Choosing Your Wine

With thousands of different wines produced in Italy in a single year alone, it is really no wonder that choosing an Italian wine can often be so difficult. From Sangiovese to Trebbiano and everywhere in between, Italian wine has always been favorable, and there are a few things that you should be aware of before heading out to find your wine, so that you can make the most informed decision and choose the best wine.

One of the first issues you should deal with involves deciphering Italian wine terms. This is going to be necessary if you want to be able to read the Italian wine labels. Just a few of the many common terms that you may notice include anno, amabile, bianco, dolce, grappa, rossa, rosato, spumante, vino, and vigna.

You also want to be aware of the different Italian wine classifications, Vina Da Tavola is one of the most common, and this designates wines that reside firmly on what is known as the low end of the totem pole, meaning that they are the lesser quality wines. They will tend to be cheaper because of this but will have poorer taste as well. Most of these wines are not aged properly which is why they do not have as full a flavor as others.

Indicazione di Geografica Tipica is another of the more common classifications and refers to table wines that are often ubiquitous wines that are grown in a specific geographical growing region. Keep in mind however that there are still a few exceptions as some of Italy’s best wines do fall under this category solely for the purpose of avoiding more stringent regulations associated with DOC or DOCG.

Wine is always delicious and fun but more than anything Italian wine is classy and perfect when paired with a proper meal. Especially around the holidays, wine is flowing at parties and gatherings, and you just want to make sure that once you have the right wine you also have the proper wine accessories to go with it, namely wine glasses and wine charms.

Wine charms are particularly great at larger gatherings because they help you to distinguish your glass from others.

However, if you want to avoid family problems for years after the wedding then keep the whole family in mind when planning it. This goes for the wedding invitation wording as well. Let me tell you a quick story that outlines the importance wedding invitation wording to the future happiness of your family.

I had a very close friend who got married many years ago and his parents had been divorced since he was around 8. He tried to stay in touch with his father but eventually his father disappeared from his life but he was able to stay in touch with his father's side of the family which included grandparents, aunts, and uncles. He thought all was well. When he was planning his wedding with his bride they decided that since the groom was raised completely by his mother with no help from his father who disappeared that the wedding invitation wording would include both of her parents but only his mother and not his father.

He never thought that wedding invitation wording would be a problem. A week later they get the response from his aunt, his father's sister, who informed the groom that since the wedding invitation wording did not include a mention of the groom's father then the entire father's side of the family would not be attending. The groom and his father's side of the family have not spoken since.

The Moral of the Story

There are many essential elements of wedding invitation wording that probably should be included in an invitation and what you think is not important may wind up being very important to other people. In the given example should the groom's father have been included?

Probably not since the father was not a part of the groom's life but the story goes to show the power of wedding invitation wording and making sure it is done correctly. There are other stories of wedding invitation wording that neglected to give complete directions to the wedding reception and caused some people to be two hours late because they got lost.

Make sure your wedding invitation wording is as complete and inclusive as possible and if you are purposely neglecting someone, or something, then be prepared to suffer the consequences.

If you want something that is heavy on the personality, like a Star Wars themed wedding or something, then only invite people that would appreciate that. It is guaranteed that if you try and make your old Uncle Lou dress up as a storm trooper just to be in your wedding that you will hear about it probably for the rest of your life. So just remember that if you are inviting a lot of people then you should try and include a lot of people in the trappings of the ceremony.

One place you need to do this delicate balance is in the wedding favors. When it comes to wedding favors there are two very different ways you can go. You can get wedding favors that look very nice, match the wedding color scheme, and do not really display any of your personality at all but are beautiful keepsakes of the day.

Or you can create wedding favors that are very much your personality and contain elements that are important to you. Either is fine; you just need to make sure you don't go overboard. With wedding favors that are picked out of a book many people will go with the standard candy in a glass bowl wedding favors with a personalized card or tag on them. Then there is the other side of wedding favors.

Stay Away From the Dark Side

Your wedding is as important to your parents as it is to you and probably many of your friends and family as well. When you create personalized wedding favors it is a wonderful idea to include maybe an important picture or something like that so that people will have that piece of you to remember forever. I remember one couple including a photo of the bride's grandfather who died the week before the wedding and it was a wonderful way to do the wedding favors. Personalized is nice but try and keep elements universal as well.

Do not use personal and inside jokes when creating wedding favors. There are some things that seem funny or even great ideas at first but if someone brings them up to you five years later you may regret it. Show a little restraint at your wedding and you will do just fine.

Confidence and Creativity

As it is often said, confidence is the greatest gift you can give your child. When they help you make something and you give them the credit, you can see them feeling proud of their accomplishment and beaming from side to side. This is a big step in confidence because they feel they were able to create something which everyone is enjoying. Even if they mixed the dry ingredients when you were cooking or baking, the sense of accomplishment that 'I did it' is the most important lesson they learn.

Math Skills

While measuring ingredients, you can give them a practical math lesson while cooking with you. Asking them to double the ingredients if you are cooking two batches of soup or halving them if you are just making an appetizer size will help them practice their math skills without having to sit and work on a desk with paper and pens. They will also realize the practical aspect of math and may begin to put two and two together (literally) and like the subject even more when they can see how it is useful in everyday life.

Nutrition Skills

With childhood obesity levels at scary rates in the United States, cooking together is a great way to teach children some facts and figures about healthy eating and nutrition. Explaining how they just need a little olive or canola oil to make their French toast instead of deep frying the bread like there is no tomorrow is just one simple lesson you can impart. Trying out new fresh salads instead of desserts all the time is also setting a good example of healthy eating.

Equality

Equality in the kitchen is another great lesson you can teach by cooking with your kids. By telling your sons from a young age that they can pitch in too and that the kitchen is not only the woman's domain, you are doing a big favor to is future wife and your next generation. Men who are involved in cooking and cleaning often have more respect for their spouses as they do not underestimate the time and effort it takes to whip up a meal and maintain a home.

How To Make Strawberry Wine

The first thing that you need to do in order to make strawberry wine is to gather together the ingredients that you need. These ingredients include 7 pounds of whole, freshly picked strawberries that have been washed and hulled; and 2 gallons of boiling water; some lemon juice; and 5 pounds of sugar.

When you are preparing to make straberry wine, you need to first mash the strawberries together in a large pot. Once these are mashed, you will want to cover them with boiling water. After adding the lemon juice, you will want to spend 2 minutes quickly stirring the mixture together. You can then set this mixture aside in a dark, cool area, covered with a linen cloth. Make sure that you stir it everyday for a week. Then, when the week is over you will want to pour the concoction through double layered cheesecloth into a large bowl so that you can discard of the strawberry pulp. Next, mix the strawberry liquid together with the sugar, stirring them constantly until the sugar is dissolved. You can then pour this into a container and let it stand for another week, stirring it daily.

After the second week is over, you should pour the strawberry juice into a gallon sized, glass wine bottle. Put a loose cork into the bottle and let it rest in a cool, dark place for 3 months. At this point, the wine should no longer be bubbling. It should be perfectly clear. This is how you know that you can pour it into individual wine bottles, cork them and allow them to age for a year.

Why Strawberry Wine Is Good

Strawberry wine ranges in taste from semi sweet to lightly sweet, sour or completely sweet. There are great benefits to your health whenever you drink any type of strawberry wine. Not only are strawberries low in calories and fats, they are also rich in fiber, folate, antioxidants, potassium and vitamin C. You can also use strawberry wine in cereals, salads, yogurts, muffins, cakes and desserts. Of course, you can also enjoy this wine, partially frozen.

Gas And Charcoal Grills

Not too much needs to be said here. This one's a no-brainer. If you don't have one, you're at least familiar with them. No conversation about outdoor cooking is complete without at least a mention of these types of grills. Nothing beats a picnic and some hamburgers and hot dogs cooked on the grill. Of course, anyone who has any experience with them knows how many other possibilities there are as well. Chicken and steaks and just about anything else you can think of can be cooked on a grill. If you get one with side burners you can expand your options even more.

Deep Fryers

One of the latest outdoor cooking crazes is deep frying turkeys. This method of cooking turkeys has been gaining in popularity over the last several years. Once you try a bird cooked this way, you'll want to throw your oven-cooked turkey out the window. They usually come in the form of a pot that sits on a stand with a gas burner. They come in a variety of sizes and range in price from around $60 - $200 for a complete kit.

Dutch Ovens

Dutch ovens have been a favorite for a long time. Many people do all of their outdoor cooking in Dutch ovens. They are some of the most versatile outdoor cooking tools around. They are capable of simmering, stewing, baking, roasting and frying. You can cook anything from stews and casseroles to breads and desserts and anything in between. It is basically a large cast iron pot with a tight fitting lid. Some models have legs for use over a fire. The lid will usually have a small lip on it that allows you to place charcoal on top for even heat distribution. The idea is to make it cook similar to a slow cooker.

In addition to the outdoor cooking equipment mentioned above, there are various other portable grills and griddles available to meet all of your cooking needs. Whether you're at the campsite or in your own backyard, these items can add variety and a lot of fun to your outdoor cooking experiences.

Choosing a wedding dress is no easy matter and a lot of time must be spent doing so. If you are having your dress designed by a designer, make sure you both understand each other and the design. Set aside a lot of time in choosing or designing a dress for your wedding.
 

Play It Safe

You should be aware of the health risks associated with cooking meals for a crowd. Hot food not only has to be cooked to a certain temperature, it has to remain at that temperature until it is served. Similarly, cold food has to be kept cold until you serve it. When food is improperly cooked or cooled, bacteria can grow and reproduce, sickening everyone who ate the tainted food.

What’s a cook to do? When you’re cooking for a crowd, use instant-read thermometers to monitor the temperatures of your large-scale dishes to make sure no one gets sick. If you’re cooking ahead for a crowd, and you need to cool, say, a large pot of soup or broth, ladle the hot liquid into several small containers so each container can cool more quickly, inhibiting bacteria from forming.

Quantities – Rule Of Ten

At large dinners and potlucks, it seems like there’s way too much food, or not enough food. Try to have just enough food by planning quantities carefully.

When you’re cooking for a crowd and you need to figure out whether to double, triple, or quadruple you recipe, follow the catering Rule of Ten. When cooking for a crowd of ten adults, serve:

Four pounds of meat
Three pounds of potatoes (to make potato salad)
One pound of dry pasta (to make pasta salad)
Two to three pounds of pre-cooked, peeled shrimp
Two pounds of clams or mussels
One-half gallon of soup or stew, if served as an appetizer
One gallon of soup or stew if served as a main dish
Two pounds green salad, or three large heads of lettuce
Three cups of salad dressing for all that salad.
Twenty cocktails per hour
One gallon of punch

If you are cooking for a crowd of ten that loves cocktails, remember to have on hand ten pounds of ice and a variety of soft drinks. A standard cocktail uses 1.5 ounces of liquor, so plan on getting 16 cocktails from each 750 ml bottle.

Cooking Supplies

Finding pans, bowls, and dishes when you’re cooking for a crowd can be a challenge. You can buy large, disposable foil baking pans, but they can be flimsy when loaded with hot, heavy food. Your best bet is to rent professional catering equipment, including large coolers, so you have all the supplies you need and you can concentrate on the food.

Stay Organized

Things can get pretty crazy when you’re cooking for a crowd, so make a list of every dish you’re serving and check the list frequently. You don’t want to have the party end and the guests go home only to find that you have six gallons of uneaten potato salad in the cooler because you forgot to serve it.

Being prepared and organized takes the guesswork out of cooking for a crowd. When the party’s over, kick off your shoes, put your feet up and congratulate yourself on a job well done.

The Different Types

There are a number of different types of homemade wine one can make and they include the traditional grape wine, or vegetable wine or even the very popular dandelion wine that was common in Italian households in generations past. Of course, there are also other types of wine that one can make and the type of wine that one opts to make is only limited by personal taste and preferences. So, the sky is really the limit when it comes to the different flavors and brands of wine you can make.

Purchasing the Tools

If you think that making homemade wine is as simple as tossing grapes in a bucket and stepping on them then you are clearly mistaken. You will need solid tools that can create homemade wine. The process for making homemade wine may take a few weeks. Please note that this does not necessarily mean that the process is overly complicated. It isn't; however, it does require the right tools and they can be purchased from any number of reliable internet sources. Also, they can be purchased quite cost effectively as well.

Not As Hard As Some May Think

The process for making the homemade wine is not as complicated as some may believe. Of course, it is not entirely easy either. It does require skill and patience as this is a hobby that is not one that can be performed haphazardly. (Well, you could perform it haphazardly but the taste of the wine will probably be awful!) But, if you dedicate the proper amount of time and effort to making the wine then you will end up with not only some great tasting wine but also having enjoyed quite a bit of fun doing it as well.

The Different Types Of Cooking Oil

There are so many different types of cooking oil that can be used in cooking. Olive oil is one of the most popular ones. It is rich in monosaturated fat, but it also contains phytochemicals that can fight cancer. Olive oil has a lot of flavor, meaning that a small amount can be used to accomplish a lot of flavor.

Canola oil is another essential type of cooking oil. It contains omega-3 fatty acids, which are a crucial part of your daily diet. Like olive oil, canola oil should be a standard oil that you use in your cooking. Other oils that can be useful in cooking include: macadamia nut oil, sesame oil, walnut oil, soybean oil, and olive oil cooking spray.

The Great Health Debate

Many people think that cooking oils, like olive oil, are good for them. This is not necessarily true. Sure, oils contain unsaturated fat that we need in our diets. However, regardless of the kind of fat, it is still fat—and olive oil has a lot of it. Additionally, oils like olive oil are full of calories. One tablespoon can contain 120 calories or more. Consequentially, it is important to consume cooking oils in limited amounts.

Luckily for those who love to cook with oils, a healthy alternative has been created. Olive oil cooking spay provides the same taste, with only a fraction of the calories! One spray of olive oil cooking spray contains 1/8 of a gram of fat, which is equivalent to 1/36 of a teaspoon. Olive oil cooking spray is an ideal substitution, and it is especially popular among dieters.

A Convenient Tip

Though you can purchase olive oil cooking spray at your local super market, you can also make your own olive oil cooking spray. All you have to do to make your own olive oil cooking spray is simply take olive oil and pour it in a spray bottle. Then you will have an option that is both healthy and flavorful.

Making The Meal

Because olive oil is such a crucial ingredient to many meals, it is great to have a healthy alternative to use in cooking. Whether you purchase olive oil cooking spray from the store, or you make your own, it is a great thing to have on hand.