I've been using Bamboo cutting boards for over 4 years, and I just love them! They are long wearing and don't dull your knife the way some other types cutting boards can. I also own and use antimicrobial cutting boards, those I use just for raw meat. I use the bamboo cutting boards exclusively for breads, cheeses and of course fruits and veggies and cooked meats. I own two different brands of bamboo cutting boards TruBamboo and Totally Bamboo I love them both! They are easy to care for and long lasting!
And right now Totally Bamboo is having a sale- go check it out!
January 12, 2009
January 4, 2009
the many uses of olive oil
I've long been a user of Extra Virgin Olive Oil and have long wondered what elese can I do with this stuff? After some serching, I found these gems of information on the internet. Enjoy!
We're most familiar with olive oil in relation to cooking, but there's so many other ways it can be used; often avoiding the need to use chemicals, compounds and substances that aren't very environmentally friendly. For these tips, you don't need to use the best grade of olive oil.- After polishing copper or brass, rub it with a little olive oil to slow down the reocurrence of tarnish
- Can be used as a stainless steel cleaner; apply sparingly
- Rub olive oil into wooden cutting boards to help prevent cracking, repel staining and marking
- Remove paint from hair or skin by dabbing a cotton ball dipped in olive to the affected area
- Use it as an alternative for de-squeaking hinges
- Olive oil can help unjam zippers - use a cotton bud to apply
- Apply a little olive oil to your shoes to restore their shine
- Old leather can be made more supple by rubbing in olive oil (spot test first)
- Coat garden tool blades with a thin layer of olive oil to prevent dirt sticking to them and to help prevent rusting. This works really well!
- Mix one part lemon juice with 3 parts olive oil to make a wooden furniture polish
- Rub into to fingernails before and after manicuring
- A small amount of olive oil applied after shampooing can substitute hair conditioner.
- Extra light olive oil can be used as a massage oil
- Olive oil can replace shaving cream or shaving oil
- Dip a razor into olive oil after use to prevent the blade rusting
- Can be applied to chapped lips to to relieve the dryness
- Use as a makeup remover
A teaspoon of olive oil can help soothe a tickling or sore throat (I've just tried that out and it has provided some relief) and in some cases if taken just before bed, can alleviate snoring :).
What non-food uses have you found for olive oil?
We're most familiar with olive oil in relation to cooking, but there's so many other ways it can be used; often avoiding the need to use chemicals, compounds and substances that aren't very environmentally friendly. For these tips, you don't need to use the best grade of olive oil.- After polishing copper or brass, rub it with a little olive oil to slow down the reocurrence of tarnish
- Can be used as a stainless steel cleaner; apply sparingly
- Rub olive oil into wooden cutting boards to help prevent cracking, repel staining and marking
- Remove paint from hair or skin by dabbing a cotton ball dipped in olive to the affected area
- Use it as an alternative for de-squeaking hinges
- Olive oil can help unjam zippers - use a cotton bud to apply
- Apply a little olive oil to your shoes to restore their shine
- Old leather can be made more supple by rubbing in olive oil (spot test first)
- Coat garden tool blades with a thin layer of olive oil to prevent dirt sticking to them and to help prevent rusting. This works really well!
- Mix one part lemon juice with 3 parts olive oil to make a wooden furniture polish
- Rub into to fingernails before and after manicuring
- A small amount of olive oil applied after shampooing can substitute hair conditioner.
- Extra light olive oil can be used as a massage oil
- Olive oil can replace shaving cream or shaving oil
- Dip a razor into olive oil after use to prevent the blade rusting
- Can be applied to chapped lips to to relieve the dryness
- Use as a makeup remover
A teaspoon of olive oil can help soothe a tickling or sore throat (I've just tried that out and it has provided some relief) and in some cases if taken just before bed, can alleviate snoring :).
What non-food uses have you found for olive oil?
January 1, 2009
Hoppin John with a twist!
It's a southern tradition to make and serve Hoppin John on New Years Eve. I was looking for a recipe for Hoppin John but was wanting something a little different and I found it over at Epicurious, it's Hoppin' John Risotto. Now I did change a few things from that original recipe...
This recipe serves 8 to 10 meal sized portions and the recipe can be cut in half to serve 4 or 6 people.
Bacon- fry more bacon! First off you will want more bacon for the topping trust me you will! The extra bacon fat is needed to add flavor to the onions while they are caramelizing. I personally felt that there was not enough bacon fat or butter in this recipe to properly caramelize the onions.
Pancetta and Garlic- if you make the full recipe use 4 ounces of pancetta and fry it with the red onions, celery and garlic as this will add more flavor, by drawing out the fat from the bacon and crisping it up. I do this when making pasta e fagioli and it adds a wonderful flavor! Garlic- the full recipe needs almost twice as much garlic then it calls for.
Parsley- I say forget the parsley, as it adds a grass like flavor that your kids will hate! And you want them to eat this as it takes a long time to prepare and make this dish!
I added freshly grated Parmesano Reggiano -that's Parmesan cheese that's from Parma Italy it is so seriously yummy and worth every penny! I buy mine at Sam's Club and save 50% on the cost per pound than it I were to buy it at the grocery store or even the commissary.
Do all of the prep work before you even think about starting this meal. At one point you will have 3 pots going at the same time on the stove- do not be frightened by this! I think that this is when I am most in my element. :-)
Freshly ground pepper- it calls for ¾ of a teaspoon, if you make the full sized recipe you will need more, a lot more!
Good luck and Happy Cooking!
This recipe serves 8 to 10 meal sized portions and the recipe can be cut in half to serve 4 or 6 people.
Bacon- fry more bacon! First off you will want more bacon for the topping trust me you will! The extra bacon fat is needed to add flavor to the onions while they are caramelizing. I personally felt that there was not enough bacon fat or butter in this recipe to properly caramelize the onions.
Pancetta and Garlic- if you make the full recipe use 4 ounces of pancetta and fry it with the red onions, celery and garlic as this will add more flavor, by drawing out the fat from the bacon and crisping it up. I do this when making pasta e fagioli and it adds a wonderful flavor! Garlic- the full recipe needs almost twice as much garlic then it calls for.
Parsley- I say forget the parsley, as it adds a grass like flavor that your kids will hate! And you want them to eat this as it takes a long time to prepare and make this dish!
I added freshly grated Parmesano Reggiano -that's Parmesan cheese that's from Parma Italy it is so seriously yummy and worth every penny! I buy mine at Sam's Club and save 50% on the cost per pound than it I were to buy it at the grocery store or even the commissary.
Do all of the prep work before you even think about starting this meal. At one point you will have 3 pots going at the same time on the stove- do not be frightened by this! I think that this is when I am most in my element. :-)
Freshly ground pepper- it calls for ¾ of a teaspoon, if you make the full sized recipe you will need more, a lot more!
Good luck and Happy Cooking!
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