Flour Nut

The right combination of food and wine can lift the spirits at any party during the holidays and even when friends and family gather just to spend a little time together. There are tons of ideas for meals and the right drinks that would complement those dishes. But, for the purpose of this article, let us take a look at some quick ideas that are sure to bring pleasure.

In addition to pleasing the taste buds and filling the many tummies of the people at the party, the following ideas are healthy choices that may also boost your reputation as a health conscious host. You must admit, being tagged with that quality is a very good thing when it comes to reputation and personal branding among friends and family.

If you have reached the point of wanting to scream if you see one more slice of roast beef, chunk of Turkey breast or slice of ham you will simply love the following easy snack food ideas to enjoy with your wine.

1. Scrumptious Avocado And Succulent Shrimp Salad: preparation of this snack requires combining garlic (3 minced cloves), white wine vinegar (1/4 cup), 1 tablespoon of cilantro chopped to your desire. Next, you will need to add avocados (2) that are ripe, a little red leaf or butter lettuce garnished with slices of lemon. A variety of chopped nuts goes well as an option to add a little more pizzazz. It is now ready to be mixed with half inch shrimp pieces and arranged in whatever way you desire.

2. Rice And Chicken (Spanish Style): there are quite a few different takes on how to prepare this very delicious and popular snack. You may already have your own recipe for this one. If not, spend a little time researching a few of the tasty old-school recipes. You are sure to find the perfect one.

3. Tuna Spread Or Salad Mix: this very simple and extremely delicious snack goes a very long way with crackers, toasted bread or wrapped in lettuce leaves with cheese as a compliment.

It has been known for many years that wine can enhance people’s dining experience when matched with the right vegetables, cheeses and even meats. We hope that this article has moved you to try these ideas and has caused a spark that will turn into a flame of your own ideas.

And remember, always use a wine aerator when you are serving wine at home and to guests in order to achieve that peak flavour and aroma that everyone loves. But don’t panic if you don’t already have one of these handy kitchen tools. At ThinkBooze, we have a handy guide on wine aerators here that will help you out when you’re ready to shop for one before your next bottle of wine.

This is a guest post by Adam of Think Booze, a blog dedicated to wine, beer and spirits.

Baking with an air fryer is becoming one of the most increasingly popular methods of cooking in the kitchen all around the world. It allows you to bake, fry, and deep fry. An air fryer allows you to use less oil to fry your food and drains more excess fat by cooking with air convection. Best of all, you can expect to save on your electrical cost by 24% with an appliance that uses as much electricity as a microwave. Most air fryers can be purchased for under hundred dollars, but you can find one with more features for a little more.

Add Water To The Air Fryer Drawer

Adding water to the air fryer basket when you’re cooking fatty foods reduces smoke. In fact, make sure it is five inches away from a heat-resistant countertop and on a level surface. This will allow the heat to distribute throughout the food without the threat of uneven cooking temperatures.

Never Overcrowd The Basket

Never overcrowd the cooking basket because it can cause your food to cook unevenly. Cooking light foods can be done with a toothpick to hold the food together. Light foods can blow around in the cooking process. In fact, it is recommended that you shake the basket to allow the food to cook evenly and flip the food halfway through the cooking cycle.

Use Spraying Oil

Throughout the air frying process use spraying oil directly on your food to ensure that your food doesn’t stick. Spray oil halfway through the cooking process. If you’re interested in an easy cleanup method, use aluminum foil or parchment paper to avoid having your food stick to the basket.

Always Pat Your Food Dry

Marinated food and high fatty foods should always be patted dry before you put them in the air fryer. This also reduces the amount of smoke and fat that will be drained during the frying process.

Preheat Your Air Fryer

Set the temperature on your air fryer to your desired heat setting and turn on the timer about two or three minutes in advance. When the timer goes off your food is ready to be prepared. Preheating your air fryer gives your food a jumpstart during the cooking process.

Check Your Food

The air fryer allows you to check your food as often as you like. Opening your air fryer (within reason) will not cause your food to cook any indifferently. Checking your food on a regularly basis in the air fryer will allow you to get it to your desired density.

The days of having to stand over a hot stove all day are over. The air fryer allows busy professionals or people without a lot of time to spend in the kitchen to still eat healthy. The high air convection cooking process allows you to eat a nutritious delicious meal whenever you want.

Without dessert, a meal is not complete. This is a fact all around the world and desserts vary from one country to the next. There are desserts that are rich and chocolaty and others that are fruity and light. In this article we will briefly discuss some of the best desserts in a few areas of the world.

1. Indonesia — Dadar Gulung

What dadar means is pancake and gulung stands for rolling, this is why this dessert which is sought after on Java, the Indonesian island is called dadar gulung. This green pancake is made from the leaves of pandanus, stuffed with coconut sugar and then rolled up into a delicious dessert.

2. France — Crème Brûlée

This dessert is popular all throughout France and is made of creamy and rich custard which is topped with a crunchy and slightly hard caramel, before serving it is lightly browned. This is now also very popular all over the world and best served with a cup of coffee.

3. United States of America — Apple Pie

Nothing is more American than a delicious apple pie. Apple pieces are wrapped in a flaky crust, the pie can them de served with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream and there are those who even like it with cheddar cheese.

4. Italy — Gelato

Gelato is an Italian take on ice cream and the streets of Italy are lined with cafes, shops and restaurants that sell it. Gelato is softer than traditional ice cream and come in all sort of delicious flavors, for example; pistachio, chocolate, raspberry and rum.

5. Turkey — Baklava

This Turkish specialty is made of phyllo dough which is layered between a delicious mixture of nuts that have been finely chopped. Honey or syrup is used to hold the squares together.

6. Russia — Syrniki

Made out of quark, which is fresh dairy product derived from cheese and has a texture which is similar to that of sour cream, syrniki is a pancake dessert that Russians are very fond of. The packets are fried and topped with applesauce, honey, jam or sour cream.

7. Peru — Picarones

This is a take on the American donut; however a picaron is made by deep frying a combination of squash, sweet potato, yeast, flour, anise and sugar.

8. Japan — Mochi

The name mochi is derived from mochigome which is a glutinous rich that after being pounded until it is a paste, it is molded into a circle. It is available in Japan all year long however the time that it is most eaten and sold is during Japanese New Year. Many times it is server wrapped around an ice-cream scoop.

These are just a few of the many delicious desserts you can find in various areas of the world.

Utilizing the Right Baking Equipment

Correctly measuring your ingredients can make all the difference. Use the liquid and dry measuring cups for their intended purpose or you could end up with disproportionate ingredients. Using a scale will give you the most accurate measurements.

Some tools less associated with baking can prove very useful- For precision in presentation, a measuring ruler makes sure your cookies fit together properly, especially if you are baking more elaborate cookies with specific shapes. It’s also helpful in keeping uniform distance between the dough pieces on a baking sheet (typically two inches); using an ice cream scoop is often recommended for this part of the process as well, for symmetrical and evenly placed pieces of dough. Off-set spatulas are also a great tool for moving and shaping cookies.

The kind of baking sheet you use will influence the cooking process. A thicker pan makes sure the bottom doesn’t brown too quickly before the rest of the cookie, and a pan with shorter edges allows for easier transfer of cookies onto plates or cooling racks. A cooling rack makes sure the cookie evenly cools so they don’t retain too much moisture and become soggy.

Using parchment paper is always recommended as a superior alternative to butter or other cooking greases since it not only helps in the heating process of the cookie, but makes clean up afterwards a fair bit less arduous.

If you plan to store the cookies, make sure to use air-tight containers.

Choosing the Right Ingredients

Ingredients give you flexible control over the cookies taste, texture, and shape.

Flours – All-Purpose unbleached flour gives you a flatter cookie that keeps its shape when heated compared to cake flour which will be softer and puff out more. Always sift in a bit of flour at a time as you stir the dough mix, and avoid over-stirring so the cookie doesn’t become too dense.

Eggs – Eggs tend to make cookies softer and puffier. Adding egg yolks by themselves makes for a chewier and crispier cookie, while egg whites go for a dryer and softer texture overall. Always stir in one egg at a time so they mix in thoroughly.

Baking Soda & Baking Powder – The choice will mainly effect the coloring and texture of the cookie, with baking powder giving you a lighter and softer/puffier cookie, while baking soda augments the browning process.

Sugar – A cookie tends to keep its shape if more sugar is used. White sugar benefits a crunchier/crispier texture where as brown sugar makes a chewier cookie. Honey is a suitable replacement if your looking for a similar texture to brown sugar. Make sure you mix the sugar well into the mix.

Butter – More butter or fat substitute is another option for allowing a cookie to keep its shape. Less fat leads to more expansion in the final cookie.

Your cookies will get better with experience. Time to get started!