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Check out the great new romances at HerStory Books
Books
Discover more great new titles at HerStory Books.
Make the Most of a Roast, Part II
Something else that roasting offers is it allows the meat you pick to be stuffed with your choice of veggies or spices. Many meats are knotted up using a knot called the packers knot. This keeps the meat in a tight ball keeping those hidden surprises intact and ensuring your food is getting cooked evenly all the way around.
Roasting isn’t the healthiest way to cook your foods as it does take a lot away from what you cook. When roasting meat there’s a spicier taste, so if you like your taste buds to tingle then roasting is perfect way to go.
Another cool fact about roasting is that in most instances the meat comes out of the oven before it’s all the way done. The internal meat is still cooking and gives us that slow cooked touch. It allows for all the juices to sink in and help make your mouth water
Facts for Better Roasting
There are some tricks you should know to making your roast better. Make sure to soak the meat in butter or some sort of oil. This allows for moisture to remain in the meat rather than losing all of it in the air while cooking. Another good tip is to put your meat into a plastic bag while being roasted. This allows for the cooking time to be cut in half and also helps keep juices in the meat.
If you remember that the heat in baking and roasting will dry out food if you are not careful, you can learn to work with your oven to get the most of out of to bake in nutrition and taste and be sure that no food in your house goes to waste.
Making the Most of Your Microwave to Save Time, Part 1
The great invention called the microwave!
Suddenly dinner doesn’t seem like such a task when you can just pop a meal in and snatch it out. Microwave cooking can me a faster and easier way to cook. But is it always healthy and affordable? Let’s find out.
IS FAST ALWAYS HEALTHY?
Everybody loves those quick fixes at the end of a hectic day but is that always healthy for you and your loved ones? The answer is yes and no. There are some microwavable meals that have the vegetables and fruits included while other meals may only have the meat.
Though the fruit and veggies might not be there another plus of microwavable meals is that they are extremely easy to add sides to. Throw in a favorite fruit cup or grab a banana. The main goal of a micro waved meal is finding a healthy quick way to make that rumble in your stomach go away. Though there are meals that are healthy there are also ones you might want to watch out for. That quick little Hot Pocket probably isn’t going to give you the nutrients you might need. When out shopping, pay attention to the picture on the front of the box or container. If you see green beans, mashed potatoes and roast then chances are it’s going to be a pretty balanced meal.
Only the veggies, in their original state are the best. They have food enzymes that help your metabolism and keep you full of energy to tackle those tasks you have planned for the day. You don’t even necessarily have to microwave or cook them. Just eat them raw that’s when there in their best form and the healthiest. Add fresh vegetables or fruits to a microwave meat for a healthier addition.
Continued in Part 2.
Making the Most of a Roast, Part 1
Making the Most of a Roast, Part 1
The delicious roast beef that comes out of the oven a deep dark brown is something most people enjoy as a special meal, but they do not eat it very often, not when there is so much takeaway and fast food to be had.
But is roast beef the only kind of roast you can enjoy? Of course not.
Is roasting difficult? No. So why don’t we do it more often?
Usually you roast large pieces of meat such as beef, pork or maybe even lamb. Yet there are so many other options and choices when roasting. You can create a colorful meal with many variables by just roasting. It enhances the flavors and brings out the best in your meat products!
Roasting 101
In order to know what foods to roast you have to understand what roasting does to the food. Roasting uses dry heat to cook food, much like the oven. When you roast meat it causes what is called caramelization or to put it simpler it makes the meat a beautiful appetizing golden brown color. Meat isn’t the only thing that you can roast. Most vegetables can be roasted. Here is a list of great ideas for healthy roasting:
*Potatoes- When roasted it is going to change the texture and taste of the potatoes skin
*Zucchini- Gives it a juicy yet crunchy taste
*Pumpkin- Boy does roasting really bring out the best in pumpkin with enhanced flavor
*Turnips- Makes for a healthy treat
*Cauliflower- Lets you add a zesty flavor to any meat
*Squash- A great side dish to that main course
*Peppers- Livens your food up and gives it a spicier taste
In the second part of this article, we will look at other ways to make the most of any roast.
How to Earn Extra Money Even in This Recession, Part 2
(continued from Part 1)
3. Try Fiverr.com.
Fiverr.com is a website that allows anyone to post a product or service that costs $5. The website takes $1, so your earnings will be $4 per task. If the task only takes 15 minutes to complete, then you have the potential to earn up to $16 an hour. If you can think of offering a service that doesn’t take a lot of time, you can make some decent spending money. Logo design, for instance, does not need to take that long if you are skilled at PhotoShop. There are also several other websites similar to Fiverr.com that allow you to charge up to $25 for quick services or products. A Google search for “Fiverr Clones” should show you several sites that are worth considering. Even if you are working full time, you can use your spare time after work, or even before work or during your lunch hour, to start earning more.
4. Buy a storage unit at an auction.
Or more correctly, purchase the contents of a storage unit. This practice occurs when people put items in storage and then fail to pay their rental fees. Eventually the property devolves to the rental place, who will sell the items in order to recoup their rent. The items will be auctioned site unseen. This practice can be hit or miss, since people might be storing a whole bunch of clothes or other personal items with little to no resale value. However, if you think about the success of eBay, you will know that many people are actually making a living from purchasing the contents of abandoned storage units and selling what they find. CDs, old records, books, tapes, and other collectibles can all be found in this way and sold on. Sell the junk at a garage sale and the good stuff on eBay. With a little luck, that $200 storage unit could be worth $10,000 or more.
There are certain rules, tricks and tips to selling on eBay that you will want to become familiar with before making such a commitment, so start small with a few items in your home and then take it from there. Also consider selling the latest titles as used books on Amazon. Become familiar with good packaging and mailing practices to be sure that any parcels you send out go by a traceable means and arrive promptly and undamaged. Remember that you will get ratings as a seller at all of the sites you participate on, so be prepared to offer good customer service.
If you still have a job but you are underpaid, underemployed, or both, these are just a few of the ways that you can make extra money to pay off debts, start an emergency fund, or start saving for your financial goals for the future.
Further Reading
For more great ideas on how to survive and even thrive in this recession, see: Your Recession Survival Guide
For more information on creating wealth to start your own business, see How to Start a Successful Small Business Even If You Don’t Have Much Cash
For more information on how to start an emergency fund, see Emergency Fund 101: How to Save Money for Unexpected Expenses
How to Earn Extra Money Even in This Recession, Part 1
If you have been affected by the poor economy and are struggling to make ends meet, it may seem almost impossible to come up with any ways to make more money. After all, unemployment is high and there are no jobs, right?
Not necessarily. While there may not be a lot of full-time jobs with high salaries and a good benefits package, the truth is that just because millions of people have been laid off does not mean their work was not important and no longer needs to be done. It is true that some companies have outsourced the work overseas in order to cut down on costs, the truth is that there is a lot of part-time work available if you are willing to take it. And there are jobs out there if you are willing to take a pay cut.
Before you make these decisions, you need to run your numbers. Look at your household budget and trim any luxuries. Then look at the bottom line for the minimum you need each month to keep your household afloat without using credit cards or biting into savings. If you are unemployed, how does your level of payment match up? If it doesn’t you will want to go back to work sooner rather than later, even if you do have to take a pay cut. If you are considering a part-time job, see how it would affect your benefit. You may find that it pays more, though perhaps not much more.
If you are still working but have decided you don’t earn enough and/or want to save for a rainy day in an emergency fund, or for a particular life goal, then you will also want to look at ways to bring in additional income. Here are a few suggestions.
1. Get a part-time job.
This is the first idea that may pop into your mind when you think of sources of temporary income. If you have a certain set of special skills, then you can command a reasonable wage per hour. If you do not have a lot of skills, more menial jobs like shift work and waitressing can help you plug any gaps in your budget. Jobs that pay tips have the possibility of paying very well, though in this economy, don’t bank on it.
2. Freelance.
If you have skills that people need, such as designing websites or creating great graphics or PowerPoint presentations, your skills are in high demand right in your own city and indeed all over the world. Join one of the popular freelancing sites like elance, elancer, odesk or rentacoder and create a great profile for yourself and portfolio of your work There are a lot of people on there now due to so many others being in the same position as yourself, but quality and speed at the right price can help you stand out. You may be able to get enough contract work at one of these sites to keep you pretty busy and you might make more money than you would think. Just remember to stay in close communication with your clients and that good reviews will be the key to getting hired by others.
(Continued in Part 2)