Designing Your Kitchen for Your Budget

“How come it costs that much?” That must be one of the questions that I hear the most often when I submit price quotations for kitchen cabinetry to homeowners. Although it is true that cabinetry can be designed to be low-budget, middle-range, or high-end, there are so many factors involved that can easily push an intended low-budget project into a higher price range.

The place to start when designing kitchen cabinets for a specific budget is doors. There are more door options available than most people realize, and each option will affect your over-all budget. From least expensive to costliest, door styles are available as follows:

1)Melamine. These are flush doors (no panels or profile details), and are available in a wide range of colours and patterns, from solid colours to imitation wood, and countless others. The newer “thermo-fused melamine” doors have a very thin layer of melamine paper applied to a substrate panel-style door. They are inexpensive and not very durable. These should not be used near sources of water or heat, or where frequent washing will be required.

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Advantages of Water Purification for Our Health

Water Can Make Skin Glow

It would be nice to know that water can be beneficial from the inside and out. Studies reveal that drinking the right amount of water can boost the appearance of skin, making it more beautiful.

Since the skin is actually an organ, water purification can help it perform better – just like the kidneys and muscles. The skin’s complexion, as well as its elasticity, can benefit from water purification.

Helps in Losing Weight

Water is the easiest, healthiest way to shed off pounds and not those Diet fads and CrossFit exercises. To avoid eating a lot, it is best to drink water about 30 minutes before a meal. It could just be one glass of H2O to avoid craving more food or eating a lot.

This is also true when it comes to choosing snacks. It is better to go for a healthy and hydrating snack instead of food with empty calories to provide the body with more nutrients.

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Top Denver Restaurants

Biker Jim’s Gourmet Dogs
A gourmet hot dog restaurant probably isn’t what most people would expect at the top of a restaurant list, especially in a foodie city like Denver, but that just shows you haven’t been to Biker Jim’s Gourmet Dogs. Yelp.com rated this Five Points food stand as the top restaurant in Denver. They serve of 20 different dogs, all crafted with gourmet sausage. In addition to the hot dogs, Biker Jim’s has two burgers on the menu. The causal restaurant keeps true to its roots. Biker Jim’s started when Jim Pittenger started selling dogs from a cart on a busy street corner. But these weren’t normal hot dogs; instead they were often prepared with reindeer, wild boar, elk, antelope, pheasant or buffalo. As its popularity grew, a permanent home was needed. Enter the casual eatery on Larimer Street that still holds true to its street foodie vibe. Top off your dog with the coke soaked grilled onions and cream cheese, and you have had the complete Biker Jim’s experience.

Pho 95
Coming in as the second top restaurant in Denver on Yelp.com, Pho 95 on Asian Restaurant Row is always packed. Booths at this South Federal Boulevard eatery overflow with pho fanatics slurping up bowl after steaming bowl of various pho combinations. The menu features everything from tripe to meatballs and filet mignon and each pho order is served with a massive pile of accoutrements that are all fresh. The broth behind this noodle dish is homemade, fresh and featuring bold, big flavors like cardamom, star anise and clove, all helping to make Pho 95 worth every slurping bite. The steak that comes out of the kitchen always seems to be the front-runner, with customers raving about the spring rolls with grilled beef and the pho served with raw steak. Continue reading “Top Denver Restaurants”

A Delectable Dish: Wine and Snivel

Wine, the fermented juice of grapes, is classified by its region of origin or by the variety of grape from which it was juiced. It may appear in variations of red, white, or blush (pale pink). Those who want wine may choose it by its appearance or even by reading a description crafted by a wine expert, such as a sommelier (means wine expert). But, the true test of a good wine is its price. No, wait, that is the true test of a wine that I cannot afford to buy. The true test of the wine itself is its imparting of sweetness on the tip of your tongue.

But, there are rules about selecting wine, some of which are: Select a red wine to pair with a red meat dish, a white wine to pair with a fish or chicken dish, and a blush wine to pair with snacks by the pool. Which wine should one pair with snivel? That depends. If the snivel is feeble or fretful, I would go with the blush, which would be the wine best served to uncertainty. If the snivel is insincere, then white, which lacks commitment. A bold snivel requires a bold wine: Red. Definitely red. Continue reading “A Delectable Dish: Wine and Snivel”

Health Benefits of Turmeric or Curcumin Supplement

Did you know that the humble turmeric powder in your kitchen has miraculous medicinal properties? Unknowingly, we use the power of turmeric when we consume it as part of our diet. In Asian countries, turmeric is an important ingredient of almost all vegetables and curries. However, most of those who use it, hardly realize the importance or health benefits or turmeric or the compound, curcumin, which is actually the main compound in turmeric that works wonders for many ailments. We’ll also talk about curcumin supplements that are often recommended for various health conditions and overall well-being.

Is raw turmeric or ground turmeric good for you?

If you think that it is just for adding colour to curries and other food items, then think again or read on. Though it is true that it adds colour to food, there are many other advantages and health benefits of turmeric.

Well, turmeric or Curcuma longa is a rhizhomatous flowering plant, which basically means a creeping rootstalk. You can read more about it on Wikipedia. Here we’ll focus on how to use it and its health benefits. Continue reading “Health Benefits of Turmeric or Curcumin Supplement”

The Benefits of Plastic Cutting Boards

Food preparation in the kitchen requires specific tools to make things easier, which accounts for the popularity of plastic cutting boards. Whether you are preparing hard to cut through meat or just simply chopping down green vegetables and the like, it would do you good to use kitchen utensil to help you with your task.

While most people have been used to seeing wooden boards on their kitchens, it is basically their plastic counterparts that provide an alternative to using these kitchen tools. As a relatively modest invention, these boards made of plastic will make slicing and cutting tasks in the kitchen easy with their beneficial features.

Because they are made of plastic, these cutting boards are considered to be very affordable. Being reasonably priced, one can just go ahead and buy two or three of these for specific food preparation functions. One should take note however, that plastic does not hold well when combined with sharp objects, so you should be prepared to risk them getting sliced and scarred. Continue reading “The Benefits of Plastic Cutting Boards”

My Headaches Have Gone With a Salt-Free Diet

The two deadliest things we can put into our bodies are salt and sugar. It took me years to learn of their toxic nature. The hours of suffering endured because of severe headaches over many years were avoidable if only these facts were known. One of the symptoms of high blood pressure from salt toxicity is increased headaches, but that’s not all. To understand what else occurs when too much sodium is consumed took more research.

Causes of High Blood Pressure:

A larger than normal intake of salt which makes the body hold more water. With that retention of water, the blood pressure is elevated and the liver is affected. Over time heart, brain, and kidney problems may also develop.

The average daily intake of salt should be between 1500 mg and 2300 mg. Unfortunately, one serving of bread can be as high as 450 mg and that allows two sandwiches, using four slices of bread, can equal the daily dose. No matter what filling is in the sandwich, however, many will still give a shake or two of salt, and sandwich bars always do. Continue reading “My Headaches Have Gone With a Salt-Free Diet”

3 Kitchen Blender Problems You Can Fix Yourself

Over time, even the best kitchen blenders will start to show damage. This is especially true if you use your blender every day to make thick smoothies. Today, in our throw-away society we’re quick to just trash a product at the first sign of a malfunction. Small appliances like blenders are usually not worth taking to a repair shop to have them fixed. But before you resign your blender to the landfill and buy a new one, there are several quick and easy repairs you can do yourself. Taking the time to do these checks to see if you can get your blender working again is certainly worth it.

Leaks
One of the most common problems you’ll find with your kitchen blender is leaking. Even top rated blenders from blender reviews will start to have this problem eventually. The cause lies in the o-ring or gasket located in the bottom of the blender jar where the blade assembly and housing reside. Over time the rubber gasket starts to wear down. If your blender leaking comes from the glass jar and not the bottom, then there is likely a crack in the jar and you’ll have to replace it. Bottom leaking though is likely the gasket. To inspect it, you’ll need to unscrew the blade housing from the blender jar and pull out the rubber o-ring. Then you can just look for leaks and tears in the rubber of this ring. This part is easily replaceable and only costs a few dollars. You can find it online or at most home discount or appliance stores. Continue reading “3 Kitchen Blender Problems You Can Fix Yourself”

Forged Kitchen Knives Vs Stamped Kitchen Knives

This article will aid you with the pivotal decision of whether you want forged blades or stamped blades for your kitchen knives. There is a lot of misinformation going around when you’re shopping for a new set of knives and it can be really confusing when all you want to do is slice or dice in style while preparing your food.

The myth all starts with the idea that forged blades are inherently better than stamped blades. The idea behind this is that forged blades steel molecules are aligned better and therefore give them much better cutting properties. The fact is this used to be true, but no longer is due to updated manufacturing processes. In the old days the only way to make steel was to forge it, now days knife manufacturers just go down and buy the steel pre-made.

This is where the pivotal differences between kitchen knives start to form. The forged blades are heated up again pounded into the shape of a knife, and then ground and sharpened. The stamped or machined blades are cut or ground into the shape of a knife, and then heat treated twice to align the steel structure. The first heat treatment starts at 1400-1900 degrees Fahrenheit, leaving the steel brittle but very hard. The second heat treatment hits the blades at 400-700 degrees reducing both the brittleness and the hardness, but in turn making more durable blades. Continue reading “Forged Kitchen Knives Vs Stamped Kitchen Knives”

The Evolution of Kitchen Home Appliances in an Age-Free Environment

The “new” retirement would wisely be referred to as “unretirement,” a decades-long, active, involved extension of life. Home will be headquarters during this exciting stage of life, and the kitchen will be command central. From untraditional housing styles to universal design, the kitchen will be the first true age-free space.

Kitchen-Centric Housing

Retirement age is dropping steadily and even people in their twenties and thirties eagerly contemplate their move into the phase of life that used to mean the end of all that mattered. Not so in the 21st century; unretirement can bring new freedoms, lucrative ventures, broader horizons, personal fulfillment and global connections – and all this as you sit at the kitchen table enjoying a morning coffee. Kitchens will continue to come in all shapes, sizes and price ranges. They will always be loved as much for their flaws as their charm and convenience. Housing styles and development patterns that isolate residents and create urban sprawl will be replaced by designs and plans that are both environmentally sound and people friendly. One trend will shift couples and single homeowners towards compact, green new homes and away from energy- hungry monster houses. These scaled-down residences will not just be smaller, they’ll be smarter. For instance, some homeowners may concentrate food production in the kitchen through hydroponic or soilless gardening in glassed-in extensions that double as dining rooms. Kitchen-centric, multi-unit housing will become more common with home-like variations that include: Continue reading “The Evolution of Kitchen Home Appliances in an Age-Free Environment”