French Taylor

French Taylor - Making BBQ Sauce

French Taylor enjoys cooking bbq because it is a style of food that has its own varieties spread out all across the southern United States. One of the biggest distinctions between each bbq region is their choice of sauce, and it usually comes down to determining a balance between sweet and tangy. On this scale is a wide variety of ways in which you can manage that balance, and create something that is uniquely your own. Here are a few stops to making sauces from the polar end of these scales.

Sweet Sauces

Sweet bbq sauces are used in areas such as Memphis, Kansas City and Texas, where a thick sauce is basted onto ribs, brisket and more. These sauces are usually based with molasses, jelly and other thick and syrupy substances, then blended with spices to bring out the bbq flavor.

Tangy Sauces

Tangy sauces are usually found in bbq restaurants in the Carolinas and surrounding areas. These sauces are even more simply made. By using vinegar as the base, cayenne pepper, garlic and other flavor are added to make your pulled pork sandwich extra savory.

French Taylor enjoys making different bbq dishes and trying out different ways to make the sauce.

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French Taylor - Creole Specialties

French Taylor has always loved to cook; and he especially enjoys making dishes that reflect the culinary styles which he grew up around. Having grown up in the southern United States, this means bbq is high on the list, but so is Creole. Mostly known for its prominence in New Orleans, Creole is a style of food that mixes Cajun and French flavors. The foods featured in this style of cooking are mostly savory and served warm, such as the staple recipes below.

Etouffee

Etouffee is a bed of rice smothered in a soupy cream broth that usually contains shellfish such as shrimp or crawfish. It is a specialty in southern Louisiana and is offered in many local restaurants.

Gumbo

This savory stew contains shellfish, sausage, rice and some mixed vegetables. It is often slightly spicy and with a broth of medium thickness.

Jambalaya

Another creation that has similarities to gumbo, but with a much more French influence, is jambalaya. One of the main differences is that jambalaya is not a stew but is more rice-based instead. It has often been compared to Spanish paella, with its combination of rice, chicken, sausage and seafood.

French Taylor loves to cook Creole and entertain his family and friends with his culinary skills.

French Taylor - Fundamentals of Playing Baseball

One of French Taylor’s favorite sports is baseball. Baseball is one of the oldest and most popular team sports on the planet, and is also known as “America’s Favorite Pastime”. Many baseball players around the world start at an early age, as little league options tend to be available in many areas. For those who are just getting started at the sport, Taylor has some basic fundamental tips for you below.

Keep Your Eye on the Ball

No matter what position you are playing in baseball, keeping your eye on the ball is essential. Through watching the ball get thrown and hit hundreds of times, you will start to get better at gauging the distance and direction a ball is traveling, which will help you make calculated decisions on the baseball diamond.

Learn How to Use the Glove to Your Advantage

Wearing a baseball glove is much like having a bigger hand with more padding. It enables you to be less scared of the speed of the ball, and also gives you more confidence in your catching. There are other ways you can use the glove to your advantage, though; such as scooping the ball when it is rolling on the ground for a quicker pick up.

French Taylor has lots of advice to those wanting to learn the game of baseball, however these two simple steps are an easy way to get the basic fundamentals down so that you can go out, play, and develop your skills over time.

French Taylor - Learning to Play an Instrument

As CPA French Taylor knows, learning to play a new instrument is a challenging yet rewarding endeavor that you can embrace without causing any disruption to your everyday life. There are numerous reasons why you should want to learn a new instrument, and some of these reasons are described below.

Gaining New Functions

What makes learning an instrument such an enriching experience is the ability to learn new things that your mind and body can do. Different types of instruments groups such as strings and percussion rely on different muscle groups, which you will have to train through repetition and mastering the proper bodily movements. This is a challenge for the body, which will develop those muscles; and the mind, which will learn to navigate those muscles in a rhythmic fashion.

Independence

While playing music with other people is also a very enriching experience of its own, many musicians prefer to play solo because of time restrictions or artistic directions. By learning more instruments, you can make yourself a one-man band, and compose your own songs from scratch.

As a guitar player and baritone singer, French Taylor can appreciate the benefits that learning a new instrument brings to your life. He encourages anyone thinking of playing music to give it a try, and to be patient because not all masters are made overnight.