Choosing Better Specialty Vendors

One of the challenges of operating a day care facility is providing meals for all of the children. Chances are that you will be responsible for providing breakfast, lunch, and an afternoon snack. With so many meals within a day, you may feel like you are constantly preparing food instead of focusing on the children. Here are a few reasons why you should consider using a catering service to provide food for the kids.

Food Allergies

One issue that you always need to be concerned about is food allergies. Especially at such a young age, parents may not even know what their child is allergic to. You may also have kids with existing known allergies that you need to be mindful of. Not only do you need to make sure that certain kids are staying away from eating things like nuts, but the prep area also needs to be free of those foods as well. It can become a big hassle that you would rather not have to deal with.

Using a catering service will help ensure that all food allergies are accounted for. It will avoid accidental contamination that can easily happen when you are preparing meals on your own while trying to balance other responsibilities.

Setting A Menu In Advance

Your parents are going to want to know what their kids are eating on a daily basis, which is another thing that you have to manage. By having a catering service provide all the meals, you can have your menus set far in advance. Parents can be notified about what their kids will be eating, and if they have issues with the menu, they can plan accordingly with a meal alternative.

A catering service can also help select the meals for you, so you will have one less decision you have to make on a daily basis. They can suggest well rounded meals that will have all the nutrition the kids should be getting.

Convenience

Depending on how big your day care facility is, catering can be a huge convenience to you. With several classrooms and dozens of kids, you may need to have a full time staff member that just handles the food. Catering will help simplify the whole preparation process. Food is brought in on a schedule, and staff can focus on serving and clean up rather than preparation.

For more information about catering the meals for your day care, speak with a local catering service, such as Kickapoo Creek Catering, about your options.

If you are considering installing a kegerator or other draft beer system in your kitchen, man-cave, entertainment room or any other area in your home, it is important that you not only get the best beer system installation in your area, but that you also know what beers to try. There are some key types of beer that are enjoyed by people on a regular basis. This guide will highlight some of the best beers you can try, so that you know which way to turn for excellent options. 

Pumpkin Spiced Beer

Once winter rolls around, you will typically want to put away the hoppy beers, in favor for some deep and thrilling cold weather flavors. One of the most popular options around the latter parts of the year that people enjoy is the pumpkin beer. There are a variety of pumpkin beers that people can try out. These beers are infused with all sorts of pumpkin flavorings, along with different spices and herbs. Even though pumpkin beers are typically cold weather brews, many people have also begun enjoying pumpkin ales during the summer, which have a bit of a hoppy character to offset the standard cinnamon and nutmeg flavorings. 

Various Forms of Stout Beers

Malty beers are enjoyed by a number of people, with stouts being the most popular type. A stout beer features a number of different flavorings, including things like oatmeal, chocolate, coffee and barley. These beers are top fermenting and far less hoppy than ales. The beer also features more of a creamy character and is far less bitter than other offerings. You will be able to enjoy plenty of different types of stouts, including the Russian Imperial Stout and the Oatmeal Stout. 

Imperial Pale Ale Beers

These beers, also referred to as IPAs, are among the most hoppy beers on the market. This means that they are bottom fermenting and feature a far more bitter flavor body. This measurement of bitterness is measured out in IBUs, with more IBUs meaning a more bitter flavor. India Pale Ales are also higher in alcohol content than other types of beers. This type of beer has become a go-to fixture for many craft beer aficionados, which is why so many different breweries have their own version of the IPA. 

Consider these different types of beers as you get your beer system installed, and make sure to pick and choose which you like the best.  Contact a business, such as the Perfect Pour Draft Beer Specialists, for more information about beer.   

If you want to have a delicious chicken treat, you need to buy poussin chicken and grill it. If you have never had a poussin chicken, it is a very small chicken that is only a couple of weeks old. It is not to be confused with a spring chicken, which is still a very young chicken, but is a little older and bigger than a poussin chicken. Poussin chickens do not have very much fat on them and have a very delicate and unique flavor. Here is what you need to do in order to enjoy a grilled poussin chicken.

Servings Size

Poussin chickens are so small that you will need one per person if you want everyone to have access to a couple of servings of chicken for their meal. It also adds to the visual effect of eating a poussin chicken when you can place one on each person’s plate. 

Preparing The Poussin

If your poussin was frozen, you’ll want to put it in the fridge the day before you plan on roasting it to give it plenty of time to unthaw. 

Use kitchen shears to cut the sides of the backbone, then pull it out of the chicken. Lay it with the breast side facing up and hit it a few times with your first to flatten out the chicken. Secure the drumsticks by cutting small holes near the base of the breast and poking the ends of the drumsticks through them. This will ensure that they stay in place close to the chicken.

Repeat the process for each poussin chicken you are preparing. 

Add The Seasoning

Next, coat the chicken with some olive oil. Rub it over all visible surfaces of the chicken. Take fresh thyme and rub that all over the surface of the chicken. Crack fresh pepper over the top of the chicken. Repeat for each chicken. Let everything marinate for at least an hour. 

Get Your Grill Ready

Fire up your grill and put it on medium heat. Add coarse sea salt to both sides of your bird. Place the birds with their breast side facing down first. Pay close attention to your chickens as it doesn’t take long to cook them. Once the breast side starts to turn a golden color, flip the bird to the other side.

Right before you think the birds are almost ready, pour some thyme branches on the coals, turn down your grill, and shut the lid for a few minutes. Thyme smoke will envelope your bird and give it a really tasty aroma.

Pull the birds off the grill when they are all nice and golden brown. This process should take less than half an hour. 

Allow your bird to cool off for a few minutes, then place them on each person’s plate and enjoy some deliciously grilled, soft and flavorful meat. 

The Duchess of Bedford between 1788 and 1886, Anna, is credited with creating the tradition of high tea in Britain. Before tea was introduced to the country, two main meals were served: breakfast and dinner. Dinner was initially served in the afternoon, but it was later shifted to a late hour at night during the 18^th century. As a result, Anna usually felt famished by four o’clock and asked servants to sneak in some tea and a few snacks into her room at Belvoir Castle. Gradually, she started inviting friends to her room to share tea, butter sandwiches and small cakes. The practice became popular among high society, and working families embraced it during the Industrial Revolution. Currently, hotels in America offer high tea between 3 and 4 pm. Although today’s high tea is less formal, it is important to observe some simple etiquette when invited for this occasion.

Adding milk

Milk should be added last after pouring the tea into a cup. It is for the simple reason that you don’t know how strong the tea is, so you cannot estimate the amount of milk you need. Add the milk slowly, until you acquire the desired color change. Some people like their tea a bit dark, while others prefer to take it when it turns golden brown.

Stirring the tea

When stirring the tea using a tea spoon, do not use circular sweeping motions. Instead; swish your spoon forth and back. When doing this, make sure you do not clink the spoon against the sides of the cup. Once you are done, remove the spoon from the cup and place it on the right hand side of the saucer.  You should never sip the tea using the spoon nor drink from the cup while the spoon is still inside. Do not lift the tea saucer if you are taking the tea when seated on the table. When not taking the tea, place the cup on the saucer and do not wave it in the air or hold it up. Avoid swirling the contents of the cup as you could end up staining your clothes or the table cloth.

Scones

Scones traditionally accompany high tea in most settings. Break the scone into two using your hands as opposed to splitting it using a knife. Scoop a small amount of jam, clotted cream and curds onto your plate. Apply a generous amount of the three aforementioned spreads on each half of the scone using a knife. Eat each half separately, as opposed to sandwiching them back together. Take small bites of the scone as attending high tea is usually considered a social event and a full mouth will prevent you from taking part in conversations.

Napkins

Settings offering high tea will usually have napkins folded in different shapes, such as circles or triangles. At times, the napkin will be placed on or beside the tea plate. If high tea is offered in a buffet style, the napkins are usually placed next to the silverware. Wherever it is placed, pick up your napkin, unfold it and place it on your lap to protect your clothes from stains in case of a spillage. If you need to take a break before finishing the tea, place the napkin on your chair and not the table. After finishing your tea, pick up the napkin and loosely fold it before placing it on the left side of your plate.

Now that you know a few things about high tea etiquette, head over to a company like Clumzy Clover Teas & Treasures to practice!

When you live in a household that does not keep kosher, you likely never think about the ways in which kosher and non-kosher dining practices differ. However, if you are holding a gathering at your home in which you will be serving appetizers or snacks to a person who does keep kosher, you may find yourself at a loss as far as what you can and cannot do and serve. Before you panic or accidentally serve your kosher guests something that they cannot eat, get to know some of the things that you can do to honor their dietary requirements and have a happy and inclusive gathering.

Choose Your Menu Carefully

When you are not familiar with the idea of keeping kosher, you may find yourself under false assumptions about the concept. Most people assume that keeping kosher just has to do with not eating pork products; however, there is much more to it than that.

One of the more important and often overlooked kosher practices is the fact that a kosher individual cannot eat meat and dairy together. This means that when you serve appetizers, a meat and cheese tray is problematic. Meat and dairy cannot be served together and especially cannot touch one another for them to be consumed by somebody who keeps kosher.

As such, you will need to choose your menu carefully. Consider serving either meat or dairy, but not both. Also, be sure that the foods that you purchase are labeled explicitly as kosher. For example, rather than just plain pickles, be sure to purchase kosher dill pickles. Even the crackers, meats or cheeses, and anything else you purchase needs to come from the kosher section in order to be sure everything is edible to your guests.

Be Sure You Serve Your Appetizers On Disposable Dishes

People who are very strict in their kosher practices have further requirements for their diet. For example, they cannot eat food that has been placed on a serving platter, plate or bowl that is not kosher.

So, if you and your family are not kosher, your guests may be unable to dine using your dishes and utensils. Purchasing disposable serving platters as well as individual plates and utensils will allow your kosher guests to happily partake in the foods that you are serving.

While it may be a slight challenge to host kosher guests at your next gathering, it is not an impossible task. By ensuring you take these key steps, you can make sure all of your guests, kosher and non-kosher feel respected and welcome in your home.

It can be difficult to choose the perfect Valentine’s Day gift. Sure, you can always purchase a box of candy or a bouquet of flowers, but your wife would probably appreciate a gift that’s a little more personal. The trick to finding the perfect gift, is choosing a gift that shows your wife how much you appreciate and care for her. This means, you need to take her likes and dislikes into consideration when choosing a gift. So, before you pick up a box of chocolates or call the local florist, check out these fun Valentine’s Day gifts.

Tech-Savvy Ladies

Tech-savvy ladies tend to carry their favorite gadgets in their handbags. So, whether your wife enjoys photography, loves playing on her tablet, or carts her laptop with her when she’s on the go, chances are, she’d enjoy a handbag that has enough room to carry all of her favorite electronic devices and her everyday necessities. Other good options for tech-savvy wives, include:

• Smart watch
• Wireless speakers
• Upgraded cell phone

Super Busy Wives

Does your wife manage a career, the household, and take care of the kids? If so, she probably spends a lot of time running around, tending to everyone else’s needs. If your wife has too many daily responsibilities for you to count, you should consider purchasing a gift that encourages her to relax. Try purchasing a wine gift basket, and planning a romantic, relaxing evening for the two of you. You could opt for a wine gift basket that includes a bottle of our wife’s favorite wine and a selection of snacks to go with it, or choose a wine gift basket that includes samplings of a variety of different wines and snacks that are specifically chosen for the wines included. Alternatively, consider purchasing a bath or spa gift basket filled with items that your wife can use to pamper herself, a gift certificate for a massage, or a weekend spa getaway.

Hobby-Related Gifts

When you’re trying to find the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for your wife, you should take her hobbies into consideration For example, if your wife likes to read, she might like a new e-reader, tablet, or a gift certificate to purchase new books. Regardless of what activities your wife enjoys, purchasing a gift that is hobby related, shows her that you put a lot of time into finding a gift that she’ll truly enjoy.

Finding the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for your wife doesn’t have to be difficult. If you take the time to think about what type of things she enjoys and what her hobbies entail before you go shopping, you can easily find a gift that is more meaningful than the traditional bouquet of flowers or box of chocolates.

In the minds of many, deliciousness is one of the main criteria for being unhealthy. While beef jerky can serve as a great snack, there’s not too many people who believe it’s chock full of nutritional value. However, it is definitely possible to have both a delicious cut of jerky that also works well with a healthy diet.

What Exactly Is Nutritious?

One person’s nutrition is another person’s vice. In the case of beef jerky, it can represent both. First, you need to understand why beef jerky is generally considered unhealthy.

Meat – There’s no getting around it, traditional beef jerky is meat. And while the health benefits, or lack thereof, has driven a lot of debate, the fact remains…it’s meat. Not only is it meat, but it’s typically meat of an unknown origin.

Preservatives – How do you think jerky maintains its form, taste, and consistency without refrigeration? A lot of that has to do with preservatives. Some jerky has far more additives than others.

Sodium – Traditionally, jerky comes loaded with salt; lots and lots of salt. Many of the preservatives also contain salt.

MSG – No matter your opinion on monosodium glutamate, it’s important to know that many beef jerky varieties contain it.

All of these things together sound bad, but really, they’re not as terrible as you may think. Many of the things that make beef jerky what it is, are also the things that make it healthy. It all depends on your diet.

For example, jerky has fat, protein, and salt. These things are all necessary for a functioning body. It’s when you overconsume these things that health issues crop up.

Jerky is Versatile

Besides, beef jerky isn’t just one thing. It’s whatever you want it to be. For every component of jerky that you deem unhealthy, there’s a variety that has an alternative or healthier component instead.

If you don’t like the “beef” part of beef jerky, then you can pick up turkey jerky. If you do like beef, but don’t want the associated fat, then you can look for under-processed jerky made from lean beef. If the thought of consuming so many preservatives freaks you out, then look for organic jerky or jerky that doesn’t contain nitrates.

The point is, jerky can actually represent a healthy option, especially as a snack between meals. Just make sure that the place where you purchase your jerky has options. One of the things that can turn people off from jerky is the idea that it’s unhealthy. Many of those thoughts come from a lack of variety.

For professional-grade jerky, contact a company such as Gio’s Jerky.