Would you like to try to make your own beer at home, now you can. Home beer making is not as hard as people make out. It’s actually quite easy to make great tasting beer that you can be proud of and enjoy drinking, once you know how. There are many different brewing kits that you can buy from the store that will help you with the process. Though sometimes the brewing instructions aren’t that great so I would advise purchasing a book on the subject to ensure you don’t waste your money or get disheartened and give up.
When you’re ready to try home beer making, you will need the following, together with the equipment in your brewing kit:
A malt extract, water, and brewers yeast.
Liquid extracts are usually in the form of syrup where as dry extracts are dry and can be stored longer than the liquid form. Eventually you will discover there are many different extracts to choose from all of which will make your brew taste different. Once you have successfully made your first batch you will need to restock on ingredients, especially if you have started off with a beer kit. Find a retailer online that offers a selection of ingredients so that you can experiment making different tastes. A common fact that most beginners don’t know is that home beer making can be effected by the water the brew is made up of. It’s best to use spring or bottled water even though some people report they get good results with tap water. Yeast is another big part of home beer making. Yeast is what ferments the malts and the sugars into the alcohol. This is what releases the carbon dioxide.
There are many different ways to make beer and the more resources you read you’ll soon discover how differently people go about home beer making. The only way to do it without confusion is to find the recipe that you like best then stick to it, following a guide each time you brew. You’ll soon see that there are certain recipes that take longer than others and some will take no time at all.
Figure out which one you like the sound of and that fits into your time schedule but bear in mind the brewing process should not be rushed or you will end up ruining your batch or making your self sick. (Please note: It’s very important to be careful and sanitary. You need to make sure that all the equipment that you use is sterile).
Home beer making is a great hobby that once mastered you’ll be able to share with your friends. As with anything practice makes perfection, so don’t assume that your first home beer making attempt will be an award winning beer. Stick with it, follow a guide book from someone who has mastered the techniques from whom you can learn best practices, and very soon you’ll have a couple of bottles of home brew that you can be proud of.
Tuesday, 4 January 2011
Monday, 3 January 2011
Chocolate Cocktails
Chocolate is a flavor that can match almost anything which you may wish to accompany it with. The rich, dark, and diverse flavors of chocolate have been combined with countless different dishes and drinks, its hard finding something that would not benefit from the addition of chocolate to the mix. It is equally hard to find someone who can resist the offer of some chocolate. So why not try adding chocolate to a cocktail; such a combination is one I am sure nobody would be able to turn their nose up at.
Combining chocolate with cocktails is a delicate process however. The rich flavors of chocolate means that the volume you use must be just right so that you acquire all the essential dark flavors while not overloading your cocktail, rendering it sickly and overpowering. This rule can be ignored though if you are a chocoholic of course; in that case go mad. But the key to all cocktails is balance, and it is no exception with chocolate cocktails.
There is many ways you can add chocolate to drinks: Creme de cacao, chocolate liqueurs, cocoa power, chocolate syrup, chocolate vodka, cocoa nibs or even chocolate bitters. This great variety gives chocolate cocktails a great range and flexibility. There are countless chocolate cocktails recipes that will satisfy your chocolate cravings for years to come, and plenty of room for experimenting yourself. Here is a selection of chocolate cocktails that will be sure to hit the spot.
Perhaps the most natural ingredient chocolate can be combined with is coffee. They share a similar history and botanical make-up, making them ideal partners for mixing in a cocktail. To make a chocolate coffee cocktail you will need 1/4 oz brandy or cognac, 1/2 oz dark Creme de Cacao, 1/2 oz chocolate syrup, 4 oz hot coffee, 1 oz milk, plus some whipped double cream. To prepare this dark and smooth cocktail put all the ingredients except the cream into a pan and gently heat, pour into a tall glass or a mug. Finish by topping with whipped cream and dust with cocoa for the perfectly luxurious finishing touch.
For a twist on a classic you could try a Chocolate Cherry Manhattan. For this you will need 1 1/2 oz Rye whiskey, 1/2 oz Martini Rossato, 1/5 oz dark chocolate liqueur and 1/5 oz Fernet Branca. Mix all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice until properly chilled and strain into a glass. For a special touch you can garnish with a couple of cherries dipped in dark chocolate.
If your tipple of choice is rum then you can try your hand at a chocolate rum cocktail. To create this delicious cocktail you will need 1 1/2 oz dark rum, 1/2 oz Creme de Cacao, 1/2 oz light cream, and 1/2 oz white Cr¨¨me de Menthe. To prepare place all the ingredients into a cocktail shaker and shake well with ice before straining into a cocktail glass.
For an easy and effective twist on the ever favorite White Russian cocktail you can simple replace the use of Kahlua with Creme de Cacao for a chocolaty edge. To make this quick to make cocktail you will need 1 oz vodka, 1 oz Creme de Cacao, and 1 oz cream. Simply place all the ingredients in a shaker with ice, go to work with your shaking skills, and its ready serve.
The final cocktail on our list of a cross section of chocolaty cocktails is another transformed classic, the Holy Mole Margarita. This cocktail includes which combines 1 1/5 oz tequila, 1/5 oz cacao blanco, 1/4 oz dark chocolate liqueur, a dash of orange bitters, plus a dash of Bitter Truth xocolatl mole bitters. To finish this cocktail off perfectly you can garnish it by dipping the cocktail glass into chocolate syrup before dipping it into chocolate sprinkles, heaven for any chocolate lover.
Combining chocolate with cocktails is a delicate process however. The rich flavors of chocolate means that the volume you use must be just right so that you acquire all the essential dark flavors while not overloading your cocktail, rendering it sickly and overpowering. This rule can be ignored though if you are a chocoholic of course; in that case go mad. But the key to all cocktails is balance, and it is no exception with chocolate cocktails.
There is many ways you can add chocolate to drinks: Creme de cacao, chocolate liqueurs, cocoa power, chocolate syrup, chocolate vodka, cocoa nibs or even chocolate bitters. This great variety gives chocolate cocktails a great range and flexibility. There are countless chocolate cocktails recipes that will satisfy your chocolate cravings for years to come, and plenty of room for experimenting yourself. Here is a selection of chocolate cocktails that will be sure to hit the spot.
Perhaps the most natural ingredient chocolate can be combined with is coffee. They share a similar history and botanical make-up, making them ideal partners for mixing in a cocktail. To make a chocolate coffee cocktail you will need 1/4 oz brandy or cognac, 1/2 oz dark Creme de Cacao, 1/2 oz chocolate syrup, 4 oz hot coffee, 1 oz milk, plus some whipped double cream. To prepare this dark and smooth cocktail put all the ingredients except the cream into a pan and gently heat, pour into a tall glass or a mug. Finish by topping with whipped cream and dust with cocoa for the perfectly luxurious finishing touch.
For a twist on a classic you could try a Chocolate Cherry Manhattan. For this you will need 1 1/2 oz Rye whiskey, 1/2 oz Martini Rossato, 1/5 oz dark chocolate liqueur and 1/5 oz Fernet Branca. Mix all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice until properly chilled and strain into a glass. For a special touch you can garnish with a couple of cherries dipped in dark chocolate.
If your tipple of choice is rum then you can try your hand at a chocolate rum cocktail. To create this delicious cocktail you will need 1 1/2 oz dark rum, 1/2 oz Creme de Cacao, 1/2 oz light cream, and 1/2 oz white Cr¨¨me de Menthe. To prepare place all the ingredients into a cocktail shaker and shake well with ice before straining into a cocktail glass.
For an easy and effective twist on the ever favorite White Russian cocktail you can simple replace the use of Kahlua with Creme de Cacao for a chocolaty edge. To make this quick to make cocktail you will need 1 oz vodka, 1 oz Creme de Cacao, and 1 oz cream. Simply place all the ingredients in a shaker with ice, go to work with your shaking skills, and its ready serve.
The final cocktail on our list of a cross section of chocolaty cocktails is another transformed classic, the Holy Mole Margarita. This cocktail includes which combines 1 1/5 oz tequila, 1/5 oz cacao blanco, 1/4 oz dark chocolate liqueur, a dash of orange bitters, plus a dash of Bitter Truth xocolatl mole bitters. To finish this cocktail off perfectly you can garnish it by dipping the cocktail glass into chocolate syrup before dipping it into chocolate sprinkles, heaven for any chocolate lover.
Delicious Tropical Smoothies
Smoothies have become a very popular treat, with smoothie shops popping up all over the country. Whether you visit an independent smoothie business or one of the large retail chains such as Jamba Juice, sipping this fruity concoction is like a mini vacation. One reason that smoothies are so popular right now is because they are so healthy for you. Not only are they good for you, but they also taste good too. There are advantages to drinking smoothies and even advantages to making your own tropical smoothie. These delicious drinks mix a variety of fruits together, giving you a greater range of vitamins for improved health, not to mention a unique flavor that can't be beat.
Did you know that you can create delicious smoothies at home? These make a sweet and delicious breakfast, a refreshing snack, or even an alternative to mai tais and pina coladas at your next tropically-themed gathering. Sipping these fruity drinks, your guests will be sure to feel like they've been transported to a sunny tropical island.
The best tasting smoothies are tropical smoothies. Most smoothies contain popular fruits that you may even be able to grow locally in your own garden such as oranges, grapes, raspberries, strawberries, and lemons, One of the most popular tropical smoothie ingredients is the banana. The banana is often mixed with other fruits to create a tropical blend. Though most smoothie shops offer a variety of smoothie flavors, by making yours at home you can completely customize the recipe. Mixing a tropical smoothie at home cost less than visiting a shop and gives you many more options when it comes to ingredients and flavor. For example, you can mix more exotic fruits like star fruit or passion fruit that they will not have at a smoothie shop.
At first making your own smoothie may sound overwhelming but it takes very little culinary experience or skill. The most difficult thing you will need to know how to do in order to make a tropical smoothie at home is how to use a blender.
Making a tropical smoothie is simple. All you will need is some yogurt and some tropical fruits of your choice. There are many possible choices. In addition to the fruits listed above, your drink may contain kiwi, pineapple, or mango, for example. You can also add in flavored juices. Flavored juices help if you can not get all the tropical fruits you want. You can also water down the mix by adding ice. Many smoothie shops use a lot of ice in their recipes.
Put the fruits in the blender with about a cup of yogurt. Add a little more yogurt if you want to make a larger quantity, or less yogurt if you prefer a stronger flavor. Most people like a tropical smoothie that is well blended, while others prefer to leave bigger chunks of fruit in the mix. Blend it until it's the perfect texture, pour into a glass, and enjoy! For your next luau party or tropical barbecue, use glasses shaped like tiki statues and add a paper umbrella for the perfect tiki touch.
Did you know that you can create delicious smoothies at home? These make a sweet and delicious breakfast, a refreshing snack, or even an alternative to mai tais and pina coladas at your next tropically-themed gathering. Sipping these fruity drinks, your guests will be sure to feel like they've been transported to a sunny tropical island.
The best tasting smoothies are tropical smoothies. Most smoothies contain popular fruits that you may even be able to grow locally in your own garden such as oranges, grapes, raspberries, strawberries, and lemons, One of the most popular tropical smoothie ingredients is the banana. The banana is often mixed with other fruits to create a tropical blend. Though most smoothie shops offer a variety of smoothie flavors, by making yours at home you can completely customize the recipe. Mixing a tropical smoothie at home cost less than visiting a shop and gives you many more options when it comes to ingredients and flavor. For example, you can mix more exotic fruits like star fruit or passion fruit that they will not have at a smoothie shop.
At first making your own smoothie may sound overwhelming but it takes very little culinary experience or skill. The most difficult thing you will need to know how to do in order to make a tropical smoothie at home is how to use a blender.
Making a tropical smoothie is simple. All you will need is some yogurt and some tropical fruits of your choice. There are many possible choices. In addition to the fruits listed above, your drink may contain kiwi, pineapple, or mango, for example. You can also add in flavored juices. Flavored juices help if you can not get all the tropical fruits you want. You can also water down the mix by adding ice. Many smoothie shops use a lot of ice in their recipes.
Put the fruits in the blender with about a cup of yogurt. Add a little more yogurt if you want to make a larger quantity, or less yogurt if you prefer a stronger flavor. Most people like a tropical smoothie that is well blended, while others prefer to leave bigger chunks of fruit in the mix. Blend it until it's the perfect texture, pour into a glass, and enjoy! For your next luau party or tropical barbecue, use glasses shaped like tiki statues and add a paper umbrella for the perfect tiki touch.
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