Monday, August 3, 2009

Trail Food: Drying and Cooking Food for Backpacking and Paddling

PCKT GD WILDRNESS MED & 1STAID




    Turn on any television or log onto any news website on the internet and you are bound to hear about global warming and alternative energy sources. Alternative energy is currently developing at a rapid pace and one of the biggest and most popular forms is solar power.So what is solar power?

    Solar power is a method of taking the power of the sun and transforming it into energy. Mother nature has been using solar power for millions of years to heat and power the earth reliably and effectively. This natural solar energy can be transformed into cleanly produced electricity or heat for use by anyone anywhere. So how is solar power being utilized around the globe?

    Common Solar Power Methods

    Photovoltaic Solar Energy: This method involves the use of special solar panels that absorb the sunlight and though a series of events produce electricity for your home, car or office building. It is by far the most popular form of solar power in use today and will continue to be developed and implemented around the globe.

    Indirect Solar Heating: Many new homes and office buildings are being designed with indirect solar heating in mind. With this method the rays from the sun are magnified through special windows that transfer and hold in the heat. This method basically mimics the way the earth is heated and it is a very efficient and popular method to reduce the cost of energy bills.

    Solar Powered Turbines: A newer method of solar power generation is the solar turbine. With this method a liquid is heated with solar energy and the steam will spin a turbine that produces electricity. Although relatively new this method does show promise in certain areas of the world.

    With rising energy prices and the threat of environmental damage from fossil fuels alternative energy is the wave of the future. As science and private industry invest more time and money into research the possibility of mainstream solar power is a real possibility.

    Learn more about Advantages Of Solar Energy and How Solar Energy Works by visiting http://www.solarenergyadvantage.com

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    Friday, July 17, 2009

    Nesco American Harvest FD-61 Snackmaster Encore Dehydrator and Jerky Maker

    This convenient dehydrator makes great tasting, healthy snacks & jerky! Introducing the Snackmaster?? Encore???. It's Grey top and marbled design features 500 watts of drying power, and generates maximum speed and quality for dehydrating fruits, vegetables, beef jerky, and venison jerky. Helps dry food in hours, not days like ordinary food dehydrators. The top mounted fan eliminates the worry of liquids dripping into the the heating chamber!You can make delicious beef jerky, turkey jerky, fish jerky, trail mix, homemade yogurt, apple snacks, banana chips, dried soup mixes, dried tomatoes, watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew, mangoes, papaya and other dried fruits at a fraction of the cost. Make dried herbs and spices; also make potpourri and dried flowers for any occasion.


    I have not always been a chef. In fact, I was a very picky eater
    as a child. My interest in food and cooking began as an adult.
    During my first pregnancy, I started eating tomatoes. It was a
    breakthrough in eating for me and since then I have more than
    made up for the "picky years."

    In 2002 after taking various cooking vacations with my husband,
    I decided to go to culinary school and learn the basics of food
    preparation from a professional chef. In class, and after
    performing various cooking demonstrations, my teacher pulled
    me aside and told me that I really should start teaching.
    With my family growing,I knew that working in a restaurant
    or hotel would not fit into our lives for a long time. So
    I opened up a school out of my home and began sharing my
    experience and passion.

    I am not sure if this happens to other chefs, but one of the down
    sides about cooking and teaching is that friends seem hesitant to
    invite me for dinner. I know it is not my personality because I do
    have lots of friends. I even shower regularly! However, some
    feel intimidated by my skills and do not want their abilities to
    be critiqued or judged.

    In fact, I love going to other peoples' homes. Like every other working
    mom, I get tired cooking for my family day in and day out. At times, I
    even feel uninspired and order Dominoes. What does get me excited is
    trying new foods and learning about other families' culture and
    traditions. I do not judge but I enjoy the opportunity
    to take a night off and let someone else do the work. And I am
    so easy to please. I eat almost anything!

    For me, eating out in a restaurant is rather boring. Most reasonably priced
    restaurants serve similar dishes using highly processed bland ingredients.
    It amazes me how many people do not have the confidence in the food
    they prepare in their home and its worthiness of any guest, let alone me.

    And making friends with a chef and cooking for him and her will be
    repaid. Most chefs and cooks I know are so appreciative of the
    invitation and the rest from their own cooking woes, they repay by
    cooking and cooking for those who have shared.

    For a peak into Chef Dawn's professional home kitchen, visit http://www.chefdawn.com Sign up for her newsletter and get a FREE must-have kitchen gadget list including discounts from Pampered Chef, Nordic Knives and Amazon.com

    Dawn
    Your Personal E-Chef Live: Everything about Cooking, Food, and Family. Bring back dinner parties!

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    Sunday, July 12, 2009

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    A Healthy Menu for your Birthday Party

    Your Birthday Party does not necessarily mean that you need to binge on junk food on that day. You and your guests can have healthy and tasty food and enjoy it, as everything depends on the preparation. Normally the food served at birthday parties are candy, chips and dips, soda and cake. You can go for an innovative menu that will be kind to your friends, family and everyone you care about.

    Treat Yourself Better on Special Occasions
    We need to use the knowledge that we learn from health articles and apply them to our lives, so that we can make life-style changes. The choice is ours, whether we would like to continue with junk food or go for a diet that is kind to our bodies, particularly on special occasions. In fact, we need to be kinder to ourselves on special occasions.Firstly, we need to choose foods that have some nutritional value - if it has none at all, we are doing a disservice to ourselves. Making a change on special occasions by providing a menu that is not only healthy and nutritious, but also tasty and scrumptious, will be an eye-opener to all friends and children alike.

    Healthy Cooking Ideas
    It is not difficult to come up with a healthy menu. Why go for onion dips that are fattening - why not go in for low fat yogurt instead, and have fresh strawberries, bananas and apples as a fruit for the dip. Apart from being healthy, it is also delicious. The usual hamburgers, pizzas and hot dogs that are thrown in at birthday parties can be substituted with tasty turkey sandwiches and an unusual salad. This would cut out the junk food.

    Now, we come to the dessert, which needs to be carefully thought out, as children love desserts and cake. Instead of piling up the fat on the cake with creamy icing, you would do well to go for a low fat dessert. You could either make or get a low fat cake, and use yogurt instead of butter, margarine and other fatty ingredients. The cake will be equally tasty and nutritious. It could be decorated with chocolate strawberries, which will be popular with kids and adults alike. Jello can be made in different shapes which again is popular with kids. There are so many juices in all flavors to choose from, which can be frozen. This is another popular item with kids.The list is endless - all it requires is a little imagination and time to create a delicious spread. It is true that the easier way is to order pizzas and cake, but with that extra effort and care, you can turn that birthday party around to make it a wonderful spread that is healthy, enjoyable and delicious.

    Abhishek is really passionate about Cooking and he has got some great Cooking Secrets. up his sleeves! Download his FREE 88 Page Ebook, "Cooking Mastery!" from his website http://www.Cooking-Guru.com/770/index.htm. Only limited Free Copies available.

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    Saturday, July 11, 2009

    Nesco American Harvest FD-61 Snackmaster Encore Dehydrator and Jerky Maker

    This convenient dehydrator makes great tasting, healthy snacks & jerky! Introducing the Snackmaster?? Encore???. It's Grey top and marbled design features 500 watts of drying power, and generates maximum speed and quality for dehydrating fruits, vegetables, beef jerky, and venison jerky. Helps dry food in hours, not days like ordinary food dehydrators. The top mounted fan eliminates the worry of liquids dripping into the the heating chamber!You can make delicious beef jerky, turkey jerky, fish jerky, trail mix, homemade yogurt, apple snacks, banana chips, dried soup mixes, dried tomatoes, watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew, mangoes, papaya and other dried fruits at a fraction of the cost. Make dried herbs and spices; also make potpourri and dried flowers for any occasion.


    French chefs plunge them into boiling water; English ones, in an attempt to appear more humane, drive kitchen knives through their skulls before doing the same thing.

    No wonder the miserable creatures go red. Theyre mad as hell. What a way to treat the king of crustaceans.

    Lets make a pact. From now on lets treat the lobster with the respect (and humanity) it deserves. Heres how:

    Use a pan deep enough to hold 6 liters of salted water to which you have added some shredded onion, a garlic clove or two and a bay leaf. Purists who live by the sea also like to add a pint of seawater. People like me, whove seen what gets washed up as a result of coastal run-off, dont.

    Put a trivet or round roasting rack in the bottom of the pan, on which you will place the lobster. You do this so that it is not touching the bottom of the pan and will not be burnt as the metal heats up.

    Does this improve the flavor? No, its purely for the comfort of the lobster.

    So, this is what you have a pan of cold brine, seasoned, in which a lobster sits on a trivet as happy as a sand boy. How do I know this? Because lobsters have two states of being theyre either happy or theyre dead.

    Now, using a gentle heat, gradually raise the temperature of the water to around 90F, at which point the lobster will be fast asleep and sweetly dreaming. It will never wake up.

    You can now turn up the heat until the water reaches a gentle simmer and cook the lobster for around 8 minutes a pound.

    Drain and plunge into iced water. Let it cool in there before draining again and transferring to the fridge until needed.

    The lobster will reward you for this kindness by being succulent and tender. It wont be stuffed with adrenalin and its meaty fibers will not have contracted into something resembling India rubber.
    The next step is to cut the lobster in half and to clean it.

    Lay it on its back and use a strong, very sharp, knife to cut it in half from tail to head. You will easily see the stomach bag at the back of the head and the blackish gut running the length of the body. Remove these and discard.

    You may also, if you wish, discard the greenish liver, although aficionados hold this to be a delicacy. Its certainly edible, but personally I chuck it because I dont like the color.

    And thats it. You can now serve your lobster cold with some freshly made mayonnaise, or indulge in one of the more fanciful hot dishes for which some restaurants have become famous.

    This article by former head chef Michael Sheridan was originally published in The Cool Cooks Club forum. There are more cooking tips and a free cooking course at http://thecoolcook.com

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    Wednesday, July 8, 2009

    Mary Bell's Complete Dehydrator Cookbook

    A guide to food dehydrating shows readers how to make preservative-free dried apple rings, candied apricots, beef and fish jerkies, sun-dried tomatoes, corn chips, herb seasonings, dried fruit sugars, and more. 100,000 first printing. Tour.


    Essential oils are highly concentrated aromatic oils derived from plants, widely used in aromatherapy for their medicinal and mood-enhancing effects. Some essential oils also have culinary uses, however, and these powerful plant essences can be used to rejuvenate, or in place of, dried herbs and spices, which can lose aroma and flavor over time.

    A number of essential oils have been designated as Generally Regarded As Safe [GRAS] to use as food additives by the US Food and Drug Administration. These include those listed below.

    • Basil ......Ocimum basilicum L.
    • Bergamot (bergamot orange) .......... Citrus aurantium L. subsp. Bergamia Wright et Arn.
    • Bitter almond (free from prussic acid) .........Prunus amygdalus Batsch, Prunus armeniaca L. or Prunus persica (L.)
    • Cinnamon bark, ............Ceylon Cinnamomum zeylanicum Nees.
    • Coriander ...........Coriandrum sativum L.
    • Cumin .............Cuminum cyminum L.
    • Ginger ............Zingiber officinale Rosc.
    • Grapefruit ..........Citrus paradisi Macf.
    • Laurel leaves (Bay) ..........Laurus spp.
    • Lavender ...........Lavandula officinalis Chaix.
    • Lemon Citrus ..........limon (L.) Burm. f.
    • Lime Citrus ...............aurantifolia Swingle.
    • Mandarin Citrus ...........reticulata Blanco.
    • Marjoram, sweet.............. Majorana hortensis Moench.
    • Nutmeg ...........Myristica fragrans Houtt. Origanum Origanum spp.
    • Parsley ............Petroselinum crispum (Mill.) Mansf.
    • Pepper, ...........black Piper nigrum L.
    • Sage ............Salvia officinalis L.
    • Rosemary .............Rosmarinus officinalis L.
    • Thyme ................Thymus vulgaris L. and Thymus zygis var. gracilis

    Boiss.

    When using essential oils in your cooking, it is important that they are 100% pure and of therapeutic grade. Essential oils are highly concentrated and, consequently, very potent, and so should also be used sparingly. The recipes below give suggested amounts, but probably the best way to establish what suits your taste is through trial and error.

    Here are just a few simple ideas that you could try. Like herbs and spices, different essential oils provide good accompaniments to different ingredients. Generally, essential oils that go well with poultry include basil, dill, fennel, lemon, marjoram, mellisa, orange, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage, tarragon and thyme. For red meat, try basil, clove, dill, fennel, marjoram, mellisa, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage, tarragon and/or thyme. Essential oils that go well with fish or seafood include black pepper, fennel, lavender, lemon, lime, orange, parsley, rosemary, sage and thyme.

    Meat

    When cooking joints of red meat, simply add 1 drop of essential oil to a vegetable oil and brush over the meat before cooking. Essential oils can also be added to the cooking oil when browning mince meat (lamb or beef) - use 1 drop per half-kilo of meat.

    For chicken, add 2 drops each of lemon and orange essential oils to 4 tablespoons of honey and 1 dessert spoon of mustard. Make a paste and brush over the chicken before grilling or baking.

    Fish

    Add 1 drop of essential oil to 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil. Brush over white fish steaks and grill.

    Vegetables

    Try stir-frying your vegetables in an essential oil (diluted 1 drop to 1 tablespoon of olive oil). Cardamon, cumin, nutmeg and ginger are good choices.

    Steaming your vegetables over water containing an essential oil can also be interesting - try nutmeg and lemon for greens.

    Dishes that don't require cooking

    Of course, some recipes don't need 'cooking', and essential oils are ideal for this kind of thing.

    Marinades

    Essential oils are ideal for making marinades - simply add a few drops of your selected essential oil(s) to honey or olive oil and brush on the meat. Place oiled red meat in a bowl containing red wine, 2 cloves of garlic, 1 chopped onion and 1 drop of orange essential oil. Season and leave for up to 8 hours.

    Salad dressings

    Essential oils also make great salad dressings. Add 1 drop of your chosen essential oil to 10 ml of vegetable oil and/or vinegar. Basil, clove, lavender, lemon, lime, rosemary, sage and thyme are good choices for salad dressings.

    Herb butter

    Add 1 drop of the essential oil of your choice to 1 cube of softened butter. Mix gently and add to potatoes, other vegetables, toast...

    Drinks

    Citrussy oils (e.g. grapefruit, lime, lemon, mandarin, orange and tangerine) and minty oils (e.g. peppermint, spearmint and mint) can add zest to drinks of all kinds. Try adding one or two drops of a selection of essential oils to water for a simple thirst quencher.

    Herbal teas: add a few drops of essential oils to boiling water: some to try are lavender, roman chamomile, peppermint, orange, tangerine and lemon.

    Mulled wine: add 2 drops each of mandarin and orange essential oils and 1 drop each of clove and cinnamon to 2 tablespoons of honey. Heat 1 litre of red wine slowly, add the flavoured honey and stir. Take off the heat just before the wine starts to bubble. Serve with slices of orange and lemon.

    This short article gives just a flavour (sorry!) of the uses that essential oils can be put to in the kitchen. Many more recipes are available in books and on the internet, so why not start searching now and explore the taste explosion that essential oils can provide.

    Sources:

    electricscotland.com/food/donna/recipe12.html

    aroma-essence.com/cooking.html

    zhealthinfo.com/recipes1.htm http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~lrd/fcf182.html

    Worwood VA. The Fragrant Pharmacy. A complete guide to aromatherapy & essential oils. Bantam Books, 1996

    Alix Williams is a regular contributor to the holistic website Aroma4u.co.uk a home based UK business providing Eco-friendly hand made Aromatherapy Stress Relieving Gifts.

    Alix Williams also writes about using unique Essential Oil Gift Ideas for Stress Relief.

    For more information regarding Stress related matters (stress in the Workplace), Stress Busting Gift ideas with pure Essential oils, please visit: http://www.aroma4u.co.uk

    copyright 2008 Alix Williams (CUS Busting Ltd)

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    Excalibur 2900 9 Tray Dehydrator

    Features of the Excalibur Model ED-2900 Dehydrator * Controlled environment for a wide variety of uses, i.e. making fruit roll-ups and trail mixes, drying flower arrangements and herbs, plus various uses for art and crafts, and photos * 9 Trays with 15 square feet of drying area * Includes 9 polyscreen tray liners * Includes 28-page dehydrating guide * 7" FAN/600 WATTS * 1-Year warranty


    Sausage and mash is considered one of the best English dishes. Whatever your budget, there is a sausage out there that you can afford, that will taste delicious and that can be utilised in many ways to serve up as a reasonably impressive dish for guests or simply as an everyday meal or snack.

    Sausages made from premium cuts of meat are mixed with rare spices and a degree of fat and fashioned into the typical sausage shape for those with plenty of money but if you're not wealthy then you can pop into any supermarket and pick up a packet of sausages. Sometimes the meat content is dubious and it has always been assumed that sausages are made up of the dregs of an animal that can't be used for any other purpose. But this isn't always so and manufacturers are making more effort these days to fill sausages with better quality meat.

    Sausages with vegetables, Yorkshire puddings and gravy, sausage and mash with liquor, sausage and chips or sausage and chips, even vegetarian sausages - mix it up any way you like but there will be a sausage to suit.

    Nowadays, we have food processing equipment that makes the whole sausage making procedure swift and easy. Meat is automatically ground down to the correct consistency, mixed with fillers, spices and fat and fed through into skins and they are even divided into 'links' by the same machine. But it hasn't always been like this.

    Sausages are not a modern food. Records date back to 500bc of kitchens that produced sausages in one form or another. People took great care in the mixing of special spices and the rarer the spice the better the sausage was considered to be. Of course, back then food processing equipment consisted of butchers who would create everything from the sausage skin to stuffing methods and sausage making became quite an art.

    Early American colonies were fond of sausages because meat was an expensive commodity and they were instructed to use every part of the animal except the snout. To do this, they would use up the intestines, bladders, uterus, stomach and all parts of the pig to grind down, mix with spice and then cover with a layer of melted fat. This produced a sausage that could then be smoked and thus preserved, lasting for quite some time in cold cellars and providing family food for months.

    Smoked sausages were also a favourite with soldiers. These were one of the few foods that they could be sure wouldn't go off too quickly and would provide, in their basic form, a pretty good source of sustenance. They would also have taken black pudding, which is a form of sausage made from pigs blood and this is still a popular dish today, proving further that no part of an animal is wasted.

    Over the years, people have found ways round the fact that food processing equipment had yet to be invented. Sausage fillers were made from funnel shaped objects and these made the whole process a little easier as the less handling of the delicate sausage skins, the better. One of the most frustrating things about making a sausage would have been the splitting of the skin whilst filling as this skin not only acted as a way of holding the contents together but would also have been used as a preservative.

    So, whatever the method, whatever the animal part, whatever the spice and whatever the price, there is a way for everybody to enjoy sausages.

    Culinary expert Catherine Harvey looks at how sausage making is so much easier with the use of food processing equipment and how they did it in the early days.

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    Wednesday, July 1, 2009

    Excalibur 5 - Tray Dehydrator

    Excalibur 5-Tray Dehydrator for great tasting and long lasting fruits, veggies and jerky! Save the flavor, save the nutrition, SAVE BIG BUCKS! Eating healthy can get expensive... especially fresh produce that seems to go bad the moment you get it home. The Excalibur is a compact Food Dehydrator with plenty of room to make jerky or dry your favorite fruits and vegetables so you can keep them edible longer while still maintaining almost all the taste and nutritional value! Excalibur! Holds 5 to 6 lbs. of meat; 5 trays with 8 square feet of drying area... means BIG CAPACITY; Easy to clean with removable doors and trays; Trays roll out easy so you can check on drying process; 8 1/2"h. x 17"w. x 19"d. with 5" fan. Order Now! Excalibur 5-Tray Dehydrator


    Cheesecakes are a heavenly dessert, but they may not always turn out just the way you want. Here are some quick cheesecake baking tips to help your next cake come out looking like they were baked by a professional.

    When baking the cakes, always remember that softened cream cheese is a prerequisite and is used in most cheesecakes today. You'll need to leave the it out at least 30 minutes before using it, but it's best to let it get to room temperature. The softer the cream cheese, the easier it is to mix.

    Keep in mind that the cakes can also be made from ricotta, havarti, quark and twarg cheese among others. Although most of the recipes use cream cheese, occasionally you'll find recipes that require one of the latter. Be sure to let them also warm up and to follow whatever other directions the recipe may recommend for using them. For instance, if you use ricotta cheese, you may need to drain it if it is watery.

    Don't over mix. Your filling should be custard like as oppose to cake-like. This is another cause of for cracking. Add ingredients such as berries and nuts last.

    When cooking, always preheat the oven 15 to 30 minutes beforehand, 30 being better. This insures the oven will have an ambient temperature which also helps to prevent cracking.

    And resist the urge to peak. You want the temperature to stay as consistent as possible. If you oven doesn't have a window, wait at least 30 minutes before you take a look and do it quickly.

    Never go above or below the recipes recommended cooking temperature. If the temperature is too high or if you cook too long, you'll over cook and get a crusty topping--which also leads to cracking-- as oppose to a nice creamy top with a slightly brown appearance.

    Springform pans are the perfect pan for baking cheesecakes. With a release clamp on the side, the cakes can be lifted out without cracking or crumbling. I also recommend wrapping the bottom with aluminum foil before any baking. The butter used to make your crust may start to slightly leak even when using a small amount. Before taking the cheesecake out, it's best to loosen the side of the pan with a spatula. Also the pan's non-stick coatings makes clean ups a breeze.

    Follow these tips and you're sure to see improvements in your next great cheesecake.

    Cedrick White is an avid baker and publisher of http://www.I-Love-Cheesecake.com which offers an assortment of delicious and delightful cheesecake recipes. Be especially sure to check out the large selection of chocolate cheesecake recipes. Go ahead and find one to bake today.

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    Saturday, June 27, 2009

    Just Jerky : The Complete Guide to Making It

    Here's the do-it-yourself guide to making your own jerky in an oven, smoker, or food dehydrator with strips or ground beef, venison, poultry, fish and even soy protein.


    You probably don't think about all the planning that goes into the displays you pass by in the grocery store. There is definitely a science to being a grocery store manager. I'm going to let you in on a few secrets and tell you how you can avoid spending more money than you want.

    1. Displays - They catch your attention, but also encourage impulse buying. There is a reason they put those displays in the aisles so you have to look at them when you wheel your cart around them. The items on that display are not necessarily on sale. We assume the items are on sale when we look at the display, but most of the time that is not the case. Don't be lured into buying something on display unless it was on your list and you were planning on buying it anyways.

    2. Watch the scanner - I'm not saying that grocery stores deliberately put incorrect prices in their scanners, but I am saying that mistakes do happen. You usually know about how much something costs when you put it in your cart. Make sure you watch the scanner when you check out. They say that consumers lose many millions of dollars each year to improper scanning.

    3. Eye level is most expensive - Distributors pay premium price to get their products displayed at eye level. Those items tend to be the most expensive or at least have the best mark up. Look above and below eye level to purchase the products you need. They are probably what you would use to make healthier and more homemade meals that will save money in the long run.

    If you stick to your list and stay aware of lures that are waiting to trap you into spending more money and time you will be able to get in and out of the store quickly and with the most amount of money still in your pocket.

    Do you want to know more about saving time in the kitchen? Grab your free report "Time Saving Kitchen Tips" at http://www.hjresources.com/freeck Heidi Johnson specializes in helping families find resources to simplify and improve their lives.

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    Friday, April 3, 2009

    Nesco All-in-One Food Dehydrator Kit, Model# FD50-WHC

    Everything needed to dry fruit, vegetables, jerky and more. 500 Watts power plus patented coverage flow for even drying. No more rotating trays. U.S.A.


    Keeping fruits fresh for an extended period is not difficult if correct preservation techniques are applied. So before we get started, certain things like pectin powder/ liquid, lemon juice, sugar, ascorbic acid, any artificial sweetener, glass/ plastic freezer containers are needed first.

    Over a span of time, fruits tend to darken. To prevent this, it is good to coat them with acidic juice such as juice of lemon, orange or pineapple. There are commercial anti-darkening products available in the market that can also be used. Soaking the fruits in ascorbic acid will also prevent it from darkening over an extended period of time.

    If you do not wish to coat or soak fruits in preservatives, you can alternatively use glass or plastic freezer containers. These are special containers that will keep fruits in good quality under freezing conditions.

    Fruits like apples, figs, plum, mulberry, cherry, peach, blackberry, and grapes taste great as jams and jellies. So, if you like to have these fruits in the form of jellies, then preserving becomes a lot easier. Just prepare the jelly and preserve it in a glass container.

    Drying fruits is also a good way of preserving them. People like to consume some fruits in dried condition. Often fruits like apples, pears, and plums are dried and preserved. A food dehydrator can be used to dry the fruits in the form of slices. These dried fruits are stored in air tight containers.

    Pint or quart jars can also be used for preserving fruits. Fruits can be hot packed by adding it in raw condition to hot syrup and then reheating it to boiling point. This should then be packed in the containers along with the syrup.

    Canning of fruits is also a good method of preservation. Cut fruit into half and remove the core and stem. This will give you two edible halves. You can even slice the fruit the way you like. The slices are then heat processed and sealed in air tight containers.

    Fruits should always be consumed when they are fresh and ripe. However, if you like to consume it after sometime, the above-mentioned tips should help you in preserving your favorite fruits for a longer time.

    Alfred Anderson has rich experience in the field of online brand marketing. His interests includes Internet marketing and research on emerging online business trends. True Fruit

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    Monday, March 30, 2009

    Mary Bell's Complete Dehydrator Cookbook

    A guide to food dehydrating shows readers how to make preservative-free dried apple rings, candied apricots, beef and fish jerkies, sun-dried tomatoes, corn chips, herb seasonings, dried fruit sugars, and more. 100,000 first printing. Tour.


    It is so fun to cook and bake in the winter when it's cold and the days are shorter. In northern California where I live, our temperature ranges from 35 to 105 (more or less). The seasons change abruptly; and sometimes, it's physically challenging to keep up with the climate changes.

    Every Fall, I renew my love for cooking. I love to find new recipes to add to my repertoire. Last year, I learned a new Coffee-Ginger Cookie recipe and a Coleslaw recipe, and they are definitely keepers! This year, I have already learned how to make Chicken Soup for the first time. I view the art of cooking as another art form. In fact, I have found that preparing food can be a true art experience. Have you ever made flower buds out of radishes? Have you ever tried to color co-ordinate your meals? Okay, that may be a bit extreme, but I bet you color coordinate frostings to the cakes you make!

    For those who like photography, do you ever photograph food for the love of photography? It's fun, you should try it. Actually, have you ever thought of designing and illustrating your favorite recipes just for yourself? Start by photographing the food and write down the recipe for it. Paste each photograph into a Word document where the recipe is written out. Print it and start a collection. Later, you can scrapbook the information together.

    Most definitely, it's the time of year when old recipes come new again. Warm yourself up and express yourself in the kitchen! Your family will not only love you for it, but you will find, the cold winter days seem a bit brighter as your family enjoys all your home cooked meals. (Revised 2/16/2006)

    Debbie Jensen, Web Designer, Graphic Designer, and Photographer http://www.debjensendesigns.com

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    Saturday, March 14, 2009

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    In the fall time the herb growing season starts to wind down, but this doesn't mean the end of your herbs usefulness in the kitchen. Drying herbs in the autumn is a great way to extend their usefulness. Imagine setting around the table with your family on a cold winter night, with the smell of your favorite herbs steaming out from your favorite dish that you so lovingly prepared. Not only that but dried herbs look very appealing hang in in your kitchen or the pantry.

    A herb that contains high moisture can be a bit more difficult to dry. Herbs such as bay, dill, thyme, marjoram, summer savory, sage, basil and oregano are just a few that lend themselves to drying.

    Herb plants that are going to be harvested should be harvested in the early morning, in this way they have not extended much energy. Also if you can gather them just before they go into bloom they will be in their best condition for you to produce great dried herbs.

    Increased flavor is obtained from the herbs if the leaves are dried whole, but when used they should be crumbled first before being added to your favorite dish . Herbs can be kept for a year or two, but for better results and increased flavor is recommended that they be used within six to 12 months. Your dried herbs should be stored in a airtight container placed in a cool dark dry place.

    Herb drying can be carried out in a few different ways. These are a drying rack, hanging in warm well ventilated shady spot, microwaving, dehydrator and not really drying but freezing the herb leaves will preserve herbs also.

    4 common methods a drying herbs

    #1: Air drying
    For small batches of herbs one should make sure first that they are rinsed off and all the water padded off. Pick off any of the wilted leaves and just leave the healthy looking ones. Next tie a bundle of herbs tightly around stems and insert into a brown paper bag. Make sure that this bag is large enough as to leave lots of room around the leaves of the plants. It is best practice to hang the herbs upside down as this allows the essential oils to flow into the leaves and increases the flavor greatly. You should hang them in a dark warm area with the temperature somewhere around 70 to 80F.

    #2: Microwave drying
    For people that don't have the patience or just want to get to their herbs dried quickly, the microwave offers a great solution. The disadvantage is that you can only do small batches at the time. The high-frequency waves produced by the microwave will cook the herbs from the inside to the outside. The drying process usually only takes two or three minutes in the microwave on a high setting.

    #3: Oven drying
    Oven drying is not a recommended way of drying herbs, as it evaporates the water and essential oils in the herbs to quickly, but for those that can't wait it will suffice. Herb roots can be successfully dried in the oven. Thick walled herbs such as basil and rosemary do well. It should only take a couple hours in the oven to produce your dried herbs.

    #4: Dehydrator
    The main advantage of using a dehydrator is that you can control the temperature and air circulation. This tends to produce a high quality dried herb. Another advantage of using a dehydrator is that you can dry large quantities of herbs and also herbs with high moisture without any problems.

    So if you're looking to prolong your bounty that you have grown in your summer herb garden be sure to try drying your herbs for winter use.

    Herbs can give you a sexy strong healthy body, so if that,s what you are looking for check this out!

    http://www.herbgarden.rolltra.com

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    Monday, March 9, 2009

    Nesco Clean-a-Screen for Dehydrator Item# 168605, Model# LM-2-6

    Screen flexes to remove sticky fruits and jerky quickly and easily. Herbs and spices wont fall through tray spokes. Includes 2 screens. Dishwasher safe. U.S.A.


    I don't know about you, but after I finish my workout routine of jogging or lifting weights, I always enjoy a refreshing pick-me-up and a bit of a snack.

    And of course having a nutrient-rich drink and a non-junk food munchie is a smart thing to do since you've just stressed your body during your workout routine and broken down millions of cells.

    At this point, you need something nutritious to help your ole bod create healthy, new cells.

    My favorite post workout cell replacer is an 8-ounce glass of freshly extracted vegetable juice composed of about two ounces of carrot juice mixed with six ounces of a combination of celery, kale, Romaine lettuce, tomato, apple, and anything else that looks good in the veggie bin.

    Swirling the first mouthful of this concoction through the choppers and up and over the tongue is a taste treat that can't be beat.

    Adding a little dab of hot sauce or juicing a tiny jalapeo without the other veggies (juice it first so the next user of the juice machine isn't in for a hot surprise) makes a memorable drink that will leave you smacking your lips in happiness.

    And here's a fabulous recipe for an energy-boosting cookie that'll help you build health:

    Raw Apple Raisin Cookies

    2 cups sunflower seeds, soaked 4 hours and rinsed

    2 Fuji apples, grated 2 large bananas

    1/2 cup dates

    1 cup raisins

    1 tsp cinnamon

    1 Tbs flax oil

    1 cup walnuts, soaked 2 hours, chopped

    Process sunflower seeds and bananas through a Champion juicer with no plate (grate) or use a food processor. Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl. Spoon dough on a dehydrator tray with a teflex sheet and form into small round cookie. Place cookies close together on the sheets. Dehydrate at 105F degrees for 4 hours, turn cookies over and remove teflex sheet. Continue dehydrating until desired moisture is obtained, approximately 3-5 hours.

    So sweat up a storm with your daily exercise and then award your cells with a fresh glass of veggie juice and a healthy energy cookie.

    What a great way to end a workout routine, eh?

    Chet Day keeps a close eye on the wild and wacky world of the natural health circus. If you're tired of the same old health news and boring baloney, you'll enjoy Chet's informative and entertaining writing style at http://chetday.com and in his many free newsletters at http://dayzines.com

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    Thursday, March 5, 2009

    Nesco All-in-One Food Dehydrator Kit, Model# FD50-WHC

    Everything needed to dry fruit, vegetables, jerky and more. 500 Watts power plus patented coverage flow for even drying. No more rotating trays. U.S.A.


    Dreaming of making some of your own beef jerky at home but don't want the hassle, so you go out and buy some? Yikes, the price is enough to make you change your mind about making it right? No worries, we have the best beef jerky recipes that will whet your appetite and save you some change too.

    It's not as hard as you might think it is. Yes, it takes some time, but the results are well worth it. So, grab a pencil or just print this page out and you are good to go.

    This beef jerky recipe is a favorite of many beef lovers and lends itself to many variations on the recipe we have here. You will love this because you can pack it anywhere. Just watch yourself around dogs though or you will become a magnet.

    Your choice of cuts is the ticket here, so if you like Sirloin or London Broil, then go for it. Make sure you pick a lean cut though with as little fat as possible. This helps speed up drying time. The next thing you want to do is cut your meat up into very thin, thin strips, say about 1/8" thick. You could have them thicker, but it will slow down drying time.

    Hints: ask the butcher to do this for you or in the alternative partially freeze it at home before slicing.

    Once you are ready to cut the meat, if the butcher didn't do it for you, cut it with or against the grain. With the grain is way easier to chew, but that is up to you. If you like it REALLY chewy go against the grain. Cut the fat off, as fat does not dry.

    Ok, next you need to marinate the meat. You can make your own or buy some from the store. Our suggestion is you use sea salt (that way it won't toughen the meat) and cider vinegar for that tangy flavor. You can leave it as little as four hours, but we seriously suggest going for 24 hours for the best results.

    Most of the best beef jerky recipes use marinade, but some people consider marinating optional, because it can make the meat wetter and slow down drying and make the jerky stickier. This is personal preference, and you may choose either way depending on what you prefer. When this stage is done, coat the meat with the spices your like, spray the racks of your dehydrator with non-stick cooking spray and pop them in with enough room around the pieces to let the air flow properly. Try not to let the meat touch.

    There you have it. Now all you have to do is wait, check, watch, check again and in about 6 to 12 hours you will have beef jerky that your neighbors will visit you to sample.The trick here is to check it regularly after about 6 hours to test it for the consistency you want. You may have to test cut slices to make sure it isn't raw inside. It should be a deep red or burgundy color when done.

    If you are looking for more of the best beef jerky recipes around then take a look at our list of free beef jerky recipes. If you like spicy food then you are going to love our spicy beef jerky recipe. Or if you have a dehydrator at home then view our dehydrated beef jerky recipe for a quick and easy way to make jerky at home.

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    Sunday, March 1, 2009

    food pantrie dehydrator and seed sprouter

    SPROUT SEEDS FOR MAKING WHEATGRASS OR HIGH ENERGY FOOD FROM SPROUTS. DEHYDRATE FOODS NATURALLY WITHOUT ELECTRICITY. DRY JERKY - APPLES - APRICOTS - ONIONS - MUSHROOMS. CHOCKING HAZARD - CONTAINS SMALL PARTS - NOT FOR CHILDREN UNDER 3


    Sausage and mash is considered one of the best English dishes. Whatever your budget, there is a sausage out there that you can afford, that will taste delicious and that can be utilised in many ways to serve up as a reasonably impressive dish for guests or simply as an everyday meal or snack.

    Sausages made from premium cuts of meat are mixed with rare spices and a degree of fat and fashioned into the typical sausage shape for those with plenty of money but if you're not wealthy then you can pop into any supermarket and pick up a packet of sausages. Sometimes the meat content is dubious and it has always been assumed that sausages are made up of the dregs of an animal that can't be used for any other purpose. But this isn't always so and manufacturers are making more effort these days to fill sausages with better quality meat.

    Sausages with vegetables, Yorkshire puddings and gravy, sausage and mash with liquor, sausage and chips or sausage and chips, even vegetarian sausages - mix it up any way you like but there will be a sausage to suit.

    Nowadays, we have food processing equipment that makes the whole sausage making procedure swift and easy. Meat is automatically ground down to the correct consistency, mixed with fillers, spices and fat and fed through into skins and they are even divided into 'links' by the same machine. But it hasn't always been like this.

    Sausages are not a modern food. Records date back to 500bc of kitchens that produced sausages in one form or another. People took great care in the mixing of special spices and the rarer the spice the better the sausage was considered to be. Of course, back then food processing equipment consisted of butchers who would create everything from the sausage skin to stuffing methods and sausage making became quite an art.

    Early American colonies were fond of sausages because meat was an expensive commodity and they were instructed to use every part of the animal except the snout. To do this, they would use up the intestines, bladders, uterus, stomach and all parts of the pig to grind down, mix with spice and then cover with a layer of melted fat. This produced a sausage that could then be smoked and thus preserved, lasting for quite some time in cold cellars and providing family food for months.

    Smoked sausages were also a favourite with soldiers. These were one of the few foods that they could be sure wouldn't go off too quickly and would provide, in their basic form, a pretty good source of sustenance. They would also have taken black pudding, which is a form of sausage made from pigs blood and this is still a popular dish today, proving further that no part of an animal is wasted.

    Over the years, people have found ways round the fact that food processing equipment had yet to be invented. Sausage fillers were made from funnel shaped objects and these made the whole process a little easier as the less handling of the delicate sausage skins, the better. One of the most frustrating things about making a sausage would have been the splitting of the skin whilst filling as this skin not only acted as a way of holding the contents together but would also have been used as a preservative.

    So, whatever the method, whatever the animal part, whatever the spice and whatever the price, there is a way for everybody to enjoy sausages.

    Culinary expert Catherine Harvey looks at how sausage making is so much easier with the use of food processing equipment and how they did it in the early days.

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    Tuesday, February 24, 2009

    Quick Minute Microwave Food Dehydrator

    Product includes 3 non-stick sheets 3 QuickMinute Racks 1 Kitchen Multi-Grater 1 Instruction/Recipe Booklet


    I usually come home late from work. And I also love cooking my own dinner. Cooking to me is therapeutic, and I unwind by cooking. But, except on a weekend or a Sunday, I don't have the pleasure of cooking slowly. I am too hungry, and I usually have some personal work to attend to like blogging, and catching up news on by feed reader. So, my weekday cooking is usually quick, and when I say quick, It is really quick.

    First thing I enter my home; I take off my jacket and shirt. I stash away whatever I come in with, and enter the kitchen right away. I either open a beer or pour me a class of orange juice.

    And with that I start right away. I am fond of cooking, so it has kind of become habit, and I know what to do when I am cooking something.

    My most common dish is chicken gravy/stew, and here is what I do. Even before taking out the chicken, I put the cooking pan on heat. I take out Onions and lay it on the cutting board. I pour Olive Oil into the pan. And I immediately turn my hand to the chopping board and chop the onion. Oil is hot by the time half the onion is cut.. I add it so as not over heat the oil. I add the second half soon after I have chopped them and give a quick stir.

    I leave it at that and crush a few cloves of garlic and some ginger, add them, never giving a rest to my hands.

    I take out the Chicken, quickly cut them into smaller pieces.. I use precut chicken.. Add the chicken, and give a quick stir..

    Now I add salt and pepper, and stir again. I cover the pan, and start cutting up two tomatoes, and two large Potatoes cut in large chunks.

    Open the pan; add the Tomatoes and the Potatoes. Give a quick stir. Add Two cups of water, or chicken stock if you have them. Add about a cup of red wine. Bring to a boil, and lower the heat. All this took about 20 minutes.

    I go back and remove my shoes, and pants. I go and take shower..

    When I come out, the potatoes are soft when I press with a spoon. Increase the heat to make the gravy thicker.

    Garnish with Cilantro. Wasn't it quick?

    The author loves cooking and regularly submits recipes to popular recipe websites. He recently started a site on pork recipes where he have written about an awesome baked pork chop recipe.

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    Monday, February 16, 2009

    Mary Bell's Complete Dehydrator Cookbook

    A guide to food dehydrating shows readers how to make preservative-free dried apple rings, candied apricots, beef and fish jerkies, sun-dried tomatoes, corn chips, herb seasonings, dried fruit sugars, and more. 100,000 first printing. Tour.


    Baking cookies always reminds me of my mom back in the day, every time I get a waft of that sweet smell, it always brings me back and puts a smile on my face.

    Below are recipes and methods for a couple of different cookie varieites:

    You will need:

    classic or Spiced Cookies

    Large mixing bowl

    Cups and spoons for measuring

    Fork for stirring

    Flour

    Baking powder and soda

    Salt

    Cocoa powder

    Spices(optional)

    Butter Melt Cookies

    Another large mixing bowl or wash and reuse the other one

    A second set of measuring cups and spoons

    Food processor

    Wooden spoon

    Rubber spatula

    Butter, margarine and cream cheese

    White and brown sugar

    Eggs

    Vanilla extracts

    Raisins, nuts and chocolate chips

    Rolled oats

    Any other ingredients that are added to the butter and eggs in your recipes

    For the novice baker among you, to best avoid transferring flavors from one recipe to another, you need to start with basic recipes that have no spices, chocolate, or other over powering ingredients.

    Starting with your first recipe, measure your flour and baking soda into 1 bowl. Then, combine the butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla in another bowl as directed. Gradually mix flour and bking soda into the butter mixture and add any extras.

    Next, scrape down the edges of the mixing bowl with the spatula to clear up any excess, shape the dough into a ball and wrap it in cling film. Identify the different recipes by writing the name on the plastic with a felt-tip marker and put it in the fridge.

    Check out more of the same content as well as the best bar equipment click on the links below:

    Barstool - We have information on the best bar stool for each and every bar style.
    Bar supply - Bar supplies & bar equipment online. Your entire bar supplies, beer supplies, & wine supplies online.
    Marios Barstore - Bar supplies & bar equipment online. Your entire bar supplies, for any bar, night club, theme bar, home or party

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    Wednesday, February 4, 2009

    Nesco American Harvest FD-1020 Gardenmaster 1000-Watt Digital Food Dehydrator

    Top mounted fan eliminates the worry of liquids dripping into the heater chamber. Expands to a giant 20 trays so you can dry large quantities all at once! 1000 watts of drying power means you can dry more, faster.

    These Gardenmaster Accessories Included FREE!
  • No-Spill Fruit Roll Sheet. Perfect for drying semi-liquids: soups, sauces, fruit rolls. Has exclusive "no spill" lips.
  • Clean-A-Screen. Flexible screen, allows easy drying of small items such as herbs, spices, and potpourri.
  • Jerky Spice Packet and Cure - Make your own jerky at home!

    Features and Benefits
  • Digital Timer is Programable for up to 48 Hours of Drying Time
  • 1000 watts of drying power!
  • Patented Converga-Flow®.
  • Adjustable Temperature Control.
  • Includes 52-page recipe and instruction book, 1 solid sheet, 1 mesh sheet, and 1 packet jerky spice to make great tasting beef jerky or venison jerky.
  • 4.5" Fan, 2400-RPM Motor, Adjustable Thermostat, 1,000 Watts.
  • Dries in Hours, not days. Fruit rolls 3-6 hours, Beef Jerky 4 hours, Apples 4-6 hours, Bananas 5-8 hours, Pineapple 4-6 hours.
  • Opaque Vita-Save® Exterior (blocks harmful light).
  • Expandable to 20 trays. No Tray Rotation, 1 Sq. ft. Per Tray


    The raw food weight loss diet is one of the most hyped-up diet fads in recent years. It has been endorsed by celebrities, approved by doctors and nutritionists, and is the subject of many weight loss books. Its claims are certainly worth looking into: according to its proponents, its impossible to gain weight on raw food, and you can eat as much as you want without gaining an ounce!

    Of course, such claims should be taken with a grain of salt. Before starting a raw food weight loss diet, its important to know its risks and benefits. Read on to learn more about raw food diets and what they can do for you.

    What is it?

    The raw food weight loss diet promotes the consumption of uncooked and unprocessed plant foods. By uncooked, they mean subjecting food to temperatures above 116oF, which is believed to destroy enzymes that help the body absorb nutrients. Fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, grains, sprouts, seeds, and seaweed make up most of the diet.
    Raw food proponents believe that eating right is only part of the process that make up a good life. According to them, cooking deprives food of its life force and makes eating simply a means of sustenance, rather than part of ones overall well-being.

    How much raw food?

    Its near impossible to limit yourself entirely to raw foods. The raw food weight loss diet recommends that raw food make up around 75% of your diet; any more that and youre at risk for vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Raw food also includes meat and seafood: raw shrimp, sashimi, and rare to medium rare meats. However, most raw food dieters prefer plant foods because they are lower in fat and preservatives.

    What are the risks and benefits?

    Raw foods contain little to no saturated fats, trans fats, and sodium. These are the most common culprits of serious diseases such as obesity, heart disease, diabetes and cancer. A study featured in the Journal of Nutrition shows that a raw food weight loss diet significantly lowered cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Raw foods are also high in antioxidants, which help fight free radicals that contribute to cancer risk. Other nutrients abundant in raw foods are fiber, folate, potassium, and magnesium. Proponents of the raw food weight loss diet also have more energy, clearer skin, and better digestion.

    One common reaction to the raw food diet is detoxification symptoms, which indicates that the body is flushing out toxins. Symptoms include nausea, mild headaches, and food cravings. They usually last several days and may be more severe in people whose previous diet was rich in meat, sugar and sodium. Raw food diets are also not recommended for children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, anemics, and people at risk for osteoporosis.

    What cooking methods are allowed?

    Raw doesnt mean you have to eat foods right off the counter. There are ways to prepare your foods without breaking the 116oF mark. Here are some techniques you can use.

    1. Blend vegetables together to create a dip or salad.

    2. Make a healthy shake using fresh fruits.

    3. Dress salads with fresh juice extracts instead of prepared dressings.

    4. Soak dried fruits and nuts to enhance their taste and make them easier to digest.

    5. If youre eating grains or seeds, you can eat them young or sprouted. Eat them together with citrus fruits to improve iron absorption.

    6. Replace processed drinks like coffee, tea, and soda with homemade juice or purified water.

    What will you need?

    If youre considering a raw food weight loss diet, you will need to adapt your kitchen to your new lifestyle. Be sure to have the following:

    A food dehydrator. Dehydrators remove water from your food, making them easier to store for longer periods. It uses temperatures below or just above boiling, so youre still within the 116oF limit.

    A juice extractor. Fruit and vegetable extracts are a major part of the raw food weight loss diet. Its not just for making juiceyou can also use extracts to flavor your food or create salad dressings.

    A blender, chopper or food processor. This helps save time when chopping or mixing your vegetables.

    Glass containers. If youre sprouting your seeds and grains, put them in large glass containers. This allows you to check their progress at a glance. Plastic and metal containers also leave residues which may affect the taste of your food.

    Phillip England is a weight loss expert and Author of the popular report "The Ultimate Weight Loss Secret". To receive your free information on the secret that doctors, and health companies either don't know, or don't want you to know, please see http://www.theultimateweightlosssecret.com/secret

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  • Save Money and Conserve Energy at the Same Time

    Energy conservation is a hot topic at the moment. It is clear that energy conservation is a worldwide problem. Also, it is of interest that conserving energy is quite simple to practice as a single person.

    Before we discuss some tips to help with your energy conservation, lets look at some of the ways that energy conservation has been defined:

    * Energy conservation is protecting the planet.

    * Energy conservation is intergenerational duty.

    * Energy Conservation is frequently the quickest and most cost effective method of cutting your energy bill.

    * Energy conservation is doing anything that results in the use of less energy.

    * Energy conservation is mostly about adjusting habits and comprehension.

    * Energy conservation is the act of improving the way you use energy so that we can achieve greater usable output for exactly the same energy consumption.

    * Energy Conservation is important for lots of reasons; social, environmental and economic.

    * Energy conservation is an important topic where ordinary citizens of any age or background can have an instantaneous, significant impact on our world.

    * Energy conservation isnt something that need only be practiced whilst at work.

    * Energy conservation is one of the most practical ways of both lowering greenhouse gas polution and reducing the cost to the consumer.

    * Energy conservation is advantageous to the overall economy.

    If conserving energy is so terrific, why aren't we doing more of it?.

    Heads of state wish to improve our energy conservation, and the best way they may decide to achieve major energy conservation improvements is to hike the prices of electricity or gas. Currently, energy conservation is justifiably efficient, cost wise, with a quick payback time and reasonable investment. As heads of state raise purchase costs, the fairly rapid payback time gets shorter still and the cost benefits even greater.

    Consumer awareness today concerning energy conservation is a hundred times greater than it was two decades ago, but it still isn't adequate. Indeed, improving awareness of energy conservation is becoming increasingly urgent because electricity consumption is developing much faster than our capacity to generate power.

    What can we do to help ?

    Clearly, there are many people worried about their heating bills this winter.
    Remember that heating and pumping water is sometimes a big section of your electric bill. The cost of gas is at an all time high and heating oil isnt getting any cheaper either.

    So, what options do you have to help save some of your hard earned cash and help the environment?

    The best tip of all is to switch things off when you aren't using them. Television, music center, lights etc. Don't even leave things on 'standby', it still uses energy without need.

    Most power is used by heating, so carefully adjusting the temperatures on your thermostat is the biggest energy conservation step you can take.
    Another good idea is to check the air filters on your heating and cooling system monthly.
    Want a hot drink? Use microwave ovens instead of hotplates or kettles for heating water.

    Changing your heating system? Select energy-efficient equipment when you buy new heating and cooling equipment.

    If you are considering buying a gas fire, choose an efficient flueless design. With the latest hi-tech designs, absolutely no energy is wasted and lost up the chimney as it is with a conventionally flued gas fire. As a result all the heat generated warms your room. This means better energy costs and excellent energy efficiency. They are also far kinder to the environment, as the latest catalytic gas technology means the fire actually cleans the air it uses.

    In conclusion, energy conservation is the end result of a lot of small things that produce a significant impact.

    If you make enough of those small changes, energy efficiency and energy conservation are a win-win combination.

    Roger Wakefield is a staff writer at: DRU Gas Fires ... a manufacturer of modern high efficiency gas fires.

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