smokeinthekitchen.com

Sustainable living – Reduce Waste

admin — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 14:22:04 +0000

We cannot help but become more aware of the problems of getting rid of kitchen waste. Our modern lifestyles seem to generate bins full of it and the government requires councils to recycle more and more of our waste. Recycling itself is a problem and the UK still has few markets for recycled goods so a lot of material for recycling is exported (not very green is it?)

What we should be trying to do for more sustainable lifestyles is to reduce the amount of waste we produce in our daily living as much as possible.

Here are some ideas of how you can reduce waste and make your home more sustainable

1) Don’t buy heavily packaged goods

If you have a choice buy products in refill packs or concentrated products. Reuse your supermarket carrier bags or use your own strong shopping bags.

3) Invest in sustainable energy sources such as solar panels for your home, ground source heat pumps or wind turbines on your land.

2) Buy less

Resist the power of marketing to persuade you to buy something you don’t need. Don’t buy it. Or can you make it yourself ? Only need to use it once – can you borrow it? Buy in charity shops?

3) Make sure you look after what you have

You need to buy carefully in the first instance and buy things that are robust and will last. You also need to look after your possessions and maintain then. Repair them if they break and don’t throw them away.

Washing machine broken down? Do basic checks, then dial for a Manufacturer Engineer

admin — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 08:21:11 +0000

Time was, way back when, that people washed their clothes in the local river by pounding them against the rocks. They say the first laundry detergent came from the ashes of animals that were sacrificed in ancient Rome. I can remember an elderly relative using a washboard – the washing machine came much later and was offered pride of place in the kitchen.

Thing is, we’ve got used to having washing machines now. In fact most aspects of 21st century living are well covered by new electronic or mechanical inventions upon which we have come to rely. So, if your friend suddenly has a breakdown, you need to make contact fast with your local, friendly washing machine repair man.

The very first thing to do when your old pal is on the blink is to check that it’s plugged in and still receiving full power. It’s amazing how often it can just be a loose plug or damaged wall outlet that’s at fault and you don’t want to pay an engineer to tell you that!
All being well with the power, take a look at your water supply. Sometimes faucets can get turned off by accident or you might have a kink in your hose. Try to make sure that both your water faucets are turned on.

If you’re still in trouble, then I would advise turning to a manufacturer engineer that can come with exactly the right tools for your machine. He’ll have the right spare parts as well, be factory trained and far more able to sort you out on the very first visit – thus costing you a lot less.

KitchenAid Artisan Blender, Charcoal Black

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 14:59:38 +0000

Arriving with a glass pitcher, the KitchenAid Artisan blender brings a touch of class to your blending needs! A die-cast metal base provides a robust foundation that is built to last. Thanks to a uniquely designed jug made using durable glass, this large 1.5L pitcher makes for easy pouring and cleaning. The jug has a well-sealed stay-put lid along with an ingredient cup for practical use. Sharp stainless steel blades make light work of blending - there is even an ice crushing setting, ensuring ultimate ice crushing and fast, consistent blending. Meanwhile the powerful motor with intelli-speed control maintains the optimal speed with each setting, so you can blend everything from soft cooked vegetables for soup, to chunks of ice, and this motor will handle it with ease. If you always forget to put the lid on the blender before whizzing your food, fear not! To avoid mess, this blender has a ‘Soft Start’ feature : this starts slowly and then quickly increases speed for clean blending. For even more reliable and safe use, a locking collar ensures that the blades don’t rotate until the pitcher is properly attached. Integrated into the smooth, rounded design of this blender is a clean-touch control pad : those inevitable spillages are superbly easy to wipe clean. Effortlessly incorporate this blender into every meal you have throughout the day: Breakfast Fancy a power breakfast of fresh fruit and yoghurt? You can even have this on the go, for a healthy and convenient start to your morning Elevenses After a morning run or workout, a refreshing, vitamin-packed smoothie can be whipped up in a flash: simply throw fruit and vegetables into this blender and let it create a wonderfully creamy smoothie Lunch Velvety soups, invigorating salads and homemade spreads for a sandwich are just the touch of a button away with this KitchenAid blender Afternoon tea A sweet afternoon treat really picks up flagging spirits: a delicious milkshake or fool is super-quick to whip up, and if you’re feeling a little more indulgent, this blender can even help you to make a cake Baby’s dinnertime If you have a baby in your life, it can be easy to reach for the ready-made food to save time. But with the KitchenAid, you can quickly make homecooked food - nourishing your baby has never been easier Happy hour After a hard day, take your tipple of choice and blend with a few flavourings for a delicious cocktail - alternatively crush some ice with the ice crushing setting and enjoy your favourite drink on the rocks, or easily whip up a virgin cocktail Dinner Cook a three-course meal in the same time that it would take you to prepare just one dish with the help of this KitchenAid blender Wellness When the long day is over, release your stress with a homemade facial: create a face pack using fresh ingredients, apply the mask to your face, lie back for a few minutes and enjoy the clean, bright skin that is revealed afterwards

KitchenAid Artisan Blender, Cobalt Blue

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 13:56:42 +0000

Arriving with a glass pitcher, the new KitchenAid Artisan blender brings a touch of class to your blending needs! A die-cast metal base provides a robust foundation that is built to last. Thanks to a uniquely designed jug made using durable glass, this large 1.5L pitcher makes for easy pouring and cleaning. The jug has a well-sealed stay-put lid along with an ingredient cup for practical use. Sharp stainless steel blades make light work of blending - there is even an ice crushing setting, ensuring ultimate ice crushing and fast, consistent blending. Meanwhile the powerful motor with intelli-speed control maintains the optimal speed with each setting, so you can blend everything from soft cooked vegetables for soup, to chunks of ice, and this motor will handle it with ease. If you always forget to put the lid on the blender before whizzing your food, fear not! To avoid mess, this blender has a ‘Soft Start’ feature : this starts slowly and then quickly increases speed for clean blending. For even more reliable and safe use, a locking collar ensures that the blades don’t rotate until the pitcher is properly attached. Integrated into the smooth, rounded design of this blender is a clean-touch control pad : those inevitable spillages are superbly easy to wipe clean. Effortlessly incorporate this blender into every meal you have throughout the day: Breakfast Fancy a power breakfast of fresh fruit and yoghurt? You can even have this on the go, for a healthy and convenient start to your morning Elevenses After a morning run or workout, a refreshing, vitamin-packed smoothie can be whipped up in a flash: simply throw fruit and vegetables into this blender and let it create a wonderfully creamy smoothie Lunch Velvety soups, invigorating salads and homemade spreads for a sandwich are just the touch of a button away with this KitchenAid blender Afternoon tea A sweet afternoon treat really picks up flagging spirits: a delicious milkshake or fool is super-quick to whip up, and if you’re feeling a little more indulgent, this blender can even help you to make a cake Baby’s dinnertime If you have a baby in your life, it can be easy to reach for the ready-made food to save time. But with the KitchenAid, you can quickly make homecooked food - nourishing your baby has never been easier Happy hour After a hard day, take your tipple of choice and blend with a few flavourings for a delicious cocktail - alternatively crush some ice with the ice crushing setting and enjoy your favourite drink on the rocks, or easily whip up a virgin cocktail Dinner Cook a three-course meal in the same time that it would take you to prepare just one dish with the help of this KitchenAid blender Wellness When the long day is over, release your stress with a homemade facial: create a face pack using fresh ingredients, apply the mask to your face, lie back for a few minutes and enjoy the clean, bright skin that is revealed afterwards

Neoflam Induction Wok Pan Red

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 13:11:11 +0000

Neoflam Induction Wok Pan Red. This stylish wok by Neoflam, features an Ecolon non-stick base to allow for easy and efficient cooking. Unlike traditional cookware, Ecolon is made of of silicon dioxide which is most commonly found in stone and sand, making it harmless to the environment and the human body. Suitable for induction, ceramic, electric and gas hobs. Ovenproof.

KitchenAid Artisan Blender, Cream

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 11:21:25 +0000

26cm Accademia Fry Pan

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 10:31:31 +0000

Lagostina's Academy Fiveply™ is designed to provide the best in terms of design, elegance and functional performance. Perfect heat distribution is guaranteed through its fiveply construction, which ensures maximum cooking performance. Lagostina's Academy Fiveply™ can be used from the cooktop or oven to the serving table due to its superior heat retention and the cookware's elegant design. Suitable for all heat sources including: induction, ceramic halogen, gas, electric radiant ring, electric and is food safe, dishwasher safe, oven safe.

Neoflam Induction Frying Pan

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 08:53:32 +0000

Neoflam Induction Frying Pan. This stylish frying pan by Neoflam, features an Ecolon non-stick base to allow for easy and efficient cooking. Unlike traditional cookware, Ecolon is made of of silicon dioxide which is most commonly found in stone and sand, making it harmless to the environment and the human body. Suitable for induction, ceramic, electric and gas hobs. Ovenproof.

Neoflam Milk Pan Blue

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 07:29:43 +0000

Neoflam Milk Pan Blue. This stylish milk pan by Neoflam, features an Ecolon non-stick base to allow for easy and efficient cooking. Unlike traditional cookware, Ecolon is made of of silicon dioxide which is most commonly found in stone and sand, making it harmless to the environment and the human body. Suitable for induction, ceramic, electric and gas hobs. Ovenproof.

Breville Black Hand Blender Kit VHB060

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 05:33:57 +0000

Breville Black 3-in-1 Hand Blender Kit VHB060 in a striking chrome and black finish, is a versatile tool that makes a useful addition to any kitchen! The powerful 400 watt motor offers 2 speeds (regular and turbo) for greater control. The soft-touch, ergonomic handle provides you with a solid and comfortable grip, with recessed buttons for safety and full control. The detachable and hygienic, anti-bacterial stainless steel leg with anti-splash guard is dishwasher safe, whilst the blades are less corrosive than other standard metal materials and more resistant to rusting. The VHB060 Hand Blender Kit comes complete with a 500ml beaker, 500ml chopper and a balloon whisk attachment, ideal for all your varying culinary tasks: 400W motor2 speedsSoft touch handleStainless steel leg & bladesDishwasher-safe partsIncludes accessoriesWeight: 1.28kgVHB060OtherGloss finish N/A2 speed settingsHandwash recommendedWipe with soft damp cloth1 year guarantee