hand-painted, but if you can afford them many folks who appreciate fine dining find them well worth the money.

Since oil & vinegar bottles have become so ubiquitous in homes, they come in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, and colors. No matter what you want to spend, it won’t be hard to find something to fit your dining room table. If you’re looking for a set for casual events or more formal settings you should be able to find just what you’re looking for online or at any home goods shop.

It depends just how good you want your rice to be; how often you plan on eating rice; and how much you have available to spend that will determine which rice cooking machine is right for you. It is true that the more you spend the better the machine you will be able to afford and hence the better the quality of the rice that it will be able to make. That said, a rice cooker that costs twice as much will not necessarily make rice that tastes twice as good. But it certainly will be a bit better. Therefore it is also important to think about how often you will make rice. The more often you plan on cooking rice at home, the more sense it starts to make to go for a top of the range Japanese rice cooker, such as those made by Zojirushi, Tiger and Sanyo. They have a host of options regarding the different rices that they are able to cook. These machines also feature a handy keep warm function that means that rice will stay edible for up to 24 hours.

Finally, the amount of money that you have available to spend on a rice cooker obviously has a bearing on the machine that you are able to purchase. Before you make your final decision it is a good idea to compare prices to find the lowest cost rice cooker vendor. These devices can cost up to $400 which is a lot of money to most of us. But we can find very good rice cookers for less than $200. So make sure you research things completely to begin with.

For those that don’t know how a steam juicer works, it really is a very simple apparatus. Basically, it goes like this: the cooker consists of several parts, at the bottom is a pan which holds water. This water is heated on the stove, until it boils and steam rises. As it rises, it passes over fruit which is held in a basket higher up in the cooker. The fruit cooks in the hot steam, breaks open, and the juice drips down. This is collected, and eventually tapped off into bottles.

Due to the heating of the steam when the juice is processed, the juice will be pasteurised, and provided that you observe good food handling practices, it can keep almost indefinitely. The best thing to do is to fill you juice into glass bottles which have been sterilised, and then store it in a cool dark place. I know from personal experience that this juice can keep for several years.

When buying a steam juicer, it is preferable to buy a stainless steel model as opposed to an aluminium one. Stainless steel is a lot easier to keep clean, and also looks newer for longer. Although aluminium is a lot cheaper, it can scratch and scuff a lot, as well as becoming discoloured and pitted from the acidic juice from some fruits.

You can expect to pay about $100 for a new steam juicer, and if this sounds like too much, why not buy a second hand one? You can either buy a second hand one out of a local newspaper, or alternatively, try an online store like eBay. Just make sure that what you are buying is not completely used up, and will still be serviceable

Although it sounds old-fashioned, there is a real advantages to making your own juice at home. As mentioned, commercial products always have added flavours, colours and preservatives, and these are not good for your long-term health. By making your own juices, you know exactly what is going in, and you know that you are feeding your family something which is safe and healthy.

When using one of the Freezer Bowl machines you must place the bowl into the freezer for 8 – 12 hours before you begin making the ice cream. The electric-powered machine makes mixing ice cream ingredients an easy task. The freezer bowl style is a popular choice for consumers because it is an affordable product that produces an excellent quality of ice cream. You will need to have enough room in your freezer to store the bowl, and unless you have an extra freezer bowl, you will not be able to make a lot of ice cream at one time. Since you have to freeze the bowls ahead of time, the Freezer Bowl machines are not a good choice for spontaneous ice cream making sessions.

The most convenient ice cream making machine is the Compressor Freezer. This professional model is sturdy and does not require salt, ice, freezer bowls or cranking. You simply add the ingredients and let the machine do the rest. The Compressor Freezer machines make high quality ice cream, the only downside to this product is the high price, but many find the convenience worth the money. Most of the ice cream makers get the job done, but The Freezer Unit machine is the least favorite choice among consumers. The ice cream freezer unit makes ice cream while it is inside the closed freezer. Not only is this an inconvenient machine, it is slower than the other ice cream makers and the ice cream does not turn out as well.

Healthier Ice Cream Options

The traditional homemade ice cream ingredients make up a wonderful, rich and creamy ice cream, but are high in calories and fat. The higher fat version makes a tasty treat now and then, but if you and your family like to eat ice cream quite often then learning how to create healthier versions of ice cream is a good idea. By replacing high fat milk and cream with lower fat dairy products, you can reduce the amount of fat and calories. Adding gelatin will give you the creamy consistency that you would expect from a good ice cream, without the additional fat. You can also add healthy fruits and berries to your ingredients to give your dessert a vitamin boost.

It is reassuring to know which ingredients are being used to make your homemade ice cream. By making sure to choose fresh, high quality ingredients, you will end up with a high quality ice cream. Of course, most good ice cream makers are able to make more than just ice cream. You can also make sherbet, fruity sorbet, frozen yogurt or frozen yogurt smoothies. Smoothies are a terrific dessert and if made with the right ingredients are a healthy treat. Even the children who do not enjoy eating fruit are likely to enjoy a fresh banana smoothie. Have your kids choose their favorite fruits and berries or try out different fruit combinations to see which ones they like the best.

Having Fun with Your Ice Cream Maker

Parents and grandparents are always on the lookout for fun things to do with the kids at home. Making ice cream will keep kids busy on a lazy Sunday afternoon or during the summer holidays. Kids particularly enjoy using the hand crank machines, and most do not mind the time involved in making their own dessert. To make it even more fun, have hot fudge sauce, sprinkles and other ice cream toppings on hand. Once the ice cream is ready, you can help kids make their own unique sundaes. Older children and teens can have fun making ice cream on their own or with one of their friends. Making homemade ice cream during birthday parties is another fun idea, your kid’s party guests will love helping to make ice cream or smoothies, especially if they have never made frozen desserts before.

You can use your ice cream machine to make any of your favorite holiday specials. Preparing homemade ice cream as a family will make a holiday a memorable event, and can become a fun holiday tradition. Choose a recipe that matches the holiday you are celebrating. You could make mint or candy cane ice cream at Christmastime, or add a touch of food coloring to make special pink ice cream for Valentine’s Day or a green batch of ice cream for St. Patrick’s Day.

Making Your Own Special Ice Cream Recipes

Having the chance to try out different ice cream recipes is one of the best parts of owning an ice cream maker. You can experiment with all sorts of flavors and have the chance to try out tons of unique flavor combinations. You do not have to search for your favorite flavors in the frozen dessert aisle at the supermarket, or wait for an ice cream company to invent it. You can come up with all sorts of fantastic flavor creations right in your own kitchen. Why pay more money for a small container of specialty ice cream when you can make up your own fresh batch at home? The best brands of grocery store ice creams cannot compete with the taste of fresh homemade ice cream. Whether you choose to copy your favorite store brand ice cream or create a whole new ice cream recipe, the ice cream you make in your kitchen is sure to be a fresh and delicious treat.