Holiday Ham: Tips for ChoosingWritten by Linda Schnable
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The method of smoking ham will be yet another factor that creates differences from one brand of ham to another. The traditional method of smoking ham was to use specially selected logs of hard woods that would enhance sweeteners and spices that ham maker chose. Soon, processors found that their ham tasted better with hickory wood, applewood, or even dried corn cobs. One of newest technologies is a processed natural smoke that is converted to a liquid form and is applied to hams during cooking process. This process has helped to shorten processing cycle of ham. Many specialty processors still choose to stay with natural wood of their choice to enhance special blend of spices that gives their ham its unique flavor properties. Much like lengthened curing process of ham, many ham processors feel that slow cooking ham at a lower temperature maintains natural meat texture and cooks spice flavors into ham. Again, technology has been introduced to shorten cooking cycles and reach safe internal temperatures quicker. Some argue that quick process changes ham texture too much, and doe not allow flavors of ham and ingredients to blend during cooking process. Probably one area that each ham maker will argue that his is best is in ingredients he chooses for cure or marinade of ham. Each cure has one or two prominent ingredients that help to give unique taste and aroma properties to a ham. Maple syrup, honey, and brown sugar are three primary ingredients that specialty ham processors may choose to build their cure recipe. In addition to base ingredient, many other spices may be added to further enhance a unique recipe preference to cure a ham. As you can see, a good centerpiece holiday ham for your Easter, Christmas, or special celebration meal goes well beyond price per pound or an attractive package. There are many ways to make a ham less expensive, but like any good recipe, if you short cut cycle and ingredients it may not taste as good and bring pleasure to you and your guests that you may expect. Choose your ham wisely, and enjoy one of best tasting meal traditions. You must insist on quality and distinctive, elusive, one-of-a-kind flavor in your ham that can never be mass-produced by machinery or rushed through curing and smoking process. Whether you need a holiday ham, or are buying a ham just because you love flavor, a ham from http://www.meatgourmet.com can not be matched. All hams from http://www.meatgourmet.com come from one of only a few family run smoke houses in U.S. today. To obtain very best maple syrup brine cured, cob and applewood smoked hams, made in New England tradition in one of few smokehouses left that controls quality from beginning to end, visit http://www.meatgourmet.com today.
Linda Schnable and her family have been in the meat processing and selling business for many years. http://www.meatgourmet.com
| | The Dr. Phil Diet ExplainedWritten by Helen Laxton
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Food to avoid include avoid fast food, and any easily consumed food - phrase he likes is to avoid eating anything that will turn you into a human "wood chipper." For this reason, you shouldn't buy cookies and potato chips. Instead you should stock up on vegetables and other healthy foods bought from a list. A full list of good and bad foods is available at ww.supadiet.com. Like a lot of sensible diets, Shape Up Plan incorporates exercise. Dr Phil suggests standard 3 times per week, for at least 20 minutes a time. Following Doctor's recommendations can lead to weightloss of between one and two pounds per week - slow steady loss, of course, being easier to maintain than loss acheived via 'crash diets'. Once you hit target weight you want, rules slacken considerably, although you still need to remember 7 keys to success, and base your eating habits on them.
Helen writes diet articles and tips for free site ww.supadiet.com the web's easiest weightloss center.
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