What Are Espresso Coffee Cups?

By Wenona Crudd

Espresso coffee cups aren't really coffee cups at all. In reality, they're more like coffee shot glasses, which makes sense considering they're not meant to hold coffee, but espresso. Although they do look like tiny coffee cups, your average coffee drinker would probably become quite irritated trying to get their buzz from a container so tiny. After all, don't most people drink coffee in order to feel energized without the need for sleep?

Differences Between Espresso Coffee Cups And Other Coffee Cups

Espresso coffee cups are much smaller than your standard coffee cup. Although there doesn't seem to be any set standard that espresso coffee cups follow as far as size. In fact, espresso coffee cups are often mixed in with cappuccino cups, latte cups, and other coffee cup type things, with only the manufacturer labels separating them. All of these cups have one thing in common: they all come with little matching saucers.

Why Espresso Coffee Cups Are So Tiny

The reason that espresso coffee cups are so very small in comparison to normal coffee cups is because the espresso that they are intended to hold is a lot stronger than normal coffee. As a matter of fact, espresso generally has about three times as much caffeine as normal coffee. Since how much caffeine is in any cup of coffee is highly dependent on the bean and the manner of grinding, this is just an estimate. If you try various brands and coffee blends, including espresso, you're sure to get different results from each one.

How Is Espresso Different Than Normal Coffee

Espresso is a type of coffee, but the difference isn't in the bean so much as the preparation. The biggest difference between regular coffee and espresso is density. To make espresso, a machine forces highly pressurized water through very fine coffee grounds, creating a denser, stronger coffee than normal. The result is almost like a coffee syrup and, when you experience it, it becomes very obvious why one would not want to drink a standard coffee cup of the stuff at once.

Can One Cup Coffee Makers Make Espresso?

Although there are some facsimiles, one cup coffee makers can't really make true espresso. Espresso requires a lot of water pressure, and a one cup coffee maker isn't really designed for that. An espresso coffee pod will generally fit just fine, it just won't come out quite right. With K-Cups coffee, you can purchase blends that are labeled as espresso and are stronger than most. Although these solutions will produce stronger coffee, they're not really worth getting the espresso coffee cups out since you'll probably still want a regular coffee cup worth of the stuff. ESE coffee pods, ironically, usually don't work all that well with 1 cup coffee makers, preferring espresso machines with adapters instead. - 30543

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How Do You Tone Arms When Constantly Eating Out?

By Katherine Crawford M.S.

Trying to tone arms and eating out don't mix because your arm fat loves restaurant food. In fact, it grows to ever expanding proportions with restaurant food.

This happens because a restaurant's main goal is to stuff you with so much tasty food that you are compelled to come back for more again and again. And the tasty food usually has the most calories.

Partially hydrogenated vegetable oils are a perfect example here. Found in so many restaurant items, Harvard researchers have proven that they're lethal.

However, you should NOT eliminate all restaurant eating. In fact, you should go out every once in a while and control what you eat. After all, eating out forms a large part of how we socialize. Thus, here are 4 rapid-fire tips on how to tone arms when dining out:

1. Eat lean protein. Most protein in restaurants is laden with fat. Stay clear of beef, lamb and pork. And don't even think about the hot dogs or ribs-they have the most fat of all! Instead, try to have some poultry or tofu. Ask the waiter if they have any grass fed beef.

2. Watch out for all the refined carbs. I know that moist and hot loaf of bread screams "eat me", but we have more serious things to attend to. Instead, either ask that the bread not be brought out or have a salad before it arrives.

3. Avoid calorie bomb salads. All that dressing and cheese can make your salad an arm-toning nightmare. Some of the most unhealthy salads can easily reach the 1000 calorie mark. So only have one tablespoon of cheese and make sure the dressing is on the side.

4. Don't eat the whole meal. Instead, only have half of it or share it with someone. A SINGLE meal at a restaurant can have a whole days worth of calories. Now another strategy is to ask for a to-go box before the meal arrives. Once it does, put half of it in the box without thinking.

Having said all of this, note that if you rarely eat at restaurants, the occasional splurge will not have a significant impact on your mission to tone arms. If, however, you eat at restaurants more than once per week, then you should definitely apply these tips!

And the key here is application because information that is not applied quickly will be forgotten. So make sure you take action on this information today, not tomorrow! - 30543

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Used Catering Equipment - What You Should Know

By Jonathon Klyverts

Anyone who is running a catering business needs to make sure that they find different ways to reduce costs. There are many different ways to help lower your costs effectively. One particular cost that can be easily lower is the equipment. If you purchase second hand catering equipment you can reduce these costs significantly.

Companies that are able to purchase second hand equipment are able to save up to 50-70% off their equipment purchases. This is a huge amount when it comes to a company's bottom line. Making a decision to buy used catering will ensure that you are able to save a significant amount of money every month.

When it comes to catering equipment, you have many different kinds of equipment that you use. It is important to ensure that you look at the different equipment that you will have to replace. Finding a good supplier will make your life a lot easier when it comes to different equipment.

If you are looking to buy used equipment you need to make sure that you do your research beforehand. There are many different suppliers that are available for people who are looking to buy equipment. It is important that you find a supplier that can work with you to get the best price available.

You will need to decide if you will be buying equipment that is retail or wholesale. If you are going to be looking at wholesale equipment you should know that you will need to buy a large amount. This can help you get the equipment that you need.

You will need to make a list of the different pieces of equipment that you will need before making your purchase. This will ensure that they whole process goes smoothly. Make sure that you buy from one supplier in order to avoid hassles later on in life.

Given the use of the internet, catering equipment has become quite easy to buy. You need to make sure that you do a comprehensive search and find different suppliers that can offer you good prices on your equipment. This will ensure that you are able to get the supplies that you need.

After you have place your order with the supplier you will then have to wait for the equipment to be delivered to you. In order to save money on your equipment it is important to find a supplier who offers competitive rates to smaller companies. - 30543

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Proper Etiquette For Waiters In Restaurants

By Adriana Noton

Perfectly good dining experiences at restaurants can be ruined by a few ill thought out actions by waiters. Some things should always be done by servers and some should never be done. To most diners, these things seem obvious. But to a lot of waiters they go by the wayside. Here are a few basics that every waiter should know.

For starters, don't hang around the guests while they are eating. Shortly after their food has been served, you should pop over and make sure they are satisfied with everything. Then leave them alone to enjoy their meals. Scan the room frequently to see if any of your patrons are trying to get your attention.

Also, don't pressure them into making a decision about ordering if they are not ready. If they say that they need a few minutes, actually give them a few minutes before you come back. Don't come back in 1 minute with pen in hand. If they are not sure what they want, don't roll your eyes or otherwise express annoyance. It really shouldn't matter to you how long it takes them to order anyway.

If the restaurant customer has a complaint, ALWAYS say you are sorry. Even if you are not. Do not blame them or make excuses. Apologize and tell them that you will find a way to solve the problem. If there is nothing you can do for them about their particular concern, find somebody who can.

One of the most overlooked pieces of waiter etiquette is the removal of dishes after the meal. Many waiters make it seem as though there is a plate shortage in the kitchen. Before a patron has the chance to swallow their last bit of food, the waiter is appearing asking if he may take away her dishes. This is rude and very off-putting. If customers want their plates removed, they will set them to the side or ask you to come get them.

One more note on clearing away the dishes. Under no circumstances should you remove one person's plate if another person at the table is still eating. It is stunning how many waiters do this. For one thing, it can make the person still eating feel uncomfortable and that he or she should stop. It is like you are setting the pace for their meal. That is not your job.

Some other basics in don'ts are: don't shout. Don't point at a customer. Never touch a customer or any of their personal belongings. No gum chewing, fidgeting with your hair, arguing with other waiters within earshot of people eating and no cigarette smoking in sight of them. Do not yawn or act bored or tell the customers that you can't wait until 9pm when you can go home. They don't need to feel as though waiting on them is unpleasant for you. And seriously, don't solicit tips or count them in front of the guests.

As for the dos: do be well groomed at all times. Dress nicely and make sure your shirt is tucked in and tie is straight. Always be polite and give the guests a smile. Thank them for dining at your establishment and say it so that it seems like you mean it. Even if you don't. - 30543

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Establishing If A One Cup Coffee Maker Is The Proper Decision For Your Home Or Office

By Oprah Menfree

Let's assume for a moment that you don't have a coffee maker at all. With one cup coffee makers being almost as prevalent as traditional ones, and the prices not all that different, you'd be faced with a decision. Should you buy a one cup coffee maker, or a traditional one? Here are some points to consider when making that decision, along with the pros and cons of each type.

Coffee In The Office

In an office, it's generally assumed that a traditional brewer is going to outperform any one cup coffee maker. One can easily imagine a long line at the coffee maker early every morning. You can see where a one cup coffee maker actually might make some sense, though, if you consider how people generally drink their coffee as the day. Not everyone comes in and pours whatever happens to be in the company pot into their coffee cup, or disposable coffee cups. There are plenty of picky coffee people who will dump anything that they consider stale without a second thought. With these finicky types, a one cup coffee maker can prevent a lot of waste since the coffee is made on demand only.

The Freshness Factor

With a traditional coffee maker, the coffee is only at its freshest when the bag is just opened. This is where a 1 cup coffee maker really shines. Opening one pod won't affect the freshness of the other coffee pods since they're all wrapped individually. You can store about as many as you like, since they are vacuum sealed with lengthy expiration dates. The one cup coffee maker even wins in the office unless your workplace chews through an entire package of coffee every day. At home, the advantage in freshness is even more clear, especially if you go through coffee slowly.

Options When You Want Them

Sometimes you really, really want a specialty coffee of some sort, but can't afford to buy it from a shop, and don't have the time to drive to one anyway. One cup coffee makers win this one, too, T-Discs and K-Cups coffee especially. Both systems can make a single cup of specialty coffee, some even with layers, just by using them as you would any other time. This can save you a ton of time at home, as well as money if you often like different coffees. At work, one cup coffee makers give the option to all of the employees without sending them to coffee shops or far away machines.

The Money Factor

Most people still think that one cup coffee makers are still a whole lot more expensive than traditional brewers, but that's not necessarily so. At work, they'll probably cost more, this is true, but sometimes it's worth it in the long run. At home, on the other hand, there may not be much of a difference in price, and if you often go to coffee shops, you might end up saving a bunch. Of course, comparing them using your own personal situation is the only real way to know which makes sense for you. - 30543

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Romantic Valentines Day Restaurants in Tampa

By Anne J. Michaels

Valentine's Day is a great opportunity to create a memorable evening. Valentine's flowers and a romantic dinner in a unique setting will set the mood. You might take in a show, or do a little dancing, maybe take a walk on a moonlit beach. Then follow your heart. It will be an evening they remember for years. Here is a great selection of Tampa's best romantic restaurants.

Comfortable elegance is a phrase that fits the Capital Grille perfectly. Add intimacy to the equation and you have the perfect location for a romantic and memorable Valentine's Day dinner. The dark wood, the rich leather and the intimate lighting combine to create an ambiance made for romance. They also offer an impressive menu that includes dry-aged steaks and fresh seafood. To top it off, their service is amazing. Did I mention their extensive wine list? The Capital Grille is located in the International Mall, off Westshore, in Tampa.

Armanis is an excellent choice for those who enjoy Northern Italian Cuisine with a view. Armanis is located on the 14th floor of Tampa Bay's Grand Hyatt Hotel, near Tampa International Airport. The location offers a panoramic view of Tampa Bay, an outstanding Northern Italian menu, a wonderful antipasto bar, and an outdoor patio to soak in the view. Did I mention decadent desserts? Armanis has created a perfect recipe for a romantic, and memorable, Valentine's Day dinner.

SideBerns is a progressive offshoot of the legendary Bern's Steak House. And it's a perfect choice for a romantic Valentine's Day dinner. The menu celebrates fresh Mediterranean cuisine and gives it a cosmopolitan twist. The flavors of France, Italy, Spain and North Africa merge with seasonal influences to create a spectacular menu. Sideberns is located on Morrison just off Howard Ave, not far from the original Bern's Steak House.

If your perfect Valentine's Day dinner includes a spectacular view, you should consider CK's The View. Would you believe a rotating rooftop restaurant? Located at the top of the Tampa Airport Mariott, It offers an unparalleled view of Tampa Bay and Tampa International Airport. CK's also offers a superb menu including fresh seafood, certified Angus steaks and sushi. Live contemporary jazz, an excellent cocktail bar and wonderful service offer even more reasons to have your romantic dinner at CK's.

The Rusty Pelican, located off the Courtney Campbell Causeway in the Rocky Point District, offers a delicious American cuisine specializing in fresh seafood and steaks. It also offers not one but four warm fireplaces. Tampa can be chilly on Valentine's Day. Because the restaurant is directly on Old Tampa Bay, it also offers spectacular views and amazing sunsets. The combination of great views, great food and 4 fireplaces makes the Rusty Pelican a top choice for a romantic dinner.

In addition to these fine restaurants, there are many additional ways to extend the Valentine's Day evening. You might choose to sip a luxurious cocktail and simply enjoy each others company. You might want to enjoy a little dancing, or walk on a moonlit beach or take in a show. Whatever other options you choose, make sure you make reservations early, and don't forget the Valentine's flowers. - 30543

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What Better Place To Eat Than Italian Restaurants

By Luigi DeMarco

Your next family or business gathering should be a memorable experience enjoyable for all, so why not skip the fast food industry and try something new. With health concerns and dieting on everyone's minds these days fast foods have been stereotyped as fattening, while they are trying to combat this with healthier options sometimes it just does not measure up to the Italian Restaurants Bellevue. Passionate about their food, Italians are known for their culinary skills.

Upon opening the doors to the eatery, a hostess greets you with a friendly smile and seats you at the table. While waiting for the server your vision roams over the tiles on the floor and the rich earthy tones on the walls reminding you of Tuscany. An exuberant amount of grapes and vines wind their way around pillars and pristine linens rest atop the table. Polished eating utensils shone with care rest atop the linens among the glasses for wine. A beautiful setting for any meal where you get to enjoy your company at the table.

Promptly a server will come to your table, bearing a decanter filled with one of their house wines for your perusal. Offering you the specials of the day to consider, the server also is willing to assist in finding a complementary wine for your meal. If you have dietary restrictions or concerns, the server will be inclined to convey your concerns or questions to the executive chef and your meal will be just as you would prefer it to be.

Look over the menu at your leisure there is many options to consider. If you are looking for an appetizer that is characteristic of the Italian cuisine, look no further than one of their salads, or perhaps a light tasty basil infused Bruschetta. A platter of olive oils and breads for dipping is a unique experience and will leave you anticipating your meal. Bread sticks always complement their pastas, and flat breads are rather tasty. Their sumptuous portabella mushrooms filled with cheese and herbs reminiscent of Italy in a big way.

There are many different wines that are from Italy that pair up well with any meal or appetizer. You wouldn't want a wine that would overwhelm the flavors of the meal, nor do you wish to have a wine with your meal that you could not taste because the flavors of the meal over power the wine. A balance between the two will have delightful results on your meal. There are many other beverages they offer such as soda, water, coffee, teas, and specialty drinks.

With food creation a sincerely authentic art form, it can take a lengthy time to prepare. Creating things in generous doses to store until needed gives the chefs unlimited options to make your meal quickly. No one wants to wait three hours for a tomato sauce to be created for their plate.

One thing Italians are most noted for is their pastas, with access to such a broad selection of grains, they can create very interesting noodles. Meats, sauces, seafood and vegetables merged together to create interesting blends for your palate. If pasta is not what you are craving, there are other options you can order. These include pizzas with an exotic flavor, chicken and pork prepared with the perfect seasonings, seafood and beef with their bolder flavors.

There are many classic Italian desserts, probably one of the most notable is Tiramisu, a creamy custard on light airy espresso coated lady fingers. Mouth melting gelato take the place of American ice creams for a little taste of Italy. Soft sugary zeppoli are the Italians twist on doughnuts. Warmly flavored biscotti or amaretti cookies is always a hit with children, the cookies are delicious fun to crunch. Mascarpone and fruit is a light creamy burst of flavor after any meal, the lightly flavored cheesy dessert is a creamy complement. - 30543

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What Are The Restaurants Where Kids Eat For Free?

By Adriana Noton

With the price of food and other necessities steadily rising, we can all use a great deal. If you have children, finding a great deal or getting something for free can be a real treat. There are many Montreal restaurants that offer free meals for children under a certain age. This can be a real financial relief during difficult economic times.

The following is a list of restaurants where kids can eat for free:

IHOP: For children 12 years and under, they can eat at IHOP for free everyday. The hours of the free meal offer are from 4pm to 8pm. For each adult entree purchased, a child can have one free kids' menu item. The IHOP kids' menu includes cheese sandwiches, omelets, pancakes, cheeseburgers, eggs, French toast, chicken strips, and fish. Deals on various dishes will vary from one IHOP location to another.

Piccadilly: From Monday to Saturday, the Piccadilly offers children under the age of 6 free meals. The kids' meals normally include such food as grilled chicken, hot pockets, corn dogs, and chicken tenders. There are also dessert dishes offered which includes pudding, a cupcake, or jello. A kid's beverage also comes with the meal.

Red Robin: On Monday and Tuesday from 5pm to 9pm, children 10 years and under can eat for free. The Red Robin kids' menu includes pasta, pizza, burgers, pasta, quesadilla, grilled cheese, Mac n' Cheese, spaghetti, corn dog, and chicken fingers.

TGI Friday's: On Mondays and Tuesdays at TGI Friday's, kids 3 years and under can eat for free. There are a variety of selections of food dishes kids can choose from such as sandwiches, chicken strips, burgers, fries...etc.

Bennigan's: At Bennigan's, kids can eat for free on Tuesdays. One adult entree must be purchased to take advantage of the kids eat for free offer. There are a wide variety of selections such as sandwiches, hot dogs, fries, burgers, salads, chicken wings, soups....etc.

Denny's: Every Tuesday night and Saturdays, kids 10 years and under can eat for free. Generally, hours of the kids eat for free special are from 4pm to 10pm. Check your local Denny's for specifics on the hours for their kids eat for free deals. There are a variety of selections on the Denny's kids' menu which includes a dipper sampler, grilled cheese sandwiches, chicken nuggets, hot dogs, pizza, and burgers.

Friendly's: Kids eat for free on Tuesdays. As well, the big kid meals are discounted on Tuesday's. The Friendly's kids' meals include chicken fingers, Mac and Franks, grilled cheese, cheeseburger sliders, Mac and Cheese, hot dogs, mozzarella sticks, quesadillas...etc. The food deals will vary from one location to another.

Cici's Pizza: Everyday, Cici's Pizza offers children 3 years and under free meals. There are certain Cici's Pizza locations that offer older children eat for free deals on a specific night. Check your local Cici's. The free buffet for kids' meal includes: pizza, salad, pasta, and dessert.

Because of the current troubled economic conditions, getting something for free can greatly provide financial relief for a family on a tight budget. Taking your family to a restaurant that allows children to eat for free can really help you stay on budget. - 30543

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Commercial Ovens Analyzed In Each Variety

By Jane Pullman

The success of many businesses may very well depend upon a reliable commercial oven. Restaurants need large ovens to accommodate their need to cook for the masses, and the one they use will depend on a number of different factors.

There are many considerations that should go into determining which kind of oven they should use for their restaurant. For example, restaurants that serve more than 50 people at once may need several ovens, especially if the food type on their menu varies.

By developing an understanding for the different types of commercial oven, you may have a better idea as to which would be best in your restaurant. Let's start out with the most popular style, and that's the convection oven. The reason that so many people choose to go with a convection model is because of its reliability. A fan from within the oven blows all of the hot air evenly across your food, leading to consistently well heated meals.

This is particularly useful for foods that may have been cold or even frozen before being heated. As you may well know, frozen preparations are often spotty once they've been done with heating.

Yet another very popular oven style is the conveyor oven. Who will typically use ovens like these? They're very popular in high volume restaurants that need to prepare many meals at once. In heating food in this manner, you won't need to constantly open and close your oven as you need to serve each meal.

Of course, another type of extremely common commercial oven used in restaurants is a pizza oven, which has the capacity to heat foods really quickly at extremely high temperatures. As a result, you'll see other foods being heated with this oven from time to time.

When buying a commercial oven, there are many places you can look. The one you'll go with should depend on what kind of food you'll be preparing with it, and how much food you need to cook at once.

At this point, you should have a basic understanding as to the different oven styles. It's your job to find the best deal, and you can do that by rummaging through online searches, classified ads, and local stores. - 30543

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Useful Advice On How To Design Restaurant Menus

By Adriana Noton

No matter how appealing the ambiance of a restaurant is, or how polite and helpful the servers are, you are there for one thing only. That is to enjoy the food. The first thing you are presented with is the menu. This is where you get your first impression of the food. Restaurant menus should therefore always look inviting and reflect the style of the restaurant.

Owners of any place where the public sits down to enjoy a meal should put some effort into designing a menu. From upper class fine-dining establishments to the diner down the street, it is essential, and respectful, to present an eye-catching menu. Reading a good menu should make you hungry! Make sure your menus are not caked in old food - this will put your patrons off immediately.

A family friendly restaurant should also include a separate kiddies menu. This will be a clear indication that the food is prepared and served to suit a child's appetite and preferences. At the other end of the scale, consider elderly patrons when designing your menu. Make sure the text is easy to read. Don't use elaborate fancy fonts in small print to describe each dish.

The fonts used in a menu should reflect the theme of the restaurant. You can use scrolled fonts for fine-dining restaurants. However family orientated restaurants should have menus in bold, trendy fonts - as long as they are easy to read. Children love looking through a menu, so keep this in mind.

Most menus list the foods in the order they are served, i. E. Appetizers will appear first, followed by entrees, side orders and finally desserts. Another way is to group certain types of dishes under separate headings. For example meat, chicken, seafood will be presented in individual sections.

Restaurants that serve meals throughout the day usually have three separate sections on the menu - breakfast, lunch and dinner. Illustrations or photographs are a must on most menus. But make sure they look appetizing. Don't cut corners if you want to display photographs on your menu. Get a professional food photographer to do the job.

Menus for more formal restaurants should contain more words and fewer illustrations. There should be a detailed description of each dish and how it is cooked - baked, flame-grilled or fried. To add a further touch of class include a section under a heading 'Chef's recommendations'. Another tasteful touch is to present the menu inside a hard book like folder.

With today's computer graphics at hand, the sky is the limit when designing a menu. If your restaurant is a fun, vibey place, this should extend to the menu. If you own a pizzeria, your menu could be in the shape of a pizza. Include some light-hearted quips or humorous sketches to add appeal.

A good restaurant menu will have the right balance. It will provide enough information to titillate the taste buds, but not too much to bore the patrons. Most importantly, make sure that the prices of the food advertised on your menu are not too expensive for what you are offering. A happy customer is one who is prepared to pay for the value he or she gets. - 30543

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Which Glass Door Refrigerator is Ideal For Your Needs?

By Jason Grant

In recent years, the glass door refrigerator has picked up in popularity due to its ergonomic design and its attractive look and feel.

Due to the strong demand for this refrigerator style, there are many different types of glass door refrigerators for anyone to choose from. As a result, you should know what each style entails so that you end up with something best suited to your needs. Let's analyze a few of the leading styles of this product.

You've seen them in restaurants for a long time, and the sliding glass door refrigerator is here to stay. There are many reasons that you may want to use one of these for your business, and it starts with the fact that everything inside the unit can be seen at all times.

This allows you to see all of the shelves inside the refrigerator, making it really easy for patrons to see the food you're offering, or even easier for restaurant workers to know what's inside the unit without having to constantly open and close it. Additionally, the fact that the door slides saves valuable space as compared to those devices that open and close like ordinary doors.

While many do enjoy flaunting everything inside their fridge, there are some businesses and homes that have less attractive offerings sitting at the bottom of the unit. If this accurately describes your situation, you may very well want to get a half glass door refrigerator. The top half will be transparent, with the bottom half shielded with a solid layer.

In homes, it's side by side glass door refrigerators that may offer the most convenience. The reason for this is simple. Nearly every home has a freezer to go with its fridge, and this is exactly what a side by side unit involves.

As far as the glass itself is concerned, you can go for one of many different kinds of glass. While the most common is ordinary transparent glass, other varieties include the likes of smoked and stained glass if you're looking for something a bit more adventurous.

With this knowledge, you should now be ready to move forward in determining which product type will be best for your situation. Enjoy whatever you end up buying, as well as the food inside it. - 30543

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Why Do Restaurants And Offices Still Use Disposable Coffee Cups?

By Deidre Connor

The latest buzz is about saving the planet, and that's definitely a good thing. Of course, some day we'll look back and think, "And we really thought that was going to be enough?" but, right now, it's mainly good that the concept of "going green" isn't just for the vegetarians and hippies anymore. Due to this, many basic things that every business has always used are being given thought all over again. Even if a company is only interested in their bottom line, they may find that going green is far cheaper than ever. Let's look at something that many companies rarely consider: disposable coffee cups.

Fast Food Restaurants Must Use Disposable Coffee Cups

Disposable coffee cups, for the most part, are purchased by only a few types of businesses: restaurants and, in some cases, offices. When it comes to a fast food restaurant, there's not much of a choice. Since they can't expect customers to return coffee cups, they have to give them the product in a container that is expected to be tossed. Unless someone develops a really innovative solution, fast food restaurants will have to continue to operate this way, creating a constant demand for the disposable coffee cup.

Sit-Down Restaurants Could Go Greener

In sit-down restaurants, however, the main reason they are still used is due to cost. In many ways, this may be a false savings. The price may be cheaper up front, but you're paying for those disposable coffee cups over and over again where you could, instead, be washing and re-using. However, this would also involve paying someone to wash those coffee cups. Would it be worth it in the end? I suppose that depends on a lot of factors, such as how much you pay your dishwasher, if you use a dish washing machine, and just how much those disposable coffee cups cost you. There's no doubt, however, that doing away with the disposable cups would be better for the environment.

Why Do Offices Still Use Disposable Coffee Cups?

Lots of offices that get a lot of visitors, as a courtesy, offer coffee free. This is kind of similar to the dilemma with fast food. Can you really expect clients to supply their own cups? However, with the office lobby, there is a simple solution, although it may not be socially acceptable just yet. Since the coffee is, after all, free in the first place, there's no financial reason these offices have to provide coffee at all. Unfortunately, getting rid of disposable coffee cups, even if it's to help save the environment, would likely be considered rude by customers.

No Excuse For Offices That Have No Visitors

Is there really a point for offices who don't see visitors much at all to still have disposable coffee cups on hand? Not only is this wasteful, but it's expensive, too. There's no reason that a company can't provide permanent, washable coffee cups to their employees instead of paying for disposables over and over again, and that's if employees don't already have their own cups, as many do who have their own desks. These companies would very quickly see a money savings when they stop ordering disposable coffee cups. - 30543

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The Introduction To Dim Sum And The Ways To Make It

By Sean R Mize

Dim Sum that finds its origin in Southern China is now famous global. Dim Sum factually meaning 'to touch your heart' is a staple of Chinese dining society. Dim Sum is served in small portions as well as may include vegetable, numerous seafood and meat. Steamer baskets are best to supply Dim sum.

In older days, Dim Sum was served along with tea to rural farmers when an exhausting day of work. In China, as a tradition, Dim sum is made on big day like Chinese New Year, family get along, evening with friends. Dim Sums are a popular food item with restaurants as well. Dim Sums are served within the morning hours and restaurants are open as early as 5 in the morning to sell hot and steaming Dim Sums. These also are sold day long as take away and is standard with faculty and school going students and additionally office goers.

Dim Sums are created of rice flour cakes full of vegetables, seafood, shrimps, chicken or meat. These will either be fried or steamed. Every has its own distinctive taste. Health aware people prefer steamed Dim Sums along with a hot cup of jasmine tea. Dim Sums will be served as desert still, known as sweet Dim Sums.

These are filled with condensed milk and oatmeal and garnished with fried peanuts. It conjointly ranges from barbecued meat dishes to buns and to pastry items as well. During a nutshell, Dim Sum which was fashionable in rural China as a road side snack has found its place in virtually each half of the world. Restaurants in China have these little carts in that they display and sell different types of Dim Sums. The benefits of those roaming carts are that you can choose and pick Dim Sums as per your taste.

Har Kaw and Sui Mai are the most famous Cantonese Dim Sums. Dim Sums, if created perfectly are nice in taste; even the straightforward of vegetable like cabbage makes great Dim Sum. One want to master the talent of making the fundamental Dim Sum initial and then will attempt hands with various stuffing.

Below is a terribly basic recipe of Dim sum that is terribly easy to understand and build:

Shrimps Dim Sum

Ingredients for the wrapper:

Plain Flour - One cup Eggs - Two Baking soda - ? tablespoon For the stuffing Shrimp, shelled and deveined - 700 gms Cooked pork fat - a hundred gms Bamboo shoots, shredded - a hundred gms Lard - 1 tablespoon Sesame oil - one teaspoon Pepper - ? teaspoon Sugar - one ? teaspoon Salt - a pair of teaspoon

Steps:

1. Place all the ingredients for the stuffing in a very bowl. Mix it well until sticky and keep it to the side. 2. During a bowl mix all the ingredients for the wrapper, add boiling water and oil and mix it well. Knead the mix well to make soft dough. The dough should not be sticky but very smooth. 3. Divide the dough into different portion of round balls each. 4. To make round wrapper, the ball want to be pressed laborious with a help of a rolling pin and flattened any to make a nice skinny round disc. 5. Cover the wrappers with food grade plastic sheet. 6. Take one wrapper and place one teaspoon of the stuffing within the centre of it. 7. Fold the wrapper rigorously with the help of both hands and seal it gently. Make ruffles along the top of the dumplings. 8. Steam the Dim Sums on very high heat for 8 to 10 minutes. 9. Serve it hot. - 30543

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A Fantastic Vacation Idea Is Big Bear Lake, California

By Keith Causey

About one hundred miles north of Los Angeles is a resort community that has activities for all four seasons. It is Big Bear Lake, California. It is a very popular vacation destination and is located in the San Bernandino National Forest. The area is at seven thousand feet above sea level. The area is vast and beautiful with breathtaking views of the lake. This is a destination that is sure to please and visitors will want to return over and over again.

Rich in history, this area was called "Bear Valley" in 1845 when Benjamin Wilson came there. He stated that area was "alive with bears". In 1860, a gold rush occurred and became Southern California's largest. This area was revealed by the Serrano Indians over three thousand years ago.

The lake has been the backdrop to many Hollywood movies. In 1914, the "Call of the North" movie was shot in the area. Since then many movies have been shot in Big Bear Lake such as "Paint Your Wagon", "Kissin' Cousins", "The Parent Trap", "Yukon Gold" and "Dr. Doolittle". The area has been nicknamed "Hollywood's back lot".

The lake has a moderate climate but still hosts about sixty inches of snowfall per year. The average high temperature is sixty two degrees and the average yearly low temperature is thirty one degrees. The average snow depth received is approximately one inch. There may not be a lot of snow in the town. However, the ski resorts can put many inches on the slopes.

If you love the outdoors, this location is for you. There are many activities to enjoy once in the area. There is hiking, biking, camping, horseback riding, boating, bowling, fishing, skiing and so much more. The list is endless and no one will say they are bored. Be prepared to enjoy your time doing a lot of fun outdoor activities while in the area. There are activities for the young and old. A family can be as busy as they would like to be.

If a visitor requires a place to stay at the lake, there are many places to stay. The tourist will need to decide what type of accommodation they would like to stay in. There are bed and breakfasts, condos, hostels, hotels, rental private homes & cabins, camping, resort lodges and cabins. All the prices will vary according to the season and type of accommodation. However, resorts in the town all always offering specials and vacation packages to choose from.

Shopping is a passion for many and Big Bear can deliver. There are all sorts of shops and boutiques to browse through in Big Bear. From kite shops to the Bear Mountain Trading Company, visitors will be able to find supplies they need for their vacation as well as a souvenir to take back home with them.

Big Bear Lake is a wonderful vacation spot for the person who loves being outside. There are beautiful views, lodging and many things to do for a family. The climate is great for being outside. There is wonderful wildlife to view and explore. Take it all in and enjoy your time at Big Bear Lake. You will be glad that you did - 30543

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