Tag Archives: sales-happen

Five Reasons Why Vacuum Sealers are Better than Zip Lock Bags

Posted on by

Zip lock bags are an indispensable item on my grocery list. While, on the other hand, my husband always only seems to have razor blades on his mind whenever we pick up some groceries. It only shows that in my house the kitchen really is my turf, but also the place where I get most of my stress. Managing the home, especially the kitchen, is a tough job for most who have to deal with the big six-letter conundrum:  budget.

So How can you make food in the fridge last at least until the next paycheck arrives?  While I stretched my family’s budget like a rubber band, I found that zip lock bags are very useful.  However, since my husband brought home a vacuum sealer, I have had a change of heart, and here are my five reasons why

1. Extend freezer life.  Foods wrapped in plastic and vacuum-sealed, last longer in the freezer than those simply stored inside zip lock bags.  Unlike zip lock bags that can still hold air that carries food contaminants, vacuum sealers suck out air to ensure that food stays fresh longer.

2. Flexible Uses.  Not just for food, you may also use your vacuum sealer for other items you want to wrap in plastic, such as clothing and first aid kits which are better protected from moisture, insects, and corrosion when they are vacuum-sealed. When I travel light I vacuum seal my clothing, especially the bulkier items to greatly increase space in my luggage.

3. Prevents Freezer-Burn.  Get rid of those unsightly marks on meat and fish by using vacuum sealers, instead of storing them inside zip-lock bags.

“Freezer burn” happens to meat or fish that is stored in containers that retain moisture or are not sealed tight.  Meat or fish that has freezer-burns looks dry and, although not dangerous to eat, it may no longer contain as many nutrients as when it was first stored.

To avoid freezer-burns, it is advised that meat or fish be stored in moisture-free and tightly-sealed containers.  This is precisely the reason I prefer vacuum sealers over zip-lock bags.

4. More Value for Your Money.  These vacuum sealers are perfect for those who prefer to buy foods in bulk and allocate them to last for several weeks.

More Saving Tip: Save Money, Energy, And Appreciate Fresh Food- Crock pot Cooking

Buying foods in bulk is cheaper than buying in smaller quantities, however when they are not frozen well, you might end up losing more money. If you are seriously considering saving money by buying foods in bulk, you should definitely invest in a vacuum sealer.

5. Saves Time and Effort.  For Moms, like me, who personally manage their kitchens with what little time they still have left after their 9 to 5 job, buying food in bulk is a great option. With my vacuum sealer, I can save trips to the market or to the grocery store. I also enjoy cutbacks on costs, since bulk purchases are always cheaper than regular items.  I also noticed that vacuum sealing saves me time in food preparation.

Related Tip:  Food Processors: Reasons Why Every Kitchen Must Have One

I have to prepare quick meals everyday and to do this I slice tomatoes, onions, garlic and vegetables in advance and put them inside individual plastic wrappers vacuum-sealed for freshness. I also manage my budget effectively by deciding weekly menus. I then divide portions of meat or fish, according to my menu. My vacuum sealer is a handy kitchen tool that makes motherhood truly a breeze.

Marinating chicken, fish or meat has never been any easier with a vacuum sealer.  Vacuum sealing cuts back hours that I usually have to wait for meat or fish to absorb my favorite marinade.  My friend explained to me that as air is sucked out of the plastic wrapper when I vacuum seal, this causes the meat to expand and absorb the marinade better.

With a vacuum sealer, I save time away from the kitchen to focus on more heart-warming activities like playing video games with my kids after they have worked on their school projects, and more time to be with my husband, stargazing, using his newly-bought telescope.

Life is really just what you make it. I’m glad I got a little help from a simple, yet very useful gadget.

Share

Vegan Candy Corn for Halloween

Posted on by

Halloween.  A holiday clearly marked by candy, treats, and sugary sweets.  But if you are a Vegan you no doubt find that indulging in Halloween candy has its limitation as most of the “good stuff” tends to contain animal products.  Have no fear, this recipe adapted from The Urban Housewife proves that a vegan Halloween can be just as sweet with organic and 100% vegan candy corn, a favorite Halloween classic!

 

Ingredients:

2/3 cup of corn syrup

2 1/2 cups of powdered sugar

1 cup of white, refined sugar

Pinch of rock salt

5-6 tablespoons of vegan margarine

Vial of red and yellow food coloring

1/3 cup of powdered soy milk

1teaspoon of vanilla extracts

Also, prepare a saucepan or frying pan, mixing bowl and disposable plastic gloves.

Instructions:

  1. First things first, set aside all ingredients except for the corn syrup, sugar, and vegan margarine. Prepare a large frying pan or saucepan and heat for about 5 minutes over low heat. Gradually drop the corn syrup, sugar and vegan margarine into the saucepan to melt. Stir slowly with a cooking spatula and gradually add vanilla and bring to a boil.
  2. Turn the heat up a notch and continue stirring. Give it another 5 minutes under this temperature before removing.
  3. Next, set aside the following ingredients: powdered sugar, powdered soy milk and salt. Sift these three ingredients in a dry bowl. Mix the contents of the bowl before adding into the saucepan along with the ingredients melted earlier.
  4. Stir well then let it stand for about 20 minutes.
  5. Once cool, you may divide the mixture into 3 pieces, one piece for every color of the candy corn.
  6. Now here comes the fun part: adding color to the dough. Take the two bottles of food coloring, red and yellow as well as two cut pieces of the dough.
  7. First, you need to make an orange mixture out of the red and yellow food coloring. On a small container, mix a few drops of red food coloring with the yellow food coloring until you get the an orange hue.
  8. Once you have your orange food coloring mixture prepared, take one cut piece of the dough and add a few drops of orange color to it. After doing so, spend the next 15 to 20 minutes kneading the dough.
  9. Afterwards, move on to the second cut piece of the dough a little color. You may do this by adding drops of yellow food coloring into the dough and kneading it for the next 15-20 minutes.
  10. Take note that there are only three colors on classic candy corn: orange, white and yellow. Therefore, you need not add color to the third cut piece.
  11. Now, take all the pieces of the kneaded dough and roll each cut into a long rope. Make sure that all pieces are the same length and width.
  12. Now, take all three colored ropes and merge them into a rectangle. This may be done with the help of a rolling pin.
  13. 13. Once flattened, take a sharp knife and cut the long ropes into small triangles. One technique to do this faster is to cut the rope in a criss-cross manner.
  14. Place the candy corn in Halloween-themed containers or in a Halloween pumpkin container.
  15. Finally, don’t forget to share and these delicious vegan treats with trick n’ treaters!

Happy Halloween!

Share

Treats to Make this Halloween

Posted on by

Halloween is right around the corner and know what that means—CANDY and SWEETS! Loads of them.

Preparing delicious Halloween-inspired treats for this holiday has become as traditional as wearing outrageous costumes trick-or-treating. If you haven’t thought about what treats to prepare this Halloween, here’s a cupcake idea you may like to try over the weekend and a new smoothie recipe your family and visitors will surely enjoy.

Halloween Brain Cupcakes

This recipe is extremely easy to do and is really just a twist on your average cupcake. If you want to provide a fun activity for the family, ask your kids to help you design these brain cupcakes.

First, bake chocolate or vanilla cupcakes using any recipe you are familiar with.

Next mix together some yellow and pink food coloring to create a festive light-orange hue. Pour this concoction into a bowl of butter cream frosting. Keep on stirring until the light-orange hue has blended well into the butter cream frosting. Make sure you have enough icing for 12 to 20 cupcakes.

Take a pastry bag  and choose a number 10 round tip. Fill the pastry bag with the icing concoction.

This is where the fun part begins. Position the tip of the pastry bag right above the cupcake and draw line directly up the middle. Lastly, move in a zig-zag motion on each side of the center line to create some creepy, freaky, and tasty brains kids and kids at heart will love!

Halloween Pumpkin Smoothie

To complete your Halloween menu, try this delicious and classic selection, a Halloween Pumpkin Smoothie.

You will need the following:

For the smoothie:

  • 1/2 cup of pumpkin shreds or canned pumpkin cuts
  • 3/4 cup of vanilla yogurt (alternative: milk)
  • 2 teaspoons of refined brown sugar

For garnish:

  • 1/8 teaspoon of nutmeg, and
  • 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon

Yield: 4 Smoothies

Instructions

In a blender, mix all the smoothie ingredients and blend until the texture is rich and non-sticky.

Pour the finished product into a pitcher or 4 separate glasses. Before serving, make sure to garnish each glass with a dash of nutmeg and a pinch of cinnamon. Mix well and serve. You may add orange sprinkles and whipped toppings for a more dramatic twist.

Happy Halloween!

Share