Ken Onion
You can find hundreds of recipes for Southern Cooking on the internet, but what they fail to tell you is the techniques needed to turn those recipes into real southern dishes.
On the subject of Southern recipes, I'm sorry to say that what is often represented as a Southern recipe, is not. For instance, when you see a recipe for Southern cornbread that includes sugar, that is NOT Southern. I lived all my life in the South and traveled the world but have never met a Southerner that puts sugar in cornbread. We call that "Yankee" cornbread. That is cake, not cornbread.
Back to the subject at hand, assuming you have real Southern recipes, you can still wind up with a dish that is not truly Southern if you do not employ Southern cooking techniques. You may produce something that is good but the technique makes it more than good, it makes it special.
Cooking Method:
Southerners fry more of their dishes than any other people I know. Therefore, for the most part, Southern cooking is not low fat. However, you can lessen the fat content with the choice of cooking oil you use. If this is a concern, don't use animal fats, lard or saturated oils. I generally use corn or safflower oil. Believe it or not, with dishes that do not require high temperatures, I use olive oil. The point here is to just be prepared to fry a lot with Southern cooking.
Cookware:
Traditional Southern cooking calls for cast iron. You should obtain an 8 and 10 inch skillet and medium pot for your cookware. Cast iron is inexpensive and can frequently be found at thrift stores for two or three dollars, if you have one near you.
The cast iron retains heat a long time and burns fingers readily. But it transfers heat like no other material. You must "cure" or "season" your cast iron before using or you will have a problem with sticking and rust. While the manufacturers instructions for curing are inadequate, they will do. Never use anything but cast iron for cornbread and never cook anything but cornbread in your "cornbread skillet". For most recipes, you will want to heat the cast iron (like pre-heating the oven) before you add the ingredients.
Regular Milk vs. Buttermilk:
In most situations, when a recipe calls for milk, in Southern cooking, you would use buttermilk. You should always use buttermilk for your cornbread and biscuits. It provides a unique flavor that screams "Southern". Here's a tip: if you do not keep buttermilk on hand (I don't), you can make your own by adding about a spoon of white vinegar to a cup of regular milk. Stir and let sit about a minute. You will have a substitute buttermilk for cooking purposes (I do not recommend drinking....although I have never tried it).
Cooking Time:
Many Southern dishes (mostly vegetables) are cooked much longer than you would find in restaurants or homes in other parts of the country. Specifically, green beans, okra, turnip greens, mustard and collards. Vegetables cooked Southern style are NOT bright colored and crunchy (like Chinese stir fry). They are tender and flavorful. An exception to the "crunchy" observation is fried okra. Okra is cooked until nearly burned. It is coated with cornmeal and is, indeed, crunchy. On the other hand, other vegetables such as green beans are cooked around two hours until they are tender and dark green in color.
Seasoning:
This is one of the most important techniques that distinguishes Southern cooking from other styles. Spicy (hot) flavors are seldom used except for cajun cooking, which is a style of cooking all it's own. Onion, bacon and salt are used extensively for seasoning. All greens, black eyed peas, green beans, most anything cooked by boiling in water, is seasoned with salt, a chunk of onion and a slice of bacon (or bacon drippings).
While not a technique, it is important to combine certain foods to produce a traditional Southern meal. Combinations of the following are typical. Fried chicken, fried pork chops, greens (turnip, mustard, collards), black eyed peas, fried okra, cornbread and green beans. So, for a real Southern treat, get an authenic Southern recipe, follow these techniques and watch your family ask for more.
Ken Miller is a freelance writer and owner of several websites. For real Southern recipes visit his site at www.olsouthrecipes.com where you will find free recipes for southern cornbread, fried okra, hush puppies, turnip greens and many more.
Ken Onion On TV-Part 1
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Knife Engraved
Where can I get get knives that I have already bought engraved with a name on it?
Near Riverside, CA would be best. It is for some guys in my wedding party.
If the object has soft metals - brass, copper, gold, silver etc than any jewler will be able to do it - providing it fits into their vise.
If you want something engraved on the hardened steel blade - that is whole different ball of wax. Now you are looking at either laser or chemical etching - or - enlist the services of a local gunsmith who will refer you to his favorite engraver.
If there is not suitable metal to engrave - you next step is to carve the letter into the soft wood or plastic and inlet it. Again, your gunsmith will be able to recommend someone.
Hope this helps.
Initial cutting (1 of 5) of the SRJ knife hand engraving project
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Gerber Pocket
Swiss Knife or Multi-tool?
I'm debating bewteen the two:
http://www.amazon.com/Victorinox-Swiss-Champ-Pocket-Knife/dp/B00004YVAD/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1249524081&sr=8-1
http://www.amazon.com/Gerber-05500-MP400-Compact-Multi-function/dp/B00004TR4S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1249523747&sr=8-1
I've owned both. Here is my assessment:
The big advantage to the multi-tool is that it has a good set of needle-nosed pliers. The pliers on the swiss army knife are small and ineffective. Also, all of the tools in the multi-tool are useful. They are tools that you might actually use.
Lastly, the multi-tool comes with a sheath that you can hook to your belt. This makes it harder to lose and easier to find when you need it. These tools are too big to put in your front pocket and it's a pain in the neck to root through a bag to find your tool.
The big draw back to the multi-tool is that it's harder to get to the tools (like the knife, screw driver, etc.) You have to fold the whole tool open, find the tool you want, flip the implement out and close the tool back up. It's just not as convenient.
The Swiss Army knife has a lot of tools that are useless. Most people will never need the fish scaler. The magnifying glass is so small that it's almost useless. And the wood saw is so tiny that it's a waste of space.
On the other hand, you can't beat the quality of a swiss army knife. They will never break. Plus, the Swiss Army knife has a cork screw. For many people, this will be the one tool that is needed the most!
Both tools come with a lifetime warranty.
All told, I'd go with the multi-tool. Even though it's a little harder to get to the tools, it has tools that you will actually need. The multi-tool pliers are great and the protective sheath is very helpful.
Gerber Pocket Sharpening Tool at Countycomm.com
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Tactical Police
Perhaps you have seen headlines, which shocked you about police corruption? In the news it seems to be happening more and more these days, but in reality it is quite common. We are suppose to respect authority, and this undermines our security. It is very damaging to our psyche to see such things in the news.
Why does this corruption surprise anyone?
It is utterly naive to believe that less than 1/3 of all police officers are on the take, regardless of which area of law enforcement division they work in. Criminals are attracted to law enforcement jobs, perhaps because you tried to beat them up or steal their shovel in the sand box in third grade? This explanation sounds too simplistic, but if you check your psychology text book you will see it is one of the most common.
With regards to our police, whatever the reason, it should not surprise anyone? Why is this news and why is everyone making such a big deal out of just obvious things, every time they read about it in the newspaper or see it on TV.
Some say the slight increase has to do with reality, not just better news coverage. Why? Well, because local police departments have to hire more questionable characters because the job market is tight for security, military, border patrol, etc. This might indeed, have something to do with it, of course that does not justify any police corruption, it just explains why it is on the rise.
If you have a problem with this line of reasoning and you don't believe me, just ask any internal affairs officer, see for yourself. Absolute power - corrupts. That is a known fact.
"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is an online writer in retirement.
Owned! Would be bank robber vs. SWAT Tactical Police team
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Tactical Survival
Like many other organizations, USMC has some set of rules that you have to follow, the only difference perhaps would be there will be no excuses in the Marines boot camp. Whether you're going to Parris Island, South Carolina or in San Diego California, keep in mind that you won't be having a vacation at all, I doubt that you even have the time to go sight-seeing. It surely will be the biggest challenge of your life. Learning the basic rules in the Marines Bootcamp may save your life in the future. Do a lot of reading and research, if you can join in some forums then that's better.
Only bring the things that are allowed in the boot camp so you won't end up throwing away most of your stuff. What are the things that are not allowed inside the Marines Boot camp?
Do not bother bringing your gadgets and it does not matter if you think you can't survive without them. You'll be surprised that even the most basic ones are not allowed. Leave your electronic items at home because they will just be shipped back. The main concept of the training is survival which means you only need the most basic of things.
Did you know that even over-the-counter medication is not allowed in basic training? If you bring some with you, it will just be taken away. All prescription medication needs to be re-evaluated by a military doctor and if necessary, you will be re-issued the medication by the military pharmacy. This includes birth control pills for women but they are usually encouraged to continue taking them during the training. Contact lenses are also not allowed during the training, you have to wear your own prescription glasses until you are given a new pair in the Marines boot camp.
For more information and tips on how to perpare for boot camp, feel free to stop by http://www.makingmarines.com
2/2 KNIVES: Tactical, Survival, EDC, Multi-Tool
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