Recipe For Newbies

I used to love to just throw food together. Part of it was laziness, but another part of it was just the joy in experimenting. I would never use cooking recipes at all – not if I could help it. I had dozens of cookbooks, but I never consulted the cookbook recipes. Most of them I inherited from friends who were moving in and out of town, which made it easy to amass quite a collection. I didn't want to get rid of them, but I saw very little need for them. After all, my cooking was pretty good.

Then one day, one of my friends – a serious gourmet – came over. He made the most delicious dish. It was an Italian dish – calzones I think – and it was one of the best things I had ever had. I asked how he came up with it, and to his my surprise he told me he had just follow the cookbook recipe.

At first, I was a little bit surprised. I knew that he was someone who love to experiment on his own, and it wasn't  like him to use cookbook recipes. I asked him about it, and he told me about how much he had grown as a cook. Since he started using a recipe cookbook, he had gotten more compliments on his meals than ever before. He had been eating healthier, and his meals had been much more delicious than they used to be. Hearing all this, I couldn't help but admit that cookbook recipes made some sense.

I am not very good at following directions, so I started my recipe cooking pretty simple. I did a lot of rice dishes, crockpot dishes, and simple baking. Just learning to set the temperature like they say, add just enough salt, the right proportion of water, and the right spices was novel for me. When I was ready, however, I got into some more advanced, difficult cookbook recipes. I had always wanted to try cooking Thai food, so I figured it was my chance to begin. It didn't turn out so well the first time I tried it, but I persevered.

Soon, I had a recipe book of my own. It was compiled of some of my favorite cook book recipes, many of them altered with slight variations to fit my tastes. I can't say that I am quite as creative at cooking as I used to be, but I certainly cook much better food. Some of it is completely to die for.

Hearty beef pot pie is a great meal to serve on a cold day or any time you want something that really sticks to your ribs. You can add extra zing to this recipe by adding 1 large chopped onion and mix in 1/3 cup of red wine with the gravy.

1 pound sirloin steak, cubed
Salt and pepper to taste
1 (14 oz.) can beef broth
3 large carrots, cubed
1 cup frozen green peas, thawed
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1/3 cup water
2 (9-inch) refrigerator pie crusts

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a saucepan over medium high heat, brown the pieces of meat on all sides. Pour in enough water to almost cover the meat. Bring to a boil and reduce heat. Simmer meat until it falls apart easily (about 2 to 3 hours). Place meat in a large bowl. Slightly shred the meat and season with salt and pepper to taste.

In a 2-quart saucepan, combine the beef broth, carrots and potatoes. Cook over medium high heat until almost tender (about 15 to 20 minutes).

When the carrots and potatoes are done, transfer to a large mixing bowl and combine with the beef. Reserve the liquid in the saucepan. Mix the peas in with the vegetables and beef.

Dissolve the cornstarch in 1/3 cup of water and pour this into the reserved beef broth. Bring to a simmer while stirring constantly; reduce heat. Cook for 5 minutes.

Line a 9-inch pie plate with one of the pie shells following package directions. Spoon the beef mixture into the pie crust. Pour the gravy on top. Cover with remaining pie crust.

Bake for 25 minutes, or until crust is golden brown. Let cool for 5 minutes before serving.

Hamburger Pie

=> Hamburger Pie Recipe: All American Hamburger Pie

This recipe is an American favorite. We love hamburgers, so making a pie out of our favorite meat sandwich is a winning idea. To give this recipe a richer flavor, you can substitute 1 can of mushroom soup for 1 can of tomato soup.

4 potatoes
1 pound lean ground beef
1 onion, chopped
2 (10.75 oz.) cans condensed tomato soup
1 (15 oz.) can green beans, drained
1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Peel and quarter the potatoes and put into boiling water; cook for 15 minutes, or until tender. Drain and mash. Set aside.

In a large skillet, cook ground beef and onion over medium high heat until the beef is brown; drain. Stir in the tomato soup and green beans.

Pour mixture into a 9x13-inch baking dish. Mound the mashed potatoes around the meat mixture (do not cover meat). Sprinkle cheese on top of the potatoes.

Bake for 30 minutes, or until potatoes are golden.

Beef Pot Pie

=> Cheeseburger Pie Recipe: Easy Cheeseburger Pie

Cheeseburger, cheeseburger, cheeseburger! Need I say more?

1 pound ground beef
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tomato, sliced
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup buttermilk baking mix
1 cup milk
2 eggs

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease a 10-inch deep dish pie plate.

In a large skillet, cook beef, onion and garlic over medium heat until beef is brown; drain. Spread beef mixture into the pie plate.

Sprinkle beef with salt, pepper and oregano. Arrange tomato slices on top of meat. Sprinkle cheese on top.

In a small bowl, combine together the baking mix, milk and eggs. Pour over cheese.

Bake for 25 minutes, or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before serving.


=> Hamburger Pie Recipe: Corn Bread Hamburger Pie

This is a nice variation on the basic hamburger pie recipe. The cornbread mix adds a nice sweetness and blends very well with the other ingredients. For an extra treat, add 1 can of creamed corn to the cornbread mix.

1 pound ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped
1 medium green pepper, chopped
1 (10.75 oz.) can condensed tomato soup, undiluted
1/4 cup salsa
2 tablespoons ketchup
1 tablespoon steak sauce
1 (8.5 oz.) package corn bread/muffin mix
Minced fresh parsley (optional)

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

In a large oven proof skillet, cook the beef, onion and green pepper over medium high heat until meat is brown; drain. Stir in the soup, salsa, ketchup and steak sauce.

Prepare the cornbread batter according to package directions; let stand for 2 minutes. Spoon batter over beef mixture. Bake for 15 minutes or until corn bread is lightly browned. Garnish with parsley.

Over the years, humans have strived for a method of preserving meat that also retained the flavor. This was achieved with Beef Jerky, which is meat cut into strips with the fat removed. The next step is to marinate the meat in a salty, spicy or sweet liquid and then it is dried. The drying can be done artificially or by sun drying. The usual meat used for Beef Jerky recipes is brisket or round or flank steak. The meat does not have to be refrigerated.

Jerky is normally made from beef but alternatives can include turkey, alligator, ostrich, moose, caribou, elk meat and venison. Fish too can be used, such as tuna or salmon. The smoking or salting preservative methods keep the nutritional value of the food and Beef Jerky recipes are popular with people who are traveling or camping, as they are slow to perish. Commercially produced jerky can be stored for up to a year and home made can be kept for one to two months. The dishes are most commonly found in the USA, Canada and Europe.

Beef Jerky

The marinade used makes all the difference to the meat and keen cooks can experiment with their own recipes or buy ready made products. Seasonings are important too and often include cayenne pepper, cheese powder or white pepper. One of the classic Beef Jerky recipes includes a marinade with brown sugar, seasoning, Teriyaki Sauce and garlic. Other popular flavors are onion powder, Worcestershire Sauce, soy sauce, dark corn syrup, molasses or liquid smoke.

There are regional variations to jerky and some are more spicy than others. Chinese Beef Jerky uses typical Chinese ingredients of dry sherry, honey, ginger, red pepper, soy sauce and white pepper. Blue Ribbon Beef Jerky is a simple blending of soy sauce and Chinese 5-Spice Powder. There is a whisky jerky recipe with a cup of Jack Daniels, ketchup, onion, chili powder, lime juice, apple cider vinegar, thyme and sage. Wisconsin Beef Jerky uses onion powder, sea salt, ground black pepper corns, soy sauce, Worcestershire Sauce and liquid smoke.

Any taste can be easily accommodated in Beef Jerky recipes. An Indian flavor is attained with ready made curry powder or by blending coriander, turmeric and ground cumin together. These ingredients are then mixed with chili powder and ginger. Cajun cooking can also be applied to jerky with the addition of Tabasco or Louisiana Hot Sauce. Jerky is there for all to enjoy!

Nothing can be quite as delicious and satisfying as a great diet shake, especially in the hot weather months that we are now “enjoying.”  Whether you choose to go to the mall and visit a nutritional supplement shop, so you can add supplements to your diet shake recipes or whether you prefer your diet shake recipes to contain just what you can get at the farm stand or grocery store; there are a million diet shake recipes out there.  It can also be quite fun to experiment with your diet shake recipes and add your own personal touches to your delicious creations.

One of my favorite ingredients to add to any smoothie or diet shake recipes is low-fat yogurt.  No mater whether you are making a water-based (ice) shake or a dairy-based (2 % milk) diet shake recipe, a little container of yogurt can add a lot.  Yogurt adds a nice creamy consistency to your diet shake recipes, and I wholeheartedly recommend that you try it in your favorite smoothie recipe the first chance you get.

Here are five tried-and-true diet shake recipes.  Give them a whirl in your blender:

Strawberry-Orange-Banana Diet Shake Recipes
•    Some orange juice – about 2 cups or so
•    Some sliced bananas – 1 or 2
•    Some strawberries -- a cup or so
•    Some ice – about a cup
•    A container of strawberry-banana low fat yogurt

Mandarin-Mango Diet Shake Recipes
•    Some mandarin orange pieces – 2 cans or so
•    Some cut up mangoes – 2 mangos is about right
•    Some ice – about a cup
•    Protein supplements from the nutrition store—follow the label directions
•    A container of mango-flavored low fat yogurt


Berry Berry Special Diet Shake Recipes
•    Some cranberry juice – about ½ a cup
•    Some apple juice -- about ½ a cup
•    Some strawberries
•    Some blueberries
•    Some raspberries
•    A banana
•    A container of strawberry or blueberry low fat yogurt


Banana-Chocolate-Vanilla Diet Shake Recipes
•    A cut up frozen banana
•    A teaspoon of vanilla
•    A cup of skim milk
•    A teaspoonful of Splenda
•    A teaspoonful of cocoa powder
•    A container of low fat yogurt—plain or vanilla

Coffee-Mocha Diet Shake Recipes
•    One teaspoon instant coffee
•    One teaspoon cocoa powder
•    One teaspoon of Splenda
•    Ice
•    A container of vanilla or plain low fat yogurt
•    A powder protein supplement if you like

Regardless of which of the diet shake recipes you are making, the procedure is the same.  Just pop all the ingredients into your blender and turn it on.  Run the blender until the shake is the desired consistency, pour into a beautiful glass, and enjoy your homemade, healthy, nutrient-dense, diet shake recipes. Not only will it help with your weight loss; it taste delicious.

Now that you’ve started using your crock pot slow cooker regularly, you’re probably wondering how you can adapt your traditional recipes to use in a crock pot. The ease of preparing a meal with a slow cooker has literally changed the lives of busy families. With the help of their slow cookers, families are eating healthier and consuming less greasy fast-food.

Here are some hints for adapting your favorite traditional recipes for crock pot cooking.

1.) Add vegetables like peas and broccoli to your recipe in the last 15 – 60 minutes. If you’re using frozen vegetables, remember to add them to your crock pot recipe during the last 30 minutes.

2.) Make sure to soak your dried beans so that they are completely softened before adding them to your recipe. If your recipe includes tomatoes, salt, or sugar, then your beans should definitely be soaked before cooking.

3.) If your recipe calls for pasta, any kind of seafood, milk or other dairy products, then only add them during the last 60 minutes of cooking, and cook pasta to just a bit tender before adding them to the cooker. Condensed cream soups are good alternatives to dairy products because they can withstand longer cooking times.

4.) When cooking a recipe with rice, add an extra ¼ cup liquid for every ¼ cup of rice.

5.) Always remember to reduce the liquid in your recipe by ½ when you’re using a traditional recipe in your crock pot.

6.) A good idea for cooking stews and soups that call for vegetables is to put the veggies on the bottom and sides of the slow cooker and then place your meat on top.

Traditional Recipe to Slow Cooker Use:

15-30min traditional = 1.5–2hrs High or 4-6hrs Low in Crock pot

35-45min traditional = 3-4hrs High or 6-10hrs Low in Crock pot

50min-3hrs traditional = 4-6hrs High or 8-18hrs Low in Crock pot

If you’re like most families, your slow cooker supplies lots of food per meal, so you’ll very likely have leftovers. Always remember to never reheat your leftovers in the crock pot. One of the additional rewards of slow cooking is the ability to make lots of food and freeze for future meals. Happy slow cooking!

For many people, making healthy recipes seems too difficult and time consuming...

But with some advance planning and some basic knowledge of nutrition, it is easy to create a week's worth of healthy meals that you and your family will love. The key to creating delicious and healthy meals for the family is planning ...and lot's of it!

Planning ahead of time an entire week of healthy recipe meals is the best way to create dishes you can be proud of, while keeping cost and time commitment to a minimum.  So below are amazing tips you can use to make healthy meals all the time.

<b>Healthy Recipe Tip #1:</b>

Using convenient appliances such as slow cookers and microwaves can be a huge time saver when planning and preparing meals.  There are many delicious and healthy recipes that can be started in the morning and left to cook all day in a crock pot or slow cooker.  These are great choices for working families.

In addition, making the meals ahead of time on the weekend and heating them in the microwave is a great way to stretch both your food and your time.  There are many microwavable healthy meals you can make at home, and single serving microwave safe containers allow every member of the family to eat on their own schedule.

When planning the meals for the week, it is a good idea to create a chart listing each day's menu and each days' schedule. Here's a smart tip...plan the quickest and easiest to prepare meals for the busiest days of the week.

<b>Healthy Recipe Tip #2:</b>

Get your family involved in creating the week's meal plan by asking for their input and noting everyone's favorite foods. It is still very important to eat healthy meals, so that (of course) does not mean eating pizza every night or having ice cream for dinner.  But involving your spouse and children in healthy recipe planning, you'll help to increase their interest in healthy eating right away.

It is also a good idea to get your entire family involved in the preparation of the meals.  Even children too young to cook can help out by setting out the dishes, chopping vegetables, clearing the table and washing the dishes.

Healthy Recipe Tip #3:

Cooking large quantities of healthy food recipes - and freezing the leftovers - is a easy way to save time.  Cooking large amounts of stews, soups, pasta, chili and casseroles can be a huge time saver.  Making double and even triple batches of these staple foods, and freezing the leftovers for later use, is a great way to save both time and money.

When freezing leftovers, however, it is important to label the containers carefully, using freezer tape and a permanent marker.  Try to keep the oldest foods near the top to avoid having to throw away expired items.

Stocking up on meats when they are on sale is another great way to use that valuable freezer space.  Stocking up on such easily frozen foods as chicken, turkey, ground beef, steaks, roasts and chops is a great way to make your food dollar stretch as far as possible while still allowing you and your family to enjoy delicious healthy meals every day.

Healthy Recipe Tip #4:

Keeping a well stocked pantry is as important as keeping a well stocked freezer.  Stocking the pantry with a good supply of staple items like canned vegetables, canned fruits, soup stocks and the like will make healthy recipe preparation much faster and easier.

Stocking the pantry can save you money as well as time.  Grocery stores are always running sales, and these sales are a great time to stock up.  Buying several cases of canned vegetables when they are on sale, for instance can save lots of money and provide the basic ingredients for many nutritious, easy to prepare meals.

Examples of great staples to stock up on include whole grain cereals, pastas, tomato sauce, baked beans, canned salmon, tuna and whole grain breads.  It is easy to combine these staples into many great meals on a moment's notice.
healthy recipe

I hope you found these <i>healthy recipe</i> tips easy as pie!

Juice fasting is gaining popularity as a great way to detoxify. Many people are interested in getting toxins out of their system so they can live a healthier life. When toxins accumulate in the body, they feel sluggish and also have a poor immune system. Juice fasting, as a cleansing method, can help to people to achieve better health and more energy. It is quite easy to do as fruits are readily obtainable and all that is required additionally is a juicer.

For a beginner to juice fasting, it is important to start out slow and to try it out for one day. By juice fasting, you are limiting your intake to juices only. Fruit juice is high in sugar, so if you are a diabetic or otherwise in need of monitoring your sugar intake you should be cautious of trying a juice fast with fruit juices. Anyone just starting out with fasting should always speak with their doctor first. Also, do not juice fast for prolonged periods like more than 3 days, not unless your doctor agrees that it is safe for you to do so.

The following are sample recipes that can help give you an idea of combinations of fruits and vegetables to use together:

Juice Fasting

Recipe 1: Vegetable Juice Combo
2 Swiss chard leaves
1/2 beetroot
2 or 3 sprigs of watercress
3 carrots
1 celery stalk
Wash with filtered or distilled water, cut and put in juicer.

Recipe 2: Carrot-Apple Juice
2-3 Green Apples
1 carrot
Fresh basil leaves
Wash with filtered or distilled water, cut and put in juicer.

Recipe 3: Carrot-Vegetable Juice
A handful of dandelion leaves
1 kale leaf
4 carrots
Fresh mint, basil or coriander leaves
Wash with filtered or distilled water, cut and put in juicer.

Recipe 4: Peach Juice
2 or 3 peaches
Wash with filtered or distilled water, cut and put in juicer.

There are many different types of juice fasts. Some diets call for fruit juices while others used less sugary vegetable juices. You can always come up with your own unique combination of fruit and vegetable juice diet recipes.

Summer is coming and so is the hot weather. Nobody likes to cook in the heat of summer. A really hot meal on a hot day is almost as unpopular. It could be that a cool, easy to prepare summer soup is just what you need.

Below are 3 recipes for soups that can be made in your food processor or blender. If you have the ingredients on hand, none of them take more than 10 minutes to make. They are all delicious, nutritious, and really refreshing on a hot day. While the recipes all suggest you use a food processor, you can get very good results by using a blender or hand blender too.

These are all very simple recipes, so don't be shy to modify them and get a taste that your whole family can enjoy.

Here are the recipes.

Cool Summer Soup Recipes

Summer Vegetarian soup
This is great tasting soup with a touch of Italy included. It is super easy to make and very healthy. It is particularly good on a hot summer day

an avocado - skin and pit removed of course
4 Roma tomatoes - they may not be quite juicy enough (see below)
Basil to taste (Thai basil is really good in this)
4 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil

Process
How easy is this soup? Simply throw everything into your food processor and mix until it is smooth. If you find that it is more like a smoothie than soup, simply add more liquid (or swap one of the Roma tomatoes for another more juicy variety). Pour into bowls, garnish as you wish (minced chives are nice) and enjoy.

Sensational Salsa & Black Bean

This soup is a very simple soup that takes just a few minutes to prepare. It can be served hot or cold, but always benefits from being heated.
Roughly 4 servings

INGREDIENTS:
2 normal sized cans of black beans (any brand is OK, but try for low salt)
1 1/2 cups soup stock (Just use chicken, beef, or vegetable bullion)
1 cup of your favorite salsa (chunky makes a heartier soup)
1 teaspoon cumin (best to use fresh ground in the soup and you can sprinkle seeds on top too)
1/4 cup of sour cream
1-2 green onions chopped fine

Process:
Put the beans, salsa, cumin, and soup stock into a food processor (a blender is OK too). Puree the mixture until it is creamy in texture. Pour the mixture into a mid-sized pot and heat on low-medium until it is completely hot. This allows the flavours to merge. If you are going to serve it cold, move it to the fridge to cool off till it is time to eat. To eat it hot, simply serve into bowls and garnish with the onions and some of the sour cream.

MANGO SOUP

Mangos are simply divine. They are great as a fruit, mixed into drinks, added to salads. They also make a really good cool summer soup which is explained below.

Ingredients:

1 large RIPE mango (it will be soft, no squishy, to touch)
2 cups chicken soup stock (make your own or use bullion if you must)
1 TBSP lemon grass (available in most Asian markets, it looks like long greenish reeds when you buy it)
1 TBSP ginger - Freshly chopped is best
Ground chili peppers to taste
1 cup yogurt (2% plain is best)
2 TBSP cilantro (chinese parsley) chopped fine

Process:
Chop mango and put in food processor. Mix briefly and then put in the ginger, lemon grass, chili and 1/2 cup of soup stock. Mix again till everything becomes very smooth. Move the soup into another bowl (be sure it is large enough) and mix in first the rest of the stock, and then the yogurt. This is best served cold, so put in fridge till you are ready to eat. Then put into bowls and serve with the cilantro as the garnish.

As the temperature starts to go up give these soups a try. They are all very simple and will add a new delicious and healthy dimension to your summer diet.

Whether you are a seasoned chef or someone who has never put together an edible meal, consider expanding your knowledge of cooking by adding vegetarian recipes. Chefs of great restaurants and moms of hungry families will enjoy having more meals to cook, and the customers and children who eat the food will be happy as well.

Exploring vegetarian recipes is great simply to spice up the kitchen with something new. No cook likes to get bored by preparing the same meals over and over. It is always fun to try new ingredients or methods of making the foods you love and it can be just as fun to experiment with vegetarian recipes you have never tried before.

Great vegetarian recipes can be found in many locations. Search online, in cookbooks, or at local health food stores for ideas. If you have friends that have been cooking great dishes try swapping vegetarian recipes with them. Sometimes restaurants will even share vegetarian recipes with their customers for little or no charge.

Stopping into a local health food store is a great way to obtain all of the ingredients and spices you will need to begin cooking vegetarian recipes to perfection. Workers at these stores are often knowledgable resources that you can utilize and learn from.

Auntum Vegetarian Food

Incorporating vegetarian recipes into any diet will bring variety and give healthy eating options. Many studies suggest that switching at least some of your weekly diet to vegetarian recipes can be benefical to your health. Let your tastebuds enjoy new things that are good for your body. Vegetarian recipes will often include many of the vitamins, minerals, and sources of nutrition that every body needs. Instead of meat, vegetarian recipes are filled with healthy protein substitutes so that you do not miss out on things you need.

Take a look at your health and at the foods you've been eating. Including a few vegetarian recipes into your diet can quickly improve how you feel and can be part of an overall health plan that will improve your life. Since few things are as important as leading a healthy life, take your time in researching new ways to eat better. Vegetarian recipes are just one of many things that you can consider. And contrary to popular belief, vegetarian recipes are full of the taste and enjoyment of many other foods you eat. The biggest difference is that they are much better for you.

When you've had a long day, the last thing you need is to come home and spend an hour or more getting dinner to the table. Fortunately for us all, the casserole can step in from your freezer inventory and be ready in short order.

The casserole, as a meal-in-a-pot, has been around since ancient times. It was the French, in the 19th century, who gave us the name, casserole (cocotte) which identified the container rather than specific contents. In general, a casserole is any large, deep oven proof container in which the ingredients, usually vegetables, cooked meats and fish are mixed or layered, with a base of pasta or rice in a sauce. Today, known by a number of names, casserole recipes are found in nearly every cuisine around the world.

There are thousands of combinations to be made from such ingredients. Casserole recipes abound, online and in cookbooks. With a bit of practice, you can make your own recipes, using your favorite ingredients in combinations pleasing to your family. The contents take ingredients from nearly all the food groups and make a substantial, nutritious and satisfying meal. Served with a dinner salad and a chunk of bread, even a teen's voracious appetite and taste buds are made happy by the end of the meal.

Casserole

One major advantage of casserole recipes is that you can make most ahead of time. You can take them straight from the frig to the oven for a quick meal. If you double the recipe, one may be frozen for use up to three months later.

When you plan to freeze a casserole, line your dish with heavy foil of sufficient size to cover the top of the dish when cooked. Pop the casserole, dish and all, into the freezer. When frozen, lift the entire casserole from the dish and wrap it foil and all, in a sealable freezer bag. Your casserole dish is again ready for another task and you have a ready-to-go meal to fill in future menus.

The diversity of ingredients contained in casserole recipes is indeed a boon to the cook. Much like the omelette, ingredients can be pretty much what you'd like to combine. Casserole recipes are good candidates for substitutions of your choice. If you find a recipe featuring green beans, corn may do just as well. This versatility allows you to make good use of leftovers.

Many cooks believe that seasoning is the soul of any dish. Different seasonings can make the same ingredients a totally new taste experience. So don't hesitate to vary your seasonings.

The same is true of your sauce. Simple white sauces, gravy made of chicken or beef broths and thin sauces of orange juice, ginger and butter drizzled over rice, chicken and vegetables are just a few of the possibilities.

Make casserole recipes a first choice when filling out your menus. You'll gain variety, value and save time for future meals, all while satisfying your family's appetite.

If you need a classic apple pie recipe, then this is it. It’s easy and fun making homemade apple pie and this recipe is bound to be a favorite.

3/4 cup white sugar
2 tablespoons flour
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
6 tart apples, peeled, cored and sliced
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons whiskey or vanilla extract
2 (9-inch) unbaked pie crusts

Directions

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

Prepare pie crust and put bottom layer of crust into a 9-inch pie pan.

In a small bowl, mix together the sugar, flour, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg. Place sliced apples in a large bowl and sprinkle with the sugar mixture. Toss mixture until apples are completely coated. Spoon apples into the pie crust.

Dot the apples with butter or margarine and sprinkle the whiskey/vanilla on top. Put on the top layer pie crust and crimp closed. Make several slits in top of crust to vent.

Bake for 10 minutes. Lower oven temperature to 350 degrees and bake for another 40 minutes.

=> Homemade Apple Pie Recipe: Classic American Apple Pie
Americans love their apple pie and this is a great recipe for any occasion. It’s especially good served diner style - warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
1/3 cup white sugar
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/3 teaspoon ground cinnamon
7 1/2 cups apples, peeled, cored and sliced
1 cup raisins
2 (9-inch) unbaked pie crusts
1 egg

Directions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Spray a deep dish pie pan with cooking spray.

In a bowl, combine white sugar, light brown sugar, flour, lemon, cinnamon; mix well. Add the apples and raisins. Stir until well coated.

Spoon apple mixture into the pie crust. Place second layer of crust on top of filling. Seal the edges.

Beat the egg and lightly glaze top of pie crust with egg mixture. Sprinkle a little sugar on top.

Bake 35 to 40 minutes, until golden brown. Cool on wire rack for 30 minutes before serving.

Bacon_Apple_Pie

=> Dutch Apple Pie Recipe: Easy Dutch Apple Pie Recipe

This homemade apple pie is topped off with a sweetly spiced crumble topping that is oh so good.

1 (9-inch) unbaked pie crust

Pie Filling

2 1/2 cups apples, peeled, cored and sliced
1/2 cup sugar
3/4 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon apple pie spice
1 oz. butter, melted
1 tablespoon lemon juice

Streusel Topping

1 1/3 tablespoon dry milk
2/3 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon apple pie spice
1/4 pound light brown sugar, lightly packed
2 tablespoons hard butter

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In a small bowl, combine sugar, flour and apple pie spice. Add dry mixture to apples and toss to coat apples well. Add in the melted butter and lemon juice; stir well. Spoon apple mixture into pie shell.

To make streusel topping, combine dry milk, flour, apple pie spice and brown sugar in a bowl. Cut hard butter into mixture with a fork; mix until well combined. Sprinkle topping over pie filling until completely covered.

Bake 10 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 300 degrees and bake an additional 25 minutes. Serve with ice cream or cheese.

Apple Pie

=> Fried Pie Recipe: Fried Apple Pie Recipe

Forget those fast food versions, this is the real thing. These mini pies are great to pack with lunches.

2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup shortening
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup cold water
2 apples, peeled, cored and diced
1/3 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup vegetable oil

Directions

In a saucepan, combine apples, sugar and cinnamon. Cook over low heat. Cook apples until they are soft and tender. Mash with a fork to form a thick applesauce.

In a bowl, sift the flour and salt together. Cut in the shortening. Add water and mix with a fork. Create a ball of dough and roll out to 1/8-inch thick on a floured board. With a cookie cutter, cut out 4-inch round pieces.

In the center of each dough round, spoon 1 heaping tablespoon of apple mixture. Moisten the edges with cold water and fold. Press edges closed with a fork.

In a large skillet, heat oil on medium high heat. Fry pies a few at a time for 2 to 3 minutes on each side, until golden brown. Drain pies on paper towels. Sprinkle with confectioners sugar.

=> Apple Pie Filling Recipe: Anytime Apple Pie Filling Recipe

Here’s a basic apple pie filling to use whenever you need to make a scrumptious homemade dessert.

18 cups apples, thinly sliced
3 tablespoons lemon juice
4 1/2 cups white sugar
1 cup cornstarch
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
10 cups water

Directions

In a large bowl, toss apples with lemon juice and set aside. Pour water into a Dutch oven over medium heat. Combine sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, salt and nutmeg. Add to water, stir well and bring to a boil. Boil for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.

Add in the apples and return pot to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until apples are tender (about 6 to 8 minutes). Cool for 30 minutes.

Ladle filling into five freezer containers, leave 1/2-inch space at the top. Cool at room temperature for 1 to 1 1/2 hours.

Seal containers and freeze. Pie filling can be stored in freezer for up to 12 months.

A Prince Edward Island vacation is not a vacation at all without succumbing to the succulence offered up by a maritime lobster feed unlike any you’re likely to find anywhere else.

Lobster is not so much a part of Prince Edward Island life as it is a fact of Prince Edward Island life and a visit to the gentle island without a lobster feast would be like a visit to the island without giving in to a round of golf.  Or visiting the island and not walking along the miles and miles and miles of endless sandy beaches in shades of white, champagne, pink and of red.  Or of visiting the island without taking in the many festivals that imbue it with its unique character, charm and of course, it’s culture.

There are two lobster fishing seasons on Prince Edward Island; one in the spring and the other occurring in the fall.  Lobsters from the island are available year round, however, because they are kept in holding pens or pounds, (traditionally large, fenced areas of the ocean) or in more recent years, thanks to rapid the advancements made by technology, lobsters can be penned in huge dry-land holding facilities, in fact pioneered in Atlantic Canada.  In the end, it means the lobster served to you is always as fresh as it is refreshing to the palate.

red lobster

The American lobster or as it’s known by its scientific name,  Homarus Americanus,  can most often be found on the Atlantic coast where it is also known as the northern, Atlantic or Maine lobster.  The colder waters of Canada are the more common lobster areas although they can be found as far south as North Carolina.

While a much vaunted delicacy today, in decades past, that hasn’t always been the case.  In fact, the lobster was once considered very common and farmers of Prince Edward Island would often spread lobsters on their fields for fertilizer.  Perhaps that’s one of the reasons Prince Edward Island potatoes have come to have the storied reputation and taste they do.

A live lobster is usually greenish-brown in appearance and color, although occasionally they have been known turn up in blue, partly white, yellow or bright red.  These color variations are the result of a genetic defect in the lobster shell pigments and are very rare.  In fact, for a blue lobster, the chances are one in a million.  For a yellow lobster; one in 30 million. 

The sight of a red lobster is considerably more common and can be found all over the island.  This is, of course, due to the fact that it’s been cooked and served with butter.  It is here, on the gentle island that the potato and lobster together are once again a familiar sight, preferably served piping hot in your newfound and favorite Prince Edward Island restaurant at the water’s edge or along the boardwalk.

This summer, savor the succulence of a Prince Edward Island lobster, and all the tradition that comes with it. Bon appetit!

Healthy Low Fat Chicken Recipe

Anyone concerned with getting fit, staying fit, or fitness in general is usually looking for ways to eat more healthfully. Chicken breasts are one of the most diet friendly lean protein sources you can find and they do taste pretty good. Lean protein sources are extremely important for all fitness enthusiasts. Lean protein builds muscle and helps to burn fat. Here's a low fat healthy chicken recipe that you can vary to suit your mood.

Andy's Famous Chicken

3lbs. package of boneless, skinless chicken breasts - still frozen
1 12oz. bottle of fat free salad dressing or Lawry's marinade
1 11 x 14 baking pan

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place frozen chicken breasts in the baking pan. Pour dressing or marinade over frozen chicken. Bake chicken at 400 degrees for about 1 to 1 1/2 hours or until chicken is lightly browned on top.

That's it! That's the whole healthy low fat chicken recipe. This chicken recipe is dead easy and especially wonderful when you want a nice dinner but you have piles of chores left to do and don't want to be chained to the stove all evening. Serve Andy's Famous Chicken with side dishes such as steamed veggies and brown rice or other whole grains and you have a fast, healthy meal that actually tastes good.

This healthy low fat chicken recipe is particularly good with fat free Italian dressing. Any fat free or low fat salad dressing may be used to maximize the flavor variations that are possible with this dish. Another good choice would be any flavor Lawry's marinade since that brand tends to be lower in fat and calories.

For those folks who are not quite so fitness oriented, regular botled dressing can be used and the resulting dish will be just as tasty. Another easy way to go would be canned or bottled curry sauce. It makes a great spicy dish. Andy's Famous Chicken is a great recipe for week night dinners and would also be nice enough to serve company.

To be successful with most diets, you have to be able to stick with restrictive food guidelines and a gnawing feeling of hunger most of the time that just won’t go away. People diet for two reasons, 1) to lose weight, and 2) to improve overall health or both. Diet is often a scary word because diet usually means deprivation, but there is a healthier and easier alternative that doesn't deprive you of the foods you love to eat, the low carbohydrate diet. Research has shown that the more food choices a person has, the better they are going to do on the diet, which is maybe why low carb diets work so well for so many people. The Atkins Diet is probably the most familiar of the low carb diets, and even though it lacks in the sweets department, this diet features lots of delicious Atkins low carb recipes to satisfy your taste buds.

Atkins Low Carb Recipes

Carbohydrates are found in whole grains, fruits and vegetables, which are replaced with fats and proteins on a low carbohydrate diet. If you recently started a low carbohydrate diet program, you may be surprised to find how many Atkins low carb recipes there are online from a multitude of sites dedicated to losing weight the low carb way. Visit HealthRecipes.com where you can browse through your favorite recipes at your leisure, and instantly download Atkins recipes and meal plans, including beverages, cakes and pies, biscuits, salads and dressings, desserts, eggs and breakfast, breads and pastries, soups and stews, sauces and dips, appetizers and snacks, sweets, poultry, pork, beef, lamb, veal, fish, and vegetables. Of course, during the first two weeks of the diet, types of foods are restricted and you won’t be able to enjoy all of these foods right away, so be patient!

To sustain a low carb way of life, make sure you eat healthy foods that you enjoy, and discover lots of gourmet ideas for Atkins low carb recipes that are sure to keep your palate satisfied. For a tasty dinner idea, check out this recipe from The Low Carb Cookbook by Karen Barnaby found on Amazon.com: seared tuna with soy wasabi glaze, or flat roasted chicken with prosciutto and green olives. Now doesn’t that sound absolutely delectable? Get free Atkins low carb recipes and diet information from www.diet-site.net, a good starting point where you can find exactly what you’re looking for. Remember that snags come with every type of diet, but just stick with it and you’ll reap the rewards for the rest of your life.  

The majority of people who hear about Atkins diets think that you are going to have to eat bars, not eat any bread, and never have another dessert. This is quickly proved incorrect when you look through the available recipes hat you are able to find in cookbooks at your local store or even on the internet. Many people have many different beliefs as to why the Atkins diets are not actually healthy or do not actually help you to lose weight. Yes, it is true, many different people have many different body types and many different nutritious needs meaning that for some this diet may not work, but in many people who take on this diet correctly you can not only see a difference in their weight but in their health due to having a healthier eating lifestyle.

Atkins Diet Recipes

Most people who take on this diet decide to plan out their daily routine in intervals of: breakfast, snack, lunch, snack and diner. Which in itself proves that to be healthier you do not have to eat less, but rather monitor your eating and nutrition. The recipes that you can find are split into the following groups most often; Appetizers, first course, main course, beverages, grains, bread, and dessert.

No matter what style of food you like or from what culture you can find a recipe that is for the Atkins diet in the form you would find pleasing or you can make changes to a recipe that you find to make it more Atkins friendly. You can find different types of dishes in each category of food. This means that even if you are looking for a beverage to have dinner or a dessert beverage you can find them within the beverage section. Making the items that you are looking for much easier to find.

Atkins Diet Recipes

When you look through each list you may find many different recipes that are appealing to you, you should then see which ones fit your Atkins dietary needs. Many people view Atkins diets as a way to eat without bread or items like that which you enjoy, when the main point of Atkins is to try to make a healthier you.

 Once you try to Atkins diet you are sure to find that it is very similar to other diets in many ways. It is not about forcing you not to eat items that you enjoy, but rather about limiting yourself where you need to and finding ways to get the nutrition that you need to be fit and healthy. You can find any number of recipes that will be to your liking, with chocolate, slushies, chili, squash and much more that when cooked properly can be nutritious and still very healthy. If you are looking to find a diet that you can mold to fit your need Atkins is perfect for you. You can make your favorite treats healthy and good for you.

Bamboo Shoots: Bamboo shoots are called for in many Thai recipes. In order to prepare a bamboo shoot for cooking you need to peel them and boil the white inner stalks for 30 minutes in water. If you are using canned bamboo shoots you will only need to boil them for 10 minutes, or if they are going into curries or soups, boiling might not be required.

Basil (fresh): There are three types of basils used in Thai cooking; sweet, holy and lemon. Sweet basil is much easier to find because it is commonly used in western cooking. Holy basil has a spicier taste and can be recognized by it’s slightly purple leaves. Lemon basil has a lemony flavor and can be detected by its distinct lemony scent. If you can only find sweet basil you can compensate for holy or lemon basil by adding finely chopped chili peppers or a bit of lemon rind.

Bergamot: Also known as kaffir lime leaves has a slightly limey flavor which goes well with all Thai dishes. Since this may be hard to find, granted lime rind can be used in its place although it is a poor substitute.

Chili paste: This can be bought in bottles or tubes in almost any supermarket. Used for adding spice and flavor to most dishes, a particularly popular version by Thai cooks is burnt mild chili paste.

Chinese mushrooms: Mushrooms are added to a lot of Thai cooking and many people chose to use the dried variety because they are cheaper and have just as much flavor and nutritional value. You will need to soak the mushrooms in warm water for 30 minutes before using them and the stems are usually discarded because of their tough nature.

thai recipes

Coconut milk: Coconut milk can be bought in cans almost anywhere. If the recipe you are using calls for coconut cream scoop the harder white substance that has formed at the top of the can. If you need coconut milk, stir the can thoroughly before using.

Curry Paste: While some people prefer to prepare their own curry pastes, many bottled curries are available at the supermarket. Most recipes use red, green or yellow curry.

Fish sauce: Made from collecting the liquid off of fermenting salted fish, this pale, watery brown sauce is sometimes used to replace all the salt in recipes. It is very flavorful and compliments all Thai food. It is called for in many recipes but you can also use your imagination with it, as it is very versatile.

Galangal: A close relative to ginger, is used in many curries and soups. Since it is quite rare to find fresh you will probably have to purchase it dry and soak it in water for 1 hour before using.

Garlic: Thai garlic might be available in some Asian markets, however if you cannot find it, the Western variety will work just as well. Use the smaller, tighter cloves on your garlic head for Thai cooking because they are more flavorful and will not be over powered by the other herbs and spices used in your dish.

Ginger: Easy to find and used quite often in modern cooking, ginger is extremely healthy and flavorful. It must be peeled before it is grated or chopped. Fresh ginger is much better than dried, although dried may be substituted if needed.

Lemon grass: Lemon grass is one of the most commonly used items in Thai cooking. It is a long stalk that looks like a small leek. The hard outer portion should be removed and the lower, bulbous part is used. You can either add sliced pieces to your food while it is cooking and remove them before serving your dish, or you can blend them in a food processor so they can be consumed with the dish, which will give it more flavor.

Palm Sugar: Some Thai recipes call for palm sugar which is available in some Asian markets as cellophane wrapped blocks. If palm sugar is unavailable you can substitute with dark brown sugar or real maple syrup.

Rice: Thai people prefer long-grain white Jasmine rice. This is a flavorful and aromatic rice that cools and compliments spicy Thai dishes.

Rice papers: Used for making fresh Thai spring rolls, you can buy rice papers at any food store. To use soak papers (one at a time) in warmish water until they are soft and pliable, then dry off with paper towel and use immediately.

Sesame Oil: A vegetable oil that comes from pressed sesame seeds and originated in East India. This is a very flavorful oil and works very well with Thai cooking.

Preparation and cooking techniques:

Vegetables: Vegetables used in Thai cooking should be cut as finely as possible. The idea is that the smaller they are chopped, the less time they will need to be cook, therefore retaining as much nutrients as possible.

Stir frying: Most people have cooked a stir fry before, so will be familiar with this method of cooking. Oil should be poured into a wok and vegetables should be added over high heat while being constantly stirred. Vegetables should only be stir fried for a couple of seconds so they remain crisp and brightly colored.

Mortar and Pestles: Perfect for making sauces, curry pastes and salads, every Thai cook should own a mortar and pestle preferably made out of clay or wood.

Mincing: Since Thai cooking uses so many intensely flavorful ingredients they should all be chopped very finely so one flavor never overpowers the other. You should always use a very sharp knife for this.

Roasting and grinding spices: When adding spices and herbs to your Thai dish you should always roast them by slowly heating each spice individually in pan until they begin to crackle and turn brown. When each spice is done roasting they should be ground very finely in a food processor or mortar.

Sweet treats for kids that are also healthy can be hard to come by, healthy treats that the kids actually like even harder. This recipe has been tried and tested by a part of the blogging community all around the world and as far as I can tell has been universally a hit with kids and parents alike. The muffins are moist and keep for a few days, have a good crust and flavour and get devoured as soon as they have cooled down enough to eat. Mums like them because the yoghurt and oatmeal ingredients spell Nutrition with a capital N, kids like them because they taste good and they didn't actually see you putting that healthy stuff in, when you were baking them. If your kids are picky and recoil in horror from such things as plain yoghurt and oats, present them with the baked muffins without telling them what's in them!

You can experiment with your own flavours. I used banana and cinnamon for mine, as that was what I had in the house and because my kids pick raisins out of any baking, leaving a trail of crumbs around the house, or a heap of raisins and crumbs for me to eat in Hoovermum mode. I'd like to try with nuts too, but again only one child likes nuts so the same thing would happen…I do believe that chocolate chips would go down well though, if only I had some in the house!



Yoghurt and Oat Muffin Recipe

1 cup unsweetened plain yoghurt
1 cup rolled oats
1 egg
½ cup vegetable oil
½ cup sugar
1 ¼ cups self-raising flour
1 ripe banana mashed
½ teaspoon cinnamon

Alternative flavour combinations:
instead of the banana and cinnamon try adding
1 teaspoon vanilla extract and ½ cup chocolate chips or
½ cup mixed nuts and raisins
or make up your own variation with whatever berries and fruits are in season.

Mix together the yoghurt and oats and leave them to soak in the fridge for half and hour. After they have soaked, beat in the egg, sugar and the oil, and fold in the flour with ingredients for whichever flavour combination you have decided on.

Spoon the mixture into a greased muffin tray. You will get either 12 large muffins or 24 small ones. If you are baking them for lunch boxes it is a good idea to line the tins with paper muffin cases. Bake at 200C / 400F for 15 to 20 minutes, until the top is springy to the touch and golden brown.

Small muffins are excellent for school lunch boxes if there are any left over. They also solve that eternal dilemma of contributions to those school bake sales and class events when teachers ask for healthy foods only, but your child wants to take something delicious - if you tell the teacher what's in the muffins they're sure to count them as healthy, just use raisins and nuts rather than chocolate chips in this case!

So what is Columbian coffee really all about? The following guide includes some delicious recipes about Columbian coffee--information you can use now!

Coffee is on of Americas favorite beverages and becomes more popular as the years go by. So naturally you would be able to find different methods of preparing Columbian coffee. You can make all sorts of tasty treats with this aromatic drink.
Below are some of the most popular recipes that are highly used today in some of the most popular coffee houses across the world. Now, you can save money by making these Columbian coffee recipes come to life in your very own kitchen. Friends and family alike will be amazed at just how delicious your coffee treats taste.

100% Iced Columbian Coffee

Double strength Columbian coffee
Cracked Ice
4 tablespoons of sugar

Brew double strength Columbian coffee by simply adding 8 tablespoons of ground coffee to every 12 ounces of water.
Fill your electric blender half way with your chilled Columbian coffee and add the cracked ice.
Add the 4 tablespoons of sugar or sweetener and blend until you have a thick foamy coffee treat.
This recipe will give you approximately 4 servings, if you need more than that simply double or triple the recipe to suit your needs. This will became a fast favorite for the Columbian coffee lovers in your life.

Columbian Coffee Mousse

½ a cup of brewed 100% Columbian coffee
1 ¾ cups of milk
1 cup of heavy cream
1 package of unflavored gelatin
3 eggs; separated
¾ cup of brown sugar
¼ teaspoon almond extract
1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract
Coffee concentrates (1 cup ground to every 8 ounces of cold water)

Sprinkle the gelatin over a cup of cold water and let it soften while preparing the custard.
Heat milk to its boiling point in a saucepan. Beat egg yolks using a wire whisk or electric mixer. Pour the hot milk over beaten egg yolks slowly, beating constantly with wire whisk. Return mixture to saucepan, add brown sugar, and cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until custard has thickened slightly, approximately 10 minutes. Remove from heat, and add gelatin to the hot custard and stir until dissolved. Add coffee concentrate, vanilla and almond extracts.

3. Transfer mixture to a bowl and refrigerate. Keep refrigerated and stir every five minutes until custard has thickened to the consistency of unbeaten egg whites, approximately 25-45 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, whip the cream until it softens and refrigerate.
5. Beat egg whites until they are stiff but not dry. Fold coffee custard base into egg whites. Gently fold in whipped cream. Pour mixture into 8 individual custard cups and refrigerate for at least 4 hours until set.
When you have finished, you will have created a delicious surprise for all to enjoy.

These recipes are by no means exhaustive but just a few of some of the worlds most popular Columbian coffee recipes. With just a little creativity and imagination you can take these recipes on Columbian coffee and develop many more! Enjoy.

Are you an old pro when it comes to making delicious desserts? Do your guests rave about your cakes and pies? The next time you have company over for dessert, why not try something different. Chocolate fondue has been in and out of fashion since the seventies and most people have tried it at least once. But if you want to try something new and exciting There are many different dessert fondues out there to satisfy just about anyone with a sweet tooth.

Recently dark chocolate has been in the news being declared as a new heart healthy food. Dark chocolate retains more flavonoids that other varieties of chocolate such as milk chocolate, white chocolate, cocoa or chocolate syrup. New research has also determined that eating a diet high in flavonoids helps reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Obviously this doesn’t mean that you should run to the store to buy some candy bars. But it does mean that when eaten in moderation, dark chocolate can be a healthy choice as a dessert.

And whether is good for you or not, who can resist a fondue pot of hot melted chocolate just waiting for your to dip something into it. What better way to enjoy strawberries, bananas and other ripe fruits. But don’t stop there. Be sure to try dunking some salty treats into the chocolate such as pretzels and potato chips. Mixing sweet and salty foods creates a unique flavor that you are sure to enjoy.

So not only is chocolate delicious, but it is now considered a heart healthy food as well. Those are some excellent reasons to add a few chocolate fondue recipes to your recipe book. Why not try one of these chocolate fondue recipes tonight?

Dark Chocolate Fondue
12 ounces Premium Dark Chocolate (chopped)
3/4 cup Whipping Cream
2 teaspoons Kahlua or other coffee liqueur (optional)

Over low flame, heat whipping cream until warm (DO NOT BOIL)
Slowly add the chopped dark chocolate while stirring
Stir until the mixture becomes smooth
Stir in liqueur
To Dip:
Strawberries, Bananas, Sliced Apple, Cubes of Pound Cake, Cubes of Angel Food Cake, Pretzel Sticks, Chunks of Pineapple, Marshmallows, Potato Chips

Mint Chocolate Fondue
1/2 cup Heavy Cream
2 tablespoons Peppermint Liqueur
8 ounces Semisweet Chocolate

Warm the heavy cream over medium low heat
Add liqueur
Grate the chocolate or break into small pieces and slowly add to mixture while stirring
Stir until the chocolate is melted

To Dip:
Candied Fruit, Pears, Peach Slices, Cubes of Pound Cake, Cubes of Angel Food Cake

Beef With Broccoli is a classic when it comes to chinese cooking.  It makes a perfect plate for almost all occasions.


Ingredients:

3/4 lb (375 g) lean beef, sliced thinly into bite-sized pieces

Marinade for Beef:
1 egg
1/3 tsp (1.5 mL) salt
1 Tbsp (15 mL) cooking wine
1 Tbsp (15 mL) cornstarch (corn flour)
2 Tbsp water

1 1/2 Tbsp (20 mL) oil

1 1/2 lb (750 g) broccoli, flowerets removed, slice on the diagonal into thin slices
1 cup (250 mL) cooking oil
2 1/2 Tbsp (30 mL) oyster sauce
2 Tbsp (25 mL) light soy sauce
3/4 Tbsp (10 mL) dark soy sauce
1 Tbsp (15 mL) sugar
a few drops of sesame oil
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1/2 cup (125 mL) chicken broth
2 Tbsp cornstarch (if desired)

Directions:

Slice beef and mix together marinade ingredients. Add marinade to beef and marinate for thirty minutes. Add 1 1/2 tablespoons of oil to beef, mix in thoroughly, and marinate beef for another thirty minutes. While beef is marinating, prepare the vegetables.

Heat wok and add 1 cup of oil. When oil is ready, add beef and stir-fry until it is nearly cooked. Remove beef and set aside on a plate. Drain the wok and wipe clean with a paper towel.

Add 1/2 cup water to wok. Bring the water to a boil and add the broccoli. Cover and cook until broccoli is cooked through. Drain the wok.

Heat wok and add oil (about 2 tablespoons). Add the garlic and stir-fry for about 1 minute. Add vegetables and beef and mix together. Make a well in the middle of the wok and add the sauce ingredients. Add cornstarch, stirring to thicken. Mix sauce together with other ingredients. Serve hot. Serves 3 to 4

There are few dishes that can compare to casserole recipes when it comes to classic comfort food. These mealtime favorites have been around for generations and many people commonly associate the casserole with memorable family get-togethers. Casserole recipes come in many different forms and you have lots and lots of choices available to you.

An interesting this about recipes casserole dishes have inspired over time each typically have some kind of cream sauce in their base. This may be one of the reasons that these dishes are so very tasty and satisfying. Whether it’s cream of mushroom soup or heavy whipping cream, these elements are a popular part of casserole recipes.

Ironically, the dishes are named after the actual container that is used to prepare them. The casserole is actually a large cooking container that is used to bake the concoctions. The recipes casserole containers inspired have gradually overshadowed the true meaning of the word.

Some people suggest that a person can have casseroles several times a week without getting bored. There is little wonder why considering the vast variety of these wonderful kitchen concoctions. Following are some standards that many of us have grown to know and love over the years.


One of the most popular casserole recipes around is the green bean casserole. This is a standard for many holiday occasions. While many of these stew-like dishes are eaten as the main course, others are simply side dishes. The green bean casseroles are the kind of vegetable sides that offer a lot of flavor and character.

The tuna casserole is a modern classic that never goes out of style. This inexpensive dish typically consists of a cream base, with tuna, of course. Some like to add rice to the mix while others prefer the traditional pasta version. Either way, these casserole recipes are winners each and every time.

The meat-and-potatoes person might prefer something meatier. Shepherd’s pie is among the most popular casserole recipes. It may be surprising to discover that this dish was traditionally made with lamb to those who have had the beef Shepherd’s pie recipe that has been so very popular in homes across the globe.

There are few meals that have stood the test of time. Casserole recipes are certain to make a splash at your next family get-together. These meals are the epitome of comfort foods and they are ideal for holidays and special occasions. They are so easy to make that they are also suitable for every day meals as well.

When you have a backyard barbecue, what are some of the first thoughts that come to mind? Friends, meat, wonderful aromas, lots of fun and, of course, barbecue sauce. This delicious sauce has been an American favorite for outdoor cook-outs since 1948 when Heinz first came up with it's signature barbecue sauce. The condiment actually dates back to the 1600's, when some inventive soul discovered that the vinegar and tomato-based concoction, laden with sufficient spices, covered a panoply of unattractive and unhealthful problems with spoiled meat, while adding a zesty flavor.

Today, barbecue sauces come in many textures ranging from a runny liquid to sumptuously thick. Some barbecue “purist” gourmets look down on the addition of any external flavorings, but a glance at the grocery aisle offerings of available barbecue sauces attests that there are many people who disagree. There are barbecue sauce recipes flavored with fruit, ginger, cayenne, habaneros, chipotle peppers, teriyaki and a host of others.

A barbecue sauce should be complementary to what you're cooking and how you're cooking it. Most commonly used on beef, pork and chicken, barbecue sauce can also be used to brush fruit kabobs, dip fries,  and even as a marinade. The cooking method also plays a role in the barbecue sauce recipe that you choose. Baking a meat in the oven only requires a thin coating of sauce, so that it will caramelize without burning. Some grilling enthusiasts swear by a thick sauce for grilling. Application time is critical in achieving the perfectly flavored barbecue dish.  When baking, the condiment should be applied mid-way through the cooking time. With grilling, it should be brushed on, but lightly, throughout cooking for a thick, caramelized coating. Now that you've got a grip on your brush and know how and when to apply the garnish, let's move on to your barbecue sauce recipe.

The basic ingredients in a barbecue sauce recipe are tomato sauce, a sweetener, spices, and vinegar. This basic list is for only the most unsophisticated of barbecue sauce recipes. Before you begin making your own barbecue sauce recipe, try several types of commercial sauces to get an idea of tastes you'd like to experiment with in your own kitchen creations.

Fruit flavored recipes are best with chicken, fish and kabobs. Shrimp and pork are especially complimented with tangy glaze sauces, such as apple, peach, and pineapple flavors. If these sauces are a bit tame for your taste, then try some hot and spicy barbecue sauce recipes. Chipotle, teriyaki, and habanero are all excellent additions to almost any meat.

The perfect barbecue sauce recipe is the one you, your family and friends love best! There are so many out there, you owe it to your taste buds to experiment. Who knows but that when you've sampled them all, you may find the only sauce for you is the original.

NINE SALMON RECIPES.

Boiled salmon.
--------------

Ingredients:- 6 oz. of salt to each gallon of water, sufficient water to cover the fish.

Mode:- Scale and clean the fish, and be particular that no blood is left inside; lay it in the fish-kettle with sufficient cold water to cover it, adding salt in the above proportion. Bring it quickly to a boil, take off all the scum, and let it simmer gently till the fish is done, which will be when the meat separates easily from the bone. Experience alone can teach the cook to fix the time for boiling fish; but it is especially to be remembered, that it should never be underdressed, as then nothing is more unwholesome. Neither let it remain in the kettle after it is sufficiently cooked, as that would render it insipid, watery, and colourless. Drain it, and if not wanted for a few minutes, keep it warm by means of warm cloths laid over it. Serve on a hot napkin, garnish with cut lemon and parsley, and send lobster or shrimp sauce, and plain melted butter to table with it. A dish of dressed cucumber usually accompanies this fish.

Time. 8 minutes to each lb. for large thick salmon; 6 minutes for thin fish. 

Note. Cut lemon should be put on the table with this fish; and a little of the juice squeezed over it is considered by many persons a most agreeable addition. Boiled peas are also, by some connoisseurs, considered especially adapted to be served with salmon.

Salmon and caper sauce.
-----------------------

Ingredients:- 2 slices of salmon, 1/4 lb. batter, 1/2 teaspoonful of chopped parsley, 1 shalot; salt, pepper, and grated nutmeg to taste.

Mode:- Lay the salmon in a baking-dish, place pieces of butter over it, and add the other ingredients, rubbing a little of the seasoning into the fish; baste it frequently; when done, take it out and drain for a minute or two; lay it in a dish, pour caper sauce over it, and serve. Salmon dressed in this way, with tomato sauce, is very delicious.

Time. About 3/4 hour. 

Collared salmon.
----------------

Ingredients:- A piece of salmon, say 3 lbs., a high seasoning of salt, pounded mace, and pepper; water and vinegar, 3 bay-leaves.

Mode:- Split the fish; scale, bone, and wash it thoroughly clean; wipe it, and rub in the seasoning inside and out; roll it up, and bind firmly; lay it in a kettle, cover it with vinegar and water (1/3 vinegar, in proportion to the water); add the bay-leaves and a good seasoning of salt and whole pepper, and simmer till done. Do not remove the lid. Serve with melted butter or anchovy sauce. For preserving the collared fish, boil up the liquor in which it was cooked, and add a little more vinegar. Pour over when cold.

Time. 3/4 hour, or rather more.     

Curried salmon.
---------------

Ingredients:- Any remains of boiled salmon, 3/4 pint of strong or medium stock, 1 onion, 1 tablespoonful of curry-powder, 1 teaspoonful of Harvey's sauce, 1 teaspoonful of anchovy sauce, 1 oz. of butter, the juice of 1/2 lemon, cayenne and salt to taste.

Mode:- Cut up the onions into small pieces, and fry them of a pale brown in the butter; add all the ingredients but the salmon, and simmer gently till the onion is tender, occasionally stirring the contents; cut the salmon into small square pieces, carefully take away all skin and bone, lay it in the stewpan, and let it gradually heat through; but do not allow it to boil long.

Time. 3/4 hour.     

Salmon cutlets.
---------------

Cut the slices 1 inch thick, and season them with pepper and salt; butter a sheet of white paper, lay each slice on a separate piece, with their ends twisted; broil gently over a clear fire, and serve with anchovy or caper sauce. When higher seasoning is required, add a few chopped herbs and a little spice.

Time. 5 to 10 minutes.

Salmon a la genevese.
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Ingredients:- 2 slices of salmon, 2 chopped shalots, a little parsley, a small bunch of herbs, 2 bay-leaves, 2 carrots, pounded mace, pepper and salt to taste, 4 tablespoonfuls of Madeira, 1/2 pint of white stock, thickening of butter and flour, 1 teaspoonful of essence of anchovies, the juice of 1 lemon, cayenne and salt to taste.

Mode:- Rub the bottom of a stewpan over with butter, and put in the shalots, herbs, bay-leaves, carrots, mace, and seasoning; stir them for 10 minutes over a clear fire, and add the Madeira or sherry; simmer gently for 1/2 hour, and strain through a sieve over the fish, which stew in this gravy. As soon as the fish is sufficiently cooked, take away all the liquor, except a little to keep the salmon moist, and put it into another stewpan; add the stock, thicken with butter and flour, and put in the anchovies, lemon-juice, cayenne, and salt; lay the salmon on a hot dish, pour over it part of the sauce, and serve the remainder in a tureen.

Time. 1-1/4 hour.

Unrivaled in sweetness by any other of its lot, the crab is has shown its versatility as an ingredient. It ads an interesting twist to any dish served with a shred or two of this amazing seafood.

As a part of salad, the Crab gives an interesting texture. It does not matter whether it be imitation or authentic crab meat, the ways on how to prepare this dish is just infinite. Below are some salad recipes that are guaranteed to bring your dishes to life.

FRESH CRAB SALAD RECIPE

1 lb Fresh crabmeat; flaked
1/2 c Minced celery
1 ts Grated onion
1 tb Minced pimento
1/4 ts Salt
2 tb Lemon juice
Mayonnaise to taste
Lettuce
2 tb Minced parsley
1/2 Cucumber; peeled and thinly sliced

Combine crab, celery, onion, and pimento in a bowl. Sprinkle with salt and lemon juice; toss to mix. Add just enough mayonnaise to moisten; mix well. Spoon onto bed of lettuce; sprinkle with parsley. Garnish with thin slices of cucumber.

ANTIPASTO CRAB SALAD RECIPE

Ingredients:

8 ounces frozen Alaskan King crab
1/2 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
1 small cucumber, thinly sliced
1 (6 oz.) jar marinated artichoke hearts
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
1 clove garlic, crushed
1/2 teaspoon oregano
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon crushed black pepper
1 tomato, cut into wedges
1/4 pound Swiss cheese, sliced and cut into triangles
Lettuce

Directions:

Thaw, drain and slice crab.

Combine mushrooms and cucumber slices. Drain artichoke hearts, reserving liquid. Combine liquid with lemon juice, vinegar, garlic, oregano, salt and pepper. Pour over mushrooms and cucumbers and toss lightly. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours.

Drain vegetable mixture. Arrange crab, mushrooms, cucumber, artichoke hearts, tomato wedges and cheese triangles on 4 lettuce-lined salad plates.

THAI-STYLE CRAB SALAD IN AVOCADO RECIPE

Ingredients:

1 ripe California avocado
3 tablespoons lime juice
6 ounces cooked lump crabmeat, or canned crabmeat
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/4 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
1 scallion, thinly sliced
1/4 teaspoon pepper, or to taste
Salt, if desired

Directions:

Split the avocado in half, remove the seed; sprinkle the cut surfaces with 1 tablespoon of the lime juice to prevent browning.

Combine the crabmeat, remaining lime juice, lemon juice, mayonnaise, cilantro, scallion, pepper and salt in a mixing bowl; mix well. Divide this mixture between each avocado half, piling it high. Garnish with extra cilantro, if desired.

CRAB SALAD WITH GUAVA NECTAR RECIPE

Ingredients:

2/3 cup Guava Nectar
1/3 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
8 cups mixed salad greens
2 cups cooked fresh or chopped imitation crabmeat
1 can (11-oz. size) Mandarin oranges, drained
4 red onion slices, (optional)

Directions:

Combine nectar, mayonnaise and vinegar in small bowl; whisk until smooth.

Combine 1/2 cup dressing with crabmeat in small bowl. Toss remaining dressing with salad greens in large bowl. Divide salad greens among serving plates; top with crab mixture, oranges and onion. Season with ground black pepper.

Baby showers are generally held in the later stages of pregnancy (in the last 2 months, for instance). There are, however, certain cultural beliefs that make people purposefully wait for the baby to arrive before having a baby shower. Adoptive parents, at times, wait until after the adoption is final and the baby has arrived in their home.

Baby showers are generally organized by close friends, relatives, or co-workers of the expectant parents (because baby showers center on gift-giving, it is considered inappropriate for a family member to host such events).

In its early form, baby showers were held exclusively for mothers-to-be, and only women were invited to attend the party. In addition, baby showers were traditionally held only for the first child. Today, however, many people arrange baby showers for both parents, and they can now be also arranged for every succeeding children (even children who have been adopted).

Activities in a baby shower typically include games, special activies, presents, and, most especially, food.

Below are some of the most common baby shower recipes:

· Pizza Sandwiches

Pizza sauce (can be store-bought or homemade)
Cottage cheese (lowfat)
English muffins
Parmesan cheese

1. Mix 2-3 tbsp of pizza sauce with 2-3 tbsp of cottage cheese.

2. Spread the mixture onto one half of the English muffin.

3. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese.

4. Broil for 5 minutes or until cheese is melted. Serve.

· Creamy Tomato Soup

1 tsp vegetable oil
1 can tomato soup (condensed)
Milk
1 tbsp basil
Mozarella or croutons (for toppings)

1. Heat vegetable oil in a medium saucepan.

2. Add the tomato soup.

3. Add milk (approximately the same amount as that of the tomato soup).

4. Add basil and cook slowly on low heat (do not boil).

5. Top with a sprinkling of shredded mozzarella and croutons. Serve.

· Cheese Balls

½ lb cheese (cheddar or grated)
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 pack cream cheese
4 oz Tabasco sauce
2 tsp onion
Chopped nuts
2 tsp catsup or chili sauce

1. Mix all ingredients together using a mixer or a food processor (the cheese should be at room temperature).

2. Empty mixed ingredients on small bowls lined with plastic wrap.

3. Refrigerate overnight.

4. To serve, remove wrap and sprinkle with nuts. Serve with assorted crackers.

· Chicken Puffs

4 tbsp butter
½ cup boiling water
½ cup flour
2 eggs
½ cup shredded cheese
2 cups cooked chicken
2 tbsp olives
2 tbsp wine
¼ cup mayonnaise

1. Melt butter in boiling water.

2. Add flour.

3. Stir vigorously until mixture forms a ball.

4. Remove from heat and cool slightly.

5. Add egg and beat briskly until smooth.

6. Stir in cheese.

7. Scoop 1 tsp dough into a greased baking sheet.

8. Preheat oven to 400°F.

9. Bake the puffs for 20 minutes. Remove from oven, cool, and split.

10. Combine the remaining ingredients with the finely chopped cooked chicken, pimiento, and olives.

11. Fill each puff with 2 tsp of the mixture. Serve.

There are just some of the baby shower recipes, there are numerous others to choose from - from sandwiches & finger foods, to snacks and dips and sweets - appetizing, yet simple and very easy to prepare.