Archive for April, 2009

Is there a way to make homemade paper without a blender?

Saturday, April 25th, 2009
a-jay asked:


I want to make recycled paper out of newspaper, but I realized my blender is broken. Is there a way to do it without one?

Melanie
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Seven Awesome Kitchen Gadgets

Saturday, April 25th, 2009
Tim Ebl asked:


Everyone who cooks can use some of these practical, time saving kitchen tools. While you can get by with a bare bones kitchen and a few old pots and pans, a lot of dishes are harder to make or more time consuming to prepare. The items in this list can free up some of your time, help you make delicious meals, store leftovers and even make the kitchen a fun place. So without further ado, here are some of my favorite kitchen gadgets. I hope you like them.

1. Bread Maker

Imagine getting up in the morning to the smell of freshly baked bread, ready for you to take out of the machine and slice up for toast or for lunch sandwiches. And all you had to do was load the ingredients the night before, then set the timer.

2. Automatic Coffee Maker

This goes well with the bread maker. Add coffee grounds and water, set the clock and have coffee waiting for you when you stumble out of bed in the morning. Rise and shine!

3. High Quality Knife Set

I used to make do with an old set of mismatched knives given to me without a knife block. Some of the handles were loose, and they had to be stored in a drawer. The new set sits on the counter top. The edges stay sharp longer, and the set contains knives for most needs. More room in the drawer, too.

4. Plastic Food Containers

With a set of containers for food storage, saving leftovers is much easier. Many have lids with vents, for use in microwaves. Another way to use them is to freeze food for future use. They look better than old margarine and yogurt containers, too.

5.Immersion Blender

These hand-held gadgets can be placed in large drinking glasses, pots, or mixing bowls. You can mix drinks, baking ingredients, gravies or even whip potatoes. They take up less space and are easier to clean than traditional blenders as well.

6. Toaster Oven

A toaster oven can cook toasted items with toppings, like garlic bread and mini pizzas, as well as make toast. Small baking projects are possible too, if you don’t want to or can’t use a larger oven.

7.Sandwich Grill

For grilled cheese, tuna melts and patty melts, these grills seal the edge of the sandwich so cheese and other things can’t leak out.

These are some of the kitchen gadgets I like to use myself. For the larger items, maybe you can borrow one to test drive it before you buy. That is what I did with the bread maker. Our food containers, coffee maker and hand blender see daily use, and the toaster oven and sandwich grill once or twice a week. All in all, a good investment for my family. Happy cooking!



Stained Glass Fireplace Screen
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Discover How to Download Music on a Psp

Friday, April 24th, 2009
Gerry Restrivera asked:


PSP is one of the must have gadgets, a handheld device that became so popular with gamers due to its flexibility. PSP is not only limited for video games but it can also play music, videos, display photos and you can surf the net too. It’s a good thing that music can also be played on PSP which benefits a large percentage of people fond of listening music wherever they go. PSP gave music lovers the advantage to carry all their music collections in one small device anywhere. If you are still new to this device or planning to get one this article will guide you on how to download music on a PSP.

Before learning how to download music on a PSP, you need to consider getting music download from a reputable legal download site like PSP Blender where all downloads are 100% legal. With PSP Blender you will get free PSP software, PSP video converter, CD ripper and detailed instructions on how to download music on a PSP. 

To download music on a PSP using PSB Blender software you need to provide a 1GB memory stick or if not at least a 256MB memory stick and a USB cable or any compatible memory stick reader. After providing these two items you can easily download music to your PC from PSP Blender and then transfer music from PC to your PSP using a USB cable or memory stick reader.

To transfer or download music on a PSP from your PC you simply connect the PSP device to your PC using the USB cable. Your PC will detect the PSP device as a removable memory device. Create a folder on your PSP for your music download. Open the folder and copy music files from your PC to your PSP. Yes, that’s how easy to download music on a PSP.

PSP blender makes it easy to download music on a PSP for you to enjoy your favorite music wherever you go.  Did you know that PSP users are enjoying unlimited music downloads from their membership with PSP Blender? To find out more on how to get the best downloads for your PSP visit Top PSP Download Sites



To get more PSP downloads visit Best PSP Downloads



Scented Floating Candles
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Making Bio Diesel

Tuesday, April 21st, 2009
David Evermon asked:


Bio diesel is not a new concept it has been around for quite some time, it is largely the idea of using oils such as vegetable oil and canola to power a diesel vehicle. This is not really a strange concept since the first diesel engine was not made to run on our modern day fossil fuels, but instead was run on peanut oil.

Diesel motors do not require the same refined process that is used with modern cars, this in mind diesel engines are not designed for smooth high powered running either, they are more like the draft horse of engines, and will generally last a lot longer than a normal car motor.

Many people who make bio diesel themselves use either used cooking oils or grow crops of canola, and crush it to get oil. Ideally if you have the acreage to grow a crop of canola this is the best method as you are getting clean oil to begin making bio diesel so no time will be wanted in the process of cleaning it. Although used oil from fish and chip shops is just as effective provided that you clean and drain it properly the end result is just as good.

There are many different methods available for making Bio Diesel, A simple one that I have found uses the following ingredients: used cooking oil, Methanol, Sodium Hydroxide. Please note that this procedure is risky and I do not recommend making biodiesel without further research of the process, these are just general guidelines of the making process, if you wish to actually make your own bio diesel please consult expert companies or professionals.

Note that the oil must be heated and drained twice to ensure that you have got all of the muck out of it, if you don’t take the time to do this you will block up your fuel filters. It is advisable to begin with a test batch of bio diesel, this is easily done by using kitchen scales and a blender, with a ratio of 6 grams of sodium Methoxide to 1 liter of cooking oil. This measurement is only a guide that is why you do a test batch, to find out the exact calculation that will be required to make a larger batch.

Heat the oil, add the Methoxide solution and mix this in the blender, and let the mixture stand to settle. If the test batch is successful you will see that the glycerin has sunk to the bottom of the mix once settled, Glycerine looks black, and sinks to the bottom of the blender, but the bio diesel will be an amberish color and will float to the top. This means you have separated the mixture and changed the molecular structure of the oil, it can never revert back to its original status again.

Once you have your calculations correct you can start mixing bigger batches, You will then need to make up a plant for handling larger amounts of oil. There are blue prints of designs all over the internet, they vary in design, just as much as the recipe for bio diesel does! Find one that you feel is easy to make and understand.

On a final note, be sure that you always test the oil first as once you have began the process you cant change your formula. So take care to make sure that all of your calculations are correct before trying to make larger batches. When working with Methanol and Sodium Hydroxide be very careful to take safety precautions to protect yourself from burns, or injury.



Stainless Steel Paint
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Treatments of Eczema – Equipment for Successful Cure

Sunday, April 19th, 2009
Janet Simpson asked:


If you are serious about eliminating your eczema by changing your life style and improving the quality and quantity of the foods that you eat, it is important that you obtain the right tools and equipment for your kitchen.

Remember the efforts you are making now will pay dividends in the long run.

The most costly items that you need to obtain may already be in your kitchen.

These are:

(1) a good blender or Vita-Mixer;

(2) a food processor;

(3) a juicer; and

(4) a dehydrator.

The blender is required to help you prepare nut milks, smoothies and blended soup. A food processor is required to help you prepare treats, desserts, and to chop vegetables. A juicer is required to help you prepare daily fruit and vegetables juices and finally, a dehydrator is essential to help you prepare krackers, burgers, and special breads.

These tools are very important to the success of your superior health plan.

Here is a more extensive list for you to consider:

Staple Foods: Almonds, Pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, brazil nuts and cashew nuts.

Staple Fruit: Apples, Bananas, Pears, Avocados, Cucumbers, Lemons.

Staple Vegetables: Carrots, Celery, Romaine, Kale, Onion, Garlic, Baby Greens, Spinach.

For all your produce look for local farmers markets or organic farms. You will find that the price of produce will be a little cheaper and the quality will be far more superior than those found in the large supermarkets.

Equipment and Tools: A good blender, food processor, Excalibur dehydrator, Juicer, Lemon juicer, Serrated knives, Sharp French Knife, Vegetable peeler, sprout bags, sprouting jars, large cutting board, rubber spatula and mixing bowl.

Condiments: Celtic Sea Salt, Miso, Nama Shoyu, Dulse, Cayenne, Raw apple cider vinegar



Stained Glass Fireplace Screen
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Has anyone ever put broccoli and milk in a blender?

Thursday, April 16th, 2009
Keplaffintech asked:


Has anyone ever put broccoli and milk in a blender?
And did it taste like a broccoli milkshake?
should I add ice cream?

Steps On How To Do CPR
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An Immersion Blender - Bringing the Mixer to the Food Instead of the Food to the Mixer

Wednesday, April 15th, 2009
Marcus J. Bay asked:


Immersion Blenders — which are also referred to as hand mixers — look somewhat similar to an outboard engine; the elegant design is simply a blade that rotates on a grip that is motorized. This is a good idea with it’s overall ease, bringing the blender to the food rather than taking the food to the blender.

History

The immersion blender was initially made in Switzerland during the 1960s. Since then, large versions of this device have been used in restaurant kitchen locations. For the amateur cook there have been a variety of iterations to opt for over the last 20 years. Some have been very popular and have retained their audience as the alternatives continue to broaden.

Usage

A blender has several purposes from stirring and mixing to pureeing liquids. To use, simply put the blade into the food and press a button. Use while cooking to blend stews that are still in the pot, to smooth drinks, to make sauces, de-clump gravy just before you serve it without all the mess of transferring the food to the standard mixer and then back again.

All these gadgets have been design for easy cleanup and usage. Most units are simple to clean, all you do is detach the blade attachment. It is an important feature to get since cleaning without it can be difficult. Depending on your wants you can pick a product with a single speed or a model with two or more speeds. Many people like the one speed choice for its ease of use, while other people choose the dual models for more control of their blending procedures.

Models are available with power cords or without; those without cords include rechargeable battery packs. That being said, those models do cost somewhat more, as they contain internal battery packs and circuitry to charge the product. It’s worth the convenience of not having an electrical cable hanging over the range and you can also use it while blending outdoors.

With the ubiquity of the immersion blender comes increased power, as makers attempt to position their options as the most useful on the market. The immersion blade is now normally packaged various attachments, allowing you to chop nuts, garlic, and other types of dried foods in lesser amounts.

When evaluating blenders, assess not only the mixer’s wattage but how silent it is while mixing. There seems to be lower noise levels with better models, particularly the wireless types. If feasible, try the blender out in the store. It needs to be comfortable to hold and not feel flimsy. Opt for a steel shaft and blade for reliability.

More Info The Wikipedia has a somewhat thin site on these products, but it’s a decent page to first research. KitchenAid has their product line overview on this page.



Point Of Use Water Heater
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Does anyone have experience with the Blender modeling program?

Wednesday, April 15th, 2009
the.chip asked:


I’m a fairly new Blender user, and I’m doing pretty well, but I am having trouble with making realistic textures for my meshes. Can anybody refer me to a good (preferrably free) textbook or tutorial on how to make textures in Blender, or perhaps have any good tips they’d be willing to share?

(please note: I like blender, and I do not wish to use another program, so please don’t try to recomend one)

Thanks in advance!

Phillip

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Do Superfoods Make For A Super Week?

Tuesday, April 14th, 2009
The Calorista asked:


eek I turned myself into a “superfood” guinea pig to see how I would feel. Well…the exciting results are in. After integrating raw acai, raw goji berries, raw cacao, pomegranate green tea and other berries into my diet, how do I feel? Am I now superhuman? Which grocery items did I find? And what is a “superfood” again?

So we’ll start with what a superfood is. In a nutshell, it is a food that is loaded with antioxidants and/or nutrients, such as amino acids and essential omega fatty acids. It turns out that you may not get the benefits of these antioxidants and nutrients if they come in the form of supplements, so everything I used this week came from raw, pure sources. This meant that I had to buy all of the ingredients at Whole Foods or other natural food stores - I could not find these items at regular grocery stores.

So how do I feel? I honestly did not think I would see a noticeable difference, especially after only one week. However, I was shocked - I did get a big energy boost. My normal 2:00 - 3:30 afternoon daily drag completely vanished. After seeing and feeling the difference with these fairly easy small changes to my diet, I am absolutely ready to make them a regular part of my day (which is another thing I totally didn’t think would happen)!

So first up, my breakfast “superfood” smoothie. Here are the ingredients:

Goji is arguably one of the most powerful “superfoods” known. These little berries from the Himalayan mountains have more Vitamin C than oranges, more beta carotene than carrots and more iron than spinach, all in 1 little ounce. They have 20 trace minerals and 8 amino acids, and have protein as well as soluble fiber. ALL of that, and I can’t believe how good these taste. They are like a sweet, dried raspberry, which makes them a nice addition to smoothies, or you can just eat them plain. I chose this Navitas brand because it is organic and has a MUCH better taste than other brands I’ve tried. IMPORTANT: goji berries have been shown to adversely interact with some drugs, so if you are taking medication, consult your doctor before integrating these into your diet.

In case you hadn’t heard, the acai berry is a reddish-purple fruit native to Central and South America that is a powerhouse of antioxidants and essential omega fatty acids. However, as far as promoting weight loss, there is no scientific evidence yet to indicate that the acai berry is any more beneficial than any of the other berries (which are all healthful). These Sambazon pure acai smoothie pouches make it a snap to add the acai.

Raw cacao powder earns its “superfood” status because of its extremely high level of antioxidants…even higher than green tea or red wine. It also contains a high amount minerals such as magnesium and iron. Navitas Naturals is a great choice because it is 100% pure, raw and organic. I am now using this in my smoothies and coffee. WARNING: Use a VERY small amount! This stuff is so potent that I was jittery and bouncing off the walls after only a couple of tablespoons. I now use 1 tbsp. in both my coffee and smoothies, which is plenty.

Now for info on the Quadruple “Superfood” Smoothie that I made with all of these ingredients plus blueberries (which also has loads of antioxidants) and high protein, non-fat yogurt:

Calories: 230 - Fat: 3g, Carbs: 23g, Fiber: 3g, Protein: 19g, WW PTS: 4. Click here to get the recipe!

1/2 oz, goji berries (50 calories) 1/2 packet, Sambazon pure acai (40 calories) 1 tbsp. Navitas raw cacao powder (30 calories) 70 grams (35 berries) Fresh blueberries (20 calories) 6 oz Oikos yogurt (90 calories) 3 packets, Truvia (0 calories)

Blender: (Makes 1 serving): First take 1/4 cup of water and put it in the blender. Then add the goji powder, acai packet and cacao (the water absorbs the powders and keeps them from spraying all over the blender). Then add 15 ice cubes and the Oikos yogurt. Start the blender on slow and gradually increase the speed. Pour into 16 ounce glass, and enjoy your powerhouse superfood, antioxidant and protein smoothie!

Last up, my evening dose of superfood: decaf pomegranate green tea…

Republic of Tea has sweet and delicious decaffeinated superfruit green tea that is pretty much the most awesome tea ever. Green tea is already a great antioxidant, but now the pomegranate seeds that have been added to this one give it double antioxidant status: the pomegranate contains powerful antioxidants, amino acids, vitamin C and potassium. I choose decaf so I can sip it in the evening to curb my late night snack attack (it helps, really!). Unfortunately, this tea is insanely expensive so I’m on the lookout for a cheaper version. Also, this is obviously not meant to replace eating a real pomegranate, so if you like those and they are in season, they are the best option.



Fishing Tackle And Accessories
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what can i make tonight in my blender with frozen strawberry stuff?

Saturday, April 11th, 2009
lonesome me asked:


you know that frozen strawberry stuff, that you buy in the carten, what can i make with that stuff in a blender, and any regular household stuff i mgiht have around?

Stella
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