There is nothing as comforting as a hot bowl of homemade soup. It warms your belly, making you feel content and cared for. Many consider making soup from scratch to be intimidating, but it is really very easy once you have given it a try. When you use your slow cooker, it is even easier.
Soups for the Slow Cooker
Almost any kind of soup can be made in a slow cooker. Whether you prefer simpler soups like vegetable beef or lentil soup, or if your favorites include fancier soups like vichyssoise or pot-au-feu, your slow cooker will come in handy. You can even create delicate soups such as trout chowder or crab soup in a slow cooker while you attend to other tasks. If you like ethnic soups like Indian Dal or Italian Wedding soup, they also turn out perfectly in a slow cooker.
It does not matter what your favorite soup is… you can probably make it in your slow cooker. Leftovers work, too. If you have a ham bone left, toss it in with some split peas for yummy pea soup, or add some navy beans to make a hearty bean soup.
Even soups that seem more complicated, like cheddar cheese or clam chowder, can easily be made in your slow cooker. Whether it is something simple like chicken soup or more complicated, you can make all your favorite soups. Use your favorite ingredients like noodles, dumplings or rice… whichever you prefer.
New Soups
Maybe you will want to try a soup you have never tasted before. Trying new dishes is fun! Take a chance and try a new slow cooker soup. Have you ever tried a taco soup? What about cheesy meatball soup or deviled chicken soup? Ever tried a garden cabbage soup? There are many different soups out there just waiting to become your new favorite!
With a little inspiration, you can create your own slow cooker soup recipes. Why not give it a try? The slow cooker lets you make a few mistakes. It will tenderize a tough piece of meat. Adding different vegetables and herbs add a delicious, complex flavor to your soup. If you like a creamy soup, add some milk or cream towards the end of your cooking time. Let your imagination run wild.
Traditional soups like chicken and dumplings, beef noodle and potato soup are great, too. For something a little different, mix up the ingredients a bit. Try adding bacon or ham to your potato soup, or put brown rice in your beef soup. Adding a new twist can be a lot of fun.
You can even press your slow cooker into service after the holidays to make your day after easier. Add leftover turkey from Thanksgiving to the slow cooker to make a delicious turkey soup. Add rice, potatoes, or noodles, whichever you like best. Add in leftover vegetables like peas, squash, carrots, or leftover gravy. You will end up with a new way to enjoy the fruits of your labors from before the big day. Slow cookers are a great way to use up these leftover goodies.
Soup can be clear and delicate or creamy and thick. Both are definitely delicious. Whether you prefer a clear soup or a creamy soup, you can’t do better than to serve it up with some hot crusty bread or some fresh biscuits, hot from the oven. Your family will love it!
Filed under Dinner, Fat Burning Foods, Fat Burning Recipes, Negative Calorie Foods, Soup by on Dec 11th, 2009. Comment. 
Expresso coffee has been around for a long time but the term that we refer to it by today is relatively new. Expresso coffee is named after espresso the term that originated in Italy to describe individually brewed coffee. Espresso in Italian means brewed for you. There is some popular confusion on what exactly Expresso coffee is.
It is commonly thought that Expresso coffee is based on a type of coffee bean. While there are particular beans that tend to be used in making Expresso coffee it is not the bean that makes Expresso different. In fact any coffee bean could be used to make a cup of Expresso coffee.
Other people think that what makes Expresso coffee special is the blend. There are specialty blends that are designed for Expresso coffee but this alone does not make a cup of coffee Expresso coffee. These same blends could be used to make a standard cup of coffee but it would not be Expresso just because these blends have been used.
It’s not the bean and it’s not the blend so is it the roast? There is common thought that expresso coffee must be a dark roast coffee. While actually the right roast will vary based on the part of the country you are in. For instance on the east coast of the Us people favor a light roast while Californians tend to prefer a dark roast. The standard in Italy is actually a medium roast. What roast is used depends entirely on personal taste.
Generally coffee is about what is in the coffee such as the bean and the blend but this is not the case for Expresso coffee. Expresso coffee is actually all about the way it is brewed. Remember this does not mean that there are not certain blends or beans that are designed for Expresso coffee but rather that the brewing method is the true difference between Expresso coffee and other types of coffee. Expresso coffee is actually not a cup of coffee at all at least not in the traditional sense. Expresso coffee is actually a small shot of coffee that has been brewed from extra fine ground beans and prepared under lots of pressure.
The method of making Expresso coffee has been considered by some as an art. While the machine that is used certainly has a factor the amount of pressure that is applied against the grounds when being placed in the filter makes a big difference. A good Expresso coffee will have a small creamy layer on the top. This layer is known as crema. The correct amount of crema is what separates an outstanding cup of Expresso coffee from a mediocre cup of Expresso coffee.
The way Expresso coffee is drank is as specialized as the way it is brewed. The proper method of drinking Expresso coffee is to lift the cup to just below the nose and then inhale the aroma. Savor this aroma and then drink the Expresso coffee in several large gulps almost like you would a good lager. Once the cup has been emptied it should be placed diligently onto the saucer.
It is not a sin to sweeten Expresso coffee but it is best savored just the way it was brewed. However if you are the type that just has to have a little sugar with your coffee feel free to add it to your Expresso coffee. In fact it is often done this way in Italy. No matter if you like it sweet or not enjoying a cup of Expresso can be a very unique and bold experience.
For more information on kcups or coffee vending machine, visit Latte Nite.
Filed under Breakfast, Fat Burning Foods, Negative Calorie Foods by on Nov 30th, 2009. Comment.
Home brewing is something which has been popular for many years. Still, many are resolute that convenience is best for them and continue to drink only beer that they have paid for at a liquor store or at a bar. However, as with everything else in life, convenience costs. It may not be much at the time, but add it up over a years worth of parties, games, dinners and nights out and it starts to amount to a lot.
Paying for your own beer brewing supplies may not seem to make sense at first, as you will think to yourself that you could have a few nights worth of drinking for the same price and not have to go to the effort of ensuring that your brew tastes like it is supposed to. However, look at the situation beyond just a few weeks ahead and you’ll see that home brewing is a much better option. After the initial amount that you pay for the kit and supplies, which is little more than the cost of a few crates anyway, you’ll have the potential to make enough beer to see you through the next couple of months.
To some people, the idea of making their own beer is too much like hard work. That’s why we have major breweries to do it for us, is it not? Well, yes, the breweries are there to make your life easier, but think of it this way – it’s like eating out at a restaurant all of time compared to cooking at home yourself. At first restaurant food seems better than anything you could possibly cook yourself, but, with a little practice, you soon develop your own recipes that are superior. It’s exactly the same with beer brewing.
Beer brewing supplies are easily sourced. Most larger towns will have a specialist store that stocks the required equipment and ingredients, but don’t worry if your town doesn’t as there are plenty of suppliers on the internet. In fact, buying via the internet may be the best option anyway as the prices tend to be lower. Do a little online research first to find out what you need. There are various beer brewing forums that are full of like-minded beer lovers who will be more than happy to point you in the right direction.
Once you have bought the necessary equipment and supplies, you will just need to follow the instructions that come with them. It is simple enough, just remember not to miss out any of the steps. Hands on learning and regular practice is the best way to make progress. Once you have the basics learnt, you can then start deviating from the standard processes in order to make your own special recipes. Brewing your own beer may sound like too much hassle but its really worth the effort.
Luke Porter is a home brewing beer enthusiast, and an expert author. You are invited to discover the simple secrets of brewing world class beer from the comfort of your home by reading his latest book, “Home Beer Brewing Secrets” – available online today!
Another excellent way to enjoy beer — and lose weight — is to make your own at home!
There are many ways to make this work — you control the ingredients so you can use only the best quality. Also, since you make it in small quantities you may not burn through a ”case” quite so quickly.
But the main way making your own beer may help you to burn away fat is that if you eat or drink quality, you don’t need as much to feel satisfied. We’ve discussed this before in our sister blog, Fat Burning Secrets (see – http://besthomecourses.com/FatBurningSecretsBlog/great-food-is-a-revelation-the-best-food-can-help-you-lose-weight-too )
… but it’s really quite simple — the better the food or drink, the less we consume.
If that sound impossible to you, please read the previous posting. I assure you it does work.
If you would like to learn more about the Art of Homebrewing — we have a great book for you!
The Beginner’s Guide to Homebrewing – Another Free Ebook from Best Home CoursesThe Beginner’s Guide to Homebrewing is written with the total “Newbie” in mind. It takes you by the hand and leads you step-by-step though everything you need to know and do to make beer at home.
It even tells you the absolute best way to make beer if you never have before (This easy method makes homebrewing your first delicious batch a total no-brainer.)
If you love BEER or know someone who does (there are some great gift ideas in the book!) — then you really need to consider making your own at home. Homebrewing is a very popular & growing hobby and one that will pay you back many, many times over the years.
Oh yes, did we mention that The Beginner’s Guide to Homebrewing is 100% FREE?
Click Here to get your free copy of The Beginner’s Guide to Homebrewing.
You will never regret it.
Filed under Negative Calorie Foods by on Nov 14th, 2009. Comment.
