Australian cooking: July 2013

Kobe Beef Nutrition Facts And Simple Recipes You Should Know

Kobe beef is steak cuts exclusively from the famous Wagyu cattle, which were first raised in Hyogo Prefecture of Kobe, Japan. This beef has been made famous for its high level of marbling and exceptionally fine taste.

The rich flavor and succulent meat taste of Kobe beef is due to the high lean-to-fat ratio, which makes it an absolutely healthy choice. Because of this, the demand of Kobe beef greatly increased despite its high price. Today, Kobe beef is also being produced in the United States, where Wagyu cattle have been cross bred with Angus cattle.

Kobe Beef Nutrition Facts

Kobe and Wagyu steaks are said to be the healthiest meat that has ever been produced because of the higher percentage of monounsaturated fatty acids, which has the ability to increase high density lipoprotein levels while reducing the total cholesterol level. It is also rich in linolenic and linoleic acid that has numerous health benefits including protection against heart disease, depression, Alzheimer's, and prevention against numerous kinds of cancers.

Kobe beef is also a good source of calories, protein, iron, and even fat and sodium. The good thing is that the fat in this steak is more of the healthy fat and humans do need fat to protect the organs and insulate the body. When consumed in moderation, this type of steak fits perfectly into a healthy diet regimen.

Must Try Dishes with Kobe Beef

Kobe beef is known to melt in the mouth and leaves a buttery taste that lingers. Because of this, it has been a favorite main ingredient in most dishes. Examples of most-favored dishes include sashimi, steaks, and shabu-shabu style meals.

There are many recipes for Kobe steaks online that can easily be made at home. Because of this, the demand for this luxurious ingredient grew even more.A traditional recipe of Kobe steaks is to marinade it in some garlic, thyme, rosemary, grape seed oil, red wine vinegar, and chili flakes for several hours and sear it until caramelized. It is best to cook to meat to medium rare.

For sashimi style, chefs usually just put some soy sauce, dashi stock, and spring onions. Shabu-shabu style dishes are cooked briefly in broiling broth.

Whichever of these two recipes you decide to try out will still retain the natural meat's flavors.

No matter which way you prefer to cook Kobe steak, you are sure to end up with a mouth-watering meal.

The rich flavor and succulent meat taste of Kobe beef is due to the high lean-to-fat ratio, which makes it an absolutely healthy choice.There are many recipes for Kobe steaks online that can easily be made at home.No matter which way you prefer to cook Kobe beef, you are sure to end up with a mouth-watering meal.

Excellent Barbecue Recipes With Great Flavor Makes For Perfect Barbecue

Most people have a misconception about Barbecue and often used to define something that is cooked on a grill or oven with ideally a tomato sauce as a marinade. But in reality it is not a dish. Instead, it is a cooking technique that is most commonly used by the South Africans. Gradually with the passage of time, it has now been admired by people across the world, due to the authentic wooden aroma that it adds to the food that is being baked.

Barbecuing is not the same as grilling and includes cooking of food at low temperatures for prolonged periods. Barbecue is the procedure of cooking and smoking the meat over the wood or the charcoal and is usually carried out in an outdoor environment. They remind you of that good and pleasant countryside life along with that peculiar rustic smell of the fresh air and the simplicity associated.

If you are innovative within your kitchen than you definitely can try some tricks with regards to the barbecue foods as well. Different varieties of Barbecue recipes are easily available on the web world with each one being absolutely different from other in taste. Also, there are plenty of ingredients available these days apart from the simple sausages for barbecue to add variety to the food cooked. Strawberries, pineapple, corns, honey, raspberries, mustard and veggies are just a few examples of elements that are used to add extra to the meal.

Most barbecue admirers have a personal barbecue grill and make use of it at least once in a week to savor their appetite as well as to spend quality time with their family and loved ones. It is not only that peculiar taste of the Barbecue recipes that make it simply standout but also the fun that is associated with the same that has made it the favorite cuisine of people. While the meat is being cooked, you have ample amount of time to spend leisure time with your loved ones.

If the step by step guideline for Barbecue recipes is followed, you are sure to end up something utterly delightful on your plate, which is sure to make your relatives completely spellbound. There is no limit on the different dishes that can be prepared over a barbecue. The various spices and ingredients used in the various recipes add that tinge of unique flavor to the meat cooked, making it utterly mouthwatering. The smell of the meat cooked on to the charcoal, coal or softwood itself is enough to arouse your appetite.

Whether it is the steaks, hamburgers, chickens, ribs, hotdogs and such cooked over the Barbecue, they can be very well served with salad and glass of wine. Your guests are sure to love the unique taste of the meat. Try a different recipe every time to break the boredom in your kitchen by spending some good time with your loved ones for a change from your busy modern lives. Barbecue is not only about the food but it is way beyond that.

Thomas Rhodes hosts a site that is dedicated to barbecue recipes and offers some excellent barbecue tips as well. To learn more about barbecue recipes , feel free to checkout our website for some mouthwatering recipes and look quality coal, charcoal and soft wood and more products on our shop.

The benefits of home made sauce

Hotdog sauce is the key ingredient in a hotdog. You could say that about hotdog sauce is good in taste, it will make the hotdog much tastier. In fact, not just a hot dog, but many other foods taste good with gravy or pickle that both of these things make the food tastier and also helps in digestion. Spicy topping is not only good for a side snack but it also adds flavor to various dishes such as ordinary people do not like to eat. More important, these much topping and pickles provide multiple health benefits when used in the right amount, and this way you will also be able to finish your food easily without worrying about weight. The sauce is a rich source of sodium that helps in regulation of blood, maintains our nervous system and protects us from various kinds of diseases such as diarrhea, lethargy, muscular irritability, low blood pressure, and many others. But be careful because everything in excess is dangerous, no matter even if it is the product of a high quality brand. Instead of buying machines did topping therefore look for a brand that offers homemade sauce.

The main advantage of a homemade topping is that it is composed of natural ingredients and keeping in mind the taste and health of all. A homemade sausage gravy is suitable for everyone and everyone can eat it whether young or old. But there are very few sauce makers in the market that has a good sausage gravy recipe. Therefore, look for someone who is in this business from a long time that there are some families that make sauces from several generations. An additional reason why you should opt for a homemade sauce is that if you live from your home, it is the perfect thing for you as it will remind you of your mother's hand cooked food and memories you cherish the most. One thing to keep in mind that variety is the spice of life, and when it comes to sauces then it become a must-thing. Therefore, look for a brand that can offer you varieties of homemade sauces and Spicy Hotdog sauce and Hotdog chili sauce.

This way you can have a sauce after your mood and taste because even people in the same family have different taste and liking. So hurry now and buy one today.

Anoop Kumar Srivastava Photo

Cindy's family of sauces will strive to use only the freshest, local and natural ingredients in all our products and to prepare these products as if we were in our own kitchen. So join our family, Read our stories and enjoy the best sauces that money can buy! Rate this article

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Anoop Kumar Srivastava has published 46 articles. Article on February 27, 2013. Word count: 412

Chinese Influence On South-East Asian Cuisine

South East Asia measures nearly two million square miles across, holds a population of over 600 million people and includes 10 different countries. Yet if you look at the noodle soups of Vietnam or the fried rice found in Singapore, there's one thing that these cuisines all share - influences from Chinese culture, something that chefs at School of Wok make it their job to know a lot about.

This influence of Chinese culture in no way means that each country and region does not possess it's own unique traditions and flavors with their own cuisine, but it's undeniable that you can see elements of Chinese flavors and techniques wherever you look.

Woks, which originated from the Canton region of China, are the most common and versatile of the cooking utensils used across SE Asia, in which foods can be stir-fried, steamed, deep-fried, braised or even smoked. In fact, the Chinese are said that have brought their stir-frying methods to the rest of the continent as merchants traveled across the region for thousands of years.

As for the food of SE Asia, rice and noodles, now fundamental ingredients across the region, were originally Chinese foods that later found their way into kitchens further south. These ingredients are now considered to be staples across the whole region, and take their place among national dishes of many SE Asian countries - such as Vietnam (Pho), Thailand (Pad Thai) and Malaysia (Nasi Lemak).

Furthermore, the cuisines of the South East would be completely different without soy sauce, which was invented in China sometime between the third and fifth centuries. The influence of Chinese culture on the rest of SE Asia can be plainly seen through the use of this indispensable condiment with the majority of meals using it in one way or another.

More recently as example of Chinese influence, dim sum, unarguably a Chinese invention, has spread across the continent with steamed buns and boiled dumplings being served across the region, updated with each country's individual twist.

Living in a multicultural city like London more and more the food industry has an obligation to represent cultures from a variety of different influences. School of Wok, a recreational cookery school in Covent Garden, has made it's mission to represent a variety of Asian cuisines and heritage. As well as a number of Chinese cookery courses and Dim Sum courses, School of Wok teaches a host of different cuisines from across South East Asia, highlighting each countries key ingredients and unique flavors. Whether it's Thai cooking classes, tips about Thai food or think Malaysian cooking lessons, School of Wok specializes in a variety of Asian cuisines, cooking techniques and cultures.

Schoolofwok, a leading cookery school in London, offers a variety of Chinese Cookery Courses. We also provide chef Courses and Cookery Classes London. If you want to join cooking classes you can directly visit our site: http://www.schoolofwok.co.uk/

Best Stir Fry recipe

Our experience here is one of our best stir fry recipe that we can share with you today. This is a very yummy dish for most. You can also omit the snow peas and instead use broccoli florets. If your family loves beef and beef strips, this recipe will surely be loved and repeatedly requested. Learn how to do. It is easy, quick and very luxurious for a quiet dinner at home. We call this dish EMERALD stir fry with beef. But others also replace meat with seafood and still enjoy the recipe. It can be prepared in minutes; where the specimen is 30 minutes and the actual cooking is 12 minutes. This recipe makes 4 servings.

INGREDIENTS:

¼ Cup Mirin or semi sweet white wine, like Riesling ¼ cup orange juice2 tbsp rice vinegar ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes ¼ Cup low sodium soy sauce 1/4 cup water2 tablespoons canola oil8 ounces beef round steak, sliced into ¼ inch thick strips3 cloves garlic, minced2 peeled cups fresh snow peas (about 6 ounces) 1 large bunch broccoli (1 1/4 pounds), trimmed and cut into small floretsA bunch asparagus (about 1 pound), trimmed and sliced in diagonal 2 inch pieces2 cups (about 8 ounces) frozen peeled edamame1 ½ teaspoon cornstarch dissolved in ¼ cup warm water1 tsp sesame oil

PROCEDURE:

Combine Mirin or white wine, orange juice, soy sauce, rice vinegar and red pepper flakes and water in a small bowl. Mix until they are soft. Set aside.

In a large wok or skillet (about 14 inches wide), sauté in saucepan, heat 1 tablespoon canola oil over medium heat. Add the meat and stir fry until just browned in about 2 minutes, which will be 1 minute on each side for a uniform cooking. Then transfer the beef to a plate and set aside.

Heat the remaining canola oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook until it's fragrant for about 30 seconds. Add snow peas, Broccoli Florets, asparagus and edamame. Raise heat to medium high, and cook for another 3 minutes until the vegetables have softened slightly.

Then add the Mirin-soy sauce mixture and cook stirring constantly until edamame are cooked and asparagus is crisp-tender in about 4 minutes more. let the sauce coat the vegetables by continuing concerns frying.

Then add the meat back into the Pan and dissolved cornstarch and cook to rock and mix with the vegetables. Continue stir frying until mixture thickens slightly and the meat is heated through enough for about 2 minutes more.

Drizzle with sesame oil and serve immediately while it is hot.

Large Steam cooked white rice.

This best stir fry recipe is a good source of protein, fiber, vitamin A, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, iron, phosphorus and zinc. It is also a good source of thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, folic acid, calcium, Magnesium, manganese, potassium and selenium a bit. Try to enjoy them at home. Be careful, however, of how your time on cooking, because the volume of vegetables in this recipe are a little high and it can produce more fluid. Enjoy and continue cooking.

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Dim Sum Cooking Class - Learn How to Make Dim Sum at Home

Love dim sum but don't know how to make it at home? Well look no further than School of Wok, one of the more unique cookery schools in London specialising in Chinese and South-East Asian cuisine.

Offering a wide range of cookery courses, School of Wok aims to teach you all you need to know about this Chinese delicacy, and will help you become the best chef you can be along the way, whatever your skillset.

Like so many other Chinese specialties, dim sum is something that Britain (especially London) really can't get enough of, yet so many wouldn't even dream of attempting to recreate it in the comfort of their own home. With a few handy tips and tasty recipes from us, you'll be able to bring restaurant-style dining to your kitchen table and impress your friends and family with these delicate little mouthfuls of Chinese elegance.

Literally meaning "to touch your heart" or "a little bit of heart", dim sum was originally invented as just a light snack, served exclusively to accompany tea in ancient China. But the huge increase in demand means that there's now an entire food industry dedicated to it.

Whether it's steamed buns, fried dumplings or spring rolls, dim sum is no longer a mid-morning snack or small appetizer; it's now an exciting, trendy dinner experience that's taking London by storm.

However, to a dim sum newbie, the countless types will likely baffle and intimidate when one is confronted with a seemingly endless menu of confusing words - gao, jiaozi (or potsticker), bau, xiaolongbao, phoenix claw, siu mai, etc etc.

School of Wok understands how daunting and off-putting it can be to delve into a new type of cuisine, so we're doing what we do best and simplifying dim sum, giving you a step-by-guide to make this food more approachable.

As well as offering short dim sum masterclasses, we are now running five-day intensive cookery courses in London focused solely on dim sum, teaching customers all there is to know about dozens of different bite-sized dishes.

Our 'Dim Sum Extravaganza' course begins in May and runs one evening a week for five weeks at our flagship cookery school in Covent Garden, making it flexible for those who lead busy lives in the city!

Join us on a journey through the art of Dim Sum. Five days of non-stop dumplings, pastries, rolling, folding, wrapping...and eating! While Dim Sum can take years to really master, our cookery lessons in London will teach you all the tricks of the trade, showing foodies of all abilities that fine dining needn't be expensive and reserved for special occasions, but can happen every night in your own home!

Schoolofwok, a leading cookery school in London, offers a variety of Dim Sum Cooking Lessons and this recipe site will give you great ideas on becoming a better cook. We also provide thai Cooking Classes and organize team building activities london. If you want to join cooking classes you can directly visit our site: http://www.schoolofwok.co.uk/

When All Else Fails, Cook Something Delicious! (Camille Ocon)

Even if your only cooking task is feeding your household, there is plenty that you can learn to improve your cooking talents. Learning a few interesting methods can help you to turn even the blandest meal into a masterpiece that everyone will remember. This article will give you some great tips for livening up your meals.

You can start cooking simple meals out of a cookbook you can borrow from the library. That way you can try different meals that you can prepare and when you are done you can take it back. Try a few recipes, and be patient with yourself as you are mastering this new skill.

To make slicing meat into thin strips a little easier, partially freeze it. Thin strips of meat are ideal for meals that are originally ethnically Asian. When you partially freeze meat, its fibers don't tear as easily so slicing is cleaner. Then don't forget to let the meat strips completely thaw, so it will cook evenly.

Longer cooking times and techniques, like boiling, destroys healthful nutrients in veggies. You can keep all those healthy nutrients by using a quick method of cooking like steaming or by eating the vegetables raw.

You have probably felt guilty for pitching moldy fruits before. Have you ever thought to just remove the moldy section by cutting it out? It is not possible to save rotting fruit. You should dispose of any rotten fruit, as mold penetrates further than the naked eye can see. Rotting food can carry a number of pathogens, so it is best to avoid the risk.

When cooking vegetables, cook them as quickly as possible to keep their nutritional value. Though slow cooking is popular in some cultures, the process actually eliminates important nutrients and renders the vegetables tasteless. Using these techniques will mean putting healthier food on the table. The key to improving your vegetables is learning how you can cook them in the minimum amount of time.

When you plan on using wooden skewers for cooking, soak them in water for 30 minutes prior to cooking. Using this method, you will not burn them when you're cooking. You can keep food on the skewer when you use two parallel skewers instead of one.

Always make sure to read labels on any ingredients you are purchasing for a recipe. Though they seem innocent enough, many of the components of everyday cooking items can be loaded with secret things that hinder your overall health. You must make sure that your ingredients are not high in either sodium or sugar because these may cause health problems if consumed in large amounts.

If a recipe calls for milk or water, try some other flavorful liquid to enhance the flavor of your dish. When you cook vegetables you can use chicken broth or add beef instead of water. Rather than using milk, think about yogurt, buttermilk or sour cream. Try making your recipes stand out and more nutritious by interchanging your liquids.

Becoming a good cook is a lifelong learning process. The cooking tips in this article are a great example of things that could help you cook better for yourself, your friends, your family, or even for the crowd.

There are lots of Easy Things to Cook that you have to consider. Because we live in a past-faced life, everything should be prepared instantly.

Highly Recommended Instructions On How To Cook The Best Blueberry Muffins

Muffins tend to be a pleasurable food to generate given that there are many kinds and lots of flavors to play with. The primary aspect of producing any muffin is knowing what the dough should look like when made

properly. With time and training you really should recognize this by looking at it or "by eye". The fact is if they don't come out correctly the chances are your dough wasn't thick enough. Most people today assume that the dough really should be thin but to get the right impact your dough must be thick enough to hang on the spoon a little.

The dough will need to sit in the muffin cups and you really should be able to pull it out making a cone shape from your spoon. In some cases a bit of an adjustment to the recipe is necessary less fluid more flour you will likely need to improvise in some cases.

When adding the dough in the muffin cups you should be sure to add the same volume in each cup. Commonly 1/3rd to ½ of the cup giving it room to rise. If you wish large muffins 2/3 rd will be sufficient, nonetheless make sure you put equal amounts in each and every and there is enough space for them to rise as well.

When baking them you really should stay close to keep an eye on the muffins. Abandoning the oven may possibly give you the time to get diverted. Examine the muffins on a regular basis. If you like the muffins to be light on the top then you need to take them out when the edges of the muffins become a golden color. Yet if you like your muffins a bit dark and flaky inside you can bake them until the full top of the muffins are golden brown.

Baking with crumbs on the muffins: To include crumbs to your blueberry muffins you need to take them out about mid baking time. Spread some butter all over the top and adding the crumb mix. And then

return to oven permitting them to bake until the muffins become golden brown on the top.

Preparing muffins can be good fun. As with any food you are mastering it takes effort to perfect. Research, try, and create to become a much better baker! Remember baking is an art so enjoy!

Silicone bakeware has become particularly popular and for plenty of great factors. One can still make a perfect cake in a metal, aluminum, ceramic, or glass pan, but with all that silicone bakeware has to offer, you might not want to. It is unbreakable, straightforward to store, lightweight, versatile, and simple to clean. Once you test this bakeware, you may not want to bake with anything else.

One of many crucial added benefits of silicone bakeware is that it is unbreakable and long-lasting. It is pretty soft and incredibly flexible, and won't dent just like metal bakeware can. You can actually drop it without having to be anxious that it may bust like glass or ceramic bakeware can. These features also make it less harmful to utilize, because you do not have to be anxious about sharp edges or broken components.

Mary J Griffints Photo

Please click the website link for much more details regarding cookware . Start utilizing silicone bakeware and grow to be a considerably better baker or cook.

Coup de gueule d'un de nos lecteurs

Stop la sur-motorisation de la plage !
Je surfe régulièrement de bonne heure à la plage de l'Horizon (que tout le monde appelle "Petit Train") et je remarque que de plus en plus de 4x4 sillonnent le bord de mer chaque matin (mais aussi dans la journée).
Je ne doute pas de la nécessité de (plus en plus de) ces "professionnels de l'industrie du tourisme" à recourir à de pareils engins. Cependant, à l'heure où toute la Presqu'Île roule à bicyclette, le balai incessant de ces engins motorisés trouble quelque peu ces incomparables instants de sérénité que goutent de bonne heure à l'océan surfeurs, pratiquants de yoga, pêcheurs, joggers et autres promeneurs matinaux. (et moi, donc..).
Sans parler du tableau digne de "Mad Max" de tout ce déballage de ferraille laissé à la vue de tous aux "heures de pointes" : tamiseuses abandonnées dans la dune le matin, chariot des jets ski des sauveteurs sur la plage, pick-up de l'entretien, jeeps pourries des personnels des snacks, tout cela offre, en plus des traces sur le sable digne des pistes du Paris-Dakar, un spectacle mécanique pas tout à fait en harmonie avec ce que nous apprécions au Ferret : une Nature préservée dans un environnement paisible.
Se donner les moyens de veiller à la propreté et la sécurité de la Presqu'île, OUI, la transformer en autoroute, NON !
Chacun semble abuser de son petit privilège en parcourant la plage dans sa longueur, quitte à slalomer entre les serviettes comme ce fut le cas samedi dernier pour ce 4x4 blanc des Eaux et Forêts (qui avait surement une inspection urgente à faire en ce samedi matin 10h30 !).
D'autre trouvent sans doute plus confortable (et agréable) de longer la plage plutôt que de remonter la dune et reprendre la route...
Pollution sonore, visuelle et écologique, risques réels pour la sécurité (ledit 4X4 blanc suivait "la piste" des traces des précédents véhicules et m'a évité au dernier moment...) et que dire du message que cela renvoie aux estivants sur le "respect" de la Presqu'île ?
N'est-il pas temps de ramener tout ce petit monde à la raison ?

Nouveau bulletin n°80

......Pour pouvoir lire le document, passez en plein écran en cliquant sur la petite flèche en haut à droite de l'image.

Advantages of Raw Manuka Honey in Cooking

Honey is a natural sweetener and many different varieties are available based on the hundreds of different flowers and plants frequented by bees. Raw manuka honey is made from the tea tree bush native to New Zealand and it has a dark color and robust flavor. Among the many advantages of raw manuka honey are culinary benefits. Everyone from novices to master chefs can use this sweet substance to prepare culinary delights.

Sweet Advantages: Honey contains natural sugar, water, protein, vitamins, minerals, and pollen. Fructose and glucose are the main sugars and vitamins include B6, niacin, thiamin, riboflavin, and amino acids. Calcium, iron, copper, manganese, potassium, zinc, and sodium are several minerals that honey contains. Conductivity is an indirect measure of mineral content and the conductivity is approximately four times higher than that of typical flower honey.

It is free of fat and cholesterol but does contain beneficial antioxidants. The sweet stuff also has hydrogen peroxide that provides an antibiotic quality. Manuka contains methylglyoxal, an antibacterial substance created by converting a compound found in high concentration in tea tree flower nectar. A rating called UMF was developed to correspond with MG concentration.

Uses In the Kitchen: It has a high fructose level that makes it sweeter than table sugar. For that reason, it is the perfect sugar substitute. People add raw honey to beverages, use it to top their oatmeal, and even mix it with water. One tablespoon of this natural sweetener contains 64 calories and its sugars are absorbed into the bloodstream gradually.

When baking, raw honey can be substituted for sugar in most recipes. To do so, use between ½ and ¾ cup for every cup of sugar called for in the recipe. For each cup of sugar that is replaced, reduce liquid ingredients by ¼ cup. If baking soda is not an ingredient in the recipe, add ¼ teaspoon of it for every cup of sugar replaced. It causes baked goods to brown more easily so reduce cooking temperature by 25 degrees.

Other Cooking Tips: It never spoils and can be stored in a kitchen cabinet. If it crystallizes, simply place the container in a bowl of hot water until the substance returns to its liquid state. It can then be used in recipes and to sweeten beverages. Though honey changes the flavor of baked goods, the change is subtle. Many people have no idea that this substitution was made and honey actually makes breads and cakes moister, which is a desirable quality.

There are many other ways to incorporate it into foods. Use it to make salad dressings, glazes, sauces, and dips. Prepare honey-dipped wings for a picnic or tailgating party and use honey to make granola bars for the kids. It can even be used to sweeten different types of homemade preserves. With so many potential manuka honey uses in the kitchen, it is time to get cooking!

Devjeet Singh Photo

Honeymark Products is an importer and distributor of Manuka Honey & Raw Manuka Honey products. All Honeymark products are made with all-natural ingredients & contain active Manuka Honey from New Zealand.

Simple Microwave Meals In 10 Minutes Or Less

Becoming a great chef is easier than you might think. When cooking, it's fine to experiment with different things, so that you can discover your strengths and weaknesses. The following advice is exactly what you need to become a better cook and increase your repertoire of dishes. Use the following advice and you can greatly improve your skills in the kitchen.

bake tart or pie crusts longer that you think they should be baked. Go past the usual pale tan color and take them to a caramel gold. The golden color is a sign that the sugars in the crust have finally caramelized.

Apples spoil quickly if stored incorrectly. Apples need to be kept loosely in plastic bags while in your refrigerator or basement because they rot in dry, warm air. One bad apple will quickly ruin the other apples.

Dried and frozen ingredients should never be used over fresh ingredients if you want to get the most out of your cooking. Fresh ingredients are often inexpensive, and can help bring a lot of flavor out of your dish.

Do you find it tough to know the right amount of grilling time for different cuts of meat? The best way to be sure that your meat has cooked fully is to test it with a digital meat thermometer near the center of the thickest part of the meat. If you are grilling a thicker piece of meat (over 1.5 inches), close your grill while cooking to save some time.

Burgers will often stick to a grill. Once they are stuck it can be very difficult to get them off of the grill and have them still maintain their shape. Brushing vegetable oil on the grill will help keep your food from sticking.

Optimize your efforts when making your own chicken stock. Plan to make a big pot of stock so you can freeze and store it. Good homemade chicken stock is a wonderful base in soups, stews, casseroles and more. First, cool the stock and then stick it in the freezer.

If serving salad, keep the dressing on the side, rather than pouring it on the salad. Some people enjoy lots of dressing when eating salads so it is important that each person add their own dressing. Offering a variety of dressing for their salad is the best way to make sure that all guests are happy.

It is vital for cooks to have their supplies organized when cooking. If they are not properly organized, you will wind up rummaging around to find what you need. Try to keep things with similar purposes in proximity to one another. For instance, put all your spices together in one cabinet.

Every six months to one year, replace spices that have grown dull. The flavor of spices diminishes if they sit around for too long. If you do not think you will use all of the spice within six months, split it with a friend.

After purchasing fruits that are not quite ripe, store them in a plastic bag that is perforated with holes. As fruits ripen, they produce a gas called ethylene. Bags with holes will prevent already-ripened fruit from rotting, since the ethylene gas can escape; on the other hand, under-ripened fruit benefits from a bag without holes, since the gas that causes ripening is retained.

Try out the tips from this article for improved cooking experiences. Try each of these tips to see if they work for you. Practicing the concepts put forth here will help you become a better cook. Improve your cooking skills significantly in under a week by adding these tips to your arsenal of kitchen tricks.

There are many ways to help you take advantage of easy cooking ideas but you have to select the best service that can provide assistance to you. By clicking here, you can get more information on how to cook foods in no time without sacrificing its taste.

Online Food Ordering System and its Future in Pakistan (Maham Mohsin)

In this era of globalization, where everything is turning digital, e marketing and e commerce has revolutionized the concept of business. The trend of online shopping has made life much easier for shopaholics or specially working class.

I always wonder we have online shopping for shopaholics then why not something for food lovers? While surfing through internet, I was amazed to see that finally we do have online food ordering facility in Pakistan as well especially in Lahore. A web based online food ordering portal has been developed to facilitate the food lovers. The concept of this portal is very simple and unique. The online food ordering company is providing a bridge between food providers and food lovers, they have a list of numerous restaurants registered on their portal which are divided on the basis of their delivery area. Once a user visited their website he registered on the website, log in to place an order online, select his residential area and city to see the list of restaurants delivering in his area. After this one time registration process there are only few simple steps to order food online.

Search restaurant, order food, checkout and get your order delivered at your door step in just few clicks. Isn't it easy and quick? This online food ordering system not only providing a medium to order food online but they are also providing us a platform where we can see multiple restaurants and their complete menus at one place. Choosing food has never been so easy before. You can see detailed menu, food description, serving quantity, food images and what not, this online food ordering website is a complete food guide for food lovers. They not only food for home deliveries but also book their table in advance for their favorite restaurants and always order their take away in advance as well.

In recent times Foodclub.pk has been emerged as a good addition in this online food system, it strengthen its roots in Lahore in past few months , they have more than 50 restaurants from different areas of Lahore delivering food to home or office. Consumers simply visit their website www.foodclub.pk and search their favorite restaurant in their area to order food online in just few clicks.

Some of the significant names of restaurant on their panel include Copper Kettle famous for its steaks, sandwiches, burgers, and continental and sea food variety. Lahore Chatkhara is another versatile addition on their panel offering wide range chatpatay tongue tinglers such dahi bhalay, chat and pani puris. Al Nakhal house of Arabian food is another great option for food lovers, similarly Zakir tikka is a real treat for desi food and B B Q lovers. For fast food lovers Pizza Milano, Domeno Hut, Smart Chicks, AFC, KB Burgers, Fri Chicks, Pizza Wonder, Pizza Place and list goes on. Biryani Express is one of the top priority restaurants for biryani lovers in Lahore, for pasta, thai and Italian food lovers Caf? Costa and Alley Cuisine have no match. In 10 city lounge is another unique addition on Foodclub.pk panel. There are many such restaurants on FoodClub.pk to satisfy the food cravings of every food lover.

In short this online food ordering system is not less than a blessing for food lovers who get a variety of menus, mouthwatering pictures and quick and fastest delivery services at one single and portable medium. We should encourage this trend in Pakistan as our future Is totally dependent of e commerce and digital devices.

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Why Could It Be Beneficial To Learn New Culinary Art Techniques With Cooking?

Konst av livsmedel som kan vara en av de klassiska metoderna att imponera p? g?sterna, v?nner, familjemedlemmar och sl?ktingar. De, som kunna f?rbereda delikatesser att tillfredsst?lla smakl?kar av m?nniskor, kommer realist detta som d?rren till en komplimang fylld kv?ll. Man skulle ocks? kunna f?rbereda sv?rt recept med extrem l?tthet genom att g? igenom de olika matlagning lektionsplaneringar. Det ?r inte ett nytt koncept f?r m?nniskor att g? f?r att l?ra kulinariska f?rdigheter. Sedan evigheter nu, m?nniskor har l?rt sig konsten, fr?n ?ldre generationer och har praktiserat det f?r att sj?lva bli etablerade kockar. B?de m?n och kvinnor har kommit med snabb l?tt m?ltid idéer att bli v?lk?nd kulinariska experter.

Men dagens moderna scenariot presenterar massor av m?jligheter till dem som ?r intresserade att l?ra sig nya kulinariska konsten tekniker. Det finns n?gra kulinariska konsten universitet, d?r fr?gan kretsar kring konsten att laga mat. Det omfattar allt fr?n att l?ra sig att hantera porslin och knivar till blandning av olika ingredienser. Gradvis, dessa fr?gor h?ller p? att inf?rlivas som heltid kurser vid universitet, s? att intresserade elever kan l?ra sig nya kulinariska konsten tekniker.

L?rande matkultur ?r inte alls ett sv?rt ?mne f?r dem som ?r ben?gna till matlagning och ?lskar dabbling i beredning av livsmedel. Inte bara har det varit deras hobbies men de har en lutning mot f?rdigheterna som manifesteras vanligtvis som snabb l?tt m?ltid idéer. Till ytterligare polska sina f?rdigheter, m?nniskor kan g? f?r full tid matkultur universiteten och kurser. S? kan de ha kunskap om hur man kan blanda olika objekt och vad som borde vara r?tt tekniker f?r preparat.

F?rutom de r?tta f?rfarandena f?r matlagning, kan eleverna f? matlagning lektionsplaneringar. De kan utbildas i f?rberedelserna av olika typer av r?tter, allt fr?n grekisk matrecept till kontinentala delikatesser. Det finns exklusiva klasser organiserade om kultur och anpassade av mat i olika civilisationer och kontinenter. N?gra speciella smaker som finns i olika l?nder undervisas ocks? i dessa kurser. Hela erfarenhet av dessa kurser ?r tillr?ckligt att ingjuta nya idéer hos eleverna. Efter kursen ?r ?ver, kan man bli v?l rustade f?r att prova olika recept av sj?lv. Eftersom de har kunskap om mat objekt av olika typer, ?r deras kombination rationell och ocks? se till att vara tilltalande.

M?nga m?nniskor nuf?rtiden v?ljer kocken och matkultur som heltid karri?rer. Massor av kockar har vunnit ber?mmelse genom olika b?cker och visar och har etablerat sina unika recept. Det verkar som att n?r de l?r sig nya kulinariska konsten tekniker, allt de f?rbereder blir ett objekt f?r att avsmakas. ?ven om de har f?rberett l?tt finger matrecept, skulle sedan ocks? det vara v?lsmakande och tilltalande. P? grund av poleringen av kunskap om matlagning och f?rst? de finare punkterna medan du f?rbereder delikatesser, har m?nniskor m?jlighet att skapa intressanta r?tter. P? att betj?na dessa gommen kittlande delikatesser, andra ?r ocks? full av ber?m och detta ger ett lyft till kompetensen hos personen. Namnet p? personen som fastst?lls i samh?llet och m?nga bra kockar har uppst?tt till f?ljd av h?rt arbete, intresse f?r matlagning och l?ror i matkultur universitet.

Goodcookingtoday ?r en framst?ende plats och ?r b?ttre ?n alla andra matlagning webbplatser och alla behoven n?r det g?ller de kulinariska underverk. Det ger ett brett utbud av recept som l?tt finger matrecept, snabb l?tt m?ltid idéer, grekisk matrecept f?r att l?ra sig nya kulinariska konsten tekniker.

Soup series, 10: Meredith Costain's pumpkin soup with Asian flavours

Years ago I worked near a café that made the most wonderful lunches. There was no set menu – just vats of whatever the chef felt like making that day. One of the regular offerings was a silky pumpkin soup with ‘Asian flavours’. I invented my own version of it. It must be okay, because every time I serve it to guests, they always ask me for the recipe 

Ingredients:

• 1 large butternut pumpkin

• 1/2 kumara (orange sweet potato) or extra pumpkin

• 1 large onion, chopped

• 1 large very ripe tomato

• chicken or vegetable stock (Massel or Vegeta are good commercial brands)

• 1 tablespoon Red Thai curry paste (Mae Ploy brand is best)

• pinch cumin

• 1/2 tin coconut milk

• bunch of coriander

1 Peel the pumpkin and kumara and chop into chunks.

2 Place into a large stock pot with the chopped onion.

3 Add enough stock to cover the vegetables.

4 Bring to the boil. Turn down heat and stir in the Thai red curry paste.

5 Cut a cross in the top of the tomato and add to the stock for a couple of minutes. Remove tomato and peel off skin, chop roughly and return to the pot.

6 Simmer for 40 minutes or until vegetables are soft.

7 Blend soup till thick. (A stick blender is best for this as it can be done while the soup is still in the pot). If your soup looks too ‘watery’, reduce this by simmering until some of the liquid evaporates.

8 Add the coconut milk and cumin and put the pot back on the stove over a low heat for a few minutes.

9 Pour into bowls and garnish generously with coriander.

My latest picture book Daddies are Lovely is out next month from Koala Books/Scholastic, just in time for Father’s Day. With gorgeous pictures of dogs and puppies by Slovenian illustrator Polona Lovsin, it celebrates the special relationship between fathers and their children. Why not let your dad know how much you love him by making him a bowl of pumpkin soup!

www.meredithcostain.com

How to Approach Genuine Spices Manufacturer in India? (Ganesh Agro)

Different types of Indian spices such as cumin powder, turmeric, black pepper, etc. form an indispensable part of Indian cuisine. Spices or as they call in India 'masala', manufacturers, exporters & suppliers have a significant contribution in providing the taste to the Indian food recipes made across the globe. However, the main reason behind this success is the painstaking efforts made consistently by exporters to enhance the quality of product.
Spices form the heart & soul of Indian cooking and need to be of high quality for the general public to make use of it. There are very few manufacturers, who provide quality product and to find the genuine one, you need to consider certain essential aspects, which we will be discussing further.
Identifying the best Spices manufacturer in India and top Cumin Seed exporter is very important, especially if your business involves distributing or selling of variety of spices to commercial & high-end food industry whether in India or outside. From food chains, restaurants to households require high-quality spices like cumin powder, fennel seeds, etc. to add flavor, aroma and taste to the food. To discuss about all the important aspects, which should be considered to approach a genuine Indian masala exporter for your requirement:-
Quality
It is a very important factor and should be given top most priority, when it comes to condiments & other exotic spices. Also, consider how they are manufactured by making use of traditional methods. Does it undergo proper processing & packaging procedures? Ensure that Cumin Seed exporter offer the facility and the expertise to provide the most aromatic and high-quality ones for customer's requirement.

Natural
Check whether the product offered by Spices manufacturer in India have been processed with artificial or natural fertilizers. You should opt for product, which is organically grown. Ask the exporters from where they get the product and how it is processed. The proper understanding of the agro based products will give you a better understanding and give you confidence about the quality of product offered by the exporters.

Variety
First of all, list out the spices you are looking for. Certain exporters focus on particular kind of spices depending on which spice is best to sell during that particular season. Spices vary depending on geographical location in both taste and aroma. For this reason, it is important to approach specialist exporters, who are expert in selling those specific products.

Contact the supplier directly
In order to get the contact details of exporter, you can search for it in business directories. It is better to contact them directly to discuss with them your specific needs. Make sure to not get trapped by the intermediaries, who may lure you with sales tactics but in-turn sell you the products at marked up rate.

Thus, by considering these mentioned aspects, you can be confident of approaching the best Spices manufacturer in India for your specific requirement.

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The pros and cons of using natural food colors

Although we have heard a lot about the negative effects of artificial preservatives and colourings in food for our health, we continue to consume foods that contain them. we have little choice when it comes to the ingredients in the food that we eat from restaurants or buy groceries. If you are seriously considering checking the amount of artificial food colouring you consume, you can make the practical option and cook your own food, put the natural food colors instead. Here are some of the natural ingredients that you can use to make your own food dyes and their advantages and disadvantages.

Grapes

Grapes or grape skin is a major source of pigments for making purple colors. Skin and flesh of the fruit is rich in anthocyanin compounds responsible for producing vivid violet hue. It is commonly used in candy, yogurt, ice cream, jams and jellies. Vitamins found in grapes help to prevent and reduce the risk of diseases such as rheumatism, arthritis, kidney and liver disease, diabetes, anemia and certain types of cancer.

This additive is not recommended for pregnant and breastfeeding women. It can cause sore throats and headaches, nausea, and allergies for some people.

Turmeric

A popular ingredient for the production of yellow dye, used turmeric primarily to spice up meals, like curries, salads, soups, mustard and cheese. Turmeric is curcumin, which is said to prevent or reduce the risk of influenza, cirrhosis, gastric ulcer, Alzheimer's disease and certain cancers. You should not use turmeric sloppy, though. Consuming too much turmeric may lead to gastrointestinal diseases. It can also cause adverse effects on the pregnant and lactating women. You do not need to use large quantities of turmeric for color topic anyway. Only a small amount is sufficient to produce concentrated amounts of live yellow dyes.

Caramel

This is probably one of the most commonly used additives, especially in candies. Natural starches and sugars are caramelized with high temperature, producing amber-colored liquid that can be used from sodas to processed meat. There are several classes of caramel, each categorized according to the chemical agent used for the caramelizing process. Steer clear of caramel-dyes containing ammonia and sulphites, which can be harmful to the body. Caramel is delicious, but have very little nutritional content, so it should be used carefully. Consuming too much caramel color can lead to allergies, immune deficiencies, diabetes, cancer and asthma in some people.

Beet Juice

Beets are one of the most recommended health ingredients to produce the red and pink food coloring. The roots are juiced and powdered then added lots of food and drink, from ice cream to spices. It contains a lot of nutrients including magnesium, manganese, iron, foliates, vitamin C and other antioxidants. The juice from sugar beet fruits are good for patients with immune deficiencies, kidney ailments, liver problems and colon cancer. It's also a good drink for those who want to control obesity.

Too much consumption of beets can cause allergies and damage the kidney stones. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should consume beet root juice in moderation.

Guidelines on how to make food interesting for your children

Guidelines on how to make food interesting for your children

Women today mostly working mothers and there is often that they don't get plenty of time to cook gently. It becomes more difficult when they understand that after arrival after from their Office, they would have to go to the market to buy essential things for cooking. This results in uniformity of tastes that children often miss their diet or do not eat properly. By following a few easy and quick cooking tips, you can get different flavors of foods can offer a large variety of foods for your entire family.

Guidelines for the busiest moms and novice Cook on how to cook special dishes

Here are some directions for the busiest moms and novice cooks how to cook distinct type of cuisine by taking less time and with less effort.

Find marinades for meat of chicken

If you want to reduce the long cooking time for the preparation of chicken, first do can it be marinating a very good idea. You should try to keep the meat of the chicken marinate it before one day cooking it will significantly reduce the time it burning, frying or roasting. You can take a variety of marinades, which can be obtained on the market to stay away from relapse in food recipes and make great new each time.

Going to try to change the ingredients used in the preparation of food

If you use oil for cooking, then you must try to take olive oil for cooking. You can see by using the olive oil is very fit and healthy and the major element of the Mediterranean diet. For cooking, you should also try to replace the spices against certain types of herbs. Spices are usually barks and seeds of plants, herbs are prepared with plant leaves and then have more flavor than spices. Herbs such as Mint, Bay leaves, basil, Sage, Rosemary, thyme and various others can be taken to your normal routine of cooking.

A Guide to Prepare a Cake Recipe For Diabetics

Who said that diabetic persons should not eat cakes at all? The only thing that is advised is that the diabetic persons should not eat food that is high in sugar and fat. This means that you can prepare yourself a cake recipe that will leave you enjoying your cakes just as others do. Below is a comprehensive guide that should help you in preparing a cake that you would find to be worth sharing.

Diabetic cake recipe free from sugar

Ingredients

Two cups of waterOne serving of saltTwo servings of raisinsOne serving of cinnamonA teaspoon of nutmegThree spoonful of sweetenerA half a cup of skimmed milkA cup of sliced nutsA spoonful of vanilla extractA single serving of baking powderTwo eggs, beatenUnsweetened applesauce - two servingsFlour

Instructions

Heat your oven to 350 degrees and then start cooking your raisins for at least thirty minutes. Ensure that all the water in the cooking tool is absorbed before you can remove it from the heat.

Have a bowl that you will mix all wet stuff in. These include water, milk and the rest. Another bowl would also be necessary to mix dry ingredients. The nuts should be mixed with the flour and later you should add the mixture in fluid form to this. Add the raisins too. Once this is done, you simply need to bake it for 45 minutes and remove the cake from the oven. To be certain that your cake is well cooked a clean toothpick should come out of your baked cake.

The above is a simple cake recipe that will make it possible for you to enjoy diabetic cakes without worrying that you would get sick.

There is more information that you can get on preparing the best cake recipes that can be enjoyed by many. You should use the internet to find pointers on the best ways to bake diabetic cakes. There are also blogs where you can follow tutorials on preparing a cake recipe of your choice. This actually makes the process to be very easy as you just have to follow the instructions. You should ensure that you get the best recipe out there which you can easily follow. This implies that a recipe with too many ingredients would not be the best option for you. Choose something that is simple to follow and in just an hour you would be eating your cake with a friend or a relative.

If you plan to add desert to this then you should mull over choosing ingredients or additives that are not high in sugar. Diabetic persons should not take their cake recipe with juice since it has high sugar levels. Choose something that would not cause any complications for you.

All in all, do not be convinced that diabetic persons should not eat cakes. Follow this guide to prepare your ideal cakes and do not forget to look for more tips on the internet.

If the cake recipes(do you know that the Danish term is kage opskrift ?) are the thing you are looking for, then you can follow this link .

SCOT bassin d'Arcachon

Suite à l’approbation du 24 Juin 2013, le SCoT est intégralement consultable à cette adresse: http://www.sybarval.fr/-Le-SCOT-approuve-.html

Choosing a bakery for your own needs (Ariel Stein)

A cake, chocolate or pastries can really add a special occasion. If you order something sweet for a special occasion, you have a lot of things to think about. You need to consider how much you need to order, the kind of dessert you want to order and where you would like to order it from. It's a process, but you want to go about this process carefully so that you can get away with a dessert that you would be proud to have served at your special event.

The first thing you want to do is to decide what kind of dessert you want to earn. If you want a cake, chocolate, pastries or some such, you need to decide what you want and then grind on the restaurants that give this type of object. Most bakeries can do any of these objects, but only because they can does not mean it is you want to go to. You want to buy from the bakery that specializes in and is known for the specific dessert you want to work.

How do you find the bakeries? The best way to find bakeries is through word of mouth. Ask your friends, your family, neighbors and even co-workers what bakery they used for their special events. You can get a lot of great feedback about which bakeries have provided good services and those who do not have nearly as good. If you've had the food served at an event that you participated in, is it a good idea to ask about who gave the item you had that you know you will like what they serve.

If you have received several recommendations, is your next work plan to contact suppliers and ask to meet with them, let them know you want to try their food and exactly what it is that you are looking for. Most bakeries will allow you to try out their articles for free and while you meet them ask about cost and turn around time and whether they can provide the type of service you are looking for.

If you have the sample on all bakeries and have found your Favorites, you can look at the cost. If everything is equal between a couple of bakeries, you might as well go with one that is more affordable. In General, when you taste test of several bakeries, you'll find that there are one or two favorites so you only need to ensure that they are able to provide what you need at the date you need it and also take into account your budget and whether it falls within the scope of what you can afford. When you go to find the bakery to enlarge so here, you will find that it is easy to grind on the right bakery for your specific needs.

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Cooking By means of Cola? Savoury Bowls With Quirky Barbecuing Liquids Like Ingredients (early education)

If you are into to grill, you are going to have likely simmered a fabulous ham for stock, poached a fabulous fish for lemon and additionally water, and / or cooked a fabulous chicken for wine... but for everybody who is like others you're also consumed by doing something just a little different every so often. What responds are nearly four of great favourite recipes which include unusual non-alcoholic beverages as items, covering soda-pop, seawater, dairy products, and pomegranate moisture.

Why wander off the normal, safe, conventional stocks as well cooking beverages? Playing by means of unusual barbecuing liquids may well add increased flavour for the meals, can add up to meats or possibly sauces simply being incredibly offer or flavourful, and that can get you will thinking a great deal more creatively on the kitchen. Also, quite frankly, I experience telling great partner if you have a meal Concerning cooked is actually cooking for or with attaining some sort of strange liquid simply see the design of mix-up on an individual's face (and down the road acceptance subsequently after we've devoured a gorgeous dish).

The first of all quirky barbecuing liquid I need can come to be sourced from many distinct locations anywhere, as it will be naturally by the bucket load you probably have access: Seawater. Now surely you must be careful in finding seawater right from clean spaces, and also do not forget to thoroughly boil the to eliminate whatever nasties to be had, be conscientious to not have any sand into your pot, accessories... but at the time done seawater in the form of cooking solution can acquire a lovely flavour-not only just of sodium, but about 'the sea', to make sure you vegetables, seafood or cutting edge potatoes. Seafood bisques, defined, are given a lot more authentic flavoring when cooked properly with seawater. In the form of child we which is used to use seawater to make sure you cook seafood right on the oceanfront, and therefore the flavours really are wonderful. For everybody who is squeamish approximately getting seawater straight from ocean, look out for cutting edge companies that are planning to sell the software, purified, just for cooking usages. Aquamara are amongst the first, though Document wouldn't come to be surprised assuming they are shortly then others.

Next we'll move to ham cooked properly in soda-pop. Yes, as in the sugary soda have you constantly buy to combine with rum (or is normally that only just me? ). Could possibly sound crazy first, but all the cola caramelizes just a little on skin pores and produces a gorgeous, moist roast. The soda-pop also flavors the surface layer about meat you might akin towards honey-glaze. Your final rub prior to when the roast goes inside grill in a bit may include mustard and additionally cloves, to convey a hot/spicy contrast to sweetness for the dish.

Funding Europe, pork slow-cooked for milk is frequently associated by means of Italian barbecuing, though there is other local variations. The dairy products initially acts for the cooking solution, and is constantly the pork moist considering that it gently simmers gone. Once all the meat is normally cooked, the dairy products is afterward reduced down along with the other ingredients on the cooking liquid to make a lovely rich and creamy sauce. Fiddle to look for your ideal. I prefer engineered so includes a fabulous dash about cinnamon, but there are various variations to fit your individual tends to be.

Carrying relating to East in the world, we uncover Iran anyone of great favourite dishes in them all: koresht fesenjan, having use about pomegranate molasses. I had produced this within the restaurant for London 10 years ago and additionally was enamoured having unusual education represent the fruit's moisture and crushed walnuts to continue with meat and grain, and experience since cooked properly it several times. Pomegranate molasses, within the savoury platter? Trust others, it gets results beautifully. This approach recipe located at

Some dinners aren't complete without a tasty side dish. You can use a side dish to add a zesty flair when your main entr?e consists of a simply prepared meat, chicken or fish. cookingideasOr you can serve several side dishes as snacks.

Authentic Recipes From The Countryside

The best part about cowboy style cooking is that it's easily approachable, and heart fulfilling. A common ingredient used in this type of cooking are not much different but they usually involve a lot of quail, goat or duck probably because this is what is indigenous to the Texas region. Also, a major part of cooking involves beef, pork chops, steaks with light salads fresh from the fields and creamy desserts. Texas Garlic Brown Chicken is an easy-to-cook meal with a preparation time not more than ten minutes. Twenty minutes or so can be consumed for the cooking to take place. Now this could easily be the time you can meddle in other dishes to complete the feast for your family like soups and dessert courses. The following recipe can easily serve up to 6 people. Brown Sugar, 4 tsp unpackedchicken breast, no skin, 12 ouncesGarlic, 1 cloveButter, salted, 2 tbspSalt, 1 tspPepper, black, 1 dashMelt some butter over low heat in a pan and when the butter has melted, add garlic. Allow it to turn brown and then add chicken breast pieces. Add seasoning according to taste. When the chicken is properly cooked, add brown sugar over each piece. Allow the sugar to melt and cook for another five minutes. Serve the sticky chicken with salad or it goes best simply with beans. The amazing spicy dish can be made very easily once you get hold of the ingredients. Remember the key ingredient for the taste of this delicious delight is the ranch dressing mix. It may be a little hard to find but without it you may not be able to achieve the right taste like visiting Disneyland without a go on the rides. 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts1 ounce per kg ranch dressing mix2 cups crispy rice cereal1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese2 egg whites(beaten)2 tablespoons light butter (optional)Simply add the parmesan cheese to the ranch mix and rice cereal and some seasoning according to taste. Mix well and set aside. Dip chicken breast pieces in egg whites, and then in the cereal to form a coating. Slightly grease the baking sheet and spread the pieces evenly. Bake the chicken for 30 minutes or till it gets golden brown. Author : Edward Franklin is Fitness Evangelist and Health Freak. I likes to write article about health and fitness . Edward Franklin is the well wisher for Fitness Republic for a long period and Fitness Republic has always encouraged Fitness and Health improving activities. You can find Health and Fitness Articles and other Health related information on the website. Rate this Article

Authentic Recipes From The CountrysideNot Rated Yet

Edward Scott Franklin has published 18 articles. Article submitted on June 12, 2013. Word count: 374

How to make the most out of your refrigerator

Storing food in your refrigerator can be quite bewildering at times. So here are some tips that would help you to make the most of your refrigerator, and keep food longer.

You should clean your refrigerator at least once each week.You should not keep open cans in your refrigerator. This is because most of the food is usually slightly acidic in nature. When you leave open the cans and jars in the fridge, this acid can react with the metal and the air and turn your food metallic taste. You should put your Leftover canned goods in a separate clean container, cover it with a lid or cling film and notice its content and then put the date.You should also wrap any other food that is not properly sealed with a cling film or keep them in a polythene bag before putting in the fridge. Also keep all the cans and bottles securely lock. The water in your food can evaporate and form ice and icing in the fridge.Store all raw meat in the freezer or with raw vegetables in the bottom shelves. Keep all your ready to eat foods like sandwiches and cooked meat products above. This would stop any bacteria from the raw food contaminating other ready to eat food. Keep all wrapped up neatly.It is also recommended that you do not overload your refrigerator. Leave plenty of space for good air circulation.Periodically check and ensure that your refrigerator temperature remains between 1? 4? C and C.Also vacuum your refrigerator condenser coils at least once each year. Pull out your refrigerator from the wall or (in some models) clean it from the fridge. It will ensure that your refrigerator will run shorter cycles.

Your refrigerator is your kitchen life-line, if you want it to last longer and function better, effectively, you must regularly take care of it; it's really not a big issue if you can change your habits.

You can read more interesting tips on safe cooking and storing your food at Carlton training website.

Emma is a professional adult education industry working for the training provider number 1 in the United Kingdom: Carlton training. She is happy to help you find and give you advice. Rate this article

How to make the best use of your FridgeRating: 5.0/5 (1 vote cast)

Emma Phelps has published 8 articles. Article written on 25 March, 2013. Word count: 343

Making Frothy Milkshakes

The drink is also known as thick shake or frappe. Some of the restaurants make milkshakes in automatic machines that freeze the shake and serve a premade one consisting of a flavored agent, milk and a thickening agent. But some fast food shops still use the traditional method and offer milkshakes that are made by blending soft-serve ice cream with syrups.

Recipes for preparing milkshakes

Jell-O Milkshake

Ingredients:

Milk - c Jell-O - 1 package of any flavour Vanilla ice cream - 1 pint, softened

Preparation: Place the ice cream and milk in a blender. Add jell-o and blend it for 30 seconds. Your mouth watery shake is ready to be served.

Eggnog Shake

Ingredients:

Eggnog - c Vanilla - 1/4 tsp Vanilla ice cream - 1 scoop Nutmeg

Preparation: Combine the first three ingredients in a blender and mix till it turns frothy. Sprinkle some nutmeg over it.

Cheery Chocolate Milkshake

Ingredients:

Frozen yogurt or vanilla ice cream - 4 spoonsCold milk - 3/4 cChocolate syrup - 1/4 cMaraschino cherries - 3, stems removedAdditional cherry and whipped topping

Preparation: In a blender, place chocolate syrup, milk, ice cream and cherries. Blend it till it becomes smooth. Garnish with cherry and whipped topping.

Vanilla Milkshake

Ingredients:

Vanilla ice cream - 3 spoonsMilk - 1 1/2 cVanilla extract - spoonSugar - 2 tsp

Preparation: Combine milk, ice cream, sugar and vanilla in a blender. Blend it till it turns smooth.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Milkshake

Ingredients:

Peanut butter - c Chocolate syrup - 1/4 c Milk - 1/4 c Ice cubes - 12

Preparation: Combine chocolate syrup, peanut butter, ice cubes and milk in a blender and blend it till smooth.

Jelly and Peanut Butter Milkshake

Ingredients:

Peanut butter - spoon Jam or jelly - 2 spoons (strawberry, grape or raspberry) Milk - 1/2 c Vanilla ice cream - c

Preparation: Combine jelly and peanut butter well and place it in blender. Add ice cream and milk. Then blend it till it becomes smooth.

Whoppers Malt Shake

Ingredients:

Frozen yogurt or vanilla ice cream - 3 spoons Cold milk - 1/3 c Chocolate malt syrup - 3 spoons Whipped cream topping

Preparation: In a blender, place milk, ice cream and chocolate malt syrup. Blend it till it turns smooth. Garnish it with cherry and whipped topping.

Chocolate Shake

Ingredients:

Vanilla or chocolate ice cream - c Whole milk - 1/2 c Chocolate syrup - 4 spoons

Preparation: In the canister of blender, put all the ingredients and blend them till it turns smooth.

Chunky Milkshake

Ingredients:

Vanilla ice cream - 3 spoons Chocolate chips - 2 spoons Banana - 1/2 Instant coffee - spoon Chocolate syrup - 2 spoons Milk - c Vanilla - 1 tsp

Preparation: For one minute, blend everything on medium speed.

If you want to learn more interesting recipes, such as those for milkshake , you can visit Femina website and enjoy the great variety.

To get the best out of your favorite cheese

You'll find only a handful of people who will tell you that they do not like cheese. It is generally good. And with all the different types of cheese all over the world, you can actually choose the type that suits your palette.

But aside from that taste good or do almost every dish with extra cheese tastes better, it is actually packed with the necessary nutrients that will get you through the day.

Cheese is a great source of protein and calcium from additional nutrients such as B vitamins, zinc, riboflvain and vitamin a.

Due to calcium, it is good for your teeth and bones and help build strong bones that protects you from osteoporosis. Osteoporosis, which is common in women, is caused by calcium deficiency. And because it is rich in calcium, it helps to prevent symptoms of osteoporosis.

It is also good for women who are pregnant or help to minimize the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome.

Additional nutrients in cheese help pregnant women as it support during childbirth and also help in milk production when the baby is born.

Additional nutrients such as B vitamins help to make your skin glow. It also helps keep your hair healthy and strong nails. It also AIDS your body in its proper function and is known to strengthen the immune system so that it is easy to not get sick.

They say that the cheese is not good if you are dieting. This is probably because it is rich in saturated fat. But the protein in cheese actually helps one feel full and want to end your craving. With everything in moderation, can actually help a cheese to lose weight. In addition to the satisfactory aspect is the cheese in your meal plan that protein can also slow the absorption of carbohydrates and it balances your metabolism.

So if you need to lose weight, you can still enjoy a nibble or two. Not too much. Just enough to enjoy its creamy goodness but not too much that would lead you to gain weight.

Now, if you need to gain weight, include more cheese in your daily diet. Proper diet, is about winning or losing weight, always the key.

And another fact, although it is far-fetched, it helps to prevent cancer because of the conjugated linoleic acid in the cheese. There are studies on this chemical that seems to lead to Cancer Prevention and this is found in the cheese.

Get your daily dose of cheese right now. There are hundreds of types of cheese all over the world, but you can find most of them in one and the same roof. You can check through online cheese shops that perfect cheese, find out more about the health benefits of cheese as well as nutritional information on the kids cheese you had your eyes on. For questions please call toll free at 1 (800) 382-0109.

Impress Your Breakfast Guests With Healthy Muffin Recipes

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It provides energy and nutrients to your body for the day ahead. It also helps to kick start your metabolism. Most experts believe that men and women who eat breakfast regularly are more likely to lose and maintain weight when compared to individuals who skip their breakfast. It is, however, important to get a healthy start to the day, and well-balanced and nutritious breakfast could be your first step towards overall health and well being. Your healthy breakfast menu should include significant amounts of fiber along with lean proteins and carbohydrates for instant energy.

Creating a healthy breakfast menu can be challenging. The task is greater when you have guests at home. While you want to make something special for them and make them feel welcome, you do not want to make unhealthy doughnuts and pastries. Muffins are a great choice. You can use healthy muffin recipes to create exotic yet nutritious choices for your guests and family members. With the healthy recipes, almost everyone can enjoy a second serving without feeling guilty about the calories.

You can go online to find several healthy muffin recipes. You can also visit the local book store to find breakfast cookbooks with healthy muffin recipes in them. Popular choices include:

Yamberry Muffins - These consist of cranberries and sweet potato. You can also use barn or whole grain flour to increase the fiber content. The recipe is rich in vitamin A and C, and other essential nutrients.Lemon-Raspberry Muffins - Another one of the healthy muffin recipes, it includes whole grain flour along with vitamin-rich lemon juice and raspberry fruits.Banana Bran Muffins - These are rich in fiber, potassium and other important nutrients. You can add nuts rich in omega fatty acids to increase their nutrient value.Cornmeal Muffins - Individuals looking for healthy muffin recipes will also enjoy cornmeal muffins made from whole cornmeal flour. You can add spices such as cinnamon and ginger which have the ability to reduce the risk of cardiovascular illnesses.Buttermilk Muffins - These contain whole wheat flour, essential fatty acid-rich walnuts and pecans along with spices.

Your choice for healthy muffin recipes will essentially depend on your personal preferences. You can also consider the choice of your guests, especially if you know them well. Do not include ingredients that you or the guests may be allergic to. Most healthy muffin recipes are easy to make. You will find most ingredients at a grocery store near you. You should also prepare certain things ahead of time to save time and effort in the last minute.

You can also buy recipe mixes from regular or online stores. Make sure everything is made from highest quality ingredients. The recipe should be easy to make as well. Many bakeries also serve and sell healthy muffins in their menu. You can simply pre-order, and have them deliver the muffins to your home. Most products will stay fresh for two to three days.

The Perfect Cake Recipe For Those Who Have to Stay Away From Dairy Products

There are a lot of people out there who absolutely love dairy products or more specifically who love cakes but cannot eat them because of cholesterol problems. Such people have been advised by their doctors to stay away from eggs and milk especially. Now eggs are a crucial part of the cake; an ingredient that holds the cake together. Milk is another important ingredient but cake recipes have been developed over time to cater to the needs of those people who cannot eat products with milk or eggs in them. This is one such cake recipe that will surely be a huge hit with all those people who are under restrictions.

The ingredients used in the cake recipe to make six servings are:

One and a half cup of sifted unbleached all-purpose flourTwo teaspoons of baking powderHalf a teaspoon of baking sodaQuarter a teaspoon of saltThree quarters of a cup of white sugarEgg replacer - three tablespoons (dry form)Four tablespoons of waterSour cream - one cupHalf a teaspoon of vanilla extractQuarter cup of fresh blueberriesQuarter cup of chopped walnuts (this addition is up to you)Five tablespoons of white sugarTwo tablespoons of soy margarineHalf a teaspoon of ground cinnamonThe procedure to follow for this type of cake recipe is:An oven is heated to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Accordingly a 9 * 9 inch baking pan is greased for use.

Take a large mixing bowl. At first in this cake recipe, you need to resift the flour and the baking powder, baking soda, salt and sugar. In another bowl, you need to take the dry egg replacer and add to it some water which should approximately be about an egg's quantity. Once the egg replacer mixture forms, vanilla and sour cream are mixed in. This forms the egg mixture. Once you add the egg mixture to the flour mixture, beat it thoroughly. Next the batter is spread in uniform layers in the baking pan. If you want, at this point, you can add blueberries and walnuts to this mixture. Slightly stir this to ensure that these additional items stay in the top layer alone.

Use another bowl, in order to prepare the topping you need to add to the cake. It will require about five tablespoons of sugar, margarine and cinnamon. The mixture is mixed with a fork until it looks like a cornmeal which means it should not look smooth. The topping is then sprinkled over the batter in any way that you like.

The cake is then baked in an oven that has been preheated for about twenty to twenty-five minutes. Another way to ensure that the cake has been thoroughly cooked is to insert a toothpick in the batter. When and if it is properly heated, the toothpick will come out of the crown of the batter on its own. Before you serve the cake, it is advisable that you cool the cake a little.

Soup series, 9: Gillian Polack's chicken soup and kneidlach(dumplings)

Chicken soup
There are many ways of making this soup. The very best involves a big boiling chicken, some giblets, some feet and the usual vegetables. I can’t get most of these things easily, so I’m giving you the recipe as I made it tonight. The quantities are large, but it freezes perfectly and is good to steam rice in (then I add coriander and chilli and other things and call it rice porridge) and somehow none goes to waste. Vegetables and meat can be eaten with the soup, or it can be eaten (as pictured) as a simple broth.
Ingredients:
2 kg chicken frames
1 big handful chicken giblets
1 big handful chicken necks
2 big onions (peeled but not chopped)
1 big parsnip (cut into half or quarters)
Celery tops (the leafier the celery the better)
3 carrots (halved)
Seasoning
Much water

Method:
Put the chicken in your biggest pot. Add enough water to cover. Bring this to a boil and simmer for at least 8 hours with the lid off the pot. If more water needs adding (this depends on the size of your pot) just add more. Make sure that nothing sticks to the bottom (stir from time to time). Let it sit overnight. Skim.
Reheat and add the onion. After an hour or so, add carrot and parsnip. After another hour, add celery and season. Let it cook until it’s satisfactorily golden and tasty, skimming or stirring as necessary and adding water as necessary.

Kneidlach (dumplings)
Ingredients:
2 medium eggs
2 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons oil or fat (preferably chicken fat rendered with onion, but olive oil is healthier)
Salt (to taste)
Pepper (to taste)
1 cup coarse matzah meal
Sometimes I add a bit of cinnamon, or some almond meal, or some finely chopped celery.
Method:
Mix liquid ingredients first. Add everything else and mix well. Let sit for 2 hours. Form into balls (walnut size).
Bring a big pot of salted water to the boil. Add balls (do not crowd the pot) and cook them for 20 minutes.

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Using the Gourmet Cupcake Recipes for Kids Parties

You can't host a kids' gathering without a tray of cupcakes. Cupcakes stage a presentation at each tyke's gathering; in any case, the prospect of making them is never extremely difficult. One just needs to know the steps of simple cupcake making well. It has to be kept in mind though, that the more adept you are in making cupcakes, the faster you will be able to get everything done and that will leave you with more time to invest in other arrangements. Following is a quite simple recipe chosen from an extent of cupcake formulas to guarantee that both the parts and steps are modest. Ingredients:

2 1/2 measures of flour. The flour utilized ought to be available easily. Guarantee the flour is sorted well to dispose of bumps.1 1/3 measures of sugar3 teaspoons of preparing powder1/2 teaspoon of salt for safeguarding1/2 measure of oil or butter1 container of milk1 teaspoon of vanilla or vanilla essence2 eggs

Process:

Blend the flour, sugar, preparing a powder in a blending vessel. You can add a bit of salt too. Blend the oil, milk and vanilla together and add them to the flour mixture. Remember to blend well. Beat the eggs in a minor vessel and gradually add them to the flour mixture, blending persistently. Add the cupcake blend to cupcake cases as equally as you can. Heat the mixture in a preheated broiler of 3500F, for about 20 minutes. We are almost at the very end of one of the simplest of kids cupcake recipes. It is now time to finish the cupcake. Such gourmet cupcake recipes are so simple, you can actually hold a kids' competition regarding this; with parents' guidance of course. The one, who succeeds in making the best one or the tastiest one, will be entitled to win a prize. The kids will love this and it gives unique excitement that contrasts from the diversion of a standard youngsters' gathering. Cupcakes may be themed to upgrade the image based component and match the gathering subject. The most important part of decorating a cupcake is quite obviously the icing.

Here is how to go about it: Ingredients:

1 1/3 icing sugar; this ought to be sieved to dispose of any bumps.1 egg white; milk or water can additionally be utilized. Follow the directions on the pack of icing sugar to determine the amounts needed.1/2 teaspoon of vanilla or other flavor; edible colors may also be added.

Process:

Put each of the elements into a blending dish. Combine the things until they form a thick paste. You may as well do this by beating the mixture with a spoon. The kids cupcake recipes suggest making distinctive shaded icings by adding different colors to the mixture. You could even make a rainbow icing. There are numerous basic, consumable cake embellishments that could be added to the sticky icing to finish the gathering cupcakes.

To find icing and gourmet cupcake recipes do a basic search on the internet. There are numerous cupcake recipes accessible on the web.

Andy Samuel writes this article. He is a skilled hotel chef, who has worked for several decades in the top star hotels and here sharing his delightful cupcake recipes and his experience with the cupcakes . Visit: http://www.cupcakesandrecipes.com/

Easy Appetizer Recipes For Last Minute Parties And Get-togethers

A last minute party can be a headache if you are the host. You have to show the best of your cooking skills, organizational skills and presentation skills. Not to mention the long hours spent in preparing and making dishes for the same. The worst thing about being the host is that you need to make a dozen appetizers and then move on to the main course. Before you groan thinking about the same, here is a shortcut to make easy appetizers which will make your party a success without you hogging for the same. Here are some easy appetizer recipes which you can make without spending a lot of time and effort on them.

Chips and Dips

One of the easiest and common appetizers is chips served with dips. You can serve tortilla chips, potato and even French fries with a variety of dips. This makes for easy appetizers without spending a lot of time to make. The common dips are salsa, mayonnaise and garlic sauce. There are a variety of other dip recipes available on the internet and you can also experiment on your own. Adding onions and garlic to tomato ketchup is an easy and flavorsome dip and usually disappears with a packet of chips.

Stuffed Quiche

Stuffed quiches are easy appetizers which are healthy and tasty. You can buy readymade pie shells in the supermarkets. All you have to do is to make different fillings with a variety of ingredients already in your fridge. Keep the pie crusts with the filling in your muffin tray and bake in the oven till golden brown. The basic quiche filling consist of eggs, cheese and cream and your favorite ingredients as the filling. Mushrooms, broccoli, feta cheese, tomatoes make excellent quiche fillings.

Mini Grilled Sandwiches

An easy to make appetizer is mini sandwiches. You can also grill them with American cheese. Cut a slice of bread into quarters; place your favorite filling and a cheese slice inside the bread. Bake it in a preheated oven; wait till the bread becomes crisp and golden brown in color with the melting cheese inside. Serve with ketchup and you have delicious and easy appetizers which your guests will love for sure.

Dimsums and Momos

You needn't be an oriental chef to make these tasty tidbits. These healthy Chinese recipes have found followers in every part of the globe. All you have to do is to make pliable dough with all-purpose flour and corn flour and use a rolling pin to make sheets of the same. Mix together some garlic, spring onions, onions and chicken mince. Add salt and paper to taste. Place this mix inside a square or round sheet of dough and make a crescent moon or a money bag with it. You can steam this in a steamer and take out when the outer dough is well cooked. You can fry these momos for extra flavor or serve them as such with Chinese chili sauce. For the sauce, you need to soak red chilies in vinegar and make a paste of the same.

Now that you are armed with these easy appetizers, play the perfect host and have wonderful last minute parties.

There are many ways to make easy appetizers (Nemme forretter is the term in Danish).To find out more you can visit this page .

Specialties of The South of France

The French are known for many things-their great sense of style, their worldly attitude in life, and of course, their great appetite for food. French cuisine is one of the best gastronomic delights in the world. It's not surprising to know that French restaurants are among the most in-demand among diners, especially for special occasions.

However, French food is not limited to the usual baguettes and casseroles. French cuisine has so much more to offer to those who love to eat. The south of France is probably the most popular region in the country when it comes to great food offerings. Thanks to the abundance of fresh produce due to great climate, the south of France, particularly the region of Provence, enjoys a distinct gastronomy. Whether you are staying in a hotel nice, hotel orange, or a hotel avignon, you will surely have lots of options for fantastic meals.

Bouillabaisse in Marseilles

Marseilles is known not only for their great culture and people, but also for their food, particularly the bouillabaisse. This soup or stew is a traditional dish that has become a staple of most Provencal recipes. It contains at least three kinds of fish, ones that you can find locally. Varieties found in a single serving of bouillabaisse include Burbot, John Dory, Red scorpion fish, European conger, tub gurnard, and spotted weaver. The preparation and serving of this dish is very specific. You have the fish broth mixed with spicy sauce called rouille to put on bread or croutons. The fish will be mixed in olive oil on another pan or plate, and then added with more rouille. Fish dishes, such as the bouillabaisse are usually paired with white wine, but in Provence, they also serve it with rose wines, which is a specialty in the region. The growing and harvesting of rose wines are another great aspect of gastronomy in Marseilles.

Other Specialty Dishes in Provence

The other cities in Provence also have their own specialty dishes, just like Marseille has the bouillabaisse. Lemon-based dishes and desserts are the specialty in the city of Menton, which is famous for their lemons. Every year, there is a festival in the city in celebration of the fruit itself. Nice, a famous region in the French Riviera, has the Salade Nicoise as its specialty. The name of the dish itself, which translates to "salad of Nice," is proof enough of the association.

If you happen to drop by Aix en Provence, make sure to have some of their Calissons d'Aix, sweet pieces shaped like petals and consists of icing and paste. The paste is made by mixing candied fruit and ground almonds.

In most Provencal recipes, you will notice that their specialty dishes are based on ingredients that are native to the region. A lot of dishes in Provence have fair amounts of olives and garlic, which are abundant in the region. A nice example is the sauce called Aioli, which is made of eggs, garlic, and olive oil. The sauce is usually served with boiled eggs, boiled fish, and boiled vegetables. Tapenade, another popular Provencal dish, is made of finely chopped olives and mixed with anchovies, capers, and oil. Tapenade is mainly used as a condiment or spread.

There are other more specialty dishes that you can find in Provence and other parts of the south of France. Make sure to sample most of them if you plan to take a vacation in the region for a great gastronomic experience.

Cooking With Cola? Savoury Dishes With Quirky Cooking Liquids As Ingredients (early education)

If you like to cook, you will have likely simmered a ham in stock, poached a fish in lemon and water, or perhaps cooked a chicken in wine... but if you're like me you're also attracted to doing something a bit different on occasion. What follows are four of my favourite recipes that include unusual non-alcoholic liquids as ingredients, covering cola, seawater, milk, and pomegranate juice.

Why wander away from the traditional, safe, conventional stocks and other cooking liquids? Playing with unusual cooking liquids can add additional flavour to your meals, can contribute to meats or sauces being incredibly tender or flavourful, and can get you thinking more creatively in the kitchen. Plus, quite frankly, I enjoy telling my partner that a meal I've cooked has been cooking in or with some sort of strange liquid just to see the look of confusion on his face (and later acceptance after we've devoured a lovely dish).

The first quirky cooking liquid I love can be sourced from many different locations in the world, as it's naturally in abundance for those who have access: Seawater. Now of course you must use caution in sourcing seawater from clean areas, and also be sure to thoroughly boil the water in order to eliminate any nasties in it, be careful to not have any sand in your pot, etc... but once done seawater as a cooking liquid can add a lovely flavour-not just of salt, but of 'the sea', to vegetables, seafood or new potatoes. Seafood bisques, in particular, are given a more authentic flavour when cooked with seawater. As a child we used to use seawater to cook seafood right on the oceanfront, and the flavours really are wonderful. If you're squeamish about getting seawater straight from the ocean, keep an eye out for new companies that are planning to sell it, purified, for cooking purposes. Aquamara are one of the first, though I wouldn't be surprised if they are shortly followed by others.

Next we'll move to ham cooked in cola. Yes, as in the sugary soda drink you usually buy to mix with rum (or is that just me?). It may sound crazy at first, but the cola caramelizes a bit on the skin and produces a lovely, moist roast.The cola also flavours the outer layer of meat in a way akin to a honey-glaze. A final rub before the roast goes under the grill for a bit includes mustard and cloves, to give a hot/spicy contrast to the sweetness of the dish.

Back in Europe, pork slow-cooked in milk is most commonly associated with Italian cooking, though there are other regional variations. The milk initially acts as the cooking liquid, and keeps the pork moist as it gently simmers away. Once the meat is cooked, the milk is then reduced down with the other ingredients in the cooking liquid to make a lovely creamy sauce. Play around to find your favourite. I prefer one that includes a dash of cinnamon, but there are plenty of variations to match your individual tastes.

Carrying on East across the globe, we get to Iran and one of my favourite dishes of all time: koresht fesenjan, with its use of pomegranate molasses. I had this in a restaurant in London ten years ago and was enamoured with its unusual combination of the fruit's juice and crushed walnuts to go with chicken and rice, and have since cooked it several times. Pomegranate molasses, in a savoury dish? Trust me, it works beautifully. This recipe at

Some dinners aren't complete without a tasty side dish. You can use a side dish to add a zesty flair when your main entr?e consists of a simply prepared meat, chicken or fish. cookingideasOr you can serve several side dishes as snacks.