Growing Berries in Your Own Backyard

Without a doubt, fresh berries are a culinary favorite, and a highlight of summertime, especially if you live in northern climates where the berry season is short and sweet. You might purchase your strawberries and raspberries at the local supermarket, or maybe a farmer’s market, but did you ever consider planting berries in your own backyard? It is much easier, and much more rewarding, than you might think!

Many berry plants are self-pollinating and multiply quickly, which means that in just a few years you could have a whole patch of strawberry plants or raspberry bushes in your yard. Berries also produce generous harvests of fruit every year, with minimal maintenance required.

Growing your own berries can also be cost-effective, as berries—especially organic varieties—can cost a pretty penny at the store. In addition, berries are easy to store and can be frozen for eating in the winter season.

If you’re thinking about planting your own berries, there are a few things you should consider when choosing which type of berry to plant and which side of your yard to dig up:

• Berries thrive in full sunlight and well-drained soil
• Different types of berries ripen at different times—if you want a full season of endless berry picking, choose your varieties accordingly
• With the exception of blueberries, which require neutral soil, berries can grow in a wide variety of soils

Here are a few tips that might help you decide which types of berries you want to grow.

Strawberries

There are three types of strawberry plants. Everbearing and day neutral strawberry varieties produce berries all season long and flourish when planted as a ground cover among other flowering or non-flowering plants. June-bearing strawberries, on the other hand, produce one generous crop of large berries in the spring.

Strawberries should be planted in early spring and weeded carefully as they can become easily overgrown.

Raspberries

There are many varieties of raspberries bushes, and many of them can be planted directly in the ground or in a raised bed to prevent excessive bramble growth. Raspberries should be planted in late fall or early spring and given plenty of room, as they tend to spread rapidly. To promote fruit production, you’ll want to prune your raspberry bushes in the winter or early spring.

Blueberries

Blueberries are slightly more particular, and need to be planted in acidic soil, preferably with a 4.8 pH level. If you prepare your soil correctly, your blueberry bush will thrive with little maintenance required.

There are many types of berries to choose from, and with little work required on your end, you could soon have a backyard haven of delicious, juicy fruit. If you haven’t considered growing your own berries before, maybe now is the time—they are guaranteed to add an impressive flourish to your family’s dining experience. Don’t forget to like or follow us for future posts on Your Family Dining Room.

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Turning Your Fireplace into an Indoor Grill

For taste connoisseurs there’s nothing quite like grilling in the great outdoors. Many of the better restaurants do their best to recreate the outdoor grilling experience, which just goes to show the simplest things are usually the best.

But grilling is not the ultimate example of simplicity in food preparation. Roasting, broiling or frying over an open hearth is the forerunner to grilling and is the oldest style of cooking in the world.

Home fireplaces pay homage to the old-style open hearth. But they are viewed more as a quaint relic than a fully functioning “appliance” with practical value for heating or cooking.

The association of fireplaces with nostalgia or aesthetic values is unfortunate, because it blinds us to the cooking potential that blazing fireplace infernos actually possess.

Yes, it is true, you can cook food inside your fireplace just as surely as you can prepare it outside over an open charcoal-, gas- or wood-fired grill. Exquisite taste experiences can be created right in our very own rec rooms or living rooms, and it doesn’t take advanced culinary ability to produce them.

Methods of Fireplace Cooking

Inventiveness is always encouraged, but there are three dependable cooking methods that can turn help turn any aspiring fireplace chef into their neighborhood’s version of Bobby Flay.

Scrumptious fireplace foods can be prepared:

1. Directly in or among the embers: foods like potatoes, onions, eggplants or sweet potatoes can be wrapped in foil and baked, while thick steaks can be successfully pan-fried in a heavy skillet.
2. On metal skewers: shish-kabobs are always a treat and you can customize your fireplace recipes to meet your own preferences.
3. Over the embers, as in grilling: a serviceable grilling platform can be created from two parallel rows of firebrick with space in between that can be packed with a layer of red-hot coals. Grills, frying pans, griddles or roasting pans can be placed on the bricks directly above the glowing embers, depending on what type of food you’d like to prepare.

You Can’t Beat the Open-Fire Cooking Experience

The benefits of fireplace cooking are many.

It allows you to replicate the outdoor grilling experience year-round and with far less expense. Fireplace cooking is possible at a wide range of temperatures, ranging from 160 degrees for roasting to 700 degrees or more for fast grilling. Weather and climate are no factors with fireplace cooking; in fact even power outages won’t be enough to stop you from preparing a full-course dinner on your home version of the open hearth. Finally, the experience itself has a real “pioneer” or camping feel to it, as if you and your family and friends were in the great outdoors roughing it and having a ball.

If you have a fireplace in your home, why not give this cooking thing a try? Start slowly, experiment, and discover what works the best—and tastes the best—for you. But please be careful and use caution, just like a normal there is a risk of fire. So be safe enjoy your new cooking ways.

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How to Make Pumpkin Pancakes

‘Tis the season for pumpkin-flavored goodies of all descriptions, from pumpkin pies to pumpkin lattes. If you’re a fan of the squash that has stormed our collective taste buds this time of year, you won’t want to miss out on delicious pumpkin pancakes.

Pancakes made from scratch are a simple breakfast treat that can be prepared in a matter of minutes. Adding a dash of pumpkin-y goodness adds hardly any time or effort, and transforms your breakfast into an instant cold weather classic. To make these pancakes, you will need:

• 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup milk
• 1 egg
• 1 Tbsp vegetable oil
• ¼ cup sugar
• 2 tsp baking powder
• ½ cup pumpkin puree
• ½ tsp ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg

You will also need one medium-sized mixing bowl, one small mixing bowl, a lightly-oiled griddle, a whisk and a sifter.

First, sift the flour, baking power, sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg into your mixing bowl. If you don’t have a sifter, you can simply whisk the ingredients together, but sifting helps the flour to mix smoothly with the wet ingredients to form a lump-free batter.

Whisk the wet ingredients—the milk, egg, oil and pumpkin—together in your small mixing bowl before adding them to the flour mixture in the medium-sized bowl.

Finally, heat your griddle over medium heat until the griddle itself reaches 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Ladle large spoonfull of batter onto the grill and cook them until bubbles form and the edges are dry, which should take about two minutes. Then, flip them over and cook them for about one more minute on the other side.

These pancakes should be served hot, and taste incredible with butter, syrup or both.

If this recipe becomes a favorite, you can always add more or less pumpkin and adjust the quantity of spices to create your ideal flavor combination. If you do add more pumpkin, be sure to mix in the wet ingredients slowly until you achieve the perfect consistency. If you add more pumpkin without decreasing the quantity of the other wet ingredients, your batter will become too thin.

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Endless Uses for Vinegar (Why Haven’t We Been Using This Sooner!)

Vinegar isn’t just a great product to have on hand for use in the kitchen. It can also be used to clean many household items.

1. Cleaning Window Blinds—To easily clean your blinds without recirculating dust, combine equal parts hot tap water and white vinegar. Dip a cotton-gloved finger into the solution, and then slide it along each blind. After every few swipes, dip the glove into clean water to rinse.

2. Cleaning Water Rings Off Furniture—If a glass has left a water ring on your coffee table, combine equal parts olive oil and vinegar, and gently wipe the table with a soft cloth. Afterward, use a dry cloth for added shine. For leather furniture, soak a sponge in undiluted white vinegar and gently dab the area.

3. Bringing Rugs Back to Life—To restore the look of your rugs, dip a clean push broom into a solution of 1 gallon of water and 1 cup of white vinegar. Brush the push broom along the rugs, and there’s no need to rinse the rugs after application. To prevent an accumulation of mildew on the bottom of a rug, mist the back with a spray bottle of undiluted white vinegar.

4. Brightening Brickwork—To polish your brick fireplace or any other brick surface, mix 1 cup white vinegar and 1 gallon of warm water. Dip a cloth into the solution and go over the bricks.

5. Hiding Scratches in Wood Furniture—To hide unsightly scratches in wood furniture, mix iodine and either distilled or cider vinegar in a jar. Use an artist’s brush to paint over the scratch. For darker woods, use more iodine, and for lighter woods, use more vinegar.

6. Making Wood Paneling Sparkle—To renew the look of your wood paneling, mix 1 pint of warm water, 4 tablespoons of either white or apple cider vinegar, and 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a container. Shake the container a couple of times, and then apply the solution with a clean cloth. Allow the mixture to soak into the wood for a few minutes, and then use a dry cloth to polish.

7. Cleaning Piano Keys—To get fingerprints and stains off your piano keys, make a solution of ½ cup of white vinegar and 2 cups of water. Dip a soft cloth into the solution and ring out the cloth until it doesn’t drip. Wipe each key gently, and then use a second cloth to dry each key immediately afterward. Leave your keyboard uncovered to dry completely for 24 hours.

 

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The Many Health Benefits Of Raisins

A raisin is actually a dried grape, yet it is more nutritious than many grape-based foods. The health benefits of raisins range from stronger teeth to anemia prevention:

1. This food reduces the risk of cancer because it contains numerous catechins. They are a type of antioxidant. Catechin consumption eliminates harmful free radicals, preventing the formation of cancerous cells.

2. Raisins can help diabetics manage their insulin levels. They do this by minimizing insulin responses that cause levels to rapidly rise or fall. This makes the body absorb sugars more safely.

3. Every raisin delivers a small amount of fiber, a nutrient that helps to prevent constipation. It can also stop people from having diarrhea as often.

4. Most studies indicate raisins lower blood pressure levels. This benefit is linked to their fiber and potassium content. It protects people from a variety of associated health problems.

5. Raisins affect certain hormones in a way that discourages overeating. At the same time, they offer a method to gain weight without the harmful effects of consuming cholesterol or saturated fats.

6. People can substantially boost their iron intake by eating this food. In addition to copper and vitamin B, this nutrient helps prevent or cure anemia.

7. Each raisin benefits the health of a person’s bones by supplying a bit of calcium. It also contains boron; this substance strengthens bones and promotes greater calcium absorption.

8. Certain antioxidants in raisins enhance eye health. They have the potential to prevent cataracts, macular degeneration and gradual vision loss. This food’s small quantities of vitamin A protect eyes as well.

9. A substance called oleanolic acid protects teeth in various ways. It reduces the risk they will become brittle or develop cavities. Boron and calcium benefit teeth as well.

10. Finally, there are nutrients in this food that help people recover from fevers. They act as antibiotics and kill germs. This enables these phytonutrients to combat bacterial as well as viral infections.

Other health benefits of raisins include their ability to eliminate digestive toxins and help people burn cholesterol. For further helpful kitchen and household tips, please remember to follow us.

Why You Should Cook With Besan, Chickpea Flour

Chickpeas flour, also known as gram flour or besan, have become the latest favorite of the healthy-eating population. And we have to maintain, for sound reasons, too. It is gluten-free, high in iron, protein and fibre and what is more, it is a highly versatile variety of flour that you can use for soups, desserts, sauces and a variety of other dishes.

Cooking with Chickpea Flour

Let us a look a bit closely here. Although Americans have only recently caught up with the fad of chickpea flour, the item has been in use for long in many parts of the world. In India, for example, it is widely used for making vegetable fritters and sweetmeats such as besan aaddu — a highly popular variety of sweetmeat in the Indian subcontinent. In case of the fritters, the vegetable balls are coated in the chickpea flour and fried. The laddus are normally roasted chickpea or gram flour balls mixed with flavors such as cardamom and others. Similarly, in other places of Asia, chickpea flour is used in a variety of dishes. For example, Burmese tofu is made with chickpea flour. In middle-eastern countries, popular foods like hummus or falafel make use of besan or gram flour.

Why Cook with Chickpea Flour?

Well, we have already mentioned its benefits as a health food. It s gluten-free and since gluten-free has become the new mantra for healthy eaters, we can safely predict that chickpea flour is here to stay. Famous chef Ottolenghi, for example, has eulogized the health benefits and versatility of the item in high terms recently. The British-based chef himself uses it to make flatbreads, biscuits, vegetable fritters and his signature Iranian dumplings. The flour is also great, he maintains, for making yoghurt sauces and various kinds of soups since it helps the gravy to thicken and prevents it from curdling.

So, yes, if you are a stickler for healthy food trends, we say it is definitely time that you explored the immense benefits of chickpea flour.

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How To Make Indian Naan Bread

Homemade breads are a delight for food lovers aplenty. And when it comes to those fluffy, spongy, air-soaked Indian Naan Breads, there isn’t much that can beat it, especially for those with a taste for Indian cuisine and spice-filled extravaganzas. And the greatest news is that they are really easy to make, so no question of breaking too much sweat over it!

How to Make Naan

The item naan bread originally comes from the land of Iran or Persia, but over time, many varieties of naans have evolved over vast regions of Asia, until they finally came to west and proved a hit with the western audience, too. The process of how to make a naan bread is pretty much the same though and it is the flavor and condiments you use which account for differences in taste. For example, in Indian naan bread, it is quite common to use Nigella seeds, or herbs like fresh cilantro, etc. whereas Pakistani naan will use fragrant essences, such as khus, rose, or melted ghee or butter for purposes of flavoring.

The Process

Mix sugar and yeast and add warm water and let the mixture sit for a while until the yeast is activated. In another large bowl, add flour, baking soda and baking powder. For flour, you can use only all-purpose flour or wheat pastry flour and all-purpose flour in equal measure.

Once the yeast culture is ready, add yogurt and warm milk to the combine and then pour the whole mixture over the flour. Mix and knead the flour with hands until the dough is prepared and then set it aside for 1-3 hours to let it rise. You may like to cover the dough in a plastic wrap.

Afterwards, divide the dough into balls and flatten them. You may use a rolling-pin for this purpose and keep this in mind that the pieces should not be flattened any thinner than ¼ inches. A cast iron skillet is best for making naan bread. Warm it to medium high heat and place the naan in the pan after covering both sides of it with butter. Cover the skillet and bake for a minute or so and then flip it around and cook for another 1-2 minutes. By this time, the naan should be bubbly enough and there will be large air pockets and toasted spots. Repeat the process for the rest of the naans.

That’ s about it. Easy enough, we would say!

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Recipe Ideas For Using Canned Tomatoes

Your kitchen should always have a few cans of tomatoes in the cupboard. It is a handy ingredient for different kinds of dishes that you can make in a pinch. Here are some canned tomato recipes that are sure to impress:

Chunky Pasta Sauce

Pasta is a go-to meal when you only have a few minutes to spare for cooking. You can get a healthy and filling meal in no time with just a small number of ingredients. It can be made as simple or as complex as desired. Boil the noodles in water with a bit of salt and oil to prevent them from sticking to each other. Be careful not to overcook them as they will become soggy and difficult to eat. As for the sauce, use the canned tomatoes as base. Sauté a good amount of garlic and onions. Add salt, pepper, and other spices depending on preference.

Tomato and Bacon Risotto

Risotto is a classic dish that turns plain rice into something exciting. Use whatever type of rice you currently have but it would be good to use one that isn’t too sticky. Coat uncooked rice in hot oil over low heat then add just enough water. Put in some chicken cubes to enhance the taste and mix things around. Then add in the canned tomatoes before letting the entire thing boil. The rice should become softer over time. You can add crushed bacon bits to make the entire dish more savory.

Easy Meat Lasagna

If you have ground beef in the refrigerator, then consider cooking lasagna for dinner. You can definitely whip up something that tastes better than the frozen ones at convenience stores. Place the pasta inside a boiling pot of water and wait until it is cooked just right. Next, create a white sauce by combining cream, butter, and pepper as the base ingredients. Then move on to the red sauce which is a mixture of canned tomatoes and spices. Layer them up while sprinkling cheese liberally.

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Are Non-Stick Pots And Pans Safe To Use?

Cooking is a fun and rewarding activity. You know all your efforts will be rewarded in the end with a nice meal. It’s what happens afterwards that can be frustrating. Washing the pots and pans is a burden if food has dried up and got stuck onto their surfaces. You’ll need to scrub them all off until your arms get tired. It’s no wonder that non-stick varieties became so popular when they were introduced, especially Teflon. They comprise the vast majority of cookware sales because of they are easy to clean and more convenient to use. But are non-stick pots and pans safe to use?

The Controversy

These popular cookware sets suddenly became feared when the results of studies showed that they contained toxic substances that could harm the body. Granted, the amount of toxicity is low so exposure may not be that dangerous to humans. Birds, however, are smaller and more fragile. Some have had adverse reactions with just a bit of exposure to the fumes. It is feared that repeat exposure over the years will trigger a similar effect in people. There is no long-term study that could confirm or deny this theory so the jury is still out there.

The Facts

According to research, toxicity only becomes an issue if the pans are heated to more than 500-degrees Fahrenheit. Beyond this point, a chemical reaction is triggered to release unwanted substances into the air. Manufacturers agree with this assessment and have made their recommendations accordingly. Yet how realistic is it to keep the temperature below this level? Lab tests show that just a few minutes of heat with the stove set on HIGH is enough for pans to exceed 500 degrees.

With regards to peeling, experts say that it should not be a concern. Swallowing chips accidentally will not cause any harmful effects inside the body. The substance will simply pass through uneventfully and will not be absorbed by the bloodstream. Those who still want to use non-stick pots should take precautions like avoiding high heat and pre-heating while empty to be on the safe side.

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How To Clean The Icemaker On Your Refrigerator

Automatic icemaker is one part in a freezer that most people forget to clean. By the virtue that it’s near the freezer doesn’t mean it doesn’t get dirty. Luckily, it is one area that anyone can clean seamlessly. Here are a few steps that you can follow to clean your refrigerator icemaker :

Clean Out the Unit

Before you begin cleaning the automatic icemaker, it is pertinent to clean the whole unit to give you more space to work and ensure that you don’t ruin any food item that you may need later. Store the food items in separate unit so that you can reuse them later on. Ensure that you check at their expiry dates to ensure that you don’t hold an item that you shouldn’t.

Defrost

After getting the food out of the freezer and the whole refrigerator, you can begin defrosting the unit. Although each unit has its unique cleaning procedure, the rule of the thumb is to simply switch off the whole unit and leave the doors open for approximately three hours. Remember to lift up the arm of the icemaker (if your unit has one) to prevent it from making ice while you are defrosting.

Clean the Ice Tray

Remove the ice tray from the refrigerator (if you haven’t done this already). Dump out the water and spotlessly clean the tray. Dry the tray by turning it upside down to ensure that it gets completely dry.

Clean the Ice Maker

If you don’t have some in your house, now is the time to walk to your local store to get some commercially made icemaker cleaners. Add the solution to the icemaker based on the manufacturer’s directions.

Plug the Unit In and Run A Few Cycles

After adding the cleaning agent, plug the refrigerator in. Turn on the icemaker and allow it to run a few cycles (3 to 4 is enough) to allow the cleaning agent work through the system and to ensure that everything is getting completely cleaned.

Once you are through with running the cycles, throw all the ice made because nobody would love to use ice that contains a cleaning agent. Clean your ice tray once again and replace it. This is it. You’ve finished cleaning your automatic icemaker.