Showing posts with label food and beverage. Show all posts
Showing posts with label food and beverage. Show all posts

Saturday, May 14, 2011

A Quick Look At The History Of Chocolate


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Not too many people stop to think about how long chocolate has been popular. Ancient people brewing the seeds of the cacao tree into a yummy beverage was the beginning of the wide assortment of chocolates that we enjoy today.

There was a time when chocolate was a luxury only for the very rich – this was when Europeans first discovered chocolate. Not only was chocolate expensive, but it was bitter. Sugar and spices used to sweeten it were expensive too and out of the common man’s reach. It was in the 1800’s that the industrial age and mass production made chocolate candy affordable for everyone.

This was also around the time when the candy bar was invented – a great advancement in the world of chocolate. And a popular one too, as it became a huge hit in the same vein as gum drops, candy canes and other hard candies. Just think about how chocolate has evolved through the past several centuries. Chocolate candy is available in many different flavors, shapes and with limitless ingredients. For instance, candy bars often include fruit and nut, which complements the flavor like other ingredients added on. And the flavorings, spices included, have the same capacity to enhance the flavor of chocolate in the same way voices blend in perfect harmony to make beautiful music. Some people can taste a story in their chocolate candy. The flavor medley tells them through their tongue what region of the world each ingredient came from. Travel by chocolate!

Chocolate can also be enjoyed either inside a candy coating or as a coating itself over other yummy treats such as ice cream.

It is now common to buy candy on the Internet. With the invention of the World Wide Web, you can snack on exotic chocolate candy delicacies made anywhere in the world. And shipping is so advanced these days you can expect to get your chocolate candy in immaculate condition.

And if you want to make your own chocolate candy, it’s easy to find candy making paraphernalia and molds online and offline. This would be a great way to involve your children in cooking and an even better gift idea for just about any occasion. There is an astounding array of choices when it comes to flavoring, so let your creative spirit shine. You may also make money out of this, as many candy companies started out as a home-based business.

Wouldn’t it be nice if the movers and shakers of the chocolate world go online, search for the best chocolate candy, go to your website and decide that YOUR creation is their delectable treat of choice!

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Monday, May 2, 2011

Raspberry buttercream icing


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What can one say about the modest Raspberry, except that it is scrummy, nourishing and makes the most awesome jam and cake frosting. Hands up those who have smacked their lips at the even sight of Raspberry Frosting? They also make a fantastic addition to muffins, fairy cakes and ice cream and Oh! not to forget raspberries and fresh cream with a scone or on their own. Am I making your mouth water yet?

When I think of Raspberries, I think of my gramps Ted who I adored and how I used to help him in his grand, and I mean huge vegetable and fruit garden. grandpa Ted and grannie Min had 11 children and when they grew up and got married off, they lived close by; some of them even built houses on land bought from grandaddy. Each child produced many children, quite a clan we were all fed from Granddad’s enormous garden plus his pigs, poultry and rabbits.

Anyways back to the story. Whilst granddad was not working as a Master Baker, you would come across him, in his garden or looking after the livestock. This is where I loved to come and assist, and be taught the “How To” on it all.

I recollect the Raspberry Canes, they would line 3 lines deep 2 canes per hole either side of the path to the house, which also led off to the pigs, poultry and rabbits. Each Cane standing around 6 feet. And I used to love helping grandpa stake and tie these canes before fruiting, as each one gave of its best

granddad was extremely proud of his garden; the land was rich and lush and produced only the best of produce. After each crop the ground was fed with well rotted manure and compost, dug in deep, turned 2-3 times left for a 2-3 weeks, turned again, then new crops planted in a rotation system.

I remember how It was drummed into me “Raspberry Canes, are tricky little devils, they don’t like to get soaked feet, and won’t do well if weeds tickle their legs Margie” he used to say. “Don’t tie them too tight, you will bruise the cane, just enough to give ‘em support, show ‘em love and they will yield you fruit to be proud of” was the repeated instruction every time we gave the canes support.

The Raspberry canes did show us love, with an abundance of fruit, flawlessly formed gratifying, delicious berries ready for us to pick and eat as is, or turn into something substantial and delicious like grannie Mins Double Sponge Cake which was so light, I used to guess one puff of wind and it would blow away. All filled with fresh whipped cream, layered with fresh raspberries and topped with the best raspberry frosting I have ever tasted.

gramps is long gone now, even after all this time, I still miss him at times, it is funny how memories can come bouncing back when you look, touch or smell certain things. Raspberries, those delectable berries do it for me all the time.

Oh those Raspberry canes, they kept on giving, year after year, after year.

Maggie has been an outstanding cook all her life thanks to her Gramps who was a Master Baker and trained her everything she needed to know. She has several sites dedicated tobaking and cooking.Visit her site now

Friday, April 22, 2011

Foodies Guide – Sixteen Tips For Restaurant Eating

Many people, maybe including yourself, enjoy eating at a restaurant or simply go there for the convenience. We have come up with sixteen quick tips for anytime you have to eat out.

If you eat healthy food or sensible portions, that you like, you can stick with eating healthy for life.

When portioning your food, spacing is a matter of great importance. Water should be a part of every meal.

Going back to overeating, portion your food so that your stomach is only halfway full, no more than that. Drink one part water for every two parts of food you eat per meal. You also need to make space for air in your stomach – leave it at one quarter or more.

Wait five to ten minutes in between courses, and eat no more than half a portion at a restaurant. Restaurant portions are commonly two to four meals on a single or double plate.

We’re talking two to four meals, which is a significant amount of food to eat in a course of a meal – when the time comes for you to drink water, chances are you would have had more than enough.

In the Providence, RI area, there are some restaurants where the single portions could feed a family of four. No wonder a man of 200 lbs. is now considered thin. Do not make comparisons to other people. Eat to live and enjoy your food, but do not use someone else’s over indulgence as an excuse for your own.

Do not let your appetite get the better of you. Many of us think that if our plate isn’t clean, we automatically skipped the meal. Ah, the memories of childhood and Mom at the dinner table. Move on, my friends and have the rest of your food to go if you can’t finish it all.

Always eat something for breakfast and never “skip it.” The tendency is to overcompensate for a skipped breakfast when eating lunch or dinner.

Eat slowly and thoroughly chew your food.

Eat a light yet hearty and healthy meal before hitting the sack. I’m a vegetarian, so my meal planner goes something like this – a bowl of corn flakes on Monday, veg salad with extra virgin olive oil on Tuesday, rice with carrots and greens on Wednesday, and so on – you get the idea. For those who eat meat or fish: turkey, chicken, or salmon salad on top of fresh greens.

Down with the desserts, sugary foods and carbs, and no second helpings in the afternoon onwards.

Sugar is absolutely a must to avoid, but you can get around this by eating fruit or having low fat yogurt, or maybe some low fat cottage cheese with fruit.

If you must have coffee or alcohol, beware that these should be consumed in extreme moderation. Not only are they generally unhealthy, but they dehydrate the body and require you to drink extra water. Wine is much better than hard alcohol, but one or two glasses a day is the limit.

Browse thousands of easy recipes and add something new to your meal tonight. Our all recipes site is categorized, so it’s easy to find what you’re looking for.

Some Dish For Broiled Poultry

Chicken can be prepared in many ways and some people prefer to eat this kind of poultry as opposed to red meats. Without additional ingredients to make the dish a little more flavorful, this meat can be somewhat dull and uninspiring. There are a number of ingredients which can give a little zest to the dish and they can be used in various ways. The following paragraphs offer the best recipe for broiled chicken.

Broiling should not be confused with grilling as they are two different methods of cooking. To broil, the heat source must come from above the meat. Preparing the meat properly prior to cooking is important and will be discussed before moving on to any recipes.

To broil chickens correctly, the different portions should be prepared in a certain way. If using a whole bird then it should be be butterflied, that is, the backbone should be removed and the breast bone should be pressed flat. Use skewers to thread through the thighs and the breast, ensuring that the bird is relatively flat. Flatten chicken breasts and ensure they are of a similar size, they will then cook equally.

Marinades are excellent for preventing the meat from drying out, flavoring the dish and tenderizing the meat. A good marinade should contain an acidic ingredient such as citrus juices, wine or vinegar and meat should always be marinated in the refrigerator. As well as marinating the meat, some of the marinade should be retained and the chicken should be basted with the mixture every 5 to 10 minutes.

A marinade can be made from garlic and ginger and is prepared as follows, mix 3 cloves of crushed garlic with 3 tablespoons of ground ginger. Add the juice from 4 limes and 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Leave the meat to marinate for up to twenty minutes. Remember to baste with the mixture also.

For those who like spiced ingredients, chickens can be marinated in 60mls of lime juice, two chopped jalapenos and three garlic cloves crushed. Season, and leave to marinate for about an hour. Use the left over mixture to baste meat with.

This beer marinade will add flavor and zest to chickens. Mix 240mls of beer with 120mls of soy sauce, 2 crushed garlic cloves and one small finely chopped onion. Chopped parsley may also be added.

Give chickens extra flavor by using rubs prior to cooking. Unlike a marinade, a rub does not contain any liquids therefore, the cook should use to the meat juices to baste the bird during cooking. One should apply the rub to the meat about one hour before cooking, which will enhance the flavor of the meat. Store in the refrigerator until ready to cook.

Many ingredients that can be found in the store cupboard are excellent for making rubs. Such ingredients include dried oregano, cayenne pepper, chili powder, grated lime, orange or lemon peel, dried rosemary and ground mustard. Sea or rock salt and ground black pepper are also ideal for rubbing meat with.

Of course the best recipe for broiled chicken will depend on the individual. There are lots of ingredients that can be used and it is a good idea to experiment.

Searching all over the Web for a tried and tested recipe for broiled chicken ? Get it instantly by checking out our overview of all you need to know about how and where to find the best broiled chicken recipes .

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Special Mouthwatering Recipes For Potato Salad


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It can be simple to make a good recipe for potato salads. All that is needed is a combination of ingredients that are fresh and a little bit of creativity. It can be fun to try different strategies and to mess around on occasion. Potatoes are flavorful and good for your health. They can be found in several varieties and go together with lots of foodstuffs meaning there are always options available.

Most of the potato salads you can make are better if you make them to be eaten a day later, having been refrigerated overnight. This makes it wise to make them the night before you intend to have them and dress them at this time. They can then be kept in your refrigerator for next day usage. This makes them a good convenience food that is handy when you are out, whether at the office or on a picnic.

Try something fresh and different in your recipe for potato salads, rather than the usual mayonnaise base that people choose to always go back to over and over. These can be nice and flavorful, but you are better off trying to incorporate some variety to avoid the potential for boredom. Lemon zest, olive oil and fresh herbs are good alternative to add to boiled potatoes that have cooled off.

If you like to have more salt and added flavor then you can make this even better by including bacon bits. These can be picked up next to most fresh salad department in a grocery store. Alternatively, make your own at home. This recipe can also be made to taste more intense by adding a dash of garlic mayo which can help the flavors become more intense and will be well received by those who like basic, bold flavors.

Mix in potatoes with chicken that has been cooked and chilled. This can then be combined with mayonnaise or light mayonnaise if that’s better for you. Adding something unexpected like parsley gives it another flavor and the green offers a fresh look. You then have a meal which is light and provides carbohydrates, protein, herbs and starch which makes it appropriate for a nice lunch or as something you eat post workout to aid recovery.

Garlic might not be everyone’s favorite but it works well with many the ingredients you will mix it up with. Boil your potatoes until their nearly done and then drain and dry before slicing them into small cubes. Heat some oil until it is almost smoking and add the potatoes and fry for five to ten minutes until they are crispy. Set to one side and drain the oil off. Add some chopped garlic and olive oil and stir.

Herbs can then be added to make something that is really quite basic. Alternatively you can add shredded chicken and mayonnaise. Using these two ingredients you have a more indulgent choice with a range of fascinating textures.

Make sure your recipe for potato salads always use potatoes that are in season and make sure you don’t overcook them as they lose their firmness, making them unsuitable candidates for potato salads. Make sure you experiment with seasoning and do not be afraid to experiment with different ingredients as this is one of the great pleasures of cooking

Find out just how easy it is to make an interesting recipe for potato salads now in our complete guide to all you need to know about how and where to find delicious potato salad recipes