Bbq Like A Pro

Slow cook your favorite meat to BBQ like a pro.

Backyard BBQs are a summertime tradition in many parts of the United States. Certain states have distinct varieties of BBQ known as the eastern and western style. According to North Carolina Travels, eastern BBQ generally has a vinegary sauce while western style has a ketchup-based marinade. Professional BBQ judges rate BBQ based on appearance, tenderness and flavor. Food Network stars Pat and Gina Neely recommend using indirect heat to slow cook your BBQ to perfection.

Instructions

1. Purchase bone-in meats to keep the meat together and lock in juices. Apply your favorite dry rub or marinade to the meat 2 hours before cooking. Pour some charcoal into a charcoal chimney and place it into the base of your grill's smoker box

2. Ignite the charcoal using a grill lighter. Pour out the charcoal once it has been adequately heated. Apply some tinfoil over the grate of the grill.

3. Soak some hickory wood chips in a bowl of water for a few minutes. Place the dampened wood chips over the tinfoil. Close the lid of the box to allow smoke to emanate through your grill.

4. Align the marinated meat onto the grilling racks of your charcoal grill. Utilize tongs when flipping to avoid piercing the meat and releasing the juices. Avoid flipping the meat constantly to allow a thin crust to form.

5. Allow your meat to slow cook on the grill for around 1 hour and 15 minutes while flipping it occasionally. Braise both sides of the meat using your favorite marinade. Remove the meat from the grill after 20 minutes.

Tags: your favorite, cook your, favorite marinade, slow cook, western style, wood chips

Fill A Bottle With Fruit & Vegetables In Oil For Decoration

Shop the produce aisle for this craft.

Green, yellow, red, blue and orange fruits and vegetables---a rainbow of nature's products make up the contents of this beautiful decorative oil bottle. A clear glass decorative bottle filled with an assortment of vegetables and fruits in mineral oil is a unique and fashionable gift or decorative accent for your own kitchen. Use fresh peppers, fresh fruits and frozen carrots to make up this beautiful and colorful produce accent bottle.

Instructions

1. Rinse any dirt from the fresh jalapenos, banana peppers, strawberries and blueberries. Air dry on a dish towel or paper towels.

2. Place a handful of frozen carrot slices onto a dish towel. Allow the carrot slices to thaw. Throw away any carrot slices with ugly spots.

3. Arrange the jalapenos and banana peppers inside a clean wide-mouthed glass bottle. Drop a few strawberries, blueberries and carrot slices into the bottle. Add as many of each fruit or vegetable as desired.

4. Add mineral oil. Fill the bottle to approximately ½ inch from the rim of the bottle. Put the cork in the bottle.

5. Seal the edges of the cork with hot candle wax. Alternatively, drop a line of hot glue around the cork.

Tags: carrot slices, banana peppers, decorative bottle, dish towel, jalapenos banana

Fillet A Redfish

Redfish, commonly found in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, is a favorite among fish eaters, due to the fact that it does not have a strong "fishy" taste compared to that of salmon or cod. When acquiring a whole redfish, you must fillet it before preparing it to eat.

Instructions

1. Slice the sides and belly. Using a sharp fillet knife, make a cut into the fish, just below the gills. Cut to the ribs, then slice down the belly of the redfish, stopping at the tail. Flip the fish over, and repeat the process on the other side.

2. Slice the top. Using the tip of the sharp fillet knife, slice the top side of the fish, completing the fillet from the backbone down to the ribs.

3. Remove the meat. Using the fillet knife as well as your hands, carefully remove the meat from the carcass, working parallel to the ribs. Repeat proceedure on the other side. Leave small piece of connecting tissue, known as the blood line, to connect the two fillets together.

4. Remove the bone and skin. Carefully remove any bone fragments from the meat. Lay the fillet flat, skin side down, and carefully cut the skin away from the meat.

5. Remove bloodline. Cut the bloodline away from the two fillets, and rinse each fillet with cold water.

Tags: fillet knife, away from, from meat, other side, sharp fillet, sharp fillet knife, Using sharp

Buy Traditional Cajun Seasonings

Cajun cooking contains an abundances of spices and seasonings that are native to the Louisiana environment from which Cajun cuisine grew. From basic ingredients like aromatic bay leaves, savory sassafras and spicy red peppers to the more intricate Cajun blends, Cajun seasoning is bound to add color to any dish. Follow these steps to buy Cajun seasoning.

Instructions

1. Start with the basics. A good way to buy Cajun seasonings inexpensively is to start with the widely available basic individual seasonings that go into the more complex blends. Buy Cajun staples like bay leaf, onion, sassafras, red pepper, chili, garlic and parsley. Also consider buying sweet staples of the South like sugarcane and molasses to add to your seasonings.

2. Buy a seasoning blend. Cajun food and tastes reaches kitchens all over the world in the form of prepared blended seasoning. You can start with one of the most popular brands of seasoning blends, Tony Chachere's Cajun Seasoning. Go online to choose from a selection of delectable seasoning blends that can be shipped right to you.

3. Get a hot sauce. One of the most popular forms of Cajun seasoning is the hot sauce. All over Louisiana, hot sauce producers compete with each other in fierce county and statewide competitions. The result is an array of spicy Cajun seasonings such as the "Bayou Butt Burner" and the "Katrina Hot Sauce."

4. Buy some roux. Roux is one of the most Cajun of Cajun seasonings, even if it's less known by non-Cajuns. A cooking sauce made from bacon fat, lard or olive oil, roux combines all the flavors of the bayou into a versatile cooking base. You can buy roux, such as the famous Bootsie's Cajun Creole Roux, online. Check other roux makers like Mam Papaul's Gumbo roux for a slightly different taste.

Tags: Cajun seasoning, blends Cajun, Cajun seasonings, most popular, seasoning blends, seasonings that

Plant Pumpkin Seeds

Pumpkins can be a great addition to many gardens. Kids love to grow pumpkins, getting to watch their Halloween jack-o-lantern emerge from a seed. Planting pumpkin seeds does take a little planning, largely because the plants can spread a great deal as they grow. Once you choose your seeds, you are ready to plant. Read on to learn plant pumpkin seeds.

Instructions

1. Choose a sunny spot to plant the pumpkin seeds. The spot should get at least six hours of direct sunlight each day. You can also prepare the soil by using compost, manure or fish emulsion to the area. Pumpkins can be heavy "eaters" so adding extra nutrients helps with their growth.

2. Soak the seeds overnight if possible before planting. This softens the outer shell of the seed and makes the seed sprout more quickly.

3. Start the pumpkin seeds inside if you live in a colder climate. Otherwise you can put them directly into the soil once the temperature during the day is reaching 70 degrees or more regularly and the spring rains have passed.

4. Mound up hills of dirt that are about 3 feet in diameter with a moat around the mound to keep water near the roots. The hills should be placed about 10 feet or so apart from each other. Alternatively, you can create rows to plant the seeds in if this suits your garden better. With each, you'll want to keep plant spacing in mind.

5. Place around five seeds in a circle on the top of each mound. The seeds should be around 6 to 8 inches apart. Cover the seeds with about an inch of soil to keep the birds from getting them. Water very gently in the beginning and make sure not to disturb the covering soil.

6. Prune the plants several weeks after they have sprouted, leaving two to three strong, healthy plants on each mound. This will help the remaining plants get more nutrients and have more space to grow.

Tags: about feet, each mound, plant pumpkin, plant pumpkin seeds, pumpkin seeds

Ways To Eat Spaghetti Squash

Spaghetti squash is a low-carb food.

Spaghetti squash is a great substitute for pasta for those on a lo-carb diet, according to "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Low-Carb Meals." One cup of cooked spaghetti squash has only 10g of carbohydrates as opposed to the 40g in a cup of wheat pasta. But eating this stringy squash with tomato sauce is only one way of savoring it.

Savory Pancakes

If you mix cooked spaghetti squash with your favorite spices, for example, a little salt and green onions, you can make patties with your mixture and fry it in olive oil. Add eggs to the batter to hold it together.

Pizza Crust

Mix cooked spaghetti squash with eggs and mozzarella to make a low-carb pizza crust. Press the mixture to the bottom of a pie pan and pre-bake it before adding pizza sauce and your favorite toppings. This flour-free use is also good for those who can't eat wheat products.

Hash Browns

Especially if you're trying to get your kids to eat vegetables, turning spaghetti squash into hash browns might do the trick. You'll need to mix the cooked squash with flour, so this won't be a low-carb recipe, but it should be tasty.

Dessert

Another kid-friendly option is to make a dessert with spaghetti squash. After you cook it, blend it with brown sugar, cinnamon and butter for a yummy treat. If the kids like nuts, add more nutritional power to it by tossing some in.

Faux Pasta

This is the traditional way of eating spaghetti squash. Add your favorite pasta sauce and some grated Parmesan on top of the cooked strings of squash, and you'll have a low-carb substitute for an Italian meal.

Tags: spaghetti squash, squash with, cooked spaghetti, cooked spaghetti squash, your favorite, spaghetti squash with

Feed Snails

Most people prefer to leave snails in their garden, to go on their slimy way. But snails can also be wonderful pets--and they're low-maintenance to boot. But to ensure your snails good health and a long, fascinating life, you must pay careful attention to their diet and feeding.

Instructions

1. Prior to placing food in your snail's habitat, wash it thoroughly.

2. Feed your snails fresh vegetables and fruit--everything from apples to tomatoes, and bean sprouts to turnips. Provide a mixture, and pay attention to your snail's preferences: Different species prefer different diets.

3. Keep a piece of cuttlefish bone in your snail's habitat at all times. The bone's calcium is necessary for the snail to build and repair their shells. In addition to cuttlefish bone, acceptable substitutes include eggs shells, natural chalk, powdered oyster shells or calcium supplements.

4. Provide water in a sturdy bowl, which should be only a few millimeters deep. Snails run the risk of drowning if drinking from deeper receptacles. Alternatively, you can keep the habitat humid and moist, spraying down the snails at least twice a day (or more, if using a heat mat).

5. Remove any uneaten food within a day or so. Food that goes uneaten will spoil, and can attract mold, fungus or pests like flies and mites.

Tags: your snail, cuttlefish bone, snail habitat, your snail habitat, your snails

Cook Cactus Flowers

Cooking cactus flowers is as easy as cooking okra or fresh fruit. According to the website Garden Guides, cactus flowers of the genus Opuntia (prickly pear) are edible. The entire flower, though, is not used for food. Once you remove the thorns from the tuna (flower), add cactus flowers to dishes as you would other vegetables or make a cactus flower jelly.

Instructions

1. Collect unopened cactus flowers (tuna or pears) by knocking them off the leaves with a stick. Wear rubber gloves. Cactus flowers are prickly. The website Garden Guides recommends stripping or thrashing the thorny buds by rolling the flower with a thick bundle of leaves until the thorns stick to the leaves.

2. Slice off the top and the bottom of the flower. Make sure all thorns are removed. Peel the skin from the fruit.

3. Cook cactus flowers in a variety of ways. Garden Guides suggests chopping the flowers and adding to conventional stir-fry recipes, dipping in batter and sauteing, or using them as an ingredient in soup.

4. Make cactus jelly. The Succulent Plant Page offers a Cactus Jelly recipe. Boil and peel the cactus flowers. Chop the fruit and boil again. Strain thoroughly. Bring cactus juice, sugar and lemon juice to a full boil. Add liquid pectin and cook for 12 minutes. Can as you would any other jelly or preserve.

Tags: cactus flowers, Garden Guides, cactus flowers, website Garden, website Garden Guides, would other

Wrap Cookie Dough

You can wrap cookie dough and freeze it for up to six weeks. This way, you can slice off what you need for fresh-baked cookies with no mess and save the rest for later. You can wrap cookie dough in rolls for slicing, or in balls for break-and-bake cookies.

Instructions

Slice and Bake Logs

1. Chill the prepared cookie dough before you freeze it. This way your cookies will taste fresher when baked.

2. Form the cookie dough into logs. Make each log long enough to make approximately a dozen, 1 inch cookies.

3. Roll the log from Step 2 in a good quality plastic wrap. Tuck the ends in first, then wrap plastic wrap makes several times around the cookie dough log.

4. Wrap each cookie dough log twice to ensure the dough stays fresh and free of freezer burn for up to six weeks.

Break and Bake Cookie Dough

5. Form the cookie dough into small balls of the same size and shape. Many people like their cookie dough balls about an inch in diameter.

6. Place a dozen cookie dough balls in the center of a large section of plastic wrap.

7. Fold the edges in, then fold the sides over the cookie dough balls and wrap them securely.

8. Add a second layer of plastic wrap make sure the cookie dough is fully protected against freezer burn.

Tags: cookie dough, cookie dough, plastic wrap, cookie dough balls, dough balls, cookie dough into

Types Of Glasses For Wine

Types of Glasses for Wine

Everyone knows you need a glass to drink wine, but not everyone knows that there are specific types of glasses designed for different types of wine. Each type of glass is shaped to bring out the textures and flavors in different wines.

Bordeaux Glasses

Few people are aware that there are two types of red wine glasses, each shaped a little differently. Red wine glasses tend to be wider, and Bordeaux glasses are the taller of these. Bordeaux glasses are intended for drier flavors, such as Cabernet or Merlot.

Burgundy Glasses

Burgundy glasses, often called balloon glasses, are very wide but not very tall. Their openings, which are wider than those of Bordeaux glasses, are meant to direct the flavors of more delicate red wines, such as Pinot Noir, toward the tip of the tongue.

White Wine Glasses

White wines are usually served chilled, and their glasses are generally taller and less broad to allow you to appreciate flavors with the whole mouth. The crisp, clean taste is preserved by an opening slightly smaller than the widest point of the glass, which is the identifying feature of white wine glasses.

Champagne Flutes

Champagne flutes are probably among the most easily identified types of wine glasses. They are very tall and very narrow, often with almost straight sides. Their shape, a modification of the white wine glass, is meant to facilitate the carbonation of champagne without producing oxidation.

Wine Tumblers

While wine glasses with stems are the first to come to mind, stemless glasses known as tumblers are becoming more popular. These glasses have the same shapes as traditional glasses, but they sit flat on the table. Normally, these are used as red wine glasses, but almost all shapes can be found as tumblers.

Tags: wine glasses, Bordeaux glasses, types wine, Glasses Wine, that there

Dip Fruit In Chocolate

The combination of fruit and chocolate is very popular. It is a healthy way to satisfy a sweet craving and can be done quickly with minimal effort. Great for entertaining and holidays, fruit dipped in chocolate is a definite crowd pleaser.

Instructions

1. Select in season or favorite fruit. Strawberries are classic for dipping in chocolate, but bananas, melons and pineapples are just as delicious. Take into account any fruit allergies of guests if the treats are intended for a group.

2. Purchase specific fruit-dipping chocolate. This is usually found in the fruit section of grocery stores. It is best to use this dipping chocolate since it comes in its own cardboard bowl for heating and dipping and avoids melting messy chocolate chips or bars on the stovetop.

3. Line a baking sheet with wax paper. This allows the chocolate dipped fruit to cool without sticking to the pan. Heat chocolate in microwave according to directions.

4. Hold strawberries by the stem and dip them into warmed chocolate. Slice the bananas in half or into chunks and cut melons and pineapples into bite sized pieces. Hold the piece with fingers or a fork and dip it into the warmed chocolate. Place it on wax paper to cool and dry. Repeat with all the fruit pieces.

5. Refrigerate or leave them on the countertop to cool at room temperature. Chocolate will harden on the fruit, allowing for easy storage.

Tags: dipping chocolate, into warmed, into warmed chocolate, melons pineapples, warmed chocolate

Thicken Salad Dressings With An Egg

Egg yolks contain proteins that help bind water and oil in salad dressing, which thickens the viscosity.

Egg yolks are an excellent emulsifier for a salad dressing that is too thin. Whether it's a store-bought dressing or one that you made at home, an egg yolk can be added for additional viscosity and thickness. Egg yolks work as emulsifiers because they have an abundance of proteins in them that absorb both water and oil, bringing together the mixture as one. Egg yolks also contain lecithin, which further aid in thickening and binding the salad dressing.

Instructions

1. Pour the salad dressing into the food processor.

2. Crack an egg gently at the center of the shell. Do not over crack, which can burst the egg yolk. Split the egg shell in half, keeping the egg yolk in one side.

3. Separate the egg yolk. Standing over a sink or trash can and discard the shell half that does not contain the yolk. Dump the yolk into your gently opened hand with your fingers spread very slightly apart. Discard the other shell half and gently transfer the egg to the other hand, allowing the egg white to slide through your fingers, but keeping the yolk intact. Continue to transfer the yolk back and forth between your hands until the egg white has all fallen off the yolk.

4. Place the egg yolk in the food processor with the salad dressing and turn the food processor on high. Allow it to process for at least 2 minutes or until the egg yolk is completely blended in.

5. Chill the thickened salad dressing. Use the dressing cold, and store any unused dressing for up to two days in the refrigerator.

Tags: salad dressing, food processor, shell half, dressing that, keeping yolk, your fingers

What Are Blanched Vs Unblanched Almonds

Almonds play an important part in the U.S. economy.

Almonds play a significant role in the U.S. economy as an important horticultural export commodity, with California supplying as much as 75% of the world's almond supply, according to the Foreign Agriculture Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Almonds grown in the U.S. are shipped in a variety of conditions and forms, including blanched in their shells, and unblanched, which are typically called natural.

Types

Almonds are sold in processed and unprocessed forms. Unshelled almonds have to be cracked before consumption. Whole natural almonds have been shelled and are sold with a brown skin that surrounds the kernel. Blanched almonds have undergone further processing with removal of the skin surrounding the kernels. Blanched and unblanched natural almonds are sold chopped, flaked or with various coatings and flavors, including honey roasted, salted, sugar coated or rolled in chocolate.

Procedure

Blanch natural almonds that still have their skins by pouring boiling water over them until they're barely covered. Let them rest for about a minute, then remove the water to prevent the almonds from becoming soaked and soggy. While you'll be able to simply slip off and discard the brown skins, work quickly because the skins become increasingly difficult to remove as the almonds dry. If you have a large amount of almonds, blanch them in several batches.

Benefits

Almonds help lower cholesterol and provide fiber and nutrients. Blanched almonds keep most of the calories, as well as the protein, fat and carbohydrate values after the treatment, but the nut experiences some loss of vitamin E, nutrients and minerals after the skin is removed. In addition, research at the USDA has shown that blanched almonds are more susceptible to fungi and contamination during processing and transport.

Uses

Almonds are used in a variety of sweet and savory recipes. They're gluten free and when ground can replace flour in cakes, biscuits and cookies. In European cuisine, almonds are mainly used in the preparation of bread, cakes and desserts. Asian chefs prepare salads, fowl, fish and meat with almond coatings and sprinkles. Sweet recipes usually require blanched almonds because the skin can have a slightly bitter taste, while savory recipes mostly require natural unblanched almonds for better crunch.

Tags: almonds have, natural almonds, Almonds play, savory recipes

What Is The Difference Between Red Beans & Kidney Beans

Kidney beans are similar in color and shape but larger than red beans.

While red beans and kidney beans can be used interchangeably in most recipes and both have a deep red color, they are actually two different varieties of legumes.

Red Beans

Red beans are smaller than kidney beans but of similar shape. Used in many Southern and Creole dishes, they are sometimes called Mexican red beans. They can be found in a variety of foods, ranging from soups to salads to chili. The adzuki bean, which is often used in oriental dishes, is another variety of red bean. The adzuki bean is sweeter in taste and easier to digest.

Kidney Beans

Kidney beans get their name from their shape. Larger than red beans, they are part of many Southwestern dishes and are sometimes used as a meat substitute in Mexican tacos. These beans keep their shape when cooked and tend to absorb the flavors of accompanying foods.

Uses

Some recipes, like rice and beans, will offer a choice of either kidney beans or red beans in the ingredient list. Despite their subtle differences in size and taste, kidney beans are higher in protein and most minerals than red beans. An excellent source of fiber, kidney beans are slightly higher in calories.

Tags: than beans, adzuki bean, beans similar, kidney beans, their shape

Steam Sticky Rice

Sticky rice is available in long-grain and short-grain versions.

Sticky rice is a common staple of northern and northeastern Thai diets. Also known as kao niow, it is traditionally eaten with the hands and rolled into small, bite-size balls. A spicy sauce for dipping meat, fish or vegetables often accompanies this "sweet rice."

Unlike non-glutinous rice, sticky rice must be specially prepared to retain its dense and chewy texture.

Instructions

1. Rinse the rice 2-3 times. Continue rinsing until the water runs clear.

2. Place the rice in a medium-sized bowl. Cover with enough water so that it is 2-3 inches above the rice.

3. Soak the rice for 4 hours. You will find the grains expand in size and easily break between your fingers.

4. Drain the rice and spread evenly in a shallow dish.

5. Fill a steamer pot with 1-1/2 inches of water. Stack steamer rack on top of the pot and place the dish with rice on top of the steamer rack.

6. Steam the rice over medium heat for one half hour. The grains will become translucent when done.

7. Serve rice at room temperature.

Tags: steamer rack

Make Swedish Tea Ring

A Swedish Tea Ring is a delicious Christmas bread made with raisins, nuts, brown sugar and cinnamon. A yeast bread, but filled like a jellyroll, the Swedish tea ring makes a beautiful presentation. If you love to bake, you will love this delicious dessert.

Instructions

Making the Dough

1. Dissolve the yeast in lukewarm water.

2. Scald the milk, then add shortening, sugar and salt to the scalded milk.

3. Place scalded milk mixture in a large bowl and cool slightly.

4. Add the dissolved yeast to the scalded milk mixture when it has cooled to lukewarm.

5. Add half the flour and beat well. Let rise until light and bubbly.

6. Beat the egg and add to the mixture, mixing well; add the rest of the flour.

7. Let dough rise until double in bulk, approximately an hour.

Adding the Filling

8. Turn out dough onto floured surface and divide into two sections; place one section back into bowl.

9. Roll dough into an oblong or rectangular shape.

10. Spread half the melted butter onto dough; add half the brown sugar, cinnamon, raisins and nuts.

11. Roll up dough like a jelly roll and place seam side down onto a greased baking sheet.

12. Form into the shape of a ring after it's on the greased baking sheet; pinch ends together.

13. Cut the roll every 2 to 3 inches, about halfway through in depth. Use clean kitchen shears.

14. Turn each cut section onto its side; the cut pieces will fan out from the roll while still being attached.

15. Do the same for the other piece of dough. Cover and let rise for approximately 45 to 60 minutes.

16. Bake in a pre-heated 375-degree oven for about 30 minutes.

Finishing Touches

17.Make a thin icing by combining the 3 tablespoons of milk with 1 cup of confectioner's sugar.

18. Remove the tea ring to a platter while still hot

19. Drizzle the thin icing over tea ring while it is still hot.

Tags: scalded milk, while still, baking sheet, brown sugar, brown sugar cinnamon, greased baking, greased baking sheet

Propagation Of Dragon Fruit Trees

Ripe dragon fruit has ruby-colored skin.

Dragon fruits come from a clambering cactus, Hylocereus undatus, that can grow to tree-like proportions. The plant is native to Central America and has beautiful night-blooming flowers that develop into red-skinned, white-fleshed oval fruit. Dragon fruit trees became popular in Vietnam around 1960, where the plant got the dragon fruit name.

Propagation Methods

The easiest way to propagate dragon fruit plants is by cuttings. They can also be grown from seed. Take cuttings when the plant is growing actively. Seeds can be started any time indoors. The cactus is damaged by freezing weather.

Cuttings

Take cuttings from a branch that is over a year old. Cut the branch off where it joins the main stem or meets up with year-old tissue. Place the cutting in a shady place for several days to allow a callus to develop on the cut end. Then put the cutting in cactus potting soil, cut end down. Roots should form in a few weeks.

Seeds

Remove a ripe fruit from the dragon fruit tree and separate the seeds from the pulp. Wash the seeds clean using a tea strainer. Lay the wet seeds out on paper towels to dry. Plant the prepared seeds in cactus soil, barely covering them. Keep the container moist and partially cover it with plastic film or a pane of glass. Uncover the container when seedlings are 1 inch tall.

Tags: dragon fruit, Take cuttings

Make Ginger Root Tea

Ginger Root Tea

There are many health benefits of ginger. Ginger can be effective for easing cold symptoms and is thought to enhance the immune system as well. People with intestinal upsets often feel better after ingesting ginger.

Ginger root tea is not only an effective way to get a good dose of ginger, but it can be a very tasty way as well. Ginger root is readily available in the produce section of most grocery stores.

Instructions

1. Purchase a small amount of fresh ginger root from the produce section of a grocery store. Only a small amount of ginger root is necessary to make tea. Ginger root will keep for several weeks in a refrigerator.

2. Cut a one-inch section from the ginger root with a sharp knife. Carefully peel the outer covering off of the ginger root and cut it into thin slices.

3. Boil four cups of water in the saucepan. Add the sliced ginger and reduce the heat to a simmer. Allow the water and ginger to simmer for approximately 15 minutes.

4. Strain the tea from the sliced ginger root into a tea cup after 15 minutes of simmering.

5. Add a small amount of honey and/or freshly squeezed lemon to the ginger root tea if desired.

Tags: ginger root, Ginger root, small amount, ginger Ginger, ginger root, ginger root into, produce section

Make Broccoli Bacon Raisin Salad

Make Broccoli Bacon Raisin Salad

Broccoli bacon raisin salad is a raw salad made of broccoli florets, raisins, bacon and a slightly sweet dressing. It is a popular dish at potlucks and picnics because it can be served at room temperature. It can also be modified for low-fat or vegetarian diets, if necessary. This recipe yields approximately 10-12 servings of broccoli bacon raisin salad.

Instructions

1. Cut the broccoli into small bite-sized florets and discard the stalks. Peel and mince the onion. Place one cup of raisins in a shallow dish and cover with hot water to plump. Set aside.

2. Fry one pound of bacon in a large skillet over medium-high heat for 3-4 minutes on each side, or until crisp. Drain the grease, crumble the bacon, and place into a large mixing bowl.

3. Drain any excess water from the raisins. Add the broccoli florets, minced onion, raisins, and sunflower seeds to the mixing bowl with the bacon. Use a large spoon to thoroughly combine all the ingredients.

4. Combine the mayonnaise, sugar and vinegar in a separate large mixing bowl to make the dressing. Use a wire whisk to blend thoroughly, whisking for 2-3 minutes or until a creamy consistency is reached.

5. Pour the dressing over the top of the broccoli bacon raisin salad. Combine gently with a large spoon and then cover the bowl. Chill for at least two hours in the refrigerator before serving.

Tags: bacon raisin, mixing bowl, raisin salad, bacon large, Bacon Raisin, Broccoli Bacon, Broccoli Bacon Raisin

Eat Healthy At A Fast Food Restaurant

Most people equate fast food restaurants with unhealthy food. It's true that many of the options at fast food restaurants aren't great for your body. Still, there are plenty of ways to get filled up at a fast food restaurant without putting junk into your body. Here is eat healthy at a fast food restaurant.

Instructions

1. Order water when at a fast food restaurant. The sodas and the juices found at fast food restaurants are full of a large amount of sugar and calories. Even the diet sodas at fast food restaurants aren't really all that better for you. Water is always the best option as a fast food restaurant.

2. Avoid all of the fried foods found at fast food restaurants. Fries, chicken and fish products at fast food restaurants may be tasty but they're also the least healthy items you can eat. Instead, stick to those items that are grilled. Burgers and grilled chicken from a fast food restaurant aren't great for you but they're a better option than the fried foods.

3. Remember portion control when at a fast food restaurant. A value meal at a fast food restaurant is normally more food than what you should eat in one portion. Bring food home with you and finish your meal at a later time.

4. Order salads from fast food restaurants. Many fast food restaurants place fried chicken on their salads. Either ask for a salad without this or simply remove the pieces. Also, bring your own dressings. Salad dressings at fast food restaurants may have large amounts of fat, sugar, sodium and calories.

5. Avoid eating a sandwich that has cheese on it at a fast food restaurant. The processed cheeses found at fast food restaurants are very high in calories. Instead, simply eat your hamburger without any cheese. You can also load your sandwiches with healthy toppings, such as lettuce, tomatoes and onions.

Tags: fast food, fast food restaurants, food restaurants, food restaurant, fast food restaurant

Eat Healthy At A Chinese Restaurant

Chinese food relies heavily on pork, chicken and seafood, all of which can be cooked in either a healthy or unhealthy fashion. The best way to cook most Chinese foods in order to keep the fat and calories low is to bake the dishes instead of frying them. Another problem area can be the rich sauces that accompany many Chinese dishes, which should be used in moderation.

Instructions

1. Choose a baked chicken chow mein, which is only about 350 calories and 6 grams of fat. Get this and other Chinese dishes with steamed rice instead of fried rice to save fat and calories. A cup of steamed rice is about 170 calories and has no fat, while a cup of fried rice is about 363 calories and 14 grams of fat. Order extra steamed rice with Chinese dishes because by eating steamed rice with the meal, you will be filled up faster and be less prone to eat higher calorie foods.

2. Pick a Cantonese restaurant, or a Cantonese dish, to get a lighter meal that is more likely to be healthy.

3. Look for dishes that are high in vegetables. Many Chinese dishes are made up of vegetables and rice or noodles. Keep the portions of meat small to cut out fat.

4. Appetizers such as small spring rolls make a healthy prelude to the meal. Vegetable or shrimp spring rolls are even lower in fat than the pork rolls. Small shrimp spring rolls have about 65 calories and 6 grams of fat apiece.

5. Stay away from General Tso's Chicken, which is fried and has about 830 calories and 37 grams of fat. A small serving of Kung Pao Chicken is about 475 calories and 22 grams of fat.

Tags: about calories, about calories grams, calories grams, Chinese dishes, steamed rice, spring rolls

Make An Easy Hollandaise Sauce

Making a great hollandaise sauce is a mark of a well-trained, highly experienced cook--unless you use the microwave oven to make it fast. There's no need to manage a double boiler over just the right low heat when this recipe just takes 5 minutes from start to finish. The recipe makes about 1/2 cup, which is delicious over eggs, fish, asparagus and broccoli.

Instructions

1. Separate two eggs. Keep the whites for another recipe. Set the yolks aside until the butter is melted.

2. Place 1/3 cup of butter into a 1-qt. casserole dish. Heat the butter in the microwave on high power until it is melted, which usually takes about 1 minute. Remove the dish from the microwave.

3. Toss in the egg yolks, salt, mustard powder, cayenne and tarragon. Use a whisk to beat the mixture until it is thoroughly combined.

4. Heat the mixture in the microwave on high power for 45 seconds. Remove it from the microwave. Beat it again and return it to the microwave for another 45 seconds.

5. Drizzle the lemon yellow buttery hot sauce over asparagus, eggs Benedict or fish. Don't tell anyone that you made it in the microwave and they'll never guess.

Tags: from microwave, high power, microwave high, microwave high power

Make Easy Spinach Pie

Spinach pie is easy, healthy and delicious.

Spinach pie makes a hearty, wholesome meal. It's easy to make, and it's a perfect main dish. Some people are intimidated by making pie crust, but this recipe uses phyllo pastry, so you don't have to take the time to make a crust. Your family may be more likely to eat spinach when it's enfolded in a delicious pie, and you'll want them to eat their spinach because it's loaded with Vitamin K, Vitamin A, manganese, folate, iron and many more nutrients to keep them healthy and thriving.

Instructions

1. Remove the phyllo (an extremely thin dough that is layered to produce a flaky pastry) and spinach from the freezer and allow them to thaw. When the spinach has thawed, squeeze the water out of it until it is fairly dry. When the phyllo pastry and spinach are thawed, turn on the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a cookie sheet with butter spray or stick of butter. Set aside.

2. Lightly beat the egg in a large mixing bowl. Add the spinach, cottage cheese, Parmesan, Monterey Jack cheese and onion to the mixing bowl and stir the ingredients together.

3. Lay the two phyllo sheets out on the countertop, side by side. Divide the spinach mixture in half, and put half of the spinach mixture on each sheet of phyllo to make two pies. Spread the mixture out over the phyllo sheets with a gentle hand, making sure to not tear the phyllo.

4. Roll each of the phyllo sheets up like a jelly roll. Pinch the ends of the rolls to keep the filling from leaking out during baking. Place the pies on the greased cookie sheet side by side.

5. Use a sharp knife to make a few slits in the top of each spinach pie. Bake the pies for 40 minutes or until they are golden brown. Remove from the oven and place the pies on serving platters. Allow the pies to sit for five to 10 minutes before slicing them. To serve, slice the pies with a serrated knife.

Tags: phyllo sheets, cookie sheet, mixing bowl, pastry spinach, phyllo pastry, side side

Tell The Difference Between Yams And Sweet Potatoes

Most people seem to be under the impression that yams and sweet potatoes are the same vegetable; they are just known by two different names in different parts of the world. That is not the case.

Instructions

1. Look at the shape and size when you want to tell the difference in yams and sweet potatoes. This is the most immediate noticeable difference. A sweet potato has a thin skin and a smooth appearance. Sweet potatoes are short, stubby and have just slightly tapered ends. A yam, on the other hand, is long and cylindrical. Yams can grow to be over 7 feet long. Yams have a rough and scaly skin which somewhat resembles the bark of a tree.

2. Check the color to tell the difference in yams and sweet potatoes. Yams have a brownish, almost black color to the skin. The flesh (edible part) of a yam is purple or sometimes red. There's an off-white color variety, too. Sweet potatoes have a light yellow skin. The flesh of a sweet potato is pale yellow. Another variety of sweet potato has a thicker, dark orange or almost red skin. The flesh of this variety is bright orange.

3. Feel the texture for another way to tell the difference in these two tasty vegetables. In your mouth, a bright orange version of the sweet potato has a moist texture. The pale yellow flesh version has sort of a crumbly texture, much like a regular white baking potato. The feel of a yam in your mouth will have a much drier texture.

4. Taste to tell the difference in yams and sweet potatoes. The dark skin, bright orange version of the sweet potato has a very sweet taste. The lighter skinned, light yellow version of the sweet potato is not quite as sweet. Yams usually have a more starchy taste.

Tags: sweet potato, yams sweet, bright orange, difference yams, difference yams sweet, skin flesh

Cook A Texasstyle Smoked Brisket

Sliced Brisket

When you have a Texas-sized party, you're going to need to a tasty way to feed your guests. A Texas-style smoked brisket will fit the bill if you have a party of 12 to 14 people. The brisket comes from the lower chest wall of the cow, and as such is a tougher cut of meat, requiring a long cooking time to make it tender enough to eat. This makes brisket an ideal meat to cook in a smoker, which uses indirect heat to cook the meat at a low and slow temperature. As it can take up to 14 hours to properly cook a brisket when using a smoker, plan your cooking time adequately.

Instructions

1. A day in advance, remove the brisket from store packaging and place in large foil pan. Pour the entire bottle of Italian dressing over the entire brisket.

Cover the brisket and place it in the refrigerator for at least four to six hours, or preferably overnight.

2. Mix the seasoning rub together by combining the garlic powder, salt, onion powder, celery salt, cayenne (if you wish), and coarse black pepper in a small bowl. Set aside for later.

3. Heat your smoker. While the smoker is heating, place wood chunks or chips in warm water to soak. Fill the smoker's water pan with water and set aside. Add a 12-oz. beer of your choice to the water pan for extra flavor.

4. Rub brisket all over with the seasoning rub.

5. Place the seasoned brisket in the smoker. Cook for 12 to 16 hours. Check on the brisket every few hours, and add more wood chunks when it stops smoking.

6. Check the brisket for doneness, which will be when it reaches an internal temperature of 190 degrees Fahrenheit. When brisket is done, remove it from the smoker and let it rest for a half hour. Slice the brisket against the grain and serve.

Tags: Check brisket, cooking time, wood chunks

Miracle Berry Foods List

Miracle berries temporarily rewire your taste buds.

The berries from the Synsepalum dulcificum, more commonly known as the miracle fruit plant, have an extraordinary affect on your taste buds: for a period of 15 minutes to one hour after eating them, sour things taste sweet. Its low sugar content and ability to 'trick' taste buds into thinking you're eating sweet food has raised hopes for potential health applications.

Fruit

After eating a miracle fruit berry, the humble lemon is transformed from a bitter mouth-puckerer into a fabulous fruit that can be savored alone, with a flavor similar to lemonade but with none of its typical unhealthy, sugary additives. Oranges are also enhanced, with the Spanish blood orange in particular exhibiting a deep, sweet flavor.

The Daily Mail in the UK wrote: "Sinking my teeth into a lemon, I braced to wince at the sour, citric tang that would inevitably attack my taste buds. But, almost unbelievably, there wasn't a hint of bitterness. The acidic fruit tasted as sweet as lemon meringue pie."

The miracle berry also has a marked effect on the taste of grapefruits, which can often have a fairly sour flavor, as they become much sweeter and easier to enjoy. Strawberries take on the characteristics of sugar-frosted strawberries; such is the savor of sweet decadence you get from them.

Try cherries in the aftermath of eating a miracle berry---they taste like a frosted fruit dessert.

Dairy

Eating dairy products after consuming a miracle berry can also be quite a surprise. In much the same way as with sugar and other additives you can turn plain dairy products into a delicious milkshake, the miracle berry can transfigure simple cheeses into exotic sweet treats. Goat's cheese takes on the properties of frosting. Blue cheese becomes sweet and creamy and loses the pungent, moldy flavor that can sometimes characterize it; cream cheese will make you believe you've stumbled upon the perfect cheesecake mix.

Guinness

It isn't just foods whose taste the miracle fruit can perceptibly change. As the berry rewires the taste buds, it can work its magic just as powerfully on booze. The thick, acrid, stout flavor of Guinness is utterly changed. According to one taster's account in the New York Times, paraphrased: "...Drop a large dollop of lemon sorbet into a glass of Guinness, stir, drink and it tastes like a chocolate shake."

Broccoli

For so long a despised foodstuff---but not any more---eat broccoli after a miracle fruit, and the much-maligned vegetable tastes very sweet, almost candy-like.

Vinegar

Obviously you would never consider chugging vinegar, but that becomes quite tempting when vinegar actually starts to taste like treacle--as it does after a miracle berry.

Tags: taste buds, miracle berry, miracle fruit, your taste buds, after miracle, berry also, dairy products

Replace Ricotta With Cottage Cheese

You can substitute ricotta with cottage cheese for most recipes.

Despite the different methods used to make ricotta and cottage cheese, you can replace ricotta with cottage cheese in a recipe without ruining the outcome. Traditional Italian ricotta is made using sheep or goat milk, and though not a particularly strong cheese, ricotta does have an acquired taste. Alternately, cottage cheese has a mild flavor and slightly crumbly texture. However, it is a versatile cheese that can be used as a replacement for ricotta in many savory and sweet dishes.

Instructions

1. Check the list of ingredients your recipe requires. Make a note of the quantity of ricotta the recipe needs, and then get the same quantity of cottage cheese. However, don't buy the reduced-fat version of cottage cheese: It's very watery, lacks flavor and is likely to make the recipe runny and ruin it.

2. Empty the cottage cheese from the container into a fine sieve. This allows any liquid to drain through, leaving behind solid cottage cheese. The less liquid there is, the more cottage cheese resembles the consistency of ricotta.

3. Follow the recipe until you get to the step where you need to add ricotta. Add cottage cheese instead, and then continue to follow the recipe instructions. The dish you make may taste slightly different since ricotta has a stronger flavor; it may also have a slightly more crumbly texture since ricotta is creamier.

Tags: cottage cheese, cottage cheese, crumbly texture, ricotta cottage, ricotta cottage cheese, since ricotta

Eat Healthy While Traveling In A Car

Eat Healthy While Traveling in a Car

Car travel does not have to mean eating unhealthy foods and gaining weight for you and your family. Including healthy snacks and careful planning ahead will allow you to continue your healthy eating regimen as you cruise along in your car.

Instructions

Packing for Your Road Trip

1. Plan what you will eat. After you pack your clothes and other traveling necessities, it is time to plan your car snacks and eating stops on the trip. It is way too easy to stop at convenience markets and fast food places when you are hungry. Get your small cooler ready with an ice pack. This cooler will hold most of your snacks and drinks.

2. Buy fresh fruit and vegetables that are prepackaged. Purchase raw nuts and a selection of dried fruit. Raisins, dried cranberries and apricots are very nutritious and will give you energy while you drive. Add some apples and oranges as they can stay unrefrigerated for a few days. Load up your healthy snacks, and you are ready to roll.

3. Plan your meal stops. Start the day with a healthy breakfast that includes protein, fruit and whole-grain toast. When lunch time comes you can stop at a fast food place. These fast food places have many salads and healthy sandwiches to select from. Ignore the french fries, huge hamburgers and fried foods.

4. Munch if you get sleepy. If you find yourself getting sleepy while driving, have an orange or some of your nuts and dried fruit. Keep yourself hydrated with water. Chewing sugarless gum keeps you busy and alert. If you are still feeling tired, get out and stretch.

5. Pick a place for dinner that offers good, healthy selections of food. Eat a big salad, chicken or fish, and substitute vegetables for the potato or rice. If you crave a dessert, have some of your dried fruit or an apple. Since you have been eating healthy all day, perhaps a frozen yogurt could be a treat.

Tags: dried fruit, fast food, fast food places, food places, healthy snacks

Make Thick Homemade Chili

Make Thick Homemade Chili

Nothing warms you up after a cold day quite like a hot bowl of thick homemade chili. This chili recipe is simple to make, you can do it stove top for faster results, or let your chili stew all day in a crock pot. Either way, your chili will warm the soul as well as the body!

Instructions

1. Coarsely chop onions and green peppers, and mince garlic. Add along with ground beef to a skillet over medium heat. Cook until beef is well browned and crumbly. Strain through colander to remove excess fat, the more fat you drain off the better your chili will be. Add beef mixture to either a slow cooker or a stock pot, whichever you are using to make your chili.

2. Open all three cans of beans, and strain through colander. You may wish to use all three different kinds of kidney beans for your chili, or you may choose to stick with just one. Either way turns out very good, but using the different kinds gives extra visual appeal to your chili. Chop jalapenos, if using, and add to your chili pot. Pour contents of the cans of crushed tomatoes and the tomato sauce on top of all other chili ingredients.

3. Add your chili spices at this point. The above listed is only a guideline, add more or less to taste. In addition to chili powder and cayenne pepper, several other spices and herbs can go good with your chili. Basil is a good addition, as is parsley, Old Bay, cumin, cilantro, and even black pepper. A good rule of thumb with spices is to start with a smaller amount, stir well, and taste test to gauge whether you need more in your chili. Cumin can quickly overpower chili, so use in very small amounts.

4. Turn the heat on low if you are cooking your chili on the stove, or turn on your crock pot. Since the ingredients are all cooked before adding in to this chili, it will only need to heat through. However, chili always tastes better if allowed to stew and cook longer, so the flavors can blend together well. Also, it allows the crushed tomatoes to cook down a little more. I would suggest 2 hours stove top, stirring regularly, or a minimum of 5 hours in a crock pot for cooking chili.

5. You can garnish your chili with fresh parsley, a grating of fresh cheddar cheese, and serve with saltine crackers. Fair warning, this recipe for thick homemade chili doesn't leave a lot of soupiness for crackers!

Tags: your chili, chili will, crushed tomatoes, different kinds, Make Thick, Make Thick Homemade

Diy Soda Machine

A homemade soda can be as good as a factory-made soda.

Soda -- carbonated water -- can be made with either a soda machine, or by slightly fermenting the soda mixture to generate natural bubbles. Naturally fermented sodas need less equipment than sodas that are made by injecting carbon dioxide into the soda liquid, but fermentation takes time, so it is better to use the soda machine, if you are looking for a quick, home-made soda fix.

Instructions

Home-made Soda Machine Drinks

1. Sterilize the bottle for your soda. Soda bottles are often included with your soda machine, so they should attach to the carbon dioxide injector without any leaks. Boil the bottle for 10 minutes in a large stock pot containing enough water to cover the submerged bottle by 1 inch.

2. Prepare the soda mix. This can be flavored with any ingredients and sweeteners that taste good to you, or you can use prepared soda syrups that taste just like commercial soda -- all you have to do is add the proper concentration of water.

3. Pour the soda mix into the soda machine bottle, and attach the siphon head.

4. Close the carbonating valve, and thread a carbon dioxide cartridge into the siphon head. Once the cartridge is fully threaded into the siphon, open the carbonating valve and mix the carbon dioxide bubbles into your soda.

5. Shake the bottle and siphon as the carbon dioxide is released into the soda mix to ensure that the carbonation is distributed throughout the soda. When the carbon dioxide is no longer hissing, you can unscrew the bottle from the siphon and drink the soda.

Fermented Soda

6. Prepare any old soda bottles that you have saved by boiling them for 10 minutes with the caps off. You can use both glass and plastic bottles for home-made soda, though it is safer to start with plastic bottles in case the fermentation causes the bottle to explode.

7. Heat 1 gallon of water to 100 degrees F, measuring the temperature with a candy thermometer. Once the proper temperature is reached, add 1 to 2 cups sugar or sweetener, 1 to 2 tablespoons of your flavor extract, and stir until the sugar is well-mixed. You can use the same concentrations for fermented sodas and carbonated sodas, or you can replace the concentrate and water mixture with the same volume of home-made mixes, such as lemonade or tea.

8. Add 1/2 teaspoon of champagne or ale yeast to the mixture, stirring well.

9. Using a funnel if you have one, pour the mixture into your containers, leaving 1/2 inch of head space at the top for the gases to expand into.

10. Put the lids on the containers tightly, and shake the mixture to distribute the yeast evenly throughout the soda.

11. Label each bottle with the date and its contents, and store them in a warm, dark place for 2-3 days while the soda ferments. Once the soda has finished fermenting, refrigerate it until you drink it.

Tags: carbon dioxide, into soda, your soda, carbonating valve, fermented sodas

Easily Make Pectin

Without pectin, your homemade jam won't set.

Pectin is a water-soluble substance that's made up of carbohydrates. It can be used in baking to make homemade jams and jellies. You can buy pectin in liquid form from baking departments in shops, but it can be far more rewarding, and tasty to create your own. Baking your own pectin is easy to do and can be made from a large variety of fruit. This is because pectin is a naturally occurring substance found in most ripe fruits and vegetables.

Instructions

1. Wash the apples, but don't peel off the skins.

2. Cut the apples into quarters and place them into the saucepan.

3. Add 4 cups of water and 2 tbsps. of freshly squeezed lemon juice to the saucepan.

4. Bring the pan to the boil. Let it simmer for about 40 minutes.

5. Sieve the mixture through a cheesecloth to remove all the bits. Place the remaining liquid back onto boil for another 20 minutes.

6. Pour the mixture into sterilized jars after the final boil. Seal the jars.

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Meals With Lemon Chicken

Fresh lemon brings out the flavor in your chicken dishes.

Lemon chicken has several variations, but all show off the citrus tang of lemon. The Asian version encases white chicken meat in a batter. The pieces are deep-fried and napped with a clear, intensely flavored lemon sauce. The Italian version, pollo alla pasesana, infuses chicken with lemon flavor and herbs. And then there's the Greek version with chicken stuffed with lemons, rosemary and olives.

Entree

Roasted lemon chicken is lower in fat than Asian fried lemon chicken. It's not a difficult recipe, but some people do find it squeamish. Begin by separating the skin from the flesh of a chicken or chicken pieces with your fingers. Don't remove the skin. It keeps the chicken moist while it roasts. Slide thin lemon slices under the skin. Push chopped herbs with, or without, minced garlic between the lemon slices. Roast for an hour. Serve with new potatoes in lemon butter and asparagus dressed with lemon thyme and a squeeze of lemon.

Salad

Deep-fried lemon chicken sliced over a crisp green salad makes a cool light lunch. Add snow peas, scallions, water chestnuts. Dress with rice wine vinegar, brown sugar, soy sauce, minced ginger and garlic. Another salad option would be chunks of roasted lemon chicken in mayonnaise with grapes and apple chunks. Zip up the mayonnaise by adding lemon juice and zest. Serve on a bed of butter lettuce and lunch is served.

Wraps and Sandwiches

Turn a wrap into an exploration of different cuisines with lemon chicken. Serve slices of Asian lemon chicken in a flour tortilla brushed with hoisin sauce. Add in sliced scallions and fresh cilantro. For a Mediterranean-style variation, mix feta cheese with olive and lemon juice. Drizzle some inside a pita pocket. Brush the rest over roasted lemon chicken slices, and stuff the slices into the pita pocket. For an Italian-inspired sandwich, slice a loaf of crusty Italian bread lengthwise. Remove some of the soft interior to make room for the filling. Mix lemon juice with olive oil and a finely chopped garlic clove. Drizzle both halves of the bread loaf with the mixture. Layer basil leaves, tomatoes, chopped olives, mozzarella cheese and slices of lemon chicken on the bread.

Soup

You might not think that lemon would be a tempting flavor choice for soup, but you'd be surprised. Asian hot and sour soup depends on the sourness of cilantro and lemon. Use leftover bits and pieces of lemon chicken in a broth flavored with more lemon juice and spiced with red pepper flakes. Add vegetables that don't require much cooking such as carrots, peas, bean sprouts and mushrooms. Serve over noodles for a filling meal.

Greek lemon soup, avgolemono, is enhanced by the addition of lemon chicken. The additional protein from the chicken makes it a meal. Serve with pita bread and a Greek salad of olives, cucumbers, tomatoes green peppers and a feta cheese dressing.

Tags: lemon chicken, lemon juice, with lemon, feta cheese, lemon chicken, lemon slices

Crepes

Crepes are an extremely thin type of pancake made out of wheat flour. They came from the Brittany region of northwestern France. Crepes are considered to be the French national dish, though they are popular in many other countries around the world as well. They are often served with fruits (especially bananas and berries), syrup, whipped cream or lemon cream.

Function

Crepes are prepared by pouring a liquid batter into a frying pan, usually with a small amount of butter on the surface of the pan. Then the batter is smoothly spread over the pan's surface, usually by distributing the batter with the use of a spatula. The batter can also be spread by gently tilting the pan.

Types

There are various different types of crepes. Crepes Suzette is a popular kind of crepe. It comes with liqueur (such as Grand Marnier) and with lightly grated orange peels. Mille Crepe comes with many thin layers of crepe (the name means "thousand" crepe, suggesting many layers). These are two of the most common crepe types. Crepes can be both sweet and savory. When they are sweet, they are usually served as dessert.

Geography

Many countries all over the world have their own variations of crepes. Crepes are comparable to many foods from all over the planet. In Africa, there is the injera. Denmark has Pandekages, Romania has clatitas, Spain has filloas, the Netherlands have pannekoeken and Poland has nalesniki. The concept of the crepe seems to be catered toward a rather universal taste.

Expert Insight

There are many different fillings for crepes. For breakfast crepes, diced ham, grated cheese and scrambled eggs are all terrific filling options. Raspberry preserves and powdered sugar are also great fillings. For a more savory crepe option (for lunch or dinner), mushroom gravy, tarragon chicken, beef stroganoff, sour cream sauce and broccoli in melted cheddar are all very tasty when combined with the crepe. Dessert crepes are often filled with powdered sugar, orange zest, cinnamon, poppyseeds, berries, Nutella, nuts and much more.

Benefits

There are many places to purchase crepes in the United States. You don't have to go all the way to France to get a delicious, authentic crepe. Some crepe chains based out of the United States include Crepe Maker, The Crepe Cafe, Crazy Crepes, Melt Gelato and Crepe Cafe, and Magic Pan.

Tags: comes with, Crepe Cafe, crepes Crepes, powdered sugar, There many, United States

Dry Potatoes

Drying potatoes is a quick and easy way to store them for later use. Use a dehydrator, solar oven or conventional oven.

Instructions

1. Wash potatoes, removing any spoiled areas. Skins can be removed or left on for vitamins.

2. Bring a large kettle of water to a boil. Add salt to taste.

3. Slice potatoes into 1/8-inch-thick rounds.

4. Place potato slices in a vegetable basket and dip into boiling salt water.

5. Wait for water to return to a boil.

6. Boil potatoes for 6 to 8 minutes.

7. Remove potatoes from boiling water and place basket of potatoes in ice water for 15 minutes.

8. Spread blanched potatoes in a single layer between paper towels and blot dry.

9. To dry in conventional oven, coat cookie sheets with vegetable-oil spray.

10. Spread blanched potato slices on sheets in a single layer.

11. Place in oven on lowest setting, around 170 degrees F.

12. Keep oven door cracked for air circulation and for moisture to escape.

13. Turn slices over after 1 hour.

14. Continue turning every 30 minutes until potatoes are brittle and translucent, but not pliable.

15. To dry in dehydrator, place potato slices on racks coated lightly with vegetable-oil spray. Place slices in a single layer and not touching each other.

16. Follow dehydrator instructions on settings and times.

17.Let potatoes cool; store in a glass jar or large plastic bag.

Tags: potato slices, single layer, with vegetable-oil spray, conventional oven, Spread blanched

Select Appetizers To Accompany Red Wine

Red wine is rich, deep, full-bodied and flavorful. It can be dry or sweet and served with everything from tasty appetizers to decadent desserts. With various red wines coming from all over the world, choosing just the right bottle of crimson vino to accompany your pre-feast appetizers can seem a little overwhelming.

Instructions

1. Adhere to the basic wine-pairing rule. The most commonly known rule of thumb for pairing red and white wines with food is to pair reds with dark foods and red meats, such as beef and pork, while pairing whites with lighter colored foods and meats, like chicken, turkey and fish. Remembering the light-and-dark rule isn't just for doing your laundry; it can also make the process of selecting a wine and accompanying appetizers much easier.

2. Cook up some pasta. Red wine tends to go better with cooked pastas than white wine does, especially stuffed pastas like shells and ravioli. Make some homemade ravioli and stuff it with savory cheeses or meat or save time by purchasing pre-made ravioli at the grocery store and deep frying it to give it unexpected flavor and crunch that will go great with a bold red wine.

3. Bake some bread. Appetizers containing bread are great for cleansing the palate of the richness of a red wine and preparing for the main course. A basic dipping tray with slices of baguette bread and olive oil is a simple idea that can be ready in minutes. If you have a little more time, top baguette slices with chopped tomatoes and basil for some homemade bruschetta whose earthy flavors will complement the rich undertones of a red wine.

4. Use dark vegetables. Darker colored vegetables tend to have richer, earthier tastes and textures that complement the tannins in red wine. Vegetables like tomatoes have acidity that will be balanced out by the contrast of a red vintage, while the earthy flavors of eggplant or spinach pair well with a spicy red shiraz.

5. Be berry good. A lot of red wines have berry or cherry notes and undertones, making dark colored fruits excellent pairings for most red wines. Ripe strawberries, blueberries, cherries and raspberries all work well with red wines. Their sweetness contrasts well with the spice and dryness of some red wines and their fresh yet complex flavors work well with just about any type of red wine. A simple bowl of ripe berries and red fruits will make a great appetizer to accompany red wine.

Tags: well with, earthy flavors, foods meats, some homemade, that will

Make Blackened Catfish With Cream Sauce

Blackened catfish is an easy and economical dish to make.

There's hardly a better way to enjoy blackened catfish than with a rich, creamy, white sauce. This Cajun-based recipe is inexpensive and easy to make. The blend of herbs and spices used to make the blackening mix are probably already in your cabinet. The cream sauce, too, is made from common ingredients and also easy to make. Cooking time is short for this tasty and economical seafood dish.

Instructions

1. Rub catfish fillets in butter while heating skillet on high heat.

2. In a small bowl mix salt, peppers, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme and sage. Coat both sides of each fillet with the dry mix.

3. Cook coated catfish fillets on high heat in skillet for about 4 minutes or until fork easily passes through fillets. Remove blackened catfish fillets from skillet.

4. Add butter to skillet and allow it to melt on high heat. Carefully mix in flour, stirring constantly.

5. Add a cup of milk to the flour and butter mixture, stirring constantly as you do until the mixture thickens into a creamy white sauce. Add salt and pepper to taste and serve over catfish.

Tags: catfish fillets, high heat, blackened catfish, creamy white, creamy white sauce

Rainbow Activities

Create entertaining rainbow activities for children.

Rainbows are one of the most magical sights in nature. When teaching your class or children at home about rainbows, prepare some hands-on activities about the beautiful arch of colors. Games and crafts give children an entertaining way to learn about rainbows, as well as give them a chance to show off their creative sides. A few supplies and some ideas are all you need to prepare rainbow activities.

Easy Crafts

Children can use a variety of items to make rainbows on paper. For example, help children tape six or seven crayons together and show them draw a rainbow on a sheet of paper in one swipe. They can use colored circle cereal, such as Fruit Loops, to make a rainbow on a sheet of paper by gluing a line of each color in an arch. Other items the children can use to glue on sheets of paper to create a rainbow include buttons, colored candies, beads and sequins. For a messy craft, the children can dip their fingers in four different colors of paint and make a rainbow arch on a sheet of paper.

Rainbow Circle Games

Try an easy circle game by taping colored chenille stems side-by-side in an arch to make a rainbow. Have the children pass the chenille stem rainbow around the circle while music plays. When the music stops, the player holding the rainbow is out of the game. Keep playing until only one player remains in the game. That player wins the game. You can also print pictures of rainbows and write a number on each rainbow. Place the rainbows on the floor and have each child stand on a rainbow. Call out a number and the child standing on the rainbow wins the game.

Edible Crafts

For children at home, allow them to help you make a large gelatin rainbow using a cake bundt pan. Mix one package of gelatin and pour it into the pan. Place in the refrigerator to until the gelatin sets. After each layer is set, add another layer of gelatin. After the pan is full, you will have a large rainbow gelatin mold. You can also do this with small cups to create individual servings for children in a classroom.

Other Activities

Create an indoor rainbow using a glass pan filled with water. Place a mirror in the water and lean it against the edge of the pan. Turn off all the lights and shine a flashlight on the mirror. Keep adjusting the flashlight until a rainbow forms on the ceiling or wall. For added fun, have children use a sheet of paper to write down the correct colors and orders of colors in a rainbow.

Tags: sheet paper, make rainbow, about rainbows, children home, rainbow sheet

Size For Cycling Leg Warmers

Cycling leg warmers are convenient for cycling in cold weather.

Cycling leg warmers are worn during cold or chilly weather conditions to help keep the legs warm while riding a bike. Whether you need to replace your current leg warmers or want to purchase your first pair, selecting the correct size will prevent slipping or buying leg warmers that are too tight. The warmers are designed to fit snugly, but they should not be uncomfortably tight.

Instructions

1. Measure body height. Measure height in inches and obtain the total body height in either inches or feet and inches. Many leg warmer sizes are partly determined by the total height of the body.

2. Measure around the thickest part of the thigh. The circumference of the thigh is the key measurement for many cycling leg warmer companies.

3. Measure the inseam of the leg. The inseam is the inner leg from the joint to the ankle, where a pair of pants would have a seam.

4. Step on a scale and get body weight measurements in pounds. While most sizing charts are determined by only the measurements, some also use weight measurements. This is only necessary if the sizing chart has a weight measurement range.

5. Match up your measurements with the sizing chart from the company you want to purchase from. The sizing chart will list a range for leg circumference, which usually starts around 18 inches, a measurement for an inseam and a measurement for height. Some will also have weight measurements on the chart. Sizing charts differ for each company.

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Freeze Soup With Whipping Cream In It

Cream changes consistency during the freezing process

Some foods freeze better than others and all types of cream, including whipping cream, do not fare well inside a freezer, according to the United States Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service. USDA recommends rapid freezing over slow freezing.

Effects

Cream and mayonnaise are "emulsions" of oil and water. Ice crystals that form during freezing dissolve these emulsions during thawing. As a result, the defrosted soup can look unappealing because the cream tends to separate or even appear to curdle.

Solution

If the soup separates after freezing, simply blend again or whisk vigorously. Alternatively, if you want to use cream as a thickener, freeze the soup without cream and add it at the end when you reheat.

Benefits

Freezing cream-based soups is convenient, particularly when you make a large quantity. The trade-off is the possible loss of quality and texture but it is important to remember that there are no health dangers, even if the soup appears unappetizing.

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Store Split Midget Red Wax Cheese

Wax cheese is delicious when stored correctly.

Wax cheese is a delicious and healthy treat for anyone who loves eating cheese. The wax acts as a protective wrap for the cheese, and if stored correctly, wax cheese can last up to 25 years. Proper storage of wax cheese is just as important to keeping the cheese fresh as coating it with wax in the first place, since incorrect storage can lead to moldy, ruined cheese. Don't worry---properly storing wax cheese is quick and easy to do.

Instructions

1. Cut the cheese into bite-size segments. Leave the wax on the cheese, as it will enhance the longevity of the cheese. You do not have to cut overly large chunks or slices for storage, since you would then have to cut the cheese again before eating it.

2. Take one section of the cheese and wrap it tightly in plastic wrap. The plastic wrap will prevent oxygen from reaching the cheese. Exposure to air can cause cheese to go moldy. Wrap all the slices or piece of cheese you wish to store.

3. Write the date of purchase on the plastic wrap with a permanent marker. Although the cheese should keep for a long time, it is always a good idea to write the date of purchase on any food item you put into storage. Write the date on all of your individually wrapped packages.

4. Wrap a rubber band around the plastic-wrapped cheese. The plastic wrap in and of itself should be enough protection for the cheese; however, adding the rubber band gives the packages extra protection. You want to prevent any air from getting to the cheese while it is in storage, so wrapping it as tightly as possible is ideal.

5. Place all of your wrapped cheese inside a refrigerator or area that is cooler than room temperature. It is usually okay to store cheese in a cellar, where the temperature is generally cooler than in the rest of the house.

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