Green Asparagus With Bacon

Posted on May 18, 2012 by Martin Adler

Green Asparagus With Bacon

This is a very popular appetizer that is really easy to make. It works great for a dinner party or just as a snack. You can even grill these which I like to do for the kids. I put them on the grill before the other stuff and then the kids have something to eat while the other stuff is grilled.

Ingredients
30 green asparagus
Sliced bacon slices 10

Preparation Method
Take three asparagus and place them close together into a bundle. Wrap a slice of bacon around and place it with the session down on a baking sheet with baking parchment

Bake in oven at 210 degrees Celsius until the bacon is crisp.

Or you can put them on the grill then it is a good idea to stick a toothpick through each to keep the bacon in place.

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Asparagus soup with crispy croutons

Posted on May 18, 2012 by Martin Adler

Asparagus Soup With Crispy Croutons

A soup with crispy croutons on top might be a different way to use asparagus. But it is still very tasty and healthy. If you like asparagus you should try this soup because it is really good.

Ingredients
1 kg green asparagus
4 slices of sourdough bread
salt
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 small bunch chervil
2 onions, finely chopped
2 baking potatoes
20 g butter
1.2 liters chicken stock
Juice of 1/2 lemon
Creme fraiche

Preparation Method

Cut the tops off the asparagus and cut the bread slices into cubes. Fry the bread cubes in the olive oil on a pan. When the bread is almost done put the asparagus tops on the pan and fry everything for the last 2 min. Remove the pan from the heat and sprinkle with salt. And lastly add the chopped chervil.

Slice the asparagus stalks thinly. Peel the potatoes and cut them into tiny cubes. Melt the butter in a saucepan and fry the asparagus, potatoes and onions soft and tender it. Add the boiling chicken broth and let the soup boil for 15 minutes.

Blend the soup and season with lemon juice, salt and pepper.

Serve the soup with the fried bread cubes, chervil and asparagus tops and a spoon full of creme fraiche on top.

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Breville JE98XL Juice Fountain Plus Review

Posted on May 17, 2012 by Martin Adler

Breville JE98XL Juice Fountain Plus Review

Hi friend and welcome,

In this review I’ll talk about the Breville JE98XL juicer, both its pros and cons. You might have heard some great things about this juicer and most of them are true. Of course every product has a few drawbacks and so does this but even if they are not major ones you should still be aware of them.

So if you are going to buy a Breville JE98XL Juice Fountain, you should read this review first to get a clear picture of what it can and can’t do. When you have read through this review you will have a good understanding of this juicer and know if it suits your needs… So read on…

=> Click Here To Get The Best Price At Amazon <=

Here Is What This Review Will Cover

  • What can you expect from the Breville JE98XL?
  • What is included?
  • The pros and cons
  • What are other consumers saying?
  • Where to get the best price?

What Can You Expect From The Breville JE98XL Juicer?

The Breville JE98XL is one of Breville’s mid-range juicers and is considered to be one of top juicer on the market right now, this is probably why it’s been on Amazon’s bestseller list for ages and why it’s got so many positive reviews.

It has got a powerful 850-watt motor that can juice both vegetables and fruits. It has got two speed settings, the slower setting has a speed of 6,500 RPM which is great for juicing softer vegetables and fruits, such as berries, tomatoes and watermelon.

The other speed setting runs at 12,000 RPM and is used for harder fruits and veggies. The two speeds make it simple to use because you don’t need to know what each speed is used for like on other juicers. Basically slow is for soft fruits and veggies and fast for hard, why complicate things with five different speed settings?

One thing to note is this is not a wheatgrass juicer and it is not suitable for juicing leafy greens. If you are looking for a juicer for this purpose then you need to get a masticating juicer which will cost you a great deal more but also gives a much better result. Click here for our guide to masticating juicers!

One feature I really like about the Breville JE98XL juicer is the feeding chute, it is 3-inches wide which allows you to put veggies and fruit in whole, without chopping them up first. This makes juicing much faster and simpler, just clean the fruits and vegetables and then juice. Never get a juicer that hasn’t got a feeding chute that is less than 3 inches!

As safety measures it has got a locking arm that prevents the juicer from being operated unless it is in place. This is great if you have small children so no accidents can happen. It has also got an overload protection LED so you don’t accidently burnout the motor by putting too much stress on it.

Cleaning it is very easy because all parts are dishwasher safe so you don’t have to spend time cleaning up after juicing. One thing to remember is don’t let the parts lay around with pulp on them. The pulp will dry which makes it almost impossible to clean of.

The design is compact and professional making it easy to use and move around. Unlike bigger juicers that are a pain to get in and out of the cupboards this one is small and light. It is not made with stainless steel like the pictures might suggest but from high quality plastic coated with satin giving it that stainless steel look.

What Is Included?

  • Breville JE98X juice extractor
  • A stainless-steel quality micro mesh filter basket
  • A special cleaning brush designed for the filter basket
  • 1-liter juice jug that features a froth separator
  • A 1-year warranty

=> Click Here To Get The Best Deal At Amazon <=

Pros And Cons

Cons

  • It doesn’t juice wheatgrass and leafy greens well but for that you need a more expensive juicer…
  • It has only got a 1-year warranty…
  • It produces foam on the juice. This is because of the high speed and all centrifugal juicers do this. When you buy the Breville JE98XL juicer you also get a foam separator just for this job.

Pros

  • Easy to clean and use…
  • Compact design that looks great and not too heavy…
  • LED overload protection that prevents you from burning out the motor…

What Are Other Consumers Saying?

It has got a lot of great reviews by people who have bought it. You can read more real reviews at Amazon.com

Where To Get The Best Price?

I recommend you buy from Amazon and there are several reasons why:

  1. They have the best price online…
  2. It is a big company that you can trust  so you don’t have to fear for your credit card number being stolen and misused…
  3. You know that it is the real product you get and not some cheap fake juicer…
  4. Their customer service is topnotch and they are always willing to help you out if there are any problems…

So head over to Amazon and check it out…

=> Click Here To Get The Best Price At Amazon <=

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What Is A Masticating Juicer – Find Out Why They Are Great!

Posted on May 17, 2012 by Martin Adler

What Is A Masticating Juicer

wheatgrass juiceTo understand what a masticating juicer is, you must first know what masticating means.  To masticate is the same as to chew so this is a juicer that chews or grind vegetables and fruits and then gives you juice.

It has got a large screw, or auger that turns inside a mesh screen, or sieve. As the auger slowly grinds, it pushes the crushed fruits and veggies against the tiny holes in the screen, giving you freshly squeezed juice.

It is this slow grinding and crushing action that sets the masticating juicers apart from the more common centrifugal juicers.  A centrifugal juicer uses tiny blades that spin at high speeds to shred the ingredients, like a cheese grater would do with cheese.

You might think that faster is better, but in this case it is not so. Because the blades move so fast a lot of tiny air bubbles get caught in the juice forming a layer of foam on the juice, and causing it to get bad within hours.

Another problem with the centrifugal machines is the heat, because the blades spin so fast they become hot, which in turn makes the juice hot causing oxidation of vitamins and the breakdown of enzymes.  The last problem is that the yield from centrifugal juicers is much lower than that from masticating juicers forcing you to use more fruits and vegetables to make the same amount of juice.

Another benefit of masticating juicers is their versatility – they can juice tougher and stringy ingredients like herbs, leafy veggies and wheatgrass which are high in nutrients and healthy. Many of them can also be used to make nut butter, baby food and cold press linseed and flax seed oils.

One downside is the price, these juicers more expensive than the centrifugal machines but you also get more juice with more nutrients. They are also a little slower but this is hardly noticeable if you don’t make several liters a day.

Pros And Cons

Cons

  • They are a little expensive but if you use them often you will save a lot of money on vegetables and fruits because you have to buy less than with a centrifugal machine…
  • They are slow but the quality of the juice is higher…
  • They are often big so make sure you have room…

Pros

  • The juice is higher in nutrients, enzymes, and vitamins…
  • You get more juice from your veggies and fruits…
  • You can juice wheatgrass, herbs and leafy vegetables…
  • It can be used to make other things than just juice…

Masticating Juicer Vs Centrifugal Juicer – What Should You Get?

I recommend you look at your needs. Are you only going to make juice ones a week and mainly doing it for the fun of it, then get a centrifugal machine. If you are doing this for the health benefits and are serious about making healthy foods and drinks then you should get a masticating juicer.

What Is The Best Masticating Juicer

Not all masticating machines are made the same below is a list of top masticating juicers:

Super Angel 5500 JuicerThe Super Angel Juicer 5500

This juicer is expensive costing more than $1000 but it is the best of the best. It has no plastic parts and comes with a 10-years warranty. It can be used to juice any kind of fruit and vegetables including wheatgrass, more than that it can be used to make many other things like soy milk, baby food, nut butter and Pâté.

For more info go to Amazon.com

Green Star Elite GSE-5000 juicerGreen Star Elite GSE-5000 juicer

This one is half the price of the Angel juicer and still quite good it does have one big problem and that is assembling. It has a lot of parts and it takes some time to get use to putting it back together. It makes great juice and can be used to make many other things as well.

For more reviews visit Amazon.com

Omega VRT 350 HD JuicerOmega VRT 350 HD Juicer

This one is great it has a self-cleaning feature that prevents clogging of the filter and it is the cheapest of the three. The downside is that you can only use this one for juicing and not for anything else.

For more reviews go to Amazon.com

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How To Cook Asparagus

Posted on May 16, 2012 by Martin Adler

How To Cook Asparagus

Here is a guide to cooking asparagus, it covers everything from buying to boiling and how to store your asparagus. Take your time and read through it and you will get a perfect result.

Buying Asparagus

Before you can start cooking it is important that you select some fresh asparagus because the sugar in the plant begins to convert into starch right after harvesting. This causes the asparagus to develop a woody texture and gives a loss of flavour. This is why you should always buy bundles that have been refrigerated or kept on ice. And don’t keep them laying around for more than two to three days.

When selecting asparagus look for stalks with tightly-closed tips that are rich green, smooth and firm.  A dull green color and ridges in the stems are a clear indication of old age. When you look at the cut make sure that the stalks are neither limp nor dry. For more control during cooking select stalks of uniform thickness

How To Prepare Asparagus

Preparing asparagus is quite easy, wash them by softly sloshing them about in a bowl of cold water. Use you fingers to gently remove any dirt or sand form the stalks. Cut of any tough ends and then quickly start cooking them or eat them raw with a dash of olive oil.

There are many ways to cook asparagus below are summaries of the different cooking methods. Click the links to go to more in-depth cooking guide.

Stir Frying – Cut the spears into pieces, add a teaspoon of olive to a pan or wok and stir fry for about 3 minutes depending on the size of the pieces.

Boiling – To boil the asparagus simply boil them for five minutes or until tender in three inches of water. The boiling time may vary depending on the thickness of the stalks

Blanch – Get a big pot, fill about half of it with water and add two teaspoons of salt. Bring the water to a boil when the water is boiling put in the asparagus. Partially cover the pot and wait until the water starts to boil quickly again, uncover the pot and let it cook for 5-8 minutes. When finished move the asparagus to some cold water to stop the cooking process. This insures that they stay crisp and keeps their color.

Steaming – Start by tying the asparagus spears together using cooking string. Tie them both at the bottom and just under the tips. Make sure the bottom ends are at the same level. If you don’t have an asparagus steamer then place the asparagus in two to three inches of boiling water standing up. Cover and steam for five to eight minutes until the tips are tender. Doing it this way you actually boil the bottom ends and steam the tops. To get the best result only steam the youngest, most tender asparagus.

Click Here To See Some Great Asparagus Steamers On Amazon

Roasting – Heat the oven to 450 degree. Place the asparagus on a baking sheet and drizzle some olive oil over them. Roast for about 10-15 minutes.

Grilling – Coat the spears with olive oil and place them on a preheated grill. Grill them for about 5-8 minutes remember to turn them occasionally.

Microwaving – Get a microwave-safe baking dish and lay the asparagus in a circle with the tips pointing to the center. Add 1/4 cup of water and cover. Microwave for about 4 minutes or until done.

Asparagus Storages

Never wash or soak asparagus if you want to store them. Cut the ends of the spears and put them in a jar standing upright. Put about an inch of water in the bottom of the jar. Cover with some plastic or a plastic bag, remember to poke some holes in the plastic to let the asparagus breath. Store them in the refrigerator for two to three days.

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How To Blanch Asparagus

Posted on May 15, 2012 by Martin Adler

How To Blanch Asparagus

blanched asparagusBlanching asparagus is a great way to make them really tender and crispy. Blanching is done by first boiling the spears for a short time and then quickly move them to cold water. The cold water stops the cooking process which insures the asparagus stay tender. You can find more recipes for asparagus here.

What do you need?

  • Asparagus
  • A bowl of ice water

The Method

Start by gently cleaning the asparagus. Cut or break of the bottom part as it is often dry and chewy.

Either use the asparagus whole or cut them into pieces.

Boil a large pot of water.

While the water starts to boil fill a big bowl with ice water.

Drop the spears into the boiling water. When the asparagus turns bright green move them quickly over to the ice water to cool down. (It usually takes 1-2 minutes for the asparagus to cook)

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How To Cook Asparagus In Microwave Oven

Posted on May 15, 2012 by Martin Adler

How To Cook Asparagus In Microwave Oven

microwaved asparagus

Microwaving asparagus is my least favourite way of cooking asparagus. They just don’t turn out right. On the other hand it very easy and fast so in a pinch it works. I do recommend you check out some other ways of cooking asparagus here.

Ingredients

  • Asparagus
  • Water

Method

Clean the asparagus and cut of the dry and fibrous ends but leave the tips intact.

Place the spears in a circle on a plate with the tips pointing inwards.

Add 1/4 cup of water and cover with another plate turned upside down to form a lid.

Put the plate in the microwave and cook them for two minutes on high power.

Take out the plate and test the asparagus with a fork. They should be tender and crisp.

If they aren’t done cook them an extra minutes and test them again.

Continue this until the asparagus are done.

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How To Grill Asparagus

Posted on May 15, 2012 by Martin Adler

How To Grill Asparagus

grilled asparagusGrilling asparagus is just great, if you haven’t tried it yet, you simply must. They get a nice smoky flavour and they stay crispy and tender. This is a simple recipe that doesn’t require much, you can find many other interesting asparagus recipes here.

The ingredients

  • Asparagus
  • 2 Tbsp olive oil
  • Salt and pepper
  • Lemon (optional)

The method

Start by preparing the asparagus by cutting the tough bottom ends and gently washing them.

Heat up the grill.

Use a kitchen brush to coat the spears with oil and season with salt and pepper, Don’t use too much seasoning because it might overpower the asparagus.

Grill the spears for about one minute on one side then turn them and grill the other side for another minute.

Serve them with a lemon wedge.

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How To Cook Asparagus In A Pan

Posted on May 15, 2012 by Martin Adler

How To Cook Asparagus In A Pan

fried asparagusStir-frying asparagus in a pan lets you cook them hot and fast, this preserves its flavor and nutrients better.  This in turn means less seasoning and they turn out more tender and crunchy. If you like this recipe then you might want to check out some of our other asparagus recipes here.

What do you need?

  • Asparagus
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 2 tbsp. olive oil
  • Salt and pepper
  • Cold juice from a lemon or two limes

What do you do?

Start by cleaning the asparagus and cut of the ends of the spears.

Cut the asparagus into 1-2 inch pieces.

Cut the garlic finely.

Heat the oil in a pan.

Add the garlic to the oil and fry it until you can smell it.

Add the asparagus to the pan and season with salt and pepper. Fry the spears for about four minutes or until the spears turn bright green. Remember asparagus shouldn’t be overcooked they should be tender.

When finished turn of the heat and quickly move the asparagus to a plate or bowl, pour the cold lemon juice over them. The cold juice will slows the cooking process and gives a great flavor.

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How To Steam Asparagus?

Posted on May 14, 2012 by Martin Adler

How To Steam Asparagus?

Steaming asparagus is a great way to cook this vegetable. It is fast, easy and healthy. You can use some vinaigrette dressing instead of butter to make it even healthier. If you like asparagus you can find more recipes here.

What do you need?

  • Asparagus spears
  • 1 teaspoon butter
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • Water

What to do?

Before steaming the asparagus they need some preparation, trim the bottom parts of the spears and if they are very thick you can peel them lightly with a vegetable peeler.

Fill your steamer with water as its instructions directs and bring it to a boil.

Click Here To See Some Great Asparagus Steamers On Amazon

Place the spears in the steamer and cover up.

Steam for eight to ten minutes or until tender. Don’t overcook! Perfectly steamed asparagus should be al dente.

When finished toss the spears with butter and seasoning.

Please leave a comment and let me know what you think. If you liked the recipe feel free to share it with your friends and family…

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