May 29th, 2007
Since the beginning of time, man has been finessing his cooking skills by using the heat of a direct flame. These days the modern form of the barbecue is to add some sauce, baste the meat and slow cook it for around 5-6 hours at a low temperature of approx. 200 degrees using wood or charcoal beads.
These days when you head out to a barbie with friends, you automatically think of a big juicy steak or a mustard covered hot dog. Irrespective of what attracts you to a barbecue, it remains a popular American tradition. Barbecues remain a strong part of the American social fabric and will continue to do so for many years to come.
And while there is no doubt that American’s love a barbecue there is some doubt as to where the barbecue actually originated. Many states including Texas, Virginia, the Carolinas and even Georgia all have their own definitions and even claims to some part of barbecue history.
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May 15th, 2007
Baby food is actually very simple to make. There are many baby food recipes out there that are easy to follow and can be done right in your home. You don’t need a lot of fancy ingredients. Some of the best baby food recipes out there call for only natural ingredients.
The first think you need to make baby food with is plenty of good water. This isn’t the water that comes out of your tap but it can be bought inexpensively at your local grocery store. The water has been cleaned and doesn’t have so many minerals as what you get out of the tap. It is safe to use in your baby food recipes.
The best baby food recipe is usually very simple. It requires a lot of mashing and mixing with water. This way you can make baby food that is very simple and without preservatives. Need some carrots? Just chop up in the blender, hit puree with some water and you’ve got the best baby food recipe. No additives, no sweeteners.
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May 9th, 2007
Chocolate peanut butter cookies are simply irresistible for lots of people. But getting the right recipe is crucial: if this kind of cookie is not perfectly made, the disappointment will be great! I have always found chocolate and peanut butter to be the best combination possible. Whether you are making peanut butter chocolate cookies, or eating chocolate peanut butter cups, there is just nothing like it. I literally cannot allow myself to have chocolate candies in my house. I can’t control myself around them.
I feel like the tastes balance each other out somehow. It only works if the peanut butter has some salt added to it. I have always loved to cook chocolate recipes, and chocolate peanut butter cookies are my favorite. To me, however, they do not work if they use the processed peanut butter. You have to get the all-natural kind that separates and needs to be stirred. Otherwise, the chocolate and peanut butter cookies will not turn out right. They will taste slimy and artificial. They will not stand up to the tastes of a true chocolate peanut butter connoisseur like myself.
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Tags: chocolate, peanut butter
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April 16th, 2007
Did you ever think about owning your own Gaggia espresso machine? I happen to own one of those cuties, and I can assure you that it makes waking up a lot more attractive. It looks a bit like Zen meditation: take your time to make that one (or two) perfect cup of delicious coffee. Followed by taking your time to taste and drink it up! Before sipping that next cup of coffee, you may want to ponder exactly what it is you’re drinking.
Oh but, coffee is just coffee, right? Not even close. There are all sorts of coffee beans, coming from all regions of the world. If you actually take the time to sample a few, you’ll definitely notice the difference. Since I had the privilege of living in four different states, and visiting plenty of others, I’ve learned a bit about java. There’s a method to the madness. And now I’ve come to the conclusion that acquiring my very own Gaggia espresso machine was a wise choice. When you make your own coffee, you make it right!
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Tags: coffee
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April 4th, 2007
Many people feel really embarrassed when they get the wine list from the waiter. It doesn’t look very sophisticated if you really don’t know anything about wines and you have to choose wines that fit with your different dishes. If you want to confuse and embarrass me, put a wine list in front of me and tell me to choose something to go with my meal.
I don’t know why, but I am completely clueless. I have tried to learn some thing about wine, and I have many friends who have tried to teach me what they know. For some reason, I just don’t get it, or perhaps I don’t care. I guess wine is okay, but I haven’t really developed a taste for it like so many other people I know. They can pick up a wine list and know exactly what they want.
I can’t even tell you the difference between the different types of wine on a wine list. There are different types and they are grown in different areas of the world. I don’t understand any of it. I even live near a very popular wine area, and I still can’t seem to grasp any of it. I have considered going to a wine tasting, but I have never gotten that far. I’m not sure why I am so worried about it, because I always know I can just pass the wine list off on one of my friends to make the choice for me.
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Tags: wine
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April 1st, 2007
Belgian chocolate is considered the best chocolate in the world, but in the United States the Hershey Chocolate bar is at the top. Of course you can not argue about taste and smell, and almost everyone has a different opinion about it. It may not be the most expensive chocolate in the world, but Hershey chocolate certainly hits the spot when I have a craving.
I guess who makes the best chocolate in the world can be something that can be debated do death, and there may never be a winner. Everyone wants something different when they want something sweet, and everyone has a different idea of what the best may be. You may find that if you have a chocolate craving, you may grab a Hershey bar. It remains the perfect snack, and perhaps one of the favorite chocolate bars of all times.
Hershey chocolate has become the standard in the United States, though there are many other types of chocolate that are found on the shelves right along with it. Perhaps the secret to Hershey’s success is the simple yet tasty recipe they use, as well as the wide varieties of different candy bars and treats they make. No matter what type of candy or bar you are looking for, chances are good that you will find it was made with Hershey chocolate.
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March 21st, 2007
Some people don’t need a recipe to cook, some people just choose to “wing it”, throwing ingredients together. Others lack confidence to make their own meals and prefer to follow a recipe book, unlike those that find it more spontaneous to just throw the fridge door open and see what they can throw together. Every day someone creates a new recipe, just by using the ingredients on hand. Sometimes if a recipe calls for an ingredient that’s not readily available, creative cooks will find an intriguing substitute.
The people that rely on recipes may just lack confidence in their cooking abilities, but that doesn’t mean that can’t be just as good of cooks as the inventive, creative chefs. Cooking is an art form, regardless of whether it is from a recipe or from the imagination of the person preparing the meal. Sometimes, it’s helpful to follow a recipe, especially in the instance of a special meal that has a characteristic flavor. For example, if you wanted to prepare an Argentinean meal, you need to follow a recipe. Otherwise, you are going to cook something — but chances are it won’t be an original Argentinean meal, with the unique Argentinean flavor.
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March 14th, 2007
Did you ever try Dunkin donuts coffee? I hope not, it was probably not one of those moments that you experienced true happiness. Making good coffee is not easy, and making damn good coffee is extraordinary difficult and requires some talent and taste… The American diet. When you hear those three little words, what comes to mind? For me it’s fast food for lunch, because everyone is in a big rush and convenience is all that matters.
For dinner it’s take-out from the Chinese place down the street or maybe a pizza from Domino’s. Oh, and then there’s breakfast. This consists of a jelly-filled Bizmark and an extra large cup of Dunkin Donuts coffee. Does that all sound about right to you? Wow; that’s a lot of fat! Certainly more than anyone’s daily recommended allowance. We Americans really have to do something about all the foul things we consume. It’s killing us!
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Tags: coffee
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March 4th, 2007
If you ever eaten food in a Mexican restaurant or home, there were possibly some authentic Mexican cooking utensils. Maybe you notices pottery that was used to make the dishes. Mexicans use a variety of different cooking methods. This includes slow roasting, deep-frying, baking, and they have unique pots and pans for these methods. Mexicans like to use a lot of fresh produce in their cooking, They can use herbs and spices and you will find sharp knives and a mortar and pestle in every Mexican kitchen.
The Traditional Mexican Cooking Pots called Ollas, also known as Barros, are deep clay cooking pots. They are perfect for simmering beans, stew or soup, and clay is a great form of cookware because it distributes heat evenly and avoids burn spots. Barro means clay or mud and olla means pot. These cooking pots are durable enough to put over a direct flame all day long. You do need to warm clay before using it because it can crack. So exposing it to a high heat is not recommended. If you are going to be baking, let the pot warm up the same way as the oven. Your Mexican dishes will tend to have a subtle earthly taste when you cook in a clay pot.
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March 1st, 2007
If you can relate with your fellow Americans, knowledge of Mexican cheese might not be too common. Since you only have been exposed to the simple cheeses in Mexican dishes like cheddar or Monterey Jack in the occasional burrito or taco. These cheeses can be a good match for some Mexican recipes, at least in their Americanized form. However there are a lot of Mexican cheeses out there. You should definitely consider adding to your personal Mexican recipes.
Mexico has its own way of traditionally making cheese with many varieties to try. Fortunately for the cooks or chefs out there, Mexican cheese is becoming more widely available. This is the part of Mexico’s culinary tradition accessible to Americans interested in trying their hand at this exciting cuisine. Cheese also known as queso as it is said in Spanish, came to the New World along with the conquistadors. European colonists brought cows and goats that produce dairy products and thus began being produced in the country. There are now a wide variety of different Mexican cheeses that all have it’s unique flavor and character. You can find these cheeses used in many varieties of authentic Mexican recipes, that showcase them with other ingredients complementing their flavors and textures perfectly.
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