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An ethical meal grey squirrel

An Ethical Meal: Grey Squirrel

Let us face it; it tastes sweet, like a cross between a duck and lamb. The squirrel meat is low in fat as well as low in food miles and most important, free range. In fact, many people affirm that the grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) is just about as ethical as any other meat. Sales figures consolidate this statement as butchers affirm that they are selling squirrel meat like cup cakes. The grey squirrel is the American cousin of Great Britain’s endangered red variety which are becoming more and more a rarity nowadays.

Back to the grey squirrel, at Ridely’s Fish & Game, a shop located in Corbridge, Northumberland, the owner David Ridley recently stated that he sold 1,000 at ?3.50 a squirrel in just a few months. “I wasn’t sure at first, and wondered would people really eat it. Now I take every squirrel I can get my hands on. I’ve had days when I have managed to get 60 and they’ve all sold straight away.”

Regarding the taste of the meat, he said, “It’s moist and sweet because, basically, its diet has been berries and nuts”. Many people believe that this increasing popularity is due to its green credentials. David Simpson, the director of Kingsley Village shopping centre in Fraddon, Cornwall said that “people like the fact it is wild meat, low in fat and local — so no food miles” while Ridley was patriotic, saying that “Eat a grey and save a red. That’s the message”.

Jay Rayner who is The Observer’s restaurant critic affirmed that he never ate squirrel meat but if he would have it for dinner in the future, “it would have to be a big, fat country squirrel and not one of the mangy urban ones you see in cities”. “People may say they are buying it because it’s green and environmentally friendly, but really they’re doing it out of curiosity and because of the novelty value. If they can say, «Darling, tonight we’re having squirrel», then that takes care of the first 30 minutes of any dinner party conversation. I see it remaining a niche. There’s not much meat on a squirrel, so I’d be surprised if farming squirrel takes off anywhere some time soon.”

Kevin Viner who is the former chef-proprietor of Pennypots (the first Michelin-starred restaurant in Cornwall), now runs Viners bar and restaurant at Summercourt, said that eating squirrel meat will still remain a niche but the room to expand is available as Britain has a plentiful supply of meat with more than 5 million squirrels spread. Kevin stated, “A large squirrel would be enough for one-and-a-half people. The public really are being drawn to it. I think that it’s because it is being perceived as a healthy meat. Southern fried squirrel is good. And tandoori style works. It is especially tasty fricass?ed with Cornish cream and walnuts. But the one everyone seems to like is the Cornish squirrel pasty.”

The fact is that the squirrel meat is becoming more and more popular among households and you can see this from the numerous squirrel recipes available on the Internet. We do not know if it will remain a niche market or not, all we do know is that the meat is great and there are no potential risks as some people recently stated. We are not trying to convince anyone to eat or do not eat squirrel meat, this was just a brief presentation of the status of the grey squirrel meat.

Paul petersen bbq pitmaster of pablo diablo bbq

Paul Petersen – Bbq Pitmaster Of Pablo Diablo Bbq

Paul Petersen is not exactly a novice when it comes to cooking BBQ. Infact, some would go so far as to say he something of a culinary prodigy.
Paul is a highly experienced BBQ’er who forms part of the well known and successful Pablo Diablo BBQ team, who is currently a competitor in TLC’s BBQ Pitmasters now showing on TV with the following credentials.
Team Name: Pablo Diablo BBQ Team
Location: McKinney, Texas
Name/style of pit: David Klose Pits — Custom Built Offset Smoker
Amount of money won in competition: none…yet!
Favorite dish to cook/most awarded dish?: Ancho Glazed Quail with Fried Quail Egg
Favorite Food (other than BBQ): Classic French
Paul also has some handy grilling tips for those of us who BBQ on a slightly more modest level.
Paul Petersen’s Grilling Tips
1. To perfectly sear a steak you need a very hot grill.
2. To get star marks on your steaks get three grill marks at 1/3 turn on each side.
3. When slow smoking meats you should have a spray bottle full of tasty liquid to spray when meat is looking dry.
4. You can smoke anything if you put your mind to it… I smoke grapes, avocados and onions all of which are served in my restaurants.. My doctor did tell me to quit though…
5. Clean and season your grill before cooking on it. Clean it with a brush and oil your grates well. You can cut an onion in half, coat it with a little oil, and use that to oil your grates instead of using a rag. This will add a little extra flavor.
Paul Petersens’ «Keeper Of The Flame»
Paul has also recently launched his new interactive cookbook site, called «Keeper of the Flame», that offers a dynamic interactive learning experience for those seeking culinary expertise.
Paul Petersen says, «My philosophy is ‘keep it simple’.  Use the best ingredients you can find, let them speak for themselves, and you will have great dishes.»
In today’s world, it’s hard to keep life simple.  From rock music to the sizzle of a blazing hot grill, many aspects of life fire me up. Paul Petersens’ Interactive Cookbook, Keeper of the Flame, will help you save time cooking delicious meals so that you have more time to spend enjoying your own life’s burning passions.
With its innovative features and easy-to-use technology, Keeper of the Flame will fire up your cooking and get you grillin’ to perfection in no time! Try out Paul Petersens cookbook and become your own «Kitchen Rockstar».

Top tips on how to use vacuum bag sealers to help you save money

top tips on how to use vacuum bag sealers to help you save money

In todays economic climate it is important we try to make savings where possible, the family food budget is one larger cost we face in our daily lives.

One great way to reduce the family budget is by using vacuum bag sealers, we often have with left over food from cooking the daily meals which just goes to waste when we realize it will not keep for any length of time in the fridge.  By using a vacuum bag sealer with vacuum sealer bags you will be able to store your left over food items and keep them fresh for a much longer period of time.

The sealer bags are designed in such a way that they remove all the air out of the bag that surrounds the food, this creates an air tight seal for your food items and helps to preserve them. This is especially useful when doing a lot of cooking with fresh vegetables and fresh fruit, to use vacuum your vacuum bag sealer is a really simple way of preserving food and saving you money in the process.

You only have to check the walkways in your local supermarket to see how many items are vacuum sealed, this is a good indication of how effective this process can be. The good news is that the manufactures of vacuum bag sealers realize there is an ever growing home market for this product, and have started to produce high quality affordable machines for us to buy.

The type of bags that are used with a bag sealer are not just ordinary plastic bags, they are made from a different material that allows you to freeze any food item you want, this is really helpful when freezing meat products as the process  prevents freezer burn of the meat. The manufactures have also developed vacuum storage bags to help you save loads of space around your home, these are particularly useful for storing those seasonal clothes when not needed.

Because the vacuum storage bag removes all the air from your clothes and provides a perfect seal, you will not get that moldy odour you get with items just stored in your garage or basement in a cardboard box. Using  vacuum storage bags are an extremely easy process today, all you have to do is put your clothes or bedding inside the storage bag and seal it, then use your vacuum cleaner and suck all the air out of the bag.

This dramatically reduces the size of the bag which makes it a lot easier to store your clothes and save loads of space at the same time, all storage bags come with manufactures instructions on how to use them, but it really is a simple process that saves you space and one you will wish you had bought years ago.

When buying a vacuum bag sealer i would always look at the middle of the range for bag sealers and bags, some of the more cheaper ones tend not to last as they should in my opinion. Do your research online to find the best value vacuum bag sealers before you decide to buy, you will find the medium priced sealers are of a high quality and provide you with excellent vacuum sealing capabilities.

Is a dairy free diet different from a casein free diet

Is A Dairy Free Diet Different from a Casein Free Diet?

There are lactose intolerances, casein allergies and milk allergies. Each is a different allergy or intolerance. To alleviate symptoms milk and milk derivatives have to be removed from both diets. Some processed foods can contain lactose. Casein can be found in processed foods, binding in vitamins, cosmetics and adhesives. Product labels should be read carefully to verify that they are lactose and casein free.

Lactose Intolerance
Lactose intolerance is less common in northern and western European. It is more common in African, African-American, Native American and Mediterranean populations. Lactose is a sugar found in milk and milk produces. Lactose intolerance is the inability to digest lactose. In the small intestines the enzyme, lactase is deficient in breaking down lactose into two simpler forms of sugar forms glucose and galactose. When lactose is broken down into glucose and galactose it is allowed to absorb into the blood steam. Lactose intolerance develops over time and many do not show symptoms until early childhood or early adulthood.
Casein Allergy
Casein is a primary type protein found in milk and milk derivatives. Some manufactured foods can contain casein. Casein allergy is more common in children than adults. Casein allergy is an immune system disorder. Symptoms can be rashes, eczema and stomach cramps. More severe reaction can occur. Note that manufactured foods may contain casein. Read the labels and check for casein-free products.
Milk Allergy

Milk allergy is a reaction of the immune system to one or more milk proteins. The immune system mistakenly creates antibodies to fight the milk proteins. The antibodies create chemicals in the body that can result in skin rashes, headaches, nausea and or wheezing. Lactose intolerance and cow milk allergy are not the same. One most common allergy that children have is milk allergy. In some instances, some that are allergic to cow’s milk may also allergic to goat, sheep, buffalo and soy milk. Milk allergy is most common in cow’s milk. Milk allergies can appear in the first year of life.
 Products containing dairy products and or lactose :

Processed foods have been altered to increase their shelf life. Not only do they have preservative but contain levels of lactose:

 
-Bread and baked goods
-Processed breakfast foods: doughnuts, frozen waffles, pancakes, toaster pastries and sweet rolls

-Processed cereals
-Instant potatoes, soups and breakfast drinks
-Corn chips, potato chips and other processed snacks
-Processed meats
-Margarine
-Salad dressing
-Liquid and powdered milk based meal replacements
-Protein powders and bars
-Candies
-Non dairy liquid and powdered coffee creamers
-Non dairy whipped toppings
-Casein is a protein found in milk and foods containing milk. Cheese, butter, yogurt, ice cream and some brands of margarine have casein. Casein can be added to non-milk processed products.
Many everyday products contain Gluten or Casein

-Food additives, malt flavoring, modified food starch and etc.
-Many vitamins and medications use gluten as a binding agent
-Some cosmetics
-Lipstick and lip balms
-Toothpaste
-Postage stamps (only used the self adhesive
-Play dough
 
 The modern Paleo diet contains foods originally eaten in man’s evolution. Paleo diet consists of fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, seeds, fish, poultry and lean meat. The modern Paleo diet is gluten free, dairy free and  preservative-free nutrition that will improve and maintain optimal health. Over processed laden foods are now linked to causing the many diseases we are faced with  today.  Healthy and nature foods are the ultimate secret to optimal health, losing weight and staying lean.

Disclaimer: The resources included in this list are provided only as a guide to a variety of online information services. A listing does not imply an endorsement of the information or services provided. This information is not offered to be interpreted as medical or professional advice. All medical information needs to be carefully reviewed with your health care provider. Note: The tips on this site should not replace advice from your physician. Always check your physician before making any changes to your daily habits.

 «DisclosureCompansation Affilate»

The Paleo Gluten Free Diet is ancient and existed before processed and fasted foods. It is a timeless diet for Healthy Living with Honest Ingredients. 310 Delicious Gluten Free Recipes. <a href=»http://www.favoriterecipes.biz/lactose-free.html»> Order The Paleo Gluten Free and Dairy Free Recipes Cookbook </a> For a collection of Famous Restaurant Copycat Recipes<a href=»http://www.favoriterecipes.biz»>Order America’s Secret Recipes</a>

The Paleo GlutenDiet is ancient and existed before processed and fasted foods. It is a timeless diet for Healthy Living with Honest Ingredients. 310 Delicious Gluten Free Recipes.http://www.favoriterecipes.biz/paleo.html  For a collection of Famous Restaurant Copycat Recipes http://www/favoriterecipes.biz

Nonstick cookware sets tips on how to protect your nonstick cookware

Nonstick Cookware Sets — Tips On How To Protect Your NonStick Cookware

There is nothing like having at least one good nonstick pan in your kitchen. However if you don’t take proper care of your nonstick cookware they basically could become useless to you in a very short time. The most common problem is that they get scratched or the non-stick coating begins to peel off the pan.
There are some simple guidelines you can follow to insure that your nonstick cookware set stays in good working condition for a long time. Exposing your pans to high heat can damage the nonstick coating causing it to peel or vaporize and degrade.
Some of today’s nonstick coatings can withstand high heat but if you’re not sure whether you have this newer coating on your pans a good rule of thumb is never use them on high heat and never use them above medium high heat.
Another good tip is to add just a little oil to the cookware before putting it on the heat. This will help you to judge whether the pan might be getting too hot. Once the oil begins to smoke the pan or pot is getting to hot.
Always use the right utensils when cooking with nonstick cookware. Heatproof utensils like nylon spatulas, wooden, or silicone coated utensils are perfect for nonstick surfaces and will not harm them.
When washing your nonstick pots and pans never use anything abrasive just use a soft sponge. If you stack your nonstick cookware when storing them you should place a paper towel between each pot or pan. This will help to prevent the surfaces from getting scratched.

Know about how to make homemade wine

Know About How to Make Homemade Wine

In today’s world each region is influenced with vast multi-ethnic diversity. The food that we consume is just as complex producing a definite acquired taste.
Wine is no exception.
Making wine is truly an art. “Scientific” approach and procedures will get you so far, but to make a perfect batch of wine it will take your personal touch.
To start off, the best fruit for making wine is grape. This is truly the fruit of the “gods” as it is the only fruit balanced in every respect. It has the right equilibrium of sugar , acids (tartaric, Malic, Ascorbic etc.), yeast nutrients, tannins, water content, etc. Most other fruits, although will produce good wines, are usually lacking either one or more compounds to attain perfection.
Wine is produced by anaerobic fermentation. The alcohol content is directly proportional to the sugar present in the juice. For more details go to www.july4-recipes.com All of the other ingredients, whether natural or supplemented, are to enhance the taste, ability of yeast to convert sugar to alcohol, catalyze the conversion process, and to add the bouquet to the finished product.
If this is your first time attempting the art, the following fool proof, easy method should be your first try. Purchase five gallons of good quality grape juice from local wine supplier or a grocery store.
If white wine is preferred, some of the better juices are: Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc.
For red Wines: Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc.
Most of the juice producers have already sulphanated the juice (for sterilization) and added the yeast.
Open the pail, smell, and taste the juice. There should be slight wine-like odor and the juice should taste like premature sweet champagne. This indicates that the primary fermentation is on its way.
Transfer the juice to a clean five gallons sterilized carboy leaving approximately three inches from the top. Place the air trap and leave it for approximately one month.
If the juice is not fermenting and it has not been sulphanated, add two campden (sodium/potassium-metabisulphate) tablets for each one gallon of juice (10 tablets for 5 gallons). Make sure that it has dissolved completely. Crushing the tablets speeds up the process. Cover and leave for 24 hours.
The sulphur from sodium/potassium-metabisulphate, once released throughout the juice, will destroy any yeast within twenty-four hours. For more details go to www.chef-123.com .There are millions of wild spores present in the fruit, so do not play the hit and miss method with your wine. Purchase good quality wine yeast and add it to the juice following the manufacturer’s instructions. It usually comes pre-packaged for five gallon batches.
The juice is usually packed in a five-gallon polyethylene/polypropylene pail. This container is perfect for primary fermentation. Make sure there is room for expansion as it will overflow. Once a day for the following week, open the pail and stir the juice with a clean ladle, plastic paddle, etc…. Place the lid on top of the pail and make sure the seal is not airtight.

Few essential steps to take for finding out right indian takeaway restaurants

Few essential steps to take for finding out right Indian takeaway restaurants

Often we all wish to enjoy food outside of restaurant in order to have a more comfortable ambience provided by the vastness of nature or the convenience of our homes. Indian takeaway restaurants are one of the options that you can consider while thinking of enjoying those exotic Indian cuisines.
There are few steps that you should ensure before you buy the food from these restaurants. You should make it certain that the reputation of the place is good when it comes to the serving of food to customers. It would not be a nice comment on a restaurant when someone says that it does not take the order on telephone nicely or delays the delivery very much. If the online queries are not responded properly in timely manner then avoid such a restaurant as its services may not be good enough.
If you are thinking of having a taste of exotic authentic Indian food and want to buy it from Indian takeaway restaurants, then make it doubly sure that the place is known for using genuine ingredients. The food should be prepared only with authentic Indian ingredients like vegetables and spices. If a restaurant is known for too many experiments on food, then avoid it if you wish to have authentic food from the country.
Only a professional restaurant will ensure that the ingredients are the same as have been used in Indian for centuries. Make sure that the name of the dishes match with the ingredients included in it. Spices should be carefully chosen in accordance of the cuisines. Know that almost every Indian cuisine is cooked in spices but each of the cuisines has its own set of spices for creating a particular taste and aroma.
One of the essential aspects that you should ensure in Indian takeaway restaurants of your choice is that its packaging should be hygienic and modern. Packaging material should be such that it conforms to the latest hygienic standards so that you can be served the food not only hot but in a safe manner as well.
Confirm the payment methods also. Make sure to know about the method of payment to the restaurant. Many of the Indian takeaway restaurants in London take cheque while others prefer cash. Find out the method in advance while giving your order on telephone or in person.