The Types of Whiskey- Round 1

Whiskey is a drink in which many people love to indulge. Attracted too all sorts, people find themselves filling up their flasks, ordering another round, and telling bottles that they are their water of life. Whiskey, quite simply, is among the most lavish of liquors: ordering a glass always raises the bar.



Yet, there are some people who have never tried whiskey, some unfortunate souls who frequently indulge in only tequila or vodka. It's not these peoples' faults, we must not go after them in some sort of Whiskey Rebellion. Whiskey, instead, is to blame: after all, this is one drink that is intimidating to the novice.



Not only does whiskey demand a certain sophistication, like a drink that rolls its eyes in the direction of light beer and one that refuses to sit anywhere other than the top shelf, but it also comes in an overwhelming variety.



The following list offers the novice a little help as it showcases the different types of whiskey: go ahead and drink it in.



Scotch Whiskey: These whiskies tend to answer to their first name: Scotch. Scotch is whiskey that is distilled in Scotland (a whiskey wearing a kilt is a sign of validity). They are typically distilled twice, but may be distilled three times. Scotch must be aged in oak casks for at least three years.



Scotch can be made from malted barely, unmalted barely, other unmalted grains or a mix. It can also come from a single distillery, or several. Regardless of the type, Scotch is well liked among drinkers: in many peoples' opinions, it malts in your mouth and not in your hand.



Japanese Whiskies: Initially, the Japanese took a page from the Scotch playbook and attempted to recreate the same whiskey in Japan. However, because the ingredients used in Scotland weren't widely available, they were forced to deviate from their original plan. Still, Japanese Whiskey does a good job of carrying on the traditions introduced by the Scottish, it just tastes different.



Japanese Whiskey typically does not contain wheat or rye (two ingredients essential to many types of whiskey), and is instead made using millet, rice, and corn. Their whiskey is also initially fermented in a fashion similar to that of their sake. This produces a drink with an innovative taste fit for a king, or at least an emperor.



Irish Whiskies: Irish Whiskey is a whiskey made in Ireland (who knew the Irish drank!). It can be produced a variety of ways, the most unique being in a pot. Pure pot still whiskey, available only from Ireland and made completely with barely, has a spicy, different, and highly sought-after taste.



Irish whiskey can be single malt (made from malted barely and distilled inside a pot still) or grain whiskey (made from grain and distilled inside a column still). Grain whiskey is a lighter whiskey and is rarely bottled on its own. It is often used as a blender with single malt. Though there are some similarities between Irish Whiskey and Scotch, Irish Whiskey does not involve use of peat. This causes Irish Whiskey to be without the smokiness Scotch exhibits.



So there you have it: round one of the whiskeys (yes, this round's on me). Stay tuned next week for round two where we will discuss Indian Whiskey, Canadian Whiskey, and American Whiskey. In the mean time, the above whiskies should keep you busy, and keep you satisfied.

Fruit - Makes For A Great Healthy Snack

If you step into the average health food store, you can find literally dozens of different items that promise to make your diet healthier. Granola bars. Natural foods. Protein shakes. All of these will definitely make you healthier, but they can be fairly expensive and unsavory. With all these options, too many people are beginning to overlook the most basic of all healthy foods: the fruit. Fruit is very healthy for you, it tastes good, and if you buy it in the right season it is very cheap. So consider fruit next time you're looking for a healthy snack.

Fruit's main benefit comes from the many vitamins and minerals contained within. Oranges and citrus fruits contain large amounts of vitamins C, A and E. These help to protect your body from illnesses, and build up your immune system. They act as anti-oxidants, which you can always use more of.

Fruit also acts as a natural laxative. So, if you've been having problems with your digestion, then you should consider eating a few fruits and gaining the benefits of their roughage. When your body is getting rid of waste, the fruit material will help keep things going.

Diets high in fruit are linked to reduced risk of many maladies such as stroke, heart disease, cancer, cataracts, Alzheimer's, and other symptoms of old age. Nobody can stay young forever, but a few fruits every day will help you stay young longer.

Fruits are great for losing weight. You get a sweet and filling snack, but it is extremely healthy for you. What more could you ask for? The USDA recommends that you eat 5 servings of fruit per day, and few people reach that benchmark. So next time you are at the grocery store, stop by the produce section and get a nice bag of apples or oranges.

How To Personalize A Homemade Food Gift Basket

Gifts of food can be given to anyone for holidays or other special occasions. These gifts will be appreciated by family, friends, coworkers, or anyone else on your gift list. Creating your own food gift basket can be a very special gift as you can personalized it with the recipient's favorite candy, cookies, wine, or other food or beverage items.

When selecting foods to place in your gift basket, make sure they are fresh and check any expiration dates. It's difficult to include foods that are perishable and require refrigeration, so keep that in mind when you are choosing items to place in a food gift basket. Fresh fruits and vegetables are wonderful items because they are inexpensive, colorful, and readily available. However, it's better if you choose fruits that are not yet ripe; oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruits, and apples are good choices because they are more hearty.

In addition to wicker baskets, there are many other containers to choose from. Unbreakable bowls are appropriate for most food themes and it is easy to assemble your gifts in bowls. If you are trying to stay within a budget, shop at your local discount or dollar store. My local dollar store has a nice variety of large plastic bowls and serving trays that are sturdy and attractive. If you decide to use a serving tray, choose one with sides as the assembly will be easier.

Breakfast Basket:

This make a great gift for a hostess when you are an overnight guest, or as a housewarming, anniversary or wedding gift. It's also a nice gift idea for a large family.

Choose a wicker tray or basket with handles as it will be easier to work with than one without handles. Fill the container with shredded brown paper, straw, or purchased shred. If desired, add a couple of rolled napkins. Select food items that one would eat or drink for breakfast; herbal tea, coffee or coffee beans, small bag or box of pancake mix, bottle of maple syrup, jams, jellies, and a small jar of honey for the tea drinkers. If there are small children in the family, include several serving size boxes of dry cereal. Add several fresh oranges or grapefruits and a couple of lemons. Since an overflowing gift basket looks better than a sparse one, fill in any empty spaces with colorful silk flowers or greenery. A nice decorative touch is to include a wooden spoon or a wire whisk tied with curly ribbon or a bow.

Pizza Basket:

Create this gift basket for a student going away to college or anyone setting up their first home.

Use a pizza pan or pizza stone as a container to hold the food items. Place several red checkered napkins or tea towels on the pan or stone to help position and anchor the other items. Include gifts such as pizza dough mix, pizza sauce, Italian seasoning, garlic powder or a bulb of fresh garlic, red pepper flakes, a small bottle of olive oil, grating cheese, a cheese grater, and a pizza cutter. If you prefer an easier method, use a wicker basket instead of the pizza stone or pan.

Asian Food Basket:

Make this gift basket for anyone who enjoys Chinese food. It's also a great gift for a bridal shower or wedding.

Use a wok or bamboo steamer as the container and fill it with the makings of delicious Asian cuisine: soy sauce, sesame oil, rice wine vinegar, fresh ginger, ginger grater, a bulb of garlic, cornstarch, Asian noodles, duck sauce, a stir fry spatula, and a cookbook. Tie curly ribbon or raffia around several sets of chopsticks and position them throughout the basket. Don't forget to add some fortune cookies.

After you have completed your food gift basket, you may want to place it in a cello bag or wrap it in cello paper; the bags are much easier to work with. This will help in transporting your gift basket and keep it dust free. If you choose to use cello, you can place ribbon or other decorative items before placing the basket in the bag, on the outside of the cello wrapped basket, or both. A nice idea is to place a decorative item amongst the food items before placing it the cello. You will need to use ribbon or raffia to tie the bag closed above the basket. It looks really nice if you allow curly ribbon or steamers to cascade down the front of the completed basket.

Why Is Flax Becoming A Designer Food

Many Americans today have taken the conscious effort to evaluate their consumption habits and check the nutritional values of the food items in their regular diet. Each day we are put upon an increasing number of commercially processed food labels that have been prepared with a tantamount of preservatives and additives.

Nutrition experts have called upon the shift of present dietary preferences toward putting in more organic food items in our meals to curb down on our high fat and high protein menus. The turn of the century has witnessed the influx of organic preparations and vital food supplements that seek to serve the increasing demand for healthy foods. Among the number of organic products to successfully penetrate the health food bandwagon is the botanical plant flax, which is widely cultivated in the northern United States and Canada.

Flax seed and flax seed oil contains nutritional substances that are beneficial to our health. Its importance in the health care and food supplement industry is such that ground flax is now distributed commercially. Pertinent advances in bio-technology has put forth the nutritional wonders of flax in handy containers and in various preparations such as milled, cold-milled, sprinkles, and capsule form. These developments rightfully categorize the mundane flax grain among the designer foods available in the market today. Though organic in nature and not genetically-modified, flax products contain higher quantities of Omega 3, which is the naturally occurring substance found in flax, and is likewise known to bring a host of health benefits.

Looking closely into our unhealthy diets would give us a profound understanding on how important the fatty acid Omega 3 is to our bodies and how the regular intake of flax can help us correct nutritional imbalance. Mind you, it is a fact that many of us simply cannot resist the delight of munching on those flavored chips or feasting on cold cuts for snacks, though we are aware that frequent intake of processed food would bring an adverse effect on our health. In the same way, most of us have simply adhered to a daily diet rich in protein and saturated fat that we take in an excessive volume and miss out vital nutrients that stabilize pertinent bodily functions. This diet complemented with a sluggish lifestyle has led to the increased rate of obesity, hypertension, and cardiovascular ailments in recent years.

Feeding our bodies flax can remedy most of our ailments thanks to omega 3. This nutrient puts in more of the healthy, unsaturated fats in our bodies to correct the adverse effects of our unhealthy lifestyles. Omega 3, among many other health benefits, helps lower cholesterol levels and our chances of developing cardiovascular diseases. The intake of designer flax food supplements can also help our bodies take in more of the omega 3 fatty acid, which is rarely found in our regular diets.

Indeed, flax is a premium designer food that holds a guarantee of healthier lifestyle with a healthier you!

History Of Italian Cooking

Many people who love a given subject want to know more about it. What its origin is, how it came about, who discovered it, etc. Human curiosity is a remarkable thing and without it everything we know today would not have been possible. Without asking questions and wanting to know more, nothing would have ever been invented, nothing would have been created. This goes for anything: electricity, fire, and one of the most primitive great finds, cooking and all the varying types of cooking that have been created. Given this logic, it makes sense that people who love Italian cooking would want to learn the history of Italian cooking!

The history of Italian cooking dates back to ancient Greek times where it was first invented. If one wants to learn specific details of this long enduring cooking style they can be easily and readily found on the internet. The internet these days seems to be the number go to source for information on just about anything and everything on can think of. The results that come up for the history of Italian cooking will have you reading for days, months, and even years depending on how serious you are about the subject.

Or maybe you like to learn from books. Your local bookstore or library will definitely have plenty of resources for you to choose from when looking up the history of Italian cooking. These resources will often give you titles of other books and publications that can offer you more information and insight on this interesting subject.

Some people enjoy talking with others when it comes to learning rather than sitting with a book or a blinking internet page. Why not ask someone you know who is of Italian descent and see what they might know about the subject. This endeavor might lead you on an interesting new adventure in your life. They might know more about the history of Italian cooking than you could have ever imagined. Maybe someone in their birth heritage was one of the first Italian chefs in history! You never know! Your simple investigatory search might open up a world of new ideas you never thought possible! You might even find yourself writing a book on what you have discovered. Or maybe you find yourself taking a trip to see some of the places where the first Italian meals were prepared! Or it might it even make you realize that studying history is your passion. Maybe now suddenly you want to teach the history of Italian cooking to others. The possibilities are endless!

Good Grief - Genius German Gummis Go Global!

Gummi bears have been around for what seems like forever, and good thing because I'm not sure where I'd be today without that tasty little morsel! Gummi bears these days come in all shapes, sizes, and flavors. My personal favorite is the sour gummi worm, but with so many choices it is hard to discriminate. One day I looked into the history of gummi bears and found the life story of our favorite gummi treat to be quite interesting.

Gummi Genealogy

Invented by Hans Riegel in 1922, the Gummi Bear continues to be one of the most popular products of Germany. Hans Riegel, a candy maker from Bonn, fondly called his invention the 'dancing bear' and started a company called "Haribo" (acronym for Hans Riegel Bonn) to exclusively manufacture these bears. What originally began as a craze in Germany soon became a hot favorite among children from other countries as well. Finally, in 1980, production of these bears began in the United States. Before that, American children were acquainted with these bears only through their German classes in school.

Finally, American children struck it rich when the Herman Goelitz Company began producing gummi bears in 1981. Better known today as Jelly Belly Candy, they have been instrumental in developing a wide assortment of gummi goods for American kids to enjoy ever since. The Haribo company expanded to America as well and made gummi bears widely available throughout the country.

Gummi Bears Get Into Character!

The Trolli gave birth to one of the most popular gummi characters called 'Gummi Worms' in 1981. While the character was originally created to shock the younger generation and disgust their parents at the same time, it soon became very popular. These days, apart from the conventional bear and wiggly and jiggly worm characters, there are various other forms of Gummi candies available. Gummis come in a wide variety of sizes and shapes and are an increasingly important element in birthdays and other celebrations. From rats and snakes to hamburgers and hot dogs, you will find gummis in every imaginable shape.

Give cute gummi bears to someone special or shock the kids with gummi dinosaurs - there's a gummi that appeals to every child. Use gummis to decorate gingerbread houses or garnish cookies and cakes. If your child fancies fish, delight them with a gummi fish or sharks. Use the exciting range of gummi bears as baby shower favors or as snacks during birthday or birth announcement parties.

Gummis Go Graphic!

Other companies soon cashed in on the popularity of Gummis - starting with the Disney company, that created an adventure cartoon show for kids in the year 1985 to showcase the Gummi bear family and their adventures. The show was called 'The Adventures of the Gummi Bears' - and was of a series of 65 episodes!

Generating Gummis

While gummi bears may be very small and tempting, the production of these bears involves a long process. Making new characters is a challenge faced by the artists of the manufacturing company. They create characters and carve them into tiny plaster molds that are duplicated later with the help of a machine. The duplicates are later processed through a starch powder machine in order to produce starch powder mold pans. Gummi bears are made using a mixture of ingredients like sugar, glucose syrup, and gelatin, which is poured into large boilers. Here, the mixture is heated and stirred with the help of large paddles to mix the ingredients with colors and flavors that give these bears their signature look and taste.

The Gummi Generation

Gummi bears have put a smile on children's faces around the world for years. From their beginnings in Germany to the release of the gummi worm years later, it is hard to resist such a great candy.

Healthy Cooking Classes for Children

As parents, the need to teach children how to cook may not seem very important when they are at young age. With modern life style and the abundant supplies of ready, pre-cooked and convenient food, it is no wonder that the children obesity problem is getting more severe as our society advances.

Many adults cook and eat with unhealthy bad habits because they were taught these habits when they were very young and lived with them most of their lives. Healthy cooking classes for kids will teach children at an early, impressionable age, to be aware of what they eat. To really see the significance of what they choose to put in their bodies and how it can affect everything in their lives. Their health, their energy levels, the longevity of their lives.

Instead of teaching children only how to heat up frozen Pizza, thaw food in the microwave and cook instant noodles, it is good to start exposing children to healthy eating and food preparation. Show them what the best combinations of foods will not only create the best tasting dishes, but will be the most wholesome for themselves and whomever they cook for.

All kids love to be involved in the kitchen if given a chance. It is therefore important to get your child involved in food preparation from young age. Most parents would want their child out of the kitchen as they are worried that the child making a bigger mess rather than of of any real help. However, the little mess that you bear with will have much desired longer term benefits to both you and your kids. Not only you them the importance to help out at home and also the important ingredients needed to go into a balance healthy meal.

Start by involving your 4 or 5 year old in the fruit or vegetable washing process. Give them a butter knife or a blunt knife to help cut bananas or some soft fruit in making your fruit salads.
As they are helping, explain to them the importance of eating fruits and vegetables of different colour. Make kitchen time a fun time for your kid so he or she can prepare his/her own favourite rainbow fruit salad by mixing different colour fruits.

Allow them to help cutting cookies with cookie cutters, help to mix the flour in a mixing bowl, help to pull out chicken skin or watch you trim the fats of meat. Educate them along the way why you are doing what you are doing. Explain to them the different vitamins different fruits or vegetable have. Let them help in sprinkling the different toppings on Pizza.

Kids will take their responsibility very seriously if you give clear, specific instructions. Of course wisdom will have to be exercised when you assign age appropriate jobs to the kids.

We already know we should exercise regularly, go to school, etc. But the emphasis for healthy eating habits is something that is an important and essential part of living a full, healthy life. Healthy cooking classes for kids will give children a chance at a better life overall.

To learn more about cooking, the different cuisines, recipes, cooking tips and news, visit http://whats-cooking.info

How Do Coffee Grinders Work?

A Trip to the grocery store and a walk down the coffee aisle, is where you'll see coffee grinders and coffee beans. The coffee grinder has become all so very popular for home use and popularity of espresso and other coffee drinks has blown out of coffee proportion in the last two decades. Coffee shops keep popping up every where and the need of many coffee drinkers to grind their own coffee beans in their coffee grinders.

Coffee grinders will grind roasted coffee beans into tiny little grounds that are either fine or coarse. By grinding your own coffee, its totally up to you on how you like it best.

Coffee grinders will produce fine or medium grounds which are best for old style coffee makers. Those who love espresso will want to grind the beans into a fine grind, similar to sugar or salt. Coarse coffee grounds are good for percolators or vacuum brewers.

Coffee grinders come in two main types. The first type of many coffee grinders use rotating steel blades. These blades on the coffee grinders chop up the coffee beans, making it o-so-nice for you.

The bladed coffee grinders allow the coffee lover to control the type of grounds. The type of grounds the bladed coffee grinder makes depends on how long you grind the beans.

Other types of coffee grinders uses a grinder wheel. This is called a burr grinder. To get coarse or fine grounds, you move the burr on the coffee grinder. Many people say this type of coffee grinder allows you more control as to the type of grounds you make.

The price of a burr grinder really depends on the type of wheel, whether it is flat or cone-shaped. The burr coffee grinder with the cone-shaped wheel rotates slowly and the coffee grinder will plug up less frequently.

If you chose coffee grinders that work in two different ways. Manual coffee grinders come with a crank on the side. (this is the old-fashion way) You have to crank the handle manually until all the coffee beans are grounded.

If you don't want to do that much work to have freshly ground coffee, you should probably shop around for electric coffee grinders. Electric coffee grinders are the most popular coffee grinder on the market today. Many electric coffee grinders are small and inexpensive so you can carry them anywhere to grind a perfect cup of coffee.

There are advantages to grinding your own coffee with coffee grinders. You can grind coffee that suits your taste and not rely on pre-packaged coffee grounds.

Coffee grinders can be found in most stores and online. A coffee grinder can range in price from about $20 to several hundred dollars. The coffee beans can be purchased at grocery stores or at a specialty coffee shop.

How you want your coffee to taste and the type of coffee you brew is all up to you.

DeLonghi EC701: 5 Must Know Facts about the DeLonghi EC701

Manufactured in Italy - Most people will overlook this; but when you have owned a real Italian espresso machine like I have, you learn to appreciate the Italian manufacturing process more than you appreciate your plastic coffee maker. I used to use a black and Decker coffee machine, and I would just run the coffee through it twice to get the same effect as an espresso machine. Upgrading up to the Italian EC701 espresso machine has really made me value the quality of a genuine product. And I am not alone here; DeLonghi EC701 sales are up, and so are the search engine searches.

Patented "Sempre Crema Filter" - I didn't know what this was when I was looking into buying an espresso machine, so you probably don't either. It's this new idea DeLonghi came up with. It's a special filter that allows air into the brewing process of ground espresso, which in turn gives you a thick smooth cream. From there the cream is mixed with steam and milk, which creates the froth. This special filter is exclusive to DeLonghi Espresso Machines and it really creates a rich creamy froth.

Long Manufactures Warranty - One year manufactures warranty standard. Alright when I heard this I thought, so what 1 year is standard. Nope, it's not when it comes to espresso machines. Maybe when you buy a TV, or a watch, but the standard warranty for Italian espresso machines is NADA, Zilch. I have read horror stories of people spending over 1000 dollars on a brand new espresso machine, only to have it break, or produce a terrible cappuccino. DeLonghi offers a standard 1 year manufactures warranty. You can still get a warranty for other espresso machines, but you have to purchase it seperately

Spacesaving Design - The DeLonghi EC701 measures around 1SQ Foot. 11x11x9. Pretty small, I keep mine right next to my toaster. I have a really small kitchen so this was important to me, and most people aren't millionaires so obviously this is important to the majority of people. But if you are a millionaire you'll have more space available for other things.

Easy to use - Alright, this one I knew before I bought it from the pictures. It's got 3 buttons and a knob, about as simple as it could possibly get. When I wake up in the morning my eyes are glued shut, and my brain is half asleep - so simplicity is very important. Its fast too, you'll be drinking a fresh cup of "your choice" in 4-5 minutes.

Cultural Food - Special Confinement Food For After Delivery Care

Among the Asian, many ethnic groups have their own after birth dietary care. This is based on the belief that the health of the mother is significantly weakened during the childbearing period and the labour process where lots of blood is lost.

For the Ethnic Chinese, the first 30 days after child birth is called the 'confinement period'. It is also the most crucial 'window period' where the mother's body is able to absorb the required nutrients in it's maximum capacity. During the confinement period, the new mother is to stay at home and avoid going out so as to minimise the exposure to wind (adverse weather condition) and crowd.

A live-in confinement lady is usually employed to do the cooking and caring of the mother and the new born.

There are variations in the type of food and the cooking among the different dialect groups (or different provinces in China). However, the main ingredients used are essentially the same.

In Chinese Confinement food, the main ingredients and herbs used are Ginger, wine and black vinegar.

Ginger is thought to possess warm and heaty properties which is needed to 'drive away the winds' in the body. The pores of the skins are believed to have opened up and the joints loosen to prepare for
labour and remain in a loose state for a short period after delivery. This is when the 'winds' from the climate will enter the body if one is exposed to a windy environment. The ginger would counter the coolness and the wind effect on the body.

Black vinegar is used to cleanse the womb of residual blood clot. It is commonly cooked with Ginger and Pig trotters and simmer for several hours until the trotters are tender and tasty. This dish is cooked in large pot and eaten over several days.

Wine especially tonic wine is helpful in warming and nourishing the body. It is also believed to help in the blood production and circulatory process. Therefore, food or soup are cooked with lot of wine and ginger for this reason.

Confinement mothers are also encouraged to drink tonic wine. If she is breastfeeding, timing of wine consumption will have to be carefully planned out.

Another common dish for breastfeeding mum is fish soup cooked with ginger and raw papaya. It is extremely effective in inducing milk production by the milk glands.

The Chinese believe that failure to eat these food during the confinement period will result in the woman aging faster, experience joint pain and other health problem in later part of their lives.

On Aging California Wine

With a small collection of wine the logical solution is to drink up! But if the intent to collect and preserve wine, a clear distinction is made between those bottles that are drinkable today and those that should be cellared to enhance the wines complexity. But how do you know which wines to cellar and which ones to drink say within a couple of years? In learning more about wine, I came to understand that most wine, California wine that is, is meant to be drunk right away: Very different from storing a bottle away for 15 years. While those bottles of white wine like Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc are great for tomorrow's dinner party; preserve them for a dinner party in 2015, and you'll wind up pouring money down the drain. However, it is possible to find white wines that can be cellared for a decade or so, such as white Burgundy, Chardonnay and some German Rieslings but exactly which wines and for how long is a question not easily answered.

What about Cabernet Sauvignon?

Here's the juxtaposition: red wine like a Cabernet, may taste better years down the road than it does today. Again, how well a wine ages depends on multiple factors such as tannins, quality of production and the method of storage. The constancy of temperature is very important, more than the actual temperature itself, as extreme fluctuations in temperature will destroy the wine. If the plan is to create a very serious wine collection then a very serious wine cellar is a must to be able to control temperature, humidity and light. Thankfully it is no longer necessary to dig a huge cave under your house as there are plenty of fantastic wine refrigerators on the market that hold hundreds of bottles.

Keep in mind that many California wines are made to drink young although most will age no problem for 3 – 5 years, and more, depending on the varietal. If you decide to store several cases of a favorite vintage, be sure to test a bottle every 6 months to a year so a not to pass by the peak of perfection. Now the fun part, doing the research. You'll need to start reading industry magazines and tasting to find wines that have potential to age well. Take for example a few notable California wines from the Napa Valley made from either 100% Cabernet grape, or a varietal, with the predominant grape being Cabernet. Consider Rubicon Estate 2002. This bottle contains 90% Cabernet Sauvignon with small percentages of Cab Franc, Merlot and Petite Verdot. According to Wine Spectator Magazine, this wine "has the tannic elegance and balance that cellaring will be no problem at all over 20 years." But if you fall into the category of an impatient collector, try a bottle of wine such as the Shafer 2002 Hillside Select Cabernet Sauvignon, which can develop nicely in just under 15 years.

Easy Ways To Turn A Potato Into A Meal Kids Enjoy

Potatoes are a staple of the American diet. This is because they are such a handy food. Potatoes can be boiled, fried, mashed, baked, or turned into chips. We won't be frying any potatoes today, but by using the other ways a potato can be prepared, you can turn it into a meal your kids will love.

Let's prepare a baked potato deluxe. To make the skin of the potato peel back simpler rub them with olive oil prior to baking them. I personally like that better than utilizing the aluminum foil wrap. I've seen people cut the potato without removing the aluminum and I wonder how many small particles of that aluminum are in that potato. While the potatoes are baking, enlist the help of your kids to help you prepare the potato bar. Let them add some of their favorites to your list. I would recommend that a good list start with: shredded cheese, bacon crumbles (they taste better than bacon bits), chopped green onions, salsa, butter spray or reduced calorie margarine, and sour cream. While the potatoes are piping hot, split them open and add the butter spray and the cheese to allow it a chance to melt. Then, add the other items if desired. This loaded baked potato doesn't require anything else unless you want a salad. Kids will like that fact that they get to fix their own dinner.

For a light lunch, scoop the potato out of the baked skins. Smash the potato and mix it with shredded cheese, bacon crumbles, green onions, and reduced-fat margarine. Refill the potato skins and reheat again until the cheese is melted. Cut the potato into four pieces to make it easier for your kids to handle. These twice baked potatoes are yummy.

Soup's On! Potato soup is delicious. It is best in the fall or winter to warm you up on a chilly day, but on a spring evening, it can be a treat. But, potato soup can be bland with just the potatoes. Here's another way to make a meal for your kids using a potato. Add a few tasty items to your soup. You can just about add the same things to the soup that you can add to top a baked potato. My favorite toppings for potato soup are shredded cheese, broccoli florets, bits of ham or bacon, chives, and green onions. The meat gives it more protein to sustain your kids until the next meal. Potato soup can be consumed as a lunch meal or a light dinner. All of the additions give it great taste for the kids.

The potato even works in a salad. Everyone makes their potato salad with subtle variations, but however they prepare it, it is great to eat on a balmy summer's day for lunch. Potato salad is most often a side dish item at picnics or housewarming parties. Here we will transform it into a light meal for the kids and you. To add a little crunch, add diced celery and onion to the salad. For the meat, use sliced shrimp for a seafood twist or ham pieces. The potato chunks should still be the largest thing in the bowl since it is the star of the dish. Mayonnaise and mustard round out the list of ingredients with salt and pepper added to taste.

Potatoes are yummy and wallet friendly. There are so numerous ways that they can be made which contributes to their appeal. If you are looking for a way to prepare them that will be tasty and satisfy your kids, try the tips above along with some of your own.