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Properly Cleaning Your Grill

When purchasing your barbeque grill, think of it as an investment rather then just another item for your outdoor entertainment. You should expect this item to become a large part of your outdoor activities for many years to come. But like any other investments, proper maintenance and care is needed to ensure that your barbeque grill will work for you for many years to come.

Leaving you grill messy after each use will not only make it harder on you when you finally do clean the grill, but it will also drastically decrease the lifespan of your grill. If you grill sits dirty, you increase the risk of rust.

While some maintenance and cleaning is specific to the type of barbeque grill your own (gas, electric, charcoal or smoke barbecue grill), the majority of maintenance that should be carried on does not change from grill to grill.

Step 1- Gathering The Necessary Items

You will need some common household items on hand when it comes time to clean your barbeque grill.

Brass wire grill brush
Steel wool pads, preferably that contains soap already.
Mild dish soap
Sponge or dishcloth
Spray cooking oil
Dry baking soda
Aluminum foil

Step 2- Brushing Your Grill Off

The first thing that should always be done to your grill is a routine brushing. Using your brass wire grill brush (or other brush suitable to your type of grill) you should brush off all the surfaces. By routinely brushing your barbeque grill, you will prevent any type of buildup. If buildup from food is left to long, it can become increasingly difficult to remove, and can end up causing problems such as rust.

Step 3- Spray Cooking Oil

Once you are sure that your grill is free of all buildup and debris, and that your grill is completely cooled off, you will want to spray it down with a light layer of cooking oil. Spraying it down with cooking oil will prevent your barbeque grill from rusting. It is especially important to make sure you barbeque grill is completely cold, as spraying cooking oil on a hot surface may cause the oil to heat up and ignite, which could be potentially dangerous to you and your barbeque grill.

Step 4- Use Baking Soda and Aluminum Foil on Your Grill
Baking soda is a very nice cleaning and polishing agent. Once you have removed any extra debris and buildup, lightly scrubbing your barbeque grill with baking soda will give it that extra shine, similar to the day that you brought it home from the store. This can also be used on handles and knobs to remove any extra buildup tat cannot be taken off with a wire brush.

Aluminum foil can also be used to keep your grill looking nice. Gently rub the aluminum foil on your grill, and you will notice that it removes grim and buildup. This is a cheap and inexpensive way to clean your grill.

Step 5- Clean Your Racks

The racks in your grill are especially important as this is where the food touches when it is cooking. You will have to use the wire brush to remove as much buildup as possible. Once you remove as much as possible, start washing the racks with dish soap. If the racks are really dirty, you may also want to use the steel wool pads. Be sure to completely rinse off all soap and residue before cooking on these racks again.

Best Kept Secrets of Coffee Franchise Ownership

Once you’ve made the decision to purchase your very own coffee franchise there are many questions, doubts, and fears that will arise. There are a few secrets that successful franchise owners know that those who do not succeed often either overlook, forget, or do not believe the importance of. Growing a business is hard work. Heed the secrets below in order to make your coffee franchise the best in the business and to have a staff that is loyal to you.

1) Take your time when selecting your franchise and find a coffee franchise that you really like and not just one that you think will make you the most money. If you do not like the uniforms, rules, restrictions, or coffee in the beginning chances are good that you aren’t going to grow to like them over time. Instead, go with a business that you believe in and let your enthusiasm be contagious. Your customers and your staff will know if you are in business just to make money or you really want to build a great environment for everyone.

2) Be passionate. If you can’t get passionate about coffee then a coffee franchise probably isn’t the business solution you’re looking for. If you are passionate about coffee, make sure you build your business around the coffee that lights your fire and not some off brand that doesn’t make your mornings shine (besides you don’t want your customers to catch you sneaking a sip of the other guy’s coffee).

3) Be prepared to work. Building a business is hard work. Far too often franchise owners expect to pay the bills, sit back, and watch the profits roll in. In a perfect world, maybe but in the world in which we live hard work is necessary to begin your business and an absolute necessity when it comes to making your business grow.

4) Make work fun. Build a team atmosphere, play fun music when customers aren’t in the business, and give your employees incentive to succeed. While this isn’t a field in which you can afford to pay your employees a great amount of money you can do little things that give them incentives to do well and succeed. These goals are often better for some employees than higher pay would be and will breed a loyal staff that actually enjoys coming to work day in and out.

5) Be involved. If you are involved in the daily operation of your business you are in a much better position to see when things start to look bleak and correct potential problems before they arise. If you are not involved the problems may be catastrophes that are much more expensive and time consuming to fix than if you had caught them early on.

There are many ways to run your business and it is your business (as long as you remain within the guidelines of the franchise) but it is much better to follow the steps above and keep things running smoothly than risk significant problems by ignoring some of these valuable recommendations.

Before You Invest in a Coffee Franchise

There are many people who dream of someday owning a business of their very own. Franchises make this a possibility for many people who would not ordinarily have the opportunity. While the franchise path to business ownership may be the preferred method for many would be investors it is not necessarily an easy path. There are several things that must be taken care of before the process of franchise ownership begins for your coffee franchise.

Money. You must have some money of your own to invest. Even with a perfect credit rating, most franchises require a certain amount of liquid asset investment, a certain amount of personal worth, and a substantial down payment or franchise fee in addition to any sums of money that you may have financed. Be sure to check with the franchises you are considering and make sure that you have the required assets before going a step further.

Credit. Unless you’ve just come into a sizable inheritance or prize winning, chances are that some financing will be necessary in order to purchase the coffee franchise you are considering. There is nothing wrong with needing financing; most business owners need it in the beginning. However, you must have decent credit in order to qualify for that necessary, in many cases, financing. Get your credit in order before going one step further and keep an eye on it for at least a year before attempting financing for your coffee franchise.

Skills. You will need to have some combination of management skills for money and staff in order to be a truly successful coffee franchise owner. Whether you yourself have the skills needed or you make wise decisions in the beginning to hire managers that have those skills as well as your complete trust to assist you in the daily running your coffee franchise, someone must be in a position to make decisions that can do so with authority and certainty. You should also have a few skills that are relative to running a coffee business if this is the business you are going into.

Goals. Finally, goals are a necessary ingredient when building a successful coffee franchise. You need to have immediate goals as well as long-term goals and create a plan of action that takes you towards your goals. Your long-term goals are likely to change as your business evolves and as your experience increases. Be sure to revisit your goals often and see if any adjustments need to be made in your planning process to achieve those goals more quickly, more realistically, or more efficiently.

Building a successful coffee franchise really starts before any papers have been signed. You must have the proper mind set in order to be successful in any business pursuit. By taking time to create a plan, arrange financing, save money, get your affairs in order, and set goals you are establishing a pattern of behavior that is important to the success of your coffee franchise before you make the purchase.

Tiramisu – The Italian Food Dessert

Today Tiramisu is the most popular of Italian food desserts. It graces the menu of nearly every Italian food restaurant. However, its rise to fame has been meteoric; it wasn’t even invented until the 1970’s in the Veneto region of Italy. It didn’t even gain widespread popularity until the early 1990’s. It is a unique blend of ingredients that separately seem to not go together at all. However, when correctly blended together they form one of the treasures of Italian food.

The first ingredient is Mascarpone cheese. This cheese has very deep roots in Italian food. It was made as far back as the 13th century in the region of Lombardy. This cheese is concentrated milk cream and has a very high fat content, getting up to seventy-five percent. It is a smooth and creamy cheese. Traditionally it has been considered to be more of a winter dish and therefore shows up in more of the seasonal Italian food dishes. This is mainly because of its high calories and the fact that when it was first produced there was no refrigeration and this delicate cheese does not keep well in hot temperatures. Like many other Italian foods, the best Mascarpone cheese comes directly from Italy. However, it you’re an Italian food lover making Tiramisu at home, there are plenty of makers of Mascarpone cheese in America.

The next ingredient is Zabaglione cream. This is a true classic Italian food dessert. It hails from the world renowned kitchens of Venice. When it originally became a popular Italian food dessert it was made with yolks, honey, and a sweet Cyprus wine. However, today the cream has taken on a new flavor. To begin with sugar is substituted for the original honey. The most stated difference in taste though, comes from the use of Marsala wine instead of the sweet Cyprus wine. This cream can be made from home and is easier to make than most Italian food chefs let on.

The third ingredient is the most distinctive factor of Tiramisu, espresso. This shot of caffeine is where the dessert gets its name, which means “pick me up”. This is a coffee that is true to Italian food and is much stronger than American coffee. Espresso is the most important coffee in Italian food and can be seen following many Italian meals.

The fourth and final ingredient is Ladyfingers. These popular cookies originated in Italy and have made numerous appearances in not only Italian food, but in many other national cuisines. These cookies are remarkably light due to the fact that the dough with which they are made is rich with whipped egg white. They are immensely popular and one of the most appreciated Italian food desserts in Italy.

These four ingredients blended together just right and topped off with chocolate make an Italian food dessert that is as popular as the individual ingredients. Make sure when you prepare this at home that you take great care in choosing the ingredients, it will really make a difference in the quality of Tiramisu. Now that you know the correct quality and the origin of the ingredients you will surely impress your friends with you Italian food knowledge.

Planning The Perfect Barbeque Party

No barbeque would be complete without guests and proper outdoors weather. Plan ahead of time, checking with your potential guest for scheduling conflicts and issues. Finding a date and time that is suitable for everyone should not be to far as long as you everyone enough advanced notice. Alternatively, be sure to check the weather for that type of year. If you live in a climate that cannot be predicted, then you may want to have a backup plan just incase unusual weather comes. You cannot predict things like rain and thunderstorms ahead of time, but you can make sure that you hold you barbeque during the time of year that will be pleasant to your guests. A barbeque in cold weather may hold more negative memories of trying to keep warm rather then good memories of family and friends.

Barbequing has been around since early cavemen figured out that food tasted great after being cooked on an open fire. Perhaps one of the main memories attached to a family barbeque is what was on the menu that day. Barbequing opens a whole array of types of foods available. The type of foods you serve should largely depend on your crowd and the event in which you are celebrating. With the wide range of possibilities, you are sure to find at least a few items that will please your crowd.

Make sure that you prepare ahead for your barbeque. 12 to 24 hours before you plan on beginning the party, make sure to thaw, prepare, and marinate the meat you will be cooking. Once you have the meat stored away, soaking up the marinate, then you must start thinking about what types of side dishes you will be having. If you want a completely tradition barbeque, you may want to stick with traditions sizes. Traditional barbeque sides include potatoes and potato salad, baked beans, and coleslaw. Your traditional condiment bar should include pickles, relish, and onions. These foods are typically severed at barbeques because they are easy to prepare and store until the event happens. You may want to cook other items, but any barbeque is complete with just the items listed above.

A themed barbeque may present more opportunities to hold a festive event. With a themed event, you can splurge on the atmosphere and decorations. Matching tablecloths, napkins, and plates can be found at any local store. You can also match your dcor to the party. For example, a luau could simply be creative colored utensils, leis, and Tiki torches, all of which are extremely cheap. You can even reuse the Tiki torches later!

Your party area should be set up before guest arrive. It only takes a few minutes to get everything ready, but the reaction you get from your arriving guests may make you feel like you were preparing and decorating all day. Depending on the situation, you may or may not want to have the food already cooking on the grill. The smell will surely be inviting if you start cooking ahead!

Barbeque Recipe

Ingredients:
5 pounds pork spareribs
1 cup water
1/3 cup butter or margarine
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup dry mustard
1/4 cup chili powder
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon paprika
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspon cayenne pepper

Instructions:
Place spareribs on broiler pan. Cover with foil. Roast at 400
degrees F. for 1 1/2 hours.

Meanwhile, combine remaining ingredients in medium saucepan; mix
well. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer for 30 minutes.
Brush sauce on ribs. Broil 5 inches from heat for 7-10 minutes
on each side. Serve ribs with additional sauce.