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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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 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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February 25th, 2007
Hot pepper sauce is not for everyone. But if you into this fascinating style of cooking, you can discover hundreds of different tastes and styles with hot pepper sauces… Spicy food is something you either love or hate.
If you’ve grown up with boring bland cooking, you probably still like boring bland cooking. But if you are like me, you know that a little bit of a kick makes the meal. That is why it is so important to select the right hot pepper sauce.
If you’re not familiar with Cajun cooking, Indian cuisine, or any of the other styles of food that rely heavily on hot pepper sauce, you’d be surprised by how much effort people put into getting just the right flavor with just the right kick. From Tabasco pepper sauce through powdered cayenne pepper and beyond, there are hundreds of thousands of flavors available. There are even whole brands that make nothing but hot pepper sauce. But my favorite thing of all is the hot pepper sauce Festival.
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Tags: sauce
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February 18th, 2007
Hot chocolate has always been the favorite hot drink when you come home out of the cold, humid weather outside. I still remember the evenings that I visited my grandmother and I was treated with a nice hot cup of coco… Imagine a cold winter evening. You’ve been at the hill sledding with your children all day or out on the slopes with your friends.
The fire is stoked, there’s some holiday music coming from the stereo, and the room is full of good cheer. The topper to this perfect evening? The person you’ve had your eye on comes and brings you a steaming mug of hot chocolate.
Hot chocolate is often connected to good memories. It makes us feel warm and cozy and safe. It plays a big part in some of our pasts. But the hot chocolate of yesterday is not necessarily the same hot beverage we drink today. Today, chocolate beverages come in a wide variety of flavors. You can find an array of gourmet selections to choose from that can add a special touch to any evening.
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February 14th, 2007
Did you have the chance as a kid to enjoy some really old-fashioned chicken dinner? Pity if you didn’t, because these chicken dinner will stay in my memory until my last days… It’s probably a strange thing to say, but when I went to my dad’s for the weekend, long before I went to live with him, one of the first things we got was a chicken dinner.
I don’t know what it was about this dinner, but it was always so good, and we could not wait until the next time we could have one. The restaurant that made them is long gone, and that is a huge shame. It was by far one of the best meals I had as a kid, and I could always count on it being the same each time I ordered it.
The chicken dinner we had came with two pieces of chicken, a bun, coleslaw (that we never ate) and a small portion of macaroni and cheese. My brother and I always asked for it the moment we came to Dad’s house, and many times he had already ordered it by the time we got there. He loved the chicken dinner as much as we did, and he waited until we were there for the weekend before he would get it for himself.
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February 8th, 2007
Southern recipes are quite different from what is considered the standard American food. For many people, especially tourists and foreigners, the first time they get some real southern meal, comes as a complete surprise. Of course you shouldn’t wonder about this if you look at the history of the southern part of the USA : French, African, Spanish, Caribbean influences…
The South is known for its hospitality when it comes to food. Different regions and cultures have their own Southern recipes, reflecting the traditions of Native Americans and ideas brought from Africa, France and the Caribbean. It all makes for a tasty melting pot of dishes. It’s not always the healthiest of cuisine but there are plenty fish and vegetable elements for people concerned with healthy living.
Many Southern households wake up to the aroma of Country Ham with Red -Eye Gravy served for breakfast. This is usually cooked along with grits, biscuits and eggs. Dinner may be chicken and rice, cooked in the Spanish way, with hot pepper sauce, paprika and saffron.
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January 14th, 2007
A good chocolate cake recipe can save your marriage. That’s what I heard once on a talk-show. I don’t know if that is a bit exaggerated, but nevertheless… having a good chocolate cake recipe is certainly a bonus for cheering up the bad days.
This weekend was the beginning of the deer hunting season. Each year my husband and his brothers and their son’s get together and go deer hunting. They meet in a small cabin on a lake that two to of the brothers own. This cabin is located next to state land that is opened to hunting.
Each year they plan the same menu. The first night they have a fish fry, the second evening they grill steaks and the third evening they have spare ribs and sauerkraut. They also have chili and soup for lunch, and for breakfast they have boiled eggs and toast.
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Tags: chocolate
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