How to Marinate a Steak

A steak marinade recipe can make the difference between a tough, plain-tasting steak and a tender, flavorful one. Marinades work by breaking down tough steaks to make them tender and succulent.

How to Marinate a Steak

How to Marinate a Steak

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How to Marinate a Steak

How to Marinate a Steak

They also give the meat plenty of flavor and you can choose from gentle aromatic recipes to rich, full flavored ones featuring strong ingredients like red wine, mustard or vinegar, to make your beef really delicious.

Popular Marinade Ingredients

Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, garlic, onions, BBQ sauce, fruit juice, brown sugar, and oil are popular ingredients in marinated steak recipes although no two recipes are alike. You can either follow recipes for marinating your meat or create your own marinades.

If you are marinating a good cut of steakto give it flavor, give it a relatively short time because the beef will take on the flavors in as little as twenty or thirty minutes. Leaving a good quality piece of steak such as a rib-eye or New York strip marinating for hours will make the meat mushy.

If you are marinating a tough cut of meat such as skirt or flank steak, you will require a longer time-long enough for the ingredients in the marinade to break down the tough connective fibers in the meat.

Marinades for tough steaks need an acidic ingredient like lemon juice, lime juice, or vinegar, because the acid is responsible for breaking down the connective fibers and softening the steak. You can speed up this process by pounding the beef with the sharp side of a meat mallet before adding the sauce.

MoreTips for Delicious Steak

You can marinate your beef in a Ziploc bag or in a glass dish in the refrigerator. Make sure the meat is covered with the sauce. You might need to turn it a few times if not.

Use the leftover liquid to baste the meat while it cooks, if you want to, but do not do this in the final ten minutes of Cooking time because there might be bacteria from the raw meat in the marinade and you will not want to brush this over the surface of cooked meat. Another option is to boil the marinade for ten minutes. This will turn it in to a tasty sauce that you can serve with the beef.

Cook your marinated steak recipes on the grill for the very best results. A charcoal grill can give a mouthwatering smoky flavor to gas grill steaks but is also agood choice. Alternatively, you can broil or fry the steak if the weather is not good for Cooking al fresco. Most chefs recomMend a maximum of medium rare doneness for steaks, in order to prevent them from drying out.

Some people insist on Cooking their steak until it is brown all the way through but this will result in dried out meat. Aim for red or pink in the center, and your marinated steak should be delicious and juicy.

How to Marinate a Steak

Juicy Couture Handbags-Perfect Style For Any Occasion

Juicy Coutured started in Pacoima, California and is a modern line of casual and sporty type apparel. This is a true western coast fashion company that knows how to give each item in their product lines the perfect touch of class and style. The Juicy Couture brand became popular when celebrities began to wear the sweat suits and handbags all over the place.

Juicy Couture Handbags-Perfect Style For Any Occasion

Juicy Couture Handbags-Perfect Style For Any Occasion

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Juicy Couture Handbags-Perfect Style For Any Occasion

Juicy Couture Handbags-Perfect Style For Any Occasion

They have now moved beyond the sports and casual wear lines of Clothing and have stepped into the fashion accessories ring with some wonderful Juicy Couture handbags and fashion accessories. These handbags can be found at Nordstroms departMent stores all over the world.

Nordstroms was founded in 1901 and offers a wide variety of items including: woMen's Clothing, men'sClothing, chlidren's Clothing, many fashion accessories, jewelry, fragrances, and more. This is one company that definitely takes pride in providing a quality product at a fAir price to its ' consumer.

Juicy Couture Handbags includes: Betsy 30 Key Charm Hobo Bag, the Jen Tote, Equestrian Bowler, The Sophie Key Charm Tote, the It Girl Multi suede bag, frame and the Princess Fluff shoulder satchel. These are all top quality bags that can add great elegance to your perfect outfit.

Whether the Juicy Couture handbag that you are after is original or inspired, and regardless of where you intend to buy a Juicy Couture handbag, it would do you well to take your time before finally arriving at a purchase decision.Doing so makes sure that you get the best deal possible on a Juicy Couture handbag for your money.

If you area looking for an exclusive original from the Juicy Couture Handbag line, then you need to go to their website and figure out which style you like. You can also go down to Nordstroms and ask a clerk where they keep their Juicy Couture Handbags.

Juicy Couture Handbags-Perfect Style For Any Occasion

How To Cook A Tender Juicy Steak

You invest a lot of time and money into the steaks for a special occasion and when dinner time comes, they are tough. What happened? How can you cook steaks as tender as your favorite restaurant?

How To Cook A Tender Juicy Steak

How To Cook A Tender Juicy Steak

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How To Cook A Tender Juicy Steak

How To Cook A Tender Juicy Steak

The first step to Cooking a good steak is to choose the right grade of steak. The top quality beef is graded USDA Prime and commands top prices. USDA Prime grade meats are sold to the restaurant industry and specialty markets and are not as likely to be found at your local grocery chain. The next grade of beef is USDA Choice. USDA Choice is tender, flavorful and only slightly lower in quality than USDA Prime. The meat is well marbled with fat and will be tender and juicy when properly prepared. USDA Choice makes up about 70% of all graded beef and is readilyavailable in your supermarket. USDA graded beef is Good an acceptable grade of beef that has only minimal marbling of fat. It is leaner, but may not be as tender as USDA Prime or Choice.

Next, look at the color and texture of the meat. A good steak should be firm to the touch, moist, and bright in color. It should be well marbled with thin streaks of white fat throughout and a thin crust of steak on the outside. In our fat conscious society, we tend to look for lean cuts of meat, but the thin streaks of white fat marbled throughout the meat are the key to a tender juicy steak.

The most tender and juicy steaks come from the short loin and the sirloin and the rib. These steaks include the sirloin steaks, porterhouse steaks, t-bone steaks, rib steaks,delmonico steaks, and the filet mignons. Steaks containing bone will weigh more than those without, but the bone adds flavor to the steak.

Aging is a desirable process that intensifies the flavors and makes the meat more tender. Aged steaks are more expensive and usually only found in high end supermarkets and specialty markets. An aged steak is recognizable by its darker color.

Once you have purchased your steak, you can further increase the tenderness and juiciness by marinating it. Try a marinade made of .5 cup each good wine and mixed 2 Tablespoons olive oil of lemon juice or vinegar, herb. Add any seasonings that you like such as garlic, freshly ground pepper, onion, or herbs. Place the steak in a ziplock bag, pour in enough marinade to just coverit, and chilled overnight. Marinating a steak like this will add flavor and tenderness. If you store steak rules "in the freezer before Cooking, try pouring the marinade over the steak before freezing. The steak will marinate when thawing and be ready to cook.

There are meat tenderizers available to sprinkle onto your steak, and they certainly do tenderize the meat; however, meat tenderizers can sometimes over the meat tenderize, changing the texture of the meat into mush. If you should choose to go this route, do it carefully.

When ready to cook, slash through the fat layer on the steak in a few places to prevent curling, but do not cut into the meat. The more tender steak cuts can be broiled, grilled or pan fried. Less tender cuts should be pan fried orslow braised. Steak should never be cooked in liquid. When broiling pan, use a very heavy such as an iron skillet skillet or griddle and heat the pan before adding the meat. The heavy metal will hold the heat for proper heat distribution and not cool down when the steak is added. A hot pan will quickly sear the outside, trapping the moisture inside.

When Cooking, try to turn the steak only once. Cook the meat until browned on one side and half done, then turn and finish the other side. Turning too often will stew the meat rather than searing it and produce a less juicy steak. When the steak is done, remove from the pan and allow to rest for a few minutes before serving.

How To Cook A Tender Juicy Steak

Atkins Vs. Paleo-What Works and What doesn't

Recently I've seen a lot of websites and books make comparisons between the Paleo Diet and the Atkins diet. "It's like Atkins," they say, "but you can eat fruit!" I understand that a lot of people in our community are trying to convert non-believers from other diets. And I understand that having someone make the switch from Atkins to Paleo probably isn't much of a stretch. But in my opinion, trying to say the Atkins Diet is like the Paleo Diet doesn't do the Paleo Diet any favors and ignores the key concepts of the diet. It's really not like the Atkins Diet at all.

Atkins Vs. Paleo-What Works and What doesn't

Atkins Vs. Paleo-What Works and What doesn't

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Atkins Vs. Paleo-What Works and What doesn't

Atkins Vs. Paleo-What Works and What doesn't

The Atkins Diet is NOT the Paleo Diet

The Atkins Diet, for most people, is not a life-long endeavor. It's not a lifestyle. It's a way to cut weight by keeping your carbohydrates as close tozero as possible. I recently spoke to someone that Mentioned she was going to do Atkins (again) because she was happy with her weight loss in Phase 1. And Phase 1 is understandably where most people fall off the Atkins wagon. Nobody wants to eat bacon and sausage every day of their life because eating a grape fruit would send their body out of ketosis and kill their weight loss.

The Paleo Diet isn't based on counting carbohydrates, or grams of fat, or even calories. It is based on the principle that you should eat what our ancestors ate. And that's it. Our ancestors didn't eat pre-packaged, sodium-rich "meat products"--they ate MEAT. While these meat-products are fine on the Atkins diet as long as they don't add to your carbohydrate count, someonefollowing a paleolithic lifestyle would assuredly pass on them. Our ancestors didn't eat Whole Grain Wheat toast or "Heart-Healthy" Cheerios, they ate wholesome vegetables, fruits, and nuts.

There is no induction phase for the Paleo Diet.

You don't lose weight rapidly for 2 weeks and then plateau off.Weight loss with paleo happens all the time throughout the course of your life until you reach your ideal body weight. Eating natural Foods, you will find it extremely hard to reach enough calories to gain any weight and the closer you are to your ideal weight, the less calories your body will need to consume, the less you will eat.

Foods that are calorie dense (such as meats) will keep you full for hours, making you eat less of them. Between meals you cansnack on fruits and vegetables that provide essential nutrients and vitamins but won't pack on the calories. Some vegetables and most fruits are severely limited or banned on the Atkins diet because of their natural carbohydrates.

In my experience on the Atkins Diet, there was never really a time that I didn't crave sweets or cakes, or fruit. I tried to block them out. I tried to get my mind off of them. But I always wanted them.

On the Paleo Diet you don't miss out on the sweet taste of fruit--because you can eat as much of it as you want. You don't miss eating cakes because you can make your own cakes without wheat flour. Pizza? You can eat that, too, as long as you make it yourself using natural ingredients. The best part of Paleo is the community. If you have a cravingfor something, you can be sure that someone else has made a paleo variation of it and posted it on the internet.

In the first four months after starting the Paleolithic Diet, I had lost over 40lbs and my wife had lost over 50 lbs, eating delicious Food that we wanted to eat.

The Paleo Diet is for Designed for Your Health

While the Atkins diet may be healthier for you than eating a bag of Doritos, you're still loading your body with unnatural preservatives, sodium, and other industrial garbage while never really getting the essential nutrients your body needs to thrive.

There is anecdotal evidence that the Paleo Diet treats or can even cure illnesses like cancer, Rheumatoid arthritis, Multiple sclerosis, Crohn's disease and adult onset (Type2) diabetes.

In my own case, the Paleo Diet cured me of GERD and allowed me to stop taking all of my prescribed medications.

Conclusion

As you can see, the Paleo Diet and the Atkins Diet are two diametrically opposed diets. They may be similar in that they both condone eating meat, but that's where the similarities end, as each diet comes to that conclusion through vastly different philosophies. Based on my own experiences with both diets, I choose the Paleo Diet for Life.

Atkins Vs. Paleo-What Works and What doesn't

How to Keep Grapes Longer

Proper Grape Storage

How to Keep Grapes Longer

How to Keep Grapes Longer

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How to Keep Grapes Longer

How to Keep Grapes Longer

Grapes are a great snack to keep around. They are healthy, tangy, and juicy enough to satisfy your sweet tooth while keeping you fit as a fiddle. However, like all fresh fruits, storage is a bit of a problem with grapes.

Learning how to keep grapes longer is essential if you want to enjoy a fresh snack minus the yucky taste or moldy patches, so read on to learn a thing or two about storing these grapes:

Choose fresh, firm grapes. The first thing to keep in mind when learning how to keep grapes longer in storage is to choose grapes that are fresh and firm. Their skins must be smooth and intact, the grape bunches tightly packed together, the stems strong and healthy, and the absence of any soft spots in the battered or fruitsthemselves.

Another thing you should be particularly careful about is hidden molds in the middle of the grape clusters. These molds have the potential to grow into large patches, even in the cold extremes of a refrigerator; resulting in ruined, clusters of grapes inedible.

Make sure to select clusters that are free from molds if you plan to keep them in your fridge.

Avoid washing before storing. Another mistake people make when storing grapes is washing them before storing.

While this may clean them and get rid of dirt on them, the water will have a negative effect on the skins of the grapes; making them mushier and promoting bacterial growth in the process.

This bacterial growth will eventually lead to decay, and that is one thing you do not want to happenwhen you want to happen. So if you want to learn how to keep grapes longer, leave the washing for when you are just about to serve the grapes.

That will clean them nicely without risking rot or decay in the refrigerator.

Use plastic bags to store grapes in your refrigerator. Another common mistake people make in storing grapes is simply shoving them unprotected into the fridge.

While the frigid Air inside will slow down the growth of bacteria and molds, it will also dry up any fresh fruit or vegetables that are left exposed inside it.

If you want to learn how to keep grapes longer in your fridge, you have to keep them inside a zip-lock plastic bag to preserve their freshness and prevent the cold Air from drying out the skins. This will help keepthem fresh and juicy for up to a week.

One last thing about grapes: they bruise easily. Be very gentle when handling and storing grapes if you do not want them to be all soft and squishy when you pull them out of the refrigerator a few days later.

Also be careful when shoving things inside your fridge, especially when the grapes have been inside for a few days now. The longer the grapes are stored the more sensitive and prone to bruising they are.

Remember to keep all these pointers in mind, and you will be able to learn how to keep grapes longer lot juicier, fresher, and even a bit crunchier for up to a week at a time.

How to Keep Grapes Longer

A Juicy Story-The Great History of Juicy Couture

Pamela Skaist-Levy and Gela Taylor (wife of John Taylor of Duran Duran) Juicy Couture founded in 1994. The company started as a designer t-shirt company. The look of The company changed drastically in 1999 with tho companies entrance into the denim and sportswear market. Next came the item the company is most famous for, "The Track Suit." The item came in velour, terry Cloth, and cashmere. The eleMents that made these suits so famous was there low riding draw string Pants and zip up hoodies form fitting in a variety of mouthwatering colors. Skaist-Levy and Taylor, according to most fashion magazines, have made there track suit as popular as the little black Dress.

A Juicy Story-The Great History of Juicy Couture

A Juicy Story-The Great History of Juicy Couture

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A Juicy Story-The Great History of Juicy Couture

A Juicy Story-The Great History of Juicy Couture

In 2003 , Juicy Couture was purchased by Liz Claiborne, Inc. for an undisclosed multi millionDollar sum. Quite an accomplishMent for a company that sold track suits, "Juicy loves Martha" T Shirts, velvet ruffled Dresses and tube. All of Juicy Couture items are manufactured with the companies logo, signature too highland terriers holding a shield bearing three hearts and love P & G (Pat and Gela) Juicies creators. A crown lies overhead while at Juicy Couture banner flutters below the underline slogan "Made in the Glamorous USA"

Juicy Couture's label has reached the heights of such labels as Gucci, Guess and DKNY. This was accomplished by a brilliant marketing ploy. They cultivated relationships with the community and invited top Hollywood celebrities such as Cameron Diaz and JLO, Madonna to shop for Free. Then they had these famous woMenhave there pictures taken with these items and this concept raised the label to the status of "Chic Couture."

Fast forward to today and under the Liz Claiborne aegis, Juicy Couture markets many items under many categories. They have both men and womens collections, children's collections as well as a mix of fashion accessories including jewelry, handbags and swim wear.

In the last 14 years we have seen many changes but one thing that hasn't is Skaist-Levy and Taylor are still at the head of this most prosperous organization as co-presidents.

A Juicy Story-The Great History of Juicy Couture

Authentic Designer Handbag Is Your Really Authentic?

So, you have just bought a new designer handbag. Maybe you have had your eye on Christian Dior Saddle Handbag, Gucci Jackie-O or that you know your friends will drool over. You got a huge discount off of the hefty retail price and you're feeling pretty good about yourself. But now you are wondering-is my designer handbag authentic.

Authentic Designer Handbag Is Your Really Authentic?

Authentic Designer Handbag Is Your Really Authentic?

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Authentic Designer Handbag Is Your Really Authentic?

Authentic Designer Handbag Is Your Really Authentic?

Determining the authenticity on any product can be a little tricky, but if you know the basics, you will be able to spot a fake in just a few seconds.

One of the best ways to ensure your new handbag is authentic is to look at the bag itself. Designer handbags are popular and cost as much as they two because first and for-most they are made from quality materials. Take a good look at the stitching.There should be no loose or missing stitches, the color of the thread should match the main color of the bag and the stitches should be evenly spaced. If the handbag is leather, the logo should be engraved, not just printed on the leather.

Also take a look at the hardware. All of the hardware should match in color and sheen. The hardware should also be free of scratches. Many manufactures, including Gucci, Fendi and Prada, protect their hardware with a removable plastic cover that is to be removed only after it has been purchased. The brand name or logo should be engraved, not embossed or simply printed on the hardware. You can also find the brand name of logo engraved on the strap hardware on Fendi, Gucci, Prada, Chanel.

Inspect the material the bag; lining, hardwareand accents are made of. Many handbags are made of different types of leather, Lambskin, Calfskin, from Goatskin and Patent Leather, but it is easy to distinguish if the leather is of a good quality or not. The lining is usually made of a satin material that has a nice shine to it and most designer handbags have the name brand name or logo on the lining. Designers almost always use leather accents, not plastic. Some purses have straps that are specially coated and seem to be artificial. However a quick look at the edge of the strap, usually near a stitched joint, should reveal a leather core.

Is there an authenticity card. An authenticity card is a little card that usually has the manufactures logo embossed on the front and has some information about the product youpurchased and sometimes includes a magnetic strip, bar code. Many manufacturers, including Gucci, Prada, Fendi, Coach, Kate Spade and use these cards.

Check for a serial number. Not all manufacturers use serial numbers, but many do. The serial number for Fendi purses can be found on the inside pocket. Simply turn the pocket inside out and there will be a printed number on the fabric or possibly on the leather TAG. Gucci includes a small leather TAGs on the zipper seam of the handbag which includes a serial number.

If you shop wisely, and inspect the bag carefully, you will be able to spot a fake from a mile away.

Authentic Designer Handbag Is Your Really Authentic?

How to Tell Fake Uggs From Real Uggs

How can you tell fake Ugg Australia boots from real Ugg Australia boots? Or how can you identify real uggs? Recognizing a pAir of fake ugg boots can be a daunting task, especially if you have no idea what to look for. Ordinary buyers can easily be fooled into thinking that a fake pAir of uggs are actually real. Many companies are manufacturing fake uggs and selling them to customers as the real thing. You need to be very careful when purchasing new footwear, especially if you plan to do so on eBay. Some fake uggs are made to look like the real thing, though the quality is often lacking.

How to Tell Fake Uggs From Real Uggs

How to Tell Fake Uggs From Real Uggs

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How to Tell Fake Uggs From Real Uggs

How to Tell Fake Uggs From Real Uggs

The following list of 11 points will assist you in ensuring that what you are paying for is actually the real thing:

1. The stitching pattern and finishing touch of a real ugg is very neat and the thread used for stitching blends with the color of the fleece. However, the stitching on a fake pAir of boots will in comparison look meager and scattered and will not blend with the fleece color. Moreover, the stitches look frayed, uneven and wavy.

2. Soles of fake boots are more rigid than the soles of real uggs. The flexible soles of real uggs can bend easily providing incredible comfort to your feet.

3. The fake or imitated ugg has quite less, scanty and dull colored fur relative to the genuine ones. Genuine boots will have fluffy, heavy fur inside the boots to provide comfort and warmth.

4. The heel of genuine uggs is flexible and durable, but fake ones have narrow and stiff heels. The front portion of the fake ugg is shorter, but the front part of real uggs has a rounder look.

5. The label on the back of authentic boots has the word ' Australia' written in small letters, whereas the same is written in capital letters on fake uggs.

6. Genuine ugg boots are manufactured using doublefaced merino sheepskin. The fur or wool inside the boot will keep your feet warm and cozy. The outer soft layer is made from durable hide. The fake boots are made from pigskin or cowhide. When you look more closely at the boots, you will notice some tiny holes on the surface of the boots. This indicates that the boot is manufactured from low quality pigskin.

7. The box of real ugg boots is brown, strong, sturdy and a bit larger than the actual shoes. "UGG Australia" are the only words printed in the center of the box.

8. A quick tip to identifying real ugg boots is by knowing the normal price. Uggs are not sold cheaply, so if you see some boots at a very low price, be aware as these are likely to be fake.

9. Examine the TAGs on the boots. Genuine uggs are made by an American company, Deckers, which manufactures them in China. Please do not think that the boots are real because the label says they are made in Australia. The TAG on real ugg boots should say Ugg Australia, Made in China.

10. Smell the boots. If you sense any paint or dye odor, then the boots are likely to be fake.

11. Finally, do some research on the retailer that you are planning to purchase the footwear from. Look closely at the photos and descriptions provided. Read the reviews and go through all the points Mentioned on the website before making a final purchasing decision.

We hope the above 11 tips have taught you how to tell fake ugg boots from real ugg boots.

How to Tell Fake Uggs From Real Uggs

History of Handbags

Bags are containers used to hold valuables and often carried by most people of all ages. This container can be a receptacle of leather, plastic, paper, Cloth or others that are capable enough to contain items in one carry. Handbags have been an important part of fashion history from the time when people have had something adorable to carry around and only the style and design have changed as years passed. During the 14th century, Egyptian hieroglyphs show pouches carried around the waist. These were attached to what were popularly known as "girdles" that surround the waist. Early rich people have different kinds of elegant embellishMents like embroidered designs and jewels to show their status and influence in society.

During the 16th century, handbags gained its creativity and practicality with the use of basic or common materials such as leather with a drawstring Fastener on the top. At this period, such items made from Cloth were made larger for travelers which were carried diagonally across the body. And when the next century came, more variety of fashionable handbags were born, like small purses carried by fashionable Men and woMen which have more complex style, design and shape. During this time, young girls were taught how to embroider and this skill gained a lot importance, which made them noticeable as years went by. Today we continuously see the rise of beautiful and unique artistic creations for handbags.

In 18th century, Neo-classical clothing are known to be very popular. During this time, purses are unideal to carry because fashionable men and women enjoyed using reticules. Women had lots of different bags for every celebration they were attending, and it had been an argument on magazines and tabloids on how to properly carry these purses. In the early 1990's, handbags first came into use and generally pointed to hand-held luggages which are typically carried by men. These became an inspiration for new sets of accessories which were popularly used by women, including handbags with complex features like difficult Fasteners, compartments and locks. The rise of this fashion inspired jewelers to add special compartments for opera glasses, cosmetics and others.

Today, the growth of different styles and designs of handbags are increasing constantly, from clutches, purses to totes. Obviously, these items became women's best friend where they can make an ideal accessory during special events like weddings, anniversaries, red carpet and black-tie parties. These accessories are great to complete any wardrobe for both men and women of all ages. For youngsters, totes can make great accessories to fit their stylish and sassy personality. Also, there are different types of options fitted for professionals, one of the most popular are leather-made handbags, briefcases and travel luggages.

You can find arrays of different custom-made items at your local retail stores and online stores. Items like embroidered totes, personalized make-up bags and cases, personalized evening purses and more. Purchase it for your own collection or give it as a special gift for girl friends.

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