Tips For Maximizing Your Style On A Budget

For some reason we all have it in our heads that in order to have style we need to have money. This is entirely not true. You can take a look at various glossy gossip magazines to prove this fact. Style does not come from the size of your bank account it comes from you, the person with in.

There is a well known saying that money can buy fashion but it cannot buy style.

If you think back to when many of the leading designers of today started out, neither of them had the millions they have. They took the simplest of ideas and turned them into radical personal statements and began revolutions.

Who ever invented the simple t-shirt would have been proud of the way people have put their personal stints on them, you can buy a plan white t-shirt for pennies and just buy letting your imagination go can make it look breath taking just buy cutting a bit off here gluing or sewing a few beads or sequins there. And voila you have a totally different look. The important thing is knowing where to cut and where to glue.

Over the past few years I have discovered that I do not have to buy a new outfit every time I go out. I just modify the items I have. I do love fashion but this isn’t always possible when you have limited funds. You may frown at the idea of charity shops, markets and non high street shops as I used to but I am telling you some of my nicest pieces have come from shops I have no clue of the name or the place all I know is I paid minimal for them and they look great.

The most successful shopping trip was when I raided my mums old suitcases which where loaded with things from the 60’s 70’s and 80’s. I came out with dresses, tops, jumpers the list goes on and a paid nothing for them. You see fashion does come back around, with the exception of the 80’s shell suit, shoulder pads or rib cracking corsets with 10 mile wide skirts. And it’s knowing how to team them with the looks of today.

Markets for me are the greatest placed to pick up things and the greatest thing is you will not walk down the street and see twenty people wearing the same thing. Once upon a time my friend was overjoyed at the fact that she had bought this absolutely amazing dress and was flaunting it around like there was no tomorrow only to leave the house in it and see five other girls wearing the same thing.

Needless to say she was mortified. And she’d spent a fortune on it. Another example was when I was online browsing and a came across the beautiful pair of shoes. I made my self a promise as soon as I get paid I would get them. So pay day came I went to get them. But when I got there they had lost their appeal. Determined not to go home empty handed I went to any shop which had a sale sign in the window. That day I came out with a whole outfit shoes and all for the same price as the shoes.

As stated before style comes from within the individual. You either have it or you don’t and even more so on a budget. You can take a very old and battered pair of jeans team it with a simple tee or shirt and it will be the accessories that make the outfit like bright shoes, big bangles some earrings maybe a head scarf just know how to coordinate the colours and a lovely vintage bag thanks to mummy.

A simple tee can cost as little as under a fiver and the jeans well like I said an old battered pair that’s probably been in the back of your wardrobe for years just as the tee. And the accessories need not cost a bomb either or be bought at all you can mix and match with things you have acquired over the years. There you have a nice outfit for everyday living.

You see people as quoted by a very very prestigious well known designer Fashion comes and goes but style is forever. Remember you do not have to follow the crowd to look good. Know the colours that suit you, know what cuts suit you and more than ever know your budget.

Tips To Increase Your Monthly Budget

There are many ways to increase your monthly budget. One is to get a second or third job and make more money. However, there are ways to increase your current monthly budget without taking up more of your leisure time.

Since the turn in the economy, people are more willing to consider trimming their budgets and adopting new ways of saving. While you trim in some areas, you can also increase your monthly budge in other, more important areas.

First, when trying to increase your monthly budget, it’s important to know how much money you have and where it goes. For a month, write down every purchase you make and every bill you pay. At the end of a month, divide the purchases and payments into two categories: needs and wants.

Under the “needs” category, list all necessities, such as rent or mortgage, food, gas, medication, etc. Put all the other items into the “wants” category. Determine what “wants” you can do without or can cut back on. The money you save from those wants can be used to increase other areas of your monthly budget.

Here are some ways to find money within your budget in order to increase your monthly budget in other areas:

1. Heat and air conditioning. In the winter, put on an extra sweater and set the thermostat a couple of degrees lower than usual. In the summer, do the opposite. Over a year, you will save money. Another way to save money is to clean the heating and air conditioner filter regularly. It will make the unit function more efficiently.

2. Plan your driving. If you are used to running out on an errand whenever you want, plan ahead. By consolidating your errands into one trip, you will save the back and forth driving and save gas.

3. Collaborate with neighbors and friends for services. For example, go together on services that are needed only occasionally, such as lawn care, and you might get a reduced rate.

4. Substitute at home meals and packing a lunch for fast food and restaurant meals. If you must eat out, choose wisely. By ordering water instead of other beverages you can save a couple of bucks right off the top of your bill. Also, the meals served in restaurants are very large these days. Ask for a take-out box and take half of your meal home for dinner.

5. Grocery shopping. Shop from a list with a calculator in hand. If you will use a quantity of a product before it spoils, then buy a quantity of it. Calculate a per ounce or per pound price for what you are buying. Sometimes, it is no cheaper to buy the large size.

6. Whenever possible, use coupons or discounts. They really can add up to substantial savings.

7. Save on electricity in other ways. When you leave a room, turn off the lights; and when finished, turn off your computer.

8. Learn the art of delayed gratification. Because credit cards are so prevalent, we've forgotten how to save for a purchase. Use credit cards for emergencies only.

In most cases, you won’t need to use all of these suggestions at once. The more of them you use, however, the more you will save and the more you’ll be able to increase your monthly budget in other areas.

Vacation On A Budget

Summer vacations are nearly as iconic in American society as the backyard barbecue. Warm weather arrives, and with it; the urge to go somewhere else, see something different and do something beyond the realm of regular habit. We are driven by tradition, nostalgia and a desire for change to get away and explore; to abandon the mundane and go out to play. Short economics do not have to sound the death knell to summer dreams.

Ingenuity often increases possibility, and innovative solutions to the expenses of a getaway can make a trip a reality even when money is tight. Regardless of where the wanderlust may lead you, there are ways to vacation economically but the degree of savings is dependent upon one primary rule to remember. The proportion of savings is directly tied to the amount of effort you are willing to invest. If someone else is doing things for you, you will pay for it.

Vacations are made wonderful largely by attitude, which costs little but some concentrated effort. Determination to have a good time renders the inevitable kafuffles inherent in any trip unimportant. Getaways, by their very nature are venues for expanded experience. Start by looking close to home. People live all their lives near places others come from far and wide to see and yet often never go there themselves. With modern transportation options day trips can take you to some wonderful places. Short trips are easy on tempers and the pocketbook and you can sleep in the best bed in the world…your own.

For adventures farther afield, start with affordable transportation. If driving is less expensive than a flight, break up the trip with side trips along the way. Hurry to get to a single destination misses much of interest between point A and point B. Camp along the way and save on hotel bills. If camping is not your style stay in modest hotels or Bed and Breakfast establishments rather than five star hotels. If you must fly, check out discounted prices well ahead of time and lock in your rates.

Hit the grocery stores in faraway places for breakfast and lunch food and save eating in restaurants for dinner. The effort of fixing food yourself has benefits. The family will eat what they are used to and like, making waste of food and money less, and the novelty of eating in a restaurant does not pall after the first day out.

Travel souvenirs can be free if you think outside the box. Prices on tourist – shop items are generally expensive but stones, shells, pressed leaves and embossed napkins are free. Check local laws and travel restrictions first, however, so that what you choose to take home is legal. Pictures and memories make the best souvenirs of all.

Once arrived at a destination, check out the local museums, botanical gardens and nature preserves. These are often inexpensive, free, or have a free day you can plan into your schedule. Visitor centers are usually listed in the local phone book and the resident staff are always happy to direct you to areas of interest. Absorbing a bit of local history always makes memories of a place stronger and more interesting. Some of your favorite vacation memories may arise from visits to places you never knew were there.

The most important way to save money on a getaway is to plan ahead. Organization saves not only money on transportation and accommodation but those extra costs incurred when you have to buy things you forgot. The purchase of a sun – hat at an amusement park will cost about three time what it would have at home. Plan your itinerary, think of the climate in your destination and make lists. Check things off as you pack. Because this is a focused activity, this exercise will often trigger the remembrance of something and allow its inclusion so you do not have to buy it later.

Summer getaways are important to us. They are the essential playtime in our lives; something we never outgrow and find necessary to our soul. Economic conditions may change their extent of possibility but they will always be with us in one form or another. Budgeting makes a destination possible and a positive attitude makes budgeting friend rather than foe to enjoyment.

5 Aromatherapy Oils For House Cleaning

Whether you make your own cleaning products from scratch or simply want to incorporate aromatherapy oils into the house-keeping regimen you already follow, it’s helpful to keep a good supply of fragrant essential oils to use in cleaning.

These can be added a few drops at a time to homemade cleaning products, or they can simply be diluted with water and used to substitute or supplement your normal routine. Aromatherapy oils can not only fill your home with soothing, pleasant, and possibly even medicinal scents, but they can also help to kill bacteria, mold, viruses, and even bugs. Here are five aromatherapy oils to use in house cleaning.

  1. Clove Oil

It not only smells divine, but it’s a potent poison for pests and pathogens! Clove oil ranked highest out of a review of several aromatherapy oils as an insect repellent, and it also seems to defeat staph, strep, and other deadly bacteria.

While it’s best use is as a mosquito repellent, clove aromatherapy oil can also help to keep your home free of icky pests like bed bugs, fleas, cockroaches, and even those pesky, hard-to-kill fire ants. Wipe down your countertops and baseboards with this pest-repelling, spicy, fragrant oil to keep your home clean and pest-free.

  1. Orange Oil

Long hailed as a favorite aromatherapy oil for house cleaning, orange oil is one of the greenest products around because it’s a natural by-product of the orange juice industry, and makes use of a waste product.

It’s an excellent furniture polish and can also be used on counter tops and in sinks, and it’s extremely effective for killing Salmonella and E. Coli, which are deadly infections that can hide in your own kitchen. Humans, on the other hand, might benefit just from smelling the stuff: orange oil is often used to help lift mood and beat the blues.

  1. Tea Tree Oil

One of the world’s most popular aromatherapy oils, tea tree oil has a crisp, clean fragrance and powerful antiseptic properties. In alternative medicine, it’s used primarily as a topical treatment for acne and fungal infections, but it can do so much more! A few drops of tea tree oil mixed with water or cleaning products appears to be a potent weapon against the antibiotic-resistant superbug MRSA.

In fact, one study suggested that it be recommended in hospitals alongside other treatments to battle MRSA. Of course, it doesn’t end there: tea tree oil can prevent the growth of mold and other fungi and makes an excellent product for cleaning your bathroom and your kitchen sink.

  1. Peppermint Oil

When we smell peppermint, we think “clean.” Why else would this herb have been used for so many hundreds of years in products for dental health and fresh breath? Peppermint oil doesn’t just smell clean, though: it actually helps to keep your home free of disease. Peppermint fights the growth of fungi, bacteria, and certain viruses, and its scent is purported to improve mood and make people feel more vibrant and awake.

Although it hasn’t been studied much, it may have another benefit for keeping homes clean. Folk wisdom claims that rodents hate the smell of peppermint and won’t enter a home that has been cleaned with it. It certainly can’t hurt to use it to keep mice and rats away!

  1. Lavender Oil

Lavender aromatherapy oil for housekeeping is becoming very popular. It’s a primary ingredient in many natural cleaning products sold in stores today. Lavender is known for its soothing and calming properties. Its name, which means “to wash,” accurately reflects its centuries-old reputation as an ingredient in soap. Spray a fine mist of lavender in your shower or use it to freshen up your linens between washes. According to aromatherapy proponents, it will be emotionally soothing, not just cleansing!

Aromatherapy oils can be an excellent component of your own housekeeping plan, whether you use them to make your own cleaning products or simply to supplement the products you’re already using. Unlike a lot of harsh “chemical” cleaners, aromatherapy oils not only make your home cleaner and safer, but they also smell wonderful and may even have health benefits!

Detoxify And Cleanse Your Body

In every person’s life there comes a time to examine what might not be healthy life choices, such as consuming excess fats, carbs, sugars, and processed foods in general. These unhealthy choices add up over a lifetime to create long term health problems such as obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular problems, among others.

Many of the negative effects from eating unhealthy foods can be reduced, and with a nutritionist and doctor’s help, often reversed to a great extent. While eating the right kinds of food and exercising are two of the most life-changing instruments, there is another valuable tool to utilize in fighting for good health.

Ridding the Body of Toxins

We can begin by ridding our bodies of toxins which are in our air, our water and our food. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates there are over 70,000 different toxins that we can be exposed to at any moment. If your liver is overwhelmed with toxins from your blood stream, it becomes sluggish and can lead to poor health, disrupting the body’s internal balance.

If the toxins don’t get properly neutralized and excreted, they end up being stored in your cells. When that happens, you can experience chronic fatigue, brain fog, muddled thinking, mood swings, and even aches and pains.

Detoxification is Crucial

Whether we live in a busy city or a suburb-by-the-sea, our bodies have an increased need for protection from the toxins in our 21st century environment. Detoxification is also crucial for weight loss because toxins are stored in our body fat. In order to flush them out, the hard-working liver must break everything down that enters the body.

Prepare Yourself for Internal Cleansing

To prepare yourself for internal cleansing, consume lots of clean spring water and foods that support both the liver and the colon, such as:

 organic broccoli
 cauliflower
 leafy greens
 citrus fruits
 flaxseed oil
 olive oil
 cranberry juice
 lean meats

Benefits of Colon Cleansing

 high energy
 sharpening of mental capabilities
 enhancement in digestion
 weight loss
 prevention of illness
 boost in emotional well-being
 elimination of unhealthy food addictions and allergies
 spiritual renewal
 minimizing the effects of aging

In health food stores everywhere one can find a plethora of products to cleanse and detoxify the body of unnecessary and harmful toxins. Talk with a nutritionist, doctor, naturopathic doctor, or get help from the health food store staff to get your healthy start in cleansing and detoxification.

A Beginners Guide To Cooking With Spices

With the right spices, you can easily make a good dish taste great! This guide will help beginners learn how to cook with spices.

Spices add excitement. Their scents evoke tropical climates and distant exotic lands. They transport us.

By definition, spices come from other parts of the plant than garden herbs do. Herbs are the leaves of soft, nonwoody plants. They tend to have milder flavors than spices, and are more likely to be used fresh. However, some plants bear both herbs and spices, like coriander and dill.

Selection

It is best to buy whole spices, because their essence stays vibrant much longer. Flavors dull relatively quickly when spices are ground. If you buy ground spices for the sake of convenience, get the smallest container possible, and mark the date on the jar. Throw out ground spices after a year, or sooner if they seem to have lost their zest.

Tools like a nutmeg grater, a ginger grater, and a small coffee grinder (that you never use for coffee), can help you make the most of your spice collection. A pepper grinder is handy too, and a mortar and pestle to pulverize a few spices without making a lot of noise.

Be willing to spend more for better quality. Top quality products do make a substantial difference in taste, and you are only using a small amount in each dish, so your cost per meal remains manageable.

Don’t buy every pretty jar in the store. Many people have a huge collection of dusty jars growing stale in their pantry. For example, you probably don’t need Greek oregano, wild oregano, and Mexican oregano as well. Choose the varieties that you are likely to use most often.

Buy some spice blends. Serious gourmets may be horrified, but spice blends will help casual cooks to flavor many dishes in a balanced and interesting way.

Storage

To keep them flavorful longer, store spices in a cool dark place that’s convenient for the cook. A pantry is ideal, or a cabinet with doors that shut out light and moisture. If both of these options are impossible, at least put your expensive collection in opaque or dark glass jars. Do not store your spices on top of the oven or right next to the cooktop.

Go through your collection frequently, and be sure to clean your jars thoroughly before refilling them with new spices.

Use

To cook with spices, begin by adding less than you think you might need, and taste as you go. Too much spice will overwhelm the food instead of enhancing it. You are working to achieve a balance, in which you taste a combination of flavors, not a mouthful of overstated spice.

Flavors interact. A bit of salt, though it isn’t a spice, will tone down the bitterness of spices like cardamom. A tiny amount of vinegar will modify saltiness. A pinch of sugar intensifies the bouquet of many foods. Ginger lessens fishy flavors, and gaminess in wild fowl, but too much ginger will burn unpleasantly.

Spices often become more fragrant if they are toasted or sauteed, rather than simply being tossed in the pot with everything else. Curry blends and chili powder, in particular, will not taste good raw.

On the other hand, be very careful not to scorch your spices, or they may become bitter.

A Selection of Spices

Stick cinnamon, allspice, and cloves are basic sweet spices. Vanilla, made from an orchid, is essential.

Saffron, the stigma of the autumn crocus, is a delightful but costly spice. Turmeric or mace will also color foods pleasantly, and some believe turmeric to be a very healthy ingredient.

Chilies, mustard seeds, and wasabi all add heat, and must be used with discretion. Useful ginger must be refrigerated, and even then will mold.

Coriander, caraway, dill, and cumin are all fragrant seeds that retain their fragrance indefinitely. Crush lightly to release the aroma.

Spices add interest and intensity to everyday foods. They must be added with a light hand, but can raise home cooking to a delightful new level.

A Guide To Cheese Great Cooking Cheese

Interested in cooking with cheese? This guide will teach you about the different types of cheese, their flavor profiles, and how to cook with each of them.

From Mozzarella to English Cheddar, your guide to cooking with cheese and the great cooking cheeses.

There are thousands of varieties of cheese available, from every corner of the world not all however, are great cooking cheeses. Here are some of the classic cheeses for cooking with.

What are the Qualities of a Good Cooking Cheese?

This is somewhat of a trick question, as the answer depends upon the style of cooking and what is to be achieved. Here are some of the key considerations.

-- Melting Habit – In cooking, cheeses melt in a different ways all of which give a cheese a suitability or not for a given usage. For sauces, a cheese is required which will completely melt away into the sauce, leaving only the flavour. On the other hand, a cheese such as Haloumi has an ability almost to avoid melting, making the cheese perfect for use in dishes such as vegetable kebabs.

--Flavor – One of the prime reasons for using a cheese in cooking is to impart flavor upon a dish. Strong varieties such as Cheddar will add a strong cheese flavor to a sauce or dish. Not all cheeses however, have such strong flavors a point to note in the selection of a cooking cheese.
 Texture – Whilst some cheeses are used to impart a strong flavor on a dish, others with a milder flavors are used for texture. Mozzarella is a classic example, the cheese in itself does not have a massive flavor, the cheese is cooked with, instead to lend its unique chewy texture to dishes such as pizza and grilled sandwiches.

-- Salt content – Cheeses have a variety of salt contents present in their constitution. Remember that such salt levels will add to the salt content of the overall dish. As such consider that the use of a salty cheese may off set the need for seasoning of a dish.

Great Ingredients – Classic Cooking Cheeses

-- Cheddar – A staple English cheese. Cheddar is a cows milk cheese and is often made to have a strong flavor. The cheese melts well and as such, its melting point and flavor makes it the ideal cheese for the production of cheese based sauces.
-- Haloumi – True Haloumi comes from Cypress and is made of Ewe’s milk. The cheese does not melt readily, this may be considered a drawback in cooking for many purposes. However, the unique properties of Haloumi mean that it is great for inclusion on a kebab or other barbecued food.
-- Emmental and Gruyere – Both of these are classic Swiss cheese of the “holed” variety. Both cheeses melt well and go well with earthy flavors such as mushrooms. The combination of the nutty flavor of Gruyere and mushrooms make an ideal filling for a vegetarian version of ravioli.
-- Feta – This is the classic Greek goat’s cheese. The cheese is salty and bright white in color. Consider using this cheese in the cooking of rustic versions of pizza or grilled sandwiches. Grilled Feta goes well with olives and peppery green salad leaves, such as rocket.
-- Blue Stilton – The classic blue cheese of England, produced only in the three counties of Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. Blue Stilton is great cooked in a soup, Stilton and Broccoli is a classic.
-- Mozzarella – True Mozzarella is made from buffalo milk, although much of the Mozzarella which is sold in the supermarket is made from cows milk. Mozzarella has a very mild flavor, the true merits of Mozzarella in cooking its chewy texture and ability to stretch into long strings. Mozzarella is a classic cheese for inclusion on a pizza.
-- Ricotta – Another classic Italian cheese. Ricotta is a “whey” cheese with a grainy texture and does not ooze when cooked. Ricotta is ideal used in combination with spinach, this can then be used as a filling for baked pasta dishes such as Cannelloni.

Basic Techniques For Cooking Chicken

Find out the basics techniques for cooking chicken, including how to season it and cook it in a variety of ways.

Find out the basics techniques for cooking chicken, including how to season it and cook it in a variety of ways.

One of the most useful and easy to accomplish kitchen skills is how to cook chicken. An extremely versatile ingredient, cuisines from around the world have a signature chicken recipe such as Chicken Cacciatore, Coq au Vin, and Southern Fried Chicken. Regardless of the origin, the majority of recipes use one of the following eight cooking methods.

In The Oven

Roasting is used most often to cook a whole chicken. Place the bird on a rack in an uncovered roasting pan to allow heat to circulate around and underneath the chicken and is basted with pan drippings to keep the meat moist and to help develop crispy brown skin.

Similar to roasting, baking uses dry heat but the food is cooked in a baking pan. Typically chicken is baked either as a casserole or as individual pieces that are cooked in a sauce.

Broiling uses direct heat from above and is most often used for pieces of chicken or a whole bird that has had the backbone removed and is then pressed flat. Preheat the broiler for 8-10 minutes. Use a broiler pan that has a slotted top piece and keep 6-8 inches between the broiler and the food.

On The Stovetop

Frying uses medium to high heat and depending on the type of frying, a varying amount of fat. Pan frying uses the least amount of fat, and deep-frying the most. To shallow fry, preheat a heavy bottom skillet. Add enough oil to reach midway up whatever you are frying and keep the oil at a constant temperature. Only flip the food once during cooking.

Sautéing is perfect for cooking thin cuts such as cutlets. Preheat a shallow, wide bottom pan over medium-high heat. When the pan is hot, add enough oil to coat the bottom of the pan, then the ingredients but do not over crowd. There needs to be space between each piece of food to allow steam to evaporate. Turn or flip the food frequently during cooking.

Stir-frying uses high heat and only a small amount of fat. Preheat a skillet or wok until the oil is very hot, add the ingredients in groups according to cooking time. Make sure not to crowd the pan so the food will fry, not stew and then keep stirring the food continuously until the vegetables are crisp tender and the chicken juices run clear.

Braising uses liquid and slow cooking process to create fork tender meals. Begin by browning the chicken in fat over a medium high heat, and then add broth or wine to deglaze the pan. After deglazing, add enough liquid to cover the meat and cover with a tight fitting lid. Cook for several hours at a low temperature either on the stovetop or in the oven.

On the Grill

For charcoal grilling, pile the briquettes into a pyramid in the center of the grill, wet with a good amount of lighter fluid and light. It will take about 20 minutes for the coals to be ready to cook on. If cooking boneless chicken parts, spread the briquettes into a single layer before placing the grill rack. Cook bone-in chicken over indirect heat by pushing the coals to the sides and then cover the grill.

Indoor grills and gas grills do not have the advantage of being able to distribute the heat by moving the ‘fire’ but they do have adjustable controls and heat zones. Whether indoors or out the idea for grilling is the same; direct (high) heat for quick cooking cuts and indirect (low) heat for slow cooking bone-in cuts or whole birds.

Versatility

Beginning cooks are often intimidated by recipes that require sautéing or braising because of their unfamiliarity with cooking terms. The terms for cooking in the oven, on top of the stove, and on the grill are basic to the kitchen and can be easily learned and with a bit of practice, mastered. Once a cook becomes comfortable with these techniques, there is no end to the variety of meals that will show up on the dinner table.

Beginners Guide To Low Fat Cooking

Beginning a diet of low fat cooking, may be as simple as changing your method of cooking to baking, broiling, or grilling, in lieu of, frying.

To begin with, fried foods are going to contain more fat content, than foods prepared by baking, broiling, or grilling, especially when preparing meat. The excess fat is allowed to drain and run off the meat, for example, if you are grilling steaks, instead of frying them. Of course, in a low fat diet, lean red meats, and white meat , may be a better choice, since they don’t have as much fat content naturally..

Skip using the deep fat fryers, since they allow foods to absorb and saturate the grease or oil they are cooking in, resulting in more fat calories consumed. Most of these fats are also trans fats, which are the saturated fats found in animal products, that help contribute to high cholesterol and heart disease.

Next, we need to establish exactly what defines low fat food that is used in cooking.

Low fat food usually means that a particular food product has 3 grams of fat or less per serving. Labels are provided for the consumer on the back or side of food products to list the fat content of a particular food. Try to avoid foods that are listed with higher saturated fat content. Some unsaturated fat oils that can possibly lower your blood cholesterol levels, are olive and canola oils. Be sure to use these sparingly though, since they do add a lot of calories also.

Secondly, make a list of foods that are naturally low in fat and incorporate these foods into your cooking. Here are some of these foods listed below.

 Vegetables
 Fruits
 Whole grains
 Fish
 Soy products
 Chicken

Food products you may want to limit or avoid when wanting a lower fat content in cooking, are cheeses, ice cream, and egg yolks, which have a higher fat content .You can, however, use just the egg whites, low fat or fat free ice cream, and fat free cheeses to avoid this.

Although margarine is lower in calories and fat content than butter, beware of using any margarine, in lieu of butter, since a lot of margarine is high in trans fatty acids. There is trans fatty free margarine now available at most supermarkets.

Another step is eliminating fried foods, and avoiding processed foods, for example, cookies, crackers, and donuts, that contain hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils, both of which are high in trans fat. Trans fatty acids have been shown to lower good cholesterol, HDL levels as well as, raising LDL levels.

Remember, learn how to prepare your food in a low fat way. Try to bake and grill your meats, rather than frying them, avoiding the high fat content of oils and grease used in frying.

Finally, generally, to begin low fat cooking, use what nature provides, and avoid frying, processed foods, and oils and you’ll soon be off to a great start in preparing low fat meals.

Best Ways To Cook Flat Iron Steak

A flat iron steak is a type of beef that can be cooked in many different ways. Here are some recipes to get you started.

Even though it is reasonably priced, many shoppers overlook the flat iron steak because they are not sure how it should be cooked. The flat iron is a relatively new cut of meat from the shoulder of the cow. It is called a flat iron because of its appearance, which is flat like an old-fashioned iron. It is boneless and sold in a package that looks like a brisket. It can be used in recipes that call for other flat cuts of meat such as the flank or skirt steak.

Grilling the Flat Iron Steak

Flat Iron steaks are good either grilled outside on a charcoal grill or on a George Foreman indoor grill. They can be simply salted and peppered and grilled, then served with a side sauce such as a prepared horseradish sauce or barbeque sauce, or flavor can be added by using a store-bought rub or a home-made one before grilling. A quick homemade rub can be prepared with:

3 TBSP brown sugar
dash of garlic powder
salt
pepper

Flat iron steak can also be marinated. Mix all ingredients, then let it sit in marinade a covered dish or sealed plastic bag in the refrigerator overnight, or at least 2 hours.

Easy Marinade:

half a cup of lime juice
quarter cup brown sugar
1 TBSP soy sauce
powdered garlic just a pinch
ginger just a pinch

Grill the steaks on each side for about five minutes. This steak tastes best slightly rare or medium and not overcooked.

To broil flat iron steak, prepare as if grilling, then place in foil-lined broiler pan about four inches from the top. Broil about 5-6 minutes on each side.

Pan-Frying the Flat Iron Steak

Here is an easy recipe for pan-frying the flat iron steak:

1-lb. flat iron steak
1 TBSP steak seasoning
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Rub the steak with seasoning and salt, then cook in hot oil in a large frying pan for about 5-6 minutes on each side.

Using the Leftovers to Make Stirfy or Fajitas

Leftover flat iron steak can be the basis for a good stir-fry or pepper steak served with rice. Fajitas are also an excellent way to serve the leftover steak. Since the meat is prepared, the work is almost done. Slice the meat into very thin strips, then heat in a skillet and serve with warm tortillas. As a garnish use shredded cheddar cheese, salsa, lettuce, sour cream and guacmole.