A List Of The Most Popular Traditional French Food

French cuisine is popular for its delicious, diversified and world-wide known cuisine. Traditional French foods range from delectable cheeses and desserts to hearty soups, stews, and fresh fish. One of the great things about French traditional food is the fact that each region has its own specialties that are traditional and unique to that area. These traditional French food are based off the available items within that particular region. In this writing, we only give you some general ideas of the most popular traditional French foods. Look for the regional favorites while visiting France if you want to taste the best of the region.

Escargot

Most people unfamiliar with French cooking are quick to turn up their collective noses at this dish. Perhaps the most widely know of the traditional French dishes, escargot is a delicacy made from snails. Served as an appetizer, escargot is usually prepared in a garlic butter sauce. The snails themselves are first removed from the shell, cleaned, and then placed back inside the snail shell after preparation. Escargot generally come served with an herb butter sauce for dipping. This traditional French dish even has its own utensil; escargot comes to the table with special tongs designed for holding the shell.

Bouillabaisse

Bouillabaisse is a French fish soup that is a specialty of the region of Provence and is one of the most familiar of the traditional French dishes. Three kinds of fish usually go into this traditional French dish, including scorpion fish, conger and monkfish. Cooked with special herbs like saffron and garlic, as well as orange zest, bay leaf, and fennel. Leeks, tomatoes, celery, and onions simmer together with the fish and spices. Bouillabaisse is served with crusty French bread topped by rouille, a mayonnaise made with olive oil, cayenne, garlic and saffron.

Pumpkin Soup

In the center of France, soupe au potiron is a favorite. In the fall, when pumpkins and potatos are harvested, this soup is featured on many traditional tables. The main ingredients are mixed with cream and topped with croutons or served with a freshly-baked baguette.

Chestnut Soup

Another seasonal favorite is soupe aux chataignes. Locally-grown chestnuts are mixed with potatos, leeks, and turnips to make a hearty, and yet sweet, winter soup. While this French soup is more difficult to make because finding fresh chestnuts and peeling them can be tricky, it is a great recipe to try for a special occasion.

Coq au Vin

Literally "chicken and wine", this dish is a combination of braised rooster served in a special wine sauce. Coq au vin, like many traditional French dishes, varies slightly by region. Wine sauce preparation depends upon the area, though a burgundy is the most common choice. After the chicken marinates in the wine one day before, it is seared in a hot pan. Small mushrooms, onions, garlic, butter and salt pork (bacon) are added to the chicken and allowed to simmer. As the sauce thickens, salt, pepper, thyme and other savory herbs are added to the pot.

Bouillinade

Potatoes and fish baked together with butter and herbs makes for a fresh potato alternative. Typically southern, the herbs mixed here (saffron, parsley, cayenne) are a new combination for many non-Mediterranean palates.

These Processes Are Quite Important For Chinese Food

Chinese food, naturally, start with a set of ingredients found in Cantonese, Szechuan and other provincial styles. But the methods often migrate across borders. And, in a country as large and varied as China, that can be a long way.

Stir Frying

Stir frying is one of the most popular techniques. A little sesame oil, a wok and some ingredients and you’re already well on your way. Of course, like any cooking method, it takes practice, practice, practice. The key is speed. Woks cook very fast in hot oil so all the ingredients have to be ready to use in an instant.

Everything must be pre-sliced, pre-diced and pre-shredded. All the spices should be arrayed with lids off and be ready to shake. An easy-to-use timer should be within easy reach. A towel, some hot pads and quick reflexes are a must.

Stewing

Stewing provides for a somewhat less chaotic cooking experience. A crock pot is filled with chicken or other meat. Then, lots of water, a little wine and many spices are added for individual recipes. One of the most delightful offshoots of this style is the chance to create thickened sauces that compliment the stewed dish. Cornstarch is a common additive, but beer often plays a part, as well.

A clay pot heated by a charcoal fire is a traditional stewing scenario. Stewed for hours this way meats come out tender and juicy. At the same time the broth that results provides a liquid that can be used to enhance a dozen other aspects of the meal.

One common and delightful category is known as 'red cooking'. The name comes from the color produced by using soy sauce liberally. The dish may be simmered for hours with the soy wending its way through meat and vegetables to provide a tangy and nutritious meal.

Roasting

Frequently used by restaurants, a fine Chinese roast is the equal of its Western cousin. In this technique, a large piece of meat is marinated then roasted over direct heat. Whether barbecued or oven-roasted, the results can be among the finest dishes served. The key, of course, is to have an excellent marinade.

Chinese chefs excel in this regard. Seasonings, such as five spice powder that make free use of chile peppers are often the fundamental secret. Garlic is another common additive. Ginger frequently makes its way into a fine Chinese marinade.

Whatever technique is employed, the same attention to detail both in preparation and presentation are ever present in Chinese cooking. Chinese recipes are a delight to the eye, nose and palette equally.

Nutritional Value Varies From These Two Types Of Fishes

Fish is richly endowed with essential nutrients which keep our health in perfect shape. There are two types of fishes that are usually consumed. These are white-flesh fishes and oily rich fishes, and nutritional value varies from type to type.

Oily fishes are exceptional amounts of Omega 3 fatty acids. Our body cannot produce EFA's or essential fatty acids and hence these must be taken to maintain dietary balance. Omega 3 fatty acids induce polyunsaturated fats in your system. These fats boost cell repair, helps regenerate the nervous and cardio vascular systems. Fish nutrition improves memory in the long run. Oily fishes which have good resource of fatty acids are herrings, anchovies, tuna, mackerel and sardines. White fishes are abundant sources of Vitamin B3 and B6. This means white fish nutrients provide the body with niacin and pyridoxine. These agents instigate growth of healthy cells and proactively helps create red blood cells, fortifies the nervous system and improves skin texture.

For people who have issues of weight gain, fishes are great consumables, much better than meat and poultry. White flesh fishes like cod or haddock are practically fat free while calories in fish-types like perch, sole and bass have very little fat. This is why dieticians prescribe fish as a part of low fat diet plan. Steamed 100 gm of bass has a calorie content of about 125. Similarly 100gm of sole has close to about 79 calories and hence these sorts of white flesh fish are often part of balanced diet. Even though calories in fish are exceptionally low you must never consume fishes which are deep fried because it will add more calories.

If we look at fish nutrition facts we find that it is a valuable source of proteins and Vitamin B. Vitamin B is known in the medical world as a stress reducing agent. A regular dose of vitamin B often heals depression and anxiety related disorders. Fish replenishes the body with iodine and selenium. These important minerals reigns thyroid and even deters onset of infections which can cause harrowing diseases like cancer. White fish is especially good because unlike river fishes which are rich in toxins due to exposure to river pollution, white flesh fish found in seas have minor trace of toxins.

These Facts About Famous Japanese Sushi

Sushi is one of the most popular Japanese foods. It is a complete dish with raw fish and rice as the primary ingredients. The distinctive quality of Japanese rice sticky when it is cooked makes it appropriate for sushi. Japanese sushi is said to be "vinegar rice" in most Japanese cuisine because the rice used in sushi are seasoned with sugar and vinegar.

This traditional Japanese dish often topped with other ingredients including fish, various meats, and vegetables is usually dipped in condiments like soy sauce, wasabi and pickled ginger before eating and it is eaten with chopsticks or by hand.

 Health Benefits

Eating Japanese sushi could give health benefits. The two main ingredients namely raw fish and rice are great source of high protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals and importantly has low fat content. Such fat found in Japanese sushi is mostly unsaturated fat. An example is Omega-3, good for the heart.

There is no fat introduced in sushi's preparation for it is served raw. The high levels of protein in Sushi are found in fillings. These are fish, tofu, seafood, egg, and many others. The vegetables used for sushi are rich source of minerals and vitamins. And the rice and the vegetables used are sources of carbohydrates.

Health hazards

Since one chief ingredient of Japanese sushi is fish, it does not mean it is free of health hazards. Fish like tuna especially blue fin contains high levels of mercury. It poses some danger when these are consumed in significant amounts. For this reason, since January of 2008, only a number of New York City dining establishments serve tuna sushi with sufficiently high mercury content that a weekly reference dose is limited to 2 to 6 pieces. This will depend on the quantity of tuna in the sushi and the weight of the person.

Undercooked seafood and salty condiments

The Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a bacterium that grows in undercooked seafood. This can cause intestinal problem like diarrhea. Sushi also can be a mode of transmission of parasites and pathogens. So, it is important that sushi is properly prepared to avoid any problem.

Salty condiments like soy sauce are usually combined with sushi by the diner in whatever amount is desired. Such salty condiment can be dangerous to people with hypertension or renal disorders if overly taken.

Conveyor belt sushi restaurants

A well-known and inexpensive way of eating sushi is in restaurants with a conveyor belt sushi and sushi train. These unique restaurants are widely found in Japan and are becoming large in number abroad. The sushi in this restaurant is served on color coded plates. Each color denotes the cost of the sushi serving.

The sushi plates are placed on a moving strip or platform. Customers choose their desired plates as the belt or boat passes. They let the food pass if they do not like it, and the other customer could take it as it passes them. The customer's bill is tallied by counting the number of plates of each color they have taken.

Here Is An Easy And Healthy Dinner Recipe

Health is one of the main agendas on everyone's list these days. Dinner time is when one can have a meal peacefully with the family. So why not choose healthy dinner recipes and give your family the much needed nutrition to stay healthy? The following article will help you know more on healthy recipes for dinner.

Dinner time is one time when the entire family gathers and talks about their each individual day activity. It is not possible to order a take away regularly or go out for dinner everyday. Junk food is known for it's ill effects on health and you surely don't want to put your family on any health risks. Healthy recipes for dinner are the best solution of offering your family a nutritious diet as well as a solution to the rising restaurant bills. Your kids will enjoy the healthy dinner and you can enjoy preparing these healthy recipes. There are many healthy dinner ideas that you can use everyday and have a great change of taste daily. The following healthy dinner recipes won't take much of your time in preparation and will still help you lay out a healthy dinner for your family. Know more on easy healthy dinner recipes.

The following healthy recipe with chicken can prepared in just 20 minutes. If you are short of time and need a healthy dinner idea, this recipe is for you. Know more on cooking.

Chicken and Pasta Mediterranean Style

Ingredients:

• 1 6-ounce jar marinated artichoke hearts
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 12 ounces skinless, boneless chicken breast, cut into bite-size pieces
• 3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
• cup chicken broth
• cup dry white wine
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano, crushed
• One 7-ounce jar of roasted red peppers, drained and cut into strips
• cup pitted olives
• 3 cups of hot cooked campanile or penne pasta
• 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese

Method of Preparation

Drain the artichoke hearts, reserve the marinade and chop them. Heat oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet and add chicken and garlic. Cook the chicken till it turns brown. Now add the reserved artichoke marinade, broth, wine, and dried oregano. Heat till it boils, then reduce the heat. Cover the chicken and simmer for 10 minutes. Add the chopped artichokes, roasted peppers, and olives to the chicken. When serving, spoon the chicken mixture over the pasta. You can even sprinkle it with feta cheese.

The Delicious Pasta Salad Recipe

Pasta salad recipe, should you be cooking food entree, be sure that you usually do not fit excessive who are holding cards. This may definitely not prepare your meal throughout and can style really fresh as well as thicker. Attempt to restriction the number of entree that you just make the marijuana to optimize flavor and also top quality.
Certainly not work with acrylic when you’re cooking food entree. Do not permit virtually any gas get into your cooking pot when you find yourself cooking food normal water to prepare the dinner. The actual fat will certainly move on the dinner. This will likely go away the particular ramen clever, which suggests almost any marinade you lather onto these people later on will never adhere.

Once your spaghetti is completed and you are therefore concluded emptying, fill several Dairy products on the top, It could provide your current marinade one thing in order to attach on. This could make factors less difficult available for you if you are generating the dinner and permit you to definitely level the amount of the noodles.
Be certain that while you are doing ones spaghetti, not to ever employ gas in water on cooking food. This will probably decrease the possibility that this entree will certainly go through marinade, which often can destroy the caliber of one mealtime. Avoid acrylic inside water if you are food preparation entree for max outcomes.
Cold water can help to conserve the color of your respective greens. Uninteresting pale fruit and vegetables will not glimpse seeing that attracting try to eat. If you need brilliant along with vivid fruit and vegetables, then you certainly must dive all of them straight into cold water immediately after blanching all of them. Really brightly shaded greens search a lot more delicious throughout preparing salads in addition to spaghetti food.
Prepare food ones spaghetti about a minute below the particular offer recommends, after that end food preparation the idea within a pot having hot sauce recipe. Your dinner will certainly soak up a lot of the taste with the spices not having a more than baked texture and consistency. This generally is a fast and efficient way to organize the dinner mealtime.
You must not steam dinner with normal water which has gas within it. Whenever you create gas on the mineral water that you will be boiling hot the entree from it helps to keep this marinade via staying with the actual entree. Leave the particular gas away you’ll be able to pitch the dinner from the hot sauce recipe and this will stick into it.

Share A Quick And Healthy Dinner Recipe With You

I believe that dinner is the most important meal in our lives, to keep our health, it must be healthy and nutritive. To guarantee the nutrition, more and more people choose to cook the healthy dinner at home by theirselves, and there are also a lot of easy and healthy dinner recipes. It is possible to put together one along with just about anything you got inside your home. Any type of veggies will go inside. Which is even the perfect way of getting gone the locations: which lonely carrot, this marrow, this particular little bit of spinach or cauliflower.

Quick Vegetable Soups along with Noodles

Ingredients

700 ml chicken, beef or vegetable stock

350 g vegetables

150 g soup noodles

spices of your choice

Steps

Bring water to boil and prepare the stock.

In the meantime, prepare your vegetables: wash, peel, remove pips and seeds and
cut into little cubes or florets or thin slices.

Add the vegetables and noodles to the boiling stock. Reduce the heat, cover partially and allow simmering for 10-15 minutes until vegetables and noodles are just soft.

Season and serve.

If you’re in a hurry, it is possible to secure considerable time through the use of frozen or perhaps processed veggies that are all set for use. You can use veggies just or perhaps mix them with legumes. Dried out peas, coffee beans as well as peas consider quite some time to prepare, so you might want to use canned kinds instead. You can also add several meats or perhaps chicken also. Merely reduce the amount vegetables a little then. To maintain this healthful, make sure that at least 2/3 of one’s 300 gary are usually veggies or perhaps dried beans.

What You Must Remember If You Want To Own A Healthy Dinner Outside

Dinner may be the most important meal every day, we all know that too much and too late dinner can lead to the fatter, so if we want to keep the perfect figure, we need the healthy and nutritive dinner every day. I believe that everyone wonders how it is possible to keep weight with healthy dinner, and what you must also remember is that you must pay attention to dinner when you eat outside.

- Do not ordering an alcoholic beverage, you will save yourself a considerable number of calories. Try sipping iced tea sweetened with a noncaloric sweetener, fruit juice, or water with lemon. You'll be glad you did once you look at the calorie savings.

 - One of the top menus of healthy dinner is salad. Not merely will it fill you up so you'll consume fewer calories overall, however it will also give you a hefty dose of antioxidants that are heart healthy. Make sure to ask your waitress to hold the croutons and cheese which will further decrease your caloric load. Also, select your dressing wisely. Steer clear of cream based dressings and go for the vinegar based ones. You also have the alternative of using vinegar and olive oil which is heart healthy.

- Do not order an appetizer as soon as possible, some appetizers have much more calories and fat than the main course, and lots of appetizers are fried and served with heavy sauces which will add to your intake of saturated fat as well as trans fats and calories. It's not a healthy technique to commence your meal.

- Use broiled and grilled instead of fried, not only will you save calories and fat grams, you will also keep away from trans fats which are so prevalent in fried foods. Instead, take into account asking for a doubles order of vegetables along with your entree. Very few Americans are getting the 7-9 servings of fruits and vegetables recommended for optimal wellness. Plus, by avoiding the starch, you will be decreasing your caloric and carbohydrate load. Also, stick to tomato based sauces as opposed to cream based and you'll delight in a considerable calorie savings. Lastly, ask for the sauce to be served in a separate dish on the side so it is possible to control the amount you eat.

- These days, quite a few restaurants are serving bigger quantities of food than in the past. If this will be the case, put aside a portion of your entree at the beginning of the meal to take property with you. If you eliminate it from your plate before you start eating, you will be less tempted to overeat.

- In many restaurants, a dessert is necessary after the meal, go for a low fat or low carbohydrate dessert selection including a low carb cheesecake. These are wise selections for the wellness conscious eater and still allow you to end the meal on a sweet note. If a healthy dessert choice is not obtainable, try a cup of coffee with skim milk to aid satiate your desire for something sweet.

Nutritious Meals Can Engage Your Senses In A Sumptuous World Of Flavors

Taking a few minutes to prepare quick and healthy meals gives you more control over what you and your family are eating. Seeking out a variety of healthy recipes and preparing nutritious meals can help prevent many common medical conditions, and engages your senses in a sumptuous world of flavors, textures, aromas, sights, and sounds. It can also be a wonderful way to bring your family together, while helping you save money.

Plan a week’s worth of dinners. Many of us don’t know what we’re having for dinner as late as 4pm in the afternoon. Yet planning ahead takes just a few minutes. Here’s how to do it. Every Friday night or Saturday morning, sit down with a pad of paper and your favorite cookbooks or some cookery magazines.

Delegate, delegate, delegate. If you have children aged ten-plus or another adult who gets home before you do, get them started on dinner. For example, you might ask your partner to pick up ingredients on the way home, your teen to start chopping vegetables for the salad and fill the pasta pot with water, and your pre-teen to gather necessary ingredients for a given recipe and put them on the worktop for you, preheat the oven and set the table. Yes, they may think of it as a chore, but if you build in a little opportunity for them to ‘create’ (for example, with place cards for dinner, fancy napkin folding, their own recipes) it will make your children more interested in nutritious food and will encourage them to try new things.

Enjoy the cooking process. Of course, not everyone loves cooking. But there’s no reason to not like doing it. If the thought of cooking fills you full of dread, you need an attitude adjustment. Cooking is a pleasure, far easier than many non-cooks realize. For the sake of your health, your pleasure and your wallet, you should learn – or relearn – the pleasures of cooking. Make it a project. Spend time with your friends and family while they cook so that you can absorb the methods and routines.

The Harvard School of Public Health says a plant-based diet is healthiest. Whip up a quick vegetarian dinner that includes fiber-rich white cannellini beans and broccoli. Cook whole wheat pasta -- any shape you like -- according to package directions. In a large pan, saute finely chopped garlic in a small amount of heart-healthy olive oil and add bite-sized pieces of fresh broccoli crowns. Add a can of white cannellini beans, drained and rinsed to remove excess sodium, and the cooked pasta. Moisten with a splash of chicken broth. Cook until ingredients are heated through. Top with toasted pine nuts and freshly ground black pepper. An arugula salad with chopped tomatoes, shaved Parmesan and a homemade lemon vinaigrette made by shaking together olive oil, lemon juice and d'jon mustard is a more nutritious choice than an iceberg lettuce salad. The bitterness of the salad complements the sweeter beans and provides vitamin A and vitamin C.

Meanwhile, mash roasted sweet potatoes with a splash of coconut milk, salt, pepper and a 1/2 teaspoon of five-spice powder, which is a ground spice blend of star anise, cloves, cinnamon, Sichuan pepper and fennel seeds used in Asian cooking. Drizzle in a small amount of maple syrup or honey to enhance the sweetness of the potatoes. For the spinach, place a pan over medium heat and drizzle in a teaspoon of olive or canola oil. Add chopped garlic and allow to sizzle for just 30 seconds to 1 minute. Toss in 4 to 5 oz. of fresh baby spinach. Season lightly with soy sauce. Spinach and sweet potatoes are excellent sources of vitamins A and C and fiber, along with other nutrients. A 4-oz. serving of the pork provides 249 calories with only 4 grams of fat, only 1 gram of which is saturated, and 31 grams of protein.

Pork Chops With Mushroom Soup Is The Perfect Weeknight Dinner

This favorite pork chop dish, served over egg noodles with a tasty sauce is just like mom used to make only quicker and easier! It's the perfect weeknight dinner.Brown pork chops slightly before placing in crock pot. Mix cream of mushroom soup and water. Pour over pork chops and cook on low 6 to 8 hours. There are 346 calories in 1 cup of Ham or Pork with (Mushroom) Soup (Mixture).


PORK CHOPS WITH MUSHROOM SOUP

Ingredients

4 pork chops

salt and pepper to taste

1 pinch garlic salt, or to taste

1 onion, chopped

1/2 pound fresh mushrooms, sliced

1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup

Directions

Season pork chops with salt, pepper, and garlic salt to taste.

In a large skillet, brown the chops over medium-high heat. Add the onion and mushrooms, and saute for one minute. Pour cream of mushroom soup over chops. Cover skillet, and reduce temperature to medium-low. Simmer 20 to 30 minutes, or until chops are cooked through.


8 pork chops

Garlic

Salt and pepper

Shortening

1/2 can water

2 cans cream of mushroom soup

Sprinkle a little garlic salt on each. Brown chops in a small amount of shortening. Pour grease out of skillet. Put mushroom soup in skillet with 1/2 cup of water. Mix until smooth. Put pork chops back into skillet with the mushroom soup. Put lid on skillet and simmer for 45 minutes. Turn chops once.

Lightly spray slow cooker with butter or garlic flavored non-stick cooking spray. Put onions and potatoes in bottom of slow cooker. Top with pork chops, salt and pepper, pour soup over chops. Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours, until tender.

Serves 4 to 6.

Tip: You can add any amount to your meal plan, not just common serving units. Want a Pork Chop with Mushroom Soup Sauce serving size to fit your carbs limit? No problem, just use the Pork Chop with Mushroom Soup Sauce nutrition facts serving size tool to the right.

Simple Tips To Make Dumplings

Making Dumplings can be easier than you think. When I serve this at Deep Springs, many students ask, "So, what exactly is a dumpling?" Dumplings, bits of dough simmered in broth or water, are the great-grandmother of pasta. They are an all-but-extinguished art in American cooking; the appeal of the simple, savory softness of a dumpling has been forgotten in our al dente age. Matzoh Ball Soup, fluffy matzoh dumplings served in rich chicken broth, is to my mind the greatest dumpling dish in the world. Chicken and dumplings--tender, thick dumplings in a hearty, simple chicken stew; is matzoh ball soup's country cousin. These herb-flecked dumplings are tender yet have textural character at the same time. They are cooked separately in water for a lighter, more digestible, cleaner-tasting result than if they were cooked directly in the broth.

HOW TO MAKE CHINESE DUMPLINGS - SIMPLE RECIPE
INGREDIENTS:
¾ pound ground pork
¼ pound medium shrimp (about 35 per pound), peeled and deveined
¼ cup canned preserved Szechuan cabbage, turnip, or mixed vegetables
4 scallions, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons minced peeled fresh ginger
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
½ teaspoon sugar
40 or more circular Shanghai-style dumpling wrappers
Cornstarch, for dusting the baking sheet
Nonstick spray or canola oil, for greasing the steamer baskets
Simple Asian Dipping Sauce, sesame Dipping Sauce, Chinese prepared mustard, or purchased sweet and sour dipping sauce as a garnish.

DIRECTIONS :
1. Place the pork, shrimp, preserved vegetable, and scallions in a food processor fitted with a chopping blade; pulse until well mixed. Add the ginger, soy sauce, vinegar, and sugar. Pulse until finely chopped, about like a coarse meat loaf mixture. (The filling can be made up to 1 day in advance; cover it tightly and store it in the refrigerator.)
2. Place one of the wrappers on your work surface. Place about 1 teaspoon filling in the center of the wrapper. Wet your finger and run it along half the circumference of the circle. Fold the circle closed into a half-moon, then pinch the edges together to seal.
3. Pick up the dumpling and dab a little water on the crescent edge. Begin crimping this curved edge closed, starting at one end and folding a little piece of the seam over itself, like crimping fabric or paper, and then again, and again until you've created a small, tight clutch or purse. Set aside on a cornstarch-dusted baking sheet and continue making more dumplings.
4. Bring about 2 inches of water to a simmer in a large pot. Meanwhile, spray several bamboo baskets with nonstick spray or lightly oil them. Place the dumplings in one layer in each, then stack them over the simmering water. Cover and steam until somewhat translucent and quite tender, about 10 minutes. Alternatively, steam the dumplings in batches in a metal vegetable steamer set over simmering water; spray the steamer with nonstick spray or line it with cabbage leaves to keep the wrappers from sticking. Serve with one or more dipping sauces on the side.

Turning the Dumplings into Potstickers:

Complete the dumpling recipe through step 3. Heat a 10- or 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon sesame oil and 10 to 15 dumplings to the skillet, giving them some breathing room because they will expand. Fry undisturbed until the bottoms are brown and crispy, about 3 minutes. Add about ½ cup water to the pan, cover, and raise the heat to mediumhigh. Boil until the water has been all absorbed or evaporated and the filling is cooked through, about 8 minutes. Uncover, shake the pan to release the dumplings, and continue cooking until the bottoms crisp a second time, about 1 more minute. Transfer to a serving plate and continue frying more dumplings.

Follow the easy directions very carefully and you will be surprised how good this Chinese Dumplings really are.

Scroll Down And Know Some Simple Recipes Of Tea Sandwiches

Tea sandwiches, also known as finger sandwiches, are popular appetizer menus for birthday parties, baby showers, bridal showers, etc. These sandwiches are similar to normal sandwiches, but they are small in size and can be eaten in two bites. Tea sandwiches are crust-less and are sliced thinly. Though cucumber sandwiches are popular tea party menu items, you can use a lot of variety to prepare tea sandwiches. So, how to make tea sandwiches? Well, the procedure is very simple. Remove the crust edges of bread slices. Spread butter or any other softening on the bread slices. Place the topping ingredients over half of the bread slices, then place the remaining bread slices over them. And then simply cut the sandwiches in small triangles or squares. Scroll down and know some simple recipes of tea sandwiches.

Tea Sandwiches Recipes

Pineapple Tea Sandwiches
Ingredients

• Sugar - 1 cup
• Chopped nuts - 1 cup
• Cream cheese - 8 ounces
• Crushed pineapple (drained) - 2 cups
• Milk or mayonnaise

Procedure

To prepare this tea sandwich recipe, take a small saucepan and add sugar and crushed pineapple to it. Bring this mixture to boil and cook it to attain a thick texture. Keep stirring the mixture constantly. Then, let the mixture cool completely and then add chopped nuts to it. In a mixing bowl add cheese and soften it with enough amount of milk or mayonnaise. This mixture should have a good spreading consistency. Then, combine this mixture with the pineapple mixture and simply spread on the bread slices. Trim the edges of the bread slices and cut them into small squares.

Cucumber Tea Sandwiches
Ingredients

• Butter (softened) - 1½ teaspoon
• Capers - 1 tablespoon
• Cucumber slices (thin) - 12
• Fresh dill (chopped) - 1 tablespoon
• Green onion (minced) - 1 tablespoon
• Horseradish - 1½ teaspoon
• Mayonnaise - ¼ cup
• Pepper - 1 pinch
• Smoked salmon - 4 slices
• Whole wheat bread - 8 slices

Procedure

In a small mixing bowl add onion, dill, capers, horseradish, mayonnaise and pepper. Trim the edges of the bread slices and then evenly spread this mixture over the bread slices. Place the salmon and cucumber slices over half of the bread slices and then top them with remaining bread slices. Cut the bread slices into triangles or squares.

Tomato Tea Sandwiches
Ingredients

• Cream cheese (room temperature) - 4 ounces
• Cranberry chutney - 4 tablespoons
• Raisin bread - 8 slices
• Fresh watercress - 1 bunch
• Smoked turkey breast (thinly sliced) - ½ pound
• Florida tomatoes (thinly sliced) - 2 medium ripe

Procedure

Combine cream cheese and cranberry chutney in food processor. Blend them to attain a thick texture. Then, spread this mixture over each bread slice. Place a layer of watercress over half of the bread slices and then place alternate layers of turkey and tomato over these bread slices. Top these layers with remaining bread slices and then cut each sandwich into half to serve.

Egg Tea Sandwiches
Ingredients

• Hard-cooked eggs - 8
• Mayonnaise - ½ cup
• Finely chopped fresh dill - 1 tablespoon
• Unsalted butter (room temperature) - 6 tablespoons
• White bread - 20 slices
• Salt and pepper to taste

Procedure

Peel the hard-cooked eggs and place them into a medium-sized mixing bowl. Then, slice these eggs and mash them coarsely with help of a fork. Combine mayonnaise, pepper, salt and dill to mashed eggs and then stir them to mix properly. You can refrigerate this mixture for two days or use directly. Spread unsalted butter over 10 slices of bread and then spread 2 tablespoons of egg mixture. Place the remaining bread slices over the topping with the buttered side down. Cut sandwiches in triangular shape by cutting half way diagonally and then again into half.

Tea sandwiches can be prepared with any of your favorite ingredients. But, make sure you use a high quality bread and soft butter to prepare these tea sandwiches. I hope you will try making these easy sandwiches for your next party.

Easy Dinner Ideas For Picky Eaters Which Are Simple To Make

Cooking for picky eaters can be a daunting task. In today's stressful life, where there are a million things to worry about, you shouldn't have to worry about dinner ideas for picky eaters! Pleasing everyone on the table is not an impossible task. Also, children aren't the only picky eaters as, even some adults can be very picky. It can be very frustrating for the cook of the family (almost always the mother!) to decide whether to make something they like (which is often unhealthy) or make a simple, healthy meal. But now you don't have to make this difficult choice. The following are some dinner ideas for picky eaters which will not only ensure that you get your daily dose of nutrients, but will also get your taste buds jingling with anticipation!

Dinner Ideas For Picky Eaters

Here are some easy dinner ideas for picky eaters which are simple to make and are everyone's favorite (but of course, with a healthy little twist!)

Broccoli Cheese Soup: Experimenting with classic soup recipes is a great way to include vegetables that otherwise are never eaten by kids. Most kids run away from broccoli, but one of the easy dinner ideas for picky children is making broccoli soup with a strong taste of cheese. Whether you tell your child about the broccoli or not is a personal choice, but by giving it a creative name it will be a sure shot hit with your children. And the best part is, that it is very nutritious.

Chili: By including beans, onions, peppers, tomatoes etc. chili can be a very healthy and nutritious meal. Cornbread can be served with it to make it more filling. This is one of the all time favorite picky eater recipes which is extremely easy to make.

Chicken Stir Fry: If your child loves chicken, the easiest dinner idea for picky children is making chicken stir fry with a twist, by adding snow peas, mushrooms, red peppers etc. This is a great way to make it a more healthy recipe for dinner and no one can complain!

Tacos: Not only children, but even adults love tacos! To make it a little more interesting, set up a taco bar with different ingredients to choose from. Instead of just chicken or beef, keep different vegetables and fish. This will make the dinner fun and interesting for everyone.

Hot Dog Quesadillas: American food includes all kinds of fast foods with hot dogs topping the list. Try to make it a little more nutritious by making quesadillas with a filling of beans and hot dogs. Definitely something unique that kids and adults alike will enjoy.

Meatballs: Meatballs are an all time favorite. Besides the regular filling, adding mushrooms, cauliflower etc. is a great way of including vegetables in your meatball dishes. You can keep experimenting with the sauce of the meatballs for a different taste each time.

Tips to Please Picky Eaters

Besides being creative with recipes, there are certain simple tips which may help you pique the interest of your picky eater, thus, instigating him into trying out your new recipe! Here are a few of those pointers on how to get picky eaters to eat your innovative dishes:

Grocery Shopping: The first problem that you come across for dinner ideas for picky eaters, is the grocery shopping. It can be quite challenging to buy groceries that will not go waste. The easiest solution for dinner ideas for picky children is to include the children in grocery shopping. By taking them to the supermarket and asking them to choose vegetables which they would like, gives them a sense of power of making decisions. They will be intrigued by the new shapes and colors and will invariably pick out new vegetables, fruits etc. Including the child while preparing the vegetable or fruit that he or she picked out is a sure shot way of getting the child to eat it.

Being Creative: Another way to get children to eat something that they don't want to eat is by being a little sneaky. Okay, so being stealthy is not exactly the perfect solution but it won't hurt them, right? Making a puree of the vegetables they don't like or slicing and dicing all those veggies in their favorite dishes like pastas, pizzas or even pancakes is an age old solution (or shall I say, a trick used by almost all mothers!). It is not necessary for dinner ideas for picky eaters to be the same boring repetitive dishes. Just by browsing through some magazines, you can get tons of food recipes. It is known that picky eaters will not try new recipes easily, but the key for picky eater dinner recipes is substitution. Including their favorite ingredients in any new recipe is incentive enough for them to try it, after all, they do get bored of the same food items day in and day out.

Making Food Fun: Making food fun is important. Besides tasting good food also has to be visually pleasing. Making the dishes attractive with the use of different colors and cuts is a added incentive for picky eaters to try new dishes. For dinner ideas for picky toddlers, the easiest way is to make the food fun by including shapes and adding colors in the food and serving it in their favorite shaped plates.

These are just a few dinner ideas for picky eaters. The key here is to use your creativity and come up with unique recipes that include the ingredients that are their favorite. However, try to avoid fast food recipes as vegetables often lose their nutritional value when they are deep-fried. So try to strike a balance between fried and healthy food which will ensure that dinner will no longer be something which picky eaters will avoid but, instead will actually look forward to!

4 Tips For Healthy Dinner

First, eat less at dinner. Compared with breakfast and lunch, dinner should eat less. Because there are no other activities after dinner, if eating too much can cause raised cholesterol levels, stimulate the liver to produce more low-density and very low density lipoprotein, induced atherosclerosis. Long-term fed dinner, repeated stimulation of insulin secretion of a large number, often resulting in early failure of insulin B cells, thus planting the seeds of diabetes.

Second, eat early is better than late. Most of the family's dinner time is at 7 o'clock. And some people never come home for dinner, every day after work began their "entertainment", eating and drinking for hours. More people, who stay up late to work overtime, eat dinner and supper together and sleep immediately after eating. In fact, these bad habits can cause many diseases.
Generally, 4-5 hours after eating is the body of calcium emission peak, but according to most people's living habits, this time has to go to bed to sleep. So urine remain in the ureter, bladder, urethra and other urinary tract and not be discharged in vitro, resulting in increased calcium in urine, easily deposited to form small crystals, over time, gradually increase the formation of stones.

Third, don't eat oily dinner. According to scientific research, eating a lot of meat, eggs, milk and other high protein foods at dinner will increase the calcium in urine. On one hand, reducing the body's calcium storage, induced rickets in children; on the other hand, high concentrations of calcium in urine, the possibility of suffering from urinary tract stones will be greatly enhanced.

Fourth, don't eat snacks after dinner. Many people like to eat fruit, sweets or fried foods after dinner. In fact, this habit is not conducive to digestion. Others like to drink during meals, this is more of a bad habit, because too much alcohol in the nighttime hinder metabolism, stimulate the stomach to have no rest, leading to poor sleep. Therefore, try not to eat after dinner, so that to fully digest the food and reduce the burden of gastroenteritis.

Vegetarian Dinner Ideas Will Surely Benefit Your Health And Digestion

Vegetables are good for health, and is a rich source of vitamins, minerals and fiber. Vegetarian recipes need not be bland, boring or unpalatable.

Ideally, while cooking a vegetarian dinner, pick recipes that include vegetables or other ingredients you like. If you enjoy the contents, you are likely to enjoy the outcome. Some tried and tested tasty vegetarian starters are, vegetarian spring roles, vegetarian tacos, vegetarian bruschetta and vegetarian chili cheese dip with tortilla chips. My personal favorite are cheese stuffed mushrooms. While making a vegetarian salad, include the fruits you love and top it with your favorite dressing.

A few popular soup ideas include hot and sour chinese soup, vegetable minestrone soup or crackpot vegetarian split pea soup. While preparing the main course, try to include the vegetables you like. The ingredients that make any recipe interesting are mushrooms, corn or baby corn, nuts and tofu. A vegetarian burger can turn out quite well with a potato patty. Most vegetarians enjoy a good vegetarian bake or pasta, which includes vegetables like carrots, potatoes, peas and beans. Here are a few great vegetarian recipes, which would help in planning dinner ideas that will tickle your taste buds.

Vegetarian Lasagna (Serves 9)

Ingredients

• 1 pound box lasagna noodles
• 4 red peppers, thinly sliced
• 6 to 8 zucchini, cut lengthwise into slices
• 6 cups marinara sauce (you could opt for store bought sauce)
• 24 ounces low-fat cottage cheese
• 5 to 6 portobello mushrooms, thinly sliced
• 32 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese
• 2 red onions, thinly sliced
• ½ cup chopped herbs (basil, oregano, or thyme)
• 4 tablespoons olive oil
• ¾ cup chopped onions
• 4 cloves garlic
• 2 cans (28 ounces) diced tomatoes
• ⅓ cup chopped basil

Preparation

Fully cook the vegetables, by sautéing them in olive oil or roasting them in the oven.

Preheat the oven to 350° F.

To prepare the marinara sauce, start by heating olive oil in a pan over medium-low heat. Carefully add the chopped onions, and saute until golden brown. Next add the garlic and allow the flavor to set in before mixing in the tomatoes. Allow it to simmer for 25 minutes. Lastly, stir in the basil and add salt and pepper to taste. Let it simmer for 10 minutes.

Use a 16 x 12 inch pan and line the bottom with a layer of dry noodles. Add about ⅓ of the marinara sauce over the noodles and then ½ layer of the cottage cheese, and over it about ⅓ of the mozzarella cheese. Sprinkle herbs over the cheese, and top it off with a layer of vegetables. Repeat all the layers. Finish with a layer of noodles, topped with tomato sauce and finally a thick layer of mozzarella cheese.

To prepare the pan for baking, first cover it with plastic wrap, over which goes a tightly wrapped layer of aluminum foil. Bake for 35 minutes, or until a knife cuts easily through the lasagna. Take off the plastic and foil, and continue to bake for another 10 minutes at 450°F or until the cheese crust turns brown.

Carefully remove the lasagna from the oven and allow it to cool for 20 minutes. Garnish with fresh basil leaves or other fresh herbs.

Japanese Food Art

The Japanese people takes food as a form of art and even their bento (lunch boxes) are beautifully decorated. It certainly heightens the mood of the person who eats the artful food especially children.

Japan is a land of exotic beauty and art. It can also said for cook in Japan. Seafood meals that make up the most important part of a very large Japanese Diet has not been offered to include some type of seafood.

Rice or slivered vegetables and noodles in just a few ounces of extra flavor to meat or poultry has been used mainly in cooking. It is most often delicate taste of Japanese food. Spices, sauces, soup, such as flavor aid , soy sauce, miso aji Ajinomoto, sanshio, sake, Japanese food, such as a stuffed animal worth a try The beef teriyaki. Of course, sushi, sashimi, tempura, sukiyaki Sada Yasushi are favorites.

 In Japanese cuisine, artistic presentation is important. It allows you to enjoy it with your eyes first. Appearance is almost as important as actual taste. In Japan, food and the dishes on which it is served are considered to be a type of art. (source: Japanese Food Culture Association)

Japanese people truly enjoy the artistic sense of the display of the food. They even put extra work to their kid lunch box to make it more appealing. SBS commences its article on Bento Box Art with comparing Australian parents who make simple sandwich as lunch box menu with the ever-creative Japanese who have taken school lunches to a whole new level with charaben (character bento) boxes, which feature food that has been artistically styled to resemble people, animals or other objects.

Improving Your Odds For Healthy Dinner Eating

When planning a low calorie diet for the family, we must take into account certain rules that, if applied on a regular basis, could decrease the number of calories ingested and increase the quality of the meal. We often think about a good dinner as a combination of a main dish and some added-on side dishes, in an attempt to increase the amount of vegetables and create variety in the diet.

The thought is right, initially, but we may end up liking those side dishes so much that we eat less of the main part of the meal, and what we have added is just a few hundred calories to the meal and some pounds to our waistline. Instead, get used to eating only one item at a time, which will provide fully balanced nutrition at the end of the day, if you do it right. Children, especially, are prone to loading on potatoes and rice and leaving behind the protein part of dinner.

I am not a fan of calorie counting but, as an example, one serving of mashed potatoes (1 cup) can add as much as 240 calories to a meal. One cup of cooked rice can approach 150 calories.

Think about healthy dinner as a meal you are going to plan in advance, something you can also prepare in advance and put in the freezer until ready to eat. A good example would be a good bowl of lentil soup/stew. It is easy to make, and we can include some other nutrients to its preparation to add flavor and texture.

• ½ lb of dry lentils. The best ones are the “pardilla” variety. They are dark and small, and they tend to feel softer to the palate when cooked.
• 1 small chicken breast
• 1 medium carrot
• ½ medium onion
• 1 garlic clove
• 2 tsp of paprika or Spanish Pimenton*
• Olive oil

Cut the onions, garlic, and carrots into small pieces and sauté in about 4 tablespoons of olive oil. When the onions are transparent and soft, add the lentils, stirring and mixing in. Immediately add water to cover the lentils and cook slowly until the lentils are soft. It takes about 45 minutes to one hour, depending on the quality of the lentils. Cut the chicken breast into very small cubes and brown in olive oil. Add two teaspoons of paprika or Spanish Pimenton to the chicken. Pour chicken into the lentils, and simmer for an additional 10 minutes. Add salt to taste.

Treat Breakfast As The Important Meal

Almost everyone treats breakfast as the least important meal of the day. It never gets the attention it deserves. Dinner, on the other hand, is the kind of meal that should always be light and healthy, but we end up overeating at the dinner table (great way to gain weight since the body does not burn the calories readily, after all, you will be going to bed soon). Furthermore, we wake up the next morning 'not feeling hungry' for breakfast. This is the single biggest mistake for anyone trying to lose weight. A meal that is grossly underrated, breakfast 'breaks your overnight fast' and is therefore the most important meal for the day. It allows you to begin the day with energy and vitality.

Isn't it an irony that a timely and nutritious breakfast is a rarity for most of us? You may be a busy corporate executive or a top-level athlete, the importance of breakfast remains the same for everyone. Let us analyze the role that breakfast plays in our life.

Here are the basic truths about that first meal of the day:

Skipping breakfast won't make you thinner.
Skipping this meal will usually cause you to eat more for lunch and / or dinner. If you start the day without a meal don't be surprised if you feel tired, lethargic and easily fatigued later in the day. It's almost like driving to work with no gas. The best strategy for keeping your weight in check and your energy level high is to fuel yourself evenly throughout the day. Eat a good breakfast, moderate lunch, and light dinner, (as well as small snacks in between, if you feel hungry). In particular, if you are about to have a hectic day, it becomes even more important to eat a good breakfast. If you starve your body by avoiding breakfast, it will begin to lose muscle (something you do not want) and retaining fat. The interesting thing is that muscle weighs more than fat, which means that dieting (skipping breakfast) may show up as weight loss on the scale. However, most dieters can become weaker although they may become smaller if they rely on dieting exclusively as a means to lose weight.

Breakfast enables you to function better.
Recent research results showed that children who skip breakfast are less able to concentrate in studies and in play. Their ability to perform complex tasks is impaired. The effects were similar in adults. As an experiment, change (improve) your breakfast habits for 2 days. You will then understand the impact that breakfast has on your day.

Cereals and fruits are still the best.
According to the National Cancer Institute of America, "diets high in fibre and low in fat, with plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole-grain breads and cereals with low fat cheese or butter may reduce the risk of cancer." Daily fibre intake should be 20 to 30 grams. Insoluble fibre, the kind found in whole wheat bread and wheat-based bran cereals, helps lower the risk of colon cancer and speeds up digestion. Soluble fibre, found in oat bran and fruit, helps lower blood cholesterol, and may reduce the risk of coronary ailments.

Start your day with a piece of fruit, a glass of milk / coffee and some high fiber bread. You can enjoy your breakfast while driving!

So try these simple suggestions and kickstart your day with a healthy breakfast!

Easy And Healthy Dinner Recipes

Dinner should be with healthy ingredients. You can search for recipes and healthy meal recipes dinner without effort. It can be 20-30 minutes preparing a nutritious meal in the area. Planning and organization of the shopping list accordingly would be a great help.

Wellness conscious people looking for low carb meals, but they can be easily prepared and are delicious and not boring. As dinner is the main meal, where the family meets and enjoys the nutritious meals households. dinner recipes can be simple and nutritious dinner recipe do much more refreshing experience. You can use this recipe easy dinner that the preparation of 20-30 min.

Fried beef healthy

Ingredients - 1 tablespoon teaspoon paprika, 1 tbsp ½ tsp oregano, 1 pound beef round top, ½ c. Teaspoon chili powder, pepper (8.1 tsp) garlic powder (¼ teaspoon), pepper (¼ teaspoon) dry mustard (8.1 c tea.), 3 slices of onions, potatoes, red skin - 8, C-2 beef broth, chopped carrots into thin slices -2, 2 large garlic clove
Slice beef across the grain into long thin strips. Add oregano, garlic powder, paprika, chili powder, paprika, mustard powder and black pepper. Coat with spice mixture. Spray-coated pan. Heat increases the pan and place it on the flame before the meat. Cook and stir about 5 minutes. Onions, garlic, potatoes and broth cook over medium heat for about 20 minutes. Add carrot and green mustard and cook 5 minutes more. He is ready to be served.


Dessert recipes nutritious seems so interesting and there is evidence that when care desserts and moderation, it is absolutely healthy. It is important that nutritious foods are too delicious to be identified. Sweet deal at this time is no big deal, but keep the portions small. Make nutritious high-fiber foods at the same time that whole grains and less / total weight and the higher value of vitamins and minerals saturated.

Some dessert recipes healthy sensual connection Butternut Squash Flan, Sweet Cherry Cobbler, Apple Crumble oat phyllo fruit tartlets and tequila lime baked pineapple, stuffed baked apples with dried fruit and pecans, apricot Perfect Pear ginger, dried cherries and raisins, rice pudding, strawberry panna cotta with strawberry compote and they are quick and easy recipes, too. You can find many healthy recipes available on the Internet and complete with recipes for healthy dessert.

You need to find balance in life (take to yoga to start for example). You must also ensure that you receive all the nutrients needed without much sodium, fat / saturated fat, carbohydrates and calories. Keep your blood sugar level by inserting small portion of dessert foods containing carbohydrates serves meals and snacks. 7% of daily calories is maximum for saturated fatty acids.

Health care must be swiped through the selection of desserts. Fruit when it is taken instead of dessert the most important because they provide fiber (fiber pears have a lot compared to apples).

Butternut squash flan with vitamin A (antioxidant). Panna Cotta with Strawberry Compote Strawberry calcium intake by its content of dairy products. You can try to Deputy level of sugar in the same time slash, that the level of fat. Often, you can quickly search the Internet for different recipes simple and nutritious recipes.

Cook Healthy Recipes For Dinner

After a long day at work, all one wants to do is to have a quick dinner and then hit the bed. Tiredness takes over our will to cook something fancy, which requires some time. These easy healthy dinner recipes will help in such a situation, so read on.

Easy healthy dinner recipes are required by every household since spending too much time on cooking dinner is not much preferred, unless, it is a celebration or a holiday. Getting dinner prepared quickly also enables spending quality time with the family over dinner. Cooking a full-fledged dinner after a long and tiring day at work, is also not a feasible option for working moms. Most people rely on fast food, often junk food, to tackle such situations, which obviously is not very healthy. So here are a few easy dinner ideas and healthy recipes, that you can prepare in 30 minutes or less and are yummy too!

Chicken Breasts with Mushroom Cream Sauce

Ingredients

• 2 boneless chicken breasts, trimmed
• 1/4 cup chicken broth
• 2 tablespoons cream
• 1 cup mushroom caps, thinly sliced
• 1 minced medium shallot
• 2 tablespoons minced fresh chives
• 1 tablespoon canola oil
• 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
• 2 tablespoons dry white wine
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• Coriander leaves - for garnishing

Method

Chicken Breasts
Marinate the chicken well with salt and pepper. Heat the canola oil in a pan, drop into it the chicken breasts and cook both sides well until it turns golden-brown. Remove from heat, place in a plate covered with foil and keep aside.

Mushroom Cream Sauce
Heat the canola oil in a shallow pan and add the shallots. Cook until it starts emitting its fragrance and then add the mushroom caps to it. Cook them until they turn tender for around 2 minutes. Pour the dry white wine into the pan, simmer and cook for a minute and a half. Then, pour in the chicken broth and cook until it reduces to half its quantity. Add the cream and chives to this, simmer and cook for about 2 minutes.

Transfer the chicken breasts from the plate to the pan and let it cook well in the mushroom sauce. Coat the chicken breasts with the remaining mushroom sauce and garnish with fresh coriander leaves. Serve with rice or garlic bread. Your easy healthy dinner is ready!

Peanut-Ginger Pasta

Ingredients

• 8 ounces whole-wheat spaghetti
• 1/2 cup smooth peanut butter
• 1 teaspoon minced ginger
• 12 ounces fresh vegetables like broccoli, carrots and green peas
• 1 1/2 teaspoons chilly-garlic sauce
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce

Method

Boil a large pot of water and put the spaghetti into it. Once it turns tender, add the fresh vegetables and let them cook. In the meanwhile, make the sauce by whisking together the peanut butter, chilly-garlic sauce, soy sauce and minced ginger in a large bowl. Once the spaghetti and vegetable have cooked well and are tender, remove them from the heat and drain. Keep aside one cup of the drained water. Rinse the spaghetti and vegetables in cool water and add the drained water to the sauce and mix well. Toss the spaghetti with the sauce and serve hot.

 

Cook Baked Italian Pasta By Yourself

Italian Pasta is made in many different sizes and shapes. Spaghetti  is a traditional favorite but it’s not the only pasta made on earth. Here you can learn more about different pasta and how to enjoy them.

By the way, have you ever tried different brands of pasta to compare their tastes and textures before mixing the pasta with sauce? Well, unless you have given special attention smacking your lips over their tastes, it really can be  difficult to distinguish one Italian pasta from another.

Among other things, for example, how long you cook the pasta in boiling water affects it’s taste too. But, If you eat pasta frequently, you automatically begin to know a good pasta from another for your taste buds and many folks would agree with you.

As you may know, most brands of pasta are made from durum wheat and mixed with water. Better tasting pasta is made from seminola flour or durham seminola as compared to durham flour only.   Package labels provide such  information.
Of course, Italian pasta in different shapes or thickness don’t have  the same texture and taste either. Therefore, spaghetti, macaroni, penne, rigatoni, fettucine, and many other shapes will  influence your  taste senses.

Imported pasta from Italy manufactured by old and well known companies are usually made from 100% pure durum semolina grown in Italy. Due to their climate there, many folks think the flour promotes excellent tastes and body consistency.  American manufacturers who use durum seiminola flour from the right areas in USA, also make excellent pasta if using 100% durum semolina flour.

When you think of Italian cuisine, pasta is the first thing that comes to mind. Although it has its origins in Italy, pasta has become a popular food practically all over the world. Pasta is akin to noodles, made from the flour of certain grains, mixed with water and sometimes eggs. Pasta comes in a variety of forms and shapes, each with its distinctive name. For example, the string shaped pasta is known as spaghetti, the thinner ones called vermicelli. Pasta shaped in short tubes are called penne and elbow macaroni. Then there is pasta shaped like grains of barley which is known as orzo and couscous, while large shaped ones are called lasagna. There are also hollow shaped pastas like manicotti, ravioli and tortellini, which you can stuff with fillings. Then there is a pasta made of small dumplings, known as gnocchi, which is usually boiled or baked and served with grated cheese or a sauce.

A pasta dish makes a delicious and hearty meal. Here are a few easy pasta recipes that you and your family will relish.

Baked Italian Pasta

This is one of those easy Italian pasta recipes that can be made with many variations. You can use the vegetables you already have or whatever is in season. Just ensure that you cut them all in equal sizes, so that they roast evenly.
    11/2 lb. green tomatoes
    1 cup onions, chopped
    1 medium-sized green pepper, seeded and chopped
    16 oz. penne or any other short sized pasta
    8 oz. mushrooms, cleaned and cut into halves
    2 medium-sized zucchini, diced into 1-inch pieces
    1 yellow pepper, diced into 1-inch pieces
    2 red peppers, diced into 1-inch pieces
    1 medium-sized onion, cut into 1-inch pieces
    4 oz. asparagus, cut into 1-inch pieces
    3 tbsp. olive oil
    1 tsp. salt
    1/2 tsp. black pepper
    1 tbsp. dried Italian seasoning (blend of oregano, basil, parsley)
    26 oz. marinara sauce
    1 cup ricotta cheese
    1/2 cup fontina or parano cheese
    1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
    1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated

First, preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Put the vegetables in a bowl and toss them with olive oil, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. Then spread the tossed veggies in a baking pan, and roast for 15 minutes.

In the mean time, while the veggies roast, boil some water and cook the pasta, under-cooking it a little. Drain the pasta and add marinara sauce, and the ricotta, Parano and mozzarella cheeses. Remove the veggies from the oven, and fold it into the pasta gently. Take a 9 by 13 baking dish and spray it with non-stick spray. Put the pasta mixture into it, sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top, and bake for 20-30 minutes, until it is bubbly and lightly browned.This delicious pasta dish can be served with homemade Italian bread.

Taste Your Salmon With Homemade

If you're interested in cooking salmon, you're not alone. Americans have tripled their consumption of salmon in the past decade primarily due to the publication of the tremendous health benefits attributed to eating salmon.

Choosing Salmon
You'll find mostly Atlantic salmon or Alaskan salmon in the supermarket. Know that almost all Atlantic salmon is farmed. Some Alaskan salmon is farmed, while some is wild. Wild salmon is reputed to be tastier than farmed salmon and is recommended for pregnant women and the very young because it typically contains lower concentrations of mercury and other chemicals in its oily flesh.

The current medical climate tells us most consumers should not worry about the amount of these chemicals present in the salmon because the health benefits far outweigh any negative risks associated with the trace presence of chemicals. Those concerned about these chemicals should purchase organic salmon.

Preparing Your Salmon
Salmon can be prepared in a variety of ways. Be careful not to overcook salmon. It should only be cooked until the flesh feels firm when touched with the back of a fork. Check salmon at its thickest part. It should flake when prodded with the fork tines. Always let the salmon sit for a few minutes after removing it from the heat so it can finish the last bit of cooking and set the juices that naturally occur from the oils in the flesh.

Purchase fresh salmon whenever possible. It will be much better than frozen salmon. The following cooking methods all depend on the type of salmon filet you choose (thawed or fresh).

Baking Salmon
To bake salmon, brush the salmon filet with melted butter and sprinkle with seasoning of your choice. Bake in a greased baking pan at 350 degrees. You can calculate the baking time by multiplying every inch of the salmon in thickness by ten minutes.

Steaming Salmon
To steam salmon, place salmon filet in the steamer basket, then pour a couple of inches of liquid (you can use broth, wine, beer or water) over the salmon and into the bottom of the steamer. Sprinkle with spices. Cover the steamer. Bring liquid to a boil, then steam fish. Steaming time should equal one minute per every ounce of salmon. Steamed fish is best when served with a sauce. Hollandaise sauce is lovely.

Poaching Salmon
To poach salmon, cover filet with liquid (consider poaching in water, wine or broth) along with spices or herbs of choice. Cover the skillet. Bring liquid to a gentle boil. Poach salmon for approximately six to ten minutes, until flesh flakes when prodded with a fork in thickest part. Poached fish is best when served with a sauce. Make your own homemade mayonnaise and add fresh lemon juice or fresh dill weed for a delicious sauce.

Pan Frying Salmon
To pan fry salmon, generously coat your skillet with olive oil and let it get hot. Dip your salmon filet in milk and egg, then in cracker crumbs, and fry covered for about three minutes. Flip once. Cook until flesh flakes. Serve with lemon wedges.

Grilling Salmon
To grill salmon, marinate it first in the refrigerator for 30 to 90 minutes. Try a marinade of bourbon and brown sugar for sweet grilled salmon steaks. Clean and oil the grates of your grill with olive or vegetable oil and heat the grill to medium heat. You can grill the salmon steaks directly on the grates or you can wrap the salmon in foil to cut down on grilling time and keep the meat juicier. Grill for three minutes on the first side, then carefully flip filet (watch out for flesh flaking and falling apart), cover the grill and check every few minutes for fish to be done.

How To Cook Grilled Potatoes

You've heard me say before that a good steak doesn't need much besides salt, pepper, and flame.
Bad steaks on the other hand require every trick in the book.  Salting, marinades, crazy rubs, finishing sauces, you name it.    Life is too short to waste time on bad beef.
I guess I've been spoiled lately.  We usually only buy USDA Choice grade at our house.  But at Kingsford University, I had flat iron, fillet, strip, & brisket from Snake River Farms.  Their products actually exceed USDA Prime category, more on that to come.  Then there was the Prime strip at Shula's last week.  I have been living in Beef Nirvana.  Then at SOMEONE in our house brought home some USDA Select grade ribeyes that were on sale this week.  They had no marbling.  And they were only 1" thick.  I wept. 
One of my best tips for dealing with crappy steaks (other than don't buy it)?  Misdirection.  Draw attention away from that beef in a "pay no attention to that man behind the curtain" way with great side dishes like these awesome grilled potatoes.
I adapted the basic process from this recipe at America's Test Kitchen and then changed it around to meet my tastes and ingredients on hand.
Grilled Potatoes
8-10 ea red bliss potatoes, halved
4-5 bamboo skewers
1/2 cup herb infused oil (see instructions for ideas)
kosher salt to taste
1/4 cup parsley, finely chopped
1/4 cup pecorino romano cheese, grated
Infused Oil
Their recipe had a process for making your own rosemary/garlic oil but then they have you strain the solids out.  I WANT the herbs and garlic roasted onto my potatoes, don't you?  Anyway, I was going to make my own oil when I found this in my cupboard. 
It was a gift from a neighbor at Christmas and thought I'd try it out.  I mixed it up according to directions and then added 1 Tbsp finely diced roasted red pepper and 2 Tbsp of the parsley.  
If you need to make your own oil, just simmer your choice of minced garlic, shallot, and herbs in a 1/2 cup of olive oil over medium/low heat until fragrant. Then add in some color and texture with finely diced parsley and red peppers.  Have fun with the combinations, this is your chance to make it YOUR dish. 
Par-cook Potatoes
Skewer the potato halves and poke each several times with a fork or skewer.  Brush with 2 Tbsp of the oil mixture and season liberally with kosher salt.  Microwave for 4 minutes, flip, and then microwave another 3 minutes.  What?  YES, I have a microwave.  Just because I grill all the time doesn't mean I'm a cave man.

How To Cook Spiral Sliced Ham With Spicy Apricot Glaze

One of the downsides to reading food blogs is that AFTER food related holidays, you see ideas that you wish you had seen BEFORE the holiday so you could have tried it.  I've been looking at some ideas for next weekend's Easter ham and I think I have settled on trying a version of this one from Chris Lilly.  I love cherry with ham so I'll swap out cherry preserves for the apricot.
Spiral Sliced Ham with Spicy Apricot Glaze
Makes: 8 servings
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 3 hours
You’ll Need:
8 pound spiral sliced bone-in cured ham
Spicy Apricot Glaze
½ cup apricot preserves
¼ cup honey
2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1½ teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
½ teaspoon soy sauce
½ teaspoon paprika
¼ teaspoon black pepper
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon rubbed sage
1/16 teaspoon ground cloves
Instructions:
In a medium bowl, combine the glaze ingredients and mix well.
Double a large piece of aluminum foil and place the ham, flat side down, in the center of the doubled foil. Pour ½ cup of the glaze mix on top of the ham and spread it evenly over the entire ham. Wrap the aluminum foil tight over the ham and seal it.
Prepare an outdoor charcoal grill for indirect cooking by situating the coals on only one side of the grill, leaving the other side void. When the grill reaches 300 degrees Fahrenheit, place the wrapped ham on the void side of the grill and close the lid. Cook for three hours or until the internal temperature of the ham reaches 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
Remove the ham from the cooker, unwrap the foil, and place the ham in the center of a baking pan. Pour the remaining glaze over the top of the ham and spread it evenly. Place the ham back on the grill, close the lid, and cook for an additional 10 minutes or until the glaze firms. Remove the ham from the grill and serve.
Recipe created by champion pitmaster, Chris Lilly, on behalf of Kingsford® charcoal.  Reprinted with permission from Kingsford charcoal.

How To Cook Flat Iron Steak With Fun Guy Stir Fry

This grilled steak combines the "fifth taste" of umami from the oyster mushrooms* with layers of ginger, garlic, basil and red chilies to create an Asian flavor profile that hits all notes of the taste buds.  The stir fry cooks during the steak's resting time, making it convenient for a quick but delicious dinner.
Flat Iron Steak with Fun Guy Stir Fry
Serves 4
Ingredients
1.5 lb flat iron steak
For the dry rub
1 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp basil, fresh minced
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp McCormick's Roasted Ground Ginger
1/4 tsp dried minced garlic
For the stir fry
1 tsp sesame oil
2 Tbsp peanut oil
8 oz oyster mushrooms, fresh
2 cloves garlic, sliced thin
1 1/2 tsp ginger, peeled and diced
2 Tbsp roasted red bell pepper, sliced lengthwise
1 Tbsp basil, fresh and cut chiffonade style
1/4 cup beef stock
2 Tbsp mirin
1 Tbsp soy sauce
1/4 tsp red pepper flake
slurry (1 Tbsp cornstarch and 1 Tbsp cold water mixed together)
Instructions
Preheat a charcoal grill to 450f set up for direct heat.
Mix the dry rub together and season both sides of the steak.  (Alternatively, use a broiler)
Grill the steak 5 minutes per side, or until it reaches an internal temperature of 130f for medium rare*.
Remove steak and rest on a raised rack.  
Reduce grill heat, place a wok or large saute pan on the grill and allow to preheat for a few minutes*.  (Alternatively, do on stove top)
Drizzle the sesame and peanut oil into the hot wok.  Stir fry the mushrooms for 3 minutes until starting to turn tender and releasing their moisture*.  
Add the garlic and ginger, stir fry another minute.
Add the red bell pepper, stir fry another minute
Add the basil, beef stock, mirin, soy sauce, and red pepper flake.  Stir fry another 1-2 minutes.
Add the slurry and cook another minute or until the sauce is thickened.
Slice the steak across the grain (short side) and serve family style with the mushroom stir fry over the top.
Notes
Oyster mushrooms have a natural umami flavor.  If you can't find oyster mushrooms, use another kind and add 3/4 tsp fish sauce to the mirin/soy sauce mixture.
For the Big Green Egg, I had the top DMFT totally open and after preheating, the bottom vent was about half way closed.
For the Big Green Egg, I closed the bottom vent all the way.  The fire was already going from the steak and stir frying requires you to have the Egg top open.  The coals will get plenty of air from the open top. 
I love the flavor of sesame oil but using it as the only oil is over powering.  Using a little sesame oil with a neutral flavored oil like peanut oil gives a balanced flavor.

Johns Pizza Specials

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Grab your coupon or giftcard and walk correct into the shop, pick the item of your selection and take pleasure in obtaining a discount selling price. There are a number of ways you can get discount here, whichever is much more convenient for you. Initial, there are the usual discount codes that you can get from their shop or from the paper. The Sunday Paper is normally the finest source for these coupon, although you can typically locate some good deals throughout the week as well.
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Chicken Caesar Salad

Chicken salad usually consists of chopped chicken, mayonnaise, and a few other ingredient used as a binder. Other ingredients may be added to add texture and flavor, such as nuts and celery. There is a wide range of traditional chicken salad, but majority of recipes consist of these basic ingredients. What's great about chicken salads is that they can be easily doubled and tripled in size without compromising the taste of the original recipe. There is also much room for creativity to accommodate different tastes. But first, learn the basics, and then move on to experimenting.
The Basics: Cooking the Chicken
Chicken salads often taste best when the chicken is baked. However, there's no stopping you from grilling, boiling, sauteing, or using other cooking techniques to cook your chicken. You may even utilize precooked chicken breast strips if you're strapped for time. Some basic ideas when serving the dish would be to eat it with crackers, place it on bread as a sandwich, or top it off with hard-cooked egg slices.
Chicken Caesar Salad
If the Caesar dressing is your favorite, then you should try this chicken salad version. Simply add Caesar salad dressing over cooked, cubed chicken and toss to coat. In another bowl, mix chicken mixture, tomato, lettuce and onion. Top it all off with croutons and grated cheese.
Spicy Chicken Salad
This is a warm salad and can be eaten as a side-dish or light lunch. It can also be eaten with bread or potatoes for dinner. This salad has the perfect balance with the meat and spicy dressing poured over the cool salad. First cook some bacon with olive oil in a frying pan, and set the bacon aside when done. Fry chicken strips in the bacon fat that's left in the pan and set aside once browned and cooked thoroughly. Place sliced tomatoes, red and orange bell pepper, and spring onions into a large serving bowl. Add in some lettuce and cucumber strips and set aside. Place finely chopped chili pepper, lemon juice, olive oil and balsamic vinegar onto the pan and bring to a boil. Mix in the chicken pieces and bacon and keep stirring to heat all the ingredients. Using a slotted spoon, place the hot mixture over the salad and serve.
Asian Chicken Salad
While there are many variations, typical characteristics of most Asian chicken salads consist of chicken, lettuce, sesame oil in the dressing, ginger, and crunchy pieces of deep-fried noodles. Some versions may use bamboo shoots, water chestnuts, almonds, peanuts and mandarin orange slices.

How To Cook Chris' Quick Black Beans And Rice

As ugly and dreary as yesterday was, today was just glorious. Blue skies, autumn colors, and moderate temperatures meant my butt was grilling today!
The black beans and rice were a side dish to a couple of ribeyes that I had introduced to my cajun beef rub.
Then said ribeyes made the acquaintance of a certain Big Green Egg who was running along at about 550f degrees.
TIP: It's important to let your steaks "rest" after cooking. I don't just let mine rest, I give them the day spa treatment. Drizzle some Worcestershire sauce, olive oil and fresh herbs on the plate on which they will be resting.
See? It makes them happy.
Ok, on to the Black Beans and Rice. The thing I like about our quickie version is that it bypasses hours of soaking dried beans, simmering them with ham hocks, etc but still results in a reasonable facsimile of real black beans and rice. One of the tricks is using bacon grease/pork fat to saute the veggies. This lets you get away with only about a 20 minute cooking time.
Chris' Quick Black Beans and Rice
Ingredients
1 can black beans rinsed
1/2 cup onion diced
2 cloves garlic minced
1 ea Jalapeno peppers seeded, finely diced
1 tablespoon Pork fat (substitute butter if necessary...you don't keep your bacon grease?)
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon Tabasco
2 teaspoons Cilantro chopped
1/2 teaspoon pepper to taste
1/2 teaspoon salt to taste
2 cups rice cooked
Instructions
Heat pork fat (bacon grease) in a saute pan. Once it comes to temp add the onion and saute for about 5 minutes.
As the onion starts to become soft and translucent, add the garlic and pepper (very finely diced & seeds removed). Saute for another 3 minutes.
Add the cumin, cilantro, salt, pepper, Tabasco, and black beans. Either add 1/4 cup of chicken broth or swirl 1/4 cup of water in the black bean can to get out the leftover "goodies" and add to the pan. Bring to a boil and simmer until thickened.
Serve the beans over a timbale of rice and garnish with bacon, cilantro, sour cream, or whatever sounds good.
Here's a trick I came up with during cooking tonight. One of those aha moments. It may have been done before but it was new to me.