Mastering the kitchen involves understanding healthy fat profiles, variety-specific grain preparation, and safe food handling techniques.
Stevia, which is derived from the leaf of a South American herb, is a recent addition to the list of artificial sweeteners in the United States. Although stevia was once only available as a dietary supplement, the U.S.
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Steam trapped inside a pressure cooker builds to 15 lb. per square inch. This causes water to boil at 250 degrees Fahrenheit rather than 212 degrees in an uncovered pot. The higher temperature inside the pressure cooker allows foods to cook in one-third less time than it would take to cook foods normally.
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Scrapple is a traditional German food and a favorite dish in many Pennsylvania Dutch communities, as well as areas of the south.
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Pumpkin has only 41 calories per 1/2-cup serving and is jam-packed with vitamin A, containing 336 percent of the daily recommended dietary allowance for women and 269 percent for men. Pumpkin also supplies vitamin C, iron, potassium, magnesium and folic acid.
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Pasta steamers are a convenient way to cook noodles, especially if you are preparing a meal for a large number of people. Although they are called steamers, the pots cook pasta in boiling water similar to any other pot.
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Steel-cut oats are coarser, smaller and tougher than rolled oats, but both varieties are complete whole grains with the bran and germ intact.
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Cumin -- from a plant that is indigenous to the Mediterranean -- brings the musky edge to curries and deepens the flavor of chili. Its seeds are sometimes used whole, but more commonly they are ground into powder. Whole cumin provides intense bursts of flavor when you bite into the individual seeds.
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Unlike its precooked counterpart, raw bratwurst sausage is just what the name implies -- uncooked meat that has to be heated through sufficiently for safe consumption. No matter what cooking method you choose, it must be heated to a temperature of at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Traditional chicken cordon bleu calls for boneless skinless chicken breasts to be pounded thin, wrapped around slices of ham and cheese, dipped in seasoned breadcrumbs and whisked eggs, then pan- or deep-fried in oil and butter. The result is far from healthy.
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Toaster ovens are smaller than regular ovens, which is among its advantages. In hot weather, a toaster oven will not heat up the kitchen; it doesn't use as much power as a big oven; and it is ideal for dorm rooms, offices and vacation homes.
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While you really shouldn't "cook" a raw brat straight from the freezer, if you don't have 25 minutes to let the brats thaw in tap water, you can. However, you will need to break an unwritten bratwurst cooking rule to see if they are done; you'll have to poke them with a meat thermometer and allow juices to seep out.
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Marinating chicken is a simple way to tenderize the bird and infuse the meat with a burst of flavor. Using curry in your marinade adds a bit of heat and Indian flair to the chicken.
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If you're craving hamburgers and all you've got are some frozen patties and a microwave, don't resign yourself to a trip to a fast-food restaurant. You can whip up a tasty, healthier meal in just a few minutes in your microwave.
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Your microwave oven is a versatile kitchen appliance that allows you to cook many foods in a jiffy. You can even steam shrimp in the microwave, but you must take care to cook it properly because a microwave does not cook foods, including shrimp, as evenly as a conventional oven does.
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All ovens cook with both convection and radiant heat, but what makes a convection oven different is that it cooks by circulating heated air with a fan. Convection ovens can be used for baking or roasting; roasting vegetables in a convection oven produces crisp, uniformly browned vegetables.
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Most instructions for cooking rice call for using a saucepan, but you can just as easily use a skillet, ideal for ensuring evenly cooked rice and adding additional ingredients.
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Red-skinned potatoes -- commonly called red potatoes or new potatoes -- are a nutritious addition to a healthy, balanced diet.
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Bratwurst is a richly seasoned German sausage prepared from pork or a mixture of pork and veal. Bratwurst comes either raw or precooked. You may prepare precooked bratwurst in the microwave, but fresh bratwurst requires other methods -- parboiling and grilling, for example -- to ensure that it is fully cooked.
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The USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline receives thousands of calls each year regarding the safety of frozen foods, according to the United States Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service.
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Groats are the least-processed version of oats with only the husk removed. When cooked properly, the groats take on a nutty flavor with a chewy texture. Groats take longer to cook fully than rolled oats or other grains that are more processed.
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