Monday, February 21, 2011

Onion Soup with Mozzarella French Bread Recipe

What can be more welcoming than returning home to the smell of fresh soup cooking. The heavenly smell! Well, with a slow cooker, such as the West Bend Slow Cooker you can. Simply do the preparations in the morning and leave your West Bend Slow Cooker to it.

To give you and idea here is a recipe for a tasty Onion Soup for you to try:

Ingredients:
  • 4 C beef broth
  • 1/4 C butter
  • 3 C onion, sliced
  • 1 t salt
  • 1 T sugar
  • 2 T flour
  • 1/4 C dry Vermouth
  • 1 loaf French bread cut into slices
  • 1 C Mozzarella cheese, shredded
How to Make It:

  1. Pour the beef broth in the crock pot and cover.
  2. Set the crock pot on high and allow the broth to cook while preparing the onions.
  3. Place the butter into a small skillet over medium heat.
  4. Once the butter has completely melted add the onions and stir to cover with the melted butter.
  5. Reduce the heat to low and cook the onions for 15 minutes,
  6. Stir in the salt and sugar and continue cooking about 5 minutes or until the onions are a nice golden brown.
  7. Stir in the flour being sure it is completely incorporated into the mixture.
  8. Place the mixture into the crock pot.
  9. Pour the dry Vermouth into the crock pot and stir to incorporate.
  10. Cover and cook on the high temperature setting for 3 hours.
  11. When the soup is ready to serve fill oven proof bowls about 2/3 full with the soup.
  12. Turn on the broiler and allow it to heat up.
  13. Place a slice of the bread onto the top of each bowl of soup.
  14. Sprinkle the bread slice with the cheese.
  15. Place the bowls on a baking sheet and place them in broiler just long enough for the cheese to melt.

Serving Size: 6

The dry Vermouth gives this soup a bold taste. Cognac or even water can be used in its place if you prefer.To be honest, most of the time I use dry wine and the end result is very tasty. Keep in mind that whatever you decide to add to your soup make sure you add good quality. The rule is: If you will not drink it, do not add it to your food. This is really important as you can spoil a lovely dish with some inferior product.

This Onion Soup with Mozzarella French Bread Recipe does not need such a long cooking time, which is ideal for when you want to have a meal ready in a shorter time, but you still do not want to have to watch your stove all the time. Shorter cooking time with the benefits of your West Bend Slow Cooker.

Monday, February 14, 2011

How To Keep Fit During The Winter With Home Exercise Equipment

It is always difficult to try and keep fit during the winter. There is no fun in going out for a jog or some cycling. It is also so cold you do not relish the idea of making the effort to go to a gym. Do what to do?

The best idea is to find a way you can keep up with your training at home. Decide on some home exercise equipment that you will enjoy using and simply train while watching TV or listening to music.

Possible home exercise equipment you may enjoy using:

1. If you are into cycling looking at a bicycle trainer is a good idea. With a bicycle trainer you simply mount your bicycle on the trainer and you are ready to go. The best one I know about is the Kurt Kinetic Road Machine Indoor Trainer. It is quiet and you can watch TV or read while you are on it.

2. For those that are not into cycling and would like to get something that does not have a hefty price tag, I would suggest something like the Stamina Spacemate Folding Stepper. This is relatively cheap and does not take up a lot of space ad it folds away for storage.

3. Now for the option I like, treadmill. If you get a good treadmill, and you have the space to put it, you will get a really good cardio workout and you will enjoy it. For a gym quality treadmill without the price tag you should really have a look at the Sole S77 Treadmill. It has everything you need for a stimulating workout.

So, these are only three of the options you have. Unfortunately, no more excuses veging out in front of the TV! Get some home exercise equipment and enjoy keeping fit during the winter.

Monday, February 7, 2011

Enjoy Your Bicycle Training In Winter

If you are a cycling enthusiast you probably hate the winter when it is not very pleasant out. Trying to keep up with your bicycle training in winter, to train in wind, snow and rain is no fun and it can result in a lack of exercise during the winter.

Of course there are many alternatives you can use. Lots of home exercise equipment can be used to stay in top condition during the winter without taking your life in your own hands and training outside in bad whether.

You have quite a few options and your final choice will be a matter of personal choice. Some people enjoy a stationary bike while others prefer a treadmill or even a cross trainer.

What is important here is not only your choice of equipment to keep up with your training in winter is obviously also the cost of the equipment. A very good and economical choice is a bicycle trainer.

With a bicycle trainer you mount your bicycle on it and do your bicycle training on your bike inside. A trainer, such as the Bell Motivator Mag Indoor Bicycle Trainer, is affordable and the ideal solution to your problem.

With the Bell Motivator Mag Indoor Bicycle Trainer you can read or listen to music, or even watch TV. This prevents boredom and can also save a lot of time as you can do two things at a time.