http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXd4EQGBHnU&hl=en
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Cast Iron Skillet - If you are looking for quality cast iron skillet this is the best for you.
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We use eggs all the time but have you ever wondered how long you can safely store them? How can you tell if they are fresh? What do the different sizes mean in relation to your recipe? Well, you came to the right place...
Did you know that the bigger and older the chicken the bigger the egg? Eggs come in six sizes but only the largest four are sold in grocery stores: jumbo, extra-large, large, medium. Most recipes call for large eggs but what if you typically buy one of the other sizes-how does that effect your recipe? When your recipe calls for large quantities of eggs you can substitute a different size by taking into account the weight:
Egg Size / Weight: Medium / 1.75 ounces; Large / 2.00 ounces; Extra-Large / 2.25 ounces; Jumbo / 2.50 ounces.
So what does this mean? Well, 4 jumbo eggs (2.5 oz each) is equivalent to 5 large eggs (2 oz each).
Storage:
Eggs degrade faster from improper storage than from age. Don't use the egg tray on the inside of the refrigerator door. The temperature does not keep a constant 40°F as recommended by the American Egg Board. Instead keep them in the carton on the top shelf inside the 'fridge. They will stay the proper temperature and are less likely to absorb flavors from other foods. The egg shells are coated with a thin waxy substance. This is done to prevent moisture from getting out and other flavors from getting in. Never wash eggs before storing as this will remove the protective layer causing your eggs to lose freshness sooner.
Freshness:
What does the sell-by date mean? Legally it is the last date a carton of eggs may be sold and is no more than 30 days past the carton's pack date which, in turn, is within one week of being laid by the chicken. However, eggs are still considered fit for consumption for 3-5 weeks after the sell-by date. Another way to tell is by observation. In older eggs, the white and yolk become looser or runnier. You may have noticed that the whites are divided into thick & thin layers. The bigger the thick layer, which is right next to the yolk, the fresher the egg. A slight cloudiness in the white indicates that it is a very fresh egg.
Fool-proof Hard Cooked Eggs: Place 4 large eggs in a medium saucepan, cover with 1 inch of water & bring to a boil over high heat. Remove pan from heat, cover and let stand 10 minutes. Meanwhile, fill a bowl with ice water. Transfer the eggs to the ice water with a slotted spoon, let stand 5 minutes.
Peeling Hard Cooked Eggs: Before boiling the eggs prick a tiny air hole in the large end of the egg with a pin. Boil & chill as instructed above. Once they have chilled thoroughly the shells should peel off clean as a whistle!
Try this for Perfectly Fried Eggs: Heat a 10 inch heavy bottomed nonstick skillet over lowest heat for 5 minutes. Crack 4 large eggs into 2 small bowls (2 per bowl). Add 1 tablespoon butter to the skillet; when foaming subsides, swirl to coat pan (if butter browns in 1 minute, the pan is too hot). Simultaneously, pour 2 eggs on one side of pan and remaining eggs on other side. Season eggs with salt and pepper; cover and cook about 2-1/2 minutes for runny yolks, 3 minutes for soft but set yolks, and 3-1/2 minutes for firmly set yolks.
Scrambling Eggs: Using a wooden spoon or spatula, push the eggs from one side of the pan to the other. As they form curds, lift and fold the eggs until they are clumped in a single mound. Tender scrambled eggs demand high heat and a "folding" action rather than stirring.
Reference: Cook's Illustrated, March & April 2003
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Our family loves camping, and I mean in the traditional way with tents, sleeping bags, and sans electricity. No sissy RV trailers for us! This is a real shocker for anyone who knows me because I've always joked that my idea of roughing it is the Holiday Inn with no TV. Last year my husband and son invited me to go with them on their annual Halloween Cub Scout campout (they needed a cook) and I decided to take them up on it. Everyone - and I mean everyone - couldn't wait to see how I did roughing it in the great outdoors. Well, I had a blast and the guys said they had a lot of fun with me there; thus, a new wilderness mom has been born.
Naturally I embraced my new passion with enthusiasm and have been collecting a number of camping recipes and tips. Since this is time of year when families are making vacation plans and some of our subscribers will be going camping, I wanted to share some of my newly gleaned information with you.
Note: For those of you who are not camping this year but are still driving to their destinations, please read my ezine article entitled, "Road Trip Tips for Kids."
Pita Bread Pizza
1 package (6) Pita rounds
1 14 oz. jar prepared pizza sauce
1 8 oz. package shredded mozzarella cheese
Any other toppings you like
Place pita bread on hot grill and toast to desired doneness. Turn over, add pizza sauce, cheese and any other toppings you desire. Grill till cheese melts.
Source: Camping Recipes.com
Campfire Stew
1 pound hamburger
1 medium onion [optional]
2 cans mixed vegetables [don't drain]
1 bottle ketchup
In Dutch oven, brown hamburger with onions and then drain the fat. Return to fire/burner and add the remaining ingredients. Also, rinse your ketchup bottle with about 1/2 cup water and add. Let simmer for at least 30 minutes; but it is best to simmer for about an hour. If stew starts to become dry, just add a little water or more ketchup diluted with a little water for you ketchup lovers! Serve hot with warm bread or crackers. For added flavor, pour into your serving a little ketchup, steak sauce, Worcestershire, etc.
Source: Camping.About.Com
Cast Iron German Potato Salad
4 slices bacon
1 medium red onion, diced
1 pound red potatoes, precooked and cut in half
3 tbsp. white vinegar
Salt and pepper, to taste
Fry the slices of bacon in a cast iron skillet. When done, remove bacon with a slotted spoon and add onion to bacon drippings, cooking and stirring until onion is clear. Add potatoes and sear for 1 minute, cut side down, until brown and crisp. Remove from heat and pour the contents into a large mixing bowl, setting the skillet aside. Crumble the bacon and add to potatoes, along with the vinegar, salt and pepper, mixing thoroughly. Chill and serve.
For more cast iron skillet recipes, please see my ezine article "How to Care for Your Cast Iron Skillet (plus recipes)."
Foil Pocket Dinner
A friend of mine told me about this type of campfire/grill foil cooking which I thought was really cool. In addition the following simple recipe, I found hundreds more at ChuckwagonDiner.com:
Hamburger or Chicken
Potatoes, sliced
Carrots, sliced
Worcestershire Sauce
Foil Bag
Hamburger shaped into a patty or piece of chicken, sliced potatoes, and carrots. Place in a foil bag and add Worcestershire sauce. Cook on coals or grill until tender. Serve with green salad and/or fresh fruit.
Ziplock Omelets
One serving:
2 eggs
1 ziploc bag
Extra ingredients: cheese, mushrooms, ham, onion, green peppers, tomatoes, etc.
First have each individual write their name on a quart-size ziploc freezer bag. Crack 2 eggs into the bag (not more than 2) and shake to combine them. Add whatever extra ingredients that person wants in their omelet and mix contents together well. Be sure to squeeze extra air out of the Ziploc bag. Place the bags into rolling, boiling water for exactly 13 minutes. You can cook 6-8 omelets in a large pot. Open the bags and the omelet will roll out easily. Be prepared for everyone to be amazed! Also makes a great conversation piece:)
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This pan is made of fairly heavy gauge stainless steel, so it bends very little when hot. It's pretty big and deep to hold it's contents and resulting juices. It has convenient handles and a nice edge all around to tuck an aluminum foil covering. I prefer enamel pans for cooking and ease of cleaning, but this is an excellent value. It did come with one of those nuisance stickers on the bottom of the pan. You'll have to soak it in hot water or scrub it off with citrasolv or alcohol.
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Regardless of what team you follow in the NFL, all fans have one thing in common - the love of the sport. American Football and the NFL in particular is known and loved throughout America, and the world. With the love of NFL football comes the pleasure of having your team and fellow fans unite to enjoy the sport, the atmosphere and the feeling of being a part of a massive following.
We all support our teams in various ways, and we all enjoy NFL football to differing levels, but regardless of this we all still love to show our support for our team and announcing it to friends and family. We get the opportunity to do this in an endless list of ways from hanging a flag over our bed, drinking from our team's mug and donning our team's jersey. Despite how you follow your team and to what degree you love NFL football every fan feels at home when surrounded by the game, and the apparel of the sport.
From the Arizona Cardinals to the Washington Redskins we have access to an endless list of gifts and items to show our love of NFL football and our teams. With more NFL fans worldwide than can be counted the sport is loved by all, and is growing everyday. It is difficult to know whether football, or the NFL has more followers, but it is known that in every corner of the globe lays and NFL football fan.
Facts of NFL Football - The NFL Football league started in 1920 with eleven teams, and since has nearly trebled in size with currently 32 teams competing each season. Despite baseball being known as the American national pastime, American Football and the NFL is the most popular sport in the United States.
The highlight of the NFL Football season is the Super Bowl which is made up each year of the divisional champions from the AFC (American Football Conference) and the NFC (National Football Conference) - they meet at a neutral venue to decide the Super Bowl champion, the dream of every NFL fan.
NFL football has been known to exceed baseball in regards to fans and spectators by double according to records of 2008, and auto racing by treble. These figures alone show the incredible phenomenon that NFL Football has become and every fan wants to be a part of it on various levels.
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Are you ready for some football? Yes it's that time of year again; Super Bowl Sunday is around the corner. It is time to get ready for the super bowl parties we all love. You can be cooking for a crowd of 25 or just the family, these recipes are sure to please all party goers.
Don't just serve boring Chips and Salsa, this recipe is great and easy to make.
Crockpot Sausage Dip
Ingredients
3 (8 oz) packages of cream cheese
1 pkg of Owens Sausage (regular or spicy which ever you like)
2 cans Rotell Tomatoes with Chile's (mild, regular or hot)
Hot Sauce (optional)
Cut cream cheese into cubes and allow to soften, either at room temperature or for a minute in the microwave. Brown sausage in a skillet, drain grease completely, I usually pat mine with a paper towel once cooked to get off as much grease as possible.
In a crockpot combine the softened cream cheese, the cooked sausage and Rotell tomatoes. Cook on low for an hour, stirring occasionally to combine ingredients. Taste and add hot sauce as desired for added flavor.
You can use mild or hot tomatoes or sausage depending on how spicy you like your dip. You also can use a block of Velveeta Cheese instead of the cream cheese if you desire. Keep the dip warm in the Crockpot during the game, and serve with tortilla chips.
Buffalo wings are also a fan favorite.
Buffalo Breaded Chicken Wings:
Ingredients
¼ margarine
¼ hot sauce
½ cup flour
¼ tsp paprika
¼ tsp garlic powder
¼ cayenne pepper
¼ tsp salt
10 chicken wings and drumlets (of course more depending on the crowd)
Vegetable oil for frying
In a bowl melt the margarine or butter and add the hot sauce and the garlic powder. Mix together and set aside for later. In another bowl add together the flour paprika, cayenne pepper and salt, mix together. In a large bowl or bag, put in the wings and coat them with the flour mixture. Ensure that all of the wings are coated evenly with the flour mixture. Put the floured wings in the refrigerator for about an hour which allows the flour to stick to the chicken wings better.
After the wings have been in the refrigerator for an hour, cook the wings in a deep fryer with the oil heated to 350 degrees. Frying should take about 10 minutes or until the wings turn a dark golden brown. Remove from oil and place them in a large bowl, add the hot sauce mixture ensuring all of the wings are coated evenly. Serve with blue cheese or ranch dressing and celery sticks.
Also Nacho's are a favorite at Super Bowl Parties. Here is an easy recipe for Chicken nachos.
Kicking Chicken Nachos
Ingredients
Tortillas Chips
1-2 boneless chicken breast cut in bite size pieces
2 tbsp olive oil
¼ tsp salt
½ tsp garlic powder
¼ tsp cumin
½-3/4 tsp cayenne pepper (depending on personal taste)
1 can sliced jalapenos
1 pkg Mexican Cheese blend
1 Can refried beans
1 cup chili (store bought or homemade)
Salsa
Sour Cream
Guacamole
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. In a bowl mix together the cut up chicken breasts, olive oil, salt, garlic powder, cumin and cayenne pepper mix together well. In a hot skillet cook the chicken until no longer pink, and completely cooked through.
In a baking dish arrange the tortilla chips in layers. For the first layer add the refried beans (I find it easier to handle when they are heated before trying to put them on the chips). The second layers add the chili over the top. The chicken mixture is the third layer and top that with the shredded Mexican blend cheese. Bake in the pre-heated oven for 10 minutes, or until heated through and cheese is bubbling.
Once they are done cooking, top with the sliced jalapeno peppers if desired, and serve with salsa, sour cream and guacamole.
These appetizers are sure to keep all of the Super Bowl fans happy, and you will have a party they will remember. Are you ready for some football?
The Secret Restaurant Chef
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After doing a lot of research on a pan set that can stand up to lots of abuse, I fell in love with this set. The pans have a solid bottom that allows even distribution of heat, rubber handles that stay cool and lids that are a combo of metal and glass so it retains heat better and still allows you to view the contents without removing the lid (handy for specific recipes). Each lid is tight fitting with a metal rim that has slots on each side. You can line the slots up with the spout portion of each pan to release steam or move it around so the lid fits tightly enough that no steam will escape. Revere has been making pans for well over a 100 years. I think they have developed a product that not only works great and will last a long time, but also be easy to clean and look great too.
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In the first Indiana Jones film, Marian whacks a bad guy on the head with a frying pan and he goes down hard (I think he died)...meet that frying pan. Its painted like a sexy Lamborghini and is NOT light. The ceramic coating is NOT Teflon and won't flake off when you decide to boil water in it. I've fried eggs with a little butter (this isn't really non-stick), fried fish sticks, and made Chinese noodles ...all with no problems...and cleaned up the pan with water and a sponge.
The only thing that stuck a little (left a "ghost print" which eventually scrubbed off) were Chinese steamed dumplings. I've got this and the 11 inch serving pan and am contemplating the 8 inch model. I live in Germany, so the price isn't so insane! Keep your eyes peeled for Silit Silargan cookware like this...I can't imagine you'll be disappointed! (My first review!)
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Many cook books have corn chowder recipes. The recipe in Fannie Farmer's book, "The Boston Cooking School Cook Book," originally published in 1896, calls for canned corn, onions, potatoes, and salt pork. This hearty soup is served with hard "common crackers" soaked in cold milk to soften them.
New England recipes for corn chowder contain the basics of onions, potaotes, corn and cream. Fannie Farmer's recipe may have evolved from New England clam chowder with corn. Southern recipes for corn chowder call for the trinity -- onions, celery, green and red peppers. Many professional chefs and home cooks have experimented with the corn chowder recipes.
Jasper White, on the Leite's Culinaria website, describes corn chowder as "the king of farmhouse chowders." His recipe is based on a Shaker recipe from Hancock Village in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. White adds chicken stock to his corn chowder, along with cumin and tumeric.
Ina Garten's corn chowder recipe, posted on the Food Network website, also contains chicken stock. She adds white sharp cheddar cheese to her chowder for added richness.
On this cold Minnesota morning corn chowder sounded warm and comforting, but I didn't want to go to the store for any fancy schmancy ingredients. When I checked the food on hand I found everything I needed for stick-to-your-ribs corn chowder. I made my chowder in a cast iron skillet, but you may wish to use a soup pot. From start to finish, this hearty chowder took only 20 minutes to make. This recipe feeds four and may be doubled.
Stick to Your Ribs Skillet Corn Chowder
4 slices thick bacon, cut into thin strips with kitchen shears
4 green onions. cut into thin slices with kitchen shears
2 small red potatoes, washed and diced
1/2 cup frozen vegetable combination of corn, carrots, and asparagus, defrosted (I found these leftover veggies in the refrigerator.)
12 3/4-ounce can creamed style corn (I used salt-free.)
3/4 cup fat-free half and half (Approximate measure. I filled the corn can 3/4 of the way with cream)
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
Cook bacon in skillet until crisp and brown. Remove bacon with slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Carefully wipe skillet with additional paper towels. Pour green onions into skillet and saute over low heat until wilted.
Put diced potatoes in a bowl with a little water. Cover and microwave on high for 1 1/2 minutes. Drain water and add potatoes to skillet. Cut defrosted carrots and asparagus into small pieces. Add these pieces, defrosted corn, canned corn, half and half, thyme and salt and pepper to soup. Cover and simmer over very low heat until heated through and flavors blend. Serve with tiny oyster crackers. Makes 4 generous servings.
Copyright 2008 by Harriet Hodgson
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There are many types of cookware sets to choose from. There are all kinds of gourmet cookware sets hard anodized, stainless steel, enamel, non stick and cast iron just to name a few. The selection is so large that it could be overwhelming.
I consider myself somewhat of an amateur chef. I learned alot by watching many of the gourmet cooking shows that are on television. I also subscribe to several gourmet-cooking magazines. Plus it also helps when your bother in-law is professional chef.
I purchased my first gourmet cookware set many years ago. I bought this set because it was one of the most highly rated sets and very popular at that time. I also could use the cooking utensils that I already had. I didn't have to worry about scratching it like you do with a non stick set. I figured this would be the only cookware I would ever need and I would just add to it as needed. However, over time, I found this not to be the case and this would not be the only set I would ever have.
I found that the best cookware to choose really depends on the dish or meal that you are going to prepare.
As an example, if you're preparing a low fat meal you would most likely use a non stick skillet to cut down on the amount of fat in the dishes you prepare. If you were making meals that started off with sautéing or browning first and then finished the cooking in the oven, I would use cookware that was oven safe and could go from the cooktop burner right into the oven. This also saves time on clean up because you're using less pots and pans when you cook this way.
When grilling or preparing meals outdoors I prefer something very durable like cast iron. It is also my skillet of choice when making fried chicken. A lot of people would shy away from cast iron because it had to be pre-seasoned before you could being cooking with it. However nowadays many manufacturers of cast iron cookware sell it already pre-seasoned and ready to use. Cast iron is probably one of the oldest cookware sets around. Many grandmothers and great grandmothers had this type of cookware for a lifetime.
In Summary: After many years, it has been my experience that there really is no one "do all" set of cookware. In my opinion it really depends on the type of meal you are preparing and the type of cooking you are doing.
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Starfrit Eco-Chef 10.5 Inch Fry Pan with Bamboo Handle
This pan is really non-stick. It works better than conventional non-stick pans. I've been using it for a couple of months and I love it. When my friend was diagnosed with breast cancer, her doctor told her to stop using non-stick cookware. What does that tell you? Nonetheless I still use non-stick occasionally (to fry eggs, etc.) because I find it impossible to do completely without it in my kitchen. So this pan is a welcome alternative. It's made well, very sound construction.
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Red-Red is a popular dish from Ghana made from cowpeas (black-eyed peas). It is thought to have been named for the combination of red pepper and red palm oil that is used in the cooking process. The Red-Red cowpeas stew is usually served with fried plantains, and is a lunch favorite in Ghana, particularly among office workers. If you are "unbeanz," (i.e. unemployed) you can survive on this meal easily because the ingredients are inexpensive. This is most commonly served with fried ripe plantain (popularly known as "koko"). It is an ideal choice for vegetarians and vegans.
Ingredients:
2-3 cups dried cowpeas (black eyed peas) or similar
1 cup red palm oil (or vegetable oil)
1-2 onions, thinly sliced
2-3 ripe tomatoes, quartered
Cayenne pepper or red pepper
Salt and black pepper to taste
Several ripe or near-ripe plantains
1-2 bouillon cubes
(Optional) Small piece of smoked or dried fish
(Optional) One spoonful of shrimp powder
Step #1
Clean the black-eyed peas in water in a large pot. Soak them in water for at least an hour or overnight. After soaking them, rub them together between your hands to remove the skins. Rinse to wash away the skins and any other debris. Drain them in a colander. If you are using smoked or dried fish: remove the bones and skin, rinse and soak them in water, then dry them. If you are using dried shrimp: grind the shrimp (or obtain already ground or powdered shrimp).
Step #2
Place the black-eyed peas in a large pot, fill the pot with enough water to just cover the peas. Bring to a slow boil; reduce the heat, cover, and simmer until the peas are tender; thirty minutes to an hour. When cooked, the peas should be moist, but not standing in water.
Step #3
While the peas are cooking: Heat the oil in a skillet. Fry the onions until slightly browned, then add the tomatoes, and fish and dried shrimp (if desired). Mash and stir the mixture to form a sauce.
Step #4
Stir the onion-tomato mixture into the black-eyed peas. Add bouillon cubes (if you are not using fish or shrimp). Simmer for ten minutes. Add salt, black pepper, and cayenne or red pepper to taste.
Step #5
While peas and sauce is simmering: Prepare fried plantains.
Step #6
Serve peas and plantains side by side on a plate.
How to Prepare Fried Plantains:
Step #1
Peel and thinly slice the plantains lengthwise.
Step #2
Fill a skillet with 1 inch of Canola or vegetable oil. Preheat the skillet until hot, but not smoking.
Step #3
Fry the plantains until they a nice golden brown color, and then flip to the other side. This should take about 2 or 3 minutes in total, but let your eyes be the judge.
Step #4
Remove the plantains from the skillet and place on paper towels to drain the excess oil, then season with salt and pepper. Makes about 6 to 8 servings.
How to Prepare Boiled Plantains:
Drop unpeeled plantains in boiling water. Cook for 15-20 minutes until a test plantain is tender when pierced with a fork. Peel before serving.
Note: Because of the amount of agricultural chemicals used in fruit cultivation, we suggest a good soap and hot-water scrub before boiling plantains. If you prefer, you may peel them before boiling.
A History of the Cowpea:
The cowpea is indigenous to Africa and contributes immensely to the diets of the under-privileged. It used to be called the "poor man's meat". However, improvement in the storage and processing techniques of cowpeas has changed this perception. Cowpeas are now accepted, as food in the homes of the rich, the informed, the salaried worker and all those who can afford it. The cowpea is rich in protein and B-vitamins.
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If biscuits and gravy are a favorite breakfast treat, then nobody has to sell you on the idea of baking biscuits in the morning.
We're not talking about those that originate in a refrigerated tube, of course, but the real thing, made from scratch. The smell of such delicacies baking in the morning can rouse a reluctant kid out of bed on school mornings.
But most people don't need another time sucker in their morning routine, nor in the dinner routine, when a quick side dish to go with a stew, chowder or soup is required.
What you do need is a quick, easy way to make biscuits, pancakes, waffles and more. While there are numerous mixes on the market, they may be little more than flour, salt, baking powder and water. It's easy to make your own biscuit and pancake mix out of ingredients you know will provide healthy, solid nutrition.
In the U.S., a biscuit is a small form of bread made with baking powder or baking soda as a leavening agent rather than yeast. Biscuits, soda breads and corn bread are sometimes referred to as quick breads to indicate they don't need time to rise before baking. Sweet variations of the biscuit are sometimes called scones.
Add more liquid and maybe an egg and some oil to a standard biscuit recipe, and it becomes a pancake batter. A little more egg, and you have the makings of a waffle.
Since they're all quick breads, the main difference between most biscuits, pancakes, waffles and even dumplings is the amount of liquid added and the method of cooking. A good biscuit mix should be able to accommodate most of these recipes.
For best results, use a double-acting leavening agent in your biscuit mix.
Single-acting baking powders are activated by moisture, so recipes with this product must be baked immediately after mixing. Double-acting powders react in two phases and can stand for a while before baking. With double-acting powder, some gas is released at room temperature when the powder is added to the dough or batter, but the majority of the gas is released after the temperature of the dough increases in the oven or on the griddle.
For biscuits, add just enough water to milk to create a soft dough, knead lightly, roll or pat flat and cut out rounds. If a touch of extra liquid is added, the doughs texture changes to resemble very stiff pancake batter, so that small spoonfuls can be dropped onto the baking sheet to produce drop biscuits, which are more creative in texture and shape.
For pancakes or waffles, mix the wet ingredients first, then add the mix to the liquid and stir briefly. Overmixing will result in tougher cakes, so its OK to leave lumps. Let the batter sit for a few minutes before pouring by 1/4 - to 13-cupfuls onto a hot griddle or waffle iron.
Few items in your baking pantry will be as versatile as a good biscuit mix.
Dumplings
2 C basic biscuit mix
2/3 C milk
Mix together until a soft dough forms, then drop by spoonfuls onto a boiling stew. Cook uncovered for 10 minutes, then cover and cook another 10 minutes. Makes about 10 dumplings.
Healthy Biscuit Mix
5 lbs all-purpose flour, minus 4 C
3 C whole wheat flour
1 C flax meal
1 C soy flour
2½ C dry milk
¾ C double-acting baking powder
3 TBS salt
5 TBS wheat germ
½ C sugar
2 TBS cream of tartar
4 C shortening
Combine first six ingredients in a large bowl, and stir well. Cut in shortening until mixture resembles coarse meal. Store at room temperature in an airtight container.
Biscuits
1 heaping C healthy biscuit mix
About 3 TBS water
Combine mix and enough water to form a soft dough in a mixing bowl. Shape into a ball, knead about 10 times on a lightly floured surface. (Don't overknead or the biscuits will be tough.) Flatten out and roll or pat to ½-inch thickness. Cut dough into biscuits, put on a greased cookie sheet or in a greased cast iron skillet. Bake at 400 degrees for about 25 minutes or until browned. Yields 5 biscuits.
Pancakes
½ C milk
1 egg
1 TBS vegetable oil
1 C healthy biscuit mix
Combine first three ingredients, blend well. Add biscuit mix, stir until smooth. (If thicker batter is desired, add more flour.) Drop batter on lightly greased hot griddle, and cook until pancakes are browned on both sides. Yields about five 4-inch pancakes.
Basic Biscuit mix
10 C all-purpose or bread flour
1/3 C baking powder
1 TBS salt
2 C shortening
Sift flour, baking powder, and salt together in a large bowl. With two knives or a pastry blender, add the shortening in spoonfuls and cut it in until the mixture is the texture of coarse cornmeal. Keep mix stored in a labeled, tightly closed container. It will keep on the pantry shelf for up to six months in dry weather. In hot or humid weather, it is a good idea to refrigerate the mix.
Yields about 10 cups of mix.
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seasoned 3 times which made the pans nonstick. can't beat the price. worth the extra effort.
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The only con is that I actually don't need all 3 in everyday life. I use the smallest one for eggs or simple cooking. The largest one for fried rice and etc. I haven't used the middle one, yet, but the quality of these pans are very good, which is not surprising for t-fal. The design is a lot better than in the picture they show here. I think for three pans is a wonderful deal!
Oh, by the way, you need to boil some water in them before you use them for the first time. They kinda smell bad in the beginning.
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I just recently got rid of all my old Farberware Millennium tri-ply (with the old tri-ply disk glued to the bottoms) and purchased a combination of Cuisinart Multiclad Pro and Calphalon Tri-Ply Stainless. I love them both! They are so similar that it really doesn't matter to me which I'm using. They clean up extremely well with Barkeeper's Friend, and I sometimes use a Scotch Brite pad too, but I have found that it does leave a little bit of light scratching on the pans. That doesn't bother me, because I don't display my pans. They go in the cabinets and cupboards and I cook with them every day. This 10" skillet is perfect for most of my skillet-cooking. I also purchased the Multiclad Pro 8" skillet in addition for when I need something small. The cookware is also extremely beautiful (both of these brands). I'm really thrilled with my purchases and am so glad I decided to make the switch. I will say that I prefer the see-through glass lids of the Calphalon over the stainless steel ones of the Cuisinart. The glass lids allow me to be able to keep the lids on more during the cooking time. These open skillets don't come with lids at all, so I'm using a previous Calphalon glass lid with my 8" skillet and a previous Farberware Millennium one with the 10" skillet. They work just GREAT! NO NEED to go and purchase highly over-priced individual Cuisinart lids.
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Mexico has seasons, but they may not be quite what you expect. Instead of winter, spring, summer, and fall, the seasons in Mexico are more descriptive of the weather you can expect at those times of year. Depending on when you wish to visit Mexico, knowing the season will help you pack the clothing that will keep you the most comfortable.
The dry season runs from November to April. The weather during this time of the year is warm and arid. There is very little rain. The Yucatan is a great place to visit in November, but there are many winter storms to worry about around Cozumel and Cancun at this time of year.
The rainy season actually overlaps with the humid season. Rain lasts from May through October. Tropical storms and hurricane risk may be higher, but cooler days and lower temperatures can be much more comfortable for visitors from the north.
The humid season lasts from May to July. This time of year brings hot, sticky weather that can make sightseeing tedious unless you remain where the coastal breezes blow. If you are planning to travel to Mexico, it is good to know that the low tourist season lasts from Easter through mid-December. This covers the rainy and humid seasons. The high tourist season lasts from the end of December to Easter time, when the weather is drier.
Eating seasonally is also practiced in Mexico. Eating fresh foods at the peak of their seasons gives a recipe its optimal flavor and nutrition. If you really want to experience authentic Mexican recipes, try eating freshly prepared food while you are in Mexico. You will never forget it. Luckily, you can bring a bit of Mexico home with you in the form of recipes. Try them at home and see if the flavor does not take you back to Mexico.
Recipe for Chilaquiles with Peppers, Eggs, and Zucchini
Use quality tortillas for this dish to get the most from it. This dish is excellent with fresh zucchini and peppers from the garden.
What You Need
Oil
10 corn tortillas
1 medium onion
1 zucchini, cut into 2" strips
1 red or yellow bell pepper, cut in strips
4 eggs
1 cup sour cream
1 or 2 cups tomatillo salsa
Salt and pepper to taste
How to Make It
Cut the onion in two pieces and slice it into thin strips. Lay out the tortillas and cut them in half. Slice each side into strips.
Heat some oil in a skillet. Fry the tortillas until they are crisp. Move them aside on a plate when they are done.
If necessary, add more oil. Cook the onions until they soften. Add the peppers and zucchini, stirring until the vegetables are all tender and starting to turn golden. Put the tortillas back in the skillet and mix well. Crack the eggs over the top. As the egg whites begin to set, break the yolks and stir everything together.
Once the yolks are cooked through, add the sour cream and salsa. Heat through and serve hot with extra salsa and sour cream.
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The process of preparing Cajun food is in no way hurried and involves a layering of flavors which allows each ingredient
to maintain its own identity.
The foundation of preparing authentic Cajun dishes like gumbo, sauce piquant and etouffee is the Cajun roux (pronounced 'rue'). Good roux is neither undercooked nor overcooked. Undercooking will yield a less full-bodied flavor and overcooking to the point of being burned will yield a bitter taste.
The French roux is usually a blend of equal parts flour and
butter cooked slowly until bubbly and well blended, but not
browned. The typical Cajun roux is a blend of equal parts of
flour and fat, cooked together in a heavy pot over high heat
until a medium brown color is reached. Roux must be stirred
constantly to prevent burning. Some people prefer a roux made with approximately one-fourth cup more oil than flour.
Most often, when Cajun roux is called for, finely chopped onion and bell pepper is added to the browned roux to arrest the cooking temperature and prevent the roux from scorching. This step begins the cooking of the desired dish, such as a gumbo or sauce piquant.
Ingredients:
1 cup vegetable oil
1 cup all-purpose flower
Preparation:
Heat vegetable oil in a heavy Dutch oven or 12-inch skillet over high heat. When oil is hot, add flour all at once; stir or
whisk quickly to combine flour and oil. If necessary, use the
back of a wooden spoon to smooth out any lumps of flour. Stir or whisk constantly, until roux reaches desired color (between a peanut butter and mahogany color) and has a nut-like aroma. Recipe yields a scant 1-1/2 cups of roux.
Recipe Notes:
(1) If small black or brown specks appear while preparing roux, it has burned and should be discarded. A burned roux will give a bitter or scorched flavor.
(2) Roux may be prepared ahead - cover, refrigerate and use
within 1 week.
(3) To prepare extra roux for later use, batches may be prepared by increasing oil and flour in equal amounts.
(4) Freezes beautifully. (Freeze in 1-cup portions for up to 6
months.)
(5) Caution: Be extremely careful when stirring and handling
roux during preparation. With a temperature exceeding 500F,
roux splashed on the skin will stick and cause a severe burn.
Preparing an authentic Cajun roux is not difficult once you know how. If you follow the above recipe exactly, you will be able to successfully prepare a roux to equal that of any
well-experienced Cajun chef.
Copyright ©2005 Janice Faulk Duplantis
Terms of Reprint and Publication Rules
This article is available for reprint at no charge. The requirements for publishing this article are: (1) You must leave the article and resource box unedited. (2) You are not allowed to change the context of the article in any way. Paragraph breaks must be retained where the author has placed them. (3) If you post this article on a website, you must set any URL's in the body of the article and most especially in the Author's Resource Box as hyperlinks. A courtesy copy of your publication would be appreciated. Email to: bedrockpress-jfd@yahoo.com
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Whether you are a beginning cook or an experienced one, this is a recipe you will be proud to serve. It is simple, easy and delicious. This dish is easy to assemble and only needs a half hour to bake. In this one dish you have grains, vegetables, meat, and dairy products.
Add a tossed salad or steamed fresh broccoli, some crusty bread, and you have an easy, healthy meal for your family to enjoy. If you follow my blogs, you know I am big on family meal time. I believe we need to spend more time in the kitchen and less in the fast food drive-through lanes. Your family will eat better when you cook at home. It doesn't have to be elaborate, just satisfying. If your children are old enough, let them help by setting the table, putting the salad together, filling the water glasses, etc. They can also help after the meal by joining in clearing the table, loading the dishwasher, etc. It is a great time for parents and children to talk about their day and spend valuable time together. This casserole is a great block to building a fantastic family meal!
GROUND BEEF SPAGHETTI CASSEROLE
12 oz whole-wheat spaghetti, cooked according to package directions, drained
1 small can black olives, drained and chopped
1 small jar of sliced mushrooms, drained and chopped
1 (28 oz) can whole tomatoes, drained and chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
1 tbsp olive oil
2 lbs lean ground beef
2 tsp oregano
1 tsp basil
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1 can fat-free cream of mushroom soup
1/4 cup water
Saute onion in butter. Remove from pan and cook ground beef until browned. Drain and rinse with hot water. Return to skillet and add onion, olives, mushrooms, tomatoes and spices. Spray a large casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray. Layer into casserole as follows: 1/2 the spaghetti, 1/2 the meat mixture, 1 cup mozzarella; repeat with the remaining halves. Mix soup and water together until smooth; pour over casserole. Sprinkle top with Parmesan cheese if desired. Bake at 350 degrees about 1/2 hour until heated through and cheese melts.
Enjoy!
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Putting together your camping cookware is not hard at all. It simply depends, first of all, on what you are planning for a menu. Most of the time you will include a couple of pots, a skillet, a bowl for mixing and general cooking utensils like spoons, spatulas, knives and forks. You'll also want to bring a wooden spoon, a whisk, a can opener and a set of hot pads or leather gloves to handle hot items off the stove or near the fire.
A good sharp knife is a must as well as something to use as a cutting board. If you are planning to grill, you should have a grate to put over the fire. Some campgrounds or tent camping areas have fire pits with grills, but you can't count on it. Cast iron cookware has been one of the choices for cooking over an open fire for centuries, and it is practically indestructible. As far as any other cookware to use on your cook stove, use whatever you are comfortable using at home. Food prepared in a campsite always tastes better than at home, so be creative and enjoy the open air and robust appetites that camping provides.
Don't forget to bring the usual spices, as well as things like peanut butter, jelly, honey and cheese spreads. Zip lock bags work well for storing almost anything and are perfect for keeping small items sealed and clean, as well as protecting the inside of your backpack. Use a separate sack for you utensils and your cookware. After you have used the pots on you stove or over the fire, they have a tendency to get covered with soot, so the sacks keep them from soiling your backpack as well as anything they touch.
Plates, drinking cups and eating utensils should be as light and multi-functional as possible. Spoons can take the place of forks so leave the forks at home and everyone should carry a pocketknife so there's no need to pack knives for eating. If each person has a drinking cup and a deep-sided plastic plate that doubles as a bowl, you've got everything you need.
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Tips To Clean Your BBQ Gas Grill
Cleaning your bbq gas grill need not be a tedious and tiresome job. Here's a guide to how you can keep it spic and span.
The first thing that you should do is read and understand the owner's manual. This would ensure that you know the do's and don'ts of cleaning your particular model of grill. Now you are ready to clean your grill.
Brush the grill, do this for about 10 seconds after you remove the food from the bbq grill. Thereafter turn the grill off. Once the heat has subsided, spray vegetable oil on it. This keeps the equipment well oiled. An alternative maintenance routine would be to heat the grill on high for about 10 minutes.
For your BBQ gas equipment to work perfectly, you will have to occasionally clean the burners. Every time you use it, check the color of the flame. If the flame is red or orange, it indicates that you need to clean the burners. Poke a wire into the burner holes to clean them. If you it on a regular basis, spray a degreaser and let it remain for some time. Thereafter sluice the barbeque completely.
Ensure that the venturi tubes do not have any obstruction. Clean them using a pipe cleaner. Also check the gas tubes for leaks. You can do this by spraying soap water on the tubes. The presence of bubbles will show that there is a leak. Replace any leaking part immediately.
Clean the insides of your bbq grill gas equipment by scraping the residues. Then remove the loose debris by using a soft wire brush. The outside of the grill should ideally be cleaned before the grill is completely cool. Wash it with warm water and a mild detergent. Follow it up with a hot water rinse.
By following the above cleaning routine, you will be able to keep your bbq gas grill in top working condition.
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1. Pressure Cooking Is Healthier
Well, health is a really important to most people so why not to start there. Do you ever wonder how to cook healthier? Well, pressure cooking is the answer. What is so healthy about pressure cooking is the steam. Steam stays inside of the pressure cooker for the entire cooking time. That means that you don't have to add too much water to boil the food. Also, the steams that comes out of the food gets back into the food again. The good stuff that you need from the food (I mean nutrients) stays in your food thanks to the pressure cooking process that keeps the steam inside. That is why the pressure cooking is the healthiest compared to all cooking alternatives.
As you probably already know, frying or baking with oils and fats is not good for you, and cooking in a normal pan does not provide you with as many nutrients as the pressure cooked food. And, with this fantastic kitchenware it is nearly impossible to burn anything! Well, unless you accidentally leave it on the fire for a day or two...
2. The Food Prepared With a Pressure Cooker Tastes Better
Here we get back to the steam again. The steam is the main reason of the better taste of the food. All the moisture that has the flavour of the food is not running out through the lid but staying in. That is the reason why food prepared in the pressure cooker has a full flavour and tastes better. During the pressure cooking, there is a higher temperature than you can achieve in a regular pan. The food is ready quicker and it does not overcook. Pulses gain a "creamy" consistency and meat falls apart. Yummy.
3. Time Saving
Preparing a meal with a stainless steel pressure cooker is much quicker then regular cooking. The pressure cooker heats up much higher and quicker then other pans and also keeps the temperature for longer. Result: fast food (that is healthy!) For example: Kidney beans in less then 10 minutes. Chicken falls off the bone in 15 minutes. Meatloaf done in 20 minutes. Filled peppers ready in 5 minutes. And I could go on... I am sure you can think of better ways to spend your time then guarding pans in the kitchen. Using the stainless steel pressure cooker is also great for the next thing.
4. Saving Energy and Money
I just showed you how using the pressure cooker can save you time that could be better spent with your family or for hobbies. But this incredible piece of kitchen equipment will also save energy. Shorter time of cooking and lower heat you will need to use for the stainless steel pressure cooker will make you a saving, no matter if you use gas or electricity for cooking.
The stainless steel pressure cooker allows you to save up to 70 percent of the time and energy traditionally used in cooking rice, meat, and vegetables. Wow. Could you use a few extra dollars in your pocket?
5. Suitable For Dishwashers
This last benefit will make your cooking even easier... You can actually put a stainless steel pressure cooker into a dishwasher. Relief, isn't it?
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