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
Showing posts with label budget cooking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label budget cooking. Show all posts
Sunday, July 19, 2009
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
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