Have you heard of the latest in a long line of countertop appliances? It is an air fryer nowadays! We have stoves, pots and pans, oven, microwave oven, oven toaster, deep fryer, and stovetop barbecue grill. Apparently, it is not enough. An air fryer is now a staple in most households. In our household, when something is broken, it gets fixed. We call an appliance repair specialist as soon as possible. Repair instead of immediately buying a replacement. But these days, we tend to add a new invention especially when almost everyone has and talks about it.

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So, what is an air fryer, anyway?

It is a countertop convection oven simulating deep frying without the need for cooking oil. A fan circulates hot air in high speed thereby cooking what is inside it. It is a “healthier” way of eating fried food because the food was not submerged in oil. That made most people get on board, especially the health buffs and those who are on a diet. Fried food is great! Who does not want a fried chicken? Or a fried porkchop with lots of gravy on it?

But, the question is, is it worth it? I mean, there is a real convection oven. There is also an oven toaster. Our office pantry has an air fryer so I went ahead and tested it. I bought a kilo of marinated pork belly which I normally cook in a deep fryer to make the pork skin and fatty meat crispy. First, the container basket is small. It can only fit at the very least three to four slices of pork belly, cut in two inches long and slightly more than an inch wide. It was a tight fit in it but I was able to make it work. Cooking time took about ten minutes, pausing in between to check if both sides were being fried properly. It was. The result? Tender, juicy pork belly slices. The pork skin was not crispy but tender, the same with the fatty parts of the pork. It was okay but I would have preferred for the skin to be crispy. It is healthy, though, so I forgave that result of the air fryer test.

I tested it again this time with baby back ribs. It was unsuccessful. The ribs became dry, the air fryer sucking out the juices from it. My sister cooked half of the baby back ribs using a slow cooker and it was a success! Juicy, fall-off-the-bones delicious!

Is it really worth adding to the number of countertop appliances at home? If you are into fried food, then, yes. Healthier way of frying, sure. If you already have an oven at home, I suggest not to buy an air fryer anymore. An oven will be so much better. Bigger, too. If you don’t have one, then go ahead and get one.

As for me, I think I’d stick with the big oven, our deep fryer, and the slow cooker.

Moroccan Berber Rugs and Beni Ourain Rug

Moroccan Berber rugs trace back to many years ago. The wealthy class of people used these rugs; some were often used for prayer. The rugs were made by hand from sheep wool, and one could give specifications on how they needed their rug according to the purpose for which it was to be used.

Women made Moroccan Berber rugs since the 7th Century. The women were supposed to weave the rugs in their homes close to their children. The Beni Ourain rug was made from a breed of Ourain Sheep.

The name Beni Ourain came from the Atlas Mountains in Taza. The rugs are woven in an ‘X’ shape to symbolize peace. The designs are mind-based. Some of the designs were; Ancient Berber Alphabets, geometric patterns, and talisman symbols.

It was believed the rugs could chase evil spirits away. Besides, the Beni Ourain rug designs were sometimes linked with some events such as fertility and birth. The Moroccan Berber Rugs were initially made to act as blankets. The wool woven into it helped in warmth retention.

Natural dyes were used in the decoration of the rugs. The shades included; almond leaves, Iron sulfate, henna, and cochineal. This was up to the 20th Century.

The Moroccan Berber rugs are woven in no particular order to follow hence the uniqueness in its production. The Beni Ourain rug had a neutral design that can fit into the modern world of architecture and design.

The rugs helped with warmth in the cold areas of the Atlas Mountains. In the Sahara, light rugs were made to consider the hot temperatures.

With the help of designers such as Le Corbusier and Frank Lloyd Wright, Moroccan Berber Rug became well known and used today. The Beni Ourain rugs were produced in small numbers hence a bit difficult to get.

The Moroccan Berber Rug are less costly, making them more preferred to other designs. Owing to their low-cost manufacturing process, these rugs are not as expensive. The raw materials used are also easily affordable, transiting this advantage to the final product’s cost.

The rugs are easy to clean. This is with the help of the loop like manufacture. The rugs are also quite durable.

The Beni Ourain rug is beautiful. They are appealing to the eye and give a home a good and attractive look. Their fabulous patterns are eye candy. Also, rugs are suitable for both the cold and warm season. This makes them flexible. Moroccan Berber rugs are easily accessible around the globe.

Due to the use of wool in the Beni Ourain rug, the rug has a shaggy look, which makes it very useful in winter. It is these outstanding features that makes these rugs famous and unique. Visit City Cows London for more information.