Rage In Eden

Lately I have been on a cooking journey to try and expand my horizons in the kitchen. I have discovered some truly wonderful recipes that have turned out better than I had expected. It has been fun learning new techniques and experimenting with different types of cuisine. The one thing I really do not enjoy however is using the oven. It is big, bulky, and it is not a self cleaning model. This is why I have been looking to upgrade my countertop oven into something a little more capable of cooking rather than just reheating and toasting.

My brother just moved into a new house and he was looking to stock his own kitchen with some of the bare essentials. I offered him my current toaster oven since he does not really prepare a lot of his own meals. He accepted it. This was great for me as I just wanted a good excuse to get a new toaster oven on my own. I had be looking every so often as to what was out there, but now it was time to start my search in earnest.

I knew that I had wanted a Breville oven because they seemed to have all of the features that I needed so it was time to do some real research. I began my quest by reviewing the latest toaster oven ratings to see if there were any better options. Turns out that Breville is still the leader when it comes to countertop convection ovens which was exactly what I had my eye on. I pulled the trigger on their top of the line model and I never looked back.

What Oven Did I Get?

While I could of saved a little my by getting the BOV800XL I really wanted an interior light. It’s a petty thing I know, but I went with the BOV845BSS to get this feature. This model is currently rated as the best toaster oven for serious cooking. It also came with an extra slow cook setting that I have used a couple of times. I really splurged but I have not regretted it one bit. This oven has a number of high end features that I have really enjoyed.

• Stainless steel design makes it look ultra-modern. This appliance is the shining star of my kitchen, literally.
• Super simple controls that required no learning curve.
• Interior light….oh yeah.
• Convection cooking feature that works as advertised. Everything comes out even and requires a little less time to cook.
• Roomy interior that can handle one of my favorite cooking dishes. It also comes with baking pans that have really gotten a workout.
• Preset functions are nice. I have had no problems leaving it up to the toaster oven using these.
• LCD display is another nice touch that screams modern technology.
• Relatively quiet when operating. There is a slight hum when you have the convection fan on. When it is off you can barely hear anything.

These are just a few of the areas where this oven shines. One word of caution, and this goes for most toaster ovens, is that the top of the oven gets rather hot while cooking. I knew this going in and so I also ponied up for the cutting board that Breville makes for their toaster ovens. It is meant to go on top and this way you can place items on top of it and use it as a shelf. This is a good idea if you have a small kitchen and need all of the space that you can get.

What I Have Made So Far

I have been non-stop in the kitchen since this arrived on my doorstep. This was one of the best gifts that I have given to myself and I have really gone to town with trying out all kinds of recipes.

Cooking

I have enjoyed trying out full meals with my new Breville oven. One of the first things I tried was one of the favorites that I used to make in my full sized oven and that was ribs. I baked them for just under 2 hours and then broiled them for a few minutes on each side. The meat was literally falling off the bone. They were extremely juicy and tender and I knew right there that I had made the right decision.

I have also cooked a ton of homemade pizza and I cannot get enough of it. I went a little crazy trying all of the pizza recipes that I could find. I’ve also roasted a whole chicken, yes there is room. I’ve also made a pot roast, casserole, turkey pot pie from scratch, and lots of fish. Everything comes out perfectly done. I was kind of weary on a few of my dishes, but in the end I was overjoyed with the results. I can’t stop looking for new recipes to try as I have yet to find one that did not turn out great.

Baking

I have kind of a sweet tooth as well so I put those baking pans that come with the oven to the test. Pies, cookies, and cakes and everything in between have been made so far and this oven handles it all beautifully. I usually make more than I can eat alone so I end up giving half of it to friends and family and they smile whenever they see me coming with a covered dish. They have also benefited from my new kitchen hobby and are amazed that all of this was prepared in a toaster oven.

Get One and Don’t Look Back

If you love to eat or love to cook and are on the fence about trying one of these smaller ovens, you need not worry. A modern countertop convection oven offers exceptional versatility and convenience that well let you create some extraordinary delights in the kitchen. I was worried at first because of the cost, but it has quickly made up for it with what it has delivered. They are also easy to maintain and keep clean, something that was a burden with my full sized range oven. You won’t regret getting one of these for your home.

Here is one of the recipes that I actually tried and it was a huge hit with the family. My dicing skills are not quite up to par, but everything else turned out terrific.

Owning a juicer can be extremely beneficial to your diet and it is an excellent way to increase the amount of nutrients your body gets on a daily basis. One of the first things a lot of beginners love to experiment with when they they get their juicing machine out of the box is something super simple and healthy. Carrots are a readily available vegetable that is great to get started with.

They are full of vitamins and minerals essential to our health. Since they are full of vitamin A, carrots are known to be good for our eyesight. They are also a great source of fiber and are packed with natural sugar, antioxidants and phytonutrients. This makes them a great snack especially since they boost our energy. Consuming the right amount of carrots might be tiresome. No one wants to task their jaws with chewing through three or four large carrots every day, which is why juicing your carrots, is the next best option.

Juicing your carrots is a great way to enjoy all their health benefits in a tasty way. They are very easy to prepare. You can also get as creative as you like with your carrot juice recipes since it goes with a variety of fruits and vegetables. Preparing the carrots for juicing is easy. After washing it, ensure you take off the tops because they can be poisonous. Afterwards, cut them down to size so that they can fit into the juicer.

Carrots can be used to make very delicious and healthy beverages. If you are looking for a great way to enjoy your vitamin-packed vegetable smoothie, here are a few great recipes to help you do just that.

Carrot, kale and spinach juice

Ingredients:

• 4 large carrots, halved
• 4 stalks of kale
• A cup of spinach
• 1 cucumber, halved
• 1 lemon, halved

For this recipe, ensure that you lead with the leafy vegetables then add the carrots and the cucumber. Afterwards, you can finish with the lemon.

Health benefits

This vitamin-packed juice is a great way to start your day. This vegetable combo provides ample vitamins that boost your immune system. It is a packed with antioxidants and as a bonus, kale and spinach contain cancer-preventing properties.

Carrot, apple, passion and ginger juice

Ingredients:

• 3 large carrots, halved
• 2 passion fruits, seeds scooped out
• A half-inch piece of ginger root
• 2 apples

For this recipe, feed the carrots first, then the passion fruit seeds, then the ginger root and finally the apples. Serve chilled.

Health benefits

This tasty treat is ideal for hot afternoons. The carrots and apples blend wonderfully to give a rich taste, which is made even better by the fragrant smell of the passion seeds and the zingy hint of ginger. Passion fruits contain magnesium, which is essential for strong bone formation. They are also known to improve cardiovascular health.

Carrot, orange and parsnip juice

Ingredients:

• 2 large carrots, halved
• 1 orange, peeled and halved
• 1 parsnip, halved
• 1 garlic clove
• Half of a small onion, halved
• Pinch of ground turmeric
• Pinch of black pepper
• Half a cup of cold water
• Handful of ice

After cleaning and preparing the vegetables, start with the carrots, parsnip, onions and garlic, then add the orange later. Afterwards, stir in the turmeric, black pepper and cold water and enjoy over ice.

Health benefits

This is especially recommended as a home remedy for the flu. The onions and the garlic help kill a number of viruses and bacteria because they contain allicin. This recipe will ensure that you have plenty of vitamin A and C to help your body fight flu infections as well. Overall it is a very tasty way to keep the flu away.

Carrot Moderation

If you do not want to turn your skin an orange color then it is wise not to overdo it when it comes to carrots. Yes, believe it or not, consuming too many carrots can give you an orange hue that will definitely make you stand out. It would have to be an inordinate amount, but it can happen, so it is best to start out with a moderate amount and go from there.

Juicing carrots creates a whole new way of enjoying your vegetables. These recipes will leave you healthy and also give your taste buds a nice surprise.