Canning That Tasty Lobster

By Joseph Parish

During the Y2K scare I was determined to not only be really prepared but to do it in style. Now when I say really I mean really. I didn't want to just survive. I wanted to do it in a style that I was accustomed to. I went out and purchased a 30 plus foot motor home specifically for Y2K and proceeded to equip it with the finer things in life. I stocked up on bottles of red and white wine (This was really a good excuse I think), cans of crab meat and of course lots of canned shrimp and lobster. It was not until later after Y2K that I discovered exactly how easy and economical it was to can my own lobsters in place of purchasing those cans which were already done.

The procedure involved is really quit simple and I would like to present the some of the information that I learned in this article.

Initially of course you must either catch or purchase your live lobsters. Heat a large lobster pot of water containing 2 tablespoons of salt added to it for every gallon of water you use. Bring this water to a boil and quickly plunge your live lobsters into it. Proceed to cook them for approximately 20 minutes depending upon their size. You will know when they are finished by their red color.

When the cooking of your lobsters has been completed remove them and rapidly dip them into some cold water. Proceed then to remove all the meat from the lobsters and then wash it carefully. Drain the meat well when finished and dip it into a solution consisting of ½ cup of vinegar to two quarts of water.

Take the meat at this stage and drain any excess moisture from it. Next pack the meat into clean sterilized half pint jars. Complete the process by filling the jars with brine to within ½ inch of the top leaving room for expansion.

The brine should be made with 1 ½ tablespoon of salt to two quarts of water. I like to use sea salt for this. Process the jars in your pressure canner at ten pounds of pressure. Half pints should normally be processed for 70 minutes. Don't forget to properly adjust your pressure according to your altitude and the style of pressure canner you are using.

To reuse open the jars and rinse the lobster meat to remove the brine and salt. Flush it with clear water and you are ready to eat. The most difficult part of this canning procedure is making sure the lobster goes into the jars and not eating it first!

Copyright @2008 Joseph Parish

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Cooking Tips - Cooking For Two

By Cristian Ignat

Everyone loves to eat meals that smell great, taste great and that look great. Preparing food for four people, although it can seem difficult, isn't as difficult as cooking for two. Nowadays, all stores offer meats, fish, poultry and other products in quantities that are suitable for large families. It is the case of supermarkets, specialty stores and ethnic food stores as well. This increases the challenge of cooking for two.

If you are a creative chef, buying large quantities when cooking for two actually can be an opportunity for creating a variety of dishes, that combine the same ingredients but that taste differently. Arranging the plates as to be very attractive can appeal to all senses of the partner, thus enhancing the overall experience.

Trying cooking for two requires prior knowledge of your partner's likes and dislikes. You can try, for your first diner, a new dish that you were planning to cook for some time. Only if the partner has a positive reaction to it you can, afterwards, get as creative as you can!

In your desire to conquer your partner, you may want to explore unknown territories to what cuisine is concerned. The best way to do that is by browsing a cookbook. Surely, the book will present dishes that you are already familiar to, but it can surely offer some new and enticing recipes. Even the name of the dish can be tempting, contributing to the overall presentation of the meal.

In addition to the modern cookbook, there is the world wide web as a viable alternative for your cooking for two experience. It is easy to find all sorts of recipes that you can download and print. Also, special recipes for diets are available on websites such as Weight Watchers and South Beach. Certain websites are dedicated uniquely to recipes that halp prepare the same type of food dish.

Searching for information before proceeding to cooking for two can make the cooking experience a fun adventure. You need to get as creative as you can and help make cooking for two a treat for the senses. It can prove to be quite relaxing and interesting. Doing so on a regular basis will bring adventure and joy to your life.

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Healthy Cooking For Beginners - 4 Easy Tips You Can Start Using Today

By Darlyn Burkle

Healthy cooking for beginners starts with this basic fact: you do not have to sacrifice taste or flavor in order to eat healthily!! Small changes to recipes can make a big difference to your overall nutrition. One of the easiest things you can do to improve your lifestyle is to swap out unhealthy ingredients for more wholesome ones. If you need help with cooking healthy food, you are at the right place. You may find that there is very little difference in taste if you make careful choices, but overall, the dish will be much better for you.

Tip #1: Use Less Fat or Grease

Quite often a recipe will call for butter or oil - perhaps to bind ingredients together, or to help with the cooking process. Avoid lard, and butter, and substitute for vegetable or sunflower oil, and low fat spreads where possible. If you cannot substitute for whatever reason, try using less of the oil or fat, or substitute with something like apple sauce. Also, try using a non stick cooking spray instead of oil if you are only using the oil to lubricate a pan.

Tip #2: Substitute Eggs For Something Better

Eggs are very nutritious. You would say they are interesting little packages of nutrition, with plenty of good things inside them. They are beneficial for keeping you healthy and for binding foods and creating emulsions. But eggs do have a downside. Egg yolks contain a lot of cholesterol, which many people try to avoid for health reasons. For healthy recipes that call for eggs, substitute two egg whites for one full egg, and you should be good to go.

Tip #3: Use Yogurt Instead of Mayonnaise

Yogurt is very versatile, healthy, and often relatively low in fat. If you need to make a recipe more creamy, or cool down something over-spiced, try using yogurt. For recipes that require mayonnaise or cream, try using yogurt instead - replacing a certain amount of mayonnaise with an equal amount of yogurt should work well. The only caveat is that while cream can simmer quite well, yogurt starts to curdle if it is over-heated, so watch the cooking time carefully if you are making a sauce with yogurt.

Tip #4: Reduce Your Salt Intake

It can be hard to get used to using less salt - after all, it has quite a strong taste and you really notice when it isn't there, but instead of covering everything in salt, why not try some other seasonings - garlic, herb mixtures, mustard, onions and celery can all be used as seasonings, and after a while you will enjoy mixing flavours and experiencing new tastes instead of using salt for everything. You don't have to totally eliminate salt, but reducing your intake will be a big step towards a healthy lifestyle.

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