A coffee machine is pretty much an indispensable piece of kitchen equipment. Coffee machines come in all shapes and sizes, some loaded with features and some quite basic. Some handy tips on how to buy a coffee machine can be useful in making a choice.

Deciding on the right amount of coffee you need on a regular basis is very important. Selecting on the right sized coffee maker based on the number of cups you need at a time can save a lot of money.

There are some coffee machines which are programmable where you can set the brewing time letting you wake up to the pleasant aroma of freshly brewed coffee. But on the downside the coffee when left overnight might lose some flavor as it is exposed to air.

The availability of space in your kitchen would also be a deciding factor while buying a coffee machine. Cappuccino and espresso machines take up considerable space and so if you have a space crunch, you can go in for built in coffee machines.

Thermal carafe coffee makers are a good choice if you want to keep coffee fresh for longer. If you don’t like the hassle of a breakable carafe, there are several brands that make carafe-less coffee machines.

Compare coffee machine prices vis-à-vis the features and also refer to coffee machine reviews available online before deciding on which brand to go for.

Consider looking at some of the exotic coffee machines like espresso and cappuccino makers and some which even froth the milk. The Magimix Coffee Makers are the perfect coffee machine for those who enjoy either pre-ground or freshly ground coffee and great tasting fresh coffee with a delicious aroma is a must.

There are some features which you can do without like a self-clean cycle, water filters, built in grinders or a hotplate temperature adjuster.

adminCoffee and Tea2 Jul, 2009No Comments

6 scoops vanilla ice cream - recipe
1 cup milk (250 ml)
1/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips (50 ml)
4 cream-filled chocolate sandwich cookies
Whipped cream (optional)

In a blender, combine ice cream, milk, chocolate chips, and chocolate sandwich cookies. Blend until frothy.

Pour into glasses and serve immediately with straws.

Garnish with a dollop of whipped cream, if desired.

Variation: Substitute chocolate chip cookies for the chocolate sandwich cookies.

sahilBeverages, Drink, Non-Alcohol1 Jul, 2009No Comments

8 cups seeded watermelon cut into 1-inch chunks
1 cup hulled and quartered fresh strawberries
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 3 lemons)
2 cups water (approximately)
Thin watermelon wedges with the rind (optional)

In a food processor fitted with a steel blade, pulse the watermelon, strawberries, and sugar until blended and smooth.

Strain through a fine-mesh strainer into a 2-quart container, pushing down on the solids to get all the juice. Add the lemon juice and enough of the water to make 1 1/2 quarts.

Chill until very cold. Serve over ice with a wedge of watermelon, if desired.

sahilDrink, Indian, Non-Alcohol1 Jul, 2009No Comments

Ingredients :
1 litre milk
¾ cup sugar
2-3 tsp maida
2 tbsp rose water
1 cup water
1 pinch saffron
1 pinch baking soda
ghee for frying

Method :
Boil milk in a vessel on medium flame. Then mix constantly, till it becomes semi-solid or khova is formed.
Put maida and continue to stir for another few minutes.
Take out from flame and knead the dough. Take a small part of the dough on palm.
Shape into the form of a little finger.
Continue the same procedure for the remaining dough.
Keep the jamoons aside on plate. Add water to sugar.
Heat till the syrup becomes sticky and put saffron stirred in a little rose water and the remaining rose water. Mix well.
Take out from flame.
Fry the jamoons, 3 to 4 at a time, in hot ghee on a low flame, till it turns golden brown, turning over gently.
Put the fried jamoons in warm syrup.
Shift to a vessel, when cool.
Keep aside under cover for sometime.
Serve jamoon with a syrup.

sahilDesserts, Indian30 Jun, 2009No Comments

Ingredients :
3 cups coconut gratings
3 cups sugar
4 tsp ghee
3 cardamom pods
15 cashewnuts

Method :
Grind coconut gratings with cashewnut bits, without adding water.
Mix sugar with ½ cup of water in a vessel and heat till syrup is formed that can be drawn into strings.
Add the ground mixture to the syrup and turn over constantly till the blend thickens a bit.
Then add 2 tsps ghee and continue turning over till it forms a lump. Remove from flame.
Flatten the blend on a wooden board, smeared with ghee, evenly to ¾” thickness.
Cut into pieces of desired size of square/diamond shape, using a spatula (or dosa lifter), when still warm.
Separate the pieces and store in a container, when cool.

sahilDesserts, Indian30 Jun, 2009No Comments

Ingredients

3/4 oz Havana Club® silver rum
1/4 oz Luxardo® limoncello
1/2 oz Nestle® condensed milk

Directions

Shake with ice strain into cocktail glass. Sprinkle with grated chocolate.

sahilCocktails, Drink23 Jun, 2009No Comments

Ingredients

1 oz gold tequila
1/2 oz coconut cream
2 oz orange juice
1 tbsp cinnamon

Directions

Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker half-filled with ice cubes. Shake well, and pour into a cocktail glass. Dust with cinnamon, and serve.

sahilCocktails, Drink23 Jun, 2009No Comments

Ingredients

1 1/2 oz. Gin
1 splash(es) Blue Curacao
1 tbsp. Lemon Juice
1 tbsp. Lime Juice
Sprite

Instructions

Shake the gin and the juices over ice and strain over ice cubes in a cocktail glass. Fill with Sprite and add the curacao.

sahilCocktails, Drink, Non-Alcohol21 Jun, 2009No Comments

Ingredients

1 1/2 oz. Rye Whiskey
3/4 oz. Grapefruit Juice
dash(es) Grenadine

Instructions

Shake with ice and strain into a cocktail glass.

sahilCocktails, Drink21 Jun, 2009No Comments

Ingredients
2 Vodka
1/2 oz. Creme de Cacao
Directions
Pour ingredients into shaker filled with ice then pour into martini glass

sahilCocktails18 Jun, 2009No Comments