Meals And Memories Are Made Here

How To Cook Pearl Barley – A Complete Guide

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There are those cooking tips we find ourselves googling over and over again, and no matter how we try to carve them to our memory, we always doubt ourselves when the pot is on the stove. How to cook barley is one of these.

Pearl barley has seen it’s big revival recently, thanks to its crunchy texture and high nutritious value. It is most often cooked in soups or stocks, where it absorbs all the flavors from the liquid, which means that the taste of the grain depends on what it’s cooked in.

We love barley in cold salads in the summer, and warm, risotto-style in the winter. We cook enough of it that we should remember how to do it, but since we are all humans and we only have so much room for things in our heads. You may feel the same way, and don’t worry – it’s ok. [Read more…]

How To Make Almond Meal – A Quick & Easy Guide

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Almond meal is so easy to prepare. It is entirely possible that it is one of the most cost saving, gratifying and straightforward things you can do in the kitchen. In less than five minutes you can have an almond meal at a fraction of the cost of ready-made products. And all you need are almonds, flour sifter, and coffee bean grinder.

Almond meal is incredibly versatile in sweet and savory recipes and can provide your dishes with a delightful crunch and richness. We also think that almonds have one of the most incredible floral smells which open up the second you grind them. It’s preservative free, gluten-free (when made correctly) and packs a protein punch to keep that belly full longer.

However, there is one gripe with Almond Meal- and that is the price tag, as almonds are usually not the cheapest item in a grocery store. When processed into Meal or Flour the price only goes up. If you live in a small town, the Almond Meal isn’t always at your fingertips, which is why you should get into the habit of making your own.

So to make your own Almond Meal, you need an oven, an oven tray, and at least a blender or a nut/coffee grinder would be even better. In our experience, the coffee/nut grinder will give you best results, as you will end up with a fine powder that is very close in texture to shop-bought Almond Meal. [Read more…]

How Are Cheetos Made – Where Does All The Cheesiness Come From?

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Dating way back, and crushing the margins of popularity each day, and staying as one of the top choices of snacks worldwide, Cheetos really created a name for itself. We all know how Cheetos taste like and how they are being destroyed in homes while watching TV and cinemas across the country.

But what a lot of people don’t know, and would like to, is how are Cheetos made? We took a look at the factory to bring the birth of Cheetos a bit more closely to you. [Read more…]

How To Cook Frozen Meatballs – Quick & Easy Recipe

in Healthy Recipes on

Quick and tasty meals – we can’t get enough of them. When thinking about a fast, easy-to-prepare, weeknight dinner, meatballs are surely one of the first things that come to one’s mind. They are versatile, affordable and take minutes to turn into a mouth-watering, satiating meal. So what is there to know about how to cook frozen meatballs?

Well, friends, there is more than to it than you think, and today we will uncover some cooking tips, useful advice, and a wonderful recipe that’s hard not to like. Meatball fan or not, give this article a shot; there’s a good chance that it will tickle your imagination as well as belly. [Read more…]

How To Choose A Single-Serve Coffee Maker: All You Need To Know

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When you decide it’s time to treat yourself to a new one-cup coffee maker, a quick look at all the available options might leave you feeling confused and overwhelmed.

How to choose a single-serve coffee maker?

What to look for? Which features to avoid?

Here’s all you need to know when you start looking for a best single-serve coffee maker.

How To Choose A Single-Serve Coffee Maker: Features To Look For

Single-serving coffee machine dispenses espresso in a glass cup

Single-serving coffee machine dispenses espresso in a glass cup

Brewing Time

What’s the point of having a single-serve coffee maker if it takes forever to brew a cup of coffee, right? It shouldn’t take more than a minute or so.

Customizable Brew Strength

Single-serving coffee machine dispenses espresso in a glass cup and coffee beans

Single-serving coffee machine dispenses espresso in a glass cup and coffee beans

If you’re lucky to share your coffee maker with someone who has the same brew strength preferences as you do, then you don’t have to pay a lot of attention to this feature.

You must admit – the idea of having the option to change the brew strength from time to time sounds lovely.

Timer Feature (Auto-Brew)

Would you like to wake up to a freshly brewed cup of coffee already waiting for you in the kitchen instead of having to wait for it to brew once you get up – even if it does take less than a minute?

Then look for a model that will allow you to set a preferred brewing time – you’ll have a cup waiting for you exactly when you need it.

Auto Shut-Off

Besides the auto-brew feature, another one you’ll appreciate is the auto shut-off feature. There’s no need for you to worry about shutting the coffee maker off once it’s done brewing – the unit does this for you.

If this is something you want, take a closer look at the product’s description.

Multiple Serving Sizes

Sometimes you’ll want more (or less) coffee than the coffee maker’s standard serving size. To avoid the need to make the second cup just to get the amount you want, look for a single-serve coffee maker that lets you choose a serving size before each brewing.

Flexibility

Just because they only brew a cup at a time doesn’t mean they can’t be flexible. While there are models that can use only pods and other that don’t accept anything other than ground coffee, you should probably look for one that offers both.

For ultimate flexibility, check if the model is also capable of dispensing a cup of pure, hot water, in case you’re in the mood for a cup of tea, cocoa, and the like.

Reservoir Size

That is important if you’re not the only one using the single-serve coffee maker. The bigger the reservoir, the more cups of coffee it’s capable of making before needing a refill. Keep in mind that there are also models that need to be filled before each brewing.

Ultimately, it’s up to you, but in my opinion, big, transparent reservoirs are a more convenient option.

Apart from the size, it’s better to get a unit with a detachable (and transparent) reservoir – those usually come at a higher price, though.

Suitable For Travel Mugs

If you like to drink your coffee on the go, you want a unit capable of accommodating taller cups, such as your standard travel mug. If there’s no mention of it in the product’s description, look for a removable drip tray – this usually means the coffee maker fits different cup sizes.

Noise Level

There’s no chance of finding a silent coffee maker – there’s always going to be some noise. However, some are noisier than others, so if you typically get up earlier than others in your house and you’re worried it might wake them up or the noise may bother you, look for one that runs as quietly as possible.

Size

A coffee maker is an appliance that’s used daily in most households, so they need to have their place on the kitchen counter. However, if your kitchen is already full of other appliances (blenders, toasters, and the like) you need to consider the overall size of the unit and the available space you have.

Read more:

Before Choosing A Single-Serve Coffee Maker, Ask Yourself These Questions

Single-serving coffee machine dispenses espresso in a glass cup

Single-serving coffee machine dispenses espresso in a glass cup

  • How much are you willing to spend on a single-serve coffee maker?

There’s more than just the price of the unit itself – running costs are also a thing to consider. Regarding the value of the single-cup coffee maker, things are pretty clear – the higher the price, the better the features. And as far as the operating costs go, if you think paying up to 90 cents for each cup of coffee you drink adds up to more than you’re willing to spend, a single-serve coffee maker that also uses coffee grounds might be a better choice for you.

  • Do you live alone or are you planning on sharing the coffee maker with other members of the household?

That is important because finding a single-cup coffee maker that suits your needs (and only your needs) is somewhat simple. As soon as the number of people using it goes up to two or more, things get a bit complicated. That’s why you need to make sure that the one you buy accommodates everyone’s tastes and preferred cup sizes.

  • Are you a one-cup-a-day type of person or do you drink coffee any chance you get?

Since your new coffee maker won’t be able to make more than a cup at a time, you need to consider the amount of coffee you typically consume on daily bases. If all you need is your morning cup of coffee, you’ll be okay with any single-serve coffee maker. However, if you find yourself reaching for another cup as soon as you’re done with the first one, then you probably need a coffee maker with a large reservoir, capable of keeping the water in it hot throughout the day.

  • Are you particularly picky when it comes to your coffee?

If the answer is no and pretty much anything works for you, as long as you get your daily dose of coffee, then your search for the new single-serve coffee maker might be a lot more simple than you think. When brewing methods aren’t exactly an issue, you can focus on what matters to you more – convenience and cost.

a cup of coffee and coffee beans on the table

a cup of coffee and coffee beans on the table

  • What is your definition of a full cup?

Believe it or not, this is an actual debate among one-cup coffee maker owners – what constitutes a cup of coffee? While there’s no explicit definition of what a cup of coffee equates to, I would say that most single-serve coffee makers make 6 to 8 ounces per brewing. There are, however, units that allow you to change this standard cup size, so it suits your particular needs, either by making more or less coffee at a time.

  • Are you prone to forgetting to turn off appliances from time to time?

Be honest with yourself – are you the type of person that often forgets about shutting the appliances off? Or you lead a lifestyle so hectic that you don’t even have the time to think about this stuff? Luckily for you, technology has been kind enough to solve your problem by adding the auto shut-off feature to the list of single-serve coffee maker’s capabilities. Not every model has this feature, though, so make sure to check before buying one.

To Sum It All Up

As you can see, there’s a lot to consider before you can choose a single-serve coffee maker, but hopefully, this guide helped you get a clearer picture of what you want and, most importantly, how to get it.

Take your time to consider which of the features I talked about are important to you and which are not – after all, a single-serve coffee maker is all about personal preferences.