November 22nd, 2009 | Uncategorized
By John Schnieder
Just being in the sun outside by the grill is great. But, really, what”s the point of grilling if you don”t get that wonderful barbecue flavor? Without a really great barbecue sauce recipe or three, you”re just… having a picnic with hot food. You”re not having a great barbecue! Want help choosing the tastiest, most impressive barbecue recipe?
Recipes for Barbecue Marinades
Especially since you want to be sure to fully cook meats like chicken and pork on the grill, they have a tendency to dry out. A marinade is a popular way to add flavor and moisture to barbecue meats. Want your marinade to tenderize, too? Look for one with a nice balance of acid and salt. Keep in mind, however, that marinades aren”t a traditionally used type of barbecue recipe. They can taste great, but they sometimes have a tendency to make your meat a little soggy. If you want to get the flavor and tenderizing properties of a marinade while keeping your barbecue sauce traditional, try a BBQ rub.
Recipes for Barbecue Rubs
While you might think barbecue sauce is the most important kind of barbecue recipe, the truth is… it”s all in the rub. In fact, a lot of traditional American barbecue doesn”t use any sauce at all. Instead, they just use a thick coating of a super-flavorful BBQ spice rub, and cook the meat slowly over an open flame. A spice rub makes all the difference, so don”t leave it out. Especially since it takes approximately six micro-seconds to mix and apply a BBQ rub to your meat. Look for one with a nice balance of salts and sugars, and plenty of spice.
Recipes for Barbecue Sauce
Now we”re getting to the fun part. . Barbecue sauce is popular all over the world, and there are so many types of barbecue sauce just in America alone that knowing what to try can be hard! We all have different tastes, and there”s a barbecue recipe out there for any type of BBQ sauce you could dream up.
One of the most popular kinds of BBQ sauce is vinegar-based. Vinegar-based sauces are thin and sharply-flavored, and don”t contain the heavy tomato sauce or ketchup you find in other types of BBQ sauce. A vinegar-based barbecue recipe is good on pork, especially with pulled pork sandwiches.
If you”re looking to make chicken or turkey on the BBQ grill, you might want to think about trying a white barbecue sauce. White BBQ sauces are made with mayonnaise instead of ketchup, and are creamy, tangy, a touch spicy, and wonderful with poultry. There are so many great BBQ sauces… without trying them all, you just can”t know what you like best. So be sure to try thick, sweet Kansas City barbecue sauce, a spicy Texas barbecue recipe or two, some sweet-and-tangy Memphis BBQ sauce, and… you get the idea. Fortunately, testing out new recipes is the fun part!
About The Author
The Sauce Works is a company in northern California that has created a reputation for having the best Barbecue Sauce in the world. Have you ever wondered what makes a good barbecue sauce? Well we have, and we went to work to make the worlds best barbecue sauce. You just simply have to give it a try. To order yours go to www.TheSauceWorks.com and enjoy.
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November 22nd, 2009 | Uncategorized
By John Schnieder
Barbecue is a particularly western ritual. Though there are variations on the theme worldwide the preoccupation with summer barbecue seems to be a truly American (both North and South) pastime. It is hard to imagine going to a picnic, a family reunion, a church gathering, or even a county fair without imagining the smell of meat mixed with smoke and some type of barbecue sauce.
The general consensus is that the term barbecue (or barbeque) derives from a group of people called the Taino in the Caribbean, who called their version “barbacoa”, meaning “sacred fire pit.” The Taino dug a pit and placed a pot on the bottom to catch the dripping juices of the meat that cooked above it. Coals and leaves of the maguey tree were then lit and a couple of hours later, there would be a great feast. Sounds something like your backyard last weekend, doesn”t it?
This was a long-standing tradition which was met with great approval by the European explorers who did not know how to barbecue and found this, among other truly American specialties like sugar, rum and tobacco, to be a wonderfully satisfying experience. As the settlers began to move northward from the Caribbean to the mainland US they took this cooking style with them. It is notable that for quite a long time barbecue and barbecue sauce was a uniquely “Southern” experience, likely born of the proximity to the islands of the Caribbean.
In the early days of the US colonies most of the meat barbecued was pork. Since the process of slow-cook barbecue ended up breaking down the collagen in the meat and made the meat literally fall off the bones, less than prime cuts could be used to great effect. Cattle ranches were not very prevalent in the South since cotton was king, and pigs were let run semi-wild until it was time to hunt one down for a barbecue. Since they were not corn fed or pampered for plumpness, the pigs tended to be tough and stringy, perfect for the remedying art of the barbecue and barbecue sauce.
This system allowed for low maintenance production of a ready food source for when it was needed. The hunting, preparing, cooking and subsequent eating was quite an occasion for all involved. It usually was a time for festivity and celebration and these “pig pickin”s” ultimately became common as a time to gather and became intertwined with political events, church functions and any large social production and were the basis of the traditional Southern barbecue.
About The Author
The Sauce Works is a company in northern California that has created a reputation for having the best Barbecue Sauce in the world. Have you ever wondered what makes a good barbecue sauce? Well we have, and we went to work to make the worlds best barbecue sauce. You just simply have to give it a try. To order yours go to www.TheSauceWorks.com and enjoy.
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November 21st, 2009 | Uncategorized
By John Schnieder
If you”ve never made a barbecue sauce from scratch before, you”ll be surprised how tasty it is. Most sauces have a base of ketchup or tomato sauce. Many have onion and garlic. Vinegar is a key ingredient in many sauces; cider vinegar is particularly good. A sweet ingredient is incorporated into many sauces, such as brown sugar or honey. Citrus juice is often added; orange, lemon and lime are all popular. Then of course you have spice. Chili powder, or diced fresh chillies, are a staple of southwestern style sauces. Pepper is almost always an ingredient of a barbecue sauce or marinade as well. Worcestershire and/or soy sauce can give your homemade sauce an extra kick. Dried or fresh herbs are also frequently used in sauces: Oregano, rosemary, thyme and cilantro each work well.
With the basics of barbecue sauce and marinades you can create a variety of flavorful sauces. But the great thing about making your own sauces is that with a little imagination you can employ dozens of other ingredients to create your own unique sauce. Take vinegar for instance. Try the more intensely flavored balsamic vinegar and see how that enhances the taste of your sauce.
For a different kind of sweet ingredient, substitute maple syrup for the honey or brown sugar you might normally use. The maple flavor is particularly good grilled salmon. There is a longtime favorite dish in the western U.S. called a “cowboy steak”. This steak has a secret ingredient in the spice blend used to create that wonderful crust when it is grilled: coffee. But strong coffee or espresso can be used in many different sauces, marinades and dry rubs.
You can try your favorite cola beverages to mix in with your barbecue sauce, and don”t overlook fruits such as cherries, grapefruit, pineapple, or mango, peaches. Processed fruits, such as orange marmalade are great, too. Each one adds a distinctive flavor. And here”s one last ingredient to try: peanut butter.
As you experiment with new flavors, you will discover that many of them work better with certain kinds of meat, fish or poultry than others. You also have to take into account how much spice your family prefers in their food. That”s part of the fun, building that perfect sauce that you have put your own individual stamp on. It”s also fun to plan a menu where you try two of your sauce creations, and see which one your family likes best. Be sure to write down the ingredients you use each time, so you can replicate the sauce when you have perfected it.
About The Author
The Sauce Works is a company in northern California that has created a reputation for having the best Barbecue Sauce in the world. Have you ever wondered what makes a good barbecue sauce? Well we have, and we went to work to make the worlds best barbecue sauce. You just simply have to give it a try. To order yours go to www.TheSauceWorks.com and enjoy.
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November 20th, 2009 | Uncategorized
By Brian Jones
People love to sit down for dinner especially when they know they”re having a piece of goodness from a tender juicy steak. However, achieving such a mouthwatering masterpiece is not easy as pie since there are a lot to consider. You have to know the right cut, temperature, thickness, and method of cooking. And nailing all of these is the best way to cook a steak.
Which is the best cut?
The best way to cook a steak involves choosing the right steak cut. This means that you have to know what kind of steak would be appropriate for the meal that you”re going to prepare. For instance the steak cut for a sandwich is different from a dinner steak. If you”re still not sure which one to choose, you can always the butcher at the market for guidance.
What are the beef grades?
Knowing the best way to cook a steak involves being familiar with the different grades of beef: Prime, Choice, and Select. The USDA grades beef according to the amount of marbling that it has. Prime has the most marbling which makes it the highest grade and the most expensive type of beef. The one most commonly available in butcher shops is the Choice. Although it has lesser marbling, it is the best option when you”re just learning how to cook. Finally, having the least amount of marbling and the lowest grade is the Select.
What are the different cuts?
You might notice that there”s simply so much to choose from when it comes to steak cuts. Each of them has its unique taste, specific cooking method, and price. For instance, Filet Mignon is expensive due to its tenderness. Meanwhile, the cheapest would be the top sirloin since it is the least tender.
In addition, they also have to consider whether it is dry aged or wet aged. Dry aged meats are more expensive since they take a lot of time to process. Knowing these cuts simply allows one to use the best way to cook a steak.
How to Season the Steak
Whether or not to use seasoning is a matter of personal choice. People usually only salt and pepper while other go for more complex and rich marinade. If you”re not sure which one to use, you can simply go to the supermarket and choose from the ready-made steak marinades. However, don”t hesitate to experiment since it”s a part of the best way to cook a steak.
How to Cook the Steak
Basic cuts are often grilled, pan seared or broiled. The difference now depends on the temperature appropriate for the kind of steak that you want. If you want your steak rare, use 120 F. You can achieve a medium rare with a 125 F temperature, medium at 130 F and well done at 135 F. The best way to cook a steak also involves varying cooking techniques and hot dry heat.
The best way to cook a steak is not as simple as one-two-three. There are various things that need to be considered. You have to know the right cut, the right grade, seasoning and the right way to cook it. Only after knowing all these can you truly make a hearty steak dinner that would make you and your family ask for second servings.
About The Author
Visit these sites if you want more information about best way to cook a steak or how to boil chicken in particular.
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November 19th, 2009 | Uncategorized
By Art Gib
It snowed in my town for the first time yesterday. While it had melted by this afternoon, I am still even more alert to the cold weather that will be approaching in the coming weeks. If you”re like me, you may feel somewhat unprepared. So I”ve compiled some of the best tips to make winter a little more enjoyable.
The most crucial first step is to make sure you have all the right apparel. If you have moved from a locale where snow is rarely, if ever, in the forecast, or if you have outgrown some of your clothes, it is time to go shopping.
Keep your eyes peeled for the best sales in your area. If you have time before the blizzards hit, you should stock up gradually. You will certainly need waterproof boots; you also need to make sure that you have plenty of thick socks that will insulate well against the cold.
Next, you need to figure out what your car needs. Change your oil over to a type that is formulated specially to cope with low temperatures. If the snowfall is heavy enough in your region, you may want to invest in snow tires. You will also need to have chains; keep these in your trunk at all times.
Be sure to develop storage of canned food, matches, candles, powdered milk, and so on. If you get snowed in, you will be able to wait it out. Be sure to have plenty of blankets, fuel, and a snow shovel as well.
Now that you are all prepared to brave the cold months of the year, you need to know how to best enjoy the chilly evenings inside. If you have certain activities you enjoy, then you will want to find out if you can make adjustments to continue to enjoy them in the cold.
For example, if you enjoy running, then you may want to find a neighborhood where the sidewalks are typically cleared of snow–or you might find a local gym or community center that has a track.
Be sure to have a supply of tea, hot cocoa, and gourmet coffee to savor and share with friends and family whenever they come in from the cold. Blue mountain coffee, Hawaiian blends, and heated herbal tea can really hit the spot when you have spent some time trudging through snowdrifts!
Take this time to really catch up on your reading. While clear days are perfect to be outside for skating and sledding, the snowy days are perfect for encouraging you to curl up on the couch with a new novel–guilt free!
If you have little experience living in a snowy region, the preparation can be daunting. But with this advice and a little help, you will be able to make a successful transition and perhaps even learn to enjoy the weather!
About The Author
Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee (http://www.JamaicanBlueMountainCoffee.com/) a native of Jamaica had been imported and reselling JABLUM Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee to friends, colleagues and select clients via his fledgling web site. Art Gib is a freelance writer.
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November 19th, 2009 | Uncategorized
By John Schnieder
My friend Tim is, without a doubt, the nicest guy I know. Honest, courteous, kind and helpful, he”s a real scout, and I mean that in a good way. Tim is also very shy, in fact, all the kids in high school called him Tim-id. It didn”t bother him much, and if we”re telling the truth here, he could have been tagged with a much crueler nickname, but he was such a nice, non-violent guy, nobody picked on him. As we got older, Tim developed a quirk or two, like we all do.
Tim was fastidious, and very detail oriented. Everything had to be just so, and if it wasn”t, he”d fix it. He could be very annoying sometimes, but I always figured it was his own personal defense against a world he didn”t quite fit into. He was never rude, or confrontational, he would just quietly repair any flaws he perceived around him. So, you can only imagine my surprise, when I picked him up for work last Monday, Tim had two black eyes. I assumed he had been mugged. He sure looked like he had, but on the drive to work he told me the whole story.
Barbecue sauce. he said. I was standing in line at the movies last night, and I noticed the lady in front of me had a glob of something on the back of her dress, something she sat in, I guess. Anyway, it was very annoying to see such a lovely lady with such an unattractive blob
of goo on her backside. It was barbecue sauce. The line was long, and as we waited that barbecue sauce on the back of her dress really started to bother me. I tried to ignore it, but it just got to me. I finally couldn”t stand it anymore, so I reached out and gently rubbed it off. Would you believe it? That lady turned around and smacked me so hard I saw stars.
That explains one shiner, I replied, How did you get the second?
After she smacked me he continued, I was real embarrassed, and just a little angry, because, after all, I was just trying to help. I tried to explain it to her, but she just wouldn”t listen, I figured if she was going to be so rude about me just trying to do her a favor, I might as well undo that favor, so when she turned around, I gently rubbed that barbecue sauce back on. That”s when I got number two.
About The Author
The Sauce Works is a company in northern California that has created a reputation for having the best barbecue sauce in the world. Have you ever wondered what makes a good barbecue sauce? Well we have, and we went to work to make the worlds best barbecue sauce. You just simply have to give it a try. To order yours go to www.TheSauceWorks.com and enjoy.
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November 18th, 2009 | Uncategorized
By Carolyn Anderson
Traditional Chinese cooking is known to be healthy as it focuses more on having more vegetables than meat and it promotes a variety of colorful and crisp vegetables that is ideal for a healthy recipe. If you are interested in learning Chinese cooking at home, here are some of the popular Chinese cooking ingredients, spices and herbs that will help you add more flavor to your Chinese recipes.
Tofu – tofu or bean curd is a popular ingredient you can find in many Chinese recipes especially those vegetarian recipes. This ingredient is of Chinese origin but it has become a popular recipe ingredient in Asian cooking. Tofu has little flavor or smell and you can drain it before use to let it absorb the flavors of the other ingredients and spices in the recipe. For some vegetarian diet, the tofu can also be a good substitute for meat as it can be a good source of protein and iron but low in calories and fat. It can also be digested easily as it is tender and soft.
Mushroom – mushroom is also one of the popular Chinese cooking ingredients that add taste to your recipes. These are not rare ingredients and you can readily find them in the supermarket but it can vary in price as some of them are still harvested from their natural environment. You can also get dried mushrooms as ingredients for your stew, soups as well as in your stir-fried recipes.
Dried fungus – Dried fungus is one of the dried ingredients that you may commonly find in Chinese dishes. These are best for stir-frying and are often used together with tofu, chicken, celery and onions. You may find them too small when you get to purchase them from the supermarket but they can expand after soaking them in about 15 minutes in hot water before cooking them with the rest of the ingredients.
Bok choy – is also another popular vegetable that you can find in Chinese cooking but they are popular around the world. You can often find this vegetable in stews, in soups as well as in stir-fried recipes.
The five-spice powder – this spice is a one of the popular Chinese cooking ingredients and often used as food seasoning that you can add to your dish like pepper. As the name suggests, the five-spice powder consists of five spices that commonly include the Szechuan peppercorn, start anise, fennel, cinnamon and cloves. Usually, this is used by in seasoning fatty meats but it is also widely used in vegetarian dishes.
Ginger is also another popular spice in Chinese cooking. In fact, it is one primary flavorings in Chinese food because of its aromatic and its pungent and biting taste. Sometimes it is also added in the five-spice powder instead of fennel. Ginger not only adds flavor to your dishes but also provides health benefits such as promoting good digestion as well as preventing motion sickness and nausea.
About The Author
Carolyn Anderson loves learning a lot of healthy cooking tips. To explore healthy Chinese cooking, check out the recipe book real Chinese cooking. Also check out Copycat Cookbook, a great guide to cook your favorite restaurant recipes.
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November 18th, 2009 | Uncategorized
By Brian Jones
Meatloaf is a popular American meat dish. In order to enjoy the best meatloaf recipe that is comparable to a Belgian, Dutch and German treat, a meatloaf is best served when baked or smoked. For home cooking, searching for the best meatloaf to enjoy at home is a challenge. Local restaurants sometimes even have their own recipe in making meatloaf which they often market as the best meatloaf in town.
Sometimes, people have the notion that a meatloaf is just a big and hard lump of pork meat that does not look appetizing and does not look healthy. In reality, a meatloaf can be served with lower fat, lower carbohydrates and there are healthier meatloaf recipes to enjoy such as turkey meatloaf which is grounded and wrapped in bacon. The usual meatloaf recipe has oatmeal which is always the favorite one.
Here”s a recipe that best presents the steps in making a meatloaf. The recipe also includes some significant ingredients to enhance the aroma and flavor to enjoy the best meatloaf recipe.
Ingredients Needed
The basic ingredients needed in making the best meatloaf recipe are the following:
Ground beef
Bread crumbs
Green bell peppers
Other ingredients needed to enhance the outcome of the meatloaf are the following:
Garlic powder
Chopped onions
One egg
Ketchup
Tomato Sauce
Worcestershire sauce
Brown Sugar
Dijon Mustard
Beef Stock
Balsamic Vinegar
Salt and pepper
Instructions to Make a Meatloaf
Use a clean bowl and put in the following ingredients: tomato sauce, ketchup, balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard and brown sugar.
Add in the beef stock and Worcestershire sauce. Mix and blend all the ingredients then let the mixture to settle for a few minutes.
Get another clean bowl then put in the following ingredients: ground beef, green bell pepper, onions, egg, bread crumbs, and garlic powder. Add the salt and pepper for seasoning. Mix and blend well.
Next thing to do is to combine the two mixtures and mix well.
Pre-heat the oven at 350 degrees. Get and clean a loaf pan. Sprinkle some oil in the loaf pan. Then, pour in the meatloaf mixture in the pan.
Put the loaf pan inside the oven and let it cook for less than an hour.
Take out the loaf pan and make another tomato sauce mixture. Pour in the tomato sauce mixture in the meatloaf and put in the meatloaf again in the oven. Wait for 15 to 20 minutes and then remove the meatloaf.
Immediately serve the meatloaf since it is more tasteful while still hot.
Remember that there are several ways to cook a meatloaf. A meatloaf can be baked in an oven and it can be cooked using a crock pot. A crock pot also makes the meatloaf a lot more delicious although it may take some more time to cook than an oven. However, to enjoy the best meatloaf recipe, it is worth the entire wait.
About The Author
Visit these sites if you want more information about best meatloaf recipe or how to roast a boneless pork loin in particular.
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November 17th, 2009 | Uncategorized
By John Schnieder
In the enormous world of barbecue sauce, there are so many styles and variations. Sweet, tangy, smoky, sour, and hot, all have their place, as they become the perfect marriage for the right cut of meat. Ingredients can be nearly anything, from fresh fruits to smoked bits of onion or garlic, different sugars or tropical juices are all seen in specific sauces. Using the right style for your needs will enhance your grilling experience, and make your cookout one to remember when it is all over with.
Sweet sauces are very common, along with tangy barbecue sauces that add a little kick to your meals without wandering into the realm of the hot sauces. A little cayenne pepper or jerk spice can turn a simple sauce into on that delivers that kick you want. A milder kick could be delivered from paprika or even conventional black pepper, or ginger too.
Smoky barbecue sauces are popular amongst the beef crowd. Texas is world famous for its beef, and without a question their mesquite sauces as well. Do not be fooled by imitations, everything is bigger in Texas, including tastes. Hickory smoked sauces often have a dark brown sugar or molasses base, which helps it stick well to the meats in a heavy glaze-like concoction that is absolutely awesome. You cannot go wrong with the smoky sauce when you are cooking a side of beef or just a few steaks.
Tropical fruits and juices are very common in barbecue sauces that are made for poultry or pork. A nice Hawaiian pineapple sauce that is either sweet or sour can do wonders for that ordinary piece of chicken. Mango, papaya, coconut, and cherry sauces have all found there way into the marketplace, and I”m sure there are several other varieties as well.
If your type of barbecue sauce has to burn, or create a little pain along with the pleasure, then you are definitely in the hot sauce group. Jalapenos are very popular in the southwest, or even the Habanero pepper for the more courageous. Jamaica stakes claim to the jerk spice, while many Asian style sauces will use ginger or various incredibly hot peppers as well. No matter what the style of sauce you are after, they all will have a hot version for your pain, or pleasure, which ever you prefer.
As you can see, styles of barbecue sauce are nearly unlimited, and you shouldn”t have much problem finding the right one for you. You may have to sample more than a few to find the perfect one, but the fun is in the experiment, and it just gives you more excuses to have more parties while you are trying out all kinds of sauces.
About The Author
The Sauce Works is a company in northern California that has created a reputation for having the best barbecue sauce in the world. Have you ever wondered what makes a good barbecue sauce? Well we have, and we went to work to make the worlds best barbecue sauce. You just simply have to give it a try. To order yours go to www.TheSauceWorks.com and enjoy.
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November 17th, 2009 | Uncategorized
By John Schnieder
Have you noticed lately when you go to the grocery store that the section for barbecue sauce is expanding? What used to be a market for only a few different brand names of virtually the same basic tomato based sauce is now a wide selection of sauces made by both big corporations like Kraft or Bulls Eye, to smaller companies who are only focused on their specialty sauces. From the Chicago based Sweet Baby Ray”s, to the North Carolina style Scott”s, they are all out there somewhere to be purchased. Some are nationally sold, others regionally, but with the ability to now purchase nearly anything via the Internet, you can even buy local sauces made in the Carolinas, Texas, or Kansas City. Don”t forget Memphis too.
Barbecue sauce has nearly surpassed all condiments in total sales, and increases as new products keep emerging. It seems once one brand adds a specific flavor, like a hot variety of sauce for example, then every other manufacturer follows suit. When a trend takes off within a specific market, it does not take long now in our automated world for the word to get out. Production seems to start instantly on new lines of products in all things, and barbecue sauce and its market is no different.
This up trend in the barbecue sauce industry has opened the door for any new upstarts to fight their way into the market. If you are a master griller who has come up with your own fantastic sauce recipe, it might be the time to begin bottling it and selling it. Another way to get your name out there is to enter some cooking contests with your sauce, and a few good showings or victories at these events will get your name out there as well. So don”t underestimate your culinary skills and don”t be afraid to put your sauce on the map.
More and more in every industry single individuals are making their products known to the world and selling them with success. The barbecue sauce industry is booming in this way, often through restaurant owners bottling and marketing their secret sauce to the public through their establishment as well as to local markets and on the Internet. Local sauces that were once unknown to the world are being presented to a much bigger market now with so many avenues of advertising available today.
About The Author
The Sauce Works is a company in northern California that has created a reputation for having the best barbecue sauce in the world. Have you ever wondered what makes a good barbecue sauce? Well we have, and we went to work to make the worlds best barbecue sauce. You just simply have to give it a try. To order yours go to www.TheSauceWorks.com and enjoy.
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