August, 2010    It's back to school time for students. And it can also be "our" back to school, as well. Too many times we become complacent and cease our every day learning. It doesn't have to be that way. Try taking out a few moments every day to learn something new--a new word, a new way of getting to your destinations, or learn something new about a friend. In this month's newsletter, we emphasize learning how to design a better kitchen for a better cook. We also learn how to deal with stress and problems in easier fashion.  Let's get back into the "school" of things!

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A BIT O' FUNNY  

Steven Wright on Dogs. 

The other day, I was walking my dog around my building...on the ledge. Some people are afraid of heights. Not me, I'm afraid of widths.

I had a dog once. I spilled spot remover on him, and now he's gone.

I put contact lenses in my dog's eyes. They had little pictures of cats on them. Then I took one out and he ran around in circles.

I bought a dog the other day... I named him Stay. It's fun to call him... "Come here, Stay! Come here, Stay!" He went insane. Now he just ignores me and keeps typing. He's an East German Shepherd. 

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MAKING A GREAT KITCHEN FOR GREAT COOKS  In the modern household, life happens in the kitchen. It’s where families gather to discuss the day’s events, where couples enjoy a cocktail and conversation and, of course, where the culinary enthusiast engages in his most passionate hobby. In fact, as budgets tighten, many people are rediscovering the delights of cooking at home.

So why isn’t more thought put into the needs of home cooks in modern kitchen design? The truth is most of us are simply unaware of the amount of time they spend in the kitchen (second only to the bedroom) and just how vital a carefully designed kitchen is to the chef of the house.

What exactly is a culinary enthusiast? According to consumer research, he or she is anyone whose passion for creative cooking and entertaining determines his or her decision-making, purchases, lifestyle and, of course, kitchen design. Culinary enthusiasts are more interested in a kitchen that achieves culinary and entertaining greatness than one that functions simply as a design statement.

Kitchen design trends are starting to cater to this cooking die-hard. An appliance-focused approach is emerging—one that matches a chef’s culinary preferences to specific cooking applications, innovations and solutions and creates a truly inspired kitchen setting molded around those needs. Sometimes the entire kitchen design can come down to the cook’s height, or whether he is right- or left-handed. Appliance-focused design isn’t just for accomplished home chefs: With the right appliances, a mediocre cook becomes a good cook, a good cook becomes a great cook and a great cook becomes an extraordinary cook. Even someone who claims not to enjoy cooking can benefit from a kitchen design that works with her to speed through culinary tasks, rather than against her.

The best place to start is your range or cooktop, long considered the true heart of the room and the determining factor for most other kitchen elements. The right burner can make or break a dish. Problem with cold spots? Try burners with better heat distribution. Need a sauce to simmer for an extended period without burning? Look into ranges with the capability to cycle on and off. For a relatively modest investment, especially when compared to a complete kitchen makeover, upgrading the range or cooktop is the best bet. 

For the complete appliance overhaul—the grand slam of demolition-free kitchen remodeling—keep this in mind: The heart of the home is the kitchen, and the heart of the kitchen is the appliances. Without innovative appliances, the culinary enthusiast simply loses his or her power.

Induction, convection and dual evaporators are becoming commonplace in the kitchen, with appliance technology reaching new heights. Did you ever think it would be possible to use one oven for three different cooking methods—steam, convection and a combination of the two? What about induction stovetops, in which high-frequency electromagnets are used to transfer energy to the cooking vessel? What were once just hopeful possibilities are now absolute necessities for your passion for culinary excellence.

While appliance replacement is the practical, budget-minded solution to kitchen design, the ground-up approach is the most effective. With this method, the most detailed intricacies can be factored in for design: How many eat at home on a daily basis? How often, and for how many, does your client entertain informally? Formally? What is a favorite recipe for an informal and formal dinner? What appliance gets the most use? Combining the right architecture, aesthetics and ergonomics with the right appliances is the culinary enthusiast’s dream.

The focus should be on four main kitchen design components—function, aesthetics, social interaction and intimacy—and use all four to create a kitchen that streamlines and doesn’t add to the time and work involved in accomplishing a cooking task. The result can be a professional-grade kitchen custom-tailored to fit the needs of culinary enthusiasts at every budget level. 

 

 
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SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT... 7 Ways to Deal with Problems and Stress 

1) Don’t Just Sit There. Move! According to many psychologists, motion creates emotion. You might notice that when you are idle, it’s easier to become depressed. Your heart rate slows down, less oxygen travels to your brain, and you are slumped somewhere in a chair blocking air from reaching your lungs. I challenge you right now, regardless of how you are feeling, to get up and walk around at a fast tempo. Maybe you might want to go to an empty room and jump up and down a little bit. It may sound silly but the results speak for themselves. Try it now for a few minutes. By now you should begin to feel more energetic and in a better mood. It works like magic.

2) Smell The Roses. Like the old saying says, “Stop and smell the roses.” How do you smell the roses? How about investing some money to go on that one trip you’ve been dreaming about? Would Paris do? There you will find lots of exotic places to jolt your imagination and spur your creativity. You can also visit the Caribbean and learn how to scuba dive. Can you imagine swimming deep under the beautiful blue water alongside some of the most beautiful creatures you have ever seen?

3) Get Some Company. If you’re like me, you have many acquaintances, but you only have a few true friends.  When you’re feeling down, call your true friends and share what it is that you’re going through. Ask for their advice or input. While their advice or suggestions may be helpful, often you’ll find that simply verbalizing your problems will help you feel better.

4) Help Others Cope With Their Problems. It is very therapeutic when you engross yourself in helping others. You will be surprised how many people’s problems are worse than those you may be facing. You can offer others assistance in countless ways. Don’t curl up in your bed and let depression and stress take hold of you. Get out and help somebody. There are many charitable organizations that can use your help right now.

5) Laugh A Little. By now you’ve heard that laughter is a good internal medicine. It relieves tension and loosens the muscles. It causes blood to flow to the heart and brain. More importantly, laughter releases a chemical that rids the body of pains. Yet, this is just the tip of the iceberg. Every day, researchers discover new benefits of laughter. Let me ask you this question: “Can you use a good dose of belly-shaking laughter every now and then?” Of course you can.

6) Visit Third World Countries. Nothing is more humbling than to visit a poor country and see first hand what other human beings go through just to survive. Most people who have taken such trips come back with a deep and profound sense of gratitude and appreciation. They realize how much they’ve taken for granted without ever realizing it. I encourage you to travel whenever you can afford to do so. You’re not too busy. Do it for you. Your life will never be the same.

7) Wear Your Knees Out. If there were one sustainable remedy I could offer you when the going gets tough, it would be prayer or meditation. It doesn’t matter to me what you call it, as long as you have a place to run to. Mahatma Gandhi said, “Religions are crossroads converging upon the point.” Well, I don’t often discuss religion, and I don’t know what works for you, but prayer and/or meditation works!

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USELESS TRIVIA  The first three persons to email the correct answer to this month's trivia question will each receive a Distinctive Kitchens & Baths aluminum water bottle.

August's Trivia Question: This weather phenomemon destroys hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of crops and property each year, more than tornadoes' destruction.   Click here to send in your answer. 

Last month's question and answer: This modern day food condiment was once sold as medicine in the 1830s.   - Ketchup (Catsup)

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RECIPE  Summer Vegetable Pasta

Ingredients:

1 pound corkscrew pasta, such as rotini 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1/2 cup Italian-style breadcrumbs
3 medium size zucchini, thinly sliced
4 ears corn, kernels scraped off
6 ounces Swiss cheese, shredded
Salt and pepper
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh basil (Chop the basil just before using to keep it from turning black.)

Directions:

1.In a large pot of boiling, salted water, cook the pasta until al dente. Drain, reserving 1 cup of the pasta cooking water and the pot.

2.Meanwhile, in a small skillet, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat. Add half of the garlic and cook until golden, about 30 seconds. Stir n the breadcrumbs and remove from the heat.

3.In the reserved pasta pot, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat. Add the remaining garlic and cook until golden, about 30 seconds; add the zucchini and cook, turning occasionally, until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in the corn, cooked pasta and reserved 1 cup pasta cooking water. Add 1 cup cheese and toss; season with salt and pepper.

4.Stir the remaining cheese and the basil into the breadcrumb mixture and sprinkle on top of the pasta.