Posted by Editor | Comments Off on The Importance of Salt in the Kitchen
The Importance of Salt in the Kitchen
Salt is a great spice for you to be able to add such a wonderful taste to whatever you are cooking. Not only is salt cheap but it is also very useful. The good thing about salt is that you can find it just about anywhere. From your local grocery stores to your actual supermarket. Now why is salt so necessary? Why is salt one of the most used ingredient in almost every dish? What does salt do to make our food taste better?
Let’s talk about the answers one at a time. Most of the food we eat and the ingredients we use can be very acidic. For example, lemon or vinegar usually adds a great deal of acid towards your dish. What happens when our dish is very acidic? Well, since our taste buds and pallets can only take such an amount of acid, our food would start to taste horrible. Now, what does an acidic dish taste like? Well, it could taste really sour or basically very different from your regular dish.
Now, what is the use of salt? Well, salt balances out the acid. Salt evens out the taste by countering the acidic taste. Salt is also a great flavoring. Using salt to season you meat can really bring out an amazing taste to your basic meat. Salt is usually met up with pepper and it blends just perfectly.
There are so many ways for you to put salt into good use, you can even use it to prolong the shelf life of your meat. Back in the day when they didn’t have much preservatives around, they would usually put salt around the piece of meat for it to preserve either for transportation or for use later on. When you are putting salt into good use, do not overdo it. Salt may help improve the taste of your food, but it can also ruin it if you use too much.
There are many different kinds of salt and many different size of granules and each of them have a different taste and effect on your food. Having bigger granules of salt usually focuses the taste on a certain part rather than being evenly spread out but the more skilled you become in cooking, the easier it is for you to play around with the different types of salt.
Salt is a must have in the kitchen and is something you should definitely buy in a bundle. Salt has a really long shelf life so you wouldn’t even have to worry of spoiling since salt also helps preserve meat in itself. Make sure you do not contaminate your salt for it to stay clean and tasty.
Read MorePosted by Editor | Comments Off on The Best Fantasy Movies for Everyone
The Best Fantasy Movies for Everyone
Treat your family and friends to a weekend of the best sword, sorcery and adventure movies.
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)
Based on the book series by C.S. Lewis, the first installment of the movie franchise introduces the Pevensie children who discover a wardrobe that leads to the world of Narnia. They learned that Narnia has been cursed by the White Witch for a hundred years.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001)
Inspired by the series penned by J.K. Rowling, this iconic adaptation introduces Harry Potter, an orphan who learns that his parents used magic and were murdered by an evil wizard.
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954)
Taken from Jules Verne’s novel of the same title, it tells the story of an expedition to the Pacific Ocean led by Prof. Pierre M. Aronnax and Conseil to prove that a sea monster does not exist.
The Dark Crystal (1982)
This animated film features the Gelfling Jen on a mission to restore a shard of a broken magical crystal in order to save the planet Thra. He has to restore the shard before the three suns align to prevent the Skeksis from ruling over the plant.
Star Wars (1977)
The first installment of the famous series was later renamed Star Wars: Episode IV-A New Hope and highlights the attempts of Princess Leia and the Rebel Alliance to destroy the Death Star.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
Based on the book by J.R.R. Tolkien that popularized the fantasy genre, The Lord of the Rings opens the adventures of Frodo, Merry, Sam and Pippin who are on a mission to destroy the One Ring created by Sauron.
Krull (1983)
The movie begins with a prophecy that a queen and a king shall arise and rule the galaxy. This prophecy might be fulfilled by Princess Lyssa and Prince Colwyn who are forming an alliance to stop the Beast from destroying the planet Krull.
Clash of the Titans (1981)
This faithful retelling of the story of the Greek hero Perseus was a wonder at the time it was created because of its use of stop motion animation. Perseus was the son of Danae and Zeus who was banished by his grandfather when he learned that Danae was pregnant.
Avatar (2009)
Set in the future when humanity is colonizing other planets in the universe, the humans threaten the locals on the moon Pandora when they tried to mine unobtanium.
Ugetsu (1953)
Inspired by various tales written by Ueda Akinari, it tells the story of a poor farmer, Genjurou, who left his family during the civil war in the Azuchi-Momoyama period in Japan. The man was later seduced by a spirit, while his friend Toubei became a samurai at the expense of the wife.
The Wizard of Oz (1939)
Adapted from the novel by L. Frank Baum, this classic which was among the first few movies to use Technicolor, introduces Dorothy Gale and her dog who were taken by a tornado to the Land of Oz.
Posted by Editor | Comments Off on The Best 3D Platformers You Should Try
The Best 3D Platformers You Should Try
Unlike sidescrolling platformers, 3D platformers can be viewed from different sides allowing for more movement and exploration. If you need variety in your video games, try the best titles from this genre.
Jet Set Radio
Alternatively known as Jet Grind Radio, the player has to guide the character, Beat, who patrols Tokyo-to while spraying graffiti on walls, rollerblading, and evading the cops within a time limit.
Jak 3
The third installment of the Jak series, the game allows the player to control Jak and Daxter in their exploration of the Wasteland, particularly Spargus City.
Mirror’s Edge
Set in a dystopian society, the player meets Faith, a runner who acts as a messenger while evading the eyes of the government. Faith is required to overcome obstacles in the environment using her parkour skills.
Rayman Legends
The fifth installment of the Rayman series, this title details the events a hundred years after Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc. The Bubble Dreamer’s nightmares and the Magician have gained power, so Rayman and his companions have to be awakened to save the 10 kidnapped princesses.
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
Prince of Persia has been successful as a sidescrolling platformer, but this version of the game made the franchise a classic in video games. The unnamed Prince receivds the task of saving his father’s kingdom from the tricks of the Vizier after he was lured into releasing the Sands of Time.
Ratchet & Clank
The Lombax Ratchet wants to become a Galactic Ranger, but he was rejected because of his criminal records. One day he met Victor, whom he named Clank, after they learned of the plans of Chairman Alonzo Drek.
Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus
Also named Sly Raccoon, the game requires the use of stealth to help the thieves Sly Cooper, Murray the Hippo and Bentley the Turtle steal the book Thievius Raccoonus. The book was previously stolen by the Fiendish Five who also killed Sly’s father.
Crash Bandicoot: Warped
Alternatively called Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped, this game is the third installment of the series following the events of the second game. Crash and his friend Coco Bandicoot must travel through time to prevent Doctor Nefarious Tropy, Cortex and Uka Uka from collecting the Crystals.
Conker’s Bad Fur Day
The squirrel Conker is planning to return to his girlfriend Berri, but the Panther King is looking for a red squirrel to replace a leg of his table. Conker has to overcome the obstacles and problems along the way.
Psychonauts
The game introduces the gifted Raz who ran away from the circus where he used to work so that he can become a psychic spy. He attends a summer camp which was the site of a meteor crash years ago.
Portal 2
The game is part of the Half-Life series and features Chell who must escape the test chambers in a laboratory with the help of GLaDOS.
Posted by Editor | Comments Off on How Drinking Tea Improves Your Health—and Your Looks
How Drinking Tea Improves Your Health—and Your Looks
With so many health benefits attached to drinking tea, one can consider it as a “miracle” drink. It effectively lowers cholesterol count, prevents the risk of blindness and dementia, and protects you from potential allergies.
Regardless, did you know that a generous amount of tea on the daily is powerful enough to make you feel good and look good at the same time? That’s right, tea is truly a “miracle” drink since it can also improve your physical appearance and help you look good in general.
Protects your smile
While there is a negative connotation on how drinking tea affects your teeth’s appearance (making it terrible), you might actually want to think otherwise. The belief is said to be a general stereotype. In fact, tea has tannins and fluoride which helps decrease the buildup of plaque and prevents tooth decay. If you combine it with a healthy dental hygiene regimen, you may effectively keep your teeth healthier!
Zero calories
You don’t have to go for diet cola or a zero calorie soda if you want a calorie-free drink. Tea is a healthier option. In its bare form, tea has zero calories. Should you choose to add milk or sweeteners, it is still considerably low in calories compared to other drinks sold in the market. That makes it a satisfying, guilt-free drink which helps you prepare for the day ahead.
Prevents acne breakouts
Tea is notably good for the skin. It has been a common ingredient among skincare products such as facial masks and cleansers, but drinking tea is notably much more effective when it comes to preventing acne breakouts. This is because tea contains rich levels of antioxidants, which has an effect on acne. If you want a youthful and radiant-looking skin, drinking tea will increase your chances of achieving one.
Increases metabolism
If you want to shed a few pounds or get your summer body ready, drink tea more often. Studies suggest that green tea boosts one’s metabolic rate, enabling you to burn additional calories per day than the usual. Tea is also popular among weight-loss programs and is encouraged by fitness trainers to be drank regularly. Over time, you will undoubtedly notice the effect of drinking tea on your weight and body.
Helps bad breath
Tea contains natural compounds such as polyphenols, which notably helps in preventing the occurrence of bad breath. While mints and breath-freshening sprays help in getting rid of your stinky breath, tea on the other hand allows you to eliminate bad breath for good. Over time, the stinky breath will soon disappear and will continue to be gone as you pick up a regular tea habit.
Posted by Editor | Comments Off on What are Some Healthy Alternatives To Coffee?
What are Some Healthy Alternatives To Coffee?
Coffee is known to have benefits on the body. Healthy amount of coffee yields to better concentration and state of mind, thus allowing a worker to achieve maximum work productivity. While it is effective in that manner, the drink can also turn to be a hazard if consumed in unhealthy amounts.
Cutting back on your coffee intake means you’re training yourself not to be solely dependent on the drink; so here are some alternatives to give you that caffeine boost you need!
Yerba mate
Yerba Mate is renowned to have the same strength of coffee, euphoria of eating chocolate, and the many health benefits of tea. It is a celebrated drink made from the leaves of the South American holly tree. For those who are unable to start the day without having a cup of coffee, yerba mate is a great alternative. It gives the same kick of energy coffee has, with all the essential nutrients on that. It can be consumed in different ways: cold, hot, with honey, or in a tea infuser.
Kombucha tea
A type of yeast, Kombucha is popularly served as tea in many countries after fermenting it together with sugar, tea, and other necessary flavors. This drink can be a great substitute for coffee. There are lots of health benefits attributed to kombucha. Some of them include regulating the body’s bowel movement, preventing cancer and other diseases, reducing high blood pressure, and more.
Tea
Both rich in caffeine, tea is encouraged more than coffee thanks to the many benefits it brings to the body. Teas range in myriad of blends and kinds, and they can either be drunk hot or cold depending on your preference. You can select from the many specialty teas sold in the market; such as black, herbal, or green tea. They are easily accessible in almost all grocery stores. Some are also sweet enough that you don’t necessarily have to throw in some sugar!
Coconut water
Coconut water recently became popular thanks to its growing consumer number. It is one healthy drink which is still increasingly getting famous by the day; a clear, milky liquid which is made out of fresh young coconuts. This coconut drink is naturally sweet, saving you from artificial sweeteners. It is also rich in rehydrating electrolytes and bioactive enzymes, making it a good replacement for even sports drinks.
Sparkling water
Although deemed as a boring beverage by many, sparkling water is one refreshing alternative to satisfy your coffee cravings while hydrating you in the process. You’ll be surprised to realize how sparkling water is actually delicious and hydrating especially when the drink is flavored with all-natural, sugar-free fruit extracts. There is a number of sparkling waters sold in the market you can choose from!