Full-size Cooking for Today’s Kitchens

by: ARA

(ARA) - From the automobiles we drive to the houses we live in, everything in America seems to be getting bigger these days. While we may debate over the desirability of this trend towards “bigger is better,” it’s unlikely that we’ll ever hear someone say, “Gosh, I wish my kitchen oven were smaller.”  Holidays undoubtedly pose the biggest challenge for finding enough room in the oven. From appetizers to the main course to side dishes to desserts, it seems like everything needs to be in the oven at the same time -- and sometimes at different temperatures.  In performances worthy of the center ring at the Cirque du Soleil, some cooks have perfected the art of stacking dishes on top of each other in the oven. However, for safety reasons and cooking performance, this may not be the best solution. Now there are ranges available that can solve those oven capacity problems -- without the clowns and trapeze artists.  Ranges Built for Today’s Kitchens  Research indicates that the demand for free-standing ranges with more capacity and convenient features continues to grow. “Consumers are looking for cooking appliances with greater capacity to meet the needs of their families,” says Rusty Zay, director of cooking products for Maytag. “Our full line of Maytag ranges offers extra-large capacity, a wide variety of convenient features and dependable performance with even cooking results.”  Now available nationwide, the new Maytag range with 5.22 cubic feet of cooking space offers the largest oven capacity available to consumers in a 30-inch, single-oven range. The range is so big that it fits a 24-pound turkey and four side dishes all at once, putting an end to those holiday juggling acts. The gas model includes a fifth burner -- gone are worries of not having enough room on the cooktop -- while the electric range offers an exclusive 12-inch heating element that offers the perfect solution for oversized cookware like stockpots. For families that want the convenience of convection, two-speed convection cooking technology is available in both electric and gas models.  In addition to lots of capacity, the oven in the new Maytag range offers even baking performance that simply can’t be beat. The range’s PreciseBake heat distribution system delivers consistent temperatures throughout the oven cavity. The result is evenly cooked food -- which is especially important for holiday treats like Autumn Spice Cookies that require even baking. The recipe can be found below. Give it a try -- it just may become a holiday favorite at your house!  Maytag cooking products also offer flexibility. Introduced in 1999, the double-oven Maytag Gemini range revolutionized the free-standing range market by making it possible to cook different foods at two different temperatures at the same time -- a common need among today’s families. With a 1.2-cubic-foot upper oven and a full-size 4.0-cubic-foot lower oven, the Maytag Gemini range gives consumers not only superior capacity but also flexibility. For example, it’s possible to cook a pizza for the kids in the upper oven while at the same time cooking a pot roast for guests in the full-size lower oven. The Maytag Gemini is available in gas and electric models with a wide variety of convenient features.  Best of all, both the new 5.22-cubic-foot Maytag range and the double-oven Maytag Gemini range fit in a standard 30-inch-wide range opening. There’s no need to remodel the kitchen to get lots of extra oven capacity.  So this holiday season, leave the juggling act to the professionals. Try out one of the Maytag extra-large capacity ranges and see how easy holiday entertaining and everyday cooking really can be.  Autumn Spice Cookies  Makes about 6 1/2 dozen cookies  5 1/4 cups all-purpose flour  2 tablespoons baking soda  3/4 teaspoon salt  1/2 teaspoon baking powder  2 teaspoons ground cinnamon  1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger  1/4 teaspoon ground cloves  3/4 pound (3 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature  1 3/4 cups sugar  2 large eggs  1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract  1/2 cup molasses  Cider Glaze (optional):  1 cup powdered sugar  2 teaspoons vanilla  Apple cider (enough to make the consistency of cream)  1. Combine flour, baking soda, salt, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves in a large bowl; sift, and set aside.  2. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine butter and sugar. Beat, starting on low speed and increasing to high, until mixture is fluffy, about 2 minutes; scrape the sides of the bowl once with a rubber spatula. Add vanilla and eggs, one at a time; beat on medium speed until just combined, scraping the sides of the bowl after each addition.  3. Turn off mixer. Add molasses, and mix on medium speed until just combined. Scrape sides of the bowl, and add dry ingredients. Mix, starting on low speed and increasing to medium-high, until ingredients are just combined, about 30 seconds.  4. Transfer dough to a clean work surface. Wrap in parchment or plastic wrap, and refrigerate until firm, 1 to 2 hours.  5. Heat oven to 350 F. Unwrap dough and roll out on lightly floured work surface; roll dough to 1/8 inch thick. Using an autumn cookie cutter cut cookies and place ½ inch apart on parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake until cookies crack slightly on the surface, 12 to 15 minutes. Remove from oven, and let cool on the baking sheet for 2 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.  6. Dip cookies in Cider Glaze and dry on a cooling rack.  For more information on any Maytag appliance or to purchase an appliance online, visit www.maytag.com.  Courtesy of ARA Content  About the author: Courtesy of ARA Content Circulated by Article Emporium

Decorating? Then make a smart flooring choice!

by: Mike Yeager

Set the stage for your beautiful room decor with a smart flooring choice. And no matter what flooring material you choose, it should be serviceable for your lifestyle. Cleanability, durability, longevity and moisture and allergen resistance are the hallmark of good flooring. Flooring sets the tone for the look and feel of a room. But beyond appearance, the choice of flooring material should be based on how a room is used. For example, a room in which there is persistent foot traffic needs a hard floor whereas the kitchen floor needs to be soft on the feet while you dish out a gourmet meal! Which brings us to the fact that there are two main types of floors: raised floors that are wood framed, and floors built on concrete slabs.  Choose the right flooring option.  One just has to go through interior decoration catalogues to know the wide choice of flooring options available today. And there choices aplenty! Laminate flooring, hardwood flooring, bamboo flooring, cork flooring, vinyl flooring, rubber flooring, tile flooring, armstrong flooring, pergo flooring and what-have-you!  Choose with care. Always take expert opinion. And see how a carefully planned floor can add style and value to one of the country’s finest homes - yours!  About the author: Mike Yeager  Publisher  http://www.a1-interior-design-4u.com/ Circulated by Article Emporium

Country Decorating Ideas - Create Warmth And Charm With Country Style Decorating Ideas

by: David Buster

Country decorating ideas can help you create a home that is warm, inviting and the perfect home to live in. Country style decorating ideas can help you capture the spirit of country living during modern times. If you are restoring a country home, try to keep the original woodwork, windows, floors, fixtures and cabinetry unless they are beyond salvaging. For decorating a new or existing home, there are choices you can make that will provide you with the charm and comfort of life in the countryside.  Consider these country decorating ideas and country style decorating ideas:  1. Country Dining Rooms - use a large rectangular table made of pine, oak, walnut or mahogany with wooden chairs or old benches that are similar in style and material. A corner cupboard, plate racks, dresser or sideboard will provide perfect storage and serving area for the dining room as long as they match the style and the materials of the table and chairs.  2. Country Bathroom Decorating - country bathroom floors are made of wood, ceramic tile, linoleum, vinyl or natural cork. Carpeting used in the country bathroom is not appropriate. Wood and brass accessories are perfect materials to use in a country bathroom. Plain white towels instead of patterned or bright modern patterns are better. Wicker or wire baskets keep your sponges, loofas and shampoos handy near the tub or shower besides looking great.  3. Country Kitchen Decorating Ideas - use country decorating ideas in your kitchen. Give your kitchen a calm, elegant country atmosphere with soft colored walls, antique-looking lighting (chandeliers with wrought iron arms), wooden antiques or antique reproduction cabinets, plate racks and stone or wood fireplaces. Kitchen cabinets made of wood, aged surfaces, natural materials, rough finishes and round knobs provide a country style. Cabinets or kitchen furniture made of pine, even painted, can be beautiful key elements in the country kitchen. Country kitchen countertops use ceramic tiles or even hand painted tiles, slate or marble. If you want to use laminate materials, go for plain colors for coverings. Terracotta tiles, brick, stone and wood are very popular materials for country kitchen floors.  4. Kids Rooms - use wicker baskets, wooden chests and wooden bookshelves for storing books, toys and stuffed animals. When using tall bookshelves in your kids rooms, anchor them to the ceiling or walls so they cannot tip over. Bright colored plastic boxes are not good country style decorating ideas.  5. Furniture - furniture with simple lines, perhaps made of lacquered pine wood works great. Give furniture a rustic look by finishing it in a distressed, aged way. For example, brush on a coat of paint, then rub most of the paint off with a sponge or cloth. When dried, apply wood stain sealer unevenly. It will be perfect! Or use two paint colors and sandpaper to create a distressed look for unpainted or previously painted surfaces. Get free country decorating ideas by visiting your local home decorating or paint store for help with materials and techniques. Have fun looking for antiques, reproductions and handmade products when buying furniture for your country home.  6. Sofas or Love Seats - country decorating ideas can transform your love seat or sofa. Add a beautiful loose floral print slipcover for a romantic country look. Include padded stools and ottomen for comfort and as a place to set your drinks or newspaper. Add one or more rocking chairs. Traditional country chairs and sofas have high backs. And if the living room has a bay window, consider building a window seat with several cushions, a perfect place for reading and relaxing. High tripod side tables are appropriate next to the sofa or love seat for country home decor.  7. Antique Cupboards or White Cabinets - use a white cabinet or antique cupboard to show your ceramics, pottery, yellowware bowls, glass jars, or a collection of enamelware from 75 years ago to give your home a beautiful country style. Open shelving not only provides storage, it gives the room a country look, especially when earthware, stoneware and rustic items are displayed.  Country decorating ideas and country style decorating ideas remind us of the way life was lived many years ago. Everyday country life was often difficult, filled with physical demands and long hours. Even so, country life was simpler and closer to nature without the stress of modern city life.  Use country decorating ideas to help recreate the ambience, peacefulness and pleasures of this closeness to nature without having to endure the hardships. Read all you can find about country style decorating ideas. From using old furniture to the colors and fabrics you choose to how your things are arranged, create the country atmosphere in your home that celebrates the lifestyle that used to be.  Copyright 2008 InfoSearch Publishing  About the author: David Buster is VP of InfoSearch Publishing and webmaster ofhttp://www.yourdreamloghome.com- visit the website for more on country home decorating and design, rustic bedding, kitchen and bathroom design and decor tips, wicker furniture, home storage ideas and more.  Circulated by Article Emporium