Tag: Versatility

Agave Sweeteners- The Organic Way of Sweetening your Food

Agave sweetener is one of the alternative sweetener in the market that is enjoying a large following despite the fact that there are a lot of different kinds of sweeteners available. This is because of its rich taste and versatility in function.

The word agave is actually derived from a Greek word that means noble. Agave sweetener is made from an organic material, the agave syrup that comes from the sap of agave or maguey plants hearts. An agave that is already mature have leaves that can rise to as tall as 5-8 feet and have a diameter of about 7-12 feet. The plant can live for about 8-15 years depending of course with the way it is grown and of course the climate.

In Mexico alone, there are about 136 different kinds of Agave plants. The blue agave or what is known there as the Agave tequilana weber azul, is actually used to produce tequila. This is also used to make agave syrup.

Some agave plants are also used in combination with other species to produce mescal, a form of alcohol that is almost similar to the tequila.Compared to other kinds of agave, the blue agave has a higher fructose content. For this reason and a host of other reasons, it is considered the finest agave in the world.

Being a natural product, agave syrup can be a great and safe sweetener. The sweetener is derived from the carbohydrates present in the agave plant through a process called thermic or heat. This will then create sugar, whose main ingredient is inulin or fructosan, a complex form of carbohydrate.

There are no chemicals involved in this process. The juice of the agave is extracted from the core or heart of the plant. This dark juice contains minerals that has a natural flavor. It smells like vanilla. Solids that are found in the liquid will then be removed through a fine filtration process, thus removing the dark color and producing a consistency that is thinner than honey.

Fructose, one of the main ingredients of agave sweetener, can be found in fruits and vegetables, hence the name. Agave sweetener, however, is much sweeter than sucrose but has the same caloric contest as sucrose or what we call the table sugar.

Today, agave syrup is derived not only from the blue agave but also from other varieties such as the Salmania, the grey agave, the thorny agave, the rainbow agave and the green agave.

Choosing The Perfect Outdoor Grill

Because of its versatility, the fun it would give to you and your family, the exquisite flavors it would give to different types of food and the many memories you could have with one; it is no wonder that the outdoor grill has already become an essential part of the American backyard. So if you are planning on getting your own, you must be aware that you will have to look at a lot of things before buying to make sure you end up with one that you would really enjoy.

The most common disappointment for people who would buy outdoor grills is that the grill is either too large, too small, too much features or too little features. This is because they do not plan carefully before they buy it so they end up with one that they are not satisfied with. When buying outdoor grills, you must consider that you have a whole lot of options and this would require you to plan a lot for you to end up with the perfect grill for you and your family.

Plan Carefully

Weeks before planning to buy an outdoor grill, you should already have solid plans or ideas of what you would need to buy. When doing this, take note of how large or small you want your grill to be, what features you need and if there are any other objects that you would want your grill to have. Taking a look at the available options you have on the market might also give you more ideas as to what you would really need.

Take note that outdoor grills are definitely not cheap and would cost a little more expensive than other outdoor house appliances. Consider that the main factors that would affect price are the brand name, the features and the size. With this, think of what you want and what you can afford and try to look for a good balance in between. You are sure to be delighted with what you will have if you plan carefully.

The Grills Size

The bigger a grill is, the more it can cook in less time. That is the main advantage of having larger grills however, if you have a small family and dont really use the barbecue that often then you might not really need a big one. If it is for family use, try to go for the smaller ones. These grills are made specifically for that purpose and would effectively and efficiently do that job.

If you have backyard parties often and invite friends to your place every once in a while then you should definitely go for the bigger ones. These would really do a lot in less time plus these are most likely decked with features that would cook the food easier and make it taste much better. Take note that size is one of the key factors you should consider when grilling.

Features

Along with the improvement of technology, the classic grill has become more than a metal box that makes barbecues. Some outdoor grills now would come complete with 4 burners, a smoker, steamer and many other fancy features. While these are undoubtedly amusing, take note of what you just need. These are also a major influence to price so you must be extra sure that you really need it.

With careful planning, buying outdoor grills with the right features should not be too difficult for you.