Tuesday, May 1, 2007

Ideas for Barbeque Rubs

By: B. Janeway
Most people prefer natural tastes so don’t go for rubs that overpower this very thing. A common mistake in creating barbeque rub is the too strong taste due to excess seasoning used. Remember that these are designed to enhance flavor, not to spoil them.

Making good barbeque rubs takes some time of practice and experimentation. One must only be creative and must learn to anticipate the flavor that would come up after the seasonings are mixed. You need not be a good chef; you just have to follow your best judgment in mixing things up. Say, a slight change on the amount of pepper could have dramatic effect on the barbeque rub. The same goes with salt, garlic and onion powder, cumin and others.

A good rub begins with a good experimentation on the salt-sugar mixture. Each type of sugar creates various effects when combined with other ingredients. Say for brown sugar, this works well with ribs but take care though because it burns easily. In the end, you might find yourself dealing with a bitter barbeque.

Various kinds of slats work differently too. Among the common choices are kosher slat, table salt and sea salt. To complete the base for barbeque rubs, it is best to add paprika. This adds a mild flavor while providing dark red color on the rub. Spices can add great flavors and a couple of variations on your barbeque rub.

One good advantage of using barbeque rubs is that they send you away from classic gravies and sauces. But like marinades, rubs are best applied several minutes prior to cooking for better fusion of flavors into the meat or poultry. What's good with rubs is that they have long shelf life. Thus, once you find the rub that suits your taste you can easily create some of it to be stored fro future use. Not all barbeque rubs are dry though. There are the wet rubs that have lemon, oil and butter blended into the spice mixture. Often, these come in paste form.

To help you get an idea of common barbeque rubs, we have prepared the basic ones here for you. Please read on.

Basic Barbeque Rub

? cup salt
? cup sugar
? cup garlic powder
? cup black pepper

Mix all these ingredients in a bowl. Freshly ground pepper works best as well as using sea salt or
kosher salt.

Before setting the meat off to the barbeque grill, it is recommended that the rub has been applied 10 minutes before.

Hot-Sweet Barbeque Rub

? cup chili powder
1 cup brown sugar
1 tbsp black pepper
1 tbsp salt
2 tsp onion powder
2 tsp garlic powder

Mix all the ingredients together. If you are using ribs, it is advisable that you set the mixture on a plate rather than in a bowl.

For whole chicken recipe, ensure to it that enough rub is driven under the skin. This will prevent the flavorings from falling off apart from enhancing the meat, not the skin. Apply this rub 20 minutes prior to cooking.

Pepper Barbeque Rub

1 tbsp ground coriander
3 tbsp white pepper
1/4 cup black pepper
3 tbsp salt

Mix these ingredients in a bowl. Apply to recipe 10 minutes before cooking.

For extra flavor, you can add habanero. Be careful though not to mix in too much unless you want to make it sizzling hot.

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What to make for dinner?

By: Michael K. Sasaki
Can’t decide what to make for dinner?

This is a common problem that I hear from housewives, working men and women and bachelors:

“What am I going to make for dinner??!!”

I know I have a house full of groceries and all the cookware you would ever need, but I still ask myself that question daily. After a long day at work, I usually walk to my refrigerator, open it up, and look at all these groceries that I just bought from the grocery store. I have a handful of recipes that I can make off the top of my head, but there is one problem with that…I’m tired of eating the same five things every week. There are only so many tacos and spaghetti I can eat in a month. I close the refrigerator and walk to my pantry. Same thing, tons of groceries, but the same five recipes run through my head.

Now, this problem is tough enough, but to complicate matters, I need easy to make recipes AND they have to be delicious. Am I setting the bar too high? Possibly, but, keep in mind that I’ve got a high-speed connection to the internet and we all know the internet has hundreds of thousand of recipes. What are the chances I can find a recipe in an hour? You would think, pretty good, but as you’ll find out, I have no chance and I don’t even know it. So, I fire up my computer and dive into the internet in search of a simple, delicious recipe. I find twenty or thirty recipes that sound delicious, from their title, but it turns out that I have to buy all these ingredients that I have never heard of before AND it’ll take over an hour to make. An hour goes by and it is now 7:30pm and I still have not eaten. I can either go back to the grocery store and spend another hour in search of ingredients I have never heard of or I can make a run to the local fast food chain. The interesting thing is that I am running out of time, but I had all the time in the world to look for a recipe while at work earlier in the day. If there was only some way to know what groceries I had at home (while at work) and I could plug them into a machine that would help recipes find me instead of me looking for recipes If there was such a machine, my stomach would be full and I’d be relaxing on my couch right now. Just think if you were house-hunting and instead of looking at house after house, the perfect house finds you or if you are car shopping and the perfect car finds you.

There has got to be a better way to search for recipes AND there is! Will I tell you right now? Well, what is the fun in that? I’ll give you a hint – it’s a website that you can use from anywhere you can get access to the internet. The requirements for the recipes listed are that they have to be delicious (as determined by the users) and they must be quick and easy to make (as determined by the users).

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Vegetarians at the BBQ

By: Emma Snow
It would seem that nowadays there are a lot of options for vegetarians. Meatless alternatives seem to abound everywhere, from the neighborhood deli, to the sushi shop, to the hamburger joint. The hamburger joint? Yes, you heard correctly. With the introduction of several brands of meatless “burgers,” vegetarians can brave the very den of carnivorous pleasure. Once viewed as an eccentric oddity, vegetarians have moved from the fringe to the mainstream. However, the truth is, all too often the meatless menu option isn’t vegetarian at all…it’s just a menu item, minus the meat. Unfortunately, a white hoagie bun topped with iceberg lettuce, pickles, onions, mayonnaise, and mustard is about as unappealing to the vegetarian as it is to the carnivore counterpart.

So what about the vegetarian at the barbecue?

With its increased popularity, it’s highly likely you have friends or family members who’ve adopted this lifestyle. Don’t let this cause you angst the next time you invite them over for barbecue. With the tips below, you can be assured they’ll be licking their fingers and singing your praise as enthusiastically as your steak-loving comrades.

The first rule of thumb when barbecuing for vegetarians is that veggies are not just a sideshow anymore. Don’t doom your vegetarian guests to pick and choose among the sides to make their meals. Potato salad, relish plates, and devilled eggs? Consider. You offer steak, chicken, and fish to your meat-loving friends, but the vegetarian in attendance is offered only corn on the cob? Lame! If you want to really impress your vegetarian guests, you want to offer at least one meat-free main dish. While there are a few meat substitutions out there I advise you to think outside the box. A quick search on the internet will reveal literally hundreds of recipes for preparing veggies on the grill. A short-list of the easiest to prepare, and most popular vegetables would include potatoes, corn, tomatoes, and zucchini. If you’re willing to put in a little more effort, you can prepare a bowl of pasta to serve with the grilled veggies. Don’t blame me if your meat-loving friends fill up on this entr?e and you have to make more!

The second tip to hosting a vegetarian-friendly barbecue is presentation. While a pile of juicy steaks thrown on a platter straight from the grill may look tempting, a pound of potatoes doesn’t quite have the same appeal. Take a few minutes to peruse a few vegetarian cookbooks, or preview the photographs of the recipes you check out on line. You may be surprised how tempting a plate of Stuffed Tomatoes looks with a sprig of fresh herbs and a sprinkling of balsamic vinegar, grated cheese, or drizzled oil. Let your creative juices flow freely, and watch how mouth-watering the vegetarian alternative suddenly becomes.

This article wouldn’t be complete without a word on quality. Time after time I’ve found this to be the big difference between a veggie-lover and a veggie-hater. Usually the veggie-hater has never been exposed to good quality vegetables. If you want your vegetarian entr?e to come out tasting like a champ, it’s worth the effort to find the freshest produce available. Barbecue season also happens to be the best season for vegetables—so check out your local farmer’s market or neighborhood vegetable stand. Of course, the best place to get vegetables is straight out of the garden, and there are great recipes that even use the veggies you may otherwise throw away. (For example, the green tomatoes that get knocked off the vine grill up firm and tangy!) Trust me, everyone will love a vegetable that has been ripened by the sun, and picked in season.

There you have it! Take these tips with you to the grocery store and the vegetable stand, and I have no doubt your barbecue will be a big hit—for everyone!

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Cooking Recipes – Know Where to Look for Success

By: Dave Smith
Have you ever had the craving for a particular dish or meal, but cannot seem to find a recipe for it? If this sounds like you, there is no need to fret. The fact of the matter is that recipes are available all over the place. Just because you are not a master chef does not mean that you cannot find cooking recipes. If you know where to look for recipes you should never have any problem getting started with your next delicious meal.

Here are three places that you can find cooking recipes without having to spend hours looking for them.

1. The most obvious place to find cooking recipes is in a cookbook. Paper recipes are what the majority of people turn to when they are trying to make a dish that they are not familiar with. After all, paper recipes allow you to keep the instructions handy as you move through the process. The good thing about cookbooks is that there are hundreds of them for sale, with each on touching on a unique topic. You can find a cookbook that covers everything from bread making to desserts.

2. When searching for cooking recipes never overlook a good friend. Chances are that if you like to cook, you probably know somebody else that shares the passion. Why not swap recipes so that everybody can enjoy? Trading paper recipes with a friend is one of the most overlooked ways of finding new dishes to make.

3. Of course, you can search for recipes online. If there is something that you need information on in a hurry, the internet is the place to look. Computer recipes allow you to find what you need without having to buy a single thing. In addition, many people have decided to go the internet route because they can print out the computer recipes and take them to the kitchen. It does not get much easier than that.

Regardless of what type of recipe you are in need of, the fact of the matter is that they can be found in a number of different places. If you do not have luck with one of the options listed above, you can always try the next. And if none of them work for you, why not find your own way of compiling recipes?

The bottom line is that you do not have to be a cooking professional to find quality recipes.

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Private Chef

By: Andrew Horan
It is a special day. You want to make sure everything is perfect for the romantic meal you are planning tonight. You make one phone call and then, reassured, go back to work. When you get home, your other half is waiting for you in the living room. On the coffee table are two martinis and two appetizers. The first one is lemon and saffron chicken brochettes. The second one is wild mushrooms, garlic, and thyme bouchees. You know the soup course, classic vichyssoise, is in the works. The salad course will soon follow. The baby leaf salad with roasted pepper and black olive drizzled with balsamic vinaigrette is your favorite. You sit down, take your shoes off, and pick up the martini. While you relax, you smell the main course of seafood raqut with lobster, scallop, shrimp and mussels in a champagne infused tomato sauce. The rice pilaf and vegetable ratatuie will accompany the main course.

Sure maybe you could have prepared this meal, but you know that you would not be sitting down now enjoying your first mouthful of brochette without worrying about the next courses. Once you made that phone call from your office, you knew that everything would be perfect. Instead of spending hours planning the meal, shopping at several different markets, and locked in your kitchen cooking and digging up your fine china, you made one phone call. It was to the personal chef whom you hired to prepare your meal. He has experience working in restaurants in Europe, the U.S., and the Caribbean. His services include everything from menu consultation to food preparation to serving and finally the clean up. When your personal chef leaves, the kitchen is spotless, the dinner table cleared, and you can enjoy the rest of your evening without worrying about the traffic on your way home.

The personal chef is not just for the super rich anymore. Many Washington area couples are finding that it is easier to call a personal chef then to venture out to their favorite restaurants. The food, the service, and the cost of a dinner prepared by a personal chef rivals meals prepared at the areas finer restaurants.

Couples have different reasons for turning to the personal chefs. For some, hours stuck in the gridlock of their commute have made going back out into traffic for a meal at a decent restaurant unbearable. For those people, the convenience of hiring a personal chef to prepare a meal is irresistible. For others, the stress of preparing those big holiday meals for large numbers of holiday guests is a stress that they can do without. What are the other options? You can spend hours stuck in a kitchen or you can organize the trip out to the closest restaurant. Preparing a dinner for large numbers of people is no small feat. Bringing your guests to a restaurant on a holiday requires reservations, transportation, and other drawbacks. Others prefer to enjoy a romantic meal at home without complications. Whatever reason, Washington area couples are turning to the personal chef and they are keeping it quiet. Why? You may hear rumors that your neighbors had a meal catered or someone must have taken some cooking courses. However, you will not hear that your neighbors are using a personal chef. Couples are hoarding the names of the good personal chefs. What use is having the number of a personal chef, if you cannot use it when you want? With holidays or special occasions always coming up, no security clearance is high enough to be trusted with the contact information of your favorite personal chef.

If you are celebrating a special occasion, or just want to have a good meal in a relaxed setting, hiring a personal chef for an evening is a great option. The big question is how do you find a good personal chef? Normally, I would suggest word of mouth. That works for maids, mechanics, and hairstylists. The contact information for personal chefs is rarely given out. Why plan a special meal with a personal chef, if the chef is not available because you have given out his or her contact info to all your friends. Why risk missing an incredible Christmas dinner prepared by a personal chef - because your friend has hired the chef instead.

You can look at resumes but you cannot eat words. What matters most is the food and the professionalism. Please understand that these individuals spend their lives working with food. They are food geeks so do not be put off by their enthusiasm for food topics. Enthusiasm is an unproven criterion. If the chef seems to be as interested in your meal as you are, that is a good sign, but only a sign.

How do you find a good personal chef? Are there associations or companies that provide personal chefs? Yes - but the important thing is the quality of the chef. If you want someone to cook a special meal, it does not matter where you found your chef. Whether you find your chef through the yellow pages or web pages from an association or independent contractor, focus on what matters the food. You can find the chefs through a web search or the yellow page. Many of the chefs can be removed from your list that way. If the web page does not contain a sample menu or it does not impress you, move on to the next one. The best way to choose a personal chef is through the interview and the tasting. These individuals are using the title of chef so yes, everything about their cooking should impress you even the menu. Be picky. When you interview the chef, have him or her provide menu suggestions. If you want something that would be served at the areas best restaurants - the menu is the first sign of quality. Ask where they will be getting the wines. Ask where they will be getting the produce. Ask where they will be doing the cooking. Most chefs will supply a range of services.

Do you want that special someone to think that you prepared the meal? Some personal chefs will drop off the food.

Do you want the meal served on the finest china? Some personal chefs will provide china, crystal, and whatever is needed.

After you have asked all the questions you can think to ask, the only thing that really matters is the food. Ask for a sample. If anything does not impress you, move onto the next chef. Remember a good chef will tailor his menu and services to your dinner, not the other way around.

So what happens after you hire the personal chef? Imagine eating a romantic meal at home and being able to be romantic after it is over without worrying about the dirty dishes. Imagine splitting a bottle of wine at dinner and not having to worry about whom will be the designated driver.

Will I admit to using a personal chef? Yes. I used one to help write this article. The menu that I included above is straight off the website of my personal chef. His background is borrowed also. He is Executive Chef Vinko Marinkovic and he is the best-kept secret in the Washington area. Most of his customers would not give up his contact information under threat of torture. He can prepare a private meal for two Thanksgiving dinner for their twenty guests. Whether it is the wine from his private cellar or menus tailored to your tastes from many different cuisines or the service that he provides, you will notice similar touches from some of the finest restaurants in the Washington area. The difference is if you go a great Washington area restaurant, you can order what is on the menu. If you hire Chef Marinkovic, you can have French appetizers, with Italian as the main course if you so desire. Restaurants are limited to what is on the menu. Chef Marinkovic will make whatever you ask.

Why should you hire a personal chef? Imagine just being able to enjoy the most amazing meal of your life.

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Spring cooking season is here!

By: Kael
As the weather gets warmer on the east coast, more and more people are drawn to the outdoors to enjoy some warm weather cooking. Gone are the soups, and replaced are the stews. Steak grilling? Chili Cooking? Absolutely! Listed below are some of our favorite recipe dishes as we prepare for the warm months.

Barbecued Pot Roast

INGREDIENTS:
• 1 beef pot roast, 4 to 5 pounds
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• cayenne and cumin
• 1 cup water
• 1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
• 2 cups sliced onions
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 1/4 cup vinegar
• 1/4 cup ketchup
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
Go ahead and brown the meat either on a grill or in an oven. Add some cayenne and cumin for that added dash of “what the hell is that?”. Now add the tomato sauce, water. onion, and minced garlic. Cover and simmer for roughly 2 to 2 1/2 hours. Add the remaining ingredients, cover, and continue cooking for 1 1/2 hours longer, or until roast is tender.
Check the recipe every now and then, and add additional water if necessary. Take out the meat and remove excess fat. The recipe serves 5-7.

Beef and Pineapple Shish Ka Bobs

Otherwise known as sirloin beef kabobs with pineapple
INGREDIENTS:
• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 3 tablespoons honey
• 2 tablespoons vinegar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ginger
• 3/4 cup oil
• 1 green onion, chopped
• 2 1/2 pounds boneless beef top sirloin, cubed 1-inch
• 1 (8oz) can pineapple tidbits, drained
• 3 red bell pepper, cut in 1-inch chunks
• 2 jalapenos
• 2 red onions, cut in 1-inch wedges
• 8 long metal skewers
PREPARATION:
In a large plastic food bag, combine the soy sauce, honey, vinegar, ginger, garlic powder, oil, and green onion. Add sirloin cubes and marinate several hours or overnight.
This is the most important step. Whenever you marinate over night, make sure you do NOT leave the marinate uncovered. Sometimes marinades will pick up other smells from food around the bowl, so be aware of that.
Drain the meat when ready and skewer the beef, pineapple and vegetables. Grill over a fire or a barbeque for 16 to 18 minutes.
Serves 8.

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When Things Go Wrong: A Guide to Fixing Kitchen Disasters

By: Cid
Too Salty
From thinking the recipe said tablespoons instead of teaspoons, to being distracted and salting something twice, this is one of the most common food disasters. Luckily there are numerous ways to solve this issue. You can try neutralizing the salt by adding sugar and cider vinegar. Add 1 teaspoon, each, at a time until you have reduced the level of saltiness. Another method that has been around for a long time is the potato method. If making a soup and it is too salty, add 1 peeled potato, cut into large chunks. Allow the soup to simmer for 15 minutes then remove the potato. It will absorb some of the excess salt. I find this method only to work if the soup in question is just slightly over salted. The final, and most effective, way to reduce saltiness is to add more of all the other ingredients to dilute it. At least you are guaranteed leftovers!

Too Spicy
You're making your favorite chili when you taste it and realize that the jalapenos you used this time were way hotter than you expected. Not to worry, there are a number of fixes to foods being too hot. The first thing to always do is taste your chile peppers. Peppers will fluxuate in the amount of heat they have and the only way too really know for sure how hot they are is to taste them. If they seem a little hotter than normal you can cut down on the amount you use and you can also make sure that you remove all of the inner membranes and seeds. This is where the majority of the heat lies in a pepper. Failing that, don't fear, all is not lost. Of course you could just add more of everything else if you want, but what if you don't want 3 gallons of chili or 1 gallon of salsa? There are still a number of options open to you. There are really three things that will help counteract the heat of chilies. They are sugar, acids, and dairy products. That said, you have a whole arsenal in your kitchen to combat spicy foods. Try adding a can of crushed pineapple to your chili. It will virtually disappear, leaving very little traces of itself while helping to counteract the heat. Give that super spicy salsa a few squirts of lime juice to help tame it, or, if appropriate add some dairy, in the form of sour cream or yogurt into a spicy sauce. At the table, offer sour cream and cheese to help counteract the heat or offer chopped cilantro which also seems to have a cooling effect on the mouth. Also remember that milk or dairy based drinks are the best way to cool a burning mouth. Highly sweetened, non carbonated drinks are second best. Stay away from water as all it does is spread the heat around in your mouth while doing very little to counteract it.

Burnt Soups and Sauces
This is one of the few times that, if you do not act quickly, your food is bound for the garbage can. There is absolutely no way, at least that I have ever heard of, to salvage a soup or sauce that tastes scorched. I have been told by numerous sources that laying a piece of bread on top of the soup will draw out the scorched flavor, but I have yet to actually see this work. Your best bet against this is vigilance. If you notice that your soup is starting to stick and burn to the bottom of your pan quick action can save it. Quickly remove the pan from the heat and plunge the bottom of the pan into cold water. This is to stop the cooking process and prevent any more from burning. Then, carefully, pour the soup or sauce into another pan leaving behind the last little bit on the bottom. Whatever you do, do not scrape anything from the old pan into the new pan. You want all the burnt stuff left behind. Taste the soup, if you don't taste any burnt flavors then you reacted quickly enough, if not then there is only one thing to do, start over.

Curdled or Broken Sauce
You slaved away all day working on that special meal and just before serving it you notice that your hollandaise sauce has broken or that your cream sauce has curdled. Not to worry, all is not lost; in fact both of these problems can be taken care of pretty simply. For a broken hollandaise you are going to take 1 egg yolk and whisk it over a water bath until it is thick and pale, just like when you started your hollandaise. Next you are going to use the broken hollandaise just like you just the butter the first time. Slowly add the broken hollandaise to the yolk, whisking vigorously as you go. This will bring your sauce back together. It might be a little more dense than it normally would be, but it will still taste great, and chances are your guest will never even know.
To fix a broken cream sauce, take ? cup of heavy cream and reduce it down to 1/3 of its original volume. Slowly drizzle in the curdled sauce while whisking vigorously. This should bring the sauce right back to its creamy, silky consistency. You can avoid a cream sauce curdling by adding just a little starch to it in the form of a roux or cornstarch slurry.

Miscellaneous Kitchen Fixes

-Melted Chocolate becomes hard and grainy (seized) Try adding a teaspoon of shortening or oil per ounce of chocolate. Doesn't always work but worth a try before throwing it away.

-Runny (or Soggy) Mashed Potatoes Try adding a few dehydrated potato flakes to the your runny mashed potatoes (yes even potato flakes have a use or 2) or try adding some powered dry milk

-Gummy Mashed Potatoes Unfortunately there is no fix for overworked, gummy mashed potatoes, but don't throw them away!!! Cool them down, add some minced onion, a couple of egg yolks and some seasoning, form into patties, pan fry and you have some wonderful Potato cakes.

-Hard to peel Hard boiled eggs Crack the eggs and place in a bowl of cool water for 5 minutes. The water will seep into the cracks and help loosen the shell from the egg.

-Slightly stale Bread You can breathe new life into day old bread by lightly sprinkling it with water, wrapping it in foil and baking it in a 300 degree oven until warm.

Kitchen disasters will happen. It is inevitable, but with these guidelines you should be able to recover from many of them. There will be times when things can't be repaired though. It is then that your creativity can shine through. Cake fallen in the center? Turn it into a trifle. Cookies spread out too much and are now hard and brittle? Chop them up and add to ice cream. Most of the time things can be rescued and dinner will be saved. Best of luck!!!!!

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Cheesy Broccoli Casserole

By: Barney Garcia
This is a great recipe for the holidays or a family get-together. Its great because it is easy and stress free, while everyone will love it because it is so cheesy and delicious. This recipe will produce the best tasting dish when using fresh produce. So unless you absolutely cannot get fresh broccoli, do not use frozen vegetables. You can serve this dish with roasted baby potatoes that have been coated in olive oil and Italian seasoning. For desert try having a carrot cake with cream cheese icing.

Yields 10 servings
Prep time:15 Minutes
Cook Time: 40 Minutes
Ready In: 55 Minutes
Ingredients:
4 heads of fresh broccoli, chopped
1 ? cups of shredded American cheese
1 (10.75 ounce) can of condensed cream of mushroom soup
1 ? teaspoons of salt
2 teaspoons of ground black pepper
3 tablespoons of butter
2 cups of crushed, seasoned croutons

Directions:
First, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F, or 175 degrees C. Then Bring a pot of lightly salted water to a boil and cook the broccoli in the boiling water for about 1 minute. Then drain, and set aside. Next, In a saucepan over medium heat, mix the cheese, cream of mushroom soup, salt, and pepper together. Stir until the cheese is melted and add the broccoli, while stirring to coat. Transfer the mixture to a 9?13 inch baking dish. In a separate saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat and mix in the croutons, and sprinkle over the broccoli mixture.

Bake for 30 minutes in the preheated oven, until the topping is browned and the broccoli is tender.
This is a great recipe for the holidays or a family get-together. Its great because it is easy and stress free, while everyone will love it because it is so cheesy and delicious. This recipe will produce the best tasting dish when using fresh produce. So unless you absolutely cannot get fresh broccoli, do not use frozen vegetables. You can serve this dish with roasted baby potatoes (see recipe below)

Per Serving:
Calories 375
Fat 12.5g
Carbohydrates 10g
Fiber 7g
Calcium 20mg

Roasted Baby Potatoes

Ingredients
1 lb of baby potatoes, cut in half
Enough olive oil to coat them
Italian Seasoning Spice

Directions
Preheat oven to 350F or 175C. Cut the baby potatoes in half, and put in a plastic bag with the olive oil and coat. Spread evenly on a baking sheet and season liberally with the Italian Spice. Place on middle rack in oven and cook for 30 minutes, or until potatoes are tender.

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Tips for Cooking the Perfect Steak

By: Barney Garcia
Steak is considered by most the ultimate dinning treat. However, if you don’t know how to cook your steak properly, you are jeopardizing ruining a perfectly good piece of meat. The following tips will help you learn how to prepare, and cook the perfect steak.

The most important part of cooking steak is the defrosting process. When you put steak in the microwave and hit defrost, you are GOING to ruin your meat. Always take your meat out about 24 hours before you are going to be eating. This way, you know it will be defrosted nicely, with no hidden frozen spots, and you can cook it accordingly.

Next, you want to worry about seasoning your steak. For the best flavor you should season the meat with dry ingredients first. Use a packaged steak spice, or use your imagination and create something new. Also, remember to season both sides. After seasoning the steaks with spices, you can marinade it in your favorite sauces. There are many good bottled marinades you can buy at the local supermarket, or you can look up a recipe and make a delicious one yourself.

After marinating your steak for the desired amount of time, light up the barbeque! After it has been heating for five or ten minutes, make sure you clean it by using a brush. Make sure the barbeque isn’t turned up to high, and then place your steak directly on the grill. Close the lid and allow your steak to cook for a while. There is no need to worry about burning them since the lid will prevent flames. Cook two 1 inch thick steaks, for no more than 6 minutes on each side. For 2 inch thick steaks, try 8 minutes on each side. If you follow these instructions, and leave the lid on, the barbeque will begin to smoke when it’s time to flip the meat. I also suggest that you get a timer and use it.

Now all you have to do is relax and wait for the steaks to finish cooking. Relax, have a beer, and enjoy the delicious smell of the kind of summer barbeque that makes everyone jealous.

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Tips for Cooking Lobster

By: Barney Garcia
While it is true that if you can boil a pot of water, you can cook a Maine lobster - you have to make sure to avoid over or undercooking the lobster. Here’s some tips for steaming, boiling and grilling lobster.

Steaming lobster
The ratio of lobsters to the pot is important; a 4-5 gallon pot is ideal for steaming 6-8 pounds of lobster. You should put 2 inches of salted water in the bottom of a large pot with a steaming rack on top of it. Bring the water to a rolling boil over high heat. Put in the live lobsters, one at a time, cover the pot, and start timing. Re-arrange the lobsters halfway through cooking.

Cooking times - (based on the lobster-to-pot ratio mentioned above)
1 pound — 10 minutes
1-1/4 pounds — 12 minutes
1-1/2 pounds — 14 minutes
1-3/4 pounds — 16 minutes
2 pounds — 18 minutes
2-1/2 pounds — 22 minutes
3 pounds — 25-30 minutes
5 pounds — 40-45 minutes

Boiling lobster
Fill a large pot with water with 3 quarts of water per 1-1/2 to 2 pounds of lobster. Add 1/4 cup of salt for each gallon of water. Bring the water to a boil and put the live lobsters in the pot one at a time, do not cover, and start timing immediately. Stir the lobsters halfway through cooking.

Cooking times - (based on the lobster-to-water ratio mentioned above)
1 pound — 8 minutes
1-1/4 pounds — 9-10 minutes
1-1/2 pounds — 11-12 minutes
1-3/4 pounds — 12-13 minutes
2 pounds — 15 minutes
2-1/2 pounds — 20 minutes
3 pounds — 25 minutes
5 pounds — 35-40 minutes
Grilling

Pre-boil your lobsters in a large pot of boiling water for 5 minutes then remove the lobsters and plunge into a large bowl of cold water to stop the cooking. Drain the lobsters and store in a refrigerator if you do not plan to grill them right away.

Place a lobster on its back on a cutting board. Then, using a large sharp knife split the lobster down the middle. Remove the black vein from the tail, the tomalley from the body and the sand sac located near the head. You can baste the lobster meat with some oil or butter and then grill the lobsters flesh side down for 5 to 6 minutes, or until the flesh is just beginning to look opaque. Turn the lobsters over, baste with more oil and continue to cook for 4 to 5 minutes longer, or until the lobsters are thoroughly cooked.

Rice Cooking Basics with Almond Rice Recipe

By: Recipe Man

A Look at Rice

When cooking rice the size of the grain is the most important thing. Due to the thousands of varieties of rice found all over the world which have differing flavors and aromas, it can be problematic to find the exact right one for your dish.

Long-grain rice usually runs four to five times long as it does wide. It is typically dry and fluffy after it is cooked. The grains do not clump. Some examples of long grain rice are Basmati (aromatic, having a rich nutty flavor; used a lot in Indian cooking), brown long-grain rice (husk removed with a nutritious bran layer, slightly chewy, mild nutty flavor), finishing off with white or polished long-grain rice (most widely used; has mild flavor). Uses for long-grain rice mainly are steamed, baked, pilaf, and a rice salad.

Short-grain rice has an almost round shape, is very starchy and tends to stick together after it has been cooked. It’s sometimes known as “sticky-rice”. Examples of short-grain rice are Arborio rice (creamy texture to dishes) and glutinous rice or sweet rice (very sticky after cooked; used in lot of Asian desserts and snacks). Short-grain rice is great for puddings, risotto, croquettes, sushi, stir-fried rice, and molded rice dishes.

Medium-grain rice has a size smaller than long-grain yet bigger than short-grain thus the name medium-grain rice. It is more tender than long grain rice and yet less moist than short grain rice. It is typically fluffy and separate when served hot and then starts to clump as it cools.

Cooking Rice

To Steam Rice: measure the water and salt amounts suggested for the type of rice you are cooking. This is usually found on the box or bag. Mix the salt and water together and pour it into a saucepan and then bring the combination to a boil. Add the rice to the boiling salted water and stir.

Bring the water to a boil again then cover the saucepan, steaming the rice, on a very low heat until the rice has engrossed all the salted water and is tender. This normally takes 15 to 18 minutes for white rice and 35 to 40 minutes for brown rice. Remove the pan from the heat and let set for about 5 minutes. Prior to rationing the rice to your troops fluff it with a fork. Troops love fluffy rice.
To Saut? and Steam Rice (pilaf): Measure some salt and water for your rice and bring to a boil. While waiting for the water to boil heat oil or butter in a saucepan at medium heat. You can also use a mixture of the two. Add the rice to the molten butter or what have you and rouse till the rice is fully coated.

“Saut?” for 2 to 3 minutes, rousing in a consistent fashion. Now add the salted water you have been boiling to the saut?ed rice and bring the mixture to a boil. Again we steam the rice by putting a lid on the pan, turn the heat down to low or lower and then wait till the rice and soaked in all the water and has become a tender spectacle.

To Bake Rice: Preheat your sweet oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Get that salted water boiling, while waiting for boiling point add your measured amount of rice to a baking dish. When ready add the boiling water to the rice in the baking dish. Cover the dish tightly, for cleanliness, baking efficiency, and safety when removing the dish from the oven.

Use tin foil or an oven safe lid and bake at the preheated temperature until the rice has absorbed the water and is a tender delicacy. White rice takes about 20 to 30 minutes, while brown rice takes any where from 35 to 45 minutes. Baking times differ depending on you oven, altitude from the moon or sun, and how tightly sealed your dish is.

Almond Rice Recipe

4 cups rice (Long Grain)
8 cups chicken broth
4 Tbl parsley (substitute rosemary, sage, tarragon, or thyme, to taste of course)
1 ? cup celery. chopped fine
1 ? cup onion, chopped fine OR ? cup minced dried onion
1 cup slivered almonds

Saut? onion and celery in just enough broth to cover. Add 8 cups chicken broth. Add rice and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and let steam about 20 minutes. If there is too much liquid left when rice is cooked, take off lid and cook and stir until liquid is gone. Just before serving, add parsley and 1 cup slivered almonds. If you used dried parsley, add it while there is still a little water in the pan.

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Look Out For BBQ?

By: Jason Cox
As the weather becomes warm, the sight of families barbequing becomes a frequent one. But if you are an individual who is counting their calories, beware of the traditional foods, as they might be loaded with calories and fat. However, you don’t have to be left eating salads the whole summer. Now there are many alternatives that make for great grilling and help you stay on a healthy diet.

They may look small, but hotdogs usually have about 30% of your daily saturated fat intake. Although hotdogs usually contain 180 calories, you should be aware that 140 of those calories are nothing but fat. And that’s not including the hot dog bun! Don’t worry though, there are plenty of things you can have instead.

Instead, it will be worth paying the extra money for some lean and low fat burgers, but watch out for the hight fat toppings! If your really want to lose that weight, the best way to avoid the fat and the calories would be to just cut out the really high in fat toppings, such as mayonnaise, bacon and cheese. But if you can't compromise the taste, try using reduced fat versions of your favorite toppings.

Also, there are many substitutes for potato chips that you can choose from. You can have fruits, baked beans and a variety of healthy veggies.

As for the burgers you can try a ground turkey burger. It has fewer calories and tastes good, which is all that matters. Be sure to look for skinless turkey, it will have even fewer calories.

Instead of having beef, you can opt for chicken, which has fewer calories. And there is also fish; there are so many healthy alternatives it would be hard to choose from. So don’t fret about losing weight in the summer. It can easily be reached. And you don’t have to be stuck just eating salad.
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Cool Summer Soup Recipes

By: Lynne Birch
Summer is coming and so is the hot weather. Nobody likes to cook in the heat of summer. A really hot meal on a hot day is almost as unpopular. It could be that a cool, easy to prepare summer soup is just what you need.

Below are 3 recipes for soups that can be made in your food processor or blender. If you have the ingredients on hand, none of them take more than 10 minutes to make. They are all delicious, nutritious, and really refreshing on a hot day. While the recipes all suggest you use a food processor, you can get very good results by using a blender or hand blender too.

These are all very simple recipes, so don't be shy to modify them and get a taste that your whole family can enjoy.

Here are the recipes.

Summer Vegetarian soup
This is great tasting soup with a touch of Italy included. It is super easy to make and very healthy. It is particularly good on a hot summer day

an avocado - skin and pit removed of course
4 Roma tomatoes - they may not be quite juicy enough (see below)
Basil to taste (Thai basil is really good in this)
4 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil

Process
How easy is this soup? Simply throw everything into your food processor and mix until it is smooth. If you find that it is more like a smoothie than soup, simply add more liquid (or swap one of the Roma tomatoes for another more juicy variety). Pour into bowls, garnish as you wish (minced chives are nice) and enjoy.

Sensational Salsa & Black Bean

This soup is a very simple soup that takes just a few minutes to prepare. It can be served hot or cold, but always benefits from being heated.
Roughly 4 servings

INGREDIENTS:
2 normal sized cans of black beans (any brand is OK, but try for low salt)
1 1/2 cups soup stock (Just use chicken, beef, or vegetable bullion)
1 cup of your favorite salsa (chunky makes a heartier soup)
1 teaspoon cumin (best to use fresh ground in the soup and you can sprinkle seeds on top too)
1/4 cup of sour cream
1-2 green onions chopped fine

Process:
Put the beans, salsa, cumin, and soup stock into a food processor (a blender is OK too). Puree the mixture until it is creamy in texture. Pour the mixture into a mid-sized pot and heat on low-medium until it is completely hot. This allows the flavours to merge. If you are going to serve it cold, move it to the fridge to cool off till it is time to eat. To eat it hot, simply serve into bowls and garnish with the onions and some of the sour cream.

MANGO SOUP

Mangos are simply divine. They are great as a fruit, mixed into drinks, added to salads. They also make a really good cool summer soup which is explained below.

Ingredients:

1 large RIPE mango (it will be soft, no squishy, to touch)
2 cups chicken soup stock (make your own or use bullion if you must)
1 TBSP lemon grass (available in most Asian markets, it looks like long greenish reeds when you buy it)
1 TBSP ginger - Freshly chopped is best
Ground chili peppers to taste
1 cup yogurt (2% plain is best)
2 TBSP cilantro (chinese parsley) chopped fine

Process:
Chop mango and put in food processor. Mix briefly and then put in the ginger, lemon grass, chili and 1/2 cup of soup stock. Mix again till everything becomes very smooth. Move the soup into another bowl (be sure it is large enough) and mix in first the rest of the stock, and then the yogurt. This is best served cold, so put in fridge till you are ready to eat. Then put into bowls and serve with the cilantro as the garnish.

As the temperature starts to go up give these soups a try. They are all very simple and will add a new delicious and healthy dimension to your summer diet.
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High Altitude Cooking

By: Tony Buel
If you have ever cooked at a higher altitude, you will have noticed that something was strangely different.

The food you were working so hard to prepare didn't quite turn out as expected, did it? It also took longer to finish cooking than you had anticipated.

You have just learned that the cooking strategy you had perfected over time will need some 'adjustment'.

Here's why it happened. At higher altitudes, the air pressure in the atmosphere is lower than it is at lower altitudes. This difference in air pressure is quite evident when you are trying to catch your breath. It is this same difference in air pressure which affected how your food turned out.

You see, at sea level water boils at 212 degrees F. But at an altitude of 7500 feet however, it boils at about 198 degrees F. - Big difference when it comes to cooking!

This difference in the water boiling temperature has a great effect on food and food cooking processes. It will affect the flavor and taste of food.

Food will be underdone because the moisture in the food itself and the water in which it is being cooked boils off more quickly. Because of this, your food can easily cook dry.

Also, unless you make special adjustments to the temperature of cooking oil, deep fried foods will be over-brown on the outside and undercooked on the inside.

Another side-effect of high altitude cooking is that sugar syrups used in making candies, frostings and jellies will concentrate much more rapidly than at lower elevations.

One final important fact to be aware of: Canned fruits, tomatoes and pickled vegetables do not become thoroughly processed because of the lowered boiling point of water. And low-acid foods (vegetables, meat and poultry) can nurture heat-resistant bacteria unless processed longer and at higher poundage in a steam-pressure canner.

When it comes to the individual ingredients themselves, it opens up a whole new can of worms. Here's a statement which is complicated to understand at first, but here goes:

There is a complex inter-play between ingredients which bears a definite relationship to the others. And the quality of the finished product depends on a delicate balance of ingredients which can only be achieved through the proper adjusted quantity of each ingredient.

If you didn't understand that (as I also didn't), there is a book that you should know about which is loaded with information and strategies to offset the unique problems and complexities of high altitude baking and cooking. The book was first published in 1980 by Random House and is called 'The New High Altitude Cookbook' by Beverly M. Anderson and Donna M. Hamilton.

Now when it comes to your crockpot, be sure to allow for considerably more cooking and baking time at the higher elevations.

A quick tip: Aluminum foil on top of the foods being cooked or between the rim of the cooker and the cover will reflect the heat downward into the food. This will be especially helpful at higher elevations.

I hope you found this information useful and be sure to visit my website for more information and recipes!
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Using Barbecue Smokers For Added Flavor And Tenderness

By: Derek Marsh
Barbecue smokers add a delectable smokey flavor that at the same time makes food moist and tender every time. The slow cooking process of using barbecue smokers is perfect for fish, meat, vegetable or sausages. However most barbecue smokers are intended for small barbecues only.

1. Basics Of Barbecue Smokers

The construction of a barbecue smoker is basically the same as a standard barbecue grill. However with a barbecue smoker the closeable lid is designed to trap in smoke to cook the food. Barbecue smokers are either direct or in direct. The direct barbecue smoker is basically a unit with a closeable lid and aromatic wood chips are combined with the charcoal. The smoke produced by the chips and charcoal cooks the food placed with in the smoker. This gives the unique flavor to the food. In direct barbecue smokers is similar to the direct barbecue smoker with a single unit and closable lid, this is the grill unit. However the in direct barbecue smoker has another container, the smoker unit, that holds the woodchips and charcoal. The smoke passes into the grill unit and gives flavor to the barbecue.

Barbecue smokers may either be electric or gas and may use real wood or charcoal for smoking. Both types of barbecue smokers can be used for private and commercial settings. At the same time there are table top barbecue smokers that are transportable. Depending on the skill level of the user there are several types of barbecue smokers to choose from.

2. Water Barbecue Smokers for Beginners

- Ideal for beginners
- Vertical type barbecue smoker
- Has a bowl of water located between the base and cooking racks
- Generates moisture throughout the cooking process
- Relatively inexpensive
- Great way to get started in barbecue smoking
- Very hard to regulate heat

3. Electric Barbecue Smokers

Next to the water barbecue smokers are the electric type smokers. These models are more expensive compared to the water smokers thereby producing better-smoked food. One of the perks of using an electric smoker is that there is no need to light a fire.

However many traditionalist smokers would dislike this feature of the electric smoker. The electric barbecue smoker make for hassle-free cooking, allowing the cook to spend more time with the guests rather than tend the fire. It also involves less care and upkeep compared to traditional barbecue smokers.

4. The Charcoal or Log Barbecue Smoker

The charcoal or log burning barbecue smokers is the next step to the electric barbecue smokers. This type of barbecue smokers is reserved for the truly skilled smoker that appreciates the fine taste of quality-smoked food. The taste of food smoked in charcoal or log burning barbecue smokers is truly savored with every bite. Charcoal or log burning barbecue smokers are larger in size and heavier compared to water or electric barbecue smokers. These type of smokers are outfitted with handle-bars and wheels making transport reasonably easy. At the same time charcoal or log burning barbecue smokers have controls for thermal regulation and smoke generation providing more choices for cooking.

5. Maitenance Tips

Maintaining a barbecue smoker doesn't require a great deal of effort. For most brands of barbecue smokers sold in the market today, it is essential to fire up the unit and let it burn on the highest heat for about one hour. This process known as the burning-in method will kill any possible contamination that is already present in the unit even before it is used for cooking. The initial smoking process will in effect provide a protective covering for the barbecue smoker.

6. Safety Tips

When using a barbecue smoker be sure that there is sufficient ventilation in the area where the unit is located. This will prevent the fumes from choking family and friends. It will also limit the chances of a build-up of dangerous toxins brought about by excessive smoke.
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Breadmakers For Easy Baking

By: Robert Thatcher
A bread maker is a home appliance that has revolutionized the process of making breads. First manufactured in 1986 in Japan, breadmaker since then moved its way to homes in the United States and United Kingdom. By means of a breadmaker, automatic baking has become possible and more convenient.

As with ordinary baking, ingredients must first be measured according to the recipe. The mixture is then poured into the bread pan that is placed in the machine. The breadmaker will then take some hours to bake the bread by first turning the mixture into dough and eventually baking it. The process of making dough is helped by a built-in paddle. Once the baking is done and has been allowed to cool down, the bread is then freed from the bread pan. The paddle at the bottom of the loaf should be removed from its place.

Breadmaker breads are much easier to get spoiled as compared with the commercial breads due to the absence of additives. However, it is possible that sourdough starter may be added to the ingredients to prolong the shelf life of the breads.

Breadmakers have built-in timers that may be set for easier baking. Other machines can be programmed to only prepare the dough and not to bake the bread later, in this case the dough is baked in an oven. Breadmakers have other uses as well. They may be set to make jams, pizza bases, wheat-free loaf, cakes, and pasta and in some instances, mochi- a Japanese rice bread.

Considerations in choosing a breadmaker:

- the over-all capacity of baking loafs
- the quality of bread produced
- the duration of time it takes to make one loaf
- the featured programs
- type: may either be single loaf breadmaker or multi loaf breadmaker

However, like with normal baking there may arise several problems concerning the quality of the bread produced. These may either be caused by the process of baking or the quality of breadmaker itself.

Doughy loaf

This problem basically concerns the temperature of the breadmaker. The built-in thermometer must read 190 F. Once the baking is over and the loaf is still doughy, you may choose to continue baking it in a conventional oven or wait till the breadmaker cools down and start the whole process over.

Small bread

Lack of liquid added to the dough. The problem starts with the dissolving of the yeast. If too little liquid is used, the yeast may not be stimulated to produce the necessary carbon dioxide, which is instrumental in making the dough rise. Without this, the loaf may become dense and will be much smaller.

Collapsed or flat-topped bread

Collapsing is mainly due to too much addition of liquid to the dough. The yeast in this case is overly stimulated, producing more gluten than the dough may withhold. This leads to the collapsing of loaf structure.

Bread sticking in the breadmaker pan

This can be resolved by brushing the breadmaker pan with oil before adding the water into the dough. This works well in the majority of conventional ovens as well.

Too much rising of the loaf

This problem may be controlled with the use of salt. Adding one half teaspoon of salt may be sufficient to keep the rising of the bread in balance.

One need not be an Einstein to run a simple machine such as the breadmaker. For more instruction and self-help tips, users may check the manual of the machine.

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Barbecue Sauce For A Perfect Barbeque

By: Robert Thatcher
When someone mentions barbecue images comes to the mind like cooking at the backyard grill, a social gathering, cooking outdoors and cooking meat slowly over wood and smoke that adds flavor to the food.

Different cooks have different preferences and style in their cooking. Some prefer rubbing the seasoning whether wet or dry prior to cooking and some prefers to soak the meat first in special marinades that could be sops, mops and finishing. The preparation and ingredients for marinating may differ from region to region the preferred wood to be used can also differ. However, no perfect barbecue will taste as good without the perfect barbecue sauce.

Barbecue sauces can generally be categorized by what they are based on. Common examples are tomato, vinegar and mustard based sauces. To give the barbecue its distinctive taste and prevent the meat from burning easily, barbecue sauces are applied to the meat while being cooked with the exemption of tomato based barbecue sauces as tomato based sauces burns easier than the other kinds of sauces.

Barbecue sauce preparation can either be sweet, sour, tangy, spicy, hot, thick or thin. The varieties are almost endless which makes barbecues popular because anyone can make his own special preparation depending on taste and anyone can create his own way of serving the barbecue.

Recipes for barbecues can also be guarded. And good barbecue sauces can be purchased at almost any store. But the only perfect barbecue sauce is the one that you can create for yourself.
Remember whatever works for you and your family can be a great barbecue sauce. So start experimenting that is the only way to start good cooking.

The basics of Barbecue sauces…

Tomato based barbecue sauce is the most widely used. Some say that it is the most popular. Its popularity however may be due to the simplicity of preparation and besides; tomatoes are ingredients that could easily be found. The point to remember in preparing tomato-based barbecue sauces is to cook the tomatoes very well in order for the flavor to blend with the other ingredients.

Tomato based barbecue sauces are acidic. Because of this, it has the property to breakdown all the flavor of other ingredients blending them with its own. But because of its propensity to burn, limit the usage of tomato based barbecue sauce while cooking. To make it even more flavorful, prepare tomato barbecue sauces a day in advance.

Mustard based sauces are preferred in North Carolina. The mustard based barbecue sauce is great for grilling pork.

Vinegar is great meat tenderizer. It is also more acidic than tomatoes. Because of its acidic content, vinegar based sauces has a tendency to penetrate deep into the meat. To make this barbecue sauce more flavorful, experiment mixing it with chili, cider vinegar or red pepper, sugar salt and all the other ingredients that you want it to have.

Barbecue sauces today has different uses departing from its traditional purpose. It now serves as a condiment that is present on almost any table like ketchup, salsa, salt, pepper and Tabasco.

However, if experimenting with food is not your greatest strength, you can always find great sauces in any store. To make great barbecues, one rule to follow is not to place too much weight on the “with smoke flavor” label that many bottled tomato sauces advertise itself. Smoke flavor is what is barbecuing all about. The flavor has to come from the wood not the bottle.

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Cooking As A Culinary Art

By: Trevor Marshall
Culinary arts is the art of cooking. Cooking is a way to prepare food that will be eaten or served to other people.

The culinary arts is comprised of many categories - some of which are tools, methods, combination of spices and ingredients that adds flavour to the food. It normally needs the right measurements, proper selection and accurate combination of ingredients involved to reach desired result.

The diversity of the Culinary arts around the world mirrors many considerations such as:

- Economic
- Aesthetic
- Nutritional
- Religious
- Cultural

1. The Dawn Of Fire

The culinary arts, if not always, is associated with fire. The heat generated by fire is oftentimes required to be applied to be able to change the food's texture, flavour, nutritional contents and even its appearance. Heating is important in the culinary arts because it disinfects the food and makes it softer. The food danger zone is between 4 to 60 degrees Celsius. Within these temperatures, the bacteria found in the found or even those that were transferred to the food can grow at a very alarming rate. Under ideal conditions bacteria can double their population every twenty minutes. Although at a glance, these foods may not appear harmful, when ingested they can be. Many people have the misconception that bacteria will die when we freeze our food or refrigerate them, but this actually does not rid the food of bacteria, merely it slows down their expansion.

2. Baking

Baking is probably the most famous department in the culinary arts. In the culinary arts, baking is the art of cooking food using an oven. The food is cooked through applying dry heat evenly through the oven and onto the food. It is used in producing pastry based goodies such as pies, tarts and cakes. The dry heat in the oven causes the starch to gelatinize and results to the browning or charring of the outside of the food. Some uneducated in the culinary arts might think that the charred part or the brown part is not as tasty as it sounds, but this part is actually what gives taste and flavour to the baked good, partly sealing the moisture of the food. The browning apparent in the baked good is caused by the sugar caramelizing and the chemical reaction that happens between the reduction of sugar and the amino acid (Maillard reaction). Moisture in the baked goody, on the other hand, is not really completely kept in, in time as the goody is being baked it will become drier and drier.

3. Boiling

Another category is boiling. Boiling is when there is a rapid vaporization of any liquid when the liquid is heated. In cooking, boiling is divided into many other categories. Blanching, a cooking term used to describe the submersion of food into boiling water and removing it after a certain period of time and then throwing it into cold water or letting water run over it causing the firming of food. Pressure cooking is when food is cooked inside an enclosed cooking tool that would limit the air that's coming in or going out of that tool - this technique speeds up the pace of cooking. Stewing would probably be the most popular cooking technique in the culinary arts division. It is a method where meats are cut up into smaller pieces and along with some vegetables are simmered into a liquid. Simmering, then again is a cooking method where the liquid is barely kept away from its boiling point. Other boiling techniques are braising, codding, steaming, infusion, poaching, double steaming, steeping and vacuum flask cooking.

4. Other

To most Americans, microwaving and grilling are the most common forms of cooking. Microwaving is the easiest and simplest form of cooking; it is a technique used mostly to reheat sumptuous meals ready to be consumed. And for grilling, most Americans have a grill station in their backyard. Grilling is a roasting method that is cooking directly under a source of heat. Other roasting methods are Barbecuing, Searing and Rotisserie. A less common method is smoking meat, or even salting it.

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Cooking A Cholesterol-Free Feast

By: Stephen White
When it comes to lowering one’s cholesterol levels, it is a must that one changes his or her eating lifestyle. Cholesterol buildup in the body is actually caused by eating way too much of the sinful types of food like processed meat, fried food, sugar rich foods and beverages like chocolates (although dark chocolate, the bitter kind is actually proven to help lower one’s cholesterol levels) and soft drinks.

1. Eliminate Catalyst Factors

It is also important to note that people who have bad lifestyle habits are the usual targets of having incredibly high cholesterol levels. Smoking and drinking are the common vices that people, not only those who are suffering from high cholesterol levels, should eliminate once and for all from their systems.

2. Cooking With No Cholesterol In Mind

- When buying cereals or microwavable pre-packed foods like t.v. dinners look at the labels on the side of the box to ensure that you are not going to take in excess calories and fat
- Being aware of what you take in is the first step in lowering high cholesterol
- Avoid restauraunts and fast food places that offer all you can eat meals or incredibly enormous meals
- The serving size listed on the packaging is sometimes misleading - a serving size is not always the total size of the package, it is often one-half or even less

3. Know How To Read Food Labels

Food labels are divided into two parts - the top half deals with aspects of food you should limit, such as total fat, cholesterol, sodium, carbohydrates and protein. The bottom is a summary of those you need, such as vitamins, iron, etc.

It is actually quite hard to understand what most food labels mean, in a way they are quite deceiving. You may think that you are eating healthy when in reality you are unknowingly taking in cholesterol, fat and calories in reduced levels. Here are a list of some of the claims that we can often find on our food’s packaging according to the Food and Drugs Authority -

- Calorie-free -

This product has fewer calories per serving (around 5 calories less) than the leading brand. It does not mean the product contains no calories.

- Low-sodium -

This product contains less than 140mg of salt per food serving.

- Low-calorie -

The food is actually less than 40 calories per serving.

- Low-cholesterol -

Less than 20mg of cholesterol as well as only 2 grams of fat per food serving

- Reduced -

25 percent less of what health professionals specify for the nutrients as well as the calories of a usual food product of the same type
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Breadmaker Recipes

By: Lynne Birch
When bread makers first came out years back people felt that all you could use them for was plain white bread. Well that is not even close to being true any more. There are now dozens of fantastic recipes available for all kinds of bread. What you will find is that the ingredients you use in a bread machine will be a little different than if you were baking bread normally. The results are just as good however.

Below is a selection of recipes that are very simple to make, very affordable, and most of all, deliciously healthy. They only take a few minutes to prepare and the results will make everyone happy. So go ahead and try them out. Crack open your breadmaker and give one of these yummy recipes a try.

Basic White Bread

1 1/4 cups water
2 tablespoons powdered milk
2 TBSP oil (l usually use canola)
1 tsp salt
3 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1 1/4 tsp yeast

Just use the standard wet on the bottom dry on top mixing process. This is delicious with butter and honey while it is still hot.

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Grain & Honey Bread

3/4 cup warm water
2 TBSP honey (liquid or melted)
2 TBSP olive oil
1 tsp salt
2 TBSP lemon juice
3 1/2 cups whole wheat flour (mixed grain flower is OK too)
1/2 cup rolled oats
2 tsps granulated yeast

Put the salt in the breadmaker first, then add all other ingredients except the yeast, oats and flour. Add the oats and flour. Make a small hole at the top of the dry ingredients for the yeast. Bake as usual.

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Cheesy Buttermilk Bread

This yields a moist and tasty loaf. It also stores very well, but you'll probably finish it before that even matters!

1 and 1/8 cups buttermilk
1 tsp salt
2 TBSP sugar
.75 cup extra sharp chedder (grated)
3 cups bread flour
1.5 tsps bread machine yeast

Prepare as usual. All wet ingredients first, then the cheese, then dry ingredients, and the yeast on top.

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Oat Bread

Use natural rolled oats. Just put them in a pot with boiling water, and then let them soak until they cool off. Then add the other ingredients and proceed as usual.

1 cup rolled oats
11 fl.oz. water
1/2 tsp salt
3 Tbsp brown sugar
2 Tbsp olive oil
3 cups flour
1 tsp yeast

Baking bread is a wonderfully delicious way to add great nutrition to you family's diet. Give the recipes a try and add some flavour to your meals.
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Tips For Making Homemade Bread

By: jamie
There is nothing like homemade bread. Whether banana, pumpkin, white or whole wheat, the smell of a fresh, hot loaf can't be beat.

There are many reasons why you would want to make your own bread. If you have good pumpkin bread recipes or banana bread recipes, you can make a nice dessert or have a quick snack for the kids on hand at all times.
Baking your own white or wheat bread can help you save money on your grocery bill. Eating whole wheat bread will keep you healthier and may even help you lose weight.

You may want to consider supplying your family with homemade wheat bread all the time. The health benefits are many, especially if you are going to use fresh ground wheat. Eating a slice of bread made with fresh ground wheat is like taking a shot of vitamins.

What Is Wheat And Why Would You Want To Use It?

Wheat is the world’s most important grain crop and ranks first among the grains for its nutritional value. When used in its entirety, wheat is an excellent source of fiber and many critical B-vitamins.WheatB-vitamins. Wheat germ is one of the richest sources of vitamin E if used when freshly milled, before oxidation takes place.

The richest source of Vitamin E is found in the germ of the wheat kernel. Milled wheat loses its Vitamin E very quickly due to oxidization. This is the reason why the bread we buy really has nothing of value for us. It has been stripped of the vitamins provided in the wheat. Within about 72 hours of milling, 90% of over 30 nutrients are gone.

Families usually enjoy better health once they start baking bread with fresh ground wheat including significant improvements in sinus conditions, runny noses and colds. There have also been reports of reduced cholesterol counts, warts disappearing, acne clearing and a host of other wonderful benefits. Of course there are the obvious benefits of adding more fiber to your diet, but remember to drink a lot of water when you increase fiber.
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The Chefs Mindset

By: David McCarthy
Have you ever wondered what the difference between a great chef and an ordinary chef is? How can one produce food recipes that are remembered and another produce food that is quickly forgotten? Disregarding all the jokes about never trusting a skinny chef I can only say that the 80/20 rule applies in this profession the same as in other professions. It is a fact of life that 20% of lawyers, doctors, accountants, financial planners etc. are outstanding; the other 80% are mediocre to awful. The same applies to all trades and professions. So the challenge vis-?-vis chefs is to find what differentiates the 20% from the 80%.

The first thing you will notice about the top 20% is creativity; they create meals and set the standard for others to follow. The most obvious sign of creativity is in the way that a meal is served. Can you look at the meal before you start eating and think: This meal appears to be unique? This must be obvious before you taste it; the meal truly needs to stir something (other than hunger) within you. Top chefs are like interior decorators in their presentation; mixing colors, shapes and textures to be sure that they are eye-catching.

Next we come to the recipe itself. Top chefs rarely present a recipe as it is presented in a recipe book; instead they add their own signature to it. This signature is better known as flair and varies from adding a simple extra ingredient to a number of ingredients. It could also be a variation of some ingredient quantities. For instance there is a recipe on our website for chocolate truffles flavored with cayenne pepper. - Now that looks stupid on paper because it is one of those things that you must taste to believe. The result is a truffle that leaves a taste for at least half an hour after you eat it. This is just one example of a chef that thinks outside of the square. There are many more that are not quite so radical.

Another thing I like to test when I eat out is the taste of simple boiled vegetables; you don’t need me to tell you that they can be bland. So, what if you boil all non-root vegetables in chicken, beef or vegetable stock rather than plain water. Also boil them together for the same time. You finish up with extra flavored vegetables and different textures because some vegetables require longer cooking time than others. Does it spoil the vegetables? Only you can be the judge, just remember that vegetables shouldn’t be cooked for too long or you boil the goodness out of them.

Why not start collecting your own top chef’s tips when you eat out. If there is something on your plate that excites you ask the waiter to ask the chef how he achieved that taste. Chefs are like artists and are usually happy to discuss their techniques with people who show a genuine interest.
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Different Types Of Kitchen Knifes

By: Juan Jos??
A knife is defined as a type of hand tool with a sharp edge that is used to cut something, whether it be food, rope, or even wood. It is usually composed of a blade, which is commonly around 12 inches or less in length, that is attached to a type of handle. They have been around for a very long time, dating back to the Stone Age where they were used as both tools and weapons.

The first knifes used in the Stone Age were made of either flint orflint or rock, their edge was chipped or ground, and they sometimes, but not all the time, had a handle. With later advances in smelting and metallurgy, blades were able to be made of bronze, iron, and even steel. Although time has changed the materials that are used, a knife’s basic design still remains very much the same.

As previously stated, a knife is composed of a blade and a handle, as well as a tan. The tang is known as a blade’s extension into the handle. Some knifes also have an attached handguard so that a person, while using the knife, won’t have his/her fingers slip onto the blade’s edge, therefore resulting in an injury.

The groove that is found alongside of the blade actually has a name. It’s called the fuller, also known as a blood gutter and/or blood groove. Myth has said that the fuller is used to allow an artery to bleed without having to remove the knife. However, the reality is that a fuller is used to make both knifes and sword lighter without having to sacrifice any large amounts of strength. In fact, on most knifes, a fuller is used solely for decorative purposes.

Also, a blade’s groove allows for surface tension reduction that can occur between a blade and whatever is being cut. This means that both easier movement and also removal of the blade is allowed.

Another feature of a knife is its shoulder. This is where the blade thickens to meet the handle. This is most commonly seen in kitchen knifes. It keeps the knife from any kind of jamming, for example when cutting into the bone of a chicken. It also allows for the chopped item to stay stationary and not move back toward the person’s hand while chopping with kitchen knifes.

Kitchen knifes are the most commonly used type of knife today. It seems that everyone who has a kitchen has at least one, although many of us have several that are used for many different purposes.

One of the most commonly known of the kitchen knifes is the French knife, also known as a chef’s knife. It has a broad, tapered shape with a fine edge that is great for things such as chopping vegetables.

A slicing knife, with its long and narrow blade, is used to cut through things such as cooked meat.

Those kitchen knifes that feature scalloped edges are perfect for slicing those foods that are softer, such as tomatoes, bread, and cakes.

One of the most used of the kitchen knifes is the smaller paring knife. A paring knife has a short, pointed blade that is very easy to handle. It is mostly used for quicker jobs such as peeling and removing cores.

Other kitchen knifes are used for table service. These are usually named after the service they provide such as a dinner knife, luncheon knife, fish knife, butter knife, and the popular steak knifes.

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The Best Way To Cook Your Freshly Caught Fish

By: Travis Clemens
A freshly caught fish can be cooked in a thousand and one ways. Any fisherman worth his salt has his own unique way of cooking a freshly caught trout, salmon or whatever fish he caught. So fisherman all across the country has been handed down methods of cooking fish. Here are some tips to get the best out of your fish.

1.Frying

Breading and frying a freshly caught fish is as good as it gets. The smell of butter emanating from the frying pan and the flair a fisherman puts in flipping his catch is worth its weight in gold, almost. For the novice fisherman, make sure that the butter is extra hot but not yet burning. Also, make sure that the fish is well coated in batter. Season your batter to your heart's content, salt and pepper never goes wrong. You may want to try other herbs and spices with the batter for a more delicious fish.

2.Grilling

At first glance, grilling would seem to be the easiest way to handle your fish. A newbie might assume that grilling fish is the same as grilling steaks or burgers. Unlike fowl or cattle, fish tends to secret most of its own juices when cooked. On a grill the delicious juice drips into the coals.

To prevent losing the moisture, first coat the fish with oil. The oil will seal a part of the moisture inside. Second, keep an eye on the fillets and turn them as soon as a cut would reveal that the fresh fish is cooked halfway through. After being flipped, watch the fish carefully. Remove the fish as soon as it is cooked through.

An option to basting the fish with oil is to wrap it in aluminum foil. The aluminum foil will keep the moisture and marinate the fish in its own moisture. Placing herbs and spices inside the foil with the fish enhances the grilling process and the fish itself.

3.Baking

Baking is the best option for the fisherman who does not want to watch over the fish during cooking. The fisherman can prepare the marinade and pre-heat the oven, then pop the fish into the oven for a predetermined amount of time. You may want to check on the fish from the time to time, ensuring that you don't overcook the fish.

Whatever fish you caught, a good recipe and proper cooking will for sure enhance the catch. Take time to prepare for cooking, a badly cooked fish will no doubt spoil your day. Remember the first rule of cooking, don't overcook your fish.
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Fresh Caught Fish Cooking Preparation

By: Travis Clemens
To maintain the delicate flavor of a newly caught freshwater or saltwater fish, this must be handled properly to avoid spoilage. Not to mention preserving the fish with pleasing odor. There are ways to properly prepare and maintain the quality just after the catch of the fish into a sumptuous fishmeal. Check out the tips below:

1) As soon as the fish lands avoid any contact with hard surfaces to prevent bruising. It should be washed immediately by hosing or bucket rinsing in order to remove the slime and possible bacteria that cause spoilage. Never use water from close proximity marinas, municipal or industrial discharges. To make sure, always use potable water instead.

2) Simply chill the fish to prevent deterioration in less than an hour. With a little advance planning, proper icing can be accomplished with the use of some relatively cheap equipment. Fish should be stored in coolers and should be well chilled. It should be 3" deep, thus, covering a pound of fish with pound of ice. Use chlorinated water per quart of water for the final rinsing.

3) Clean the fish as soon as possible. Their tissues are sterile but not their scales, which contains many types of bacteria. When cleaning fish, avoid rough treatment because wounds in the flesh can allow the spread of bacteria. Gutting the fish does not have to be necessarily long. It is wise to cut the belly, as it leaves no blood or viscera in the body. Make sure not to soak cleaned fish fillets in a prolonged freshwater as this could reduce the meat texture and flavor.

4) The eating quality and nutritional value of fish can be maintained up to 5 days if properly cleaned. Washing of the hands before touching the fish is also important. No matter what fish and the cooking technique used, one golden rule is to be followed always. Whether it is whole or not, cook exactly 10 minutes for every inch measured. 15 minutes should be allotted to fish enclosed in foil or sauce baked. Double the time for frozen fish.

Allow extra time if fish will be baked while packed in an aluminum foil and allow extra time for the penetration of the heat. That should be an additional 5 minutes for fresh fish and 10 for frozen. In thawing frozen fish, slowly thaw in the fridge for 24 hours or let the wrapped fish be run under cold water not at room temperature. Do not thaw a fish that's frozen before cooking as it may make it mushy and dry.

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