How to Clean and Season Your New Molcajete

Fans of authentic salsa and guacamole are probably familiar with the historic cooking and grinding tool called a Molcajete. A Molcajete is a stone bowl used for mashing seeds, spices and herbs. A must have if you love preparing authentic tex-mex cuisine. But beware; these new bowls must be seasoned before use.

This special mortar and pestle - traditionally carved from basalt volcanic rock - is a common tool in most Mexican restaurants. In fact, many dishes like, pico de gallo, and guacamole are served right inside this rustic bowl so you'll want it to be free of stone particles.

True molcajetes can be found from many online merchants for twenty to forty dollars plus shipping but they are likely to be delivered to you unseasoned. That means you may even see grains of rock still loose in the bowl. The rough and unfinished look of the molcajete is beautiful. However the grit and sand it could leave in your first batch of salsa or guacamole is definitely something to avoid.

Here's how you can season your new toy. When you first receive your molcajete clean the mortar and pestle thoroughly with a wire brush and then give it a good scrub with a clean damp cloth. Paper towels are not strong enough for this task.

Next start hand grinding small batches of rice in the molcajete. This will start to dislodge the loose stone and make it a bit more clean. Repeat this process with several batches of dry uncooked rice until you no longer see any grains of black sand in the rice flour. You'll want to really use some elbow grease and grind the grain into as fine a power as you can. Again repeat. Any remaining rice sediment in the bowl is not a concern.

Then take a slice of sticky soft white bread and grind it into the bowl to dislodge and draw out more sediment. You may want to repeat this step as well before you are sure there is no more sediment to be found. It takes some people ten to twelve rice grindings before they are really comfortable grinding food to serve.

If shopping for a molcajete beware there are some imitation bowls made of concrete or pressed rock being sold as "authentic." Look for a disclosure that they use real volcanic rock. The molcajete is a beautiful tool for your kitchen and should last a lifetime in your kitchen. It was originally invented and used by pre-Hispanic Mesoamerican cultures like the Aztec and Maya thousands of years ago.

Once you've seasoned your new molcajete you can experiment and find modern and delicious recipes to prepare and serve in.

Essential Cooking Utensils for Any Kitchen

Like any art, cooking is done best when you have the proper tools at your disposal. For those who cook at home and those who cook in restaurants alike, the right equipment will make all the difference in both the labor that goes into your task and the quality of the final product. Whether you are stocking a brand new kitchen or redoing a kitchen that needs a refresher, reviewing this basic rundown of the most critical cookware to have may help you as you select and stock up on your utensils.

Quality Knives

No matter what kind of cooking you do, having a quality set of knives is going to make your job easier. Good knives will have you cutting quicker and applying less pressure, which also leaves you less likely to make a mistake and cut yourself. The type of knives you choose is going to depend entirely on the type of cooking that you perform frequently. If you are in a restaurant this is probably a bit more predetermined, but for home cooking you are going to want options to allow for a lot of versatility. A large chef's knife is a no brainer, and other than that you should aim for a range of sizes, blade types (serrated or smooth) and grips, so you can chop, dice, and slice with ease.

Cooking Spoons

A nice set of cooking spoons is another critical part of your utensil list. A spoon is an item of which you will probably want a measure of variety. Basic mixing spoons are offered in a surprising amount of options. A basic mixing spoon will be oval shaped and flatter than a table spoon or soup spoon. You will also want to get one with some more depth, one with holes so you can more easily stir things with liquid bases, and a ladle shaped spoon so liquids can be scooped. Smaller spoons will also be necessary for mixing individual ingredients. It may help to consider what you usually would be mixing, and what features might make that job easier.

Food Turners

There are a variety food turner options a bit more complex than your basic spatula. Longer shapes with more flattened edges can let you carefully flip even the most delicate foods without damaging the presentation. Some food turners have slots in them, allowing juices to drip or creating an attracted imprint on certain dishes when pressed. This is a very versatile tool that you will likely be using to prod and flip all kinds of dishes, so it is wise to invest in a good quality turner.

You Can Never Be Overly Prepared For Disaster With A Survival Food Supply And Water Supply

Most families and businesses do not like thinking about meeting with a terrorist attack or natural disaster in their area. However, we are not in control of such events happening, and should a hurricane or earthquake hit it may be hours before emergency help arrives and even worse yet, it may be days before you are discovered under the ruble of what used to be your office or home. How would you and your family survive without food and water supplies? As we all know one can survive without food for a few days, but you will not survive without water for longer than a day.

You can now easily extend the number of days with a 72 hour kit. Even though many people think that the Red Cross will rescue them and provide them with aid, in reality after a major disaster how many people realistically are reported alive after 72 hours when they have experienced fires, hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, tornado or terrorist attacks. If your business or home is properly prepared you won't have to worry about a survival food supply, as your 72 hour kit has all the supplies you will need to get you through 72 hours.

All you are required to add to a 72 hour kit is some comfortable clothing and then store the kit in a safe zone where it is easily accessible. If anyone in the family suffers from diabetes or a heart condition, make sure you pack in sufficient medications to last the person for at least three or more days. You also need to check the survival food supply and medication expiry dates at least every six months. Although at the time of packing you survival supplies, it may seem as if you have abundance of items, but in the event of you being stranded for three or more days, you will be surprised how quickly your supplies get consumed.

In particular, one should take the time to make sure that their elderly relatives and friends are well equipped with a survival kit and at the same time, take time to explain to them how to make use of all the items and what they should do in the event of a disaster taking place, as this could save their life. Bear in mind that worldwide, people are not only facing threats from natural disasters but also from enemies that do not hesitate attacking various countries. In addition to preparing the elderly, you also need to prepare your children for such events.

Never rely on cell phones or telephones, always make sure you have a sound backup plan in place, in the event the family becomes separated. Make sure the contact details of relatives and friends are included in the kit, as well as maps and other relevant information. Once can never be overly prepared for a disaster especially a sufficient survival food supply and water supply. At the same time make sure you also have a vehicle safety kit of which can all be obtained online.

Food and Drink: Cooking Supplies Article

Food and Drink: Cooking Supplies Article