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I love red potatoes because they are so versatile, not mention all the vitamins that go into your meal when you add the red potato as a side dish. The white potato itself, red skin or otherwise, boasts almost half the daily requirement of vitamin C and over 600 mg of potassium. One of the big questions when preparing potatoes is always the same “To peel or not to peel?” The choice is totally up to you, but if you eat potatoes with the skin on you are adding about 2 grams of fiber per serving. Mom would be so proud! Just remember to hold the potato under cool water while using a vegetable brush to clean the skin really well before cooking. Below are a few of my favorite red potato recipes and I have even added a couple of variations.

Easy Steak Fries:
*preheat your oven to 350 degrees
*about 2-3 potatoes for each adult
*clean the skin or peel potatoes and pat dry
*cut each potato into 4 wedges
*place in a large bowl and drizzle generously with olive oil, salt and pepper
*toss to make sure all potatoes are coated well
*for easy clean up line a cookie sheet with parchment or wax paper
*place potatoes on paper-lined cookie sheet for about 20 minutes, then turn and cook an additional 15-20 minutes.
*Potatoes are done when they are firm to the touch and start to brown.
*Serve with ketchup or your favorite dip

(variation) instead of salt and pepper use fresh or ground rosemary

Yummy Mashed Potatoes
*In a 2 1/2 to 3 qt pot fill with enough water to cover the potatoes about 2 inches
*about 2-3 potatoes for each adult
*clean the skin or peel potatoes
*quarter potatoes and then cut each quarter in half (you should have chunks of potatoes)
*boil potatoes on medium-high until tender, then drain water (about 20 minutes)
*put potatoes back on a very low fire
*use a potato masher to smash the potatoes, then stir with a whisk, or fork or hand mixer
–FOR EVERY 6 POTATOES
*add about 1 teaspoon butter, and 1 tablespoon milk
*season with salt, pepper to taste and stir well

(variation) – add about 1 tablespoon sour cream for every 6 potatoes
(variation) – add about 1/8 cup cheese for every 6 potatoes-whatever kind you like, cheddar, american, colby…
(variation) – add about 1/2 clove garlic for every 6 potatoes and put the garlic in the pot when you first put the potatoes in

The possibilities are endless with red potato recipes and that is the good thing. There is very little stress. If you are in a hurry when trying these red potato recipes, just skip the skinning process. Give them a good scrub and start cooking. Keep them on-hand for a quick, nutritious meal anytime, day or night.

In a restaurant business or any business related to food processing, time and quality are very essential. As they say, do not let your customers wait for a very long time or else it will hurt your business. Commercial dishwashers were conceptualized to speed up employers’ work so that they could offer quality services. These mechanical devices help clean dishes, utensils and may even clean large volume containers. Today, there are many types of industrial/commercial cleansers aside from the commercial dishwashers. Here are some of them.

Pot, Pan & Utensil Washers

Generally, these cleaners come in variety of styles and capacities. You can choose from split door, lift door or drop-down design depending on your preference. You can also choose washers with or without optional tabling. For better convenience, select machine washers with push button feature as they are typically easy to operate and loaded. In addition, go for bathers with flexible racking systems and automatic washing and sanitizing features.

Rack, Pan & Utensil Cleaners

These washers are designed for heavy duty works. They clean carts, racks and cabinets quickly and efficiently. Some of these cleaners can also accommodate different kinds of containers through their special roll-in wash racks. The racks were designed to also accommodate specific items. Some of these cleansers have custom designed to fit customer’s needs and preferences. You may add second door for pass-thru operation.

Vat, Bin & IBC Tote Cleansers

When large volume containers are an issue when cleaning, these washers are highly recommended as they are developed for cleaning and sanitizing vats, bins, tanks, troughs, trucks, buggies, combos and so on. Among dishwasher comparison, high end machineries can lift and invert containers for washing or rinsing and once the rinsing is done, the containers are immediately placed on the floor. This type of industrial cleaners is commonly found in industries related to food processing.

“Awww, how cute,” is the reaction of some people upon being introduced to patty pan squash. Also called scalloped squash, they are part of the summer squash family but the smallest of the lot, measuring as little as an inch across.

Patty pans are a light green when young but shade toward white when mature. Their shape has been compared to that of a flying saucer. You can find them in the stores and farmer markets from summer into early autumn. Choose the smallest ones available if you want the best taste and texture. If you handle them carefully, you can store them in the fridge for up to 6 days.

Patty pan squash is a great source of vitamins C and A, as well as folic acid. A cupful of this squash has less than 30 calories.

You needn’t make a fuss over cooking patty pan squash. Just keep it simple. To cook patty pans whole, wash them well, place in a steamer basket over some boiling water, and steam 4 to 6 minutes or until tender (test with a fork).

As an alternative to steaming, you can try roasting patty pan squash in your oven. It’s almost just as easy. Get a pound’s worth of patty pan, trim off the skin, and cut each squash into halves or quarters. Toss with a couple of teaspoons of olive oil and a little salt. Place the patty pan pieces on a baking sheet and roast on the top rack of a pre-heated oven (420 degrees) until they are tender enough to pierce with a fork, which will be about 10 to 15 minutes.

Patty pan squash is also excellent when sauteed. Slice three or four medium-sized squash along their diameter, drop into a pan on top of the stove, add a tablespoon of butter, and sautee until the slices have browned on one side. Turn and continue sauteeing until the second side has browned. If you like, you can toss the sauteed patty pans over cooked pasta.

Most cooks enjoy making a variety of meals that require all kinds of cooking pans and oven accessories. They enjoy putting together a savoury tasting soup as much as grilling up a couple of steaks. And they’ve learned that they get better results from quality cookware, whether it’s a soup stock pot or grill pan. Quality cookware helps ensure that food cooks evenly and turns out exactly as it should.

Many people build their kitchen collections over time. They may start off with a set of pans and gradually add additional pieces and ovenware accessories over the years. Some kitchen pieces are fairly ordinary and can be replaced easily. Items such as plastic mixing bowls and spoons will probably be used a lot and replaced more often than other items.

And some pieces, like a grill pan, may not last as long as the cooker it came with and will have to be replaced.

When it is time to replace a piece of cookware, cooks should think of how they usually use the piece and what they do with it. Some ovenware accessories have only one use, while others are more versatile. If a cook prefers fewer pieces that do a variety of chores, then they should consider versatile pieces. An example is a grill pan with a reversible wire rack that can be used in both the oven and on the stove top. This type of pan may have features like a detachable Bakelite handle, so it can be removed when the grill is in the oven and left on for the stove.

Other factors to consider when choosing replacement ovenware accessories are quality and durability. While some pieces may be replaced often, those that are meant to last should be looked at like a minor investment. Not that you have to spend a fortune, but you want good materials. You can find a replacement grill pan made of enamelled cold rolled steel designed to last for many years. These kinds of cookware pieces that will be used long-time should have strength and durability.

Another factor for ovenware accessories is how easy they are to maintain. Pieces that are used a lot should be fairly easy to clean. You don’t want to have to spend hours soaking an item. Particularly items like a roasting pan or grill pan, that can see daily use, should be dishwasher safe, allowing cooks to have the pieces clean and ready to go for the next meal. You can use them often without wasting precious time cleaning.

Finding ovenware accessories and replacement pieces can be made easier with an online search. You’ll be able to find the right spot that carries quality pieces that you need. And if buying a piece like a grill pan, remember to take measurement so the new pan fits into your cooker. If you enjoy creating a variety of meals, you’ll find keeping your kitchen well stocked with all the staples and tools that you need will make cooking more enjoyable.

Rugs for kitchens have been around for a long time. They take a heavy beating. They get wet, kicked, thrown, dropped on and often times sprayed with kitchen floor cleaners. Over the years a kitchen rug can get faded and damaged, if not made properly. So what kind of rug do you buy for your kitchen that can hold up to all the abuse?

High traffic areas like kitchens, need rugs that can withstand the everyday rigor. High traffic areas need a rug that can take a beating. On top of taking the load of heavy traffic, it also needs to not fade. This is a common problem with a lot of kitchen rugs. They tend to fade over time which takes away from the beauty of the rug and creates a sore spot in your kitchen.

One question you might ask is, why buy a well made rug when I may just throw it away next year for something new or better? First, you are going to save yourself a lot of money over the long run if you keep your rug for the long term. Secondly it takes some time trying to find a rug that matches your decor. You are going to save yourself wasted time that could have been spent elsewhere instead of shopping for a new matching rug.

The best kind of rug to look for are the ones that say “washable”. They are the best choice for high traffic or wet areas. These rugs come in all sizes. Most of us are use to the smaller kitchen rugs that go right below the sink, but there are larger “area” type rugs for larger kitchens that can be easily folded and thrown into a washer for fast clean up. Another good feature of the smaller washable rugs, is they can be hand washed quickly. If you rather just throw it into the sink instead of the washer, then you have that option.

Top Advantages To Buying A Good Quality Kitchen Rug:

1) Outstanding quality. Made to withstand the rigor of the kitchen.

2) Rug ends are made extremely tough. They will not fray or unravel like the cheaper versions.

3) They are the easiest to clean.

4) They are made with safety in mind. Rugs that are “no slip” are a big plus for wet surfaces and floors.

You may be wondering why you need a kitchen rug. What purpose does it serve besides looking good? Kitchen rugs play an important part in your kitchen. Yes they do come in designs and colors that can add to the warmth of you kitchen, but they also provide safety. Kitchen rugs can prevent slips and falls. Most slips and falls happen at home. And it usually involves a wet surface. Adding a rug to your kitchen is the best defense you can have to slips and falls..

A rug can also prevent damage to your floors. Often times a dropped kitchen utensil, pot, pan or dish can chip, crack or dent a nice floor. These dents or chips can trap bacteria in them which creates an unhealthy environment for you and your family. Other than bleach, most cleaners cannot get deep inside small chips or cracks. Bleach can be rather harsh to floors and not recommended. A rug can be a boundary between your good floors and expensive repairs.

Cast iron fireplaces are made of materials that are one of the strongest and sturdiest in the market. It is often described as a means to warm up the home. Fire pits were traditionally made of brick and mortar materials. In the old days when people used to cook food over the fireside, they did not worry about added accessories. Decorations like the fireplace door or the fireplace screen were not that popular yet. However, many people began to see the structure as more than just a place for cooking and warming up the place. The English created the styles based on the Victorian image of designing household furniture and equipment with the metal.

Cast iron fireplaces come in various sizes and shapes. Depending on the type of style that you prefer, you can easily choose from a wide variety of options. The Potbelly brand for the cast iron types is one of the most popular in the market. Replacement parts for any of the accessories such as the candle holder, glass casings, candelabra sets and covers associated with the brand are also sold in the market at very affordable prices. It is advised that you consider the size of the area before you purchase the model of the firebox that you want. Smaller sized models are perfect for your patio while those of the larger sizes are useful for both indoors and outdoors.

One of the top models of cast iron fireplaces made by Potbelly is the Old Mountain 10141 Black Mini Potbelly Stove Set. The set is sold with a black color finish that is almost an exact duplicate of traditional railroad heating systems. The model comes with a stove pipe, burner cover, coal bucket and the fireplace Toolset of a shovel pot, pan and skillet. The style is easy to install in any part of your home. Accessories are furnished with the package and some replacement parts can be found on the online market as well. Smaller versions of the model are the Old Mountain 10126 Black Mini Wood Cook and the10142 Black Mini Box Stove Set.