Food, Cooking, Recipes

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.
(more…)

African food is conquering America! More and more of my friends and colleagues are starting to get interested in African cuisine. You see African restaurants popping up in the streets. What’s going on and what is so specific about African food? As Kwanzaa approaches, African cuisine deserves some kudos on the cuisine scene. African food is a rich melange of dishes, with regional takes on seasonings and preparation methods.

Traditional foods combined in exotic ways reflect both native and foreign influences, accumulated and integrated over hundreds of years. If you haven’t explored the world of African cuisine, you’re in for a treat. A taste of this regionally diverse and rich cuisine may be just around the corner, in a family restaurant near you. If you’re not so lucky, there are a number of fabulous cookbooks available.
(more…)

Balsamic Vinegar is the heart of Italian cooking. If you are really crazy about home Italian cooking, the way the “mama’s” cook, then balsamic vinegar is one of the most used ingredients! Not well known in America before the 1980’s, balsamic vinegar is now a cook’s revered possession, falling almost into celebrity status as a condiment.

There are dozens of products you may find at the supermarket claiming the name. The subject of balsamic vinegar is somewhat of a mystery to the average cook. Let’s look at what the experts have to say and how you might make use of this magical liquid in your kitchen.

Balsamic vinegar has been produced in Italy since the middle ages. Today there are several “true” balsamic vinegars of the highest quality, some selling for as much as $400 for a tiny bottle. So why do you see products labeled balsamic vinegar at the grocery store for as little as $5 for a 12-ounce bottle?
(more…)

I can imagine beef jerky is not a very exciting topic. Nevertheless it comes quite handy from time to time, especially with my new training program and diet habits… I was raised by a health nut and was somehow able to escape the obsession myself.

As I got older, I found that I was starting to fall in line with the health conscious attitudes that I swore off in my youth. Mostly I have become fixated on getting lots of protein every day. I have a big appetite and a slow metabolism so I need to eat foods that fill me up without making me balloon out.

I have spent a ridiculous amount of money on protein mixes, shakes and bars but I have not found anything that I can stick with for a long period of time. I have gone through many periods in which I would drink a slim fast high protein shake for breakfast every day. This got boring pretty quickly.
(more…)

Are you looking for a big hit in an open house party? Don’t make it complicated and please all the visitors with a real simple delicious treat. Last week I was helping my sister-in-law prepare for her son’s graduation party. The party was going to be an open house from 3:00pm to 9:00pm on the Saturday after graduation. We were preparing the food the day before. She had potatoes and eggs boiled for a potato salad. She asked me if I would make the potato salad while she made several other side dishes.

I started peeling the 10 pounds of potatoes that she had cooked. After an hour of working on the salad I had peeled and diced the potatoes and had peeled the eggs. As I started chopping the eggs I mentioned to my sister-in-law that it was taking me forever to make the salad. She laughed and said that was why she did not want to make it. Once I had the eggs chopped I still had to dice onions and celery, as well as make the dressing. By the time the salad was done two hours had passed. Just as I was finishing the salad my brother-in-law arrived home. His first comment was that there was not going to be enough potato salad.
(more…)

Are you looking for a great steak with taste and flavor? There are as many different tastes as there are people around, that’s for sure, but one thing is undisputed… There is nothing better than an Omaha steak, with all of the traditional sides and fixings. If you have never had the pleasure of experiencing the savory flavor and texture of an Omaha steak, then you have never had a truly exquisite piece of meat.

Omaha steak comes from Midwestern beef cattle from in and around the Omaha area, that are grain fed, processed, packaged, and transported all around the United States and internationally. Beef from the Midwest is truly the best when compared to beef from other parts of the country. It is tender and full of flavor all on it’s own, in fact, the use of steak sauce or other seasonings should be kept to a minimum so that the awesome flavor of the meat isn’t masked. Omaha steak can be used in many mouth watering recipes; it can be paired with seafood, pasta, salad, potatoes, or most any other side dish.
(more…)

When I think about picnics, I always remember sunny summer days with uncle Jeff and aunt Jessie at the river side… But when was the last time you and the family took some quality time? You know, like an afternoon of complete solitude and relaxation. Just you, your spouse and the rug-rats enjoying a day in the sun. That’s right; I’m talking about a picnic. Come on folks, it’s picnic season.

Check out that gorgeous sky and that gentle breeze. Wouldn’t it be perfect to lounge on a blanket in the park, just like they did back in the day? There is certainly something to say about the past trends. They don’t call them the good old days for nothing. Whether you prefer a soft blanket or a picnic table, that work-free day is sure to be a blessing. Now, do you have all the right picnic supplies? It’s all great to have the ideal location mapped out, but without the proper picnic supplies, you’re doomed.
(more…)