How to Buy Artisan Breads

Handcrafted loaves of crunchy, hearty artisan breads are a world away from factory-made assembly line breads. These breads range in flavor from sweet and mild to pungent and rustic. Each loaf has its own distinct shape, texture and taste.


Step1
Read the ingredients. You'll easily recognize the short list of often organic, unbleached wheat flour, water, salt and yeast. If the bread is made with a sourdough starter, you may not see yeast.


Step2
Look for golden, ridged and crusty loaves. This is the telltale crust of bread baked in an artisan's wood-fired oven or hearth, which radiates high-temperature heat around the entire loaf.


Step3
Tap the crust. Listen for a hollow sound that means the bread is not dense and doughy. Inside, look for uneven webbed texture with lots of nooks and crannies of different shapes and sizes. This provides the unmistakable "mouth feel" of artisan bread.


Step4
Taste some samples. How the bread feels is secondary to the wonderful range of flavors available.


Step5
Eat promptly. Artisan loaves don't stay fresh as long as chemically preserved commercial breads do. Freeze stale portions to make French toast, bread pudding, croutons or bread crumbs.

How to Buy Alcohol in a Dry County

Back in 1920 when the United States went on the wagon, alcohol was hard to come by. Now it's almost ubiquitous. But in 17 states, they're still toeing the line. Beer, wine and hard liquor are sold by law only in designated outlets, such as liquor stores, bars, hotels and restaurants. Here's how to quench that thirst and stay on the right side of the law.



Step1
Crack open the Yellow Pages and look up "Liquor Stores." Some states confine the purchase of bottles and kegs to these outlets. Some restaurants may also sell six-packs for carry-out.


Step2
Head to a bar or pub. Most states allow alcohol to be sold and taken off the premises because of reasonable-access laws.


Step3
Fill 'er up. In some semidry states, gas stations or grocers can sell beer, while only liquor stores may sell distilled spirits and wine.


Step4
Check out the Clubs of America site (greatclubs.com) to find a beer- or wine-of-the-month club that suits your palette. Or order directly from a winery or a distillery. Wine clubs managed by vineyards or other retailers won't send you alcohol if you live in states where its shipment is illegal or questionable, however.

How to Boil an Egg

Eggs are a rich source of protein and vitamins and are generally healthy to eat, unless you have a high cholesterol level. You can eat eggs raw, boiled or cooked in a pan as scrambled eggs or an omelet. Boiling eggs is one of the easiest ways to prepare them; this eHow will provide instructions on how to boil an egg in six simple steps.


Step1
Place the raw egg in a saucepan.


Step2
Run cold water into the saucepan until the water is 1 inch above the egg.


Step3
Place the saucepan on a stove and cook over medium heat until the water begins to boil.


Step4
Reduce the heat to low.


Step5
Simmer for 2 to 3 minutes for soft-boiled eggs or 10 to 15 minutes for hard-boiled eggs.


Step6
Remove the egg with a spoon or ladle and let it cool slowly, or run cold water over it to cool it more quickly.