Heart Solitaire 14 Karat: December 2013

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Tips for Cooking a Whole Chicken

Chicken is a very popular food. There are all kinds of chicken, including the various parts like legs, thighs, wings, quarters etc. Don't forget the whole chicken though. For some people, the idea of cooking a whole chicken is daunting. So, before you begin you really need to now what you're doing.First things first, get all of your supplies together. Naturally, you need a whole chicken, different spices or herbs, marinade, salt and pepper and whatever the particular recipe may call for. Every good cook has a sharp knife and for cooking a whole chicken you'll also need a roasting pan and a meat thermometer.Let's get cooking. Set your oven to 350 to preheat, and in the mean time clean out your chicken by removing the giblet bag that's usually inside. Wash the chicken with cold water and dry with paper towels. A good rule of thumb is to leave the skin on so the chicken stays moist while cooking. Season the bird however you want and put it in the roasting pan breast side up. Rub it well with either olive oil or the marinade and place in the oven uncovered.How long do you cook a whole chicken? Usually a two pound chicken takes about one or one and a half hours to cook. Make sure you check it while cooking and when you see that the skin has browned nicely, take it out of the oven. Use your meat thermometer to check for doneness. One hundred eighty degrees in the thigh means your done! Of course you can also cut into the thigh and look to make sure there's no red or raw meat and clear juice to determine if the chicken is cooked well enough. I always let chicken sit for fifteen minutes to finish cooking before I carve it.As always, be sure to clean up everything that the raw chicken may have touched, including anything that you touched with your 'chicken hands' while preparing it for the oven. Keeping your family healthy and free from contamination is just as important as feeding them delicious, home-cooked food from the heart.There is a trend growing called 'batch cooking', and you can use roasted or baked chicken for this purpose. Spend a day cooking a few whole chickens and use the meat to make several meals for the coming weeks. You can freeze the chicken in parts or shred it for tacos, soups, salad etc. A quick week day meal that everyone loves is shredded bbq chicken on buns with fries and a salad. Easy and yummy!

Learn how to use your crock pot to make chicken crock pot recipes for your family at Family Crock Pot Recipes http://familycro

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Sunday, December 8, 2013

The Thanksgiving Turkey - Should You Cook the Stuffing Inside Or Outside the Turkey

Every year the question is asked, Should I cook the stuffing inside or outside the Turkey?Although there is some increase in flavor from the turkey when the stuffing is inside the bird. roasting the Turkey this way requires more attention to detail than if you cook the stuffing in it's own dish and the turkey without being stuffed.Perhaps the first thing we want to consider during the Holidays is Food Safety. There are many food born illnesses that are preventable if we take simple measures to protect ourselves and our families.With all the hard work that goes into preparing the Thanksgiving "feast", we want to be sure that no one becomes ill, so here are some tips on how to cook a great dinner safely.First, Thaw the Turkey in the refrigerator, not on the counter top. Allow 24 hours for each 5 pounds of Turkey. If your Turkey is 15 pounds, plan for it to take 3 days to thaw safely in the refrigerator.The safest way to cook stuffing is separate from the turkey. Stuffing needs to reach a temperature of 165 degrees to be safe, while the Turkey needs to reach 180 degrees. Trying to get the turkey to 180 degrees and the stuffing inside the Turkey to 165 degrees, can result in an over cooked dry bird.If you still feel you must stuff the Turkey, it should be stuffed loosely - about 3/4 cup of stuffing per pound of turkey. Remember, the stuffing needs to be moist, not dry. Heat destroys bacteria faster in a moist environment.Cook the bird at a setting no lower than 325 degrees. Although some come with a "pop-up" temperature indicator, a meat thermometer must be used to test the temperature at the center of the stuffing (165 degrees, minimum) and the innermost part of the thigh (180 degrees) Juices should run clear, when the thermometer is removed. Let the bird stand for 20 minutes before removing all the stuffing and carving the bird.Lastly, within two hours of cooking, what is left of the turkey and the stuffing should be refrigerated. Don't make the mistake of leaving them on the table for people to pick at all day. Let them know that if they want more, it is available in the refrigerator.Have a safe and happy holiday.

Born and raised in the Wine Country of Northern California, William Chaney is a Retired Chef and Wine Connoisseur. During the Holidays, his wife invites any number of friends and family to share the meal, so he will spend the week preparing food for 25 or more guests. On Thanksgiving he is in the kitchen by 4 a.m., loving every minute of it. Look to his website for information on what wines to serve with Turkey. He splits his time between his home in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico and his home in Wisconsin. He writes about Wines of the world and foods of the world. Visit him at http://WineLoversSecrets.com where you can learn more about wine, get food recipes and sign up for

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Wednesday, December 4, 2013

NLP for Coaches: Hocus Focus - Strategies to Help Boost Awareness and Results

One definition of Hocus Pocus is that it refers to a juggler's trick or sleight of hand. What does this have to do with reality?Everything.Of the two million bits of information we have gushing at us in every second, we can only take in about 143 bits of information (Millier, Galanter and Pribrium). If I were to say that the other 1,999,857 could possibly be important too, or perhaps even an extra 100 bits would be an improvement, I'm sure you would agree.We are missing a virtual mountain of information each day. To add insult to this limited perception, we naturally delete, distort and generalize the information that we do take in.How do we help our clients choose the most optimum focus, to help them reach their desired outcomes?The first thing to understand is what is called the Reticular Activating System or RAS. The RAS automatically helps us focus on things in our environment that are similar to us and to our experience.By adding daily experiences that are positive and motivating in nature, the RAS will naturally focus more on those aspects in the outside world. Listening to audios or reading books by great minds is one excellent way to "install" these virtues. We can get a wonderful education while driving, doing dishes, the laundry, or working out at the gym.Posting affirmations on the bathroom mirror are also an excellent way to instill new ideas. Change them every month or so to keep them fresh.When you develop a list of goals with your client, you are also creating points of focus. It is helpful to post these where they will see it, this way the unconscious mind is re-minded of them and be on the lookout through the RAS.Besides the environment, one of the most powerful factors in creating focus is how we react to the people in our lives. Notice I did not say "the people in our lives." We have a choice in how we react to those around us.Our environment is a very powerful factor in where our focus goes. Find out from your client, are there positive items in their work and life space such as photos of loved ones and pets? Are there motivational posters and pleasant music playing? Is there clutter?Have them take a fresh look at their surroundings, with the question in mind, "Do I want more of this?"Finally there is an immensely powerful "lens" for the RAS, and that is an idea of a loving Universal Source. Call it whatever name you feel comfortable with, by acknowledging a friendly higher power of sorts a certain "magic" can happen. Results and joy can be amplified. This can be accessed by a simple five minutes of silent connection per day.Hocus Focus is a trick of Nature for the unfocused mind. Help your clients enjoy their lives even more by focusing on those things they want to amplify in their lives.

Do you want to learn more about using NLP to improve your results with clients?If so, download my brand new free mp3s and videos here:http://www.fasterresultscoaching.com/fasterresults.htmlLearn more about NLP at http://www.homeofnlp.comNannette DiMascio has been a student of metaphysics since age nine, she works with people who know that life has more to offer, and are ready to empower themselves to create the future of their dreams. Nannette DiMascio is a certified NLP Trainer and Master Practitioner, she is a practitioner of Energetic NLP (ENLP) and Chinese Ene

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Monday, December 2, 2013

Asus Eee Pad Vs Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1

The new Android 3.2 Honeycomb operating system will give the user faster web browsing and an awesome interface experience with their Android devices.Two of the most excellent Android tablets, the ASUS Eee Pad and the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 will be the recipients of the new Honeycomb version. Aside from this, both are equipped with similar features. Both of the tablets have the same 1 GHz dual-core NVIDIA Tegra 2 processor and a 1GB Random Access Memory (RAM). With these similar inclusions, both can deliver the same fast web browsing, excellent 3D gaming experience and immense storage capabilities.However, they also have distinct features that will show which tablet PC is the better one.1. PortabilityThe Galaxy Tab weighs 595 grams and has dimensions of 256.2 x 172.9 x 8.6 mm. The Eee Pad weighs 680 grams and has dimensions of 271 x 171 x 13 mm. In this category, the Galaxy Tab is the winner since it is smaller, lighter and easier to carry. Portability is indeed an important feature for those who travel a lot.2. DisplayThe Galaxy Tab has 1280 x 800 pixels for clear-cut resolution on a 10.1-inch multi-touch screen with a TFT-LCD panel display. The Eee Pad also has a 1280 x 800-pixel resolution on a 10.1-inch multi-touch screen, but with a better IPS panel display. With an IPS panel display, Asus scores a point in this category for better video and image display, although Samsung did a pretty fair job.3. ConnectivityThe Galaxy Tab has Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3G and GPS technologies for the advanced user. It also sports an HDMI slot, along with a Stereo FM with RDS. It has no built-in USB port, but a separate USB adapter needs to be purchased.The Eee Pad has Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS but no 3G technology. However, it has a mini HDMI slot and two USB ports on the attachable keyboard dock.Because the Galaxy tab boasts of an extra 3G feature and a stereo FM function, Samsung emerges victorious in this category.4. Battery LifeThe Galaxy Tab delivers a battery life of up to 9 hours. The ASUS Eee Pad provides a battery life of up to 10 hours, and may even reach 16 hours if the keyboard dock is attached. This feature makes ASUS a favorite among prospective consumers who look into the battery life of a gadget.5. CameraThe Galaxy Tab 10.1 has 2mp front-facing and 3mp rear-facing cameras, while the Eee Pad has 1.2mp front-facing and 5mp rear-facing cameras. Basing on the megapixel values, the Galaxy Tab has a better front-facing camera while the Eee Pad has a larger rear-facing camera. Not a lot of differences can be made for the camera features of both tablets.6. PricingThe Galaxy Tab has price of $499 for the 16 GB version. The ASUS Transformer sells for $399 for the 16GB. An additional $150 is required for the optional keyboard dock. The ASUS Eee Pad is a lot cheaper, and with the keyboard dock purchased, the benefits are doubled in a cost-effective way.The VerdictThe comparison shows only slight differences. The ASUS Eee Pad transformer is better in more categories, but the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 has its own distinct features which are above quality standard. Whichever tablet you choose, make it a point to purchase one that will suit your needs. After all, both tablet PCs have made it to the top Android Tablet for the year 2010.

Danny's current favourite tablet is the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Tablet but he still likes to review every Android Tablet that hits the market at his blog Android Tablet Fanatic and is open to the possibility of a better tablet comin

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