Making Rice a Fresh, New Meal with these 5 Ideas

Making Rice a Fresh, New Meal with these 5 Ideas

Washing Rice
Rice needs to be thoroughly washed. A good way to do this is to put it into a colander, in a deep pan of water. Rub the rice well with the hands, lifting the colander in and out the water, and changing the water until it is clear; then drain. In this way the grit is deposited in the water, and the rice left thoroughly clean.

Best Method for Cooking Rice
The best way to cook rice is by steaming it. If boiled in much water, it loses a portion of its already small percentage of nitrogenous elements. It requires much less time for cooking than any of the other grains. Like all the dried grains and seeds, rice swells in cooking to several times its original bulk. When cooked, each grain of rice should be separate and distinct, yet perfectly tender.

Easy steamed rice
Wash 1 cup of long grain rice.  In a medium sauce pan or larger pan if you’re doubling portions to fix for a crowd, combine rice with  2 cups of water and a 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Cook uncovered until it comes to a boil.  Stir and fluff rice and lower heat to just a simmer.  Cover with a tight lid (do not remove lid to peek while cooking) and simmer approximately 14 min.  Then, continuing to keep lid sealed, remove pan from heat and let set about 5 minutes.  Rice should then be ready to serve.

Boiled rice (Japanese method)
Thoroughly wash rice and soak it overnight. In the morning, drain rice and cook it in an equal quantity of boiling water. (Ratio would be 1 cup of water for every 1 cup of rice)  For cooking, the best option is to use a stewpan with a tight fitting cover.

Heat the water to boiling and then add the rice.  After stirring, place on the cover.  Do not remove the lid during the boiling stage. As the water boils, steam will puff out freely from under the cover, but when the water has nearly evaporated, which will be approximately 8 – 10 minutes, according to the age and quality of the rice, only a faint suggestion of steam will be observed.  The stewpan must then be removed from the heat to some place on the range where it will not burn and left to swell and dry for 15 – 20 minutes.

Making rice a fresh, new meal with these 5 ideas…

1. Rice with fig sauce
Need a breakfast that will ward of hunger until noon? Steam a cupful of  rice as directed above.  When done, serve with a fig sauce. Dish a spoonful of  fig sauce with each serving of rice and serve with plenty of milk or cream. Rice served in this way requires no sugar for dressing and is a most wholesome breakfast dish.

2. Orange rice
Craving a little sweetness, but want something solid too?  Wash and steam the rice. Prepare some oranges by separating into sections and cutting each section in halves, removing the seeds and all the white portions. Sprinkle the oranges lightly with sugar and let them stand while the rice is cooking. Serve a portion of the orange mix with each serving of rice.

3. Rice with raisins
Want something a little old-fashioned and hearty? Carefully wash a cup of rice, soak it, and cook as directed for steamed rice. After the rice has begun to swell, but before it has softened, stir in a cupful of raisins with a fork.  Serve with milk or cream.

4. Rice with peaches.
Here’s a nice dish to enjoy with family.  Steam the rice and when done, serve with cream and a nicely ripened peach pared and sliced on each individual dish.

5. Browned rice
Make it a grand meal!  Spread a cupful of rice on a shallow baking tin, and put into a moderately hot oven to brown. It will need to be stirred frequently to prevent burning and to secure a uniformity of color. Each rice kernel, when sufficiently browned, should be yellowish brown, about the color of ripened wheat.

Steam the rice using two cups of water for each cup of browned rice, omitting the preliminary soaking. When properly cooked, each kernel will be separated, dry and mealy. Rice prepared in this manner is undoubtedly more digestible than when cooked without browning.

*Browned rice can make a delicious meal for even a crowd by adding chicken breast stir-fried in a little olive oil and serving the chicken & rice mix with sweet-n-sour sauce.

Making Rice a Great Meal by NewsletterClips.com

Make Iced Coffee

Make Iced Coffee

Iced coffee can be as easy to prepare as iced tea.  With a large variety of options, such as flavoring syrups, cold milk, chocolate and spices,  you can create your own personalized coffee concoctions that are just as delicious as those pricey ones served in your favorite cafe.

Here are some tips to make iced coffee at home:

* Pour the flavoring syrup into the cup first. To complete the drink, pour in espresso or coffee, then the ice, and top it off with cold milk.

* Don’t let your beverage become watered down. Cool your favorite coffee beverage with ice cubes made from fresh-brewed coffee instead of water.

* Use a machine that produces a high quality coffee or espresso. The Capresso CoffeeTeam Luxe, for example, grinds coffee beans right before brewing and allows you to control the strength of your coffee.

* Make it extra special. Become a little spontaneous and have fun when you make iced coffee!  Get creative and experiment by adding your own personalized touch with whipped cream, chocolate shavings, nutmeg or cinnamon.

Make Iced Coffee by NewsletterClips.com

How to Make Cheesecake ~ A Perfect Delight!

How to Make Cheesecake ~ A Perfect Delight!

There are few secrets in baking cheesecakes like a pro. How to make a cheesecake that taste and look like you had a professional create it need not be a secret any longer.

8 Tips to Make the Perfect Cheesecake:

1. Use first rate, quality ingredients. Opt only for AA grade large eggs and always remember that full-fat cream cheese can produce the taste and texture that you are looking for. Fat-free varieties of cheeses will produce a cheesecake that is chalky, soft, and slightly rubbery inside.

2.  Choose heavy cream that is pasteurized instead of ultra pasteurized. Make sure that the sour cream you are about to use has not actually spoiled or soured. Additionally, make sure that all of the ingredients are stored at room temperature before you begin mixing, most especially the cream cheese. If the ingredient is hard and cold, it will only create a lumpy cheesecake and beating it to death will also not help.

3.  Remember to bake the cake in a water bath, also known as a bain-marie. Cheesecakes that are baked using this method are insulated from the direct dry heat of the oven. This will help you achieve a creamy, custard-like moist and rich cheesecake.

4.  Fruits are best reserved for use as toppings. The flavors from the fruit can get lost and muddled in the cheesecake when baked together with the cake. Plain cheesecakes topped with fresh berries finished with liquefied preserves or cooled fruit compotes will provide a stunning presentation and optimum taste.

5.  Always avoid beating the cheesecake filling excessively. Doing so will only incorporate additional air and cause cracking on the surface of the cheesecake.

6.  Make use of a spring-form pan, with removable side and bottom. Place the pan on a baking sheet in order to aid in avoiding leaks in the oven.

7.  Make sure that the cheesecake is placed on the center rack of the oven during the baking process.
Do not be enticed to open the oven during the first 30 to 40 minutes as drafts can create cracks and cause the cheesecake to fall.

8.  Avoid over-baking and be aware that baking times are not always exact because of several oven variations. Make sure that the edges are puffed and the center slightly “jiggly” and moist; these are the most common indications of a perfectly baked cheesecake.