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I had recently been on western etiquette training workshop; Apart from learning the cultural differences I also got to know the kind of food that westerners eat and prefer and more importantly the table manners that needs to be followed.

Very rarely do people from the West (including Europe) use their hands to eat food; the spoon, fork and knife are regular items. As I was learning how to use the fork and knife, I found eating with them a much harder task than lifting weights in a gym.

Follow these easy steps below and become an expert at good eating.

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Allow me to apologize. All these days I was wondering why there were no comments at all. I fgured out recently that there was problem with the Blog Settings and it wasn’t showing any comments.

Wordpress, the blog platform which powers Indian Food Kitchen Blog is very powerful and easy. Spam Karma, which is a plugin for spam control apparenlty stopped all comments. I’ve switched to Akismet for spam punishment.

Cheers

Watermelon Carving - You probably would have seen them in parties, weddings, etc. I was witness to how intricate designs are carved on watermelons and other fruits when I had been to Kamat YatriNivas hotel in Bangalore. I didn’t know much about the history and the art until I stumbled upon this article. Susan Macquire who earlier showed us benefits of Cantaloupe, tells us the story behind Watermelon Carving and other Fruit Arts.

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Introduction

Melons, irrespective of their variety, have always been a good source of essential nutrients and vitamins. Cantaloupes are a variety of muskmelon that looks somewhat oblong and has an approximate length of 15 to 25 centimeters. Refreshing flavor, distinct aroma and low calorie content has made Cantaloupes the preferred variety of watermelon in the United States.

History of Cantaloupe

Cantaloupe derives its name from the commune Cantaloupe in Sabina, in the Sabine Hills near Tivoli, Italy. It is believed to be first cultivated sometime in the year 1700. The popular varieties of Cantaloupe are the European cantaloupe and the North American cantaloupe. Both the varieties look different. The North American cantaloupe has a reticulated skin covering and can also be found with a rock-like appearance in some parts of Australia and New Zealand.

Different Varieties

Due to such an appearance, a North American cantaloupe is also called as rock melon in those parts. Other varieties of the North American cantaloupe include spanspek in South Africa, which has a thin reticulated light brown rind. The uncommon varieties have a redder and yellowier flesh. The European cantaloupes are lightly ribbed and look pale green in color. Among the different varieties of European cantaloupe, the charentais is the widely enjoyed one.

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It seems Indian prisons are setting a new standard when it comes to food served, reports NineMSN. Parappana Agrahara which houses Bangalore’s criminals, serves food sponsered and cooked by ISKCON.

The food is so enticing there that the inmates are refusing to leave and are going out of thier way, literally, to extend thier staty there. The food being served is a typical south Indian fare comprising Rice, Lentils and Vegetables.

The already crowded prison is bursting at the seams due to this latest ‘attraction’.

We can only hope that this can get better and lead to reform of the inmates there. As one prisoner rightly states, “since we are getting good food 3 times a day, why should we go out and commit crimes”. Now that’s some food for thought!

Photo Credit: BlueZzap via Flickr

There has been a great deal of controversy over the years about using microwave ovens to cook foods.

Some reports say that because of the way a microwave oven cooks that it alters the structure of the food destroying all the health benefits involved with cooking using a microwave oven. Some studies by the Russians in the fifties have stated that eating microwaved food could lead to cancers and that carcinogens were transfered to the blood. They even banned the use of microwave ovens for many years but more recently microwaves have become an accepted part of of Russian households.

Studies done since 1990 across America at Universities such as Cornell, Kansas State and the University of Missouri have been fairly conclusive in there results regarding microwave cookery and that there are many benefits to using a microwave oven for cooking some foods. Here are five reasons for using your microwave oven to cook your foods with.

Cooking vegetables in a microwave has great benefits provided that it is done properly.

The vegetables must be spread out evenly on a microwave plate and be covered either with a proper microwave cover or a microwave safe wrap. The vegetables only need to be cooked for a short period of time and they do not have to be immersed in water, this means that the vegetables will not leech vitamins and minerals into the boiling water. The vegetables will steam in there own juices and retain most of the vitamins and minerals, as well as keeping a good colour and have a crunch.

The use of salt whilst cooking has long been an accepted way to enhance the flavor of food.

Using your microwave to cook your veg though means that because the cooking time is shorter and the food does not need to be immersed in water it will retain more of its natural flavors.

Microwave cookery with oil is much more healthy is very little oil needs to be used.

The use of a frying pan to fry foods has long been a standard practise, but some studies have found that oils when heated at higher temperatures can release dioxins a known dangerous toxin.

Microwave popcorn an be healthy.

We all know that eating corn as part of our diets is very healthy for us as the kernels fill us up, contain few calories and are passed through our system. Microwaved corn “popcorn” can be healthy if you do not put anything on it. It does though taste very bland and is quite dry. If you do though need to liven it up a bit use a light butter spray and just give it a very light coat.

Fish is one the best and easiest things that can be cooked in a microwave oven.

here is no need to use extra liquid and if cooked properly the fish will come out moist and succulent.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ross_Wharton

Photo Credit: rwc2austin’s photos on Flickr

One of the most important elements of a properly dressed table, be it formal or casual, is high quality silverware. In fact, silverware has a lot more to offer than mere functionality. Design, color, and usability are all key factors that are easily overlooked by today’s busy shoppers.

What was Silverware then…

In the past, “silverware” was rather different from what we are accustomed to today. The first eating implements were very rudimentary wooden utensils. At first, the spoon was the most important (and sometimes sole) utensil used at the table. Although knives have been used to prepare food for several centuries, they were not common at the average person’s table. The fork, today’s ubiquitous eating utensil, is the relatively recent invention of an ingenious woman.

What is Silverware now….

Today, silverware is typically sold in sets. A European silverware set is composed by seven utensils: fork, knife, soup spoon, fruit or dessert fork, fruit knife, dessert spoon and coffee spoon. In contrast, five utensils compose the typical North American dining set: fork, knife, soupspoon, fruit/dessert fork and teaspoon.

Choosing the right Silverware for you…

Silverware sets do not have to be expensive. Extremely simple sets that are easily affordable can be found almost anywhere. At the other end of the spectrum, exquisite hand-forged silverware sets are popping up at more and more boutique stores. The choices are nearly endless. That said, how should one choose? There are two criteria I suggest that you keep in mind when choosing silverware: how the utensils feel in your hand, and the type of table setting you plan to use them with.

You can easily judge the feel and usability of silverware by holding a piece in your hand. There are no pre-set rules to follow. Just hold the utensils and see if they are well-balanced and comfortable to hold. The second important aspect to keep in mind when choosing silverware is the type of table or setting you plan to use the silverware with.

If it is intended for everyday use, you should choose something that can easily withstand the constant use of your family and one that is dishwasher safe. Stainless steel is always a good choice. Stainless steel silverware is almost indestructible yet can be very beautiful at the same time. Here is a good example: If, on the other hand, you plan to have a more formal dinner or table setting, then you should probably choose a more precious and elaborate set of silverware.

Sterling silver is the classic choice, of course, but high quality silver-plated sets will also work nicely. The price of silver-plated dinnerware is much more affordable than pure silver and the look and feel is essentially the same. Here is a good example of formal silver-plated utensils.

Always keep in mind that even though marketers and advertisers will tell you differently, you do not have to spend a fortune to properly dress a formal dinner table. Ultimately, the overall effect of your well-chosen details counts much more than the dollar amount you spent. Be creative and live beautiful!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrea_Loreto