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Cooking Tips |
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Cooking TipsFine Tuning Bread Machine MixesSometimes bread machines can be tricky. We were trying to help a customer whose bread did not rise enough. It seemed that he did everything right. Come to find out, he had an older model and a brand that we were not familiar with. (Bread machines are becoming more standardized but there are still different requirements for different machines.) So we tried to help him fine tune his mix to work perfectly with his machine. Using Bread Machine Mixes in Your OvenYou don't have to own a bread machine to enjoy the variety of bread machine mixes. And you don't have to make blocky, square loaves with holes in the bottom. You can make wonderful rolls, traditional sandwich loaves, and artisan loaves with or without the aid of a bread machine. In this article, we will tell you how to convert any bread machine mix into great breads by hand, with your stand-type mixer, or with your bread machine. Better Breakfasts IdeasNutritionists tell us that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. With breakfast, we are replenishing our bodies from the night before and charging them for the day ahead. How we will perform during the day is affected by what we eat in the morning. Yet, breakfast tends to be rushed and routine-?more so than any other meal. Here are dozens of ideas to help you build better breakfasts. Is Cooked Food Really All That Good For Us?In nature all animals eat living foods as yielded up by Nature. Only humans cook their foods and only humans suffer widespread sicknesses and ailments. Those humans who eat mostly living foods are more alert, think clearer, sharper and more logically and become more active. Best of all, live food eaters become virtually sickness-free! Microwave Ovens and the Healthfulness of Microwaved FoodMicrowave ovens do have benefits. They are certainly convenient. They are more energy-efficient than other cooking methods. But are they safe? And do they produce food that contributes to the health of our bodies? Why do We Need to Knead?Bread dough needs to be elastic in order to capture the gases created by the yeast, stretch as bubbles form in the dough, expand, and rise. Without that elasticity, bread would not have the open texture we enjoy nor would bread be chewy. But what creates that elasticity? How to Bake: Bread on the GrillOne of the slickest tricks we know is baking bread on the grill. Once you get to know your grill, it's easy?like baking your favorite recipe in the oven. How to Bake: How Long Should My Bread Rise?It depends. The best way to tell if the dough has risen enough is not by time?though it helps to set the timer so you don't forget about your dough?but by look and feel. It will look soft and bloated. When you touch the dough, it will be soft and your finger will leave an indentation when lightly pressed against the dough. If it is not ripe, the dough will tend to slowly spring back. How to Make Sandwich Rolls with Your Bread MachineFor that next picnic or family outing, consider making sandwich rolls with your bread machine. They are quick and easy and so much better than what you buy from the stores. What is Gluten and Why does it Matter?Gluten is a substance made up of the proteins found in wheat flour that gives bread its structure, strength, and texture. Without these marvelous little proteins, bread would not be bread. It also explains why it is so hard to make bread from rice, potato, or oat flour and why wheat flour has to be added to rye flour to make bread?only wheat has enough protein. The gluten makes the bread. Baking Perfect Breads, Cookies, and DessertsWe're all looking for that perfect pie, or cookies, or loaf of bread. It doesn't always happen. In our experience, there are four reasons that account for most of the less than perfect products. All About Baking: Quick BreadsThe Versatile Quick Bread About Baking: Eight Tips for Perfect PancakesPancakes are easy and almost foolproof. But there are some tricks to making them perfect. We?d like to share those tips: Make-up or Mixing Methods for MuffinsWhen muffins aren?t perfect, the first reaction is to change the ingredients in the recipe. Rather than changing the recipe, try a different mixing method. ServSafe Food Program in Montana a SuccessMontana has a great program for restaurant employees. Each preparer of foods to the public must go through a special program where they learn at what temperatures food must be served and how to keep the place clean. It is through this program that MT ranks among the lowest in the country for food poisoning. E. coli bacteria is very unlikely in MT because as part of this program they learn all the other important food preparation rules. The signature program? It is called ServSafe. And each employee must complete this program.
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