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Chinese food traditions have adapted freely with time. Over the course of more than 5000 years, these culinary practices have been devised and improved and have withstood the test of time. For example, steaming, a basic cooking technique, was used extensively long before the creation of the first dynasty. Through trade, non-native ingredients made their way to the kitchens of the court combining with the homegrown harvests to produce exceptional, unusual and surprising dishes.

A well prepared Chinese dish is expected to appeal to more senses than just taste. Its hues should be tantalizing to sight, the ingredients should be of uniform size and it should be fragrant. There should be contrasting tastes and textures within the meal; if one dish is crisp, it should be paired with another one that is smooth. A mild dish is paired with a spicy one, thereby always trying to create a balance. It is important to have this equality of yin and yang.

Real Chinese food is mostly vegetarian. Fats and meats are applied sparsely for punches of flavor and very few dishes involve deep frying. This is because fats and meats can be scarce and expensive in China. As a result, true Chinese food is quite beneficial to your health because most of the recipes are low calorie and low carb. Chinese people also prefer to use soy products instead of meat and dairy. Soy products or tofu is full of good fats and proteins and are a great alternative to meats because its texture can simulate the meats we all love.

Furthermore, Chinese food is quite cheap and easy to cook because it is a style of cooking that is very open to flexible interpretations of recipes and you can often use leftover ingredients to create new dishes. Chinese chefs have learned to make a lot with very little, and this can be applied in our kitchens to save money. Frugality is definitely a virtue in the Chinese culture, and it is sometimes said that a Chinese chef can make dirt and bark taste good. This is a tribute to the ingenuity and practicality of Chinese cuisine.

In conclusion, if you love Chinese food but feel guilty about eating it, then you should make it at home with fresh and healthy ingredients. You will find a new appreciation for the culture and genius of the Chinese people and improve your health at the same time.

By: Xin Lu

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Kansieo.com

Anyone whose ever tried to cook a decent meal, and get everything right knows how hard it can be. In fact it can seem darn right impossible at times. But let’s face it, if you’re not a professional cook or chef then you can’t really expect to have a professionally cooked meal, or can you?

With all of the different cooking networks and shows out there, it’s hard to watch without wishing that you could re-create the meals that they make at home, but the truth is that you either attempt and it doesn’t work out, or you don’t even attempt because you’re afraid that it won’t turn out well.

One of the biggest problems is that the tools that you have to work with in your kitchen, and the tools that the professionals that you’re trying to emulate use are probably like night and day. They have all of the best equipment there is to work with, and frankly that’s one of the reasons there’s turns out so much better. Chances are that if they had to use your old banged up pots and pans there stuff wouldn’t turn out nearly as perfect as it does. The tools and utensils are a huge part of their success.

One of the most famous chef’s in the world has recognized this fact and therefore has done his best to try to make great cooking tools available to you. Emeril Lagasse is a world renowned chef and restaurateur, made mostly famous from his cooking shows on the Food Network “Essence of Emeril” and “Emeril Live”. He started out working in a bakery as a boy, discovered his talent, and went on to go to Johnson and Wales Culinary School and graduated in 1978. He quickly rose up the ladder of the cooking world, becoming Executive Chef of Commander Palace in New Orleans. Proving himself as a Creole and Cajun expert he went on to open his own restaurant in New Orleans called Emeril’s. He now owns ten restaurants and has a multimillion dollar empire.

So, in case you were wondering, I think it’s safe to say that Emeril Lagasse knows what he’s talking about – and furthermore – what you need in your kitchen to produce superior food at home. Emerils latest invention that’s going to help you “kick it up a notch” is the Emeril Steamer from T-Fal. You probably know that T-Fal makes some of the best, if not the best non-stick surface pans in the world, so you know that with the expertise of these two giants combining forces the Emeril Steamer has to be exceptional, and it is!

The Emeril Steamer basically makes cooking for your family about as easy as it gets. The Steamer has 3 completely separate compartments for food so that you can create a dinner for your family without all of the food running and leaking together. You can tell that Emeril created his Steamer so that it’s as easy as possible to use. Essentially, you fill the water compartment, add your food to the three large food baskets, hit a button and “Bam” you’ve got dinner going (pun intended).

To top it off, the steamer cooks food quickly so that it’s not an all day project for making dinner. Once you hit the steam button you’re off and the turbo speed steaming has begun. There’s a reversible non-stick drip tray where all three compartments drip separately ensuring that all of your food has its own separate natural taste.

Another beauty of the Emeril Steamer is that if you need to add an ingredient all is not lost once you’ve hit the button. You can simply hit the button, shut of the steam, add your ingredients, and start it back up again without any problems.

Now a lot of people have a problem when cooking large meals because they’re not able to get the timing right, and therefore will end up with one thing finished and having to sit, waiting for the rest of the meal. That’s not a worry with the steamer because everything is cooking at the same time, and you can add as you go so if you’ve got meat for instance that needs to cook a bit longer, you can go ahead and cook that and add the veggies later and your fine.

Steaming is great way to eat healthy while at the same time keeping the food tasting great, locking the natural flavors in – and the Emeril Steamer will let you do exactly that. If you’re ready to make dinner easily and quickly without all of the fuss and mess, then The Emeril Steamer cannot be recommend enough.

By: Bruce D Hunter

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There are people who simply love to cook while some are averse to the idea of cooking. Yet another category exists that cook just because they have to. Whether or not you enjoy cooking, it is important that you cook right whenever you do. Considering the rise in the number of health disorders associated with obesity, Americans are waking to the fact that making right food choices is critical for good health.

Healthy eating does not mean consuming the right kind of foods but also ensuring that they are cooked in the right manner. Most people avoid eating fast food and switch over to homemade food to eat right and stay healthy. However, eating homemade food is of no use, if you do not know the basics of healthy cooking. Read on to know invaluable cooking tips that can improve your health and the overall well being of your family.

Go for organic food – The best way to cook healthy is choose organic foods, vegetables, and fruits that are rich in antioxidants and also free from pesticide residues unlike their non-organically grown counterparts.

Cooking with the right oil – The kind of oil you use as well as its quantity will have a direct impact on your waistline. You may go for healthier versions like olive oil and canola oil, though olive oil should be avoided for frying foods, as its smoke point is just about 190C/375F.

Also make it a point to drain excess oil in fried foods using paper towels so that you can restrict your calorie intake. Cook using nonstick pans, as it not only makes the task of cooking much faster and easier but also helps you in minimizing your fat intake.

Utilize the right cooking method – The methods of cooking you choose is as important as the ingredients that go into the food. Frying should be avoided as much as possible and should be replaced with broiling, grilling, braising, and steaming methods that facilitate in retaining the nutritional value of the food while keeping excess fat at bay. Boiling vegetables can rob them of their nutrients and should therefore be steamed instead.

Replace high-calorie ingredients – When trying out a new recipe, look for options for certain ingredients to get rid of excess calories. For instance, a certain recipe may allow you to use yogurt or milk instead of cream so that you can reduce your fat intake without compromising on the taste.

Cook meat at right temperatures – Failing to cook meat at the right temperature may give rise to bacteria that cause a number of food-borne diseases. You need to cook meat at 160