Top 6 Ideas for Kitchen Organization

Looking for more space in your kitchen for dishes, pots, pans and utensils? Does it always seem like there’s been an explosion of dishes and cookware in your kitchen? If yes, then consider the following:

1. The Lazy Susan – A Cooks Best Friend

The Lazy Susan is made up of a collection of shelves, usually two or three, that can rotate. Lazy Susan come in multiple forms, but circular Lazy Susans are most common. While they are often found on large kitchen tables, they can also be found between two kitchen cabinet doors in the corner. Lazy Susans are great for storing small kitchen items, such as spices, can openers and utensils.

2. Hanging Pot Racks – Elegant Storage

Hanging pot racks will serve you in two ways: They'll suspend your pots and pans from the kitchen ceiling – this will give you more shelf space; and they'll look great, giving your kitchen an air of elegance.

3. Kitchen Cart – Convenience on Wheels

The kitchen cart, while not glamorous, can serve you well. Often made of wood, they can contain moveable shelves to make room for both large and small items, as well as kitchen cabinet doors and draws with which to place everything from cook books to appliances. Further, with the right cart, you could place your microwave on top of it, creating more counter space. In addition, many carts are on wheels, giving you flexibility with your kitchen layout.

4. Bakers Rack

Bakers racks come in a multitude of materials, from wood and glass to stainless steel. They serve as shelving units on which you can stack your pots, pans and food items.

5. Kitchen Island

The resume of kitchen islands has expanded in recent decades. Sure, they are still used for food preparation, expanding your existing counter space, but they also can serve as a storage area for your kitchen utensils, pots, pans – whatever -with draws and cabinets. Some even contain refrigeration units, Lazy Susans, oven burners and even trash compactors, sinks and wine racks.

6. Utensil Tray

A utensil tray fits in your silverware draw to organize…yup, you guessed it…your utensils and other small kitchen tools. It’s often made of plastic for easy cleaning and has various sized compartments. Although the utensil tray is small, don’t underestimate its importance as it can really bring order to your cooking life and save you valuable time looking for cooking material.

As you can see, there are many options to make your kitchen more space efficient. Soon, you’ll be able to stop looking, and start cooking!

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What Makes Moroccan Cuisine and Recipes so Popular

Considered as one of the most diversified and sumptuous food, Moroccan cuisine offers a delightful experience. There primary reason contributed to the diverse Moroccan food is it’s interaction with the outside world for centuries. Food in Morocco has blended different cuisines from different cultures like Moorish, Arab, Middle Eastern, Berber, Jewish, Iberian and Mediterranean African.

Over different historical eras and centuries the Moroccan cuisine was refined by the highly capable cooks of the royal kitchens in Meknes, Fez, Marrakech, Tetouan and Rabat. This refined cuisine laid the base for the modern Moroccan cuisine.

History of Moroccan Cuisine

Morocco has been at the crossroad of different civilizations, which has greatly influenced Moroccan food Today you will even find some of the best Moroccan recipes over the internet but the truth is that nothing tastes like the Moroccan spices.

It is said that the history of Morocco can be seen reflected in their cuisine. People and tribes from different parts of the world has come to Morocco and settled here, which has led to creation of a blended cuisine that has many different flavors. There was a time when political refugees came all the way from Baghdad, Iraq during the Middle Ages to settle in Morocco. They brought their local recipes, which have since become a part of the traditional Moroccan cuisine. One of the signature characteristics of this type of blended recipe is where fruit is cooked with meat like apricots with chicken.

Moroccan food has also been influenced greatly by Morisco or the Muslim refugees who were thrown out of Spain preceding the Spanish inquisition. An important part of Moroccan cuisine is the ingredients used. Since Morocco produces Mediterranean vegetables and fruits, they are used in the preparation of different Moroccan recipes. Poultry, cattle and fish is also found in abundance in Morocco and hence they have become an integral part of the country’s cuisine.
Moroccan Spices

Food in Morocco can’t do without the Moroccan spices. One of the biggest markets in Morocco for spices is at Agadir and you can find different types of spices used as an ingredient for rendering a different taste. These spices are used in all Moroccan recipes and render a taste that will remain with you for a lifetime.

Some of the popular Moroccan spices include saffron that came from Tiliouine, olive and mint came from Meknes, while lemons and oranges came from Fez. Some of the common spices were also home grown like kamoun (cumin), karfa (cinnamon), kharkoum (tumeric), libzar (pepper) , skingbir (ginger), tahmira (paprika), sesame seed, anis seed, kasbour (coriander), zaafrane beldi (saffron) and maadnous (parsley).
The Great Moroccan Meal

You have to really taste the tanginess and the spicy flavors of the Moroccan cuisine to understand why it is so popular across the world. The most important part of the Moroccan cuisine is the midday meal. A Moroccan mid day meal will start with hot and cold salads, followed by tagine. Bread is the staple food in every mid day meal. This is followed by a chicken or lamb dish and then a dish of couscous topped with vegetable and meat. At the end of the meal, you will get to drink a cup of sweet mint tea, which is a part of their tradition.

Couscous is the main Moroccan dish and is considered to be of Berber origin. The most commonly consumed form of meat is beef although lamb is also preferred but costs more than beef. There is also a growing importance for seafood and it is slowly becoming an important part of Moroccan cuisine.

Some of the popular as well as famous Moroccan food recipes include Pastilla, Couscous, Tajine, Harira and Tanjia. Although Harira is a soup, but it is an important part of the Moroccan cuisine and is consumed mostly during the holy months of Ramadan.

Where you have rich food laced with Moroccan cuisine, you will definitely have Desserts. Desserts in Morocco don’t necessarily have to be sweet although the sweeter it is, the better it will be. One of the common desserts is the kaab el ghzal or gazelle's horns. Of course that’s just a name and you won’t get to eat any real horns. Kaab el ghzal is a type of pastry with sugar toppings that is stuffed with almond paste. Honey cakes are extremely popular too and they are prepared by deep frying dough and then dipping them in hot honey and finally sesame seeds are sprinkled on the top.

Moroccan cuisine has a lot of variety and also include drinks (Mint Tea) and snacks apart from their mid day meal and to feel the real flavor of spice, you will have to taste their traditional food.

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Healthy Cooking Means you can Ditch the Diet

Hands up everyone who made a New Year's resolution to lose a few Christmas kilos or adopt healthier eating habits this year? Great. Now, wouldn't you like to be able to achieve it without using the "d" word? Healthy eating doesn't have to be boring eating and it doesn't have to mean "dieting".

The first step in your healthy eating plan should be to look at how you are preparing your meals. Frying everything in inch-deep oil is obviously a big no-no, as is cooking with cream and butter. It's a shame, I know, but don't worry - there are plenty of healthy cooking methods that will still have you salivating.

Stir-frying is a healthy option that also tastes great. You can use fresh herbs like basil and coriander and sauces like soy, oyster and sweet chilli to add flavour without adding too many calories. This is a quick and easy way to prepare food, too, so it's perfect for weeknight meals. In terms of equipment, all you need is a good non-stick wok and a tool to toss the food around for even cooking. Serve with rice or, for an even easier option, you can add noodles straight to the wok.

Most woks come with a steaming rack, so why not use it? Steaming is one of the healthiest cooking options around. Fish fillets scattered with fresh herbs and wrapped in banana leaves make an impressive dinner party dish for your health-conscious friends (and even for those who aren't watching their waistlines). Or try a whole steamed fish for maximum impact.

Grilling is another tasty yet healthy way to cook. A non-stick grill pan with a drainage channel around the perimeter will make attractive grill marks on your food while allowing excess fat to drain away. It's a great way to cook steaks, chicken breast, fish and kebabs. Just apply a little olive oil spray to the food to prevent it drying out.

Got a sweet craving? At this time of year there is an abundance of delicious fruit available that should keep you satisfied, including mangoes, peaches, plums and nectarines. It's fantastic straight from the fruit bowl or chopped up in a fruit salad, but for an occasional treat, serve with a scoop of low-fat ice-cream.

It's also worth looking at your existing cookware. Do your pans have an effective non-stick coating? If so, you will need only a small amount of oil to add flavour and moisture to your food, resulting in much healthier cooking. If the non-stick coating is non-existent or has lost its effectiveness, chances are you are adding too much oil to your food. It may be time to invest in some good-quality non-stick cookware. While it may cost a little more than the cookware you can pick up at the supermarket, think of it as an investment in your health.

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Dice an Onion like a Professional

Have you ever wondered how chefs manage to chop their onions into neat little dice without accidentally adding julienned finger to the menu? It's actually quite simple once you know the trick.

Before you get started, here are a few helpful hints that will make the whole process easier. Firstly, it's very important to use a sharp knife when dicing fruit and vegetables, as a dull knife can slip off the surface of the food and you may cut yourself. Use a chopping knife or cook's knife rather than a serrated knife for cleaner cuts. To ensure your chopping board doesn't slide across the bench while you chop, place a damp tea towel underneath.

Now you're ready to go. Just follow these three easy steps for a perfectly diced onion every time.
1. First, cut the onion in half from top to bottom. Peel and discard the skin. Take one half and lay it flat-side down. Make three horizontal cuts (holding the knife parallel to the chopping board), being careful not to slice all the way through. This will prevent the onion falling apart while you chop.

2. Turn the onion towards you and make six vertical cuts down through the onion. Again, take care not to cut all the way through the end of the onion. The closer the vertical cuts, the finer your dice will be. While chopping, make sure you tuck your fingertips away from the knife blade.

3. Hold the onion together with your fingers, tucking them away from the blade. Begin with the tip of the knife on the chopping board and slice straight down to form your dice. Continue across the rest of the onion. This technique will produce an even dice.

To get the best from your knives and ensure you can keep dicing onions like a pro, try to keep them in pristine condition. It is important to keep them sharp by running them through your knife sharpener before you begin preparing your food. You should avoid putting your knives in the dishwasher, as the harsh chemicals in the dishwashing detergent can blunt the blade or even pit the edge. Instead, wash your knives in hot soapy water and dry immediately with a soft cloth.

Finally, you should store knives in their protective sleeve, in a knife block, or on a magnetic rack - your knives will thank you for your care, and so will your grandchildren.

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