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Guide to Buying Vegan Moisturizers

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If you’re looking for an easy way to stay healthy and help the environment, switching to vegan products is a great solution. Vegan products are cruelty-free which makes them the perfect choice for anyone looking for a more ethical and sustainable lifestyle. These products do not contain any animal-derived ingredients or animal … Read more

Can You Make Your Own Essential Oils?

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The benefits of essential oil are endless. From aromatherapy to skin care; their usage is versatile. Moreover, they have been utilized in medicines because of their healing properties for ages. The good news is that; you can now make your own essential oil at home. The extraction process might not be easier … Read more

Tips for Organizing a Pantry

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The kitchen pantry is one’s secret weapon for keeping the counters at least rather more clutter-free, and regardless of size, it’s fair to assume you could probably use a little more space. Organizing your kitchen pantry with fresh foods like veggies, meats and fruits from your local famers market is a must. … Read more

Tips for Taking Fresh Fruits and Veggies to the Beach

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When’s the best time to have fun outdoors during spring, summer, and fall. During these times, families and friend groups go on a road trip or vacation to parks, hiking trails, and beaches. Many beaches in the states, such as California beaches, are packed with visitors enjoying the great weather and the warmth … Read more

A Guide to the French Mother Sauces

There’s so much more to France than the famous Eiffel Tower. Pretty sure you have heard of the French mother sauces. These sauces were deemed “mother” for a reason. Just like our mothers, we are nothing without them. The same logic applies to French cuisine—without these sauces, the French cuisine would not be as sought-after as it is today. Though many people will argue for the supremacy of chocolate sauce and chimichurri, for years, it has been proven that only the five French mother sauces are the only essential. These sauces may look and sound intimidating, but these will surely amp up your confidence in the kitchen. Without further ado, let’s dip in (pun intended) to the five French mother sauces! First of all, what is a mother sauce? Back in the 19th century, French chef Marie Antoine-Carême was the first one to group French sauces according to the four foundational sauces. Later on, French chef Auguste Escoffier added another one on the list, hence our modern five French mother sauces. These sauces are the foundations of many French dishes and other sauces, and culinary students should know these sauces by heart or else they will not succeed in their journey. What is Roux? Roux is worth discussing before we dive into the five sauces. Before a liquid becomes a sauce, it should be thickened so that it clings and coats to food instead of being runny. The thickening process can happen by cooking down or letting the liquid simmer as moisture evaporates, like tomato sauce. However, other sauces may need additional help. This is where roux takes place—it is the act of cooking fat and flour before adding in the liquid that you desire to be thickened. The fat is usually butter, but other types of fat can be used. The fat and flour are cooked briefly, and when the liquid is finally added, the flour thickens and produces a good-looking, great-tasting sauce. The 5 French mother sauces Now that you have a brief background about the mother sauces and how they are made, let’s now figure out which sauces have made it to the list: 1. Béchamel The Béchamel is roux with milk or other dairy product to create a white sauce. If you ever had French macaroni and cheese or chicken pot pie, then you’ve probably heard of this sauce. By itself, this sauce is bland. Therefore, other people use to mix it with other ingredients. 2. Espagnole This basic brown sauce is made of veal stock or brown beef, tomato puree, and browned mirepoix. Considered the heaviest among the mother sauces, all ingredients of the Espagnole ingredients were thickened using a dark brown roux. You will usually find this sauce in demi-glace and boeuf bourguignon. 3. Velouté This sauce is a light roux whisked with light stock such as turkey, chicken, and fish. The finished sauce takes on the flavor of the used stock. The name velouté was derived from the French word for velvet, a word that describes something smooth yet light and delicate. The velouté is usually served over poultry or fish cooked by steaming or poaching. Among the five mother sauces, this is considered as the least complex to accomplish. 4. Sauce Tomat As the name suggests, this sauce is made by cooking tomatoes until they turn thick. You can also thicken it with the roux. Unlike conventional tomato sauces in the market, the classic sauce tomat is flavored with aromatic carrots, onions, and pork. The mixture of ingredients results in an amazingly tasty sauce that is used to create other condiments like Spanish, Creole, and Portuguese sauces. 5. Hollandaise The hollandaise is all the rage because of its role in the famous breakfast meal eggs Benedict. This sauce is a mixture of lemon juice, clarified butter (a type of butter that does not have milk solids), and egg yolks. These ingredients are whisked at low temperatures to create a thick consistency. This is deemed as a very delicate sauce because of its vulnerability. On the other hand, this sauce is also considered as the most versatile mother sauce since it can be paired with a wide array of food choices, including vegetables, baked potatoes, red and white meats, and eggs.

There’s so much more to France than the famous Eiffel Tower. Pretty sure you have heard of the French mother sauces. These sauces were deemed “mother” for a reason. Just like our mothers, we are nothing without them. The same logic applies to French cuisine—without these sauces, the French cuisine would not … Read more

What is the Roselle Flower?

What is the Roselle Flower

The Roselle flower, also known as Hibiscus sabdariffa, is a shrub categorized under the Malvaceae family. It usually grows between one and two meters high from the ground with reddish-purple stems and green leaves. Its trumpet-shaped flowers are 7 to 8 cm across, possessing 5 pale yellow petals that fade over time … Read more

What Are the Benefits of Tomatoes?

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Tomatoes are a staple in our kitchens. Packed with nutrients and flavor, it can instantly upgrade your dish into a flavorful one. Without tomatoes, our favorite dishes would not be as amazing as they are now. More than giving life to our dishes, a tomato is a nutrient-filled superfood that supplies health … Read more

What is Sapota Juice?

Sapota-juice

Sapota juice originated from Sapota, a tropical fruit that belongs to the Sapotaceae family. Its scientific name is Manilkara zapota, and it is abundant in South America, particularly in tropical countries such as the Caribbean, Mexico, and other parts of Central America. Sapota is also known for other names such as sapodilla, … Read more

What Fruits Are Best for Getting More Fiber?

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Fiber is essential in the body, as it keeps the gut healthy, prevents or relieves constipation, regulates bowel movements, and reduces risks of colon cancers. Other significant health benefits include lowering blood sugar levels and promoting weight loss. Despite these benefits, the majority of adults and children don’t meet the required daily … Read more

Healthy Ingredients To Color Your Meals

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Adding colors to your food can make your meals more fun and interesting. But before taking that bottle of artificial dyes and incorporating it into your recipe, be mindful that they are linked to an array of health issues, which can quickly spoil your efforts and ruin your diet. Fortunately, you can … Read more

Best Kitchen Accessories for Organization

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Organizing any part of your house can be troublesome, especially true in the kitchen, as the room can be a magnet for clutter. Although kitchens are commonly smaller than any other part of the house, they’re always, for some reason, loaded with more stuff. With cabinets full of pots and lids, stacks … Read more

Healthy Fruit Smoothies Recipes You Should Try Out

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Fruits are fun to eat on their own, but it doesn’t mean you have to always eat it as is! Why not get your blender, gather your favorite fruits, and make a smoothie out of it? Drinking fruit smoothies is one of the healthiest ways to cool down and spruce up your … Read more

Healthy Milkshakes Recipe with Different Toppings

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Being healthy and consuming your favorite food or drink could place you in a dilemma. Since when you’re starting a diet plan or planning to take the path of healthy living, it could be very tempting to consume what you were used to eating or drinking. It could also be tricky when … Read more

What types of vegetables can you grow in a container garden?

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If you’re planning to start your gardening journey but only have limited space or maybe living on a high-rise building, you might want to consider doing Container Gardening instead. But what exactly is Container Gardening? Container Gardening is a procedure of growing plants, herbs, and even vegetables in a container. Basically, it … Read more

Tips for Cooking with Stainless Steel Pans

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Stainless steel pans are a delight to have in any kitchen. Apart from their elegant look, durability, and strong design, these cookwares also boast many health perks. No wonder that they’ve adored in the cooking world, both in restaurants and homes. The only catch is that you can relish such benefits if … Read more

The Benefits of Vegetable Juice

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Since you were a kid, you probably heard your parents saying, “always eat your vegetables.”  Well, this is because vegetables are filled with vitamins and minerals that a young growing body of a kid needs. In general, vegetables have Vitamins A, B-Complex, C, E, K, Iron, Magnesium, Potassium, Calcium, and Zinc. With … Read more