The difference between a bachelor and bachelorette party

Even though we may not want to be familiar with all the squalid details, us girls do have a rough concept regarding what just goes on at a lads bachelor party, things such as visiting strip clubs, getting drunk and making certain that the groom to be gets pleasure from one final night of independence.

 However, after having a conversation with my male friends, it appears that the men, in contrast, do not if truth be told have an indication of what takes place at a bachelorette party.

Normally the night begins fairly tamely with the group of girls meeting up at a restaurant or bar with a good chat but soon enough the liquor will start to flow and then the fun begins.

The majority of bachelorette parties will wind up at a male strip joint, with the women ogling Fabio-type men. The bride to be will most likely receive a lap dance or two. However, they may end up at a gentlemen's private club and strip themselves, to celebrate their friend’s final night of independence. However they had better hope it is not the same venue as the one that the groom and his pals are having their party at. That could be embarrassing.

All things considered, I deduce that a bachelorette gathering is not that basically dissimilar from a bachelor bash, as it entails all things alcohol and sex related, however, it is poles apart in one aspect.

At the same time as the bride-to-be is most likely anticipating starting her new life with her new husband, the groom-to-be, with the assistance of his pals, is taking enjoyment from his last few hours of freedom.

A bachelorette will not automatically take an unfamiliar person home or take part in something that she could not tell her future husband about, but the future groom will on no account reveal what happened at his bachelor party.

Facts About mold In Foods

                                            

mold is a kind of furry coat tat appears on foods that have been stored for a long time. Moulds come in various types and there is a group of moulds specific for the foodstufs. Examples of these moulds are alternalia, rhizopus, penicillium and many other moulds that are air borne. They are usually found on foods that are moist. A moist and warm environment is the one that moulds prefer most. Some food can be sliced and eaten partly after being attacked by mold whereas there are some foods that can not be eaten but thrown away as the best way to avoid the danger of mold in food. Respiratory problems can be aggravated by mold in foods and this is a major danger of mold in food.

It is imperative to understand the nature of the mold so as you can get the right remedy for it. Some people turn hysterical on seeing mold on their food whereas they would have taken the right steps to avert the danger of mold in food. mold spore can not be seen by a bare eye unless they start growing that is when they are visible. They are spots and parts of discolored patches on the food. Other than using your eye only, you can use your nose to know whether your food is mold infested. There is also a funny smell that comes with mold infection. Cleaning of the place the moldy food was is important to prevent another danger of mold in food later on.

There are some places that you do not expect mold in your refrigerator but you find that mold still grows there. Some of the far corners of the refrigerators can have mold .These are the recesses that are ventured rarely. Despite the temperatures of such places not being fit for mold growth you find that it exists. Such situations can be a real danger of mold in food because it is least expected. Foods that go bad in the pull out drawers can cause mold growth. The mold will start growing on such surfaces and if more food is put in those pull out drawers, it can be a real danger of mold in food. Whenever you are in doubt of mold infections on your food it is not worth the risk of maintaining the food rather throw the food away. Regulate moisture and warmth and repair all the moist parts that can regulate mold not only in your kitchen but all the parts of your home.

Start Enjoying Cooking For One

                   

Cooking seems like one big task especially if you are cooking for one. Mostly it affects the young people who are learning to live alone. Young bachelors are affected most and they depend mostly on fast foods that are not very good for their health although many people will tell you that it is very expensive. Many people think that cooking for one is not worth the effort but it can be as simple affair if you take it like you are doing it for a group of people. Living alone calls for prior preparation so that you can handle issues like cooking for one even before coming to the real situation. People also fear that there will be very many leftovers if you are all alone. It should not be a concern because they can be frozen and be re eaten or used for another recipe. It does not necessarily need to be what you ate the previous day.

So as to achieve cooking for one, you need to come up with a recipe that you should follow. Mostly; people claim that we do not have recipes for cooking for one but you need not have it because you can calculate on the existing recipes to get what is needed to cook for one. With a recipe at hand, you get to know the quantity of each an every ingredient you are to use. Other than throwing away the left over’s, they can be stored in a freezer and you can have a similar meal or as stated earlier you can use them in another recipe. There are some ingredients like vegetables that you buy just enough or what only is needed to avoid waste. Cooking for one can really be a boring activity. You can sample out new recipes from different parts to kill the boredom in cooking. You can get new recipes online or from books and give a shot at them

After cooking you can sit back and enjoy your meal that you cooked. Cooking for one can be very challenging especially if you came from a large family set up. With time you can get used to cooking for one. It is a healthier way of living when you compare it to eating out where you incline to eating   what you love most. Another good thing is that you eat what you cook at any time from the comfort of your house. When you follow these facts, you will end up enjoying cooking for one and will never fall into the bachelor stereotype.

Cooking tips for the single man

So you are a single guy and you live alone, your evenings are usually spent down the local bar with your mates or at home eating takeaway food such as pizza’s and burgers. If you are growing weary of this type of bachelor lifestyle then now may be a good time to start cooking meals for yourself and from scratch. Not only will your meals be healthier for you but your new found cookery skills will impress the ladies!

So you have brought a cookery book and you are ready to go out and buy all the ingredients for your home cooked meal. Here are a few tips to help guide you through the grocery buying process.

To begin with avoid buying vegetables and fruit that are fully ripened as they will have a very low shelf life and will quickly go rotten.

If you are looking to purchase cookware then go for the non-stick variety as this makes cooking easier and means you can use less cooking oil, as well as making the washing up easier.

So what kinds of meals are easy for the average single man to prepare and cook? Well eggs are a great source of protein and are extremely versatile as well as being easy to cook. From omelet to scrambled to fried, eggs offer a simple yet filling meal or snack.

Pasta is another versatile food as is rice, pasta and meatballs, spaghetti Bolognese and lasagna are just some of the pasta dishes that are easy to prepare and cook.

So put the phone down, stop ordering takeout and get yourself into the kitchen and learn how to cook for yourself, you will find it enjoyable and a lot more healthier than just eating endless junk food in front of the television. Bachelor Life need not revolve around takeout!

How to fix a leaking kitchen tap

Water dropping from a tap. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A leaking tap can be exasperating, a recurring torture it is a recurring difficulty that will challenge a homeowner sooner or later.

Why do some inhabitants leave faucets to drip? In all probability it is for the reason that it seems such a trivial chore, and it is the type of chore that continuously gets put back for another day.

In reality dealing with a leaking tap is relatively straightforward and there are diverse kinds of faucets available today to suit the tastes and styles of modern living, and some taps are simpler to fix than others. Perhaps for the most part a universal faucet is the pillar tap. These appear as two individual taps on your basin and each stand vertical in an L profile. Obviously you will first need to switch the water supply off, and this stop is usually to be found under the sink.

To mend a pillar tap you first need to open the top and underneath you will discover a screw. Unfasten the screw to free the leader gear. Next take off the hexagonal filler nut and on the underside of the stalk you will locate the washer. You ought to confirm that the stalk is dirt free and that the washer has not turned out to be aged and broken. Subsequently wash the stalk meticulously with metal wool and change the older washer with a newer one. As soon as completed, transpose the procedure and put your faucet back together and switch the water supply back on.

An earthenware disk tap requires a somewhat diverse method. This is the type of faucet that has a solitary spout for cold and hot water with a handle that is turned left or right to differentiate the water temperature. In all likelihood the earthenware disk will require a replacement. Subsequent to switching off the water supply, detach the ornamental head gear, and make use of a wrench to unfasten the hexagonal nut. Disconnect the cartridge and substitute with another one and prior to re- connecting, confirm that there isn’t any grime or limescale present.

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Safeguard Your Kitchen Against Water Damage

Modern kitchen (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

When it comes to water damage, the one room in your home which is most at risk is the kitchen. However, there are lots of measures that can be out in place to avoid this ort of problem. Having a kitchen restored and remodelled foowing water damage is very expensive, so it is much better to invest in preventative steps now rather than be sorry down the line!

There are various things which can result in your kitchen being affected by water damage and some are more obvious than others ranging from a leaky faucet all the way through to flood waters from severe weather conditions and everything in between. However, if you can catch the problem early on you can eliminate the issue before too much damage occurs. In the kitchen, it is common for water to be on the sink area and the floor so choosing the right materials is essential. If your budget alows then stone flooring is idea as are stone counters as these are less suscetible to absorbing water. These can also add to the aesthetic appeal of your home and increase its resale value.

The walls in the kitchen are also a danger point. There is the reguar prescence in any kitchen of steam and running water and as a result, special treated drywall should be considered in order to protect them against moisture. It is also possible to use specially formulated kitchen paint to offer additional protection against water damage. This type of paint is washable and water resistant. Finally, regular maintenance of your appliances including the refrigerator and washing machine can ward off water leaks occuring due to poor maintenance.

If all else fails, engage the services of a water damage restoration company. 

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A New Lease OF Life in The Kitchen

Since getting my new kitchen, I have found that I feel much more motivated in terms of cooking and doing kitchen chores. Now I know it's not possible for everyone to get a new kitchen justto motivate their cooking mojo, but there are some small projects you cnundertake to give your kitchen a new lease of life which willhave a knock on effect on your motivation.

Make sure your kitchen has adequate light sources. The kitchen is one of the two smallest rooms in a home traditionally. If they are too dark they will feel even smaller. Installing lighting can make a room more enjoyable and will increase the value of your home. Light colors will be good for a smaller kitchen when thinking of fixing up the interior of your home. Off white is a great color for making a room appear larger, and remember that big furniture pieces effect the lighting as well. Dark colors actually make a room look smaller.

Consider starting your projects in the kitchen with the basics. Thorough cleaning is the right way to start. Use a solution of two parts TSP to one part water to scrub the walls and remove grease stains. You will wipe away grease, but possibly some paint as well. Neutral, tan colors work well in all kinds of kitchens. Once you've finished re-painting, you'll be impressed with how dramatic the difference is.Think about refinishing your kitchen cabinetry instead of putting in new ones. You could paint and place new doors to get a new look. These changes should not cost you a lot, but they should make your kitchen look like a new room.

Clean out your pantry and organize it in order to improve your kitchen's functionality. Get rid of old foods, spices, and out-of-date canned goods. Clean shelves out and put in new liner paper. Then, organize your goods in a way that makes sense to you, being sure that commonly used food are easy to find. That way you won't have to search endlessly for the ingredients you need
 
Making home improvements can be done by novices, not just experts. Anyone can do it. It can be as easy as a simple paint job or it could be a brand new kitchen installation. Either way, it can bring a new level of value and a new sense of comfort to your home.

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Kitchen Tips For Busy Family Life

KitchenAid 5 qt. Stand Mixer, designed in 1937 by Egmont Arens, remains very successful today (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Busy families have become common place in our modern community and anyone who has ever been part of one knows that cooking a well balanced meal for everyone can be a difficult chore to fit into the day. Gone are the days of stay at home mommies and with both parents at work eating out seems to become a regular choice. However, despite its convenience, it can become very expensive. It is possible to prepare fresh meals quickly and stop eating out. Check out these handy kitchen hints for busy families:

1. Simplify Your Menu – You can still enjoy a nutritionally balance meal by using the simplest of methods. Why not add dishes like tacos, tortillas and burritos to your menu list. These are tasty and so easy to prepare in under 30 minutes. You will even get faster the more you make it. I have tacos down to about 15 minutes now!
2. Stock Up The Pantry & Prepare In Advance – It is important to have a well stocked kitchen. You will find that many simple recipes contain very similar ingredients, so by ensuring you have these ingredients at hand you will be able to cut your prep time in half! My must have ingredients include onions, garlic and vegetables. To save time I dice and chop these on the weekends and store in air tight containers for easy access to them throughout the week. If you know what ingredients you use alot of then stock up, often you can get discounts for bulk buying. I will also cut meat up and store in freezer bag. I can just pull one out of the freezer in the morning and it is ready to cook after work.
3. Invest In Appliances – Some kitchen appliances can be expensive, but they can be well worth it in terms of convenience it can be worth the investment. If you have a large family to prepare food for and a limited time, there are gadgets to help. The KitchenAid Artisan stand mixer is my best friend! I can mix up to 5 quarts of food at once! That is 7lbs of mash or enough dough for 5 loaves of bread! A Slow cooker or crock pot is also ideal for making family meals .

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Bachelor Cooking With Crock Pots

a slow cooker Oval Crock Pot (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

My brother has flown the nest and moved into what I can only describe as a bachelor pad, so I'm helping him brush up on his cooking skills so he isn't forced to live on cereal or hang out at my place! I'm a massive supporter of crock pot food preparation. As soon as I purchased my crock pot not too long ago, it's made a huge difference in the standard of my home-cooked dinners on days when I am pressed for time. Let me quickly add up the advantages:

• Cuts down physical preparation time.
• Makes meals more delicious.
• Can't beat that, can you?

Home Cooking Without Slaving

Just imagine you're having one of those "don't want to venture to the store" days: you've got haphazard foodstuff inside the refrigerator, perhaps some frozen chicken breasts, somewhat wilted celery, a clove of garlic clove, perhaps a bag of rice. You've got dinner!

Here's another example: In the early morning you get one pound of inexpensive, low fat stew beef, slice some carrots, potatoes and also a small red onion, add a bullion powder package and include with water. Give it a stir, set the crock pot on low and go to work. When you come home after a long day at work, your house smells incredible, like you have hired a chef and they've got dinner waiting for you! Salt and pepper the stew to taste and enjoy. The remainder of the stew can be refrigerated or frozen to provide 3 or 4 more meals. Stew often tastes better the next day anyway! This dish costs about 12 bucks for the ingredients and five minutes of prep work and gives you 4 or 5 meals! Bachelor's dream? I think so!

Get the Most From Your Pantry

It gets even better: the crock pot's magical talents include things like tenderizing even the roughest meats. The least expensive cuts of beef are generally also the leanest, providing you with all the advantages of consuming red meat without having the extra fat you'll see in the expensive marbled cuts. Slow-cook a tough cut of beef for 8 hours and it will melt in your mouth.

Importantly for the bachelor, a crock pot is a great way to improve cooking skills while keeping it basic and tasty. With a few common spices like basil, paprika and rosemary you will soon figure out which taste best with different meats or vegetables. Experiment with chopping your ingredients larger and smaller. Chili, soup, even stuffed peppers turn out great in a slow-cooker.

Cooking at home is the best way to make sure you eat right, and there's no easier way of creating delicious and healthy food than with the help of a slow cooker. 

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Handpicked Tips And Tricks For Kitchen Design Projects

If you are thinking about updating your kitchen, you need not focus only on replacing kitchen cabinets and countertops or resurfacing cabinet doors. There are a number of smaller sale projects you might like to try in order to freshen up the look of your kitchen. I have put together a few suggestions for you to consider, not only in the kitchen but throughout the home.

• Use lighter colors when you are painting the rooms like the kitchen or bathroom. Incorporating beige and white colors into a room will increase the appearance of the size. Dark colors can decrease the appearance in size. Smaller homes or apartments can look roomier with brighter colors. Having lighter colors gives off the feeling of more space in a cramped environment. If you use darker colors, you will make it appear smaller by closing you in. Light colors will be good for a smaller kitchen when thinking of fixing up the interior of your home. Off white is a great color for making a room appear larger, and remember that big furniture pieces effect the lighting as well. Dark colors actually make a room look smaller.
• Make sure your kitchen and bathroom have adequate light sources. Two of the smallest rooms in a home are traditionally the bathroom and kitchen. If they are too dark they will feel even smaller. Installing lighting can make a room more enjoyable and will increase the value of your home. Bathrooms in particular are much more comfortable when properly lit. Bad lighting only exacerbates this problem. Installing lighting can make a room more enjoyable and will increase the value of your home. Ensuring adequate lighting is installed in bathrooms and kitchens can make them feel more expansive.
• Think of the amount of people you have living in your home when figuring out how to design its interior. Is there only one or two other residents or do you have a large family. You should always be aware that each room serves a different purpose. A bedroom will require design features that will not be suitable for the living room or kitchen, for example. If you pay attention to these issues, your design process will be more effective.
• The use of ceramic tile in a kitchen or bathroom is a relatively simple project. Choose between a solid color or cool designs to improve the look of the room. The installation of ceramic tile is a fairly simple fix that adds value to your home.
• Clay flower pots are a very elegant addition to your kitchen. Kids can even decorate their own and use them to hold items in their rooms, such as toys, stuffed animals and other collectible items.

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Feeding The Family During A Kitchen Refit

Modern kitchen (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

One of the biggest upheavals during our recent kitchen remodel was planning how to feed the family with our kitchen out of commission for about 10 days. What I did was set up a mini kitchen in the dining room. I put the table against one wall and put my microwave, kettle, toaster and grill on there. I also bought a plug in hotplate. I planned ahead and cooked some meals ahead of time that I could freeze and then reheat in the microwave. Things like stew and casserole. I also made a few stirfry dishes on the hotplate which worked out pretty well. We never had to resort to to take-out although we did eat at my mother's house on one occasion. It was summer, so we also grilled out a couple of times. The main issue was washing the dishes. I had to do it in the shower which is not really idea. I ended up steam cleaning it afterwards because I just felt a bit ick! Apart from that we survived pretty well. I tried not to use meals that were going to leave a smell lingering in the dining room.

I think that forward planning goes a long way in most situations. If we are prepared then we can breeze through difficult situations. I think this does for lots of things, not just preparing for a kitchenremodel! Think about when we have to take a trip, when we have someone in hospital or any number different situations. So with that being said, I have a new motto...

Be Prepared!

Food Safety Audits

A lot of people have commented that I should work from home now that I have a new kitchen. However, it's not that simple. I'd have to get my kitchen certified for business use and that's a big hassle. I also prefer to be out of the house when I am working. It got me thinking though, so many people don't realise that there are serious issues behind the cupcakes! It's not all just mixing and frosting! One of the biggest issues is maintaing my food safety audits. It requires a lot of time and effort, but ultimately it is necessary to ensure the safety of my customers. It's not just a legal requirement, it's a moral obligation too. When someone orders cakes from me, they are trusting that I won't make them sick. I could never cut corners on food safety knowing that, more so because my product is cupcakes and a lot of kiddies will eat them.

I carry out my audits regularly and I use 3 different methods. First and foremost, I perform an internal audit because I know my business best and it is a chance for me to make sure that I am up to speed on everything. I do this more often than required, about once a month. I like to keep everything running properly. I have my little daily procedures too, but during a full audit I check everything. My second method is a customer audit which I do once a year. I invite customers to an open day on the premises and let them see our procedures and taste some samples. I then have them fill out feedback cards. This lets me get customer feedback and also builds trust in my brand. Lastly, is my external audit which I only do every 18 months or so. Sometimes having a fresh pair of eyes form an unbiased source is useful.

Any business in the food industry would find it hard to stay in business and to beat the competition without the proper steps to audit food safety. It is now more important than ever not to take this step for granted.

Top 5 Kitchen Gadgets

When I got my new kitchen installed, I took the opportunity to update my gadgets and appliances! I love to cook and I love little gadgets which make my dishes easier to make! Checkout my top 5 kitchen gadgets that I have added to my collection since remodeling the kitchen.

Kitchen Scales

I bake a lot, so measurements are very important. I decided to replace my old scales with some much more accurate electronic scales. Baking is a science, it is important to get the balance just right or else the recipe can go very wrong. Look for scales which offer both grams and ounces and a tare function as well.

Coffee Grinder

What kitchen is complete without a coffee grinder? Now I have a confession.. I don't actually drink coffee!! So what do I use a grinder for? Well the answer is simple. I buy whole spices and grind them myself in the coffee grinder. It makes for much better flavor than dried prepacks.

Waffle Iron

I have ALWAYS wanted a waffle iron! I finally found the perfect one which has reversible plates,so I can not only make my own waffles, but can flip the plates to use it as an electric grill or griddle. Even the waffle grid is great for things like veggies as it makes a beautiful pattern.

Candy Thermometer

Sugar is fascinating. However it is also unforgiving,so having a candy thermometer is a must. These thermometers are designed to read temperatures between 212F and 355F – temperatures which most foods will never reach! With one of these little babies you will be able to make pulled sugar, candy, caramel and so much more! Check out the candy temperature chart on the right!

Heating Pad

A heating pad in the kitchen? Yup that's right! A heating pad can help with so many thing. You can use it to melt chocolate, accelerate the rising of yeast, make yoghurt and keep gravies/soups/sauces warm among other things. I love my heat pad! It's my favorite kitchen gadget.

So those are the five kitchen gadgets I cannot live without. What are yours?

Bring On The Braai

I've talked before about some of the food I tried in South Africa, and a few people have emailed me asking about other foods that they should give a go. If you're looking for authentic South Africa food, then experiencing a South African braai is a must. The word 'braaivleis' is Afrikaans for grilled meat. It's commonly shortened to braai which basically means grill or bbq. So essentially this dish is just traditional South African barbecue! In fact, in South Africa it's really common to have a “Bring & Braai” which is sort of like a pot luck party. Everyone converges on one person's garden and brings meat or side dishes. Meat is the star attraction. Usually it will consist of chicken, pork, lamb, steaks, boerewors sausages and sosatie kebabs. However, Ribs, Fish and Rock Lobster are also common.

One of my favourite Braai recipes is for Pan Braai Steak Flambe

Ingredients

• Matured Rump steak (100 grams pp for starters, 200 – 300 grams pp for mains)
• Olive Oil
• Salt & Pepper
• Klipdrift (South African Brandy – any brandy will do)
• Cream (optional)

Method

1. Pat salt and pepper into/onto both sides of the steak.
2. Place the pan over the flames. This recipe works very well as a starter as it is best prepared whilst the fire is still burning. Use an old pan, or a cast iron pan, or whatever pan you generally use on the fire.
3. Generously add some olive oil to the pan. You might even want to put the oil in the pan before putting the pan on the flames.
4. As soon as the oil is really really hot, place the steak in the pan. Take care not to splash some of the boiling hot oil on yourself. The pan can stay on the flames during this whole process.
5. Turn the meat after about 2 minutes and remove from the fire after about another 2 minutes (very thin steak shorter, very thick steak longer).
6. Add a generous dash of brandy to the pan, take the pan back to the flames and slightly tilt so that the brandy can catch fire.
7. Remove the pan from fire and let the meat rest for a few minutes.
8. Cut the steak into strips (in the pan, or on a cutting board) and return the meat to the pan, so that it can further absorb some of the sauces in the pan.
9. Serve as is, potentially grinding additional sea salt onto the meat if needed.