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Fixing Your Debt Situation

December 29th, 2009

You must differentiate between the various sorts of financial problems. For instance, a financial emergency is when you experience a situation that can render you penniless, homeless or without any important assets. You ought to separate these sorts of emergency from a threatening phone call or a letter from a debt collector, even though they are unpleasant enough too.

When experiencing such an emergency, it is crucial to act immediately. You have to begin by contacting your creditor. Doing so enables you to work out a temporary solution, which can help you to keep your possessions. However, it does not always work and if it doesn't, getting in touch with your lawyer to negotiate with the creditor is necessary.

Face up to the Problem: A popular misconception in debt problems is that "the less you know, the less it hurts". However, you must learn how to face your debt problems. You must be able to do this since rebuilding and repairing the credit will not happen, if you do not know exactly where your money goes or where it needs go instead.

Although it is not a bad thing to slightly overestimate the amount of your debt, it is always beneficial to know how much money you really owe. You can do this by looking at the bills you have received. If you have thrown out your bills without even opening them, you can still call the company and inquire about them or ask for copies.

Several creditors even use automated telephone systems, which can give a debt balance and information regarding the payments automatically, so you do not have to talk to anyone. Additionally, information about your account might also be available on your creditors' web sites. After acquiring the necessary details, total it all up, especially those overdue instalment bills.

Options Available for Handling Your Debts: There are several options available to you when dealing with your debts. One way is to do nothing. This option is probably the most popular approach used by those who are deep in debt. Frequently, these people have a very low income and maybe no property and do not usually expect any rise in their lifestyle. If you do not expect any steady income any time soon, you could consider this option.

However, doing nothing does not really help, so maybe you could find some money to pay your debts. You can do this by, first, selling a major asset, like a car or a house. This can be a good idea if you can no longer afford your car or house payments. Instead of waiting for a repossession or foreclosure to happen, selling the property is always a better solution.

The proceeds you gain from the sales should be put towards reducing your debt. Moreover, you should remember to pay off the liens placed by the creditors and use anything that is left to pay (something) off your other debts. However, before taking this step, make sure that you have already come up with an alternative for your housing or transportation requirements.

A further way to help you pay off your debts, is to reduce your expenses. This will help you not only in the repayment of your debts but also when negotiating with your creditors. Try to shrink the cost of your food by clipping coupons, buying generic brands, buying when there is a sale on or shopping at discount outlets.

However, if you cannot cut your expenses enough, you could always borrow money from a tax-deferred account. Tax-deferred retirement accounts, like IRA or 401(k), can be used to help pay off debts by withdrawing money from them before retirement. However, since you may need to pay a penalty or taxes, this should only serve as your last resort.

Have you had a few financial problems recently? Do you need to know how to fix your credit? If so, please go along to our website called DIY Credit Repair

Restoring Your credit Status

October 6th, 2009

A crucial aspect in maintaining a high credit status is in point of fact the contents of your credit report. The credit report is very much the history of your monetary life, contained in a comprehensive document.

The credit report details the credit score, which is a numeric ranking normally between 300 and 850. Some lenders use the credit score to help them decide whether you are worthy of credit. Furthermore, the score is also used to conclude your ability of repaying a loan. The credit report is important and repairing or holding on to a good credit report is essential to your monetary well-being.

Inside a Standard Credit Report:

In a credit report, the first item is generally your personal information. It includes your name, registered telephone numbers, previous and current addresses, reported discrepancies of your Social Security Number, past and present employers and date of birth.

The information on the subject of your credit accounts follows your personal information item. This is also listed in detail and generally includes loans, the total loan amount, and details of any joint account holders or co-signatories. The credit report also includes a section, entitled 'Inquiries', which lists any person who has recently asked for a facsimile of the credit report.

There are some states, wherein the credit report contains public record data. These data can highlight outstanding payments, bankruptcies or other judgments in the court. Generally, these entries can remain for up to ten years and can adversely affect your odds of obtaining a loan.

How to Commence

Firstly, in order to repair your credit report, you will have to order a facsimile of the report. You have to establish what is out of date or incorrect, after which you can send a letter to the bureau asking for repairs to the data. This process might take a long time and you can be required to do a number of follow-ups with each bureau before achieving a clean credit report. However, to execute this properly, you have to be aware of the details the credit agencies are permitted to report and the duration of those details.

Requesting a credit report can be simply achieved as they are available to everyone. At least one free report may be requested by the consumer every year; this rule is also included in the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). Furthermore, the consumer is also permitted to obtain a free copy of his or her credit report every year from each of the three major firms dealing with credit reporting, namely Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax. However, if you have already obtained a facsimile of your credit report this year, you could be asked to pay an extra fee if you require another copy.

Once you have obtained your report, evaluate it carefully. Every detail must be inspected since bureaus might sometimes muddle up names, addresses or employers. Most often, people who have common names have credit reports that might contain data from someone else of the same name.

Additionally, it is crucial to carry out a periodic check on your credit report. It is prudent to send for a copy of the report once a year and challenge any possible errors. Always be meticulous in handling your payments and make sure not to make any late instalments. Time is of the essence and even minimum instalments should not be neglected. Remember that meticulously managing your credit can add as much as fifty points to your credit score per year.

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How To Use Dairy Produce: Part 2 - Cheese

August 17th, 2009

About The Basic Preparation Of Foodstuffs: Dairy Products.

CHEESES

Cheeses are manufactured from milk which has been naturally or artificially soured. The first method is brought about by standing the milk in a warm place and allowing natural, beneficial bacteria to convert the milk's natural sugars into lactic acid. The second method is effected by adding an agent, usually in to form of rennet.

Salt and colouring and frequently put in too. The whey is then allowed to drain away and the curds are pressed into moulds where they are kept until ripened or cured. Some cheeses, usually hard ones, are subjected to pressure; soft cheeses are not. Curds are ripened or cured by various means. The way it's done, the quality of the milk, the breed of cow, sheep or other animal and its pasture, and the type of bacteria all govern the end result.

Some local conditions are unique and those areas produce cheeses that are not successfully reproduced elsewhere: for example Gruyere and Camembert, although factories do try. They even have some success, as most of the world's Cheddar cheese now comes from the USA and Canada.

The constituents of cheese are roughly|typically|: 33% fat, 33% protein and 33% water with salt, colouring, sugar etc making up the rest. These proportions do vary from area to area as some producers use full-cream milk, others skimmed-milk and yet others add extra cream. Some add some extra sugar, although most do not. All cheeses have a high calcium content and can be considered as 'concentrated milk' and stored the same way.

Many people say that cheese most not be kept in a fridge and although storing in water, as for milk, is not a viable option, a cool larder is certainly ideal. Try the traditional method of hanging it up in muslin in a cool, airy place. If the weather is hot, moisten the muslin cloth with water to which a little vinegar has been added.

in Europe, cheese is frequently served with a salad or/and bread and is often presented after or instead of the dessert course. Hard cheese can be nigh-on impossible for children to digest and grating it first will make it more edible for them. After being grated the cheese can be scattered on vegetables or fish soups or sauces; combined with egg, pasta, rice and oatmeal dishes; put on baked potatoes or pastry; toasted on bread or put in sandwiches or salads.

How To Cook Cheese: A little known fact is that many people find cooked cheese indigestible and the reason lies in its structure. Here is why: cooked starch can be digested by the saliva in the mouth but other foods must pass to the stomach or intestines for this process. They are, however, broken up in the mouth. Digestion of protein begins in the stomach and is completed in the small intestine, while fat is not rendered soluble until it reaches the small intestine.

Cheese has a high fat and protein mixture, but in melting, the fat frequently covers the protein and prevents the digestive juices reaching it in the stomach. This results in, its digestion is delayed until the fat has been absorbed in the intestines. Cheese can be rendered more digestible by:

1] Adding to or combining with starchy foods. The starch will absorb the fat, not allowing it to cover the protein.

2] Using seasoning: Cayenne Pepper or mustard will irritate the intestinal lining, causing the release of extra digestive juices.

3] Cooking rapidly at high temperature. This stops the protein from becoming tough and stringy and so, harder to digest or you could add cheese to sauces late in the process.

4] Adding alkali. A large pinch of Bicarbonate of Soda per 75g will help neutralize the fatty acids and make the proteins more easily digestible.

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The Traditional Use Of Dairy Produce: Part 1 - Milk

August 15th, 2009

The Basic Preparation Of Foodstuffs: Dairy Products

These basic tips may seem unnecessary for most modern households with a refrigerator, but modern devices can make people lazy and it is well-worth while knowing 'why' we must do certain things. It is also worth remembering these tips when refrigerators are not at hand or are so small that they will not hold everything, such as when camping or boating or on holiday in some parts of the world.

MILK:

Milk has been called 'nature's perfect food', because no other food, consumed on its own, can support adult life. It is of the first importance for the growth and development of young people, but it must be clean as bacteria also find it very nourishing and quickly multiply in it. If your milk was not bought pasteurized, then it should be scalded and cooled quickly before consumption.

How To Scald Milk: Rinse out a clean pan with cold water, pour in the milk and heat until bubbles rise around the side of the pan. Maintain the milk at this temperature, ie, do not let it boil, for three minutes. Do not let it overheat, as milk burns very easily. Pour immediately into a clean receptacle and stand it in a basin of cold water and cover with a muslin cloth to discourage the ingress of flies and dust.

How To Keep Milk Fresh: If milk is not be kept in the containers in which it was bought, transfer it to a clean jug, which has been rinsed with cold water. A warm container will cause milk to stick to the sides and go off more quickly. Keep milk in the coolest place in the larder and always covered. it is worth remembering that draughts are often at ground-level and that hot air rises. Never keep milk in an airless cupboard and in hot weather stand the jug in a bowl of water with the cloth covering dangling in the water. The cloth will soak up water, which will evaporate, which uses up heat, ensuring that the containers remain cool. Keep milk away from strong-smelling foods, as it absorbs odours easily. Never mix new milk with old.

Sour Milk: Milk straight from the cow is slightly alkaline, but as it ages, lactic acid is formed and it becomes what we call 'sour'. Pasteurizing or scalding the milk slows down this process. Milk which is 'just on the turn' can be revived by boiling with a pinch of bicarbonate of soda to restore the alkalinity. Once the milk has gone too far and has curdled, it can be strained through (cheese) cloth, thereby separating the curds from the whey. The curds can be used as a filling for cakes, tarts, scones etc and the whey can be used as the liquid for making scones, cakes and soups etc., as it still has much goodness.

Evaporated Milk: Evaporated milk is ordinary milk, which has had some of its water evaporated by heat in some way or another before being containerised. Once reconstituted by adding water, it will last only a little longer than fresh milk does.

Condensed Milk: This is simply evaporated milk to which sugar has been added before canning. Sugar acts as a preservative and will preserve the milk for about a week. Do not keep in the tin, but decant it into a jug or bottle.

Dried Milk: Dried milk comes in a variety of forms and notice should be taken of the instructions on the label. Specialized products can be bought for babies, invalids, convalescents and dieters, all of which contain varying amounts and types of added vitamins and minerals. Usually, they are very much lower in fat content than normal milk.

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Credit Repair Fundamentals

August 4th, 2009

Once you have applied for and been granted credit, you are, in fact, using someone else's money to pay for your purchases. Furthermore, it also states that you guarantee to repay the money to the agency or person that lent you the money before an agreed time limit.

If you are applying for a loan, credit card or mortgage, it is normal for the agency or bank to check up on your credit worthiness. This is essentially based on an assessment of your credit history, thus helping them determine the possible risks of the transaction and decide the terms of the loan. A positive assessment means that you have a good financial history, which increases your chance of being granted credit.

Credit Repair: This is the process whereby consumers with a poor credit history try to re-establish their credit worthiness. It involves obtaining a copy of your credit status from the agencies and taking careful and appropriate steps to address apparent issues, including omissions, misreporting, misinterpretation or other inaccuracies.

If there are any discrepancies found in the credit report, you are entitled to dispute the errors that have unjustly harmed their financial health. There are several laws and regulations that are meant to guarantee the fair and legal reporting of someone's credit worthiness. You can use these laws to legally and formally start the process of your credit repair.

Everybody may ask for one copy of his/her credit report each year from each credit reporting agency. You will need to check the true nature of the inaccuracies in order to ensure successful credit repair.

Your credit record influences your purchasing power and eligibility for getting credit facilities in the future. You should keep in mind that a good credit score can help in several situations like as: mortgaging a home, buying a car or applying for a job. On the other hand, a bad credit rating can make you vulnerable to outrageous interest rates and unnecessary loan terms from the loan companies. These two facts are important in helping you understand why maintaining a good credit rating is absolutely necessary.

How to Repair Your Credit: The process of credit repair can be achieved through diligent work and discipline. Some firms will offer you easy methods to help you repair poor credit history and they can be quite tempting. However, these easy ways-out can also create more difficulties in the future, especially if they are illegal.

If your poor credit history was caused by issues beyond your control, you could ask for an upgrade of your credit rating from your creditor. However, this can only be done, if you have been able to make amends to your credit records afterwards.

Creditors do not normally trust consumers who have defaulted on their payments. This can pose difficulties for you in obtaining further credit. However, once you are able to show a stable income and patterns of prompt payments, the situation could improve over the span of two to three years. This way, even if there was a bankruptcy, you are likely to be eligible for credit cards within two years, if a steady income is maintained.

Bear in mind that there are no fast fixes when repairing your credit. However, by contacting the credit bureaus, correcting any errors, budgeting and consolidating your debts, you can improve your own credit rating very quickly.

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Fixing Your Debt Situation

July 26th, 2009

You need to differentiate between the various types of financial problems. For instance, a financial crisis is when you suffer a situation that can leave you penniless, homeless or without any important property. You should separate these kinds of emergency from a threatening phone call or a letter from a bill collector.

When experiencing a crisis like these, it is crucial to act immediately. You need to begin by contacting your creditor. Doing so gives you time to work out a temporary solution, which can help you to keep your property. However, it does not always work and if it doesn't, contacting your solicitor to negotiate with your creditor is necessary.

Face up to the Problem: A popular maxim in debt problems is that "the less you know, the less it hurts". However, you must learn how to face your debt problems. You need to be able to do this because rebuilding your credit will not happen, if you do not know exactly where your money is going or where it needs go instead.

Although it is not a bad thing to slightly overestimate the amount of your debt, it is always necessary to know how much money you actually owe. You can do this by taking a look at the bills you have had. If you have thrown out your bills without even opening them, you can still call the company and ask about them or ask for copies.

Several creditors even use automated telephone systems, which can provide a debt balance and information regarding the payments automatically, so you do not have to talk to anyone. Additionally, information about your account might also be available on your creditors' web sites. After acquiring the necessary details, add them all up, especially those overdue instalment bills.

Options Available for Your Debts: There are several options available when dealing with debts. One is to do nothing. This option is probably the most popular approach used by those who are deeply in debt. Most often, these people have a very small income and maybe no property and do not usually expect any change in their lifestyle. If you do not expect any steady income any time soon, you can consider this option.

However, doing nothing does not really help, so perhaps you could find some money to pay your debts. You can do this by, first, selling a major asset, like a car or a house. This can be a good choice if you can no longer afford your car or house payments. Instead of waiting for a repossession or foreclosure to happen, selling the property is always a better solution.

The proceeds you make from the sales should be put towards lessening your debt. Moreover, you should remember to pay off the liens placed by the creditors and use anything that is left to pay (something) off your other debts. However, before taking this step, ensure that you have already come up with an alternative for your housing or transportation needs.

Another way to help you pay off your debts, is to reduce your expenses. This will help you not only in the repayment of your debts but also when negotiating with your creditors. Try to reduce the cost of your food by cutting out coupons, purchasing house brands, buying when there is a sale on or shopping at discount stores.

However, if you cannot cut your expenses enough, you can always borrow money from a tax-deferred account. Tax-deferred retirement accounts, like IRA or 401(k), can be used to help pay off debts by withdrawing money from them before retirement. However, since you may have to pay a penalty or taxes, this should only serve as your last resort.

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Business Credit Cards

July 16th, 2009

Among the vast number of credit cards on the market, one of the most underestimated is the business credit card. Many people choose not to apply for a business credit card because apart from having a definite target market - business owners or business executives - it appears to be complicated to use. Although a business credit card has more stipulations, it has a lower interest rate compared with other sorts of credit cards and, contrary to common misconception, it can be very useful if used properly.

What is a business credit card? Basically, a business credit card is for business people's use. Compared to a regular credit card, a business credit card has a high credit limit and low interest rates. Depending on the business credit card you decide on, a business credit card may also bring a lot of benefits.

Since it is targeted at businessmen or those people who are starting to build a business, a business credit card is meant to benefit these small businesses. A business credit card helps the budding business by allowing the entrepreneur to finance bills or payroll, thereby improving cash flow. Apart from presenting the image of a dependable credit card, business credit cards supply detailed reports and give quality customer service as its major benefits.

Apart from enjoying higher spending limits and lower interest rates, a business credit card provides numerous credit options for small businesses. A business credit card also caters to big corporations as well as those people who are just beginning their own business because it closely tracks the base rate of credit.

Simplifying business credit cards. It really pays to go to the bank when one requests for a credit card to get answers to all the immediate inquiries you may have. But since a business credit card is for business people who are always on the move, many business credit card issuers offer online applications for business credit cards. So, when one applies for a business credit card, there is no necessity for you to visit the bank any more, which means that there is also no need to wait in the queue just to talk to a bank representative.

When you apply for a business credit card over the Internet, you just choose the business credit card that suits your small business or corporate credit requirements the best from your home or office. Aside from offering safe, secure, and simple processes that are meant to help you to control your start-up business, most online business credit cards offer special access features for the business credit card holder like online bill payment and online reporting.

Customized company logos and access to instant cash are further advantages offered on line. Yet other online business credit cards offer even more detailed reporting features for easy monitoring of multiple accounts.

Most business credit cards offer no fees for the first year and no pre-set spending limit or finance charges. Other business credit cards offer membership rewards programs that enable the holder to earn points towards travel, merchandise and other rewards for the business.

Many business credit cards offer small businesses a credit line of up to $100,000 at a competitive APR as low as prime + 1.99% for both cash and check purchases. Furthermore, 100% of the credit line is available as cash and usually no collateral is necessary.

The business credit card holder might receive free checks together with a card to access their account. There may also be: common savings or exclusive savings on purchases, express approval on expra loans, no annual fee, up to 5 percent discounts on qualifying purchases, and 0% introductory APR annual percentage rate on purchases for the first six months of card membership are some of the great benefits of many business credit cards.

The majority of the business credit card issuers offer fantastic deals, but it is very important to evaluate what your business requirements are first. No matter whether you need your business credit card for buying inventory or just for payroll, it is important to get a business credit card that can cope with anything you need.

Whether you choose to go directly to the bank or apply for a business credit card online, a number of premier business credit card suppliers are there to help you to find the right credit card product as easily and conveniently as possible.

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DIY Credit Repair

June 24th, 2009

Negative comments on your credit report can cost serious money. You do not have to give up though, since it is never too late to repair your credit worthiness. However, remember that credit repair does not happen overnight. It requires serious dedication and perseverance to start with a clean slate again.

How to Get Started: You should know who the three credit bureaus are and what they are saying about you. Since creditors do not have to report to Equifax, TransUnion and Experian all together, they generally only report to one or to whichever they are subscribed to. This means that the reports from the bureaux are slightly different from one another.

The first thing you need to do is order your credit report. Remember to order it from each bureau because you would only waste your time and money if you just order a credit report from one bureau. The cost of the credit report might vary from state to state though it is estimated that the cost of your credit report is under $10.

However, you are entitled to a free copy of your credit report from the agency, if you have been denied employment or credit due to a bad credit report. You can ask the company to provide you with the name of the credit bureau, telephone number and address.

Once you get hold of your credit report, look at it very carefully, since the credit bureaus create your credit report based on the details they receive from your creditors, which is never verified. It is up to you to ensure your credit report is a good reflection of your status.

Be especially on the look out for typing errors, incomplete information, and out-dated or / and inaccurate histories of account transactions. After reading the report to make sure its veracity, list all the points you want to verify and the reasons why.

Since bad reports cost you money, remember to be thorough. You have two choices: either fill in the dispute form which|that| is enclosed with your credit report or write a letter. It is also recommended that you send a photocopy of your report with the errors clearly marked to the credit bureau who sent you with the report. Furthermore, do not forget to include supporting documents with your report.

Before sending back the corrected the documents and report, do not forget to keep copies of all the forms and the date you sent it. Normally, the bureaux will investigate the dispute over the thirty days after receiving your letter. Then, any item that is proved to be inaccurate is deleted.

Stability in Your Credit Life: Another way to repair your credit is to show that you are working at adding positive information and stability to your credit life. Even if you have the credit rating, there can still be a time when you get denied credit due to insufficient credit information.

There are a few creditors that do not normally report credit history to the credit bureaus, so what you can do is try asking the credit grantors to report their information about your account and the history of your monthly payments to the credit-reporting agency or agencies.

You can also try building a solid credit history through the use of secured credit cards. This kind of credit cards is offered to those with no credit status or who are in the process of repairing their credit.

Additionally, it is advised that you open a savings account at your bank. Doing this, might convince your creditors that you are attempting to put money aside regularly and that you are saving that money for the purposes of paying off your debts and repair credit.

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The Traditional Use Of Dairy Produce: Part 4 - Eggs (cont.).

June 16th, 2009

Basic Preparation Of Foods: Dairy Produce.

Eggs: Part 2

Poaching: boil 40mm water in a frying pan; add a teaspoon of salt and a teaspoon of vinegar. Crack egg into cup, inspect and tip into water. Turn down the heat. Gather the white around the unbroken yolk with a spoon and simmer for 3-4 mins. Lift out with a fish slice, drain and serve on hot buttered toast.

Scrambling: beat the eggs well; add salt, pepper to taste and a dash of milk. Melt enough butter to cover the bottom of a shallow pan. Heat the eggs slowly, stirring continuously. Cook in a basin floating on boiling water, if you'd rather. Dish up when nearly completely set, after about 5 minutes.

Fried: Melt enough butter to easily cover the base of (a|the shallow pan. Tip egg in gently and fold the whites around the yolks. When the white has solidified, baste the yolk to taste and remove whole with a fish slice.

Baked Eggs: lightly grease an oven-proof dish and slide the egg(s gently into it. Sprinkle with salt, pepper and butter to taste. Bake in a medium oven and serve in the same bowl after the whites have set to your liking.

Omelettes: buy a pan and keep it solely for omelettes! The base should be smooth and clean. Allow two eggs per person; whip lightly and add salt and pepper to taste. Melt enough butter to cover the bottom of a frying pan. When the butter is fairly hot, pour in the beaten eggs; as it sets, lift the handle and draw the set mixture up towards the handle, allowing the liquid egg to run down onto the hot pan. When all the liquid has set, tilt the pan forward and roll the omelette up. Serve straight away on a hot plate. The omelette can be filled with almost anything, before being rolled up.

Pouring Custard: lightly beat 2-3 eggs for every pint of milk. Heat the milk and gradually add to the eggs; add sugar and flavouring to suit your taste; heat in a double pan or jug and hot water until the required thickness has been reached. If it is not to be served up immediately, pour a thin layer of water onto it's surface to stop a skin forming on top.

Baked Custard: proceed as above and then pour the custard into greased dish; sprinkle with nutmeg; and place dish in water to halfway up its sides. Bake at 350 F for 35-45 mins; test by inserting a knife - it should be clean on removal.

Steamed Custard: as above, but cook in a steamer or pan of boiling water. Cooking time about the same.

Custard Tarts: pour pouring custard into unbaked pastry cases and bake in the oven for 40-50 minutes. A little jam can be placed at the bottom of the pastry case first, if preferred.

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The Traditional Use Of Dairy Produce: Part 3 - Eggs

May 26th, 2009

Basic Preparation Of Foods: Dairy Produce.

EGGS: Part 1

Eggs can be fresh or dried, the latter being only hens' eggs without the shell and water. Dried egg should be stored in a cool, dry place - not in the fridge! Store eggs for a few days or a week in a cool place away from strong-smelling foods. An egg stand is ideal for this. If the eggs are dirty, wipe them clean - washing will remove the natural oils which help preserve the eggs.

Pickled Eggs: eggs laid in the Spring keep longer than those laid in the other seasons. Eggs that can not be cleaned-up, must be refused. Waterglass or the other special preparations should be used. If an egg floats to the surface, use it at once. Try to maintain the room temperature around 2-8 C and they should remain edible for 6 to 9 months.

Preparing Eggs for Cooking: break each egg into a cup on its own, before adding it to the other ingredients to ensure that it is still fresh. If you wish to separate the white from the yolk, tip the contents of the egg back and forth between the two egg shell halves and the albumen (white) will separate from the yolk. Beat the eggs with a whisk or a fork in an appropriate bowl. Egg whites should be whipped with a knife on a plate - a tiny amount of of salt will help.

Raw eggs used to be prescribed for invalids as they are easily digestible, but, this not advisable these days due to the ubiquity of salmonella. One method, presented here for the curious was to strain a beaten egg into a mug and slowly add a cup of hot milk (or tea, coffee or lemon water; add sugar to taste. Sherry was often added also.

Cooking Eggs: eggs must be cooked slowly because the white solidifies at a temperature lower than that of boiling water and becomes 'tough' at higher temperatures. By the same token, if raw egg is used to thicken a sauce and the liquid is subsequently allowed to boil, the sauce will 'curdle', i.e. the egg will solidify into small specks, spoiling its texture.

Coddling: produces easily digested egg-whites, making it an ideal meal for invalids and children. Lower the eggs into 75mmof boiling water; replace the lid and remove from heat. Let it stand for: 7 mins for medium-, 5 mins for soft- and 20 mins for hard-boiled eggs .

Boiling: lower fresh eggs gently into 75mm 3" boiling water with a spoon. Cover and boil gently for 3-3" mins for soft-, 4-5 mins the medium- and 10 mins for hard-boiled eggs.

Place in egg cups and tap the shell to crack it, allowing the steam to escape, thus preventing further cooking. For sandwiches, salads etc: boil the egg for 12 mins and plunge into cold water. This allows the shell to be easily removed and prevents a black ring forming around the yolk.

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