Perhaps this is your first time on a camping excursion or you haven’t been out for a while. If so, you’ll want to prepare for your next trip to get the most enjoyment out of your weekend getaway.

Where will you sleep? If using a tent, make sure you have everything you’ll need for assembly. This includes tent stakes, a hammer and a broom for keeping the tent free of debris. Consider a tarp for added protection during the rainy season.

Next, gather your sleeping bags, pillows and/or air mattresses. If taking an air mattress, make sure you have an air pump as well.

What will you eat? Start by packing cooking equipment and utensils such as a camping stove, pots, pans, spatulas, tongs, can openers and oven mitts.

You’ll also need dishes to eat on. For convenience, it makes sense to pack paper plates, cups and plastic silverware. Remember to include trash bags, dish towels and dish washing liquid for clean-up.

For survival, don’t forget to pack essentials such as a first aid kit, matches, lamps and bug zappers.

Buy and pack food that you will prepare on your camping trip. Don’t forget snacks and food favorites. More importantly, be sure to bring lots of water. Store everything in a cooler with ice to protect against spoilage.

Finally, pack clothing and personal items like deodorant, toothpaste and toothbrushes. If you plan to go swimming be sure to pack swimwear and a beach towel.

Don’t wait until the last minute to prepare for your trip! Begin about a week prior to ensure you have everything you need to avoid stressing out about the process.

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As with any other party, you’ll need to plan carefully to ensure it’s a success! This includes selecting a tasty food and beverage menu, a decorated venue and hosting a wide range of activities.

Open House Theme

Begin by selecting an open house theme. This will help you in planning your decorations, the menu and more. Some ideas include the school mascot or school colors. You can also consider a theme centering around a favorite subject such as Art, French, Math or perhaps a favorite sport. Try to think about your graduate’s future career plans when selecting your theme, and incorporate that goal into your ideas.

Party Supplies

Make your party festive with colorful decorations. Be sure your table cloths, napkins, paper plates and more will match and compliment each other. Enhance your décor with balloons, personalized banners and lovely floral centerpieces.

Food/Menu

Consider your open house theme when coming up with ideas for food servings. Have the food center around this theme. For example, if a band or football club is your theme, serve food items that would be enjoyed while tailgating or sold at concessions stands. Along with grilling, serve cotton candy, snow cones, hot dogs or funnel cakes for added excitement. Finally, don’t forget a celebratory cake or cupcakes to give your party that special touch.

Invitations/Party Favors

Set the tone for your upcoming open house by creating some innovative invitations. Use your theme as inspiration. Some other ideas might include a photo, cartoon or digital e-vite.

Put together party favor bags for your guests. Possibly have one for adults and another for children. Some things to include in the bags include personalized lollipops, ink pens, glow stick jewelry or bubbles.

Activities

Finally, you’ll want to have things for your guests to do and enjoy while stopping by your open house. Choose activities that will be memorable for your graduate such as a photo booth or signing a guest book. You can also have board games on hand or entertainment that include a musical group or magician.

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Before you get started, you’ll want to draft a business plan.  This should include legal requirements and specifications such as whether you will be able to cook from home or whether you’ll need to rent a kitchen. Additionally, you’ll need to establish a budget that includes insurance, business cards and other marketing strategies.

The largest part of your budget will likely include supplies and equipment. Some equipment you can rent, while others you’ll have to purchase. For convenience and cost savings, consider making an agreement with a banquet or conference center who already has a working kitchen, tables and seating. This way you will only need to purchase the basics such as:

• Cookware and Portable Food Warmers
• Serving Bowls and Trays
• Serving Utensils
• Table or Dinnerware
• Steam Tasble
• Ice/Wine buckets
• Beverage Equipment
• Decorations
• Food storage

You will also need to have a large van or trailer for transporting groceries, supplies and other equipment.

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Often newlyweds or those leaving home for the first time are in similar situations. That is, they have no idea how to prepare a meal. However, having the right tools and equipment in the kitchen provides a great beginning for the novice cook.

Cookware

Non-stick cookware can be a lifesaver in the kitchen. To get started you’ll need:

• A skillet for frying or sautéing. Cast iron is always the best purchase for quality and longevity.
• A small and medium saucepan for cooking sauces or gravies.
• Large pot for preparing soups or stews.                                                                                                                     

Baking Pans

You may not be interested in becoming a pastry chef, but you may want to learn how to bake simple treats such as cookies or brownies. To do this, you will need to have baking essentials nearby. Some necessities include:

• A baking sheet for cookies.
• A quarter sheet baking pan for cakes.
• Parchment baking sheets.
• Aluminum foil.                                                                                                                                                                             

Kitchen Utensils

Having the right utensils can be of great benefit in learning how to cook. To start, you’ll need a whisk for mixing and a spatula for flipping or picking up hot foods. You’ll further need a quality set of knives. Consider a set that includes a paring, bread and chef’s knife along with kitchen shears.

Small Appliances

Items such as a microwave or can opener, you will likely already have in your kitchen. However, consider purchasing these other small appliances to help you become a better cook.

• Blender for making sauces, dips and soups.
• Hand-held mixer for blending cookie doughs and cake mixes.
• Toaster oven which can be used for more than just making toast, which allows you to grill, roast or bake.                                                                                                                        

Other Equipment

Although there are numerous other items you can purchase for your kitchen ensemble, the following are crucial in food preparation.

• Measuring Cups
• Mixing Bowls
• Timers
• Colander/Strainer
• Cutting Board
• Oven Mitts

Stock your kitchen with these items and grab a few recipes to get started. Before you know it, you’ll be a great cook and the envy of your friends and family.

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In truth, proper catering equipment is needed for two reasons. First, it will ensure you serve customers food that’s hot. Plus, the right equipment is critical for ensuring food stays at the correct temperature to ensure health safety standards are met.

As you consider acquiring equipment for your catering business, there are a number of items you will need. Every business’s equipment needs are unique and depend on the type of food and service that they provide. Yet there are several pieces that many food service businesses – from restaurants offering brunch, to caterers serving buffets – commonly use. Here’s a look at some of the most important pieces you will need:

1. Chaffering Dishes

If you’ll be serving hot food, chaffering dishes – also known as chafers – are a critical item. These dishes have large pans that are heated using gel fuel pods or an electric heat source from underneath, and they are used to keep food warm during service. In general, water is added to the chafer, and then it is heated using the fuel source. Once the water is heated, the food pan is placed inside the chafer.

There are many types of chafers, including rectangular and oval shapes, as well as a number of different sizes. Plus, chaffering dishes are available in a variety of finishes. Stainless steel is the most common type, but there are also dishes with satin or matte finishes. Finally, chafers are also differentiated by the type of cover they use; you can choose from simple lift-off covers, retractable lids, or glass-top lids.

2. Steam Pans

Steam pans hold your hot food items, and they are placed inside the chafer dish. These are available in a number of standardized sizes commonly used in the food service industry. For example, a full-sized chafer dish can hold two half-sized steam pans, or one half-sized and two quarter-sized pans. Often, steam pans are sold in sets of many different sizes. It’s important to have a range of steam pans so that you can serve in a variety of different configurations.

3. Beverage Urns and Dispensers

Whether you’ll be serving coffee, iced tea or a specialty beverage, you should consider the type of hardware that you will need. Coffee dispensers come in a range of styles and types, including smaller air pots, as well as large-scale urns. For cold beverages, a large glass or clear plastic urn filled with ice can serve hundreds of guests. Finally, if you’ll be serving guests tableside, your servers will need pitchers and handheld coffee pots.

4. Serving Trays

Whether you will serve appetizers off trays or carry plates to the tables, serving trays are a useful item to have. There are two main types. For example, small grab-and-go food items can be served directly off of stainless steel serving trays, while larger, durable trays are used to carry plates to the table.

5. Squeeze Bottles

You might have specialty sauces you need to serve or just good old-fashioned catsup to offer; either way, squeeze bottles can help you avoid serving sauces from a chaffering dish, which can become messy. Plus, they are affordable and easy to buy in bulk, so you can always stock up on them.

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So what should you keep in mind as you start shopping? For one, you’ll want to consider sizes. These coolers are designed to hold a certain amount of bottles – from about 20 up to 50 or more in standard set-ups. Wine collectors, though, will likely prefer a cooler with more space, and for them, there are coolers available that can hold 150 bottles or more. You’ll also want to consider:

Temperature Uniformity:

A constant temperature is essential for preserving the wine’s quality, because wide fluctuations in temperature can degrade the wine. That’s why you need a unit that’s capable of delivering a range of temperatures and that can prevent wide swings in temperature. In general, sparkling wines, reds and whites are stored best from about 5º C to about 15º C, so you should look for a cooler that can handle that range.

In addition, some coolers are built with multiple compartments, which enable different temperatures to be set in each. This is a useful option for someone who will be storing a greater variety of wines, as whites can generally be stored at lower temperatures, while reds are better suited for slightly warmer temperatures.

Type of Shelving:

You’ll also want to consider the flexibility of the shelving. Some wine chillers, for instance, have fixed shelving that cannot be removed. This can be problematic, as it’s difficult to accommodate larger bottles and retrieved stored bottles. Many coolers, though, are equipped with sliding shelving, whether wooden or coated-wire racks, which can be removed or pulled out to easily access your wines.

Thermoelectric vs Compression Power:

Thermoelectric wine chillers generate temperature using only electricity, and thus, they’re more efficient and quieter than compression wine coolers. Yet, thermoelectric units don’t necessarily create cold air; instead they push warm air out. For this reason, thermoelectric units aren’t always as reliable when it comes to temperature uniformity.

Conversely, compression coolers use refrigerant, similar to traditional kitchen refrigerators, and thus, they actually create cool air. That’s why this type of cooler does a better job at generating cooler air and keeping temperatures more constant. They are also a bit more durable than thermoelectric units.

Locking System:

If you want to restrict access to your wine collection, you should consider a unit with a built-in locking system. In general, these aren’t standard features, but locks are available on some units. In some cases, aftermarket locks can be applied, but that’s not always an option. Thus, if you would like a lock, you should shop for a unit that equipped with one.

Standalone vs. Under-counter Units:

You’ll also want to consider the style of the unit. Some are designed to fit functionally under your existing counter system. These are ideal for kitchen islands, and they’re sleek and stylish. Standalone units are more common, and they are like miniature refrigerators.  Yet, there are a range of customization options for both under-counter and standalone coolers. For instance, some coolers have wooden shelves that can be stained to match your existing cabinetry, while others are designed to accommodate molding to match your kitchen’s palette.

Tinted and/or Tempered Glass:

In general, the majority of wine chillers are built with a tempered glass window. Tempered glass is sturdier than standard glass. This is important, as your wine cooler may be in a highly trafficked area like a kitchen or restaurant. Thus, the glass is better equipped to withstand bumps. Additionally, you may want to consider an option with tinted glass. This is especially important for areas with lots of natural light. UV rays can degrade the quality of the wine, and tinted glass helps to diminish this effect.

Shop for wine fridges and wine chillers on Deelat.com. We offer a range of options, from sleek 12-bottle fridges to 150+ bottle wine coolers. Plus, we offer some of the best prices around! Start shopping for your wine cooler today.