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Archive for January, 2009

There is much interest in Absinthe, which is also known as Green Fairy or La Fee Verte. People want to know how to buy it, what type to buy, how to prepare it and what is the amount of Absinthe to use when preparing a drink.

First you will need to buy quality Absinthe which is rich in essential oils and that contains wormwood. Many Absinthe substitutes or fake Absinthes are for sales but you should buy Absinthes that contains common wormwood. Be sure you buy a real Absinthe. For those who have a hard time finding good quality Absinthe then you can make your won Absinthe using essences from AbsintheKit.com.

When you have your Absinthe, you will need to learn The Ritual or La Louche. This is the traditional French or Swiss way of preparing Absinthe and it uses one shot of Absinthe. Here are the instructions to follow:-

The Ritural is peformed with a slotted Absinthe spoon, a lump of suger, iced water and Absinthe glass.

– Pour between 25 – 50 ml of Absinthe into a glass.
– Rest the special Absinthe spoon on the rim of the glass and then place a cube of sugar in it.
– Slowly drip iced water over suger either by dripping from the tap of the fountain or by using a steady hand to pour from a carafe. Give the sugar a chance to dissolve and drip slowly through the shots of the spoon. You will probably see a lovely “louche” effect as the water mixes into the alcohol. The Absinthe louches because the essential oils of the herbs are soluble in alcohol but not in water and so make the mixture cloudy or milky when water is added.
– Sit back and enjoy your Absinthe drink.

Similar to the Ritual is the Bohemian or Czech Method and is a modern way of preparing cheap Czech Absinthes. Absinthe followers rather scorn the Bohemian method.

Instructions for using the Bohemian method:-

– Pour between 25 to 50 ml of Absinthe into a glass and dip the sugar cube into it and soak the cube.
– Place sugar cube on the Absinthe spoon and rest on the rim of the glass.
– Set the sugar cube on fire for one minute to allow the sugar to caramelize and melt. The sugar will drip through the slots of the spoon and into the Absinthe.
– Place the spoon into the glass while pouring the iced water into the Absinthe to put out flames and to cause the liquid to louche.
– Enjoy your Absinthe drink.

For real enjoyment of your Absinthe then you will want some Absinthiana – Absinthe glasses, spoons and perhaps even an Absinthe fountain to control the flow of the water. Replicas of antique spoons and glasses can be purchased from AbsintheKit.com.

When preparing Absinthe drink, what is the recommended amount of Absinthe to use? About 45 ml or a shot glass full in the US. Obviously Absinthe can be used in cocktails so to a Google search to find recipes online.

breweries

It is pretty easy to stop by the local liquor store and pick up your favorite pack of cold beer. Even in rural communities you have quite a bit of choice when it comes to selecting the right beer for your taste. It is easy to buy a beer but the real trick is to know about how brewing a beer works. There really is no secret to the basic beer making recipe. All it takes is the right ingredients and some instruction. But if you truly want to fully appreciate that microbrew or domestic long neck bottle, then you have to know how it all comes together.

There is a big similarity to making bread and making beer. Both have water, starch and yeast involved. The ancient Egyptians and Mesopotamians discovered this process and left it as a great legacy for everyone. How popular is beer? Polls show that beer is the most popular beverage after water and tea. Just imagine how many people like a nice, frosty beverage after a hard day at work. One of the most popular beers in the US is Bud Light, regardless of whether it is in a beer can or a beer bottle.

If you are serious about learning how the brewing process goes, you need to schedule a tour of a local brewery. The brewery can give you the history of beer making and let you see how they brew their beer. There are many great places to visit in the United States, such as the Budweiser brewery in St. Louis, Missouri or you can try the Miller Brewery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. If it is imports you love then you may want to consider visiting Belgium or Germany to see how their process differs from American breweries.

Get in touch with history by drinking a glass of your favorite ale or lager. You will be taking part of a long tradition that has touched virtually everyone’s life. You can consider it a journey into the history of the brewing process. So what can you expect? You can expect to have a great time while learning how different breweries make their own special brews. You will be able to taste your favorite beverage and may even learn a thing or two about homebrewing.

healthy snack foods

“We want natural food that is better for us and for the environment,” author Samuel Fromartz says about organic foods. In fact, one-quarter of Americans purposefully buy organic food products each week because they don’t want pesticides, synthetic chemicals or hormones coming in contact with their edibles. Of course, there are economic reasons why consumers may choose genetically modified foods instead, since buying organic can cost as much as 50% more. Therefore it’s important to consider all aspects of this foods market.

Many people are often confounded when standing in the produce section, looking at the organic foods, conventional foods and healthy snack foods. For instance, both tomatoes may look plump, juicy and red but one is labeled “organic” and the other is not. They both provide vitamins, antioxidants and nutrition, but what are the differences? Conventional farmers use chemical pesticides to keep pests and plagues away from their vegetables. They use chemical fertilizers to promote plant growth, and manage weeds using chemical herbicides. They may also give their animals antibiotics, growth hormones or medications to prevent illnesses and encourage growth.

The main difference between conventional and organic foods lies in how it is processed, handled and produced. There has been no irrefutable evidence claiming that organic food products are more nutritious or safer. The risk from pesticides has never substantially been proven. Organic fruits and vegetables may spoil much more quickly or look less-than-perfect. However, organic farming has been linked to improved water and soil conservation, as well as to reduced pollution levels. Due to stricter government regulations, smaller crop yields and more labor intensive farming practices, the price for organic raw foods is often higher. Some advocates say that organic foods taste much better, but that is really a personal consideration.

In many ways, organic foods are more of a lifestyle choice than an actual safety concern. The huge shift toward environmentally-conscious practices is driving consumer trends toward this pesticide and hormone-free diet. Yet there is also a movement toward buying from local farmers, rather than overseas products or from corporate super-farms. Certainly, there are many points to consider when grocery shopping and buying your favorite foods for meals and snacking, so it’s important to research and identify which issues are most pressing.

beer bottles

There is a huge debate going on in the world today. It may not be a monumental topic, such as world peace or global warming, yet for some people it is a serious matter. What is this debate? It is all about deciding what beer is the King of Beers. People debate this issue in bars, restaurants and homes all across the globe. To make matters more complicated, there is a plethora of different brews to choose from, which makes singling out the most popular beer difficult.

As mentioned before, there are hundreds of types of varieties of beer and thousands of different types of breweries dotting the world. Even when the field of beers is narrowed down, there still is the debate between which is best, beer bottles or beer cans? The truth is that you will get a better taste and view of the beer when you choose bottles. Beer in cans is still perfectly acceptable, so there is no need to cause a riot. If you cannot live without beer in cans, then choose that. It is after all a matter of taste.

There are a wide variety of types of brews out on the market today. You may prefer a pilsner as opposed to a stout. Some days you may want a nice refreshing lager over ale. On the scale of light to heavy beverages, you can go for a light tasting lager such as Bud light or may go for a heavy, thick stout such as Guinness. In addition to judging whether or not you want a thick drink, you have to consider micro-breweries and the seasonal beverages, such as those offered by Sam Adams.

So what can you do to decide once and for all which beer reigns supreme over all of the thousands of beers on the market throughout the world? The best way is to conduct a taste test. Find yourself a local pub or bar that offers a tasting club. The tasting menu will include a wide assortment of brews so that you can make an educated decision. Will it be an easy task? No, but it will definitely be a fun time for you and your friends.

making wine

Vineyards are central to the wine industry and are located in many parts of the world. The vineyards are places for growing grapes for making wine, raisins or table grapes. Vineyards have a lot of historical significance, going back to Biblical accounts of Noah planting a vineyard at Mount Ararat and Moses leading the Israelites away from the vineyards of Egypt. During the Middle Ages, it was actually the monks that maintained the culture of the vineyards and, to this day, monasteries have a large stake in vineyards.

Vineyards take an a lot of resources to maintain, which is why the early church often handled a lot of the vineyards in earlier days. Vineyards in different parts of the world are planted with different types of grapes, making for a variance in the amount of resources that are needed to maintain a vineyard today. In fact, some vineyards require little attention in order to grow a suitable harvest of grapes.

There are many factors that refer to the vineyard and its ability to grow the perfect grape. Good grape growing vineyards will have the proper “terroir”. Terroir refers to the combination of factors that influence the land, such as the soil and the underlying terrain. Any underlying rocks, inclination or altitude and orientation to the sun are also part of the terroir at a winery. A winery pays close attention to the terroir of their vineyards because it can mean the difference between a good and bad crop of grapes in a particular season.

In the Northern hemisphere, there is a general ideal for where a winery should have its vineyard. A common saying in the wine world is that “the worse the soil, the better the wine”. This is a reference to the notion that vineyards are often placed on hillsides where the quality of the soil isn’t all that great, however, the inclination and angle to the sun is good. Vineyards need a lot of sun, so planting grapes in an area that gets the most sun is certainly the ideal for a winery.

There are many variables that vineyard growers are using to improve their crops. Many follow the advice of noted wine critic Robert M. Parker Jr., who suggested the notion of “green harvesting”. This refers to the removal of whole grape clusters during the growing season to improve the quality and quantity of the overall yield. Many vineyards around the world are following that principle.

Obviously the vineyard is the center of the wine industry. Vineyards actually function today in essentially the same way as they have for hundreds of years, relying on old principles of proper growth and yield to maintain the industry. Many of the fundamentals for growing are the same as they always have been. As technology adds some things to the wine industry, the basics of vineyards and growing grapes remains comfortably the same.

It is now common place to reject any person under the age of 21 who wants to buy alcohol but only at the weekends. It is a radical step in the UKs history as far as raising the age on alcohol consumption if it is only for the weekend. Many countries from around the world including neighbouring countries in Europe all employ the over 21 drinking law but UK has kept it at 18 since the law began. Recent years has seen a dramatic rise in binge drinking and alcohol abuse which has led the UK to keep the age restriction as low as possible.
The British government has now taken even more precaution over drinking habits as it has now increased the age group for people who are NOT allowed to drink. This new law which only allows people over the age of 21 to buy alcohol at the weekend will hit the community hard but it is a positive step to try and get people to stop drinking alcohol to the excess.  Much to everyone’s amazement they are also holding talks to put age limits on selling bottle openers as this plays a part in making alcohol more accessible to the younger generation. Next thing you know they will have bans on formal dinnerware glasses or anything that remotely relates to alcohol. I think there are some limits here which need to be established for the good of society. Otherwise, our nation will surely end up being strict on everything and anything. That is not the way to treat society on the whole, we need to make these band and rules fair and non-restricting in order to make a lasting impression on the youth of today.
No doubt there will be up roar against this proposal from the Government but then again you really have to assess as to whether this is good or bad for society in general. In a way it would be nice to try and crack down on the under 21 drinkers especially on a Saturday night. I cannot tell you how dangerous and lethal my home town is on a Saturday night due to the excess drinking. It is like a warzone and I am fully in support of getting this sorted out.

beer brewing

There is something truly unique about attending a beer festival. It is more than just a crowd gathered together to taste a variety of taste beverages. It is more than beer bottles clanging together as a costumed beer wench makes her rounds. It is about celebrating a glorious history of beer making and the role it has played in our society. Each year, hundreds of festivals take place across the world and people throng to the beer garden locations to celebrate their favorite brew. If you have never been to a festival, then you are definitely missing out on something grand.

What is so alluring about beer festivals? The fall is a huge time for these festivals to take place and areas around the country have their own versions of Octoberfest. The art of brewing beer creates many strong flavors and patrons are treated to new varieties from their favorite manufacturers. Even small micro breweries are producing different varieties to entice you to try a nice cold beer. One of the greatest attracting factors when it comes to beer festivals is that you get free beer. Sure you may have to pay an entrance fee but once you have the wrist band, the world of beer is yours for the tasting.

If you want to attend a beer festival and do not know where to look, then there is a website that can help you. That website is www.beerfestivals.org. You can find a month-by-month listing of beer festivals found all around the world. If there are no beer festivals near you, you can always tour the local breweries. If you live in or near Michigan, then you should read Paul Ruschmann’s book dedicated to informing the public all about Michigan breweries. It is also a great source for learning more about the brewing system.

Beer brewing is a science. It takes a lot of hard work and time. When you visit a beer festival you get the chance to taste what the brew masters have done. Check out the above website and find a time that is convenient for you. You may have to travel a bit but the journey will be well worth it to experience new blends of beers. You may be surprised and come home with a new favorite.

Many non-vegetarians wonder what drives vegetarians to give up meat and adopt an entirely different lifestyle. There is no single answer to this question. Non-vegetarians become vegetarians for a number of different reasons – some even for multiple reasons. Most vegetarians claim that they became a vegetarian for one or more reasons.

The most mentioned reason, which many vegetarians claim, is that they have ethical problems with eating meat. Most disagree with how chickens are debeaked, forced to live in small cages, and are then slaughtered when they do not produce eggs fast enough. Most vegetarians also disagree with the crowded and stressful environments animals are forced into and the hormone laden feed used to make them grow faster and produce more.

Vegetarians come in a variety of types who practice their beliefs in varying degrees. Some object to destroying plants for the purpose of harvesting vegetables for consumption like carrots for one. The strictest variety do not even eat yeast products and object to wearing wool made from animal fibers. Far less strict are the pseudo-vegetarians who do not consume meat but are open to eating fish and chicken.

Not all vegetarians object to consuming meat products for the same reasons. Some simply do not like meat or perhaps have health concerns pertaining to cholesterol, preservatives or hormones contained in meat.

There is a small group of vegetarians who cite environmental reasons for not consuming meat. They complain that consumption of meat causes farmers to continually deforest land to create grazing land for cattle. In addition to these three reasons, there are also a number of other vegetarians who stopped eating meat for other reasons entirely.

You are busy this week preparing for a party this next Sunday. It’s the 18^th birthday of your daughter and everybody in the neighborhood knows what happens if some beautiful lady will be celebrating her 18^th birthday, it’s time to show her to the world, figuratively. She’s a debutante and this weekend, you will be having a grand party. So, you see to it that everything is in the right places. You invite a lot of guests like your relatives, acquaintances, friends and your daughter’s gang. You virtually turned your house into a beautiful abode just for the gathering and of course, who can forget to plan for a grand banquet, be it a buffet or blue plate. So, the best thing that you can do is to hire a catering company to take care of the food and other food preparations including furniture and utensils for the ocassion.

Hiring people to do the “food” is one of the most convenient ways to prepare a gathering. You just need to call them up, tell them what you want and when you want it and they will dpo everything from thereon. There are many advantages when you hire some catering services. The catering company will provide you with all the food and drink. Aside from that, they will provide you with bartenders if you need one, waiters and waitresses and other personnel.

So, no matter how small or big your party is, whether it’s a debut or a 50^th wedding anniversary, hiring catering companies is very convenient and you don’t even need to go through the traditional leg or drive approach to find the nearest catering service in your area. You just need to go online and make things more convenient to you. Now, are you ready to make the debut of your little girl as grand as it should be?  Go online now and find the best caterers in the world…or, maybe just near your area and for sure, you will find something what you’re looking for.

Absinthe is a strong flavor liquor which is made by distilling alcohol with herbs. It is known it is strong and can get you very drunk, but what percentage of alcohol is Absinthe and what is its proof?

Let’s look at the alcohol by volume levels of popular brands of Absinthe:-

La Fee XS Absinthe Francaise 68% abv (136 proof)
Doubs Mystique Carte D’Or 65% abv or 130 proof
La Clandestine Absinthe 53% abv or 106 proof
Jade Edouard 72% alcohol by volume or 144 proof
Sebor is 55% alcohol or 110 proof
Jade Nouvelle Orleans 68% alcohol is 136 proof
Mari Mayans Collectors 70 is 70% alcohol by volume (140 proof)
La Fee Parisian 68% alcohol by volume is 136 proof
Lucid Absinthe which is 62% abv is 124 proof
Jade Verte Suisse 65% abv (130 proof)
Pernod Absinthe 68% abv (136 proof)
Kuber 53 is 53% alcohol by volume or 106 proof
Pere Kermanns 60% alcohol by volume or 120 proof
Jade PF 1901 which is 68% alcohol by volume is 136 proof
La Fee XS Absinthe Suisse 53% abv or 106 proof
Roquette 1797 75% alcohol by volume (150 proof)
La Fee Bohemian 70% abv (140 proof)

Let’s now compare Absinthe to several other beverages:-

Whisky such as Johnnie Walker Black Label Scotch 40% alcohol by volume (80 proof)
Absinthe can be 75% alcohol by volume (150 proof)
Table Wine 9-12% abv is 18-24 proof
Beer tends to be 4 or 5% alcohol by volume (8-10 proof)

The alcohol-information.com website worked out if you have 1 shot of Everclear which is 190 proof is equivalent to drinking two.8five bottles of beer and about 3 brandies. With this information we can establish that one shot of Absinthe is equivalent to two.2five cans of beer. So, the twenty-two shots of Absinthe is equivalent to forty-nine.5 beers!

As you can see, Absinthe is much stronger than wine and beer and even stronger than whisky. We therefore need to be careful when consuming Absinthe, not because it will make us have hallucinations, or any other psychedelic effects, but because it is strong and intoxicates quickly. We need to take particular care when mixing Absinthe with other alcoholic drinks in cocktails.

Care needs to always be taken when your are making your own Absinthe for drinking. If you buy an Absinthe kit from Green Devil then you are steeping herbs in a neutral alcohol such as vodka or Everclear. Now, Everclear with an abv of 95% and a proof of 190 — is much stronger than commercial Absinthe. When you purchase the Absinthekit there are essences from Absinthe.some have to be mixed with a neutral alcohol such as Everclear or vodka. Your finished Absinthe will be whatever the proof or abv of the neutral alcohol you used.

What percentage is in Absinthe? For commercial Absinthe just look on the bottle label or, if you are ordering online, look at the product details for abv or proof. If you are making your own Absinthe from a kit, you need to look at the bottle of Everclear or vodka that you are using.