Edward Behr's 5 Essentials for Delicious, Sensual Home Cooking

Ed Behr is a well experienced food writer and editor from The Art of Eating, a culinary publication that's been around for over 25 years. He has some essential tips for you, so check out "Edward Behr's 5 Essentials for Delicious, Sensual Home Cooking"

Edward Behr's 5 Essentials for Delicious, Sensual Home Cooking

1. You really have to enjoy the physical process of cooking. "Some people come home from work and find it very relaxing to prepare a meal at the end of the day. But despite all the badgering from good folks such as Mark Bittman, many people find that cooking is a lot of work. They don't find pleasure in it. The people who do enjoy it, often what they're reacting to, what they're responding to, is the physical pleasure of cooking, the pleasure found in cutting vegetables neatly with a sharp knife or the sound of sautéing or taking a little taste of delicious olive oil. The pleasure in the physical, in the sensual, is so critical if you're going to enjoy cooking. If the only thing you're thinking is that you have to be done by 7:30 or that you don't want to wash the dishes afterwards or stressing out about everyone's food allergies, then it's just not going to be an enjoyable experience."

What encourages people who aren't naturally inclined to enjoy cooking? What about the beginner who isn't yet comfortable in the kitchen? "You have to remember not to think of it primarily as work. Think of it primarily as a form of sensuality. Be sure you have a few ingredients you really love on hand (see number 3 below). It can be anything that really brings you pleasure, from a really good olive oil or a beautiful piece of meat that you only cook once a week to a great glass of wine. You may have to take a leap of confidence at first. A great place to start is with something that's simple but uses great ingredients and cook them simply. Begin modestly with things you're sure of and you'll build the confidence you need."

2. You really have to love to eat, and it helps to love to feed other people."People love to eat. Some may have forgotten that but still, deep down, people love to eat. Really good foods can give a deep sense of satisfaction and help you to not eat quite as much. Stuff like fast food only encourages us to overeat because its never quite satisfying. Feeding other people can be hard and complicated sometimes. People don't like to eat certain things and it can seem challenging. I have two sons and one loves to eat fish, for instance, and the other just can't get past the fishiness of fish. But he loves rillettes! So you can always find something that people love and that will make them happy."

3. You need at least a few ingredients that give you special pleasure. "Be sure to stock your kitchen with things that are very fresh or appropriately aged, or very well produced, or simply something you really like. They could be beautiful carrots from a farm stand, a great Parmigiano Reggiano, some delicious olive oil, or a pint of wild blueberries that a friend picked and gave you."

4. You need at least one or two pieces of equipment that you really enjoy. "Or things make your work easier and the results better. A dull knife is misery. Still, except perhaps for that knife, you can cook great food with really bad equipment. Before we got our current stove, we were down to two burners on a cheap old electric stove. You could heat a frying pan plenty hot enough for a steak, if you were willing to wait and then add the meat. But it doesn't have to be a sharp knife, it could be your brand new food processor. Or things that mean something special: I have my mother's yellow pyrex mixing bowl as well as her mother's bowl, one of those cream earthenware with a stripe. Or maybe try an old cast iron frying pan (the vintage ones are better)."

5. You have to trust your own palate. "Maybe you still have a lot to learn, but your palate is the most important tool you have. This may be a leap of faith for some people, but if you don't go by your own palate, you're just lost. You just have to be yourself and that's your anchor, that's your foundation. Your tastes will evolve and change and maybe even become more sophisticated but you have to jump in somewhere. You have to just leap in and do it and not worry about someone else's palate."

(Images: Natalie Stultz)

Original Article Here: http://www.thekitchn.com/edward-behrs-5-essentials-for-delicious-sensual-home-cooking-expert-essentials-196379

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52 Ways to Decorate Your Pumpkin

If you've been decorating for Halloween, then it's pretty likely that you've got a pumpkin sitting around somewhere, maybe still waiting to be decorated. If so, check out "52 Ways to Decorate Your Pumpkin" for some unique flair!

It’s happening again, people! The parade of pumpkin pies, pancakes and spiced lattes has begun, proclaiming loudly that fall is here, and Halloween, with its triangle-eyed, orange faces, is right around the corner.

For your autumnal decor to really stand out, the classic jack-o’-lantern doesn’t cut it anymore. That’s why we’ve collected the most creative examples of carved, painted, etched, pierced, glued and electrified pumpkins to raise the bar for your own pumpkin fest.

So whether you’re a novice carver or an expert DIY-er, you’ll find some inspirational ways to jack up your lantern and pump up your pumpkin to make your neighbors scream … or at least say, “Wow!”

Original Article Here: http://www.zillowblog.com/2013-10-18/52-ways-to-decorate-your-pumpkin/

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Awesome Events around the City

Check out these awesome events taking place through the rest of October!

October 16

The fashion show/fundraiser,Moonlight Chic: Rooftop Cocktail, Cuisine & Couture for a Cause, hosted by non-profit Dress for Success San Diego on the Hotel Palomar rooftop will showcase LOFT’s Fall collection and interactive activities.

October 17

Forget the embargo and travel to Cuba via the Westgate Hotel for A Night in Havana, featuring Cuban food, drinks, and dancing under the stars.

October 18

It’s “my kinda party” as country superstar Jason Aldean takes the stage at Sleep Train Amphitheatre.

October 19

La Jolla Symphony & Chorus invites music lovers to enjoy a Cool Night—Cool Jazz at its 2013 Gala.

Qualcomm will be alive with a charity flag football tournament and field goal kicking competition, to benefit the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America. Donate and participate in The Rolf Benirschke Kick Colitis Challenge—you'll get tips from Rolf Benirschke himself! Admission and parking are free for spectators.

Catch a performance of the national tour of The Screwtape Letters, based on the novel by C.S. Lewis, at the Balboa Theatre.

BOW WOW BRUNCH CRUISE

October 20

It’s a cornucopia of fall arts and crafts at the Del Mar Fairgrounds’ three-day Harvest Festival.

Get on deck with your four-legged friend during Hornblower’s Halloween-themed Bow Wow Brunch Cruise.

October 22

It’s jugglers, fire eaters, and magicians, oh my, at America’s Got Talent Live at the Civic Theatre.

October 25

Award-winning actress Laura Dern speaks in support of children’s causes at Angels Foster Family Network’s An Evening with Angels gala.

October 26

The Hotel Del hosts a spirited celebration at the Hallo-Wine and Spirits Party.

It’s a graveyard smash at the Gaslamp’s Monster Bash.

October 29

“Send Me on My Way” to the Belly Up for a weeknight jam session with Rusted Root.

October 31

Pay tribute to long-lost loved ones at the Bazaar Del Mundo’s three-day Dia de los Muertos celebration.

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How To Make Perfect Bacon in the Oven

We're betting there's a pretty high chance that you love bacon, since a lot of people do! But if you're tired of greasy stovetops or are interested in trying something new then how about baking bacon? Check out "How To Make Perfect Bacon in the Oven" below!

How To Make Perfect Bacon in the Oven

What You Need

Ingredients
1 to 2 pounds bacon

Equipment
Aluminum foil
1 to 2 baking sheets
Tongs
Paper towels
Platter

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F: Turn on the oven and preheat to 400°F. Place a rack in the lower third of the oven. If you're cooking multiple sheets of bacon, position a second rack in the top third of the oven.
2. Arrange the bacon on a baking sheet: Line a baking sheet with foil (this makes clean-up easier). Lay the bacon on the baking sheet in a single layer. The bacon can be close together, but don't let it overlap or the bacon will stick during cooking. If necessary, use a second baking sheet.
3. Bake the bacon: Place the baking sheet of bacon in the oven and bake until the bacon is deep golden-brown and crispy, 15 to 20 minutes. Exact baking time will depend on the thickness of the bacon and how crispy you like it. Begin checking around 12 minutes to monitor how quickly the bacon is cooking. The bacon fat will sputter and bubble as the bacon cooks, but shouldn't splatter the way it does on the stove top. Pour off the bacon grease as needed so the bacon isn't totally submerged in grease.
4. Cool the bacon: Remove the bacon from the oven and use tongs to transfer it to a paper-lined platter to drain and finish crisping. Serve immediately. You can also refrigerate leftover bacon for a week or freeze it for up to three months; warm the bacon in the microwave before serving.
5. Clean up: If you want to save the bacon grease, let it cool slightly, then pour it into a container and refrigerate. If you don't want to save the grease, let it solidify on the baking sheet, then crumple the foil around it and discard.

Recipe Notes

• Even Crispier Bacon: For even crispier bacon, set a metal cooling rack over the foil-lined baking sheet and lay the raw bacon over the cooling rack. Elevating the bacon allows it to cook from all sides and become extra-crispy.

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This post and recipe have been updated. Originally published 02/04/10.

(Images: Emma Christensen)

Original Article Here: http://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-make-perfect-bacon-in-the-oven-107970

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How To Get Better Sleep Naturally

Everyone needs their beauty rest, but often many people don't get the quality 'zzzs' that they need to in order to feel functional and energetic! We've found a few tips on "How To Get Better Sleep Naturally", so check them out below and get ready to sleep like a log!




1. Get enough.

While you may think you function ok with just five or six hours sleep, the truth is, it's not enough. Sleep cycles occur in four-hour patterns; brain waves gradually slow to a deep, restful state around the two-hour mark, then slowly speed up again to a lighter dream-filled sleep at four hours before repeating the whole cycle again.

When we wake up after six hours, we're actually forcing our brain out of a deep sleep state rapidly and shortening that rejuvenating deeper phase essential for repairing our bodies and minds. If we get eight hours, we wake up at the end of two complete cycles and our brains are already naturally at the faster phase between sleeping and waking, enabling us to start the day feeling refreshed and energized.

2. Plan one hour of down time.

Instead of watching TV right before bed, take some time to consciously relax and settle down. Get into bed an hour before your bed-time and use the time to read an inspiring book, meditate, write in a journal or make love. Make sure to set boundaries on electronic distractions, such as no TV, texting, phone calls or social media after 9 p.m., and try not to have these devices in the bedroom at all.

3. Make your bedroom a sanctuary.

To enhance a restful night’s sleep, you need to create an atmosphere in your bedroom that's warm, comforting and inviting. Paint the walls a calming color and invest in a good-quality mattress and pillows. Keep a plant in the room to keep the air oxygenated and try to keep things uncluttered and tidy. You may want to burn essential oils like lavender or vetiver and play some relaxing music.

4. Turn lights and electronic devices off.

Our brains need total darkness in order for the pineal gland to secrete melatonin, an important hormone that has been shown to reduce the incidence of certain cancers and slow down the effects of aging. Lights from alarm clocks and cell phones, especially blue lights, can interfere with this process as well as emit EMFs (electromagnetic fields) that are damaging to health. If you must have these devices in the bedroom, make sure to keep them at least 4 feet away from your bed, rather than by your head on the bed stand.

5. Try natural sedatives.

Lastly, if insomnia and nervous tension are a real issue for you and you struggle with falling or staying asleep, try some natural sedatives before using pharmaceutical drugs that can have side effects and cause addiction. Magnesium deficiency is a common cause of tension and difficulty falling asleep. Herbal teas such as chamomile and passionflower are good for mild sleep problems. For more severe issues, you could try (with the help of your naturopath or herbalist), stronger tinctures or tablets of valerian, Californian poppy, hops, Jamaican dogwood or ziziphus.

Photo Credit: Shutterstock.com



Original Article Here: http://bit.ly/16x4F1E

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