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This steamed sweet and sour fish recipe is based on the Chinese version, where the fish is cooked whole. The Chinese prefer to eat fish this way as they see a fish without a tail and head as incomplete. Efficient and practical, a Chinese bamboo steamer is traditionally used for the steaming of fish. Bamboo steamers are used in such a way in China that about five dishes can be steamed simultaneously over one pot of boiling water. (more…)

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If you’ve had enough of your job and you’re wondering if you should quit, there’s a Chinese saying worth considering: ‘If you must play, decide on three things as the start: the rules of the game, the stakes and the quitting time.’ Beginnings have endings and if you’ve reached the end but you’re too scared, don’t know how to quit or are afraid of the consequences, read on. There is no reason to stay in a situation that you’ve outgrown. (more…)

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Glue was made out of animal hide and fish products by early furniture makers. These original furniture glues had to be heated each time a woodworker wished to use them. Life is so much easier today with wood glues that remain liquid in the bottle. As a restorer of a piece of old furniture, you may wish to go the traditional route or the modern route, but either way, when it comes to securing joints, rather use glue than screws. (more…)

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To make your own pickled onions, you will need almost three kilograms of small pickling onions but shallots will also do for this recipe. You will also require some coarse salt, water and spiced vinegar. The preparation time is a rather lengthy one if you consider that the soaking time is 36 hours and the maturing time is another several weeks. As for your personal time, allow for two hours to prepare the pickling onions. The pickled onion recipe follows below. (more…)

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In today’s world of information overload, what is a person to do? One can only ignore emails and important documents for so long. Actually dealing with important reading is made much easier if you know how to read fast. And according to Tim Ferriss, it’s possible to learn how to read 200 per cent faster in 10 minutes or quicker. His speed reading technique includes four simple tips that he says ‘will lessen the damage and increase your speed’ with no loss of comprehension. (more…)

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If you are considering buying or selling a property, you would do well to assess the value of the property for yourself before or after consulting with an agent. There are three methods you can choose from: the income method, the cost method and the method of comparable selling prices. The method of comparable selling prices is dealt with here as most people are interested in the price of a house. Read on to find out more. (more…)

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Depression can sometimes feel like a dark and dreary cloud that’s never going to go away. Sharing your feelings and thoughts with somebody who truly listens and cares can bring huge relief. For milder forms of depression, writing about your feelings can also be highly beneficial ‑ as can sharing, exercise, wholesome food, yoga or meditation. If you feel that whatever you do, nothing is going to help, you should see a professional who can possibly help you with medication, if necessary. (more…)

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Swiss roll is based on a basic sponge cake recipe. A true Swiss roll doesn’t use baking powder, relying on well beaten eggs for its rising and lightness. The flour in this recipe can be replaced with 200 grams of ground almonds or walnuts, in which case don’t use the boiling water. It shouldn’t take longer than 20 minutes to prepare and 15 minutes to bake. Your Swiss roll can be filled with jam, caramel or coffee-flavoured whipped cream. (more…)

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There is a healthy fear of the unknown which serves to protect us from danger but sometimes we can have a dark fear that refuses to be named. It seems to lurk in our lives causing us anxiety and possibly even a sense of depression. We could fear illness, losing a job or our beloved partner, we could fear being alone or dying. These underlying fears can go on for years and if the fear is severe, it can paralyse one’s life. (more…)

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Smoke roasting doesn’t require any fancy equipment at all. In fact, you’ll probably find most of what you need in your kitchen ‑ as a cast iron pot or a heavy-based saucepan is all you need to cook with. Your pot or pan must have a tight-fitting lid so as to ensure that the smoke doesn’t escape. Here is a brief overview of what you’ll need, including a metal container, a pot stand and wood shavings. (more…)