Barbecue Basics for all
by: Laura Kjer
Since the Stone Age, man has been perfecting the art of cooking using a direct flame. If you were to ask someone about the history of barbecue, you would most likely get a response similar to the statement above.
However that would not be quite right as there is a fundamental difference between simply cooking with a flame and having a barbecue. If you don't add some sauce, to the direct flame method, you are grilling, not having a barbecue.
To truly barbecue is to baste and slow cook meat 5 or 6 hours at a low temperature (around 200 degrees), over wood or charcoal. Today when you think of going to a barbecue, you may conjure up the idea of a hamburger or steak, so big and juicy, it melts in your mouth.
Alternatively, perhaps a hot dog grilled to perfection with all the toppings. The phrase barbecue has evolved to mean either the meat served or the social event where the meat served has been specially prepared to represent a barbecue taste.
Regardless of which area of the US you choose as your favorite for barbecue, the barbecue is an American Tradition, handed down from generation to generation. There's no chance the barbecue party will lose it's appeal anytime soon.
While there's no question that the barbecue is an American delicacy, there are many different theories as to where its origins lie. The state of Texas, Virginia, the Carolinas, or Georgia, each area has it's own definition and history of barbecue.
It may well be that each area has it's own rightful claim to the barbecue history as each uses different methods and sauces to make their own unique barbecue. And there would be no BBQ without a Texas barbecue sauce, which is thick and sweet with a rich tomato flavour. Texas sauce also uses a dry-rub mixture of seasonings which is applied to the beef and then the meat is hung over the BBQ to slow cook.
The southeast barbecue sauce, is a thinner sauce, with more of a vinegary taste. Their meat of choice is likely to be pork. The method used here is to`use a pit or enclosure to concentrate the cooking heat and smoke around the meat whilst it is being prepared.
Almost every family has their own unique taste and method used to get just the right barbecue. At your next barbecue, if you want to rev up the conversation between barbecue connoisseurs, just casually ask, Do you know the difference between barbecue and grilling?
Or, where did the barbecue originate? Of course, it may depend upon the number of drinks you have served as to the answers you get. But the responses are sure to be varied and interesting.
About the author:Laura Kjer is the webmaster of Shop Barbecue which is a premier source of information about Barbecue. For more information, go to: http://shopbarbecue.com
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Converting a Recipe for your CrockPot
Converting a Recipe for your CrockPot
by: tony buel
Crockpots vary but the low setting is typically around 100 degrees and its high setting is around 300 degrees. Knowing this, it is fairly easy to convert most recipes for use in your slow cooker. Some adjusments to cooking times will be a judgement call on your part, but some simple guidelines should help.
Just follow a few simple rules and you're on your way. You should decrease the liquid since it does not boil away in a crockpot. Add cheeses and other milk product towards the end of your cooking since they tend to break down if they are cooked for too long. Brown any ground beef before adding to the crockpot.
It will taste better and have better texture this way. Add rice and noodles at the end of your cooking as well. They will turn mushy if they are cooked too long. You can cook these separately and then combine them when it's time to serve.
Add your spices at the end. If a stovetop recipe calls for 15-30 minutes, the crockpot should cook it for 1 1/2 - 2 1/2 hrs at a high temperature and 4 - 8 hours at its low temperature setting.
If a stovetop recipe calls for 35-45 minutes, the crockpot should cook it for 3-4 hrs at a high temperature setting and 6 - 10 hours at its low temperature setting. If a stovetop recipe calls for 50 min to 3 hours, the crockpot should cook it for 4 - 6 hrs at a high temperature setting and 8 - 16 hours at its low temperature setting.
Following these guidelines will allow you to be able to convert a stovetop recipe to its delicious slow cooking counterpart!
Tony http://www.my-crockpot-recipes.com
About the author:Tony has been working diligently to provide free cooking related resources for the chef in all of us. His website www.my-crockpot-recipes.comis a labor of love which provides delicious and easy to make crockpot recipes and related tips and advice. www.my-crockpot-recipes.com
by: tony buel
Crockpots vary but the low setting is typically around 100 degrees and its high setting is around 300 degrees. Knowing this, it is fairly easy to convert most recipes for use in your slow cooker. Some adjusments to cooking times will be a judgement call on your part, but some simple guidelines should help.
Just follow a few simple rules and you're on your way. You should decrease the liquid since it does not boil away in a crockpot. Add cheeses and other milk product towards the end of your cooking since they tend to break down if they are cooked for too long. Brown any ground beef before adding to the crockpot.
It will taste better and have better texture this way. Add rice and noodles at the end of your cooking as well. They will turn mushy if they are cooked too long. You can cook these separately and then combine them when it's time to serve.
Add your spices at the end. If a stovetop recipe calls for 15-30 minutes, the crockpot should cook it for 1 1/2 - 2 1/2 hrs at a high temperature and 4 - 8 hours at its low temperature setting.
If a stovetop recipe calls for 35-45 minutes, the crockpot should cook it for 3-4 hrs at a high temperature setting and 6 - 10 hours at its low temperature setting. If a stovetop recipe calls for 50 min to 3 hours, the crockpot should cook it for 4 - 6 hrs at a high temperature setting and 8 - 16 hours at its low temperature setting.
Following these guidelines will allow you to be able to convert a stovetop recipe to its delicious slow cooking counterpart!
Tony http://www.my-crockpot-recipes.com
About the author:Tony has been working diligently to provide free cooking related resources for the chef in all of us. His website www.my-crockpot-recipes.comis a labor of love which provides delicious and easy to make crockpot recipes and related tips and advice. www.my-crockpot-recipes.com
Pesticides, Can we avoid them?
Pesticides, Can we avoid them?
by: anna maria volpi
Why, unfortunately, just washing vegetables is not enough to ensure produce clean enough for consumption We all ingest lots of chemicals, one way or another. We breathe them, we drink them, and we eat them.
The most troublesome are pesticides in produce. It makes me uncomfortable to think that while we are eating fruits and vegetables in reality we are also ingesting poisons that can accumulate in our bodies and make us very sick.
This is food that supposes to be healthy and good for us! Even if the most toxic chemicals have already been banned for use in agriculture, pesticides in general are poisons designed to kill insects, weed, small rodents and other pests.
The long time effects of these poisons on people are not completely known. Even the minimal risk with these pollutants is too much, when we think we may expose children. We should try to do every effort to minimize our intake of these adverse chemicals.
Education is the key. Knowing which produce contain more pollutants can help us make the right choices, avoiding the most contaminated fruits and vegetables and eating the least polluted, or buy organic instead.
In simulation of consumers eating habits has been demonstrated that changing a little bit the eating practices can lower considerably the ingestion of pesticides. The results of an investigation on pesticides in produce by the USDA Pesticide Data Program, show that fruits topped the list of the consistently most contaminated produce, with eight of the 12 most polluted foods.
The dirty dozen are: Apples, Bell Peppers, Celery, Cherries, Imported Grapes, Nectarines, Peaches, Pears, Potatoes, Red Raspberries, Spinach, and Strawberries.
You don’t like broccoli? Too bad because they are among those least contaminated. In fact the 12 least polluted produce are: Asparagus, Avocados, Bananas, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Sweet Corn, Kiwi, Mangos, Onions, Papaya, Pineapples, and Sweet Peas. Can washing of produce help get rid of pesticides? Not really.
The fruits and vegetables tested by the USDA PDP are “prepared emulating the practices of the average consumer” before testing for pesticides.
That is: “(1) apples are washed with stems and cores removed; (2) asparagus and spinach have inedible portions removed and are washed; (3) cantaloupes are cut in half and seed and rinds are removed; […] and (9) tomatoes are washed and stems removed”.
Washing before consuming is highly recommended because helps decrease the pesticide residues present on the surface of the vegetables, but the majorities of pollutants are absorbed into the plant and can’t be just washed away.
Some pesticides are specifically created to stick to the surface of the crops and they don’t come out by washing. Peeling can help eliminating some of the chemicals but not all, and a lot of important substances will be discarded with the skin.
So, on one hand we have to eat plenty of fruit and vegetables for a healthy diet, and on the other hand we have to reduce as much a possible the intake of pesticides.
What to do if you are unconvinced by the claims of the chemical companies that certain levels of pesticides are not dangerous? We have very few options to defend ourselves: (1) Wash all vegetables and fruit very well; (2) Change eating habits in order to consume more of the produce with low pollutants; (3) Consume a diet as varied as possible; (4) Buy organic foods.
Anna Maria Volpi
About the author:© 2005 www.annamariavolpi.com
Anna Maria Volpi is a cooking instructor and personal chef in Los Angeles. Visit Anna Maria’s website http://www.annamariavolpi.com/for step-by-step illustrated traditional Italian recipes for tiramisu, pasta, pizza, lasagna, risotto, gnocchi and much more, articles and food newsletter. Permission is granted for this article to reprint, distribute, use for ezine, newsletter, website, as long as no changes are made and the copyright, resource box, and active link to her website are included. Please inform Anna Maria if you use of this article: anna@annamariavolpi.com
by: anna maria volpi
Why, unfortunately, just washing vegetables is not enough to ensure produce clean enough for consumption We all ingest lots of chemicals, one way or another. We breathe them, we drink them, and we eat them.
The most troublesome are pesticides in produce. It makes me uncomfortable to think that while we are eating fruits and vegetables in reality we are also ingesting poisons that can accumulate in our bodies and make us very sick.
This is food that supposes to be healthy and good for us! Even if the most toxic chemicals have already been banned for use in agriculture, pesticides in general are poisons designed to kill insects, weed, small rodents and other pests.
The long time effects of these poisons on people are not completely known. Even the minimal risk with these pollutants is too much, when we think we may expose children. We should try to do every effort to minimize our intake of these adverse chemicals.
Education is the key. Knowing which produce contain more pollutants can help us make the right choices, avoiding the most contaminated fruits and vegetables and eating the least polluted, or buy organic instead.
In simulation of consumers eating habits has been demonstrated that changing a little bit the eating practices can lower considerably the ingestion of pesticides. The results of an investigation on pesticides in produce by the USDA Pesticide Data Program, show that fruits topped the list of the consistently most contaminated produce, with eight of the 12 most polluted foods.
The dirty dozen are: Apples, Bell Peppers, Celery, Cherries, Imported Grapes, Nectarines, Peaches, Pears, Potatoes, Red Raspberries, Spinach, and Strawberries.
You don’t like broccoli? Too bad because they are among those least contaminated. In fact the 12 least polluted produce are: Asparagus, Avocados, Bananas, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Sweet Corn, Kiwi, Mangos, Onions, Papaya, Pineapples, and Sweet Peas. Can washing of produce help get rid of pesticides? Not really.
The fruits and vegetables tested by the USDA PDP are “prepared emulating the practices of the average consumer” before testing for pesticides.
That is: “(1) apples are washed with stems and cores removed; (2) asparagus and spinach have inedible portions removed and are washed; (3) cantaloupes are cut in half and seed and rinds are removed; […] and (9) tomatoes are washed and stems removed”.
Washing before consuming is highly recommended because helps decrease the pesticide residues present on the surface of the vegetables, but the majorities of pollutants are absorbed into the plant and can’t be just washed away.
Some pesticides are specifically created to stick to the surface of the crops and they don’t come out by washing. Peeling can help eliminating some of the chemicals but not all, and a lot of important substances will be discarded with the skin.
So, on one hand we have to eat plenty of fruit and vegetables for a healthy diet, and on the other hand we have to reduce as much a possible the intake of pesticides.
What to do if you are unconvinced by the claims of the chemical companies that certain levels of pesticides are not dangerous? We have very few options to defend ourselves: (1) Wash all vegetables and fruit very well; (2) Change eating habits in order to consume more of the produce with low pollutants; (3) Consume a diet as varied as possible; (4) Buy organic foods.
Anna Maria Volpi
About the author:© 2005 www.annamariavolpi.com
Anna Maria Volpi is a cooking instructor and personal chef in Los Angeles. Visit Anna Maria’s website http://www.annamariavolpi.com/for step-by-step illustrated traditional Italian recipes for tiramisu, pasta, pizza, lasagna, risotto, gnocchi and much more, articles and food newsletter. Permission is granted for this article to reprint, distribute, use for ezine, newsletter, website, as long as no changes are made and the copyright, resource box, and active link to her website are included. Please inform Anna Maria if you use of this article: anna@annamariavolpi.com
Crockpot Cooking
Crockpot Cooking - Advantages and Disadvantages
by: tony buel
In my 'un-biased' opinion, the crockpot / slow cooker is one of the most convenient and easy to use appliances in my kitchen. The time savings features of the slow cooker and the delicious dinners that have resulted more than offset any minor drawbacks.
Before I list my top reasons why the crockpot is the most useful appliance in any kitchen, I will list a few of the areas where it does not perform as well.
- Large cuts of meat such as boneless prime rib or leg of lamb are still best when oven roasted. - Except for stews and chowders, the slow cooker does not cook fish very well.
- The slow cooker collects a lot of the juices since the steam does not escape during cooking and these juices can become diluted and watery, which can affect the flavoring of the food.
- If not careful, a slow cooker can overcook food -especially some of the more tender meats and poultry. These drawbacks are relatively minor compared to the positives which I will list now.
- The slow cooker needs virtually no tending while it cooks, freeing you up to do other chores or recipes.
- The slow cooker will tenderize less expensive, tough cuts of meat and make great stews out of them.
- The slow cooker allows you to be out of the kitchen for extended periods of time
-sometimes even all day.
- Burning your food is rarely a problem. The slow cooker will make many dishes for you better than any other appliance
-especially those that tend to stick to the bottom of a pan. In my opinion the slow cooker is one of the most under-utilized and yet superior of kitchen appliances.
When used for what it does best, you will find that you are able to prepare great dishes in less time than you thought possible!
About the author:Tony has been working diligently to provide free cooking related resources for the chef in all of us. His website www.my-crockpot-recipes.comis a labor of love which provides delicious and easy to make crockpot recipes and related tips and advice.
by: tony buel
In my 'un-biased' opinion, the crockpot / slow cooker is one of the most convenient and easy to use appliances in my kitchen. The time savings features of the slow cooker and the delicious dinners that have resulted more than offset any minor drawbacks.
Before I list my top reasons why the crockpot is the most useful appliance in any kitchen, I will list a few of the areas where it does not perform as well.
- Large cuts of meat such as boneless prime rib or leg of lamb are still best when oven roasted. - Except for stews and chowders, the slow cooker does not cook fish very well.
- The slow cooker collects a lot of the juices since the steam does not escape during cooking and these juices can become diluted and watery, which can affect the flavoring of the food.
- If not careful, a slow cooker can overcook food -especially some of the more tender meats and poultry. These drawbacks are relatively minor compared to the positives which I will list now.
- The slow cooker needs virtually no tending while it cooks, freeing you up to do other chores or recipes.
- The slow cooker will tenderize less expensive, tough cuts of meat and make great stews out of them.
- The slow cooker allows you to be out of the kitchen for extended periods of time
-sometimes even all day.
- Burning your food is rarely a problem. The slow cooker will make many dishes for you better than any other appliance
-especially those that tend to stick to the bottom of a pan. In my opinion the slow cooker is one of the most under-utilized and yet superior of kitchen appliances.
When used for what it does best, you will find that you are able to prepare great dishes in less time than you thought possible!
About the author:Tony has been working diligently to provide free cooking related resources for the chef in all of us. His website www.my-crockpot-recipes.comis a labor of love which provides delicious and easy to make crockpot recipes and related tips and advice.
Use spices to cook like a connoisseur
USE SPICES TO COOK LIKE A CONNOISSEUR ON A PAUPERS BUDGET!
by: Beth Scott
Don’t have the money to make delectable dishes? Or just don’t know the secrets of flavoring with spices and herbs, and making food stretch? The former is never right no matter what your income is.
If you have the money to buy enough food to at least feed your family then you have enough money to make whatever you feed them enjoyable, even if it’s a vegetable dish. Yes, with the right spices or herbs, and recipes, the children in your family will come to love vegetables.
My family has several favorite veggie dishes, that our kids like so much they want seconds. And the main secret to them are the different spices we use. These dishes range from ratatouille, eggplant parmigiani, to stewed tomatoes and stuffed zucchini (for info on these or other recipes feel free to email me at sweetstuff245@hotmail.com).
Just as they do with vegetables; spices, herbs, and sweeteners are the secrets to making all foods delicious. These three food miracle workers can be relatively inexpensive if you know where to look.
In most health food stores (and in select supermarkets in growing numbers) there is a wondrous invention called a BULK section. I’m sure everyone knows what this is, but in case you don’t I’ll explain: It’s a section of a store that has all types of different flours, beans, cereals, spices, herbs, and much more.
Each of which are in separate containers or large plastic buckets with a scoop, that allows you to buy as much or as little as you want of what ever spices or other food they carry. The store provides you with bags and twist ties, for your convenience.
Spices are an excellent example of how cheap it can be to shop in bulk. Most small jars of spices or herbs like basil, oregano, thyme, etc... cost any where from two dollars a bottle to four ninety nine (which is technically five dollars a bottle).
In a bulk section you can buy these same spices, getting twice as much (or more) for less than a dollar or a little over. Talk about savings! Herbs and all kinds of spices are much cheaper bought this way than paying the extravagant prices you are charged for a pre packaged bottle of the same spices.
Flour and other cooking and baking necessities are also much cheaper if bought in a bulk section Note: buying in a bulk section does not mean you have to buy a lot of everything!
You could buy only one cup of flour in a bulk section if you wanted to or one tablespoon of any spices or herbs. Ideally you should shop around at whatever different stores in your area have bulk sections, and compare prices to make sure you’re getting the cheapest price.
Bring a calculator to the store and be prepared to do a little brain work to figure it out. Another money saving trick is to substitute ground turkey for ground beef in recipes. Here you might prefer the taste of beef but in terms of the money you save it will certainly taste heavenly to your budget.
You can spice up bland omelets, scrambled eggs, soups, meat patties and more with the correct spices, and herbs.
Here is a recipe for deliciously spicy eggs, that won’t dent your wallet:
For scrambled eggs try using 1/4 teaspoon thyme and pepper, and 1/2 teaspoon salt and oregano, and 3 eggs.
Mix the eggs, spices, and herbs together in a bowl. Heat a frying pan on medium heat until very hot, then add your oil (preferably olive oil or coconut oil) to the pan.
Wait a few seconds until the oil starts to smoke, then pour the eggs from your bowl into the pan. Have a fork in your hand ready to scramble the eggs with, because they’ll start cooking instantly. Scramble the eggs for 30 seconds to a minute.
Then use a spatula to scoop them out onto a plate. Do yourself a favor and follow these tips to start saving money today.
About the author:For more of Beth’s insightful cooking expertise visit: http://breadmaking.apt-products.comFor more amazing recipes go to http://snipurl.com/90j8
by: Beth Scott
Don’t have the money to make delectable dishes? Or just don’t know the secrets of flavoring with spices and herbs, and making food stretch? The former is never right no matter what your income is.
If you have the money to buy enough food to at least feed your family then you have enough money to make whatever you feed them enjoyable, even if it’s a vegetable dish. Yes, with the right spices or herbs, and recipes, the children in your family will come to love vegetables.
My family has several favorite veggie dishes, that our kids like so much they want seconds. And the main secret to them are the different spices we use. These dishes range from ratatouille, eggplant parmigiani, to stewed tomatoes and stuffed zucchini (for info on these or other recipes feel free to email me at sweetstuff245@hotmail.com).
Just as they do with vegetables; spices, herbs, and sweeteners are the secrets to making all foods delicious. These three food miracle workers can be relatively inexpensive if you know where to look.
In most health food stores (and in select supermarkets in growing numbers) there is a wondrous invention called a BULK section. I’m sure everyone knows what this is, but in case you don’t I’ll explain: It’s a section of a store that has all types of different flours, beans, cereals, spices, herbs, and much more.
Each of which are in separate containers or large plastic buckets with a scoop, that allows you to buy as much or as little as you want of what ever spices or other food they carry. The store provides you with bags and twist ties, for your convenience.
Spices are an excellent example of how cheap it can be to shop in bulk. Most small jars of spices or herbs like basil, oregano, thyme, etc... cost any where from two dollars a bottle to four ninety nine (which is technically five dollars a bottle).
In a bulk section you can buy these same spices, getting twice as much (or more) for less than a dollar or a little over. Talk about savings! Herbs and all kinds of spices are much cheaper bought this way than paying the extravagant prices you are charged for a pre packaged bottle of the same spices.
Flour and other cooking and baking necessities are also much cheaper if bought in a bulk section Note: buying in a bulk section does not mean you have to buy a lot of everything!
You could buy only one cup of flour in a bulk section if you wanted to or one tablespoon of any spices or herbs. Ideally you should shop around at whatever different stores in your area have bulk sections, and compare prices to make sure you’re getting the cheapest price.
Bring a calculator to the store and be prepared to do a little brain work to figure it out. Another money saving trick is to substitute ground turkey for ground beef in recipes. Here you might prefer the taste of beef but in terms of the money you save it will certainly taste heavenly to your budget.
You can spice up bland omelets, scrambled eggs, soups, meat patties and more with the correct spices, and herbs.
Here is a recipe for deliciously spicy eggs, that won’t dent your wallet:
For scrambled eggs try using 1/4 teaspoon thyme and pepper, and 1/2 teaspoon salt and oregano, and 3 eggs.
Mix the eggs, spices, and herbs together in a bowl. Heat a frying pan on medium heat until very hot, then add your oil (preferably olive oil or coconut oil) to the pan.
Wait a few seconds until the oil starts to smoke, then pour the eggs from your bowl into the pan. Have a fork in your hand ready to scramble the eggs with, because they’ll start cooking instantly. Scramble the eggs for 30 seconds to a minute.
Then use a spatula to scoop them out onto a plate. Do yourself a favor and follow these tips to start saving money today.
About the author:For more of Beth’s insightful cooking expertise visit: http://breadmaking.apt-products.comFor more amazing recipes go to http://snipurl.com/90j8
Create A Romantic Evening At Home
Create A Romantic Evening At Home
by: Marguerite Bonneville
You've decided to invite someone you're dating to your home for a romantic evening and you want everything to go well. Here are a few tips to help you achieve that result. There are a number of factors you need to consider when planning your romantic evening:
1. Your Physical Surroundings
It's a good idea to make sure your house or apartment is clean and tidy. It may not be anyone's primary focus but it will make an impression on your guest, even if it's subliminal.
Spend a few hours doing the cleaning yourself, hire someone to do it for you, or, at the very least, shove all that clutter into your closets or under the bed. Wipe down surfaces to get rid of dust and stains.
Apart from the living and dining areas, there are two other rooms that need your attention:
a. The bathroom Wipe down the sink/washbasin, tub and shower stall. Put a fresh cake of soap on the sink and hang fresh towels. At the very least your guest will use the bathroom to wash his or her hands so make sure it's a pleasant experience.
b. The bedroom Get rid of any extraneous clutter like clothes strewn around the room or on the floor. Change the sheets, make the bed and wipe down any surfaces. If your guest ends up spending the night, you don't want him or her racing off for a tetanus shot in the morning.
To create a romantic atmosphere in your bedroom, have some scented candles on hand and an easy-to-reach sound system. You might also consider buying a quilt cover in a rich, romantic color and a set of sheets to match.
2. Your Choice Of Menu While food can be an excellent means of seduction, it's a mistake to choose too complicated a menu unless you're an experienced cook and you don't get easily flustered. Simple dishes like spaghetti or ratatouille make a tasty and satisfying meal without spiking your anxiety levels.
The point is to enjoy the evening along with your guest, not treat the event like it's a university-entrance exam. How To Avoid Psycho-Chef Syndrome One trick is to prepare as much of the meal as possible beforehand so you're not rushing around like a pinball once your guest arrives. Have all the ingredients chopped, diced and ready for cooking.
Do this the night before or earlier that day, whatever works best for you. Salad ingredients can be prepared earlier and stored in separate containers, then added to the salad bowl and dressed before serving. You can even cheat by purchasing your meal from a favorite restaurant and having it delivered (or picking it up) before your guest arrives.
Definitely buy desert from your favorite bakery or supermarket, unless you're a wiz at whipping up a Pavlova or meringue. Another option is to prepare dessert the night before and reheat it if necessary when you're ready to serve it.
3. Your Cooking Area Make sure your kitchen is clean before you begin cooking. Yes, you'll no doubt make a mess once you start but you don't want yesterday's dishes in the way. Your guest may offer to help so the kitchen needs to meet minimum health standards.
It's up to you whether you accept this help or not, but we recommend that you do, even if it's only a token effort like tossing the salad.
Sharing cooking tasks can be a wonderfully romantic interaction as it creates a special kind of intimacy. Have you ever noticed how much more easily conversation flows when two people are doing a task, as opposed to sitting face to face?
4. Setting The Table Set the table beforehand. Use a good tablecloth, your best silverware and a nice set of plates. Use your best glasses and an attractive salt and pepper set, milk jug and sugar bowl. Show your guest that you went to some trouble to make the meal a special occasion. This is not the time for melamine dishes or chipped or mismatched crockery.
You're aiming for a touch of class. Use candlesticks on the table for a romantic ambience, or place candles on other surfaces around the room. Background music is a must but make sure it's romantic and subtle. Limit blaring rock and roll or rap to the period when you're preparing dinner, but please, no high-octane music while you're eating.
Set the sound at a low volume so it doesn't interfere with your conversation. And remember, if you don't play music during the meal you run the risk of filling any silences with the sound of people masticating.
5. Cleaning Up Later Don't let your guest anywhere near the kitchen after the meal is over. Hopefully you'll have better things to do with your time together. But all is not lost if they do insist on helping with the chores.
Many a couple has fallen in love while doing the dishes, for two main reasons:
1. As mentioned earlier, there's the ease of conversation that takes place when you're doing a task rather than concentrating on talking.
2. Doing dishes together is like playing house. It can actually feel very romantic, especially when one or both people realize, "This is what I want with this person." You won't get the same effect if you use a dishwasher, so set aside at least a couple of pots, which will you allow to suggest, "I'll wash and you dry." With a little forethought, anyone can create a romantic evening at home.
The old cliché, "the way to a person's heart is through their stomach", has more than a little truth to it. Test it yourself with someone you care about. The least you'll get is a great home-cooked meal.
About the author:Marguerite Bonneville is a Master Practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) whose passion is publishing information online. She is a contributing writer at http://www.favorite-recipes-online.com,a resource site dedicated to helping visitors access the best online recipes.
by: Marguerite Bonneville
You've decided to invite someone you're dating to your home for a romantic evening and you want everything to go well. Here are a few tips to help you achieve that result. There are a number of factors you need to consider when planning your romantic evening:
1. Your Physical Surroundings
It's a good idea to make sure your house or apartment is clean and tidy. It may not be anyone's primary focus but it will make an impression on your guest, even if it's subliminal.
Spend a few hours doing the cleaning yourself, hire someone to do it for you, or, at the very least, shove all that clutter into your closets or under the bed. Wipe down surfaces to get rid of dust and stains.
Apart from the living and dining areas, there are two other rooms that need your attention:
a. The bathroom Wipe down the sink/washbasin, tub and shower stall. Put a fresh cake of soap on the sink and hang fresh towels. At the very least your guest will use the bathroom to wash his or her hands so make sure it's a pleasant experience.
b. The bedroom Get rid of any extraneous clutter like clothes strewn around the room or on the floor. Change the sheets, make the bed and wipe down any surfaces. If your guest ends up spending the night, you don't want him or her racing off for a tetanus shot in the morning.
To create a romantic atmosphere in your bedroom, have some scented candles on hand and an easy-to-reach sound system. You might also consider buying a quilt cover in a rich, romantic color and a set of sheets to match.
2. Your Choice Of Menu While food can be an excellent means of seduction, it's a mistake to choose too complicated a menu unless you're an experienced cook and you don't get easily flustered. Simple dishes like spaghetti or ratatouille make a tasty and satisfying meal without spiking your anxiety levels.
The point is to enjoy the evening along with your guest, not treat the event like it's a university-entrance exam. How To Avoid Psycho-Chef Syndrome One trick is to prepare as much of the meal as possible beforehand so you're not rushing around like a pinball once your guest arrives. Have all the ingredients chopped, diced and ready for cooking.
Do this the night before or earlier that day, whatever works best for you. Salad ingredients can be prepared earlier and stored in separate containers, then added to the salad bowl and dressed before serving. You can even cheat by purchasing your meal from a favorite restaurant and having it delivered (or picking it up) before your guest arrives.
Definitely buy desert from your favorite bakery or supermarket, unless you're a wiz at whipping up a Pavlova or meringue. Another option is to prepare dessert the night before and reheat it if necessary when you're ready to serve it.
3. Your Cooking Area Make sure your kitchen is clean before you begin cooking. Yes, you'll no doubt make a mess once you start but you don't want yesterday's dishes in the way. Your guest may offer to help so the kitchen needs to meet minimum health standards.
It's up to you whether you accept this help or not, but we recommend that you do, even if it's only a token effort like tossing the salad.
Sharing cooking tasks can be a wonderfully romantic interaction as it creates a special kind of intimacy. Have you ever noticed how much more easily conversation flows when two people are doing a task, as opposed to sitting face to face?
4. Setting The Table Set the table beforehand. Use a good tablecloth, your best silverware and a nice set of plates. Use your best glasses and an attractive salt and pepper set, milk jug and sugar bowl. Show your guest that you went to some trouble to make the meal a special occasion. This is not the time for melamine dishes or chipped or mismatched crockery.
You're aiming for a touch of class. Use candlesticks on the table for a romantic ambience, or place candles on other surfaces around the room. Background music is a must but make sure it's romantic and subtle. Limit blaring rock and roll or rap to the period when you're preparing dinner, but please, no high-octane music while you're eating.
Set the sound at a low volume so it doesn't interfere with your conversation. And remember, if you don't play music during the meal you run the risk of filling any silences with the sound of people masticating.
5. Cleaning Up Later Don't let your guest anywhere near the kitchen after the meal is over. Hopefully you'll have better things to do with your time together. But all is not lost if they do insist on helping with the chores.
Many a couple has fallen in love while doing the dishes, for two main reasons:
1. As mentioned earlier, there's the ease of conversation that takes place when you're doing a task rather than concentrating on talking.
2. Doing dishes together is like playing house. It can actually feel very romantic, especially when one or both people realize, "This is what I want with this person." You won't get the same effect if you use a dishwasher, so set aside at least a couple of pots, which will you allow to suggest, "I'll wash and you dry." With a little forethought, anyone can create a romantic evening at home.
The old cliché, "the way to a person's heart is through their stomach", has more than a little truth to it. Test it yourself with someone you care about. The least you'll get is a great home-cooked meal.
About the author:Marguerite Bonneville is a Master Practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) whose passion is publishing information online. She is a contributing writer at http://www.favorite-recipes-online.com,a resource site dedicated to helping visitors access the best online recipes.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
The Power of the Meal
The Power of the Meal
by: Jesse S. Somer
Since the beginning of time one aspect of human social experience has stood out as the ‘place to be’ for communication and family bonding: the meal.
In contemporary human life the evening dinner is often the only place and time that a family all sits down together. In tribal times (of course there are still tribes today) the cooking of a slaughtered animal or cultivated vegetables brought the group together to share ideas and feelings.
Think about it these days; when you want to take someone out for a romantic date, meet business colleagues, get together with old friends and acquaintances, we go out for a bite to eat. What is it about sharing some food that puts us in such a relaxed and communicable state?
Could it simply be science, and the fact that if you are tense when you eat, the food doesn’t digest as well? Or, could it have some psychological basis having to do with the idea that you are sharing some life-giving sustenance with your fellow species instead of warring over it?
Subconsciously do we recognize the facts that we will be able to live another day as well as sew healthy seeds for future generations?
Think of all the problems in the world today. Maybe if we all got together for a feast we could work out some practical solutions, say while sipping on coconut milk, or chewing on a loaf of bread.
The current (14th) Dalai Lama is quoted as having said, “I sometimes think that the act of bringing food is one of the basic roots of all relationships.” There is also the idea of food as being a medium for the transferal of emotional energy.
I am currently living with a friend who is very adept in the kitchen. He uses high quality ingredients and professional techniques, but he also follows the belief that what mood you are in, the amount of effort and awareness you give the cooking process, and the love and gratitude that you feel for the ability to eat is imperative to making a good meal.
I have read in a famous Hari Krishna cookbook as well as Taoist teachings how the actual emotions that the cook feels when making a meal is transmitted into the food via chi energy. Feelings and food are both forms of energy.
Native Americans believe that all thoughts and emotions are ‘alive’. You may have seen the recent film, ‘What the bleep do we know?’ Read about it at whatthebleep.com. In this film world-renowned scientists discuss the idea that all thoughts and emotions are actually physically material in the sense that they are produced by chemicals and are transmitted in electrical forms.
Therefore, a happy chef truly spreads happiness by enjoying the preparation of a meal. So, next time you sit down to a meal with friends or family, or cook for guests, remember the significance of this often undervalued experience.
For hundreds of thousands of years our distant relatives’ whole way of social life was based around the acquisition and sharing of food. It is often the main time to communicate to the ones you hold most dearly, so please don’t take it for granted or think that just because it is necessary for survival that there aren’t any meaningful and mysterious aspects to the experience.
Relating to each other is one of the most important elements in a social creature’s existence; the meal is a time and place for relationships to sprout and grow. That’s just some of the power of the meal.
About the author:Jesse S. Somer M6.Net http://www.m6.netJesse S. Somer is a creature that eats a little bit too much food at times, and needs to share more meals with other organisms that he loves.
by: Jesse S. Somer
Since the beginning of time one aspect of human social experience has stood out as the ‘place to be’ for communication and family bonding: the meal.
In contemporary human life the evening dinner is often the only place and time that a family all sits down together. In tribal times (of course there are still tribes today) the cooking of a slaughtered animal or cultivated vegetables brought the group together to share ideas and feelings.
Think about it these days; when you want to take someone out for a romantic date, meet business colleagues, get together with old friends and acquaintances, we go out for a bite to eat. What is it about sharing some food that puts us in such a relaxed and communicable state?
Could it simply be science, and the fact that if you are tense when you eat, the food doesn’t digest as well? Or, could it have some psychological basis having to do with the idea that you are sharing some life-giving sustenance with your fellow species instead of warring over it?
Subconsciously do we recognize the facts that we will be able to live another day as well as sew healthy seeds for future generations?
Think of all the problems in the world today. Maybe if we all got together for a feast we could work out some practical solutions, say while sipping on coconut milk, or chewing on a loaf of bread.
The current (14th) Dalai Lama is quoted as having said, “I sometimes think that the act of bringing food is one of the basic roots of all relationships.” There is also the idea of food as being a medium for the transferal of emotional energy.
I am currently living with a friend who is very adept in the kitchen. He uses high quality ingredients and professional techniques, but he also follows the belief that what mood you are in, the amount of effort and awareness you give the cooking process, and the love and gratitude that you feel for the ability to eat is imperative to making a good meal.
I have read in a famous Hari Krishna cookbook as well as Taoist teachings how the actual emotions that the cook feels when making a meal is transmitted into the food via chi energy. Feelings and food are both forms of energy.
Native Americans believe that all thoughts and emotions are ‘alive’. You may have seen the recent film, ‘What the bleep do we know?’ Read about it at whatthebleep.com. In this film world-renowned scientists discuss the idea that all thoughts and emotions are actually physically material in the sense that they are produced by chemicals and are transmitted in electrical forms.
Therefore, a happy chef truly spreads happiness by enjoying the preparation of a meal. So, next time you sit down to a meal with friends or family, or cook for guests, remember the significance of this often undervalued experience.
For hundreds of thousands of years our distant relatives’ whole way of social life was based around the acquisition and sharing of food. It is often the main time to communicate to the ones you hold most dearly, so please don’t take it for granted or think that just because it is necessary for survival that there aren’t any meaningful and mysterious aspects to the experience.
Relating to each other is one of the most important elements in a social creature’s existence; the meal is a time and place for relationships to sprout and grow. That’s just some of the power of the meal.
About the author:Jesse S. Somer M6.Net http://www.m6.netJesse S. Somer is a creature that eats a little bit too much food at times, and needs to share more meals with other organisms that he loves.
Turn your love of Chocolate from a secret pleasure to a fun social event
Turn Your Love of Chocolate from a Secret Pleasure to a Fun Social Event
by: Larry Friedlan
Larry Friedlan Chocolate isn’t a Food, but an Experience Few words evoke the emotional enthusiasm people feel toward chocolate. It has a treasured place in our personal collection of memories - the Easter baskets, the birthday treats, the candy displays at Christmas, the heart that told you someone loves you.
It started young. During our special times, chocolate was there - an integral part of the event. One taste of chocolate (or even the thought alone) makes the mouth water and the emotional associations rush in. It brings back the multitude of fondly-remembered feel-good experiences we didn’t want to end.
So a great-testing piece of chocolate inevitably makes us happy inside. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that chocolate contains phenylethylamine (PEA), a natural substance that’s reputed to stimulate the same reaction in the body as falling in love. That’s why, even at times when we’re feeling down, anything chocolate feels so comforting.
Chocolate is Meant to be Shared My favorite career was owning The Chocolate Factory in Branson, Missouri. Making chocolate inspired me; it’s so apparent that it makes a person’s soul happy. My passion led me to create 300 new chocolate products and 26 different flavored fudges (one of which won the title, "World’s Best Chocolate" in 1986).
Out of that grew the Chocolate Fantasy events, which are used as non-profit fundraisers. People can’t resist the 30 to 40 different kinds of chocolate creations offered. It combines three great things - chocolate, fun, and doing good through the charity. As crowd-pleasing and impressive as those events are, these same techniques can be accomplished by a rank beginner.
With equally enthusiastic reactions. Making chocolate goodies with others improves the flavor - as well as the enjoyment. Visualize your whole family gathered around in the kitchen, making gourmet chocolates together. Smell that wonderful chocolatey aroma, feel the rich texture of gourmet chocolate goodies in your fingers. Now that’s fun! And you’re all creating memories you’ll never forget, at the same time.
You Can "Do this at Home" The Old Tyme Chocolate Cookbook I wrote shows how to make truly gourmet chocolate in your own home, using the tools you’ve already got. Without prior experience, anyone can create professional-quality results your friends will rave about. You’ll reveal out-of-the-ordinary chocolate expertise.
All because you grasp the subtle differences of taste and texture between your gourmet concoctions, and what is sold at the store. Learn tricks that the pros know. For instance, did you know you must NEVER introduce water into the chocolate during the manufacturing stage?
A few drops of water will turn a pot of chocolate into the consistency of modeling clay. Why not try a recipe that will satisfy any chocolate craving?
Chocolate Toffee
2 cups granulated sugar
¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup dark corn syrup dash salt
½ cup whipping cream
½ stick (¼ cup) butter
Line an 8-inch baking pan with buttered foil. Combine all ingredients in a large saucepan. Begin cooking over medium heat, lowering heat as candy thickens.
Cook to 250 degrees F. Pour into prepared pan and let cool. Break into bite-sized pieces or cut and wrap in plastic film.
Check out other chocolate recipes, tricks, and lore from my book at http://oldtymechocolate.com/home.php.
Dazzle your friends and family with your chocolate proficiency. It’s sure to raise your reputation, along with your social standing.
Best of all, you’ll find yourself as welcome as the chocolate masterpieces you create. It’s all in knowing how.
About the author:--Larry Friedlan, Author, Old Tyme Chocolate Cookbook. Make gourmet chocolate like a pro in your own kitchen. Visit http://oldtymechocolate.com/home.phpfor fun, chocolate recipes, and more. larry@OldTymeChocolate.com
by: Larry Friedlan
Larry Friedlan Chocolate isn’t a Food, but an Experience Few words evoke the emotional enthusiasm people feel toward chocolate. It has a treasured place in our personal collection of memories - the Easter baskets, the birthday treats, the candy displays at Christmas, the heart that told you someone loves you.
It started young. During our special times, chocolate was there - an integral part of the event. One taste of chocolate (or even the thought alone) makes the mouth water and the emotional associations rush in. It brings back the multitude of fondly-remembered feel-good experiences we didn’t want to end.
So a great-testing piece of chocolate inevitably makes us happy inside. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that chocolate contains phenylethylamine (PEA), a natural substance that’s reputed to stimulate the same reaction in the body as falling in love. That’s why, even at times when we’re feeling down, anything chocolate feels so comforting.
Chocolate is Meant to be Shared My favorite career was owning The Chocolate Factory in Branson, Missouri. Making chocolate inspired me; it’s so apparent that it makes a person’s soul happy. My passion led me to create 300 new chocolate products and 26 different flavored fudges (one of which won the title, "World’s Best Chocolate" in 1986).
Out of that grew the Chocolate Fantasy events, which are used as non-profit fundraisers. People can’t resist the 30 to 40 different kinds of chocolate creations offered. It combines three great things - chocolate, fun, and doing good through the charity. As crowd-pleasing and impressive as those events are, these same techniques can be accomplished by a rank beginner.
With equally enthusiastic reactions. Making chocolate goodies with others improves the flavor - as well as the enjoyment. Visualize your whole family gathered around in the kitchen, making gourmet chocolates together. Smell that wonderful chocolatey aroma, feel the rich texture of gourmet chocolate goodies in your fingers. Now that’s fun! And you’re all creating memories you’ll never forget, at the same time.
You Can "Do this at Home" The Old Tyme Chocolate Cookbook I wrote shows how to make truly gourmet chocolate in your own home, using the tools you’ve already got. Without prior experience, anyone can create professional-quality results your friends will rave about. You’ll reveal out-of-the-ordinary chocolate expertise.
All because you grasp the subtle differences of taste and texture between your gourmet concoctions, and what is sold at the store. Learn tricks that the pros know. For instance, did you know you must NEVER introduce water into the chocolate during the manufacturing stage?
A few drops of water will turn a pot of chocolate into the consistency of modeling clay. Why not try a recipe that will satisfy any chocolate craving?
Chocolate Toffee
2 cups granulated sugar
¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup dark corn syrup dash salt
½ cup whipping cream
½ stick (¼ cup) butter
Line an 8-inch baking pan with buttered foil. Combine all ingredients in a large saucepan. Begin cooking over medium heat, lowering heat as candy thickens.
Cook to 250 degrees F. Pour into prepared pan and let cool. Break into bite-sized pieces or cut and wrap in plastic film.
Check out other chocolate recipes, tricks, and lore from my book at http://oldtymechocolate.com/home.php.
Dazzle your friends and family with your chocolate proficiency. It’s sure to raise your reputation, along with your social standing.
Best of all, you’ll find yourself as welcome as the chocolate masterpieces you create. It’s all in knowing how.
About the author:--Larry Friedlan, Author, Old Tyme Chocolate Cookbook. Make gourmet chocolate like a pro in your own kitchen. Visit http://oldtymechocolate.com/home.phpfor fun, chocolate recipes, and more. larry@OldTymeChocolate.com
Tips to Buying Food Online
Tips to Buying Food Online
by: Melanie Breeze
Did you know that you could buy food online? I was amazed when I discovered this fact. There are hundreds of different food websites on the internet, all of which offer great deals and promotions.
So no matter what you are in the mood for, you can find it online. You can choose from steaks, lobsters, fruit, wine, chocolates, cakes, coffee, and much more.
What is available? You may be surprised to find out that almost any item that you desire can be purchased online. Many sites offer discount grocery deliveries, as well as gourmet treats. If you want a cheap elegant dinner date, try ordering two live Maine lobsters!
They will be shipped to your doorstep within 24 hours, complete with cooking instructions. You can make it surf and turf by adding some Omaha steaks to the menu. Top it off with a bottle of wine and imported chocolates. All purchased online, for less than you would think!
The trick to buying food online is to look for the best deals and promotions. A good food delivery site will have many important features. First you want to find someone that has been around for a while. I like the selection available at couponchief.com.
They only work with the best sites, and you can be sure that you are getting a good deal. Second look at their prices and selection. Most sites will offer various promotions and coupons for repeat customers. So if you get hooked on that fancy chocolate, it may be cheaper the next batch that you order.
You can also find coupon codes that may give you free shipping or 15% off the next purchase. Last, make sure to factor in the shipping costs. Good sites offers free shipping anywhere in the country. Most perishable items will need to be specially packed and rush delivered. Buying food online is a great way to get a good discount.
Websites have lower overhead and are able to give you the same product your local grocery store can, at a fraction of the retail price. What a great deal! And with the wide assortment and free shipping, you can’t pass up buying food online.
Consider sending a shipment of wine or steaks for cheap, easy gift giving. Most people love food gifts, so you can’t go wrong.
About the author:
Melanie Breeze, avid online shopper and user of http://www.CouponChief.comis always shopping around for the best deals. You can find food coupons available around the web at CouponChief, all in one location. Always find an online coupon 1st before making ANY purchase!
by: Melanie Breeze
Did you know that you could buy food online? I was amazed when I discovered this fact. There are hundreds of different food websites on the internet, all of which offer great deals and promotions.
So no matter what you are in the mood for, you can find it online. You can choose from steaks, lobsters, fruit, wine, chocolates, cakes, coffee, and much more.
What is available? You may be surprised to find out that almost any item that you desire can be purchased online. Many sites offer discount grocery deliveries, as well as gourmet treats. If you want a cheap elegant dinner date, try ordering two live Maine lobsters!
They will be shipped to your doorstep within 24 hours, complete with cooking instructions. You can make it surf and turf by adding some Omaha steaks to the menu. Top it off with a bottle of wine and imported chocolates. All purchased online, for less than you would think!
The trick to buying food online is to look for the best deals and promotions. A good food delivery site will have many important features. First you want to find someone that has been around for a while. I like the selection available at couponchief.com.
They only work with the best sites, and you can be sure that you are getting a good deal. Second look at their prices and selection. Most sites will offer various promotions and coupons for repeat customers. So if you get hooked on that fancy chocolate, it may be cheaper the next batch that you order.
You can also find coupon codes that may give you free shipping or 15% off the next purchase. Last, make sure to factor in the shipping costs. Good sites offers free shipping anywhere in the country. Most perishable items will need to be specially packed and rush delivered. Buying food online is a great way to get a good discount.
Websites have lower overhead and are able to give you the same product your local grocery store can, at a fraction of the retail price. What a great deal! And with the wide assortment and free shipping, you can’t pass up buying food online.
Consider sending a shipment of wine or steaks for cheap, easy gift giving. Most people love food gifts, so you can’t go wrong.
About the author:
Melanie Breeze, avid online shopper and user of http://www.CouponChief.comis always shopping around for the best deals. You can find food coupons available around the web at CouponChief, all in one location. Always find an online coupon 1st before making ANY purchase!
Cooking with a Crock Pot
Cooking with a Crock Pot.
by: SilentOne
Crock pot cooking has a glorious past! In grandma’s day the crock pot was called the slow cooker. She would load it up with roast beef and potatoes, or chicken and vegetables, and let it simmer all day long, filling the house with the delicious aroma.
Crock pot cooking makes it easy to cook a meal to perfection. Tender morsels, rich sauces and broths, all combine in a meal that would have been difficult to achieve without crock pot cooking.
Conventional cooking usually requires a good deal of time and energy, two things which are in short supply in this busy age. Most working people these days don’t have the time to stand around watching the stove.
Crock pot cooking is the answer for old fashioned nutritious meals. Throw a few good ingredients in the pot in the morning, and come home that evening to a tasty meal just like grandma used to make!
Crock pot cooking is easier than ever before. Temperature systems and timing mechanisms allow precise control. Electronic safeguards allow cooks to put their minds at rest and go on with their day, knowing that the crock pot is doing what it’s designed to do.
Some models are even designed to be microwavable, which is great for reheating leftovers. Cleaning up after crock pot cooking is made easier too! Surfaces are dishwasher-safe and Teflon coated, making clean-up a breeze.
About the author:http://www.a1-crock-pot-4u.info/crockpotcooking.html
by: SilentOne
Crock pot cooking has a glorious past! In grandma’s day the crock pot was called the slow cooker. She would load it up with roast beef and potatoes, or chicken and vegetables, and let it simmer all day long, filling the house with the delicious aroma.
Crock pot cooking makes it easy to cook a meal to perfection. Tender morsels, rich sauces and broths, all combine in a meal that would have been difficult to achieve without crock pot cooking.
Conventional cooking usually requires a good deal of time and energy, two things which are in short supply in this busy age. Most working people these days don’t have the time to stand around watching the stove.
Crock pot cooking is the answer for old fashioned nutritious meals. Throw a few good ingredients in the pot in the morning, and come home that evening to a tasty meal just like grandma used to make!
Crock pot cooking is easier than ever before. Temperature systems and timing mechanisms allow precise control. Electronic safeguards allow cooks to put their minds at rest and go on with their day, knowing that the crock pot is doing what it’s designed to do.
Some models are even designed to be microwavable, which is great for reheating leftovers. Cleaning up after crock pot cooking is made easier too! Surfaces are dishwasher-safe and Teflon coated, making clean-up a breeze.
About the author:http://www.a1-crock-pot-4u.info/crockpotcooking.html
Early summer salads, lighter foods for a brighter summer
Easy summer salads, lighter foods for a brighter summer
by: mark brading
Easy summer salads are the way to go, now that the winter blues are fading into the distance and salad days are here. The best salads are light, bright and easy to prepare.
After all who wants to spend hours slaving away in the kitchen when friends are round for lunch, the garden is in bloom and the wine is chilled and ready to pour. But before you start to cook you save a lot of energy by buying the right ingredients for a simple salad.
That way you don’t need the heavy bottled sauces and dressings to make a great flavor Do you really want to take a beautiful crisp summer salad and soak it in a mixture of fat, sugar, salt and chemicals?
If you start off with great food and don’t do too much to it you don’t need all these strong tastes as you still have great food. All you need is to combine it well so that the flavors work together, have a nice crunchy texture and add a little light dressing to set it all off, and let the taste buds do the rest Freshness is, as in all cooking, the way to a good salad.
Don’t take what the supermarkets give you. Although it’s easier to pick up the ready packed tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, bell peppers etc. To make sure you get the best, take a minute or two and pick over the vegetables, choose what is firm ripe and ready to use.
The same of course applies with meat and fish. There is a reason why supermarkets prepackage, and it’s not always convenience. So choose well, cook quickly and simply and your friends won’t have finished the wine by the time you get there!
Enjoy a little bit of summer now with this easy poached chicken salad.
Easy poached chicken salad
Ingredients:
4 chicken breasts (skinless)
1 finely sliced red onion
1 whole half onion
4 good ripe tomatoes sliced thickly
250 grams/4ozs salad leaves mixed
4ozs raisins soaked in hot water for ten minutes
1 half lemon
2 fresh or dry bay leaves
1-teaspoon peppercorns black
1 small French, stick loaf or similar sliced into 1/2 slices
For the dressing:
1/4 cup olive oil
1clove garlic crushed
1/2 dessert spoon Dijon or other mild mustard
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
To make the dressing, whisk the vinegar and mustard together with the garlic, slowly add the olive oil while whisking and season with salt and pepper to taste.
Bring a pan of water to the boil with the bay leaves, 1/2 white onion, lemon and peppercorns. Carefully add the chicken and simmer gently until cooked, if you unsure it is worth investing a few dollars in a meat thermometer.
The temperature should be at least 75 celcius/167 Fahrenheit, put the sliced bread on a baking tray and drizzle with the olive oil and season with salt.
Bake in a medium oven until crisp but soft in the middle. Mix the leaves together with the onions and raisins. Turn in the salad dressing and put into 4 good-sized bowls.
Place slices of tomato and bread around the edge. Slice the warm chicken at an angle and put attractively on top off the salad. Sit back, enjoy and get someone else to do the washing up. http://www.nearlyhealthy.com
About the author:"http://nearlyhealthy.com" is a new quality easy recipe, cookery tips and information site, for great tasting food that is also easy to cook. Cooking should be a joy not a chore. Using the best ingredients and keeping it simple means your food tastes good with the minimum of fuss. . Cookery book reviews, we choose the best in current and classic recipe books and food travel writers. Also product and good food suppliers. Need to know the best food processor we take the time to choose so you don't have to. Need to know where to find the best organic pork? We bring you the best suppliers and information. We have started small but will add more and more content over the coming weeks so do keep checking back. We look forward to seeing you and listening to your comments and feedback. "http://www.nearlyhealthy.com"
by: mark brading
Easy summer salads are the way to go, now that the winter blues are fading into the distance and salad days are here. The best salads are light, bright and easy to prepare.
After all who wants to spend hours slaving away in the kitchen when friends are round for lunch, the garden is in bloom and the wine is chilled and ready to pour. But before you start to cook you save a lot of energy by buying the right ingredients for a simple salad.
That way you don’t need the heavy bottled sauces and dressings to make a great flavor Do you really want to take a beautiful crisp summer salad and soak it in a mixture of fat, sugar, salt and chemicals?
If you start off with great food and don’t do too much to it you don’t need all these strong tastes as you still have great food. All you need is to combine it well so that the flavors work together, have a nice crunchy texture and add a little light dressing to set it all off, and let the taste buds do the rest Freshness is, as in all cooking, the way to a good salad.
Don’t take what the supermarkets give you. Although it’s easier to pick up the ready packed tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, bell peppers etc. To make sure you get the best, take a minute or two and pick over the vegetables, choose what is firm ripe and ready to use.
The same of course applies with meat and fish. There is a reason why supermarkets prepackage, and it’s not always convenience. So choose well, cook quickly and simply and your friends won’t have finished the wine by the time you get there!
Enjoy a little bit of summer now with this easy poached chicken salad.
Easy poached chicken salad
Ingredients:
4 chicken breasts (skinless)
1 finely sliced red onion
1 whole half onion
4 good ripe tomatoes sliced thickly
250 grams/4ozs salad leaves mixed
4ozs raisins soaked in hot water for ten minutes
1 half lemon
2 fresh or dry bay leaves
1-teaspoon peppercorns black
1 small French, stick loaf or similar sliced into 1/2 slices
For the dressing:
1/4 cup olive oil
1clove garlic crushed
1/2 dessert spoon Dijon or other mild mustard
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
To make the dressing, whisk the vinegar and mustard together with the garlic, slowly add the olive oil while whisking and season with salt and pepper to taste.
Bring a pan of water to the boil with the bay leaves, 1/2 white onion, lemon and peppercorns. Carefully add the chicken and simmer gently until cooked, if you unsure it is worth investing a few dollars in a meat thermometer.
The temperature should be at least 75 celcius/167 Fahrenheit, put the sliced bread on a baking tray and drizzle with the olive oil and season with salt.
Bake in a medium oven until crisp but soft in the middle. Mix the leaves together with the onions and raisins. Turn in the salad dressing and put into 4 good-sized bowls.
Place slices of tomato and bread around the edge. Slice the warm chicken at an angle and put attractively on top off the salad. Sit back, enjoy and get someone else to do the washing up. http://www.nearlyhealthy.com
About the author:"http://nearlyhealthy.com" is a new quality easy recipe, cookery tips and information site, for great tasting food that is also easy to cook. Cooking should be a joy not a chore. Using the best ingredients and keeping it simple means your food tastes good with the minimum of fuss. . Cookery book reviews, we choose the best in current and classic recipe books and food travel writers. Also product and good food suppliers. Need to know the best food processor we take the time to choose so you don't have to. Need to know where to find the best organic pork? We bring you the best suppliers and information. We have started small but will add more and more content over the coming weeks so do keep checking back. We look forward to seeing you and listening to your comments and feedback. "http://www.nearlyhealthy.com"
Crockpot tips - Don't forget the slow cooker!
Crockpot tips - don't forget the slow cooker!
by: Rob Moore
Many of your favorite recipes can be successfully adapted to the crockpot or slow cooker if you follow a few simple rules. You'll find a basic time/temperature guide for converting recipes, some do's and don'ts for specific ingredients and a few tips for making your slow cooker dishes more flavorful.
Liquids
Generally, liquids may be decreased in slow cooking - a general rule of thumb is about half the recommended amount. Unless the dish contains rice or pasta, one cup of liquid is usually enough.
Pasta and Rice
When recipes call for cooked pasta to be added, cook it until just slightly tender before adding to the pot. Add 1/4 extra liquid per 1/4 cup uncooked rice, and use long grain converted rice for the best results. For long-cooking recipes, add cooked rice shortly before serving.
Beans
It is usually best to soak beans overnight before cooking them in the crockpot. Before adding sugar or acidic ingredients, the beans should be softened first, either in the slow cooker or on the stove top. If your recipe includes tomatoes, salt, or other acidic ingredients, the beans should be tender before beginning.
Herbs and Spices
Ground herbs and spices tend to dissipate over long cooking times, so it's best to add them near the end of cooking. Whole herbs release flavors over time, so are a good choice for crockpot cooking. You should taste and adjust seasonings, if necessary, before serving.
Milk/Cheese
Milk, sour cream, and cream break down over long periods of cooking, and should be added during the last hour. Condensed cream soups are good substitutions for milk and can be cooked for extended times. "Healthy," or reduced fat cream soups can be used in any recipe as a substitute.
Cheeses don't generally hold up over extended periods of cooking, so should be added near the end of cooking, or use processed cheeses and spreads.
Soups
Add water only to cover ingredients in soup, and add more after cooking if necessary for a thinner soup.
For milk based soups, add 1 or 2 cups of water and during the last hour, stir in milk, evaporated milk, or cream as called for. Vegetables Dense vegetables like potatoes, carrots, and other root vegetables should be cut no larger than 1" thick, and placed in the bottom of the pot, since they take longer to cook
About the author:Rob Moore cooks up quick and easy recipes from HIWAY-cafe.com, a site devoted to Recipes As Fast As Your Life! Visit for more quick easy crockpot recipes and more!
by: Rob Moore
Many of your favorite recipes can be successfully adapted to the crockpot or slow cooker if you follow a few simple rules. You'll find a basic time/temperature guide for converting recipes, some do's and don'ts for specific ingredients and a few tips for making your slow cooker dishes more flavorful.
Liquids
Generally, liquids may be decreased in slow cooking - a general rule of thumb is about half the recommended amount. Unless the dish contains rice or pasta, one cup of liquid is usually enough.
Pasta and Rice
When recipes call for cooked pasta to be added, cook it until just slightly tender before adding to the pot. Add 1/4 extra liquid per 1/4 cup uncooked rice, and use long grain converted rice for the best results. For long-cooking recipes, add cooked rice shortly before serving.
Beans
It is usually best to soak beans overnight before cooking them in the crockpot. Before adding sugar or acidic ingredients, the beans should be softened first, either in the slow cooker or on the stove top. If your recipe includes tomatoes, salt, or other acidic ingredients, the beans should be tender before beginning.
Herbs and Spices
Ground herbs and spices tend to dissipate over long cooking times, so it's best to add them near the end of cooking. Whole herbs release flavors over time, so are a good choice for crockpot cooking. You should taste and adjust seasonings, if necessary, before serving.
Milk/Cheese
Milk, sour cream, and cream break down over long periods of cooking, and should be added during the last hour. Condensed cream soups are good substitutions for milk and can be cooked for extended times. "Healthy," or reduced fat cream soups can be used in any recipe as a substitute.
Cheeses don't generally hold up over extended periods of cooking, so should be added near the end of cooking, or use processed cheeses and spreads.
Soups
Add water only to cover ingredients in soup, and add more after cooking if necessary for a thinner soup.
For milk based soups, add 1 or 2 cups of water and during the last hour, stir in milk, evaporated milk, or cream as called for. Vegetables Dense vegetables like potatoes, carrots, and other root vegetables should be cut no larger than 1" thick, and placed in the bottom of the pot, since they take longer to cook
About the author:Rob Moore cooks up quick and easy recipes from HIWAY-cafe.com, a site devoted to Recipes As Fast As Your Life! Visit for more quick easy crockpot recipes and more!
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Crockpot tips - buying tips
crockpot tips - crockpot buying tips
by: Rob Moore
Crockpot Buying Tips Always buy more crockpot than you need- this gives you more flexibility get one with a removable liner- they are MUCH easier to clean!
Cheapest is not always best- spend a few extra dollars on a good one! Some models come with programmable timers-this may be a great feature, for example, if your cooking time is 6 hours and you'll be out of the house for 8 hours.
You can set the crockpot to start 2 hours after you leave! Here's some more helpful crockpot and slow cooker tips: Use leaner cuts of meat to reduce amount of fat that accumulates during cooking Usually, avoid frozen foods placed directly in the crockpot.
Thaw in refrigerator or microwave first Ground beef and turkey should be browned on stovetop first, as a general rule of thumb. Avoid taking a "peek" at the cooking during the first 3/4 of cooking time. Only take cover off to stir.
Constant peeking may mean adding to cooking time Never add cold water to a hot crockpot insert! This may result in cracking. When you go to clean up, either let the insert cool, or run hot water into it. For best results, fill your crockpot 1/2 to 3/4 full.
They cook way better that way! Cooking times are merely guidelines; use your best judgement as to when the food is done. Generaly speaking, 1 hour on high equals 2 hours on low
To speed up the thickening of sauces with flour or cornstarch at the end of the cooking, increase the heat to the high setting and cook from 15 to 45 minutes longer. Or drain the juices into a saucepan and bring to a boil on top of the stove or in a glass measure in a microwave oven, stirring until smooth and thickened.
by: Rob Moore
Crockpot Buying Tips Always buy more crockpot than you need- this gives you more flexibility get one with a removable liner- they are MUCH easier to clean!
Cheapest is not always best- spend a few extra dollars on a good one! Some models come with programmable timers-this may be a great feature, for example, if your cooking time is 6 hours and you'll be out of the house for 8 hours.
You can set the crockpot to start 2 hours after you leave! Here's some more helpful crockpot and slow cooker tips: Use leaner cuts of meat to reduce amount of fat that accumulates during cooking Usually, avoid frozen foods placed directly in the crockpot.
Thaw in refrigerator or microwave first Ground beef and turkey should be browned on stovetop first, as a general rule of thumb. Avoid taking a "peek" at the cooking during the first 3/4 of cooking time. Only take cover off to stir.
Constant peeking may mean adding to cooking time Never add cold water to a hot crockpot insert! This may result in cracking. When you go to clean up, either let the insert cool, or run hot water into it. For best results, fill your crockpot 1/2 to 3/4 full.
They cook way better that way! Cooking times are merely guidelines; use your best judgement as to when the food is done. Generaly speaking, 1 hour on high equals 2 hours on low
To speed up the thickening of sauces with flour or cornstarch at the end of the cooking, increase the heat to the high setting and cook from 15 to 45 minutes longer. Or drain the juices into a saucepan and bring to a boil on top of the stove or in a glass measure in a microwave oven, stirring until smooth and thickened.
Preparing Lobster Tails
Preparing Lobster Tails
by: Lee Dobbins
Lobster, once the food of poor farmers, is now considered a special treat for many. Although some people prefer the meaty claws, I think that lobster tails are the best tasting part of this delicious creature. A great meal of lobster tails might seem like a gourmet feast to your guests, but they are actually quite easy to prepare.
Add a little sprig of garnish and a fancy side dish and you’re sure to impress even your mother in law. Your lobster tails might start off a fresh or frozen, being in New England, fresh lobster is easy to come by but frozen might be all you can get in some parts of the country and in the off season.
If your lobster tails are frozen, you need to thaw them out (you can cook them frozen but they will not be as tender). Put them in the fridge for 10 hours or so or thaw them in the microwave on defrost – be very careful if you choose this method as you don’t want them to start cooking in the microwave.
After they are thawed, remove the meat from the shell by cutting open the back of the shell – split it down the middle and open it up to reveal the meat. Lift the meat out – you can leave the fan part of the tail on for show or not.
Remove the vein. Boiling Lobster Tails Boil a pot of water large enough for all the tails to float in, add 1 tsp salt for each quart of water. Drop the tails in the boiling water and cook for about 1 minute per oz thawed (so 10 0z of tails needs to cook for 10 minutes). If you are cooking a lot of tails, add a minute or two on to the total time.
Cooking Lobster Tails in the Oven Lobster tails can be baked or broiled in the oven. To cook thawed lobster in the oven,set the oven to 400 degrees F. Brush the tails with butter and bake for 8 to 10 minutes. If broiling, place the tails 4 or 5 inches from the heat and broil for 2 – 5 minutes. When broiling keep a very close eye on them so that they don’t burn on the tops. Cooking Lobster Tails On The Grill Oil the grill to keep the lobsters from sticking.
Put the grill on medium heat. Brush the lobster tails with butter and place on the grill. Make sure that the tails do not burn – if there are any flames on the grill move the lobster away from it. Grill on each side for 4-5 minutes. Take care not to overcook your lobster or it will be rubbery and tasteless. Lobster is cooked when it is no longer transparent.
by: Lee Dobbins
Lobster, once the food of poor farmers, is now considered a special treat for many. Although some people prefer the meaty claws, I think that lobster tails are the best tasting part of this delicious creature. A great meal of lobster tails might seem like a gourmet feast to your guests, but they are actually quite easy to prepare.
Add a little sprig of garnish and a fancy side dish and you’re sure to impress even your mother in law. Your lobster tails might start off a fresh or frozen, being in New England, fresh lobster is easy to come by but frozen might be all you can get in some parts of the country and in the off season.
If your lobster tails are frozen, you need to thaw them out (you can cook them frozen but they will not be as tender). Put them in the fridge for 10 hours or so or thaw them in the microwave on defrost – be very careful if you choose this method as you don’t want them to start cooking in the microwave.
After they are thawed, remove the meat from the shell by cutting open the back of the shell – split it down the middle and open it up to reveal the meat. Lift the meat out – you can leave the fan part of the tail on for show or not.
Remove the vein. Boiling Lobster Tails Boil a pot of water large enough for all the tails to float in, add 1 tsp salt for each quart of water. Drop the tails in the boiling water and cook for about 1 minute per oz thawed (so 10 0z of tails needs to cook for 10 minutes). If you are cooking a lot of tails, add a minute or two on to the total time.
Cooking Lobster Tails in the Oven Lobster tails can be baked or broiled in the oven. To cook thawed lobster in the oven,set the oven to 400 degrees F. Brush the tails with butter and bake for 8 to 10 minutes. If broiling, place the tails 4 or 5 inches from the heat and broil for 2 – 5 minutes. When broiling keep a very close eye on them so that they don’t burn on the tops. Cooking Lobster Tails On The Grill Oil the grill to keep the lobsters from sticking.
Put the grill on medium heat. Brush the lobster tails with butter and place on the grill. Make sure that the tails do not burn – if there are any flames on the grill move the lobster away from it. Grill on each side for 4-5 minutes. Take care not to overcook your lobster or it will be rubbery and tasteless. Lobster is cooked when it is no longer transparent.
What do I have to do to become a Good Chef
What Do I Have To Do To Become A Good Chef
by: Robert Smith
Being a chef is a very physical profession. You are required to remain on your feet almost constantly. Along with that, you must also be stirring, kneading, and chopping your foods.
Many times, you will have to do all of this while also having to ordering foods for hungry customers and critical customers. A kitchen is almost scorching hot year round so you should be quite prepared for that.
Even in the best conditioned areas, a kitchen is often as hot as 95 degrees or higher. If that doesn't sound like enough to do, try doing it while you are also maintaining all of the rest of the kitchen staff.
Choosing to be a chef for a living is a very rewarding and time consuming job. Now do you see why being able to multi-task is so important? The road to becoming a chef requires much training and hands on experience.
Here's what you need to do to be a good chef. A strong desire to be a chef is a good place to start. Having a good sense of smell, and taste will be necessary also. It would very difficult to prepare a good meal if you can't decipher the differences from one spice to another; or if you do not know which spices go well together and which ones don't.
Cooking is a lot different than being a chef is. If you are just cooking for yourself you have room for errors. If you are cooking for a stranger, you will want to cook your food to perfection. Of course, you will also want to present the food in an enticing manner as well. There are stages to becoming a chef.
You have to start at the bottom, but becoming a chef is one of few occupations where you can get most of your training on the job. You do have to go to school and train as well, but much of the training is done in a working environment.
About the author:Find more articles and tips about becoming a chef by visiting http://www.you-can-be-a-chef.comThis article is available for reprint in your opt-in ezine, web site or ebook. You MUST agree not to make any changes to the article and the RESOURCE BOX MUST be included. (c) 2002-2005 www.you-can-be-a-chef.comAll Rights Reserved
by: Robert Smith
Being a chef is a very physical profession. You are required to remain on your feet almost constantly. Along with that, you must also be stirring, kneading, and chopping your foods.
Many times, you will have to do all of this while also having to ordering foods for hungry customers and critical customers. A kitchen is almost scorching hot year round so you should be quite prepared for that.
Even in the best conditioned areas, a kitchen is often as hot as 95 degrees or higher. If that doesn't sound like enough to do, try doing it while you are also maintaining all of the rest of the kitchen staff.
Choosing to be a chef for a living is a very rewarding and time consuming job. Now do you see why being able to multi-task is so important? The road to becoming a chef requires much training and hands on experience.
Here's what you need to do to be a good chef. A strong desire to be a chef is a good place to start. Having a good sense of smell, and taste will be necessary also. It would very difficult to prepare a good meal if you can't decipher the differences from one spice to another; or if you do not know which spices go well together and which ones don't.
Cooking is a lot different than being a chef is. If you are just cooking for yourself you have room for errors. If you are cooking for a stranger, you will want to cook your food to perfection. Of course, you will also want to present the food in an enticing manner as well. There are stages to becoming a chef.
You have to start at the bottom, but becoming a chef is one of few occupations where you can get most of your training on the job. You do have to go to school and train as well, but much of the training is done in a working environment.
About the author:Find more articles and tips about becoming a chef by visiting http://www.you-can-be-a-chef.comThis article is available for reprint in your opt-in ezine, web site or ebook. You MUST agree not to make any changes to the article and the RESOURCE BOX MUST be included. (c) 2002-2005 www.you-can-be-a-chef.comAll Rights Reserved
Must Haves for Any At-Home Chef
Must Haves for Any At-Home Chef
by: Michael Lansing
With the holidays on their way soon, many people will be beefing up kitchens to handle the increased demand for ‘fit for a king’ meals. Not being a professional Chef shouldn’t stop you from being able to cook like one. But, you’ll need the right tools to create those tantalizing dishes. Read on and find out the five tools that no kitchen cook should be without.
Mixing Bowls
Make sure that you have a good, quality set of mixing bowls on hand – the bigger the better! Many dishes need to be beaten, blended or mixed. You’ll be glad you didn’t skimp on the mixing bowls when you need to perform any of those tasks. Most professional chefs prefer to use stainless steel mixing bowls. However, there are many quality plastic sets available, like the ones made by OXO. But be aware that plastic bowls can become hard to clean over time, especially if used for heavy duty sauces, and may need to be replaced.
Pre-Seasoned Cookware
Cast iron skillets, pots and pans have long been a choice of the pros. But, cast iron cookware can be a little daunting. Seasoning, pre-seasoning, re-seasoning, cooking the seasonings in, oils to use, etc. to ensure your skillet is ready, is a hassle many cooks would rather not deal with. Now you don’t have to. You can buy cast iron cookware galore – already seasoned – so that you have no fuss and still get the same great benefits of those using simple cast iron. Lodge is a well known maker of pre-seasoned cookware and offers many different types of cast iron cookware. Be aware –soap nor dishwashers should be used for your prized possessions.
Specialty Measuring Spoons
If you’ve ever seen one of grandma’s old recipes refer to a pinch, smidgen or dash and have had to take a guess at the meaning (and hope you’re right) then you absolutely must grab a set of pinch, smidgen or dash measuring spoons. No more guessing or testing your interpretations on your guests (as fun as that may be). This set also makes a great conversation starter – especially at family gatherings where elder members may take you on a trip down memory lane.
First out Pie Spatula
What could possibly ruin the perfect homemade Dutch crumb apple pie? Having it fall apart while you try to get that first piece out of the pie dish. Well, here is a secret of the pros – use a first out pie spatula. You bake the spatula in with the pie. When the pie comes out of the oven and cools, you make the cuts and lift that first piece out in perfect appetizing condition!
Kitchen Companion Guide
Ever wonder how long you need to steam asparagus? Not sure how to stick a thermometer in a turkey? Never butterflied a pork chop before? For all the weird, rarely used information you may need, while preparing a feast, you can turn to a kitchen guide. Look for a kitchen guide which specializes in everything and anything you may need to know while cooking any meal in any kitchen. For a complete guide that has gotten rave reviews, check out the Williams-Sonoma Kitchen Companion: The A to Z Guide to Everyday Cooking, Equipment and Ingredients.
Many of the above items may not be featured at your local retail store, so you might want to find a local kitchen specialty store near you or do your shopping online. But, if you enjoy the art of cooking and want to be armed with the best tools possible, you now have a few more to add to your arsenal which will help you cook like the pros.
About the author:Mike Lansing is a retired chef who spent most of his time as a Head Chef in New Orleans after training in France. He spends his free time cooking for family and friends, as well as serving as a contributing editor for CookingSchools101.com which offers information on Culinary Schools for those wishing to enter the trade.
by: Michael Lansing
With the holidays on their way soon, many people will be beefing up kitchens to handle the increased demand for ‘fit for a king’ meals. Not being a professional Chef shouldn’t stop you from being able to cook like one. But, you’ll need the right tools to create those tantalizing dishes. Read on and find out the five tools that no kitchen cook should be without.
Mixing Bowls
Make sure that you have a good, quality set of mixing bowls on hand – the bigger the better! Many dishes need to be beaten, blended or mixed. You’ll be glad you didn’t skimp on the mixing bowls when you need to perform any of those tasks. Most professional chefs prefer to use stainless steel mixing bowls. However, there are many quality plastic sets available, like the ones made by OXO. But be aware that plastic bowls can become hard to clean over time, especially if used for heavy duty sauces, and may need to be replaced.
Pre-Seasoned Cookware
Cast iron skillets, pots and pans have long been a choice of the pros. But, cast iron cookware can be a little daunting. Seasoning, pre-seasoning, re-seasoning, cooking the seasonings in, oils to use, etc. to ensure your skillet is ready, is a hassle many cooks would rather not deal with. Now you don’t have to. You can buy cast iron cookware galore – already seasoned – so that you have no fuss and still get the same great benefits of those using simple cast iron. Lodge is a well known maker of pre-seasoned cookware and offers many different types of cast iron cookware. Be aware –soap nor dishwashers should be used for your prized possessions.
Specialty Measuring Spoons
If you’ve ever seen one of grandma’s old recipes refer to a pinch, smidgen or dash and have had to take a guess at the meaning (and hope you’re right) then you absolutely must grab a set of pinch, smidgen or dash measuring spoons. No more guessing or testing your interpretations on your guests (as fun as that may be). This set also makes a great conversation starter – especially at family gatherings where elder members may take you on a trip down memory lane.
First out Pie Spatula
What could possibly ruin the perfect homemade Dutch crumb apple pie? Having it fall apart while you try to get that first piece out of the pie dish. Well, here is a secret of the pros – use a first out pie spatula. You bake the spatula in with the pie. When the pie comes out of the oven and cools, you make the cuts and lift that first piece out in perfect appetizing condition!
Kitchen Companion Guide
Ever wonder how long you need to steam asparagus? Not sure how to stick a thermometer in a turkey? Never butterflied a pork chop before? For all the weird, rarely used information you may need, while preparing a feast, you can turn to a kitchen guide. Look for a kitchen guide which specializes in everything and anything you may need to know while cooking any meal in any kitchen. For a complete guide that has gotten rave reviews, check out the Williams-Sonoma Kitchen Companion: The A to Z Guide to Everyday Cooking, Equipment and Ingredients.
Many of the above items may not be featured at your local retail store, so you might want to find a local kitchen specialty store near you or do your shopping online. But, if you enjoy the art of cooking and want to be armed with the best tools possible, you now have a few more to add to your arsenal which will help you cook like the pros.
About the author:Mike Lansing is a retired chef who spent most of his time as a Head Chef in New Orleans after training in France. He spends his free time cooking for family and friends, as well as serving as a contributing editor for CookingSchools101.com which offers information on Culinary Schools for those wishing to enter the trade.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Menu Planning
Frugal Menu Planning--Getting Started
by: Cyndi Roberts
Getting started making a plan for a week's worth of meals can surely be a bit daunting at first. It need not be complicated--though a little bit of time spent planning will be well worth it! A good way to start is by looking at what you already have on hand -- sort of taking a visual inventory. Next,it's helpful to list on a piece of paper, all the meals for the coming week.
For example, list all the days, then Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, etc. On this list of meals, write down a main dish and a couple of side dishes that you want to make, keeping in mind what staples are on hand in the cupboard and in the freezer.
Try to come up with as many meals as you can with what you have on hand. Remember to write down some of the extras you think you might like to make during the coming week -- such as cookies, snacks or desserts.
Always keep the ads from the local grocery store handy and plan meals around the weekly specials, if possible. Don't just think about main dishes; if bananas are on sale, make banana bread for snacks, or lunches, for example. While you are making your menu plan, think about what will be happening in the next week.
Is Friday night Football Game Night? Plan to have a supper that is quick to fix. Is Wednesday your day off? That is the day you might want to try out a new recipe that takes a little longer to prepare. Whatever your schedule, plan your menus around it. And be flexible! If it snows on
Tuesday, and you hadn't planned to make chili until Thursday, you can just switch the menus around. Keep your lists, so that in weeks to come, you can be reminded of some meals your family especially liked (or disliked!).
After a few weeks, you will end up with a set of weekly menus that you can use over and over. With your plan in hand, you won't be tempted to go for takeout because you just can't think of anything to make for supper. And you won't get caught without that "one ingredient" you need to make tonight's supper, so no more last minute trips to the grocery store!
About the author:Cyndi Roberts is the editor of the "1 Frugal Friend 2 Another" bi-weekly newsletter and founder of the website of the same name. Visit http://www.cynroberts.com/to find creative tips, articles, and a free e-cooking book. Subscribe to the newsletter and receive the free e-course "Taming the Monster Grocery Bill".
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by: Cyndi Roberts
Getting started making a plan for a week's worth of meals can surely be a bit daunting at first. It need not be complicated--though a little bit of time spent planning will be well worth it! A good way to start is by looking at what you already have on hand -- sort of taking a visual inventory. Next,it's helpful to list on a piece of paper, all the meals for the coming week.
For example, list all the days, then Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, etc. On this list of meals, write down a main dish and a couple of side dishes that you want to make, keeping in mind what staples are on hand in the cupboard and in the freezer.
Try to come up with as many meals as you can with what you have on hand. Remember to write down some of the extras you think you might like to make during the coming week -- such as cookies, snacks or desserts.
Always keep the ads from the local grocery store handy and plan meals around the weekly specials, if possible. Don't just think about main dishes; if bananas are on sale, make banana bread for snacks, or lunches, for example. While you are making your menu plan, think about what will be happening in the next week.
Is Friday night Football Game Night? Plan to have a supper that is quick to fix. Is Wednesday your day off? That is the day you might want to try out a new recipe that takes a little longer to prepare. Whatever your schedule, plan your menus around it. And be flexible! If it snows on
Tuesday, and you hadn't planned to make chili until Thursday, you can just switch the menus around. Keep your lists, so that in weeks to come, you can be reminded of some meals your family especially liked (or disliked!).
After a few weeks, you will end up with a set of weekly menus that you can use over and over. With your plan in hand, you won't be tempted to go for takeout because you just can't think of anything to make for supper. And you won't get caught without that "one ingredient" you need to make tonight's supper, so no more last minute trips to the grocery store!
About the author:Cyndi Roberts is the editor of the "1 Frugal Friend 2 Another" bi-weekly newsletter and founder of the website of the same name. Visit http://www.cynroberts.com/to find creative tips, articles, and a free e-cooking book. Subscribe to the newsletter and receive the free e-course "Taming the Monster Grocery Bill".
bj3hxwyk6m
How to Carve a Turkey
How to Carve a Turkey
by: Michael Lansing
To someone who is just learning to cook, this topic may seem like one of the hardest meals you will ever have to prepare. Needless to say, if you’re having a turkey there’s usually company involved which means a number of hungry people are relying on you to prepare a great meal. This can be very intimidating.
Luckily we have all the information you need, in order to ensure a great meal for you, your friends and your family.
In order to successfully carve a turkey, you will need to have the following pieces of equipment:
• One warm serving platter
• A pair of kitchen scissors
• An electric knife or a large slicing knife (you may want to choose a manual knife since they provide more control than electric ones)
• A small carving knife or fork for arranging and serving the meat
Now that you have the equipment you need to carve the turkey, follow these steps in order to become a turkey carving expert:
1. Leave the turkey to sit 20-30 minutes after roasting and before carving. This will make the meat moister and easier to cut.
2. After the turkey has sat for the time indicated above, transfer the turkey onto a cutting board; this is where you will begin carving the turkey.
3. Remove the Leg: To do this, hold the drumstick firmly with your fingers and gently pull the meat away from the body of the turkey.
While doing this, cut through the skin between the leg and the body. Next, cut through the joint joining the leg to the backbone. Then separate the drumstick and thigh by cutting downwards through the joint, until the knife hits the cutting board.
4. Slicing the Drumstick (Leg) Meat: Once you have detached the leg from the rest of the body, you will want to slice the meat. Hold the drumstick in an upright position and turn the drumstick in a circular motion while cutting downwards. This will produce tasty slices of meat which are approximately equal size.
5. Slicing the Thigh Meat: When slicing thigh meat, you want to hold it close to the plate and secure it so it does not move.
For best results when cutting thigh meat, make sure your knife is parallel to the bone and cut downwards towards the plate in slow, steady motions.
6. Slicing the Breast Meat: Make a deep cut into the breast of the turkey towards the body frame, as close to the wing as you can. Starting at the front of the turkey (about halfway up the breast) start cutting downwards, parallel to the cut you made to the wing. Only cut enough meat as you think necessary for the amount of people. Uncut meat will stay fresher longer.
7. Serve the Turkey: place all the slices of meat in an attractive manner on a large platter and serve to your guests.
* Note: Remove stuffing from the turkey either by taking it out of the hole made where the leg was removed or by making a new hole in the neck and taking it out from there.
About the author:Mike Lansing is a retired chef who spent most of his time as a Head Chef in New Orleans after training in France. He spends his free time cooking for family and friends, as well as serving as a contributing editor for CookingSchools101.com which offers information on Culinary Schools and obtaining a Culinary Degree for those wishing to enter the trade.
by: Michael Lansing
To someone who is just learning to cook, this topic may seem like one of the hardest meals you will ever have to prepare. Needless to say, if you’re having a turkey there’s usually company involved which means a number of hungry people are relying on you to prepare a great meal. This can be very intimidating.
Luckily we have all the information you need, in order to ensure a great meal for you, your friends and your family.
In order to successfully carve a turkey, you will need to have the following pieces of equipment:
• One warm serving platter
• A pair of kitchen scissors
• An electric knife or a large slicing knife (you may want to choose a manual knife since they provide more control than electric ones)
• A small carving knife or fork for arranging and serving the meat
Now that you have the equipment you need to carve the turkey, follow these steps in order to become a turkey carving expert:
1. Leave the turkey to sit 20-30 minutes after roasting and before carving. This will make the meat moister and easier to cut.
2. After the turkey has sat for the time indicated above, transfer the turkey onto a cutting board; this is where you will begin carving the turkey.
3. Remove the Leg: To do this, hold the drumstick firmly with your fingers and gently pull the meat away from the body of the turkey.
While doing this, cut through the skin between the leg and the body. Next, cut through the joint joining the leg to the backbone. Then separate the drumstick and thigh by cutting downwards through the joint, until the knife hits the cutting board.
4. Slicing the Drumstick (Leg) Meat: Once you have detached the leg from the rest of the body, you will want to slice the meat. Hold the drumstick in an upright position and turn the drumstick in a circular motion while cutting downwards. This will produce tasty slices of meat which are approximately equal size.
5. Slicing the Thigh Meat: When slicing thigh meat, you want to hold it close to the plate and secure it so it does not move.
For best results when cutting thigh meat, make sure your knife is parallel to the bone and cut downwards towards the plate in slow, steady motions.
6. Slicing the Breast Meat: Make a deep cut into the breast of the turkey towards the body frame, as close to the wing as you can. Starting at the front of the turkey (about halfway up the breast) start cutting downwards, parallel to the cut you made to the wing. Only cut enough meat as you think necessary for the amount of people. Uncut meat will stay fresher longer.
7. Serve the Turkey: place all the slices of meat in an attractive manner on a large platter and serve to your guests.
* Note: Remove stuffing from the turkey either by taking it out of the hole made where the leg was removed or by making a new hole in the neck and taking it out from there.
About the author:Mike Lansing is a retired chef who spent most of his time as a Head Chef in New Orleans after training in France. He spends his free time cooking for family and friends, as well as serving as a contributing editor for CookingSchools101.com which offers information on Culinary Schools and obtaining a Culinary Degree for those wishing to enter the trade.
Seasoning Cast Iron Like The Pros
Cooking Lesson: Seasoning Cast Iron Like The Pros
by: Michael Lansing
In the days before we had non-stick cookware, we had the next best thing - seasoned cast iron cookware. While non-stick cookware has certainly outdone cast iron cookware in the non-stick category, cast iron pots and pans are still favored by many chefs, including the professionals because of their durability and ability to retain flavor.
But, if you're not lucky enough to have a hand-me-down from Grandma, you may find yourself confused about how to become a cast iron chef. Have no fear - you can learn to season cast iron cookware with the pros and keep them in great shape for years to come.
Seasoning New Cast Iron Cookware The process is actually quite simple. When done correctly, your pans will last a long time and may even become your own hand-me -downs in the future.
1. Heat your oven to 300 degrees.
2. Coat the pan with lard or grease. (Be sure that you do not use vegetable oil or commercial cooking sprays. While they may seem easier, they will not only cause your cookware to be seasoned incorrectly, but they will also leave a sticky film on the outside of the cookware that is impossible to remove.)
3. Place the pan in the oven on the middle rack and allow it to bake for 15 minutes.
4. Remove the pan and pour out any excess grease or lard.
5. Put the pan back into the oven and bake for another two hours.
6. Repeat as needed
Many cast iron enthusiasts will swear upon repeating the seasoning process several times before ever using the cookware the first time.
Each time you season the cookware, the seasoning bond becomes stronger. Many people will recommend that the first few times the cookware is used it should be used to cook greasy foods (bacon, fatty meats, etc.) to again strengthen the seasoning bond.
Re-seasoning Cookware
If you find that you seasoned the pan improperly the first time, or if food starts to stick to the pan after a period of time in use, you may want to re-season the cookware.
1. Wash the cookware thoroughly with a steel wool pad (doing this while the pan is warm and still safe to touch is best).
2. Make sure the pan is fully dry (use a towel if needed).
3. Follow the seasoning steps above to re-season the pan.
Cleaning Your Cast Iron Cookware
To make your cookware last the test of time, be sure to take proper care of it. Remember the creed of every enthusiast of cast iron - no soap and no steel wool.
Soap and steel wool will cause a breakdown in the seasoning bond and should not be used to clean your cookware on a regular basis. If you're baffled at this moment, have no fear.
Cleaning cast iron cookware is a breeze.
1. You'll need to rinse your cookware while it is still hot. If food is stuck to it, then scrape the pan or pot as needed.
That's it! Remember not to store food in your cast iron cookware because it may attach a metallic flavor to the food. In addition, store your pans with the lids off to prevent moisture from accumulating and rusting from occurring.
Now that you know the ins and outs to cast iron cookware, you can start creating your own family heirloom - as well as some great food!
About the author:Mike Lansing is a retired chef who spent most of his time as a Head Chef in New Orleans after training in France. He spends his free time cooking for family and friends, as well as serving as a contributing editor for CookingSchools101.com which offers information on Cooking Schools for those wishing to enter the trade.
by: Michael Lansing
In the days before we had non-stick cookware, we had the next best thing - seasoned cast iron cookware. While non-stick cookware has certainly outdone cast iron cookware in the non-stick category, cast iron pots and pans are still favored by many chefs, including the professionals because of their durability and ability to retain flavor.
But, if you're not lucky enough to have a hand-me-down from Grandma, you may find yourself confused about how to become a cast iron chef. Have no fear - you can learn to season cast iron cookware with the pros and keep them in great shape for years to come.
Seasoning New Cast Iron Cookware The process is actually quite simple. When done correctly, your pans will last a long time and may even become your own hand-me -downs in the future.
1. Heat your oven to 300 degrees.
2. Coat the pan with lard or grease. (Be sure that you do not use vegetable oil or commercial cooking sprays. While they may seem easier, they will not only cause your cookware to be seasoned incorrectly, but they will also leave a sticky film on the outside of the cookware that is impossible to remove.)
3. Place the pan in the oven on the middle rack and allow it to bake for 15 minutes.
4. Remove the pan and pour out any excess grease or lard.
5. Put the pan back into the oven and bake for another two hours.
6. Repeat as needed
Many cast iron enthusiasts will swear upon repeating the seasoning process several times before ever using the cookware the first time.
Each time you season the cookware, the seasoning bond becomes stronger. Many people will recommend that the first few times the cookware is used it should be used to cook greasy foods (bacon, fatty meats, etc.) to again strengthen the seasoning bond.
Re-seasoning Cookware
If you find that you seasoned the pan improperly the first time, or if food starts to stick to the pan after a period of time in use, you may want to re-season the cookware.
1. Wash the cookware thoroughly with a steel wool pad (doing this while the pan is warm and still safe to touch is best).
2. Make sure the pan is fully dry (use a towel if needed).
3. Follow the seasoning steps above to re-season the pan.
Cleaning Your Cast Iron Cookware
To make your cookware last the test of time, be sure to take proper care of it. Remember the creed of every enthusiast of cast iron - no soap and no steel wool.
Soap and steel wool will cause a breakdown in the seasoning bond and should not be used to clean your cookware on a regular basis. If you're baffled at this moment, have no fear.
Cleaning cast iron cookware is a breeze.
1. You'll need to rinse your cookware while it is still hot. If food is stuck to it, then scrape the pan or pot as needed.
That's it! Remember not to store food in your cast iron cookware because it may attach a metallic flavor to the food. In addition, store your pans with the lids off to prevent moisture from accumulating and rusting from occurring.
Now that you know the ins and outs to cast iron cookware, you can start creating your own family heirloom - as well as some great food!
About the author:Mike Lansing is a retired chef who spent most of his time as a Head Chef in New Orleans after training in France. He spends his free time cooking for family and friends, as well as serving as a contributing editor for CookingSchools101.com which offers information on Cooking Schools for those wishing to enter the trade.
Converting a Stovetop Recipe to a Crockpot Recipe
Converting a Stovetop Recipe to a Crockpot Recipe
by: tony buel
Crockpots vary but the low setting is typically around 100 degrees and its high setting is around 300 degrees.
Knowing this, it is fairly easy to convert most recipes for use in your slow cooker. Some adjusments to cooking times will be a judgement call on your part, but some simple guidelines should help. Just follow a few simple rules and you're on your way.
You should decrease the liquid since it does not boil away in a crockpot. Add cheeses and other milk product towards the end of your cooking since they tend to break down if they are cooked for too long.
Brown any ground beef before adding to the crockpot. It will taste better and have better texture this way. Add rice and noodles at the end of your cooking as well. They will turn mushy if they are cooked too long.
You can cook these separately and then combine them when it's time to serve. Add your spices at the end. If a stovetop recipe calls for 15-30 minutes, the crockpot should cook it for 1 1/2 - 2 1/2 hrs at a high temperature and 4 - 8 hours at its low temperature setting. If a stovetop recipe calls for 35-45 minutes, the crockpot should cook it for 3-4 hrs at a high temperature setting and 6 - 10 hours at its low temperature setting.
If a stovetop recipe calls for 50 min to 3 hours, the crockpot should cook it for 4 - 6 hrs at a high temperature setting and 8 - 16 hours at its low temperature setting. Following these guidelines will allow you to be able to convert a stovetop recipe to its delicious slow cooking counterpart!
About the author:Tony's website www.my-crockpot-recipesprovides hundreds of delicious and easy to make crockpot recipes.
by: tony buel
Crockpots vary but the low setting is typically around 100 degrees and its high setting is around 300 degrees.
Knowing this, it is fairly easy to convert most recipes for use in your slow cooker. Some adjusments to cooking times will be a judgement call on your part, but some simple guidelines should help. Just follow a few simple rules and you're on your way.
You should decrease the liquid since it does not boil away in a crockpot. Add cheeses and other milk product towards the end of your cooking since they tend to break down if they are cooked for too long.
Brown any ground beef before adding to the crockpot. It will taste better and have better texture this way. Add rice and noodles at the end of your cooking as well. They will turn mushy if they are cooked too long.
You can cook these separately and then combine them when it's time to serve. Add your spices at the end. If a stovetop recipe calls for 15-30 minutes, the crockpot should cook it for 1 1/2 - 2 1/2 hrs at a high temperature and 4 - 8 hours at its low temperature setting. If a stovetop recipe calls for 35-45 minutes, the crockpot should cook it for 3-4 hrs at a high temperature setting and 6 - 10 hours at its low temperature setting.
If a stovetop recipe calls for 50 min to 3 hours, the crockpot should cook it for 4 - 6 hrs at a high temperature setting and 8 - 16 hours at its low temperature setting. Following these guidelines will allow you to be able to convert a stovetop recipe to its delicious slow cooking counterpart!
About the author:Tony's website www.my-crockpot-recipesprovides hundreds of delicious and easy to make crockpot recipes.
Eat Your Veggies! Simple Cooking Methods
Eat your Veggies! Simple Cooking Methods
Vegetables add colour, taste, texture and bulk to our daily diet. There are dozens of different vegetables that can be prepared in literally hundreds of ways. So what's best?
There is no best. The thing to do is to eat your vegetables, lots of them, everyday in a wide variety of ways and stop worrying about the preparation methods. Variety is the key...
Raw
Many vegetables taste fabulous just the way they are straight out of the garden. Lettuce, tomato, celery, cabbage, onion, radish, carrot are obvious choices here. But they are just as likely to find themselves next to chopped up broccoli, cauliflower, peas, beans and zucchini on a starter platter with dips. Wash 'em, chop 'em and eat 'em. Oh, yeah, you could also make a salad!
Steamed
Steaming heats the vegetable and softens it's texture. It's gentler than boiling and allows the vegetable to maintain it's colour if not overdone. Use a stainless steel steamer that will fit into most good size sauce pans. Make sure you use a pan with a tight fitting lid. There should be enough water to just touch the bottom of the steamer. Water should be simmering the whole time the vegetables are being cooked.
Boiling
Boiling vegetables is really going out of fashion, but it's a legitimate preparation method! The big concern is loss of nutrients. All cooking methods result in the loss of some goodness from the vegetables. If boiling, try to find a way to use the water the vegetables have been boiled in (i.e. to make a gravy or sauce) to bring those nutrients back to the table. Vegetables should be barely covered with water. Bring the water to a boil (covered) then slow to a simmer until vegetables are tender.
Microwave
Very popular for vegetables as it retains colour, flavour and nutrients. Trial and error will be your guide with microwaving as there are plenty of variables involved. However, a few guidelines will help...The more food you put into the oven, the longer it will take to cook. Underestimate your cooking time rather than overestimate. Undercooked food can be cooked some more. Over-cooked food is ruined. Food straight from the fridge will take longer to cook than that at room temperature. All food continues to cook after it has been removed from the microwave oven. It is part of the cooking process and should be taken into account to prevent over-cooking.
Stir Fry
Very rapid method of quick frying vegetables, meat (optional) and sauces in one pan to make a meal. Primarily associated with Asian cooking. The key to doing this well is preparation. All items to be cooked should be chopped to a size that will allow them to cook quickly in the wok. It is also important that the wok is heated to a high, consistent temperature throughout. Vegetables maintain their colour and crispness with this sort of cooking (if not overdone).
Baking
Brilliant! Especially for those 'root' vegetables like potatoes, turnip, carrot and beetroot. Chop into similar size pieces, brush lightly with olive oil and put in a hot oven to roast. Size of the pieces will determine the cooking time but expect at least 40 minutes. Outside is chewy, inside is moist and fluffy. Dress with sour cream and chives. Yum!
Barbeque
Does anything scream summer like the word barbeque? Love a barbeque. This is primarily open flame cooking, so could apply to a campfire as well. Cooking outside just changes everything about food. You'll need foil, fire and fresh veggies. Grease your foil, chop your veggies and put the closed packages on the grill. Be adventurous, it's really hard to mess this up!
Judy Williams (http://www.no-dig-vegetablegarden.com) splits her time between being a media executive and an earth mother goddess. No Dig Vegetable Gardens represents a clean, green way to grow your own food. The site covers all aspects of growing, cooking and preserving your harvest.
Vegetables add colour, taste, texture and bulk to our daily diet. There are dozens of different vegetables that can be prepared in literally hundreds of ways. So what's best?
There is no best. The thing to do is to eat your vegetables, lots of them, everyday in a wide variety of ways and stop worrying about the preparation methods. Variety is the key...
Raw
Many vegetables taste fabulous just the way they are straight out of the garden. Lettuce, tomato, celery, cabbage, onion, radish, carrot are obvious choices here. But they are just as likely to find themselves next to chopped up broccoli, cauliflower, peas, beans and zucchini on a starter platter with dips. Wash 'em, chop 'em and eat 'em. Oh, yeah, you could also make a salad!
Steamed
Steaming heats the vegetable and softens it's texture. It's gentler than boiling and allows the vegetable to maintain it's colour if not overdone. Use a stainless steel steamer that will fit into most good size sauce pans. Make sure you use a pan with a tight fitting lid. There should be enough water to just touch the bottom of the steamer. Water should be simmering the whole time the vegetables are being cooked.
Boiling
Boiling vegetables is really going out of fashion, but it's a legitimate preparation method! The big concern is loss of nutrients. All cooking methods result in the loss of some goodness from the vegetables. If boiling, try to find a way to use the water the vegetables have been boiled in (i.e. to make a gravy or sauce) to bring those nutrients back to the table. Vegetables should be barely covered with water. Bring the water to a boil (covered) then slow to a simmer until vegetables are tender.
Microwave
Very popular for vegetables as it retains colour, flavour and nutrients. Trial and error will be your guide with microwaving as there are plenty of variables involved. However, a few guidelines will help...The more food you put into the oven, the longer it will take to cook. Underestimate your cooking time rather than overestimate. Undercooked food can be cooked some more. Over-cooked food is ruined. Food straight from the fridge will take longer to cook than that at room temperature. All food continues to cook after it has been removed from the microwave oven. It is part of the cooking process and should be taken into account to prevent over-cooking.
Stir Fry
Very rapid method of quick frying vegetables, meat (optional) and sauces in one pan to make a meal. Primarily associated with Asian cooking. The key to doing this well is preparation. All items to be cooked should be chopped to a size that will allow them to cook quickly in the wok. It is also important that the wok is heated to a high, consistent temperature throughout. Vegetables maintain their colour and crispness with this sort of cooking (if not overdone).
Baking
Brilliant! Especially for those 'root' vegetables like potatoes, turnip, carrot and beetroot. Chop into similar size pieces, brush lightly with olive oil and put in a hot oven to roast. Size of the pieces will determine the cooking time but expect at least 40 minutes. Outside is chewy, inside is moist and fluffy. Dress with sour cream and chives. Yum!
Barbeque
Does anything scream summer like the word barbeque? Love a barbeque. This is primarily open flame cooking, so could apply to a campfire as well. Cooking outside just changes everything about food. You'll need foil, fire and fresh veggies. Grease your foil, chop your veggies and put the closed packages on the grill. Be adventurous, it's really hard to mess this up!
Judy Williams (http://www.no-dig-vegetablegarden.com) splits her time between being a media executive and an earth mother goddess. No Dig Vegetable Gardens represents a clean, green way to grow your own food. The site covers all aspects of growing, cooking and preserving your harvest.
3 Methods for Perfectly Melted Chocolate
3 Methods For Perfectly Melted Chocolate
by: Lee Dobbins
Melting chocolate for baking is an exacting task, if not done perfectly you can end up with a burned or grainy mess and ruin whatever you are baking. Below are 3 methods for melting chocolate, each can be successful in it’s own way and you need only pick a method that works for you and get cooking!
In The Oven
Chocolate can be melted in the oven quite easily but you will need to be very diligent about watching it. It’s easy to get caught up in your other baking chores and not realize that you have overheated it until it is too late. To melt chocolate in the oven, heat the oven to 110 degrees. Chop the chocolate and place in a dish inside the oven. Keep the door open and check regularly. It will take about an hour to melt thoroughly.
Double Boiler Method
This tried and true method uses two pots or a special double boiler pot. The bottom pot has about an inch of water in it and the top pot is a bit smaller and rests on the bottom pot. The water should be heated to just below a simmer. Chop the chocolate and put it in the top pot. The chocolate should be stirred until melted and you must be very careful not to get any water mixed in with the chocolate as this will make it grainy.
Microwave
Using the microwave to melt chocolate can be the fastest but also the most disastrous method as a couple of seconds of overheating can ruin the chocolate. Chop the chocolate and put it in a microwave safe bowl. Heat on 50% for 1 to 4 minutes - the amount of time needed will depend on the amount of chocolate you are melting so you will have to watch the chocolate the whole time. When you see that it is turning shiny and before it is fully melted, remove it from the oven and stir until it melts fully.
About the author:
Lee Dobbins is editor of www.online-gourmet-foods.com where you can learn more about gourmet food and find out more about gourmet chocolate.
by: Lee Dobbins
Melting chocolate for baking is an exacting task, if not done perfectly you can end up with a burned or grainy mess and ruin whatever you are baking. Below are 3 methods for melting chocolate, each can be successful in it’s own way and you need only pick a method that works for you and get cooking!
In The Oven
Chocolate can be melted in the oven quite easily but you will need to be very diligent about watching it. It’s easy to get caught up in your other baking chores and not realize that you have overheated it until it is too late. To melt chocolate in the oven, heat the oven to 110 degrees. Chop the chocolate and place in a dish inside the oven. Keep the door open and check regularly. It will take about an hour to melt thoroughly.
Double Boiler Method
This tried and true method uses two pots or a special double boiler pot. The bottom pot has about an inch of water in it and the top pot is a bit smaller and rests on the bottom pot. The water should be heated to just below a simmer. Chop the chocolate and put it in the top pot. The chocolate should be stirred until melted and you must be very careful not to get any water mixed in with the chocolate as this will make it grainy.
Microwave
Using the microwave to melt chocolate can be the fastest but also the most disastrous method as a couple of seconds of overheating can ruin the chocolate. Chop the chocolate and put it in a microwave safe bowl. Heat on 50% for 1 to 4 minutes - the amount of time needed will depend on the amount of chocolate you are melting so you will have to watch the chocolate the whole time. When you see that it is turning shiny and before it is fully melted, remove it from the oven and stir until it melts fully.
About the author:
Lee Dobbins is editor of www.online-gourmet-foods.com where you can learn more about gourmet food and find out more about gourmet chocolate.
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