Types of Salt Used in Cooking

Robert Heist, a Chicago, Illinois-based attorney with nearly 30 years of experience, is owner and principal of R. Connor and Associates. Aside from his responsibilities as an attorney, Robert Heist has developed an appreciation for the culinary arts.

Experienced chefs agree salt is one of the most important ingredients in every dish. Salt plays a crucial role in heightening flavors, bringing life to a dish, and making food more appetizing.

There are several varieties of salt:

-Common table salt consists of very small, dense crystals that have been enhanced with iodine and anti-caking agents. Serious chefs don’t use it.

-Kosher salt, with its larger crystals, is best for everyday cooking. It is inexpensive and readily available. 

-Sea salt can be refined or unrefined. Unrefined varieties, such as fleur de sel or sel gris, are more expensive, but can add a finishing flourish to many dishes and desserts.

Chefs also can use cheese, pounded anchovies, olives, capers, bacon, and other items to increase the salt content and flavor of their dishes.

Building a Fast and Powerful Tennis Serve

Illinois attorney Robert Heist, when not working with R. Connor & Associates in Chicago, enjoys golfing and tennis in his spare time. Tennis players like attorney Robert Heist need to have a solid understanding of how to serve in order to perform well, and a major component is serve speed.

While more than sheer speed goes into a good serve, great servers are chiefly evaluated on speed, as it renders balls much more difficult to return. Some of the speed of a serve comes from raw arm strength, but those who already have reasonable arm muscles should look to their technique to improve overall speed.

For a fast, flat serve, a player should toss the ball forward and slightly toward the dominant hand. Tosses should be at a height high enough to allow for full extension, but not high enough to stall the motion.

A good serve also requires extensive coiling of the trunk and shoulders. Players who are flexible enough to show their backs to the opponent during a coil should aim for this, but more generally, a serve should coil the body as much as possible. This engages more muscle groups and provides greater leverage, leading to a more powerful serve.

Preparations to Consider for Summer Sailing

Attorney Robert Heist studied criminal justice at the University of Illinois prior to receiving his JD from the John Marshall Law School in Chicago. He then continued on to complete his MBA at the Lake Forest Graduate School of Management as well as various corporate director programs at the Harvard Business School. In 2001 he founded the business law firm R. Conner & Associates, which he continues to oversee. Although Robert Heist is admitted to serve as an attorney before multiple Illinois courts as well as the Supreme Court of the United States, he still finds time to enjoy sailing.

Because sailing is a fairly complicated endeavor, up-to-date skills can make the difference between an enjoyable afternoon sail, and a frustrating one. A review of your current skills to be sure you are prepared may include the following:

1. Review steering with the sails. The unintended loss of your rudder can make the ability to steer your boat with the sails invaluable.

2. Practice setting a reaching, or outboard, lead. The jib sheet may lead you to a situation in which a reaching lead becomes necessary.

3. Practice hooking up to a mooring and also setting anchor, as free moorings may not always be reliable.

4. Review trimming sail to be sure you are comfortable slowing down when the wind comes up. Familiarize yourself with the tools at hand for sail trim.

5. Practice putting in a reef. It will make for a more comfortable experience for your onboard guests.

6. Review and practice how to furl your headsail, an important skill in keeping your boat upright.

7. Set up the whisker pole on a trial run before setting sail. It can be difficult, and so is more easily accomplished if practiced.