Garlic butter is very simple to make. It is perfect for use in home made garlic bread or as a savoury spread for sandwiches. It is a perfect condiment to melt over vegetables or salad. the uses of garlic butter are only limited to your imagination.
Of course I shouldn't call it butter!
Ingredients:
450gs of margarine; room temperature
4 cloves of garlic; minced
2 teaspoons of chives; finely diced
50gs of margarine; cubed
Directions:
Melt the cubed margarine in a frying pan as a low heat. Lightly fry the minced garlic. It is important to to this over a low heat so that the garlic doesn't burn - If it burns is will be incredibly bitter. After approximately 8 minutes of shallow frying place the pan to one side to cool. Place the rest of the margarine in a mixing bowl and blend in the fried garlic, including the oil, and the chives. when the herbs are blended through scrape the margarine mixture into a Tupperware container, cover and place into the fridge to set.
Tuesday, 15 May 2012
Monday, 14 May 2012
Coping with writer's block
The first thing that happens when I attempt to start work on an assignment or project is that my brain has a minor freeze as to how to go about writing it. Because of this I've had to come up with several techniques in order to combat writer's block.
1) Ease off the coffee. Contrary to common belief, caffeine does not help you get work done. Caffeine is a stimulant. To a degree it will make you brain work faster, however after a certain point it will actually over-stimulate you. This will mean you will be easily distracted from your task and fidget/pace incessantly. This is not a frame of mind in which anyone can work. This is why it is important to limit you caffeine intake.
2) Fruits, vegetables and seafood. It is incredibly important o have a healthy diet. A good diet will impact on your overall health. Better health will mean that you are better able to cope with long periods of study as you will be able to work longer with reduced exhaustion. Fish and vegetables contain several nutrients that are vital to the production of chemical neurotransmitters in the brain. This will improve concentration and ability to use and retain information.
3) Water. Drinking plenty of water has many health benefits. I have devoted an entire article to this earlier. Water will improve concentration and will support the brain function. Goes without saying that this is incredibly important.
4) Exercise. It is important to have a health amount of exercise in your lifestyle. It also will stimulate your ability to think by increasing blood flow to the brain and encouraging the production of endorphins - neurochemicals important to brain function and reduction of stress.
If making these changes to your lifestyle doesn't help there are a few only solutions that might work.
5) Meditation. Clearing you mind and relaxing can sometimes remove the anxiety/stress that is stopping you from getting the words out that you need. Try some simple breathing exercises - get yourself into a comfortable position and focus on counting your breaths. Just breath. Alternatively, you can try visualisation exercises; pick a favourite scene and slowly build up details until you have the whole picture in your mind. Imagine yourself walking around the scene picking up objects and sensing them - touch smell ect. This will relax your body will building up your ability to focus.
6) Free writing. Open a notepad or word document and start writing. It doesn't matter what you write. In fact don't focus on what you are writing. Just let the words flow out. At some point, you will be hit by inspiration and and begin to write on the topic you were blocked on in the first place.
7) Structured questions. If you already have a good idea of what you want to say but are having trouble getting this down on paper, begin asking yourself structured questions. Eg I need to introduce an an article for my assignment. I will ask myself questions like 'what is the article?', 'Who was it written by?', 'When was it written?', 'What is it about?', 'What do I need to do with it?' ect. This can be adapted for writing scenes for novels. Ask yourselves questions like 'What is going on in the scene?', 'Where is it set?', 'Who is in this scene?', 'How are the dressed?' ect. After you have devised and answered these question you will have enough information to write this into a paragraph/chapter.
1) Ease off the coffee. Contrary to common belief, caffeine does not help you get work done. Caffeine is a stimulant. To a degree it will make you brain work faster, however after a certain point it will actually over-stimulate you. This will mean you will be easily distracted from your task and fidget/pace incessantly. This is not a frame of mind in which anyone can work. This is why it is important to limit you caffeine intake.
2) Fruits, vegetables and seafood. It is incredibly important o have a healthy diet. A good diet will impact on your overall health. Better health will mean that you are better able to cope with long periods of study as you will be able to work longer with reduced exhaustion. Fish and vegetables contain several nutrients that are vital to the production of chemical neurotransmitters in the brain. This will improve concentration and ability to use and retain information.
3) Water. Drinking plenty of water has many health benefits. I have devoted an entire article to this earlier. Water will improve concentration and will support the brain function. Goes without saying that this is incredibly important.
4) Exercise. It is important to have a health amount of exercise in your lifestyle. It also will stimulate your ability to think by increasing blood flow to the brain and encouraging the production of endorphins - neurochemicals important to brain function and reduction of stress.
If making these changes to your lifestyle doesn't help there are a few only solutions that might work.
5) Meditation. Clearing you mind and relaxing can sometimes remove the anxiety/stress that is stopping you from getting the words out that you need. Try some simple breathing exercises - get yourself into a comfortable position and focus on counting your breaths. Just breath. Alternatively, you can try visualisation exercises; pick a favourite scene and slowly build up details until you have the whole picture in your mind. Imagine yourself walking around the scene picking up objects and sensing them - touch smell ect. This will relax your body will building up your ability to focus.
6) Free writing. Open a notepad or word document and start writing. It doesn't matter what you write. In fact don't focus on what you are writing. Just let the words flow out. At some point, you will be hit by inspiration and and begin to write on the topic you were blocked on in the first place.
7) Structured questions. If you already have a good idea of what you want to say but are having trouble getting this down on paper, begin asking yourself structured questions. Eg I need to introduce an an article for my assignment. I will ask myself questions like 'what is the article?', 'Who was it written by?', 'When was it written?', 'What is it about?', 'What do I need to do with it?' ect. This can be adapted for writing scenes for novels. Ask yourselves questions like 'What is going on in the scene?', 'Where is it set?', 'Who is in this scene?', 'How are the dressed?' ect. After you have devised and answered these question you will have enough information to write this into a paragraph/chapter.
Sunday, 13 May 2012
Chocolate covered ginger; dairy free
This is a very simple treat to make. However it is also very messy. There a certain itens that are desirable to have in your cupboard - a pan and a glass bowl that is large enough to sit in the pan without falling in.
Ingrediants:
Block of vegan chocolate
200gs of crystallised ginger
50gs of margarine
Directions:
Half fill the pan with water. Place this on the stove and place the glass bowl in the pan. Break the chocolate block into chunks and place in the bowl to melt. As the chocolate melts stir in the margarine - this will ensure that as it begins to set it is easy to break up. Line a large Tupperware container with greased baking paper. Fill this with the crystallised ginger pieces,. spread, spreading them pieces as evenly as possible along the bottom. When the chocolate in the pan has completely melted, pour it, while still hot, onto the crystallised pieces and stir it through before the chocolate begins to set. Cover the Tupperware container and place in the fridge so that it can set. When you remove the Tupperware container from the fridge you will need to remove the chocolate ginger from the Tupperware by pulling out the baking paper. The ginger can now be broken up into pieces.
Ingrediants:
Block of vegan chocolate
200gs of crystallised ginger
50gs of margarine
Directions:
Half fill the pan with water. Place this on the stove and place the glass bowl in the pan. Break the chocolate block into chunks and place in the bowl to melt. As the chocolate melts stir in the margarine - this will ensure that as it begins to set it is easy to break up. Line a large Tupperware container with greased baking paper. Fill this with the crystallised ginger pieces,. spread, spreading them pieces as evenly as possible along the bottom. When the chocolate in the pan has completely melted, pour it, while still hot, onto the crystallised pieces and stir it through before the chocolate begins to set. Cover the Tupperware container and place in the fridge so that it can set. When you remove the Tupperware container from the fridge you will need to remove the chocolate ginger from the Tupperware by pulling out the baking paper. The ginger can now be broken up into pieces.
Saturday, 12 May 2012
Ginger covered Hot chocolate; dairy free
I can up with this recipe because it is really hard to find decent tasting chocolate covered ginger in local shops, even hard to find stuff that's not made it milk chocolate. This recipe is a little less messy then actually making ginger chocolate at home.
Ingredients:
Milk (soy, hazelnut, oat or rice) 3/4 cups
Vegan chocolate block 50g
Sugar to taste
1/2 teaspoon diced ginger
Directions
Gently heat your choice of milk over the stove top, stirring in the diced ginger. It is important to never let it boil! Soy/rice milks tend to curdle when they boil. Melt in the chocolate; stirring until it mixes with the milk completely. Pour into a cup, over a strainer if you dislike ginger lumps, and stir in sugar to your liking.
Servers 1. For larger servings multiple the amounts by desired number of servings. :)
Friday, 11 May 2012
Spiced Hot chocolate; dairy free
This is a perfect complement for any sweet dessert. Like any version of hot chocolate it is perfect on it's own.
Ingredients:
Milk (soy, hazelnut, oat or rice) 3/4 cups
Vegan chocolate block 50g
Sugar to taste
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
Directions
Gently heat your choice of milk over the stove top, stirring in the spices. It is important to never let it boil! Soy/rice milks tend to curdle when they boil. Melt in the chocolate; stirring until it mixes with the milk completely. Pour into a cup and stir in sugar to your liking.
Servers 1. For larger servings multiple the amounts by desired number of servings. :)
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