Chef Foundation

Archive for June, 2010

From decorating a pillow to wrapping up a present, silk ribbon embroidery is extremely beautiful and easy to play with for hand-made projects. Ribbons are widely used to help people decorate or tie up creatively almost any type of hand-made project. But using ribbons to create for example a pompon bow or a ribbon rose used as a garment pin, takes practice and professional advice. Thus, the following simple tips can help you embellish your friend’s next present, or surprise your dinner guests with your own ribbon-made Dior plate treatments.

To create any kind of bow, you will need some basic tools, such as scissors, a meter, a thin wooden stick, some glue tape and/or wire and of course your choice of ribbons. Sold in a variety of colors, designs and textures, you can find your selection of ribbons at your local fabric store. If you wish to make your own pompon bow, take a ribbon and form a 9 inches loop equal in size to the diameter of the finished bow. Wrap the remaining ribbon around the loop as many times as you desire for your bow. Then, flatten loops and cut off triangles at end, being careful not to cut too close to the center. By bringing ends together to meet in center you will then be left with two overlapping triangles. Secure the ribbon at the centered triangles with wire, tape or another piece of ribbon. Pull out loops, twisting them towards the center and alternating sides and you will end up with your pompon bow. In case a Dior bow seems more appropriate, cut your selection of ribbon or ribbons into 5 lengths, beginning with 5 inches and stopping at 22 inches. Then take each piece and form loops, overlapping at the center. Glue them in place, and then securely attach each loop with the next. Finally, wrap a smaller length around the center of your bow and glue it under the bow’s visible surface. Your Dior bow can now embellish your hat, shoes, or handbag.

If you want to create your own beautiful ribbon pin rose you will need some wire and your choice of ribbons for the rose and its petals. Begin by making a knot at one end of a 22 inches ribbon length. At the opposite end of the ribbon, poke out wire from one side and loosely gather the ribbon along this wire down to the knot. Avoid pulling the ribbon hard, as it might snap. Continue gathering until the entire side is completely ruffled and it seems to curl naturally. Do not cut off the wire that appears at the end; leave for now free. Then, start forming a rose, by holding the knotted end in one hand and spiral the wired gathered ribbon with the other around the knot loosely. Continue rapping until it flares out and acquires an open rose effect. Then, fold the raw edge down to meet the gathered one and secure the wrapping wire end around the knot tightly. Cut the free wire off and finally, adjust the petals as needed to create the desired effect. For a leaf, fold small pieces of ribbon diagonally to the center and then fold each side towards the center to form a point. Gather bottom end and wrap it with wire, securing it onto the rose base. Your hand-made rose will certainly attract your friends’ attention.

Chances are if you have attended a lean enterprise workshop, read a book on lean or visited a world-class facility you’ve heard the term 5S.  5S, which stands for Sort-Set in order-Shine-Standardize-Sustain, is typically one of the first strategies an organization adapts in their lean transformation. 

A key componenet of 5S is the “visual workplace” where visual queues are used to help make conditions, instructions and actions instantly recognizable.  These can include simple signals such as color codes, signs or demarcated spaces. In this article we’ll focus on how to apply 5S to an area that is very important to you – your desk.

How many times have you heard someone say a cluttered workspace indicates a cluttered mind. This is certainly not a message you want to send to your co-workers and customers. So how can we tackle this problem? One way is to apply the 5S process to your own work area. Let’s look at how you would systematically go about converting paper to electronic files, cleaning out your hard drives, establishing visual management to your filing systems and organizing the physical space with these five simple steps.

The first S – Sort

Start with a clean slate! Going through your belongings can be quite a daunting task and all too often a stumbling block to getting organized. If your workspace has gotten so out of control that you don’t know where to start, sorting is your first task.

You will need some time to sort through your belongings so a suggestion is to do it during non-work hours.  This is typically a good Saturday morning project.  You will have to go through all those papers, files, magazines, etc. Your goal is to get rid of as much as possible. Create three piles and label them as 1) things I need and use every day, 2) things I occasionally need, and 3) things I haven’t touched in over three months and have no need for

Fish oil provides many benefits for dogs as well as people. A healthy dog food diet will provide two to three servings of beneficial cold-water fish weekly. The healthy dog food recipe below uses salmon to provide omega-3 fatty acids to dogs and includes vegetables for additional vitamins and nutrients.

Benefits of Fish Oil for Dogs

For many years veterinarians have recommended feeding fish oil to treat canine allergies and skin conditions. New research is showing that omega-3 fatty acids in the form of fish oil are good for preventing and treating a wide variety of canine diseases.

Older dogs suffering from arthritis will especially benefit from the healing properties of fish oils. The anti-inflammatory effects of omega-3 fatty acids are beneficial for treating the itching and inflammation associated with allergy-related skin conditions.

Supplementing Your Dogs Diet with Fish Oil

You can purchase fish oil supplements for animals, but why not just add cold water fish to your dogs diet? When fish is fed as part of the normal canine diet, there is no need to worry about proper dosing for your dogs size. Dogs will naturally get the proper amount as part of their normal dietary requirements.

Salmon and other cold water fish are high in beneficial omega-3 fatty acids. Feeding two servings a week of a high quality homemade dog food containing salmon as a protein source should be sufficient for most dogs. If your dog is suffering from arthritis, kidney failure, skin diseases or other inflammatory diseases, add a fish oil supplement to your dogs daily supplements.

See Benefits in Six to Eight Weeks

As with most nutritional therapies, it will take a while to notice changes in your pets health. Allow at least six to eight weeks of regular omega-3 therapy to evaluate the benefits for your pet.

Consult your veterinarian about your dogs specific needs and dosage. You vet can best advise you about your dogs special nutrient needs.

Salmon and Vegetable Meal

This Salmon and Rice Meal recipe is balanced to provide protein, vegetables and starches. Use the fish with the bones and juices included. The bones are pressure cooked during the canning process and are soft enough that dogs can eat them with no problem. The bones contain calcium and additional nutrients.

1 large can salmon, bones and juices included

2 large potatoes, cooked and mashed

1 cup mixed vegetables, cooked and minced or processed

Seasonings to taste

Mix all together. Moisten with additional broth or water if needed. Since all the ingredients are cooked, no additional cooking is required.

Store the leftovers as individual portions in the freezer. Additional moisture may be needed after thawing.

It is very vital that you have enough utensils in your kitchen. These utensils are very vital for you to be able to cook the food in the kitchen. The quality of the food that you cook may sometimes be affected by the utensils and equipment that you use. There are a lot of them that you will find in the market. There are some tips that you need to follow for you to be able to have the basic ones that you will surely need.

KNIVES

There are a lot of knives that you will find in the market. These knives can have different functions. Some are used in slicing and others for grating. There are a lot of designs that you will see in the market. Try to buy those that you think will be very useful for you.

MEASURING TOOLS

It is very important that you use the accurate amount of ingredients while cooking. Make sure that you have the basic measuring tools for you to be able to mix the right amount of ingredients. You will find measuring cups in the market for sure. There are spoons that can ensure accuracy in mixing the ingredients too.

TIMER

Some foods must be cooked at the exact time specified. They must be cooked in that way or else the result will never be good. A timer will help you make sure that the foods are cooked appropriately. Try to get one now.

THE BASICS

There are basic tools that you need to have in your kitchen. These may include spatulas, whisks, can openers, bowls, pans and a lot more. These are very important also. Get different sizes so that you will be able to cook in the right way.

There are a lot of tools that you will see in the market today. You will find a lot of them in stores near you. There are online sites that you can visit too. The tips mentioned will surely help you. Try to keep them in mind so that you will have a guide to follow later on.

Ham is usually sold in one of three conditions:

1) Fully cooked
2) Partially cooked
3) Uncooked

Although the cooking techniques are similar, there are differences between a fully cooked and a partially cooked or uncooked ham. For example, a fully cooked ham should be cooked to an internal temperature of 140 degrees Fahrenheit, while a partially cooked or uncooked one should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160 degrees.

The instructions below are grouped into sections for fully cooked and partially or uncooked hams. –

Roasting or Baking–Fully Cooked

There are three basic types of fully cooked ham:

1) Wet cured or City Ham
2) Spiral sliced
3) Canned hams

Keep in mind that a fully cooked ham does not require cooking; it can be eaten as is. But cooking it can bring out the flavors of its own juices. The flavor can also be enhanced by adding other ingredients during the baking process. A fully cooked ham should be cooked to an internal temperature of 140 degrees.

Spiral Sliced Ham

This type is pre-seasoned and does not require cooking. However, if the ham is to be served warm place it in aluminum foil, cut side down and add approximately ½ cup of water. Wrap ham tightly in aluminum foil and cook at 275º-300º. Allow 10 to 14 minutes per pound cooking time. Ham may be removed from oven when internal temperature reaches 135º. Allow to sit in foil for a few minutes until the internal temperature reaches 140º.

Canned Ham

Place the ham in a shallow cooking pan, uncovered. Bake at 325º. Allow 15 to 20 minutes per pound cooking time.

Wet Cured (City) Ham

This ham may be cooked either covered or uncovered.

Covered

Trim any excess skin and fat. Do not trim off all the fat as that is what produces the juices and flavor. Place ham in a roasting pan, if cut, place cut side down. Cover with aluminum foil and bake at 325 degrees. Allow 15 to 18 minutes per pound for whole hams and 18 to 24 minutes per pound for half hams. Glazes, if used, should be applied during the last thirty minutes of cooking.

Uncovered

Follow directions for covered ham, except do not cover with foil. Use same cooking temperatures and times. Apply glaze in the last 30 minutes of cooking.

Roasting or Baking Partially Cooked or Uncooked Ham

These hams are defined as Dry-Cured (Country) ham or Wet-Cured (City) Ham types. Remember, regardless of the type, these hams should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160 degrees.

Dry-Cured (Country) Ham

These hams need to be washed and soaked for up to three days before cooking. Follow the label directions on the ham for washing and soaking instructions. This type of ham can be baked covered or uncovered.

Covered

After soaking, place it in a large roasting pan with 4 to 5 cups of water. If the ham has a skinless side and a side with skin, put it in the roasting pan skin side up.

Cover the ham with aluminum foil or a cover. Put the ham in a preheated 375 degree oven and increase oven temperature to 500º and cook at this setting for the first 10 minutes only. After 10 minutes, turn the oven off and allow the ham to set for three hours without opening the oven door. Turn the oven back on to 500º again for 15 minutes. This time, the ham needs to set in the oven, without the door being opened, for 6 to 8 hours. After setting, the internal temperature of the ham should be at least 160 degrees; if not, repeat the 500 degrees setting again for 15 minutes and check the ham after 1 to 2 hours. If desired, brush with glaze before serving.

Uncovered

After soaking, place the ham in a large roasting pan with 3 cups water. Do not cover. Put the ham in a preheated 325 degree oven and cook until the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees. As a guide, a whole ham will need about 18 to 20 minutes and a half ham will need about 22 to 25 minutes cooking time per pound.

Wet-Cured (City) Ham

Use the same methods as the fully cooked wet cured hams, but remember to cook to an internal temperature of 160 degrees. Therefore, the cooking time will be a little longer than that for a fully cooked wet ham.

Ham Cooking Tips

Baking at lower temperatures but with increased times will result in richer flavored hams. Do not use temperatures below 200 degrees. Do not pierce the ham once cooking begins-this allows beneficial juices and flavorings to escape. When checking the internal temperature, avoid touching the bone with the thermometer as this can cause an incorrect reading.

Fundraising has become one of the most noteworthy and well-known activity. Now more and more people are into fundraising and they are actively taking part in several fundraising activities. In earlier times, the concept of the work of charitable organizations and fundraising activities of these organizations was quite limited and was not communicated on wider scale, but now because of the increased awareness, which has been spread by media, the work of charitable organizations and the response of people towards giving donations and funds, has been strengthened, to a great level. Now you will see more and more people are into the process of fundraising. The number of charitable organizations is being increasing, by each passing year. These organizations are working with the collaboration of private and government sector, which has resulted in the success of the work, which they are engaged in. With the prominent work of these charities, the people have also got great level of motivation and now they are really showing interest in helping poor people, by giving significant amount of funds and donations.

Selling of fundraising merchandizes is one of the most unique and popular ways of collecting and raising funds. This activity has earned great popularity and people are willing to donate more and more funds. Along with the items, which are being sold over Internet, for the purpose of fundraising, the ribbons of different colors are attached with them. The purpose of selling these items with ribbons is to highlight the cause for which the fund is being raised. Ribbon key chains are very popular these days, among huge segment of the society.

People are showing great interest in buying ribbon key chains, as pink, purple and autism ribbons are attached with these key chains, which signifies that awareness key chains are being sold to raise funds for the patients of autism, asperger syndrome, breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, testicular cancer, thyroid cancer, cancer survivor and for the well being of birthparents as well. The amount, which is collected by the selling of ribbon key chains also goes to those charities, which are helping in spreading awareness regarding childhood cancer. Therefore, the importance of selling and buying ribbon key chains is exceedingly prominent.

Buying ribbon key chains means that you are donating money for generous and noble cause and your money could provide relief to a number of patients, who are suffering from fatal and chronicle diseases. The basic purpose of selling ribbon key chains is to show thanksgiving gesture to all those people, who contribute their role in this great cause. If you will buy a box of ribbon key chains, which would contain around 27 key chains, then you will get to live with a feeling of contentment and satisfaction, as you will be aware that you have also helped someone in one way or another. Ribbon key chains are very beautiful and they also give a message of home, love and care, which helps in spreading continuous awareness regarding the donation of more and more, funds.