5 Tips To Cook Your Favourite Meals The Healthiest Way

Here's a few tips to cook your favourite meals the best way possible and avoid unecesssary fats.

1. Make creamy dishes without the cream

We ditch heavy cream and make velvety sauces with low-fat milk that’s thickened with flour. To make your own cream substitute: Combine 1 cup low-fat milk with 4 teaspoons all-purpose flour; whisk over medium heat until bubbling and thick. Cup for cup, thickened low-fat milk saves more than 680 calories and 53 grams saturated fat vs. heavy cream! For creamy salads, such as potato salads, opt for low-fat mayonnaise and/or reduced-fat sour cream; a blend of the two tastes great.

2. Use less oil

Extra-virgin olive oil and canola oil are our go-to, heart-healthy oils for many recipes. But they still pack about 120 calories per tablespoon. To fix that issue, the investment in good cast-iron, nonstick or enamel-coated skillets and pans for less sticking on the material.

3. Get crispy “fried” food without the grease

Here’s a very healthy alternative for all any fans of fried food..Try our oven-frying technique: Dip chicken, fish or vegetables in milk, buttermilk or egg, dredge in seasoned flour or breadcrumbs, then coat with canola or olive oil cooking spray. Place on a wire rack set on a baking sheet and bake at 425° to 450°F until crispy.

4. Egg whites in place of whole eggs

An egg white has only 16 calories and 0 grams of fat compared with 54 calories and 5 grams of fat in an egg yolk.

5. Less cheese, keep the flavor

Using less cheese gives any dish an easy health upgrade. Opt for bold-flavored cheeses, such as extra-sharp Cheddar, goat cheese and Parmigiano-Reggiano, to give more flavor impact with fewer calories and less fat.

Healthy Eating Starts in the Kitchen

It's no secret that one of the best steps anyone can take to nourish their family is to start cooking at home. But are you doing it safely? 

What you put in your fridge, your pantry and your cupboards matters, If you don't have ingredients on hand you won't cook it. Kitchens are one of the most highly used spaces in a home - when thinking of your families health you have to consider even more than just the food you serve.

Making sure your kitchen is efficient and organized to match your cooking behaviors so that you do not have food go bad and do not waste food or time unnecessarily is an often overlooked step on the path to providing a healthy life for you and your loved ones. duenasinc.com can help you with an assessment of your cooking behaviors to determine what your most efficient and inspiring kitchen can be.

But here's the part MANY people forget about. The quality of your countertop can make the difference between build up of bacteria and an easy to clean microbe free surface. 

Think about how many fingers touch the counter, touch the food, touch the eyes; you can't overlook the quality of your surfaces & storage solutions for safety not just style!

Did you know that Silestone is the only countertop with built in AntiMicrobial Protection! Silestone quartz exhibits exclusive properties that contribute to the safety, durability and hygiene of a kitchen.

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There are many small details like this that you only really "know" like the back of your hand once you've cooked in enough kitchens - and we have that hands on experience. We love to cook; but more importantly, we always want to keep ourselves, our friends & our loved ones safe and germ free while we provide nourishing delicious food and we know you feel the same the way!

Call (905) 482-4349 to discuss your kitchen's needs.

Blum - Mesmerizing Motion in your Kitchen

The vision of perfect motion: Blum has many ideas on "perfecting motion" and will help you make your kitchen even more practical.

A Synergy of Design & Function: Make kitchen chores easier and organize interiors with Blum & a Duenas Kitchens Specialist. Spices, knives, plate holders, film/foil dispensers, drawers and more; we will ensure that everything is exactly where it should be by assessing your cooking behavior and choosing the latest technology to match your needs.

At Duenas we carefully select your Kitchen's Appliances & we know that Blum Kitchen Accessories make kitchen chores easier and organize interiors with beautiful and refined modern technology.

Three Blum products have just won the “German Design Award 2016 – Special Mention” for excellence in design read more about it here. Blum specializes in the production of functional hardware. The reliability and innovation is unprecedented in their cooking solutions with a focus on Safety and Functionality.

We are proud providers of Blum's innovative Kitchen Technology, like the sophisticated motion technology featured in the video above. Imagine this technology in your own Kitchen... Call 905-482-4349 or visit our showroom to discuss you custom kitchen ideas, your cooking behaviors, your needs, and how we can help bring your dream kitchen to life and into motion with the perfect combination of Beauty & Functionality!

Kitchen Renovation 101: tips for a successful remodeling process

Kitchen Renovation: Where do I start? 

 

About Duenas Kitchen Specialists

Duenas Kitchen Specialists is a kitchen renovation company in Vaughan and Concord areas in Ontario. We specialize in kitchen redesigns, remodeling and complete makeovers. One thing that we often get asked is how to get started with the kitchen renovation process. In this blog post, we'll walk you through the process and show you what you can expect when you hire a professional company to .

Step 1: Find a kitchen design company

If you live in Vaughan, it's best to limit your search only to kitchen renovation companies in Vaughan. On the long run, you will see that it's more convenient to deal with a local company. Depending on your kitchen needs, you can ask around to see which company has the most expertise in your technical requirements. 

Step 2: Kitchen evaluation

The chosen kitchen design company will go to your home and take some measurements. However, the overall process of evaluation does not stop there: this is the step where they will analyse your space, quiz you on your preferences and budget and give you a rough idea on the cost of your kitchen renovation project. 

It’s best to prepare for this meeting by listing out some of your own ideas. Some people like to do some research online first and print kitchen designs that are the closest to what they want to have. The kitchen design company will give you feedback on the practical implementation of your concept.

A good kitchen design company will also factor in important elements like safety measures and overall functionality.

Step 3: Kitchen cabinet selection

The most striking part of any kitchen is the kitchen cabinets. There are many different styles, colours and finishes of kitchen furniture on the market. Your kitchen company will guide you to choose the one that works best for your space. You will have to select:

• ·       The doors and drawers

• ·       The colours and finishes

• ·       The material and species

Selecting the right kitchen cabinets can make or break a well-design cooking area!

Step 4: Kitchen counter top selection

When it comes to kitchen countertops, practicality becomes head-to-head just as important as style and beauty. Since you will be using your countertops the most heavily (think cooking, baking, cutting, preparing and other kitchen activities), they need to be durable enough for years. You will have to select:

• ·       The material

• ·       The colour

• ·       Type of edge profile

Step 5: Appliances selection

If you are doing a complete kitchen makeover, you will most likely be getting new kitchen appliances, as well. Your kitchen renovation company will help you decide on the type of appliances that reflect your style and needs the most. 

The most important part of kitchen renovation is making sure that you get a kitchen that is beautiful AND functional. As it is the soul of your home where your family gathers to spend quality time together, you want to make sure that it reflects your style and helps to make your life easier at the same time. 

Duenas KitchenSpecialists has been in business in Vaughan since 2008 with a wide array of kitchen design projects. Call us at any time to discuss your ideas. 905-482-4349