13 Cooking Safety Tips Every Cook Should Know

As fun and memorable as cooking in the kitchen with mom or grandma might be, safety should always be your number one priority. Here are 13 cooking safety tips that every cook should know.

1. Reduce your intake of fish that may contain mercury. Mercury is a toxin that we do not want in our bodies. Use organic vegetables oils such as sunflower, flax, olive oil and sesame to reap the benefits of the essential omega-3 6 and 9s.

2. When cooking chicken or other poultry, it is a good idea to take the skin off. The fat from poultry can add unpleasant textures to your finished dish.

3. The temperature inside a crock pot should be at least 140 degrees. Start the temperature on high for at least the first hour. After the first hour, the dial can be turned to low to for the remainder of the cooking time.

4. The handles of pots and pans should be turned away from the front of the stove. This will avoid dangerous accidents.

5. When cooking, take extra precautions not to reach over the cooking surface. Sleeves can easily catch on fire.

6. Knives or other sharp objects should not be placed in a sink that is full. It would be very easy for someone to reach into the sink and get hurt.

7. Hot liquids in a blender can cause injury. Secure the top of the blender with a kitchen towel and your hands before turning on the motor.

8. All poultry products should be handled with care. Wash your hands after handling poultry. Change the utensils and cutting board after use to avoid contamination. It is best to use a paper towel for clean up. that can be tossed

9. Every kitchen should have a list of emergency numbers posted in a conspicuous location. This list should include numbers for hospitals, fire department, grandparents, and Police Department etc.

10. The list should be posted at a height that kids can see. A quick overview of the numbers and when they should be used will provide a level of safety for you and your children.

11. Keep a fire extinguisher in strategic locations in the house. The kitchen and the garage are obvious locations.

12. All families should participate in a fire drill so kids will know the escape route out of the house in case of fire.

13. Put out a small pan fire by sliding a lid over the flames.

Once you've got these cooking safety tips and measures down pat and in place, have a ball cooking to your heart's (or should I say stomach's) content.


Article by: Free Quick Recipes

Chocolate Chip Muffins recipe

Chocolate Chip Muffins ingredients list:

¾ lb chocolate chips.
1/3 lb of soft butter.
4 medium eggs.
2 ½ cups of flour.
1 cup of sugar.
¼ cup of milk.
1 tablespoon of baking powder.
½ teaspoon of vanilla extract.
½ teaspoon of salt.
Instructions for Chocolate Chip Muffins:

Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and butter your muffin pan.

Beat the butter and the vanilla extract together to form a light, airy mixture.

One at a time, add the eggs, and beat gently.

Add ¼ cup of the sugar after each egg and mix thorougly.

Put the baking powder and salt in the milk, then add to the mixture.

Fold in the flour and the chocolate chips.

Pour the mix into your buttered muffin pan, filling each cup two-thirds full.

Bake for 25 minutes or until muffins turn golden brown.

Recipe by: Muffin Recipes

Can The Cause Of Acne Be Linked To Diet

Written by Wendy

Can acne be caused by the food we eat? It is suggested that sensitivity to progesterone can cause flare ups when certain products are consumed. The foods, such as dairy, organ meats and wheat germs are known to contain male hormones. Would these people need to avoid such foods for the rest of their lives? Or be reduced to a life dependent on various anti acne treatments in order to protect their complexion?

Other possibly hazardous or potentially problem foods include several that are high in iodine - such as leafy veg like cabbage and spinach, peanuts and shellfish. The best way to determine what works well for helping manage your acne is to experiment with your diet - but only make small changes at a time, otherwise you won't know which change had the impact. If a particular food makes your acne flare up, you'll know to steer clear of it in the future.

If you have a special sensitivity to a food, small amounts of anything - even soft drinks, chocolates will not make a major difference.

One of the more widely spread (and often believed) myths about acne is that it is caused by dirt or grime. It's more likely to be because of oily skin, in which case simply washing regularly with either a mild soap, special acne skin cleanser or even antiseptic soap and warm water can make a big difference to controlling and managing oily skin. And don't forget to keep your hair clean - again, depending on your skin type, your hair can also become extreme oily if not cared for properly.

Acne is actually the second biggest skin condition, only being pipped at the post by premature aging or wrinkles. If you're anything like me, you'll notice new pimples appearing right before an important engagement or meeting you have to attend - or worse still a job interview or even a date. In this case, the culprit is usually testosterone (at least in males) which is produced by the adrenal glands, and when you're under any form of stress (such as the conditions I just listed above) your adrenal glands go into overdrive. There are treatments for this as well, so if this applies to you, make sure you tell your dermatologist about it.

This skin disorder can be controlled but not cured. Mild cases may be helped, in varying degrees, by over-the-counter acne treatments, but many cases will require treatment by a physician.

A vitamin A deficiency can lead to skin problems. Not all cases of acne call for professional attention. An occasional blemish or pimple could be called "drugstore acne". Topical antibiotics prevent about fifty per cent of blemishes, and are a significant breakthrough for treating average acne. However, if an acne sufferer misuses the over-the-counter medications, it may not work. You have to follow instructions carefully and not switch from one product to the other until after a six-week trial. Only then will you be able to decide the degree of any one product's effectiveness.

There is acne surgery. It can open and clear blackheads, whiteheads, pimples and cysts. These blemishes could only be opened by a physician. Never scratch, pick or squeeze acne lesions; this will worsen the condition. Some pointers - do not use greasy or occlusive cream to cleanse your face which can clog the pores, soap and water are best Avoid creams with hormones or corticosteroids added, beware of huge doses of vitamin A-they can produce serious side effects.