Tips on Vegetarian Holiday Meals

If you decide to do a vegetarian dinner, do not just do vegetarian versions of meat dishes. There's no reason to limit yourself that way.

A meat-based Thanksgiving dinner tends to the savory. Take advantage of all the tastes available to you; have sweet dishes, sour dishes, and even mix it up. You have a lot options so there is no reason to limit yourself to just a few ideas.

Beans are your best friend. Because they can be baked, fried, and pickled, they offer a wide variety of options for the meal's proteins.

You have one major advantage over traditional meals: Pitas, tortillas, and other flatbreads allow you to provide multiple dips (such as hummus, salsas, and refried beans) and have fun. Don't just think "vegetarian burrito bar" and you should be fine.

Your biggest limitation will be the lack of dairy products and eggs. Stick to stews, salads, and breads, and you should be fine.

Tips on Gravy, Potatoes, and Stuffing

A simple gravy can be created by boiling some chcken stock and then throwing some torn-up bread. Give it about five minutes, season as desired, and then puree.

If you burn the gravy, you may be able to rescue it with a tablespoon of peanut butter.

Because the potatoes are likely to be covered by something, you should only need to add one more ingredient beyond the milk, salt, butter, and potatoes. Some good suggestions are: garlic salt, pepper, sour cream, or cheese.

If you have to use potato buds, add in a little vinegar after boiling but before serving.

Stuffing can be very forgiving, so have some fun with it. Dried fruits, especially raisins and cranberries, can add a little tartness, nuts can add some crunch and creamed soup can add some moisture. 

A Gumbo for The Woods

So, you're planning a trip to the woods and want to do something really special. It may take bringing in some supplies, including a huge pot, but a gumbo may be just what you are looking for.

While at home slice and dice enough red peppers, green peppers, and onions to fill a quart bag of each. If you want, fry off enough brats or other sausages to fill a gallon bag. Make sure that you have a can opener, about 64 ounces total of canned diced and stewed tomatoes, about 32 ounces of tomato paste, and a can of pepper, as well as any other spices you like. You'll also want to package a cup of table or sea salt. Also, make sure that you have a ten-gallon pot and large stirring spoon (at least three feet long, wooden preferred). You'll also want a five-pound bag of rice, two pound of butter or margarine, and your option of two gallons of water (you can use river water if you so desire).

On the way to the campsite, you'll want to grab a variety of seafoods, such as clam and shrimp. Alternately, you can throw in whatever you catch at camp, but keep in mind that you're going to need a lot of meat of meat (at least five pounds, but closer to ten pounds). That's a lot of crawdads.

Build a fire and place the pot in the middle. You can use a cooking rack if you want, but keep in mind that you will be putting a lot of weight on it. Melt the butter and then mix in the vegetables. You want to slightly caramelize the vegetables, and then add in the meat, seasonings, and 1 2/3 gallons of water (you're going to need 200 ounces of water, and a gallon is 128 ounces). You want to boil the water, but it's going to take a long time. Once it's boiling, throw in the rice and mix it in thoroughly. Let it cook another five minutes and then remove the pot from the fire.

After about twenty minutes, check it. The rice should be nice and fluffy, and you can serve it. Better yet, if you should have enough for a small army to last the weekend (or at least three meals), and as long as you cooked it properly it shouldn't spoil. If you want to reheat, mix in a bottle of water (about twenty ounces) and mix thoroughly, but that shouldn't be needed. It's a good healthy meal, gives you all of your energy needs, and tastes pretty good as well. All in all, a great recipe for the great outdoors. 

Tips on Finding a New Ingredient to Play With

If you really want to get better at cooking, pick an ingredient that you have never really messed with before and buy a couple of pounds of it. It just may inspire you to try some new stuff.

Of course, before you invest in a new ingredient, due your research, especially if you have a food allergy. Some ingredients trigger allergies even though they may not even look like what you may be allergic to.

A good general rule is to start with basic ingredients and move up to more exotic ingredients from there. This makes sure that you won't feel out of your depth any time soon.

A good recipe site can help spur your imagination once you have the ingredient in question. Try to pick a few different recipes that feature different ways of preparing the same ingredient.

Try to pick an ingredient that looks like fun. The more fun you have with the ingredient the more you will learn.

Tips on How to Survive Paintball

Paintball is a great way to get some exercise as well as let off some steam. However, it requires being treated just as seriously as any other physical activity to get the best exercise out of it and to make sure that you don't go home in an ambulance.

Make sure that all of your equipment checks out before you even hit the field. Improperly maintained equipment can result in explosive guns, and that's never a good thing when your gun is based off using air pressure.

Your gear should include at least elbow and knee pads, chest protection, and goggles. No only will this limit the number of balls that explode on your body and therefore sting, but it will also protect your body from fall damage.

Stretching is a good idea as well. It ensures that your body is limber and that protects you from injury as well.

Keep hydrated. You will sweat a lot during the game, and you may suffer from dehydration if you don't drink occasionally. However, keep it non-alcoholic until you are away from the field to prevent any accidents due to impaired decision making.

Tips On The Best Drinks Post-Exercise

There will always be a little debate over the best drinks to follow up exercise with. The obvious advice is to know what your body needs and make sure that whatever your body wants is given to it.

A smoothie is actually a pretty good drink for most people. It gives a good general boost, and the fruit.vegetable base makes sure that you get any number of vitamins as well as protein and electrolytes.

Some people just require some electrolytes to bring them back online after exercise. Although some may think it's blood sugar that may be a problem, try something heavy with electrolytes first.

A drink with added protein in it is a good idea when you have sore muscles. This is not because it will help the soreness, but because it helps to rebuild muscles that were damaged and are causing the soreness.

A beer may not be a bad idea. It may sound ludicrous, but a beer is a great mix of vitamins and minerals,and actually hydrates better than water. Just remember to limit your intake to 500 mL (or just over 16 ounces) for men, and 250mL (or 8.5 ounces) for women for best health results. 

Tips on Grabbing A Proper Movie Snack

If you're planning on watching a movie, keep an eye what you eat. Anything that gives you gas should be avoided, especially if you are going to be in public or have company over.

Avoid big meals before the movie. The temptation to sleep will be too great, and that's the last thing you want to do. Especially with prank-loving friends.

At the movie theater, try to keep down to two snacks and a drink. Any more than that is just gluttony and will hurt your wallet.

Never eat an actual meal while watching a movie; there is just too much movement and then you need to deal with the dirty dishes all over the place. A snack big enough for a meal, such as nachos, can actually work out well.

In order to keep people sitting down, avoid snacks that require a number of trips such as cheese/meat and crackers or any kind of snack bar. This is why nachos and popcorn are great snacks: They require few refills, and fill people up.

Being Skeptical

For the person that truly loves food this is a great time to be alive. There has never before been as much information available on food, or access to different types of food, or even ways to figure out how to cook those different kinds of food. However, there's also a lot of bad information out there as well. As the natural food movements gain ground, you need to keep an eye out for a lot of that misinformation. And it can get pretty wild.

Look at table salt. A lot of groups are against anything manufactured; they reason that the more something is manufactured the less nutritious it is, as well as the worse the taste is. The reality is that while there may be some potential issues with pesticides, even though they are washed off as well as possible, the food is more likely to be devoid of impurities, such as soil and insects, as well as healthier in general. That it is missing taste is a good point until you realize that the extra taste was pillbugs and earwigs. Table salt's manufacture is actually a good thing, as the iodine that is added staves off goiter; although it does make the salt a little saltier, the additive actually helps the person's health.

Conversely, there is raw milk. Again, the problem is that natural foods are somehow better for you, and should be sought out at all costs. Although the point in this case is understandable as pasteurization kills the bacteria in the milk, and that bacteria actually helps in digestion, there is the problem that raw milk has to be virtually right out of the cow; because of the lack of pasteurization and preservatives raw milk can go bad really, really quick; it can only last about two or three days before it becomes a danger. Because of this states have had to deal with the flak when they either prohibit raw milk completely or limit the distance it can travel; naturally, the natural food people are up in arms at the prohibition despite the health risks raw milk presents.

All this means is that you need to watch out for any number of pieces of misinformation. Like anything else, do your research, and be worried if you see nothing but good things about the food in question. At the same time, if you see a lot of bad news about a particular item, do some research to figure out what is happening. Too many times a food is given a great PR boost and it's a great food but not as good as other foods, or it may be attacked just to create interest in much more natural products; either way, it's creating more misinformation than actual information. Always be a little skeptical when something is too good or to bad to be true; a little paranoia is always a good policy when it comes to something you'll be putting into your body. 

Tips on Mixing Drinks and Movies

There will always be a debate over the perfect drink to accompany a movie. The challenge will be to find something you like while keeping it enjoyable. Soda is actually not a bad idea as it will keep you awake during the movie.

Wine can also work rather well, especially if it's an arthouse flick. Shoot for a good merlot as it usually makes for a great wine to just relax with.

If you need to go alcoholic but don't want wine, go for beer. Hard liquor should be avoided, as you want to pay attention to the movie. This is one of the times you want a good pilsner or IPA, as they aren't too heavy and the taste should merge well with any snack you choose.

Coffee should be avoided as you want something that will last the entire movie; hot coffee will chill too quick and iced coffee will be diluted, ruining the taste. Tea is an excellent choice.

Energy drinks should also be avoided. They'll either put you to sleep or put you on edge, and neither is a good idea while watching a movie. 

The Difference Between Salts

Sea, kosher, and iodized: This three little words cause a lot of confusion when it comes to new cooks deciding on which salt to stock for their kitchens. When it comes down to it, there are some basic differences that you should consider when stocking your kitchen, and those differences are not as hard to figure out as much as you think.

Iodized salt is the one that we are all familiar with. It has a slight metallic taste compared to the others because iodine has been added to it. Goiter used to be a common disease which causes the thyroid gland to be inflamed as well as large bulges called goiters to show up on the body. Iodine is used to fight it, and while it is normally found in a variety of vegetables, it can be missing if the soil itself is iodine-deficient. In order to combat it, some companies decided to add iodine to table salt as it was something everyone used. Since then it has become the default salt.

However, in recent years kosher salt has become popular due to the lack of additives. That lack of additives gives it a lighter taste than regular table salt, giving it a slighter better taste as a seasoning. Its coarseness also makes it outstanding for brines and coatings, as it sticks to food far more readily than table salt. as well as for general cooking. However, that same coarseness impairs its ability to dissolve into water, making it a poor choice when it comes to baking; although it's great as a coating it sucks as an actual ingredient.

Sea salt is a far more natural product than regular table salt. While table salt comes from a variety of sources, up to and including actual salt mines, sea salt is from the evaporation of seawater. This gives it a different taste than regular salt, as well as a slightly different color (in some cases, a wider variety of color as different impurities give it different colors). However, it can be used almost interchangeably with table salt; although it is a little coarser, that disappears in in water and it dissolves as readily as regular table salt.

Of course, there are some considerations that need to be taken into account when the different types of salt are used. The biggest is that alternative sources of iodine need to be determined; seafood is one great source, but green and lima beans, strawberries, prunes, kelp, and even potatoes are other great sources. It also needs to be noted that you will be using different amounts of the other two salts. Kosher salt's coarseness means that you will be using twice as much as regular salt. Sea salt will require a little experimentation, but the general rule is that you will slightly less than table salt, on the order of one tablespoon per cup less than the recipe requires.

Although the health benefits are debatable, the difference in taste is not. You'll want to experiment until you find the mix you like. But when you find that right mix, you'll be loving life; it's just a matter of figuring out which salt works best for you.

Tips on Great Movie Snacks

Everyone snacks when they watch movies. Luckily there are a wide variety of options available. Just find one that you like, or even a small range of options, and you'll find you'll enjoy the movie better.

Popcorn is the default for a lot of good reasons: It smells great, is a great diet food, and can adapted easily to the taste of the person eating it. Try to stick with air popper if possible.

Nachos are another great option. You can either do a full production number or just melt some cheese over chips. Jalapenos are always optional.

Sadly, fruit will never really be an option. You want something that feels a little naughty, and fruit and vegetables are rarely the best option. Nonetheless, you may want to try it anyway, perhaps with a yogurt dip to make it feel like you're sneaking around.

Candy should always be seen as a last resort. However, if you do crave something sweet grab a bar of dark chocolate, possibly with a coconut center, and enjoy life a little. 

Tips on Exercising as a Couple

With most couples being double-income, it can be hard to find things to do together. Exercise can be one of those things especially if you can find the right classes. Just remember to not get too competitive, and a good exercise regimen can actually build a relationship.

Being on the same team depends on the maturity of the relationship. It helps build a younger relationship if the couple is on the same team. Not only does it help build trust but it also builds common memories, both of which make the relationship stronger.

An older relationship, however, requires a little more competition to work. The couple needs to find a way to compete against each other or they are likely to fight a lot, and eventually tear each other apart. They should find a way to let off some steam, and competing against each other provides a great pressure valve as well as providing some healthy exercise.

Of course, couples should mix that up a little. A younger relationship needs to appreciate what the other can do, and competition fosters that respect. On the hand, the older relationship needs to show others just how scary they can be when together as well as remembering how fun it is to play together, and being on the same team helps that.

Of course, your mileage may vary. Keep in mind that couples that compete need to maintain respect for the other while couples that compete together need to remember that they need to spend some time apart. A relationship requires a certain balance; find what works for you and keep in mind that the balance will probably keep shifting. It won't be easy, but nothing worth it ever is.

Tips on Exercising As A Couple

Some couples have a weird way of celebrating Valentine's Day: They go exercising together. This is not suggested for competitive couples: The need to win may be put a crimp in the romance if this is done too often. However, this is a great way to get in a little extra time together.

A morning marathon can actually be a good thing. Besides allowing you both to work on your endurance, you can also get in some added conversation, or not depending on the couple.

If you don't mind a little competition, you can take it to the range. A paintball war is a great way to deal with any minor issues in the relationship, let off some steam, and have some fun.

You can also participate in a local event, such as a mud run or an obstacle course. This is one time when it is not only okay to get a little dirty, but it's encouraged.

To really make the day special, make sure that you go somewhere right after you are done exercising. A good strawberry smoothie may be in order....

Tips on Other Options That Mix Romance and Food

When it comes to designing a romantic meal, there are a number of optons you can consider beyond going out or coming up with a great meal. Just remember that whatever you do you need to do something that is fun for both of you, otherwise the dinner is going to fall flat. This is not the time to be self-sacrificing, but to find some common ground, so that keep that in mind when you are exploring other options.

One-night sushi classes are a great option. It's something that is relatively easy to make with a wide variety of different options, making for a fun evening. Although there may not be much time for conversation, that can be fine for couples who want a relatively quiet evening.

Wine and cheese tasting classes may sound boring, but they can be fun. It gets you out of the house, allows you to rub elbows with people of the same tastes, and you may find some great new ingredients to play with. It can make for a good break from normal.

Beer brewing may sound a little weird for a romantic night, but when you realize the variety of beers available and what can be added to them. Thee is also that labels need to be designed for the beer as well. For couples that like to have fun designing things and planning things out this can actually be a fun night.

Whatever you do, avoid creating a meal together. It sounds fun, but invariably it's a big mess. For a romantic dinner you want to do something outside the ordinary, and cooking a meal just for the two of you does not have that feel. On the other hand, if the two of you spend very little time together and are willing to stick to one person being in charge, preferably the better cook, this could actually work out very well for you.

Secrets of a Great Romantic Dinner

Creating the perfect romantic dinner is actually pretty easy. All you need to do is realized that you need to is keep in mind that there needs to be a certain ritual to it and you're doing fine. Most bachelors over-think it and that's where they tend to get screwed; they want to present this over-complicated meal when all they need to do remember that elegance and simplicity are linked. Just go into with a game plan, and you should be fine.

Remember that you can take advantage of prepared foods as long as you make it look home-made. It means that you need to put at least a modicum of effort into the prep; if you don't want to go all out you don't need to, but you do need to put some effort into it. At the same time, you need to keep in mind that this does need to be a little more stand out than the average meal. With that in mind, there's an easy way to fix a three-course dinner that will impress your date. All you need to do is relax and think ahead a little.

You're going to want to go cold-hot-cold. A warm first course, such as a soup, is more likely to put the person to sleep earlier than you would like. They also tend to heavy in carbs and anything else that the other person is trying to avoid. You also want to end on a cold note as it's an excuse to get warmer, such as through snuggling. This means that a good salad is usually the best way to start, followed by a good meal, and some sort of frozen dessert. Keep in mind that it helps to keep in mind any food allergies or other problems; ignore anything about cheese if she is lactose intolerant or nuts if she has nut allergies. You don't want the date to end in an emergency call or a trip to the emergency room.

[A serving note: You want a little drama here in order to show that you actually were cooking. If she actually sees you cooking, it actually helps to seal the deal: It shows that you do have some kind of cooking skills, and that you aren't trying to poison her. If she offers to help, say "no" the first two times, and let her do the salad, possibly the starch and vegetables, but only if they are to be nuked. If she does the protein, the spell will be broken and that's a disaster for your purposes; after all, you're trying to impress her with your cooking skills.

As far as order goes, finish cooking the main course and then put it aside. Mix the salad and dressing, and serve that. When the salad is eaten, take away the plates and serve the main course; it should still be warm and the it gives the meat a chance to rest. Once the main course is over take away the plates, do something else for about thirty to sixty minutes, and then serve up the dessert. The break between second and third courses actually allows the appetite to come back so that neither of you feels over-stuffed.]

For your purposes, start with a Caesar salad mix. The Romaine lettuce, croutons, and Parmesan cheese is a great base. Instead of the normal salad dressing, mix up a basic oil and vinegar dressing using balsamic vinegar and olive oil as the base, with a lot of pepper and Italian seasoning. Or, for those that need a recipe:

Salad:
2 cups Chopped Romaine
3/4 cup Parmesan Cheese
1 cup Croutons
1/2 cup of any three of the following: diced tomatoes, dried cranberries, chopped sweet peppers, sliced olives, crushed walnuts, sliced almonds, bacon bits, quarter slices of cucumber, sliced or shredded carrots, or bean sprouts

Dressing:
1 cup Olive Oil
1/4 cup Balsamic Vinegar
2 tablespoons black pepper
2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon salt

Mix the salad and dressing ingredients separately, only combining them right before dinner. Make sure you keep it refrigerated until you serve it. Serve with the first of two glasses of red wine; the other should be poured right after you serve her dinner but before you sit down, but you can get away with pouring the first glass after you have sat down. Make sure that it has been allowed to breath for about thirty minutes before putting the salad together.

For the main course, you're going to want protein, starch, and veggies. The starch is probably the simplest part: Rice is always a good idea, as are roasted potatoes. Any packaged rice mix is fine, especially one that you can nuke. Roasted potatoes are simply diced potatoes, well seasoned, possibly with chopped or sliced onions, all of this cooked until the potatoes are golden brown and the onions caramelized. For vegetables, keep it simple; a stir-fry mix works, as well as asparagus, broccoli with cheese, or any decent vegetable combination. As with the rice, feel free to use something you can throw into the microwave.

The protein is going to be the fun part. Your three best bets are going to be a boneless chicken breast, fish, or a portabello mushroom. The latter can be quickly seared: The fish should be seared as is, possibly with a little lemon and pepper. The mushroom can be seared with some butter and garlic salt, and then served as is. The chicken you can have a little fun with; the simplest way is to cook it thoroughly in oil with a little garlic salt and pepper on top. Put it all together and serve.

Dessert is where you can cheat with no problem. Keep it simple, and keep it cold: Chocolate-dipped strawberries are always a good bet, while ice cream is a close second. You can get away with a warm pie, but only if it's underneath a scoop of ice cream. Pudding, sugar-free or otherwise, also works, as well as mixed fruit. Again, a cold dessert not only keeps her awake after the hot dinner, but also gives you the possibility for snuggling. Keep to this meal plan, and you may even impress your date; there is nothing wrong with that.

Tips on Cooking That Romantic Dinner

When cooking a romantic meal, it helps to consider what each item says about the relationship. This means that you need to make sure that each item doesnt just fit well with the meal as a whole, but says something good about the relationship as well.

Color is going to be important. You're either going to want bright, clear colors or softer, more comfortable colors such as browns, reds, and whites. This is sort of why spaghetti and lasagna are so popular: Between the reds and white of the meal proper and the yellows and browns of the bread, it makes for a comfortable meal just visually.

You're going to want to keep to a three-course dinner, with a cold-hot-cold theme. Too many warm foods will tend to put both of you to sleep, which doesn't make for a romantic evening. This means you should start off with a salad, have a dinner with a protein, vegetable, and starch, and finish with a cold dessert. Ending with a cold desssert encourages snuggling to warm up; you can definitely compromise with hot slice of pie under a scoop of ice cream.

There are going to some tastes you want to encourage and others you want encourage. Obviously bitter tastes are too be avoided, as it may strike the wrong symbolic note. You want to avoid foods that are too sweet, even for dessert, and foods that are too sour may be an issue as well. "Tangy" may actually be the best flavor you can work for, as well as savory.

Spicy should always be debated. If you can hit that right balance, you can actually impress your date. You want just enough heat to make the food fun, but not hot enough that you need a gallon of milk to survive. Keep in mind that you can also get away with little to no seasoning depending on the ingredients. 

Setting the Perfect Valentine's Day Dinner

One of the hardest meals to prepare is a romantic one. There is the feeling that everything is on the line, and so it can create its very own stresses. However, the meal itself is almost easy compared to creating the required atmosphere. The good news is that if you pull it off, you can get away with a lot when it comes to the meal itself; after all, as a bachelor it's generally assumed that cooking is not one of your strong skills, and so you just need to make a strong effort. Setting the stage for the dinner should be your major worry, an that's not really hard to do.

As Guardians of the Galaxy showed, a good mix tape can make a good thing great. If you are like any other bachelor, you should have access to a great sound system. Your dinner needs a good soundtrack, and there are a number of different ways to set up a playlist, ranging from Pandora to iTunes to even Youtube. You need to find about 45-60 minutes of good music and then put it together on a playlist. You want something slow, romantic, and works at a low volume. You should be thinking in terms of Barry White more than rap; country music and old-school R&B are your best friends. Just remember that you want music that sounds good without being schmaltzy; you want to set a mood and hopefully that mood will transfer over. Music is the best way to get it going.

The table is going to need to be set with extreme care. You don't need to worry about all of the extra silverware; a simple set, a napkin, and a water glass is all you need. Straight up: If you're confused by all of the extra silverware, odds are she is as well, and you don't want to embarrass her. Just make sure the fork is on the left and the knife and spoon is on the right and you should do okay. However, you are going to want a tablecloth, the cleaner the better, and placemats. You want them placed on opposite sides of the tables, preferably on the sides closest together and centered. Make sure that you use the best you have, preferably a matching set, as well as two saucers, a salad plate or soup bowl, and a plate for both of you. Use the plate to determine where the silverware should go, and then put it in the kitchen.

Like any production, lighting is paramount. Once you have the settings placed, you're going to want to place candles. Place at least three candles between the places with the tallest one in the center. On the places not used place three to four candles in a straight line along the edge. Place a few candles randomly throughout the dining room. You can use battery-powered candles, but they just don't give off the same light; they are just too white. Just before the other person gets there, make sure that the candles are lit and that lights are turned down; they should be turned down low enough that you can still see but also so that the candles contribute to the general glow.

Make sure that whatever drinks you have chosen are ready to go but not opened. In the kitchen, the dinner should be ready, or almost ready. The salad should be plated in the kitchen, ready to go minus the dressing (unless the dressing is part of the salad). when your date shows up, pull out the chair, let her sit down, and push her under the table. At this point the dinner should begin; pour drinks while keeping the conversation light and then go grab the salad. You'll want to make sure that forks remain on the table when you take the salad plate, or you can replace it. Serve the dinner, and worry more about the conversation than dinner. Accept any compliments but don't dwell on them; the dinner should be about her not the food. Once the dinner plate has been removed, give her the option of the living room for dessert.

Keep in mind that the advantage to serving a cold dessert is that it makes the perfect excuse for cuddling,especially if the weather outside is cold.If you have a present, and that is advised, when dessert is over is the best time to present it. Put the dishes in the sink with the other dishes to give her some time alone with the present, and let them sit until morning; you can enjoy a little time with whoever you ate dinner with before she leaves, assuming she leaves. After all, all of this may have given you a chance for an additional romantic moment. 

Tips on What to Look For in a Romantic Restaurant

When you are looking for a romantic restaurant, the top three factors you need to consider are the price of the meals, how dark the place is, and how far you need to walk to it. Of course, make sure that you have placed reservations virtually as soon as you have decided on a place; nothing can put a damper on the night like not being to get into your restaurant simply because there is nowhere for you to sit.

For a romantic dinner you want to loosen the purse strings. You want to bump up the amount you usually spend, preferably by at least $10-$20, and you want to make sure you tip the server.

Lighting will set the mood, so pay some attention to how much light is in the area. The ideal is light that allows you to see to the edge of the table and not much further. This allows you to concentrate on your date and not worry about the rest of the restaurant. At the same time you don't want it too dark or it makes going to the restroom dangerous.

Walking distance may seem a little strange, but you want a little distance after the meal. A good meal is going to make you want to sleep, and so having to walk a few minutes can help wake you up, especially if it's a little chilly. It also helps to create a little added intimacy on the date. At the same time try to keep within a reasonable distance, such as no more than a 5-10 minute walk.

You also want to consider the ambient sounds of the restaurant. You want to be able to talk to your date while ignoringthe rest of the restaurant. Any background music should be low-key and allow for some light conversation, allowing the two of you to get better acquainted. 

Tips on Surviving Skiing

Skiing is a great way to use up a lot of calories and have fun doing it. Just remember that it is not a cheap sport.

Make sure that you on the slopes for at least a few hours each day. If your muscles aren't sore by the end of the day, you aren't doing it right.

Make sure you know what you are doing. If you are new to the sport, others will know it and there is nothing more humiliating than being found out as a rookie. This is one case where there is no shame in taking lessons, and you may even earn a smidgen of respect.

As a corollary, keep to paths within your skill level. Bravado is fine, but if you can't back it up DON'T. Taking on a risk you can't back up means that you are risking serious injury and death, as well as making rescue personnel do work they shouldn't have had to do. That last bit means that you can be billed and potentially sued for an injury you should not have put yourself in the position to suffer in the first place. This is a situation where cowardice is the better part of valor.

You can let your hair down a little, but keep it up a little. In other words, you're expending more than enough calories to have earned some leniency when it comes to alcohol and food, but don't go too crazy. That should also ensure that you don't take home more from the trip than you bring, and that the local constabulary won't take any souvenir photos of you.

Tips on Enjoying Bowling

Exercise does not need to be limited to just a gym. There are a number of different sports out there that you can try. If sweating is not your style, there are a number of other sports out there. Bowling is one of the more debatable ones.

Bowling is a great sport for raising your heart rate. It's actually good for those looking for something that increase their heart rates but with little danger of crossing a threshold.

The key to bowling's potential as an exercise is tied to weight of the bowling ball: The heavier the ball, the more exercise you get. However, don't feel that you need to increase the size of the ball; even assuming you make all strikes on three sets, you are still going to lift and toss a ball at least 36 times, with a maximum of 66 times (the worse a bowler you are, the more exercise you get).

When you are looking for a ball size, look for one that feels comfortable, and requires a little struggle to lift. A ball that is too heavy will cause sprains and is uncontrollable, while a ball that is too light will likely be uncontrollable.

Keep in mind that you do not want to undo the benefits of exercise. Read: Try to avoid the usual bowling alley food, before, during and after the game, and try to restrict your soda and beer intake. Your conscience will be your guide, and it had better be a jerk.

Tips on Surviving the Mid-Afternoon Famine

One of the problems with being a diabetic is the dreaded mid-afternoon snack. You need something quick, and a nutrition bar or fruit is probably not a good idea. I'd suggest making sure that you have a supply of pico de gallo and corn chips on hand.

There are a wide variety of gluten-free crackers. They may not be carb free, but they do have fewer carbs than regular crackers so you can snack with less guilt.

This is yet another reason to split your lunch and save a third of it for later. Well, "later" is NOW.

Look for the vendor's number on any vending machines in the building. If they are serious about making money, then they are also willing to listen to snack suggestions, even vague ones like "sugar-free". Call them up and see what you can arrange.

Jerky and porkskins also make for great snacks. For a fun option, track down the local carneceria (Mexican mini-mart) for chicarrons (the best are like thick porkskins with some meat attached). 

Harvesting Organic Vegetables and Having Fun With It

Animal hunters are not the only ones who can enjoy the hunt. Some areas offer guided tours of the local scenery with specific interest in what foods are available for cooking and eating. Even tours of the local scenery can yield some great finds if enough care is given to the details of the tour. Most interesting, some hunting guides are willing to take vegetarians along on a hunt in order to show where the best foods are. There are some simple tips you should consider when you are planning such a tip.

Make sure you do some research into the local foods to see what is available. You want to do at least some cursory research into local regulations, as some items may be protected due to endangered status or other legal reasons, in order to make sure you aren't picking something that can get you into trouble.If you are crossing state lines, you may want to look into limitations when it comes to foods that can enter or leave the applicable states. You also want to look into local cookbooks that take advantage of the local fauna as well so that way you have something you can do with your harvest once you return home.

You also want to look into the reputation of the guide or guides that will be taking you on that trip. As part of that background check you will want to check with local cooks and well-known vegetarians; heck, you may want to start with them in order to get a list of great guides. Once you have a list of guides you can pare them down based on availability and cost. You can set any other criteria based on whatever relevant factors you may consider, such as those that farm the specific items you are looking for or if the person has a reputation for vegetarian-friendly tours. You just want a guide you like and who can get you what you are looking for.

A harvesting trip may sound like a weird excuse for a trip, but it can provide an excellent excuse for a vacation. Finding the wild truffle may sound like a mild walk in the woods, but sometimes it can make a great excuse for a day trip or even a week in a great location; nothing let's you experience the local scene like looking for local foods and seeing how they are prepared. Hunting for your own food also adds to the taste, and provides a link to our ancient gathering ancestors, making it a great way to get back to your roots. Plan your trips now; you want to harvest the food when it is ripe enough to be harvested for its best taste. 

Tips on the Dietary Dangers of Social Media Recipes

One of the great things about social media is that you see a lot of recipes that look delicious. However, some of these come with their own fun problems. Make sure that you look the recipe over for anything you may be allergic to with an eye for substitutions.

Diabetics should be wary of "sugar-free" recipes. They may be made with no sugar whatsoever, but that's because some of the ingredients have more than enough. Yes, people have included ingredients such as apple sauce, chocolate chips, and molasses for so-called "sugar-free" recipes.

Eggs are another potential issue as recipes use them as a default binding agent to keep the ingredient in one piece. You may want to check out such options as chickpeas (which when ground to paste does a wonderful job) as well as tahini, or an oil made from sesame seeds.

If you have gluten allergies don't panic when you see recipes that require wheat flour. Just substitute corn or soy flour instead. Suffice to say that you may want to play with them ahead of time to see how they taste or look for your recipes.

When you see meat in a recipe ask your self if the meat brings something needed to the recipe before making a substitute. Sometimes the grease from meat actually makes the recipe work, and it's virtually impossible to replicate using vegetarian ingredients.

Hunting, or Finding Organic Meat in Its Native Habitat

For those looking for the ultimate in organic meat, hunting will always be the best way to go. You know where the meat was taken from, it's easy to put together the life it lead, and the health of the animal is easy enough to ascertain. Admittedly there is also the visceral thrill of the hunt, but for those looking to avoid the usual health risks of the modern era there is no substitute for animals harvested from the wild. However, before you hit the trail it pays to do the research and make sure that you are harvesting the animal legally.

[For the purposes of his article, "weapons" means any firearm, bow, crossbow, blowpipe, or even fishing rod used specifically for hunting or fishing. I'm loathe about making such a list, but "hunting equipment" is too vague and "harvesting tools" too euphemistic.]

Doing the research breaks down to two separate areas, three if you want to hire someone or take advantage of hunting packages. That first area will be to find the perfect area to hunt. This means an area that has the animals you are looking for, at least a reputation for those animals. You will also wish to ensure that the area has not been affected by any spills or other problems, such as reports of rabies or other diseases; an unhealthy animal will only have unhealthy meat, and some of that can be transmitted to those that eat it. In short, a healthy animal in a healthy environment makes for a healthy you.

You're also going to want to check out local laws and regulations, and make sure that you are in line with them. Although hunting on private lands voids most laws, some areas insist that everyone plays by the same laws; do not take even a local's opinion about it. Run if even the suggestion of bribery comes up; it's just something you want to avoid. If necessary, make sure that you have applied for all applicable tags and licenses. This also applies to any weapons, especially firearms; you want to make sure that your weapons are properly registered with local authorities and that you can transport your weapons with limited problems.

If you are hiring someone or paying for a package, check out the person or package in order to make sure that it's on the up and up. The big balancing factor will be price versus guarantee of a kill; you don't want to spend money, especially a large sum, in order to come up short. Obviously no one can guarantee a hunt 100%,, but you want to make sure that as many factors are taken into account as possible. You also want to make sure that the person stays within the law; some guides are great, but you want the hunt to be as simple as possible, and avoiding legal entanglements are a good way to do that. You also want to see what kind of equipment you need to bring, if necessary, and if they can handle transport of your weapons; if possible, you want to use your own gear. If they do provide firearms, make sure that their is some tie to practice with them prior to the hunt.

Before you go hunting make sure that all of your gear is working condition. Even if you have been told it's good to go check yourself; as usual a little paranoia is a good thing. That completed, if you have done your due diligence then you should have the best trip available. Enjoy the trip, and prepare some of the best meat you will have ever tasted. 

Tips on How to Survive Being A Vegetarian

One of the problems with being a vegetarian is the need for constant grazing in order to get all of your nutrients. The obvious solution is that you will be relying a lot on multi-vitamins, so make sure you have some loyalty plastic for a local pharmacy.

Energy bars will be your savior. The best have a lot of nutrients and proteins, and the carbs will carry you through almost anything.

Protein drinks aren't just for diets. Make sure that the drinks meets your standards (so that you aren't eating animal proteins by mistake), but a protein drink is a great pick-me-up and offers an option for one of your light meals.

Unless you are actually allergic to gluten, do not fear gluten. You would be surprised how great a handful of chips is when you need something quick and non-prep. Combine with hummus topped by a pico de gallo and you have a great balanced mini-meal.

Keep trying out new salad dressings. Vegetables are great, but they can get boring and a variety of dressing can keep things interesting. 

Tips on Training for Triathlons

Triathons can actually be a great way to test your athletic prowess. Just make sure that you are up to the challenge of running, swimming, and bicycling before even lining up.

It may sound silly, but triathlons are not for the modest. Between the need to relieve yourself to the outfits worn, make sure that your modesty does not slow you down.

Do not assume that some sort of innate skill will help you; that's the easiest way to lose or, worse, create a serious injury. Make sure that you are an excellent bicyclist and swimmer or bad things will invariably happen.

The cycling aspect is actually the hardest to train for. Make sure that you are familiar with the bike that will be used on the race, and that you are ready for crowds. After that, the hardest part will be establishing the rhythm, required to win.

Swimming will also present an interesting training problem, as many of these events take advantage of local waters, and every body of waters has its own rhythm of tides and currents. As such, train in natural waters as much as possible; pools just don't have the same feel. 

Tips on Running Obstacle Courses

An obstacle course offers you an interesting change of pace for your exercise regimen. Due to the different obstacles remember that stretching is even more paramount than ever.

A great way to get a better time is to think one obstacle ahead. While you are in one obstacle concentrate on the next; not only will your reflexes be keyed for the obstacle when it happens, it helps to keep you sharp.

It helps to break obstacles down to endurance, speed, or precision, and concentrate on that aspect. You'll find that helps the other two.

If you can, try out the course ahead of time at a slow pace. This way you have a better idea of what hidden obstacles exist and possibly find some hidden strategies.

Make sure that the course is well-marked. Nothing worse than getting lost on a course.

Tips on Snacks for Diabetics

Even diabetics get hungry between meals. You should have some sort of snack food available so you can snack on it; good use of snacks can actually prevent spikes.

If you are on a closed-carbohydrate diet (where you are limited to 60-80 grams of carbs per meal), you can game your diet a little. In other words, you can eat the minimum amount of carbs and use those for snacks. As such, try to limit your snacks to 20 grams of carbs and you should be fine.

Avoid bars of any type (protein, fitness, energy, fruit, etc.). They may use fruits and sugar alcohols as sweeteners, but they act act on your body as if they had 150% the carbs. This means that a bar with 20 grams of carbs is going to act as 30 grams.

Gluten-free snacks will be your best friends. They have fewer carbs than other snacks and thus are better for you; they will fill you faster with less chance of a spike. This does not apply to apply to bars for some reason.

Fruit and cheese may be great snacks for most, but you need to keep careful check on how much of them you eat. Half-portions may be the way to go.

Have Fun in the Kitchen!

If you are serious about learning to cook you need to occasionally put away he books and just have fun. If it sounds silly, so be it: The best way to learn is to just do it. Cooking should be as much art as it is science, and you need some time to practice the art if you are going to get any good at it. You need to have some fun and see what you can do, and if you make some mistakes while doing it, so be it. Learn to cherish these times rather than dread them.

You want to play with how different foods play off one another, and you need to have some fun doing it. Pizzas are perfect for this; you can combine just about everything on a pizza and it works. Take some meats, add in some vegetables, and cover with cheese, and you're off. If you really want to get daring, mess around with some fruits: Granny Smith apples add some tartness while dates make it sweeter. If this sounds like it won't work, consider that the tartness of those green Granny Smith apples works well with smoked ham, and that dates do well with more gamy meats such as lamb or venison.

Baked foods are even better to play with, and I don't mean pastries. A well-greased pan allows you to cook just about anything, as does an aluminum sheet or parchment paper. You can then experiment with vegetables and meats to your heart's content. You would be surprised how may vegetables work well as the center of a meal, such as eggplant, squash, or even mushrooms. Consider how much fun you can have with something as simple as shepherd pie: Combine some meat with some vegetables and cover the whole mess with potatoes and grated cheese. Ground beef is the default, but imagine sausage instead, or pulled pork, or even a mix of tofu and mushrooms instead. Instead of just corn, work with mixed vegetables, Normandy blends, or even a stir fry mix. Have some  fun with it, and see what you can come up with.

The bottom line is that you need to have some fun in the kitchen at some point, and that your friends should have at least one day a week that they can dread. There are going to be some things you want to try, and you need to make sure that you try them. You can't always follow recipes as written, and that can actually be detrimental to your development as a chef: You need to develop your own tastes and style, and you can't do that if you are limited to just the recipes you read or see on television. Experiment and see what you can come up with, and have some fun. You may be surprised at what you learn when you just play around with things....

Tips on Avoiding Hidden Sugars

Diabetics are screwed in a weird way when it comes to losing weight: Some of the best ingredients that help dieters lose weight suck for diabetes. As usual, tracking what you eat is paramount and watch out for ingredients that may hide sugar.

Molasses is an obvious example. It adds flavor and sweetness to baked goods, bit also makes them sweet. Keep that in mind when you looking at how much to add to recipes.

Sugar substitutes may sound ideal, but they bring along their own health risks. Keep in mind that some may give you a spike as they mimic sugar a little too closely so that your body reacts the same as if you had eaten sugar.

If you need to use peanut butter in a recipe, try to use organic peanut butter. Regular peanut butter includes sweeteners, both to make it sweeter as well as smoother. However, this makes it a double danger, as both nuts and sugar can create spikes. Organic peanut butter lacks those additional ingredients, making it harder to deal with it but nonetheless healthier.

Avoid candied fruit chunks. It should go without saying, but too many cooks somehow assume that fruit is effectively sugarless, and may even cancel out other sugars. Avoid using if possible, or limit its use as much as possible. Fresh fruit will always be a better substitution. 

Ways to Keep Seafood from Going Bad

With all of the health benefits that come with seafood, it would be a shame to waste it There are a lot of great vitamins in seafood as well as omega-3s. However, seafood is probably one of the scariest things for beginning cooks to deal with. Not only does it have some of the strongest tastes of any of the foods you will deal with, but it can go bad really quick. Given that it's one of the most expensive items you will purchase for cooking as well, that can make it one of the riskiest items you will cook with. There are a number of ways to help you protect that investment.

[For our purposes here, "seafood" includes any food that comes from a water source, be it freshwater or seawater. This includes, but is not limited to any crustacean such as lobster, shrimp, or crayfish, any fish, any shellfish, and any other aquatic animal you would prepare for a meal. While it could be called "lakefood" or "riverfood", that just just doesn't sound right.]

The big thing is to use it when you purchase it. Seafood tends to go bad quickly, and so it shouldn't be in your kitchen any longer than absolutely necessary. This means that it should be used either that day or the next in order to ensure that it doesn't spoil. This also means that you need to have a specific plan in mind when you purchase it, and that you should only buy what you need. Even if you buy it frozen, you should be using it relatively quickly in order to make the best use of it.

If it is in the kitchen longer than a day or two, you need to do something with it. A chowder is the obvious best choice, but if you can do anything else with it do so. This may be the best time to have over a group of friends in order to deal with the left-overs. There are some other great ways to deal with a lot of food, such as lobster rolls or crabcakes, but you want to avoid freezing it if at all possible as frozen seafood tends to lose a lot of the flavor quickly. It helps to have alternate plans if something happens so that your plans go through, but as long as you cook it soon after bringing it home you should be fine.

Even a bag of frozen tilapia fillets can run about $10-$12, making it more expensive than even a bag of chicken breasts, and usually giving you fewer meals. This means that you need to take care of that food, and that the best way to do that is to cook it as soon as possible. Just make sure that you have for its immediate use and you should be fine; this is one time when you need to limit the improv and have a plan in place when you even think about buying. Do that, and you won't need to throw away some great food for which you just spent a pretty penny, and that would be a true shame. 

Tips on Baking Recipes on Social Media

Being a diabetic means keeping an eye on what you are cooking. Pay special attention to the ingredients you use in order to avoid too much sugar creeping in. That goes double when the recipe says "no sugar". One recipe for "sugar free" cookies involved applesauce, chocolate chips, and molasses; "no sugar added" maybe, but plenty of sugar anyway.

Some recipes use applesauce as a sweetener. Use sparingly as fruit hides a lot of sugar.

Cookies with nuts aren't just bad for those with allergies. Keep in mind that they convert to sugar just as well as fruit does, and that warning goes double for peanut butter cookies.

Icing should always be avoided when possible. That includes cream cheese frosting just as much as it does sugar-based frostings, as cheese can create its own sugar spikes.

Even the most sugar-free baked goods are still made of flour, regardless of the kind of flour used. This can means you still need to limit the number of cookies you eat.

Tips on Running Etiquette

[Taken from the Road Runners Club of America site (http://www.rrca.org/education-advocacy/etiquette-for-runners/)]
Keep in mind that you should keep in mind runner's etiquette when you run. For example, keep to the right of the path or sidewalk, and pass on the left, just a car in the street.

If you are going to pass someone, especially a walker, let them know before you do so. A simple "on your left" will do.

Avoid being a road hog: Never run two abreast on a trail or sidewalk. [Because I'm a nice guy: If you want to keep a conversation with someone keep in mind that a cel phone with a Bluetooth headset can be used as a walkie-talkie, and without having to hit a button constantly.]

Road signs should be adhered to, even if they might break up your rhythm. They are there for everyone's safety, and keep in mind that drivers need may ignore them, so it may not be a good idea to ignore them.

Respect property of others. Do not relieve yourself in the bushes of someone's property no matter how tempted you may be to do so. 

Tips on Basic Running Safety

Running can be great exercise, but sometimes the runner's actions may make like harder for those around them. If possible run on a track or an area you know well, and try to complete your run so that you have full lighting.

If there are sidewalks, make sure that you use them. Using the street may sound like a great way to avoid the hassle of pedestrians, but it's a great way to get run over.

If sidewalks aren't available, run against the flow of traffic. This makes you visible and allows you to watch the traffic easier.

If you are running at night, never wear dark clothes and always wear something reflective. Running like a ninja make be better security, but security isn't the issue while you're running; safety is. If a car can't see you it will likely run you over.

If you are turning around make sure you stop and look over your shoulder before you turn around. It ensures that you won't be surprised by a car, if nothing else. 

Tips on Breakfast and Snacks in the Woods

Breakfast in the woods can be a little difficult, especially if there are some dietary restrictions to work with. Obviously you may want to consider packing food in, but breakfast is probably going to be the hardest meal to deal with.

It needs to be noted that lunch and dinner are actually simple as they should be free of most allergens, such as nuts and glutens. Dinner should favor beans and potatoes, which eliminates that problem, and lunches can go with tamales, which use a corn flour. These meals are also free of extraneous sugars, which combined with the amount of exercise should make them good for diabetics.

Snacks are an issue that needs to be dealt with. Allergies make it difficult to eat trail mix due to its dependence on nuts and candy. A good gluten-free allergy-free snack must be brought along, with a preference for something with a high carb value. Keep in mind that it also needs to be highly portable, either in its own bag or in sandwich bags.

Breakfast is a problem because meat is a great source of protein considering its compact form and ease of prep; given the amount of exercise during a camping trip that makes it a great source of much-needed protein. Wheat-based flours are also good due to their high carb value. This means that a non-wheat flour must be used for pancakes and biscuits (which will always be ideal breakfast items while camping), and that a high-protein food needs to be used.

Drinks are also going to be an important solution to the problem. This is one time you want to have energy drinks on hand. Make sure that they have carbs and you should do well. Sweetened tea is also a great substitute; regular sugar is important here because of the calories intrinsic to the sugar. A sugar substitute is not useful as the carbs in regular sugar are important for the energy they supply, and sugar-free drinks lack that feature. Just something to consider when you are packing to go camping...

Keeping Your Kitchen Clean

When you're cooking, keep in mind that you need to follow some basic cleaning regimen. One of the reasons most people cook is for better health; what you cook is not going to keep you healthy if how you cook is unhealthy. If you want to stay healthy, you need to keep in mind that a clean kitchen is just as important, if not more so, than healthy foods. After all, if you're kitchen is unhealthy then anything you cook in it is also going to be unhealthy. As such, you need to make sure that you keep your kitchen clean.

The walls and ceiling should be clean. If you have a big mess, make sure that you clean them. Stains are fine; especially if you have kids, any kitchen should wear show use with pride. However, food sticking to the walls is not; it's just not a good thing. If possible, once or twice a year you should do a thorough cleaning of the kitchen to make sure that there are n o surprises. If you see mold start to develop, you need to take care of it as quickly as possible in order to make sure that the kitchen will not make others sick.

Sweeping and mopping the floor should be done at least once a week. A lot of food and other stuff will likely be brushed onto it during wiping, and that can accumulate over time. If too much accumulates it can create a breeding ground for germs and worse, and that can spread to the food. It doesn't need to be an industrial strength cleaner, but do avoid dishwashing liquid; the liquid will make the floor slippery and therefore dangerous over time. Something like Pine-Sol is perfect; not only does it do a great job of cleaning, but it also has a smell that makes sure you know things are clean. Pay special attention to spaces where the garbage cans stand, the area around the oven (cooking as well as well microwave), and food prep areas.

The counters will always be a sore point. Keep in mind that you need to move cannisters around to clean them, and that you should dust things before you wipe the area down. When you wipe things down, at least use hot, soapy water; if you can, use a cleaner that has some sort of antiseptic or germ-killing property. You shouldn't need a grease-cutter; if you do, you need to start being a little cleaner when you are cooking or prepping food (you may need to dial back the temperature you cook with if you do a lot of frying, which will cut down o the splatter). While you are wiping the counter down, make sure that you are cleaning your machines down as well, especially your microwave oven; you would be surprised how messy one of those can get.

You should also do a quick inspection of the shelves and refrigerator to make sure that your food hasn't started turning ugly on you. The biggest problem you will have is usually bread and fruit on the shelves, vegetables and cooked foods in the refrigerator. Make sure that you throw away anything that has started to rot and wash the storage units thoroughly. You want to keep a eye out during the week for bad product, but having a day when you really look for rotten food makes sure you get rid of it.

A clean kitchen not only makes prepwork easier, but also ensures that the food you prepare is safe to eat as well. Your biggest worry should not be whether or not the food is safe to eat, but what it tastes like; a few minutes after each meal and a good half-hour once a week will make sure that you aren't poisoning anyone, at least not in a way from which they won't quickly recover.

Tips on Camping for Vegetarians

Camping can be difficult for vegetarians: Meat provides a great source of protein, and is relatively compressed. Also, it can be gathered at the location if needed. As such, keep in mind that you need to port in a lot of your protein.

An easy temptation is to harvest acorns and mushrooms for protein; after all, the Native Americans used acorns and mushrooms are good, right?). However, mushrooms are something to be avoided as they may be poisonous and/or contain hallucinogens, and only a local is likely to know which species are safe. Also, acorns require specific preparation in order to eliminate the high levels of tannin to be safe. As such, you may want to avoid them.

However, mushrooms make an ideal source of protein: They are usually compact enough to make it work, and can be used in a variety of different recipes. Portabello mushrooms in particular are a good option. Whole mushrooms should be brought as well.

Tofu may be problematical due to its consistency and how it's cooked. Debate bringing it along.

Suffice to say that most of your protein will come from snacks and sandwiches. Peanut butter can't be beat due to its concentrated energy. Nuts are also an ideal source as well for the same reasons. 

Don't Fear The Spice Rack

When you are learning to cook, you need to remember to play with spices and seasonings. It can be hard to remember to do so, especially when you are trying to remember how to do something you know you should know how but are having problems remembering how to do it, but it is soething that you need to remember to do. A beginning cook should be doing whatever he can to expand his awareness of cooking, and there is little more fun than messing around with spices.

If you made the mistake of grabbing one of those huge things of miscellaneous spices and seasonings, it's easy to feel intimadated: You have this collection of a dozen or more different options and you have no clue how to use them. Even more intimdating is that you know you should be memorizing each and every one of them because that's what a real chef does, right? Well, no.

If a chef memorized each and every possible seasoning, even the few dozen that come on those season contraptions, he wouldn't need to taste everything he cooks. The reality is that even the great chefs are constantly tasting everything that they prepare. The obvious excuse is that they want to make sure that the ingredients are behaving the way they should, are fresh, and have not expired; while that is true, they are also reminding themselves how their spices taste and continuing to explore how other seasonings taste. At the very least he puts the spice in a family of some sort in order to try it later; you never know when you want to try something different, and having an idea of how something tastes is better than no idea at all. But even the great chefs do not memorize each and every spice that they encounter, and that's the lesson you need to take away from this.

As someone who is just trying to get better at what he does, and make something that is a little bit better than he used to cook, it can only pay to at least go through and taste as many different spices and seasonings you can. Don't bother memorizing each and every one of them; just remember the ones you like and you feel are useful for what you normally cook. Have fun with spices, sure. but don't go overboard; try as many spices as you want, and don't feel obligated to try them all. The key here is that you should always have fun experimenting, and not feel obligated to do so. After all, you should be master of your kitchen, not some silly spice rack. Know it, love it, but don't fear it. 

Tips on Cooking Food for Tabletop Gamers

When gamers get together they are looking for simple snacks that will last the entire four hours or so that they are together. The good news is that everything that applies to people getting together for a football game applies as here as well.

Gamers are more interested in the game and not so much the food. This means that you can have a little more fun and keep it simple. However, keep it healthy as well; they may be expecting just chips and dip, but celery and carrots should make an appearance as well.

However, if you happen to have access to some old recipes now is the time to bring them out, and by old I mean going back to the Middle Ages. Look up some good mutton recipes to begin with and have some fun with them.

Of course, you can also go the other direction as well. Sushi can work rather well for gamers, as well as ramen as long as you have some fun with it. Keep in mind that Japanese snacks and Chinese take-out seem to be favorites among gamers.

Keep in mind that a good game lasts about four hours, which means that it's a good idea to plan for a meal. A good strategy is to plan a wide variety of appetizers and let them disappear. At the same time, make sure that there is a meal planned at some point, preferably at the beginning of the gaming session but no later than halfway through the game. This should make your place the go-to site for gaming. 

Tips on Preparing for 5K and 10K Marathons

Preparing for a marathon can actually be fun. For our purposes, a good 5k or 10K run is sufficient; if you want one of the longer ones you are going to need to look into getting an actual coach. Make sure that you go in with some support and you should do well.

Don't make the mistake of thinking you need to do the whole thing at once. For most people get used to running a mile and then increase your weekly run by a mile until you have the right distance.

Otherwise, you'll want to vary runs between two and three miles a day. It may sound long, but you are looking at about twenty to forty minutes of non-stop running each day. It's not as bad as it sounds and you may learn to enjoy the chance for a little meditation each day.

Keep in mind that you are looking at more of a jog than a sprint. Although you may sprint at various parts of the run, overall it should be a jog. Suffice the last quarter-mile will be slower in order to act as a cool-down period. 

Tips on Surviving Victory Parties

One of the problems with being on a team is the celebration meals. As in all things, moderation is an important tool for those hoping to lose weight and keep it gone.

Most of the foods are good in that they replace nutrients that you lost, but don't go crazy. Pizza should be debated, especially as it not only fills a psychological need, but it also goes straight to your waist. Limit the carbs as much as possible.

Find a place that offers salad and a television you can comandeer; anything after that is just icing. Of course, make sure that the salad is more than just lettuce, cheese, and a salad dressing so that everyone likes it.

Alcohol needs to be limited. There will be the temptation to over-drink, especially on win nights. Not only do you keep in mind that people will most likely be driving home, but some of them carry their own calories. As long as there is a two or three drink maximum, you should be okay.

Seriously think through the food you are going to have when everyone gets together after the game. Keep it healthy, but don't go crazy; now is not the time to spring tofu and bean sprouts on a crowd looking for burgers. Basically, have some fun with the food, but don't go crazy. 

Tips on Drinks You Need to Serve For Winter Parties

This is the time of year when you want to want to learn at some different kinds of drink recipes. Mocha and hot chocolate are two recipes that are going to work really well.

It's going to pay to have some whiskey in the house. It seems to be a good winter alcohol, and works best in coffee or other warm beverages as well as on its own.

You're going to want to learn some good basic mixed drinks. If you can, pick one or two that have some dramatic flair to them and master them. It's actually pretty good for your reputation as well as fun.

If you do any brewing of your own, winter is perfect for spiced beers and mead. While mead can get expensive (just look at honey prices sometime!), spiced beers are not only cheaper but also work well warm.

You may also want to look into mulled wines as well. They give all of the usual benefits of wine (duh!) and work well warmed. They also make the area smell great as well. 

Organic Produce, Randomness, and Being A Better Cook

Organic produce is one of the major fads right now, and it's not a bad one. This means that the food is healthy, has no or are virtually no pesticides used in its creation, and less fuel was used to get it to you. In other words, it's great for you and it's great for the environment. There are even those groups that will deliver the food to your residence or to a drop off point. This makes it a great deal for a beginning cook, as it gives him access to some great food. There are some issues that need to be allowed for, however.

The first is that you need to carefully inspect the food you receive. This means that you not only need to confirm that you have received the right order, but you also need to make sure that the food is in acceptable condition. If you find dirt or some insects in the food, that's fine; just take it as proof that the food is fresh and wash it. You do need to keep an eye out for rot or other serious problems, such as huge chunks out of vegetables or too many small vegetables. The insect problem can be a big one, especially there are fruit flies; while some insects and/or worms are fine, too many can be a serious issue. report the problem as quickly as possible and make sure you get refunded for any damaged food.

You should also expect some fruits or vegetables you haven't seen before. You should take this as a learnng experience and have some fun with it. Figure out what you have and find some recipes that require the item in question. You get to figure out how to prep it, cook it, and possibly even eat it. This can be a great way to learn how new ingredients work and to possibly make new friends with a new ingredient. Remember to check food allergies first, especially if you have some intense ones; those allergies can carry over to other foods. Nonetheless, allergies should not be a reason for picky eating.

Which sort of brings to me to the last point. Most organic food deliverers provide you a way to modify the list to allow for allergies. However, you should allow for some randomness, and even encourage it. Only by dealing with the inexpected can you learn to be a better cook; if you only ever face the challenges that you set you will find that you will not be as good a cook as you can be. So if you are serious about learning to cook take advantage of the situation and embrace the randomness. Working with organic food can not only allow you to work with some great food, but to become a better one as well. 

Tips on How to Survive A Road Trip

If you are driving for any length of time it can only help to have food in the car. Figure you need one meal and 1/2 snacks for every 150 miles you need to drive during the day, and one snack for the same during the night. You also need eight ounce ounces (or .25 l) of fluid for every hour of driving.

There's a reason gas stations sell a lot of candy jerky, nuts, and chips: These make ideal road snacks.

Unless you have a cooler, bring what you need to make sandwiches rather than prepared sandwiches. Dried meats, such as sausages are great, as well as hard cheeses. Buns are better than sliced bread. Condiments should be debated; although most can survive heat okay, others such as mayonnaise may not fare as well. Don't forget a knife with a wide surface and a sharp blade.

Fried meats also work, as does pizza. In general, anything that has been cooked should do okay unless you are in a hot area. If so, limit it to fried foods. If it's a bit chill, you can get away with just about anything.

Raw vegetables and fruits should be debated. Fruits with a peel or thick skin should be okay. If you bring vegetables, limit them to what you need for sandwiches. 

The Importance of Setting Goals When You Cook

Planning should always be your by-word. Even the most improvisational chef never chops one ingredient or touches a single pan without knowing what he wants to do. You need to figure out what you are trying to do before you go for it. As such, there are some simple ways to accomplish that.

1) Set a goal. It can be as simple as figuring out if you can pull off a certain recipe or trying to recapture a particular taste. You'll find that a goal focuses you, and allows you to cut out all other distractions. You can change goals midstream; although that could be a mistake, it is nonetheless an option when things have gone disastrously or you find you have no idea what you are doing. Just set a goal so that you can get started.

2) Determine what it takes to complete that goal. This means figuring out what you need is important, and then how you need to deal with those ingredients. Sometimes it may be difficult because you may need to mix in ingredients that you are unfamiliar with, or you may need to mix a wide variety of ingredients in very specific amounts. You may even need to figure out a new technique in order to deal with the situation. Nonetheless, you need to make sure that you have all of the right ingredients at hand and that you have some sort of game plan before you start actually doing anything.

3) Charge in.

You're going to find that if you go into something with a modicum of planning then cooking will be a lot easier. Although there may be some additional flourishes you throw in as you go, or you get inspired and decide to act on that inspiration, it helps to go in it with some idea of what you are planning. It gives you a starting point, and that starting point allows you to really go for it. With that starting point you actually have somewhere to go from, and that acts as your first step, allowing you to have some serious fun. So when you decide to get going, just make sure you have an idea of where you going if you want to actually get there. 

Tips on Better Omelettes

There are a lot of great ways to prepare eggs. An omelette is a great option, especially if you are looking for something quick to prepare that you can have some fun with. Keep in mind that a little extra milk and water will make them not only fluffier but also help them go further.

Teflon pans really come into their own with omelettes, as it in helps to make them perfect and ensures a good flip.

The best way to a good flip is to make sure that you don't put too much water or milk in the eggs and to make sure that the eggs have been cooked well enough (or the eggs will not be solid enough) and to insert the spatula just over the halfway mark under the eggs. Combined with a quick flip and the eggs will usually look like it should.

Another great technique is to fry whatever you want inside the omelette in the same pan as the one you will use for the omelette itself. This ensures that the pan has been properly oiled and gives the eggs extra flavor. Just remember to make sure that the pan is smooth and that you don't burn anything.

An omelette is a great item to act as a food dump. Almost anything works in an omelette, although you want to debate pasta and soft vegetables. Throw a little cheese on it, possibly some sour cream, and you have a great little breakfast from almost anything. 

Tips on Joining A Local Sports Team

One of the best exercise-related reasons for joining a team is the practice rather than the game itself. It may be a weird perspective, but you tend to do more exercise getting ready for a game than at the game itself.

In order to build muscle memory, you have to do a particular move over and over. This means that you are also building the muscles up as well.

You also need to do a lot of running in order to build up your endurance. Obviously that is going to build up your endurance for other things as well.

Of course, you are also doing a lot of cardio and basic resistance exercises to get better for the game as well. Got to love that increased metabolism!

Of course, there is also that you are motivated to diet to maximize your gains. It's hard to eat bad foods when eating them can make you lose, which is the last thing you want to do. 

Tips on Dance as Exercise

Dance is a great way to work off some calories. This is a great reason to enroll in a class, especially at a gym.

If you do take a class, bring along the usual drink and wear comfortable clothes. Don't forget to stretch before dancing.

Decide on your comfort zone. This is definitely one of the times it's perfectly okay to join a single-sex class if you don't feel comfortable dancing in front of the other sex.

Keep in mind that this is a great reason to grab your kid's console and learn how to play a dancing game. Some even track the estimated calories burned per song.

If you are more interested in the social aspects of dancing, keep in mind that bars also offer dance classes, usually for the most current dances.

Tips on Cooking Eggs

The humble egg is the basis of so many recipes because of its high nutritional value. While it is high in cholosterol, it's also high in protein and other nutrients. It can also enhance other recipes, acting as a binder and a fluffing agent. Thus, as long as you don't enjoy it more than two a day or so, depending on diet, eggs make for a great meal.

Salsa is a great way to add some serious flavor to scrambled eggs, especially as the eggs seem to magnify almost any taste of added ingredients. This makes those flavors really pop.

Mix in some diced vegetables, such as green onions and peppers, for some additional nutrients and taste.

Some chopped meat or crunched bacon adds more protein. This is a great way to use sliced meats and luncheon meat.

Even a little salt and pepper will go a long way to adding some flavor to scrambled eggs. Pepper is advised on cold days to help warm you up a little. 

Bad Shows For Bachelor Cooking

You know, if we looked at the best shows for bachelor cooking, we may as well look at the worst shows. While they are great shows, these are shows that look at the higher end of cooking; while they may be great shows for inspiration, they may actually demoralize a beginning cook. As such, watch these shows to see what people can do, but don't watch them to learn how to cook; if these help you learn how to cook you are well beyond mere bachelor level.

Iron Chef (Cooking Network): Two chefs must manage a team of sous-chefs to cook a full three-course meal featuring a specific ingredient. If you want to see what a chef is capable of doing, this is an incredible show: You have top-name chefs kicking butt against other top-name chefs and showing off what they can do. But...that makes this show well above your skill level, and may demoralize you even as you wish you had their skills.

Midnight Feast (FYI): Three chefs have two rounds (appetizer+cocktail and main course), with one chef being eliminated after the first round, to create the best food they can while under a time limit. The twist is that they must offer up to $500 of their own money to shop through a first-class grocery, and the winner gains ten times whatever he spent. It's a great show for those who want to see what a great chef is capable of, but a lot of what they do is simply beyond what a beginning chef can do, and beyond what most want to do.

Knife Fight (Esquire): Two cooks compete in a working kitchen using special ingredients for bragging rights. Although a lot of he techniques are simple and the recipes are easy enough, the ingredients used push this show beyond what most beginning cooks will ever see. This is a fun show, but only for those really into cooking.

The Feed (FYI): Three hosts compete in a number of different areas, having fun with cooking. The problem is that a lot of the recipes used are for experts, and well beyond beginning cooks. They require a certain knowledge of how things go together, and how to combine certain ingredients to create certain effects. This is a great show for those who are into food and want to see some people engage in some semi-serious conversations about how to create some great dishes, but beginning cooks may just be overwhelmed.

On the Menu (TBS): Two cook compete to have their item placed on the menu of a major restaurant chain. There are two rounds, but only the second, where the two items are given to regular people who vote on it, really counts. Although this is a great for intermediate chefs and those who are curious about how to create menu items, advanced cooks are likely to be bored quickly and beginning cooks may not be impressed by the food. It's an interesting show, but your mileage really varies.

These are some great cooking shows, and show what cooks can do. However, because they involve advanced techniques, access to funds and ingredients most people don't have access to, and involve discussions well beyond just basic cooking, they may not be the best shows for beginning cooks. Watch them to get inspired, but don't let them intimidate you, and realize that everyone had to start somewhere: No one was born with an encyclopedic knowledge of cooking, and that's something that you need to remember. 

Tips on Winning Eating Contests

There is always the possibility you may find yourself in an eating contest, such as eating a 72-ounce steak with the possibility of it being free if you eat it all. Although the obvious hint is to starve yourself first, there are some other ways to help you survive the contest.

Go to the bathroom before you start eating. It frees up valuable room inside your digestive tract, as well as making you feel a lot emptier, and that feeling makes you feel hungrier, which of works in your favor.

Drink lots of liquid during the contest. Water is best; somehow it compacts the food making it fit better and allowing you to eat more. Obviously gravy will help as well. Avoid contests where you cannot drink as they are rarely won.

If there is are any carbs (such as bread or French fries) ignore them or eat them last. You want to avoid filling up, and those tend to fill you up the fastest.

Do as much of your eating as quickly as possible. The human body is geared towards meals of twenty minutes; after that people tend to want to sleep rather than eat. Regardless of how long you have, keep that limit in mind as it is rather firm.

Great Shows For Bachelor Cooking

There are a number of shows that any bachelor cook should be tracking down. These shows offer an interesting glimpse in how to solve some interesting problems that can make life difficult for any bachelor, and how to overcome them. Although they feature some problems that you are unlikely to ever see in your lifetime, those solutions can be generalized to other problems. These five shows make for some interesting watching, especially for those bored with shows where the biggest problem is some surprise ingredient or a time limit.

Cutthroat Kitchen (Food Network): The concept is simple: In three rounds, the four cooks have to create a simple recipe in the time given, and one person is eliminated each round. Oh, and they have $25,000 to bid on sabotages that can really spoil another cook's day, such as having to make a prep table out of butcher block paper, wear gloves, or use decidedly non-standard equipment to cook with. Some are even forced to cook in La-Z-boy chairs or use tiki torches as a heat source. An excellent show for those who think that they have too many problems in order to do any effective cooking.

Snack Off (MTV): Although the show may have been cancelled, the idea is a winner: Three cooks have to use whatever is in the fridge to create a meal (although there are two rounds, the second allows full access to a pantry even as a particular snack has to be used and is thus not as educational as the first). Although there is a theme to the ingredients, they are essentially random and thus make it a little more realistic, including the horrible cooking skills of the contestants. If you think that there is nothing in your kitchen to cook with, this is the show for you.

Late Night Chef Fight (FYI): Three rounds, two cooks, one tacky trophy, and nothing but bragging rights: Two cooks compete over three rounds (warm-up, appetizer, main course) with the winner of the first two rounds gaining an advantage. The two cooks are given access to two working food trucks (the trucks actually see use during the day), even through it is before they have been re-stocked. This means that the cook must quickly figure out what is going on in his truck, and then use it to cook with. This means that the cook is limited to whatever cuisine the food truck specializes in, as well as whatever instruments are working. Again, this is a great show for anyone looking to see what you can do with limited resources, and how you can have fun with what you have.

Guy's Grocery Games (Food Network): Four cooks compete over different rounds in different games for the chance to win up to $20,000. The games should actually be familiar to most bachelor chefs: Limitations on accessible ingredients, must pick items with a particular theme, or the budget is smaller than expected. In that regard, this is a great instruction show for bachelors, especially as they can relate far too easily with the limitations that the customers must suffer through while creating some really great yet basic food.

Worst Cooks of America (Food Network): Two cooks take two teams of the worst cooks that they can find and try to teach them everything that they can. It's basically a Survivor-style cooking show where the worst cook from each team is eliminated each week until the last two chefs engage in a final cook off. For those that are looking for a great show to teach them basic techniques and that you aren't completely worthless as a cook, this is an incredible show and I recommend that high schoolers be forced to watch this show, preferably while in a kitchen. Yeah, it's that great!

While other shows are great at highlighting cooks at their best, these shows look at cooks at their worst. That is what makes them so great for beginning cooks: You see the limitations they have to deal with and can sympathize with them. As such, they make some great shows to watch for beginning chefs, and are worth tracking down.

Tips on Grilling Different Hamburgers

Hamburgers are the American classic. Served with pickles, lettuce, and tomato on a toasted bun, there are a number of variants worth considering. Just make sure that the meat is well-cooked for whatever temperature you to avoid food poisoning.

There are a number of fun variants. Most of those involve changing the condiment. The most popular are barbecue and buffalo sauce, but you can use just about anything. Try a hamburger with peanut butter at least once in your lifetime.

You can also grill the hamburger in a number of different ways as well. Frying it in soy or hoisin sauce makes for some great flavor, although steak or worcestershire sauce can be used as well.

Making a stuffed burger can be a lot easier than it seems. Fry off whatever you want to put into the burger, and then cover the center of the burger with just a couple of tablespoons of material. Take another patty and cover it, and then squeeze together the edges of the burgers. Then grill it off. Diced mushrooms, peppers, onions, tomatoes, and green onions all work, especially if you melt a little cheese into the mix as well.

Vegetarians should try a portabello mushroom cap or a garden burger. Anything you can do to a burger patty you can do with those two, although putting it on a bun may be a bit too many carbs in one sandwich.

Interestingly, just putting any of these on a wheat bun makes it great for those on a diet. 

Tips on Hiking

Hiking is an excellent form of exercise. Just remember to stretch before engaging in order to avoid the simpler injuries.

Make sure you carry enough equipment in a backpack or messenger bag to handle most emergencies. This should include at least a first aid kit, a map and compass, and some sort of signaling device. Other equipment depends on the area and situation. You should also include some water and something to snack on.

Because of ticks and other small parasites, at least long pants should be worn.

For a little added fun, there are some subscription boxes geared for hikers. It's always fun to receive mail, and it gives you an excuse to try out some new things out in the field.

Look into geo-caching. It's like an Easter Egg hunt, and it can be fun to find something out in the woods Just remember to carry something with you that you can trade out. 

Tips on Office Exercises

A chin-up bar is simple to install and gives you a chance to exercise any chance you want to.

If you spend a lot of time in a particular location, keep a yoga mat there so you can exercise any time you want.

A dummy or punching bag can also be an excellent form of exercise, as well as stress relief.

A jump rope is also great for some great on-the-spot exercise., and can easily fit inside an office drawer.

Keep in mind that if you use your office for exercise, you may want to have some sort of working air freshener in the area in order to avoid that locker room smell. 

Tips on Hot Sandwiches

Of course, guys being guys there had to be hot sandwiches. Toasted sourdough is probably one of the best breads, as it tastes great and can hold a lot without breaking, but everyone has their own preference.

Split some sausages and grill. When they have been properly cooked, throw them on the bread, cover with some cheese or sauerkraut, and you should in for a good eat. You can substitute hot dogs for a cheap version.

The basic grilled cheese is a schoolboy favorite. Make a cheese sandwich without condiments.  Butter the top slice of bread and put the sandwich upside-down in a heated pan. When it is golden brown, butter the new top slice, and flip it over until it's golden brown. Just watch the edges carefully. Add a cup of tomato soup for a meal.

There are three basic variants on it. You can throw pretty much any sliced meat between the cheese slices, such as ham or bologna, but it's advised that you only use one slice. There is also the patty melt; grill off a hamburger patty and caramelize some onions. Put the onions on the burger, and then make a grilled cheese sandwich out of it, preferably with Swiss cheese. Lastly, you can mix some tuna fish and mayonnaise together, with a preference for chunky rather than smooth, and put it between the cheese for a tuna melt. Cut into halves and serve with a salad for a decent meal.

Another good option is the Philly cheeseteak. Toast a sourdough roll. While you do that, cut a cube steak into strips as well as a green pepper and an onion. Grill them off together with some mozzarella cheese, with seasoning extra. When it's all properly caramelized, throw on the roll and serve. 

Making Sure Your Guests Survive Your Party Trays

For most bachelors, this is the season when you are likely to eat more raw foods than at any other time in the year. Between dips, vegetables, and even sushi, you are more likely to eat something healthy and raw at this time of year, usually as part of a party tray. While a lot of them are professionally created, there are also a lot of them that are made at home. Before you make your own trays of food, you may want to keep in mind all of the possible issues with putting out a tray.

First off, realize that this is not to warn you off of party trays in general. Most trays are perfectly fine, and the food on them can stay out unattended for a lot longer than the prescribed time. This especially applies to trays kept in cold houses, or in otherwise cold areas. Other kinds of trays, such as cookies and vegetables, do well no matter where they are placed. All told, most trays do well, but it helps to know the limits when you yourself are putting out the food.

You need to be very careful when you put out eggs, meat, and cheese. Eggs are very good at picking up germs, even cooked. Deviled eggs should be kept refrigerated until served, and should be among the first appetizers used, and should not be kept out for more than two hours. If you want cheese slices, use thin slices of hard cheese; processed cheese slices have the shortest shelf life on a platter, and the separation of oil gives them an unattractive greasy appearance that keeps people from eating them very quickly. Hard cheeses will dry out if kept out too long, making them leathery and essentially inedible if kept out too long. Cheeses should be kept refrigerated until served, and only put out for two hours, but absolutely no longer than three.

Meats are a weird one. Dried meats have been cured, allowing them to stand longer, usually for a number of hours, but some, like salami and pepperoni, can sweat oil; those meats should be avoided or used quickly. Wetter meats, such as pastrami, corned beef, and roast beef, should be the first put out and usually have a shelf life of under two hours. Barbecued, grilled, and roasted meats can last for a long time, especially under a heat lamp, but need to be watched; they can dry out and may need to be replaced if they get too dry (they can also be re-sauced and basted as needed, but avoid doing too many times). Fried foods can usually stand the test of time, but may be get too greasy after a few hours.

Vegetables are the staple of party trays, but can wilt over even a few hours if not kept in ice or otherwise kept wet. Dips are going to be your problem child: Odds are good that if someone does suffer food poisoning, it was because of the dip. Keep the warm dips really warm, at 140 degrees or hotter if possible, and replace as needed. A common problem with warm dips is the potential for drying out or forming a crust; keep them stirred up and moist at all times. For cold dips, use pasteurized cream cheese and sour cream and they should be able to last the entire party.

Even breads and pastries can be a problem if you let them dry out. A humidifier on the lowest setting in the area should help, but keep in mind that it's a plus/minus: It may keep the bread soft, but it can also encourage bacteria growth, especially if the area has any warmth. As such, if you do use a humidifier the bread has an effective life of the bread should be no more than two hours to keep it safe.

All of this may seem like it add a little work to the party, and it does. However, it not only makes your party trays look better longer, but it also keeps your guests safe from food poisoning. All of this makes you look great as a host, and gives you that slight reputation bonus. If you want a reputation as the best host, these details are worth keeping track of. This makes your parties the best to go to, and that can give a great reputation among your friends, making your place the place to be during holidays.