Cooking With Less Grease and Fat
Losing weight is not fun, and anyone who tells you that it is fun would be a liar. You need to eat foods that do not interest you, work out for hours on end, and stick with it long enough for you to see the results. However, with advances in modern technology this process has become a lot easier and will enable you to at least eat the foods that you want without consuming unwanted calories and fats at the same time.
When you cook a burger, steak, or any other type of meat for that matter, you will often use a standard grill. This of course is what we have all used for decades, and their is no reason to believe that it will go out of style any time soon. The problem however arises from the fact that when you cook a meat product on a normal grill, the grease that is let off by the meat simply sits on top of, or soaks into the meat itself and is then ingested when you eat it.
New grills and other cooking devices have made way for people to enjoy the foods they eat with less grease and fat by pushing it off the meat and into the garbage. Though many diet experts would agree that eating meat on a diet may not be your best bet, but if you are so inclined it is recommended that you cook it in such a way which allows for excess fat and grease to be left off.
By: Peter Foti
Categories: College Cooking Tags: Decades, Garbage, Grills
Cooking Made Easy For the College Student
Cooking is made easy for the college student with just a few choice appliances. Assuming you are in a living space that does not have a range or an oven and also assuming that the rules allow you to cook in your room, I have found these few appliances to be life savers.
Microwave Oven
This is listed first because of its ability to cook and heat. It is an excellent place to boil food especially vegetables. They also have steaming bags available now which allow for quick and healthy cooking. Oh yes, don’t forget about popcorn. Microwaves are available in all sizes so that you can find an appropriate size for your space.
Electric Skillet
If you cook it on the stove top, you can cook it in an electric skillet. As the name “skillet” implies, it is perfect for frying but it is also very effective for boiling. The control on the electric skillet allows you to set the exact temperature you want. Skillet toast is very tasty. Actually, it is just a grilled cheese sandwich without the cheese.
Toaster Oven
Just like the skillet above, if you cook it in the oven, you can cook it in a toaster oven. Admittedly, the size of the containers has to be much smaller but, after all, you are only cooking for one or maybe two. Obviously the toaster oven will make toast just like the regular oven does by placing the bread under the coils that broil.
Coffee Pot
This is an obvious necessity if you drink coffee or even hot tea. However, don’t overlook the possibility of using it for boiling water. Lots of convenience foods are available that require only the addition of boiling water, such as Ramen Noodles and Instant Soups.
Refrigerator (Dorm size)
This small refrigerator will allow you to have fresh food (vegetables and fruits) as well as dairy products (milk, butter and eggs). Admittedly they have to be in small quantities but the availability of a refrigerator will certainly make the healthy cooking easier.
It might be possible for you to buddy up with someone else in your dorm or apartment complex and buy together so that you can reduce the quantity to fit.
Any combination of these appliances will make it possible for you to eat healthy and stick to your budget. Invest in two large plastic totes that will slide under your bed. Store your food in one and your utensils and smaller appliances in another. This will alleviate the possibility of bugs and will keep everything organized and out of your way when not in use.
The microwave can have something stored on top of it without doing damage. The microwave can be stored on the refrigerator.
Prepare for the inevitable – eating, so that your energy can be directed to studying and having at least a little fun.
By: Carol Sue Smith
About the Author:
Grandma Carol, aka Carol Smith, loves to cook and has been doing it for her family and friends for over 50 years. Visit her kitchen as she helps the beginning cook with easy-to-follow recipes and techniques.
Categories: College Cooking Tags: Fresh Food, Small Quantities, Small Refrigerator