How to Test if a Dish is Microwavable

In relation to my previous posts on microwaving (on safety and cooking tips), here’s a tip on how to find out if a dish is microwave safe (metal and gold-trimmed dishes are a ready no-no).

• Place a glass measuring cup of water next to dish to be tested.
• Turn the microwave on full power for one minute
• Check the temperature of the dish
• If the water is warm and the dish cool, the dish can be used.
• If the dish is slightly warm, it’s good for short period use only
• If the dish is hot, that means that it’s absorbing most of the heat instead of letting it pass through. Don’t cook with this dish.

Microwave Cooking Tips

Last time I wrote about microwaving, I wrote about safety tips. Here are some tips on actually using you microwave to cook.

• Check the cookbook that comes with your microwave - If you plan to microwave you dish, find similar dishes to determine cooking time, dish size and proportions.
• Liquids in dishes extends cooking time - You can reduce the liquid by half of what is needed in a conventional recipe.
• Herbs, salts and seasoning - Microwaving intensifies flavors of dried herbs, pepper, and seasoning so you need to reduce the use. Likewise, since less liquid is used, you need to cut back on salt too. However, this is different with fresh herbs. Since they contain liquid, it takes time before the flavors fuse out so you might want to increase them in your recipe.
• Garlic cooks out quickly in microwave.

Source: All New Hints from Heloise

Tips on Installing Kitchen Cabinets

Installing new kitchen cabinets and shelves? Then these are some handy tips on how to maximize your kitchen space.

Upper shelves and cabinets that rest on the countertop should stand between your shoulders and the waist. This makes it accessible, without having to stoop low or stand on a foot ladder to reach them. Store in these the more frequently used kitchen items while the ones that you use for special occasions should be stored in the cabinets that reach the ceiling.

One option is to install drawers rather than cabinets, as drawers are easy to pull out. Just make sure that you get the full-extension pull-out variety, so you won’t have to injure muscles while going for the hard-to-reach areas. Remember to make sure that there is enough space between the drawers and the island or other objects. This way, there would be no unnecessary banging of furniture and of finding yourself trapped between a drawer and the kitchen island.

Speaking of pull-out, why not take advantage of this feature and try having your pantry installed in the same system? You might have to ask professionals to do it for you to make it perfectly fit, but the extra cost will be worth it. A pull-out pantry not only saves space but it also saves time when you are cooking. All you have to do is pull it out and push it back when getting, let’s say, a can of tomato sauce. It usually has wire shelf sides to prevent items from falling out. You also see all the items stored with one glance.

For better organization, use adjustable dividers for your drawer and pantry spaces. Perfect for keeping like items together.

MARQUESS IS EXPOSED AS COCAINE MISTER FIXIT

THE Marquess of Blandford secretly arranged a supply of cocaine—after promising his family and blueblood friends he had reformed his debauched ways.

Lord Blandford, a former junkie thief who has clawed his way back to respectability, discussed the drug delivery while showing undercover reporters around glorious Blenheim Palace.

The historic estate is owned by his father the Duke of Marlborough, who trusts his son so much that he has even given him a house in the grounds to rebuild his life.

The handover was to take place in an exclusive London club called L'Equipe Anglais, whose guests include Bono, Mick Hucknall, Naomi Campbell, David Coulthard and Leonardo DiCaprio.

There, after slipping away from his unsuspecting wife Edla, who has supported him faithfully through his rehabilitation, he told our man: "I've arranged four grams of cocaine for you. It's £60 a gram, so that's £240. And I can sort out girls for you. They'll be top-notch girls, not street hookers."

Vast

Jamie Blandford, the 47-year-old great nephew of Winston Churchill, is now the Blenheim estate's commercial director.

He books out the estate's lavish rooms and vast grounds and recently organised a Bollywood film shoot. He also arranged for Jeremy Clarkson and a BBC film crew to use Blenheim's roads to test cars for TV's Top Gear.

It is all a long way from his 80s days of disgrace. In one four-month period he blew £20,000 on cocaine, assaulted a policeman, breached probation, burgled a chemist and was banned from driving four times.

In 1993 he sold our undercover reporter Chris Blythe crack cocaine and boasted: "I'm the godfather. I'm not the street man."

His marriage to pregnant Becky Few Brown later collapsed and his father the duke disinherited him. But Blandford soon began his rise back into high society. He persuaded his father he was drug-free and last year married Welsh artist Edla Griffiths. Formula 1 racing tycoon Paddy McNally attended the wedding.

The Duke of Marlborough even allowed the newlyweds to move into Wooton Down Farm on the estate. And when Blandford was invited to join the Duchess of York at the wedding of Paddy's son Rollo to society beauty Daisy Hardman last month, he thought his makeover was complete.

A contact of the marquess told the News of the World: "They think his drug days are behind him but it's all a sham."

After a tip-off that Blandford was once more involved in cocaine, News of the World reporters investigated again.

Convinced we were TV producers interested in hiring Blenheim, he invited us to the 11,500-acre estate in Woodstock, Oxfordshire. Soon Blandford bragged of his drugs contacts in London.

"Go to a club called L'Equipe Anglais and I'll give you the name of a man who'll look after all your needs," he said.

On Friday of this week he was there to meet us. "My wife's here so I'm on best behaviour," he said, laughing loudly.

Edla has told her husband she will leave him if he ever strays back to his junkie habit. But out of her earshot, he talked about the laws against possessing cocaine and added: "You've just got to be clever and not get caught."

He then grabbed our reporter's mobile phone and programmed in the number for a man called Derek.

Packet

"Derek's your man if you need girls, charlie (cocaine), anything. I've phoned him and told him you're OK," said Blandford. "It'll be good quality charlie and the girls are really nice. You only get the best."

With that, Blandford asked our men to follow him downstairs.

"I've got you a table in the VIP area," he said. "There's a waiter who'll come and see you."

Blandford then reeled off the price of four grams of cocaine and told us to pay the waiter, whom he hugged. The waiter, who calls himself Shaggy, asked our reporter: "You want four? It's £240. And the drinks are £31."

As he grabbed the money Shaggy slipped a small packet in our reporter's hand. "It'll be good quality stuff," said Blandford, rubbing his nose. "Believe me, I know my charlie!"

His action will stun his family. "They've given him every chance," said a friend. "Lord alone knows what his father will do, and poor Edla has been taken for a fool too."

Cooking with Wine

Looking for a sizzling idea to spice up your cooking? If you’ve experimented with herbs and are ready to take on something more daring, how about using wines in your next recipes? Cooking with wine is something that’s definitely worth trying. If you’re new with this idea, and you’ve only seen it on TV, let these tips guide you into your new style.

Why use wine? Wine is enlisted in some recipes because wine brings out special flavors. If you’re strictly following a recipe, you have to follow the exact measurement, but you can add more depending on your taste buds. It’s also great for deglazing the pan while adding more snap to your dish.

Pay extra attention. If you left your cooking boil too long, most of the alcohol will evaporate. Don’t try flaming the dish too, unless you’ve got the hang of it. You don’t want to have singed eyebrows, do you?

If you’re not sure which wine to cook, use the mainstream wine. For white wine, it’s safe to use Sauvignon Blanc and for red wine, you can use Cabernet Sauvignon. Also, it is wise to not use wine which flavor you hate. Wines which are a bit fruity will make your cooking, er, fruity. So unless this is your intention, choose your wine carefully.

Don’t boil the wine when using it with meat dishes because it will make the meat tough and undesirable. You’re going for warm wine so watch the flames.

Serve the same wine. Drink the same bottle you used for cooking so the flavor will not clash. Cheers!