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Posts Tagged ‘cooking’

Looking For A Superb Waffle Recipe

June 16th, 2010

Legend states that primitive man was the first to invent the waffle recipe. Waffles are loved and eaten by most people and waffles are popular on the breakfast table and eaten with trickle syrup and butter which is delicious. Now that your mouth is watering here is a very simple waffle recipe that you can whip up. All the basic ingredients are available and your kids can join in and make these tasty tempting waffles.

Now all you have to do is just follow this easy recipe. The ingredients that are needed is 2 cups of self raising flour, 1 teaspoon of baking powder, a pinch of salt, 1 tablespoon of sugar, 2 cups of warm milk, 2 eggs which need to be separated and a tablespoon of melted butter.

Now let me take you through a step by step method of how to makes these delicious waffles. But before we start you need to plug your waffle iron in so that it is ready and hot once you have followed the step by step instructions on how to mix the ingredients.

Step one: Take a medium sized bowl which you can use for mixing and then once you have separated the eggs put the white of the egg into your bowl and beat the egg white up until they are frothy and you are able to form peaks. Set this bowl to one side.

2. Use another mixing dish in which you are going to add all your wet ingredients into like your milk, butter, egg yellows, and not forgetting the sugar. All these ingredients need to be mixed well and making sure you don’t leave any sugar granules behind. 3. Now use a much larger mixing bowl which you are going to use for all the dry ingredients like your flour, salt and baking powder. 4. Now you are going to mix your wet and dry ingredients together.

Fifth step: make sue while mixing you don’t create lumps as this mixture should be smooth as well as firm and runny the mixture should not end up doughy either. If you find the consistency to be thick than just keep adding milk until you get the right consistency. Sixth step: your beaten up egg whites now need to be folded in with the other ingredients and this must be done gently. Mixture is now completed.

7. Use only one cup of batter per waffle which you need to pour over the waffle iron and will take more or less two minutes before it is done. This mixture will allow you to make at least twelve waffles and they are really delicious when they have cooled down.

Another very delicious waffle recipe is made up by using a cup of water, and a cup that is filled with half yoghurt and half sour cream plus teaspoon of white vinegar, 1 tsp of baking powder and baking soda with a pinch of salt added and two cups of flour and 2 eggs. Mix all the wet ingredients up first and then mix these up with the dry ingredients. In this case only the ingredients have changed but the step for step instructions remain the same.

Want to find more simple waffle recipes, then visit Ben Cook’s site on how to make waffles at home.

Ben Cook Nutrition , , , , , ,

Healthy Living Through Proper Dieting

March 14th, 2010

There are innumerable kinds of foods that are present on the earth that we live in. However it makes sense to know that not al foods are exactly healthy. That is why you should be careful to only consume those items that are nutritious as well as beneficial for health. Proper food also helps you skin to glow in addition to promoting good health. This is an article focused on talking about some of the foods that are very healthy and which should be consumed on a daily basis. Eating these will help save you from some of the most dangerous diseases around.

Fruits are one of the most essential foods that we need to eat. These natural foods are best for our body, skin and digestive system. You can even go on a diet and just consume fruits. You can lose weight without much effort.

One of the best foods happens to be fruits from the point of view of health. These are natural foods that prove to be quite helpful for your skin, the digestive system and your body too. One can go on a diet and just have fruits to eat. This is a great way to lose weight fast.

You also should consume good amounts of vegetables in order to preserve your body from harm as well as danger. Some of the best vegetables in this connection are onions, artichokes, broccoli, spinach, ginger watercress and arugula.

The benefits of eating these vegetables are numerous. As a matter of fact, it keeps your body free of toxins while keeping it highly nutritious.

Just like fruits, vegetables are also able to keep your body free from chemicals and toxins that exist in the body. Apart from fruits and vegetables it is also advisable to consume nuts, grains as well as beans. In the case of brown rice, you get protein, iron and magnesium, whereas wheat gram helps to prevent muscular pain, lentils keep heart diseases and breast cancer at bay while peanuts are also beneficial in countering heart problems.

Another food category that is beneficial as it contains good amounts of iron and magnesium is seafood, which is also known as white meat. Your brain and nerves are protected by shellfish, fatty acids from salmon preserves your heart from disease and when you take crabs, it helps to enhance your immunity in addition to providing safety from external and internal germs.

However, these were some of the food items you should eat but it does not mean that you do not eat the rest of fruits and vegetables. All of them have something good to offer to your body so you should not ignore their benefits and should add them to yours and your family diet.

Paulo Princer has been building informative sites for many months. You can check out his latest work on olive oil health benefits and also his new website on olive oil bread dip.

Paulo Princer Dieting , , , , , , , , , , ,

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Mexican Spices

March 6th, 2010

The herbs and spices used in Mexican cuisine are what truly give you the Mexican flavor you are craving. Without these spices, Mexican food would be bland. These herbs and spices bring out the goodness that we have come to expect from Mexican cuisine. If you truly want to make Mexican food, it pays to know about the spices.

Probably the most well known seasoning in Mexico is chile powder. This is made by mixing many different chilies that have been dried and ground. Chilies are also used fresh or roasted. Chipotle is made from jalapeno peppers that have been smoked and dried. Ancho is made from a chile with a sweet, fruity flavor. Many commercial chile powders that are found at the store are made of a combination of chilies, salt, oregano, garlic, coriander, and cumin.

Epazote is used in bean dishes. This tall green herb is also known as Mexican tea. It adds flavor and helps relieve digestive issues that beans can cause. Epazote is potent, so only add a leaf or two to your dishes. Large quantities of epazote can be toxic.

Annatto seeds are used to color food and give it a distinct flavor. This spice is most often used in rice recipes or sauces. The seeds are soaked in water for at least an hour before using. They are usually crushed after soaking. Some recipes use the leftover water that the seeds were soaked in and other recipes use the seeds themselves. They are a common ingredient in marinades.

Cilantro is an herb that looks a lot like flat leaf parsley. In reality, they are the leaves of the coriander plant. Cilantro is always used fresh. The flavor is a bit pungent and it adds a nice tanginess to a recipe. It works well in salsas, rice, beans, moles, stews, and soups. Cilantro brightens up the flavor of many dishes.

Cumin is a spice made from the seeds of the cumin plant. They can be used whole or ground into a powder. Cumin is often used in conjunction with chile powder to create a balance in flavor. It is often used in soups, stews and other common dishes. Azafran is known as Mexican saffron, or safflower. This spice is used in very small amounts because it can be bitter. It causes the dish to develop a beautiful saffron like color and is often used in rice and seafood dishes.

If you study authentic Mexican food recipes you will see these spices used frequently, along with others such as thyme and oregano. In Mexico, they have a unique type of oregano that is earthier in flavor than Italian oregano. You can find this Mexican oregano in some herb catalogs. Unless you live in an area with a large Mexican population, it may be difficult to find it in local nurseries or grocery stores.

Familiarize yourself with the flavors of Mexico by studying the herbs and spices they commonly use in their cooking. You cannot get an authentic flavor without them. Make the most of your Mexican recipes by learning how to use these spices correctly. Your recipes will turn out much better once you understand the nuances of these seasonings.

Mexicans love chilies so much they even use them to flavor their candy and ice cream! Not everything Mexican is spicy though. You can use fresh chilies, dried chilies or even reconstitute dried chilies to make really good Mexican recipes which taste authentic and are bursting with the unmistakable flavor of Mexico.

Christine Szalay-Kudra Uncategorized , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Why Are Mexican Recipes and American Recipes So Different?

November 10th, 2009

It should not be a surprise to anyone to hear that the neighboring countries of the United States and Mexico have different cuisines. Nor is it surprising to hear that Mexican food recipes and recipes for traditional American dishes are quite different. What is surprising is that they are different - quite often, countries which border each other have somewhat similar culinary traditions, such as is the case between the US and Canada. So why is it that our food is so different from Mexican food anyway?

Some Mexican Food History

There are two important reasons why Mexican food differs so greatly from the standard fare in the United States. One is historical. Unlike the United States, Mexico spent a much longer time as a Spanish colony than did the US. It is true that parts of the US were originally Spanish territories, though the Spanish colonial period lasted for a much briefer length of time here, with the influence of Spanish cuisine being pronounced mostly in regions, which were once Spanish territory, largely those bordering Mexico.

The US has a different history, being a former British colony with most of its early immigration coming from northern Europe and having different culinary traditions. This alone accounts for some of the divergence of Mexican and American cooking, since traditional Mexican recipes have a profound Spanish influence which is missing from most American cooking.

For a long time, however, immigrants to Mexico from the old world hailed, for the most part, from Spain, leaving an indelible stamp on the new nation’s cuisine. Many Mexican recipes are adaptations of Spanish dishes, with some classic recipes from Spain surviving more or less intact. This led to a distinctive blend of culinary traditions drawn from Spanish and indigenous ingredients and cooking methods.

Mexico has also seen a large number of immigrants arrive from the Levant (especially Syria and Lebanon), adding a few dishes which are now classic Mexican food recipes in their own right such as al pastor. This dish is essentially a Mexican take on the middle eastern shawarma.

Since the US has a much more diverse population, no single nationality’s cuisine ever assumed quite the dominance over American cooking as can be seen in Mexico with Spanish influence. The development of Mexican food is largely the product of two cuisines rather than many melding together over time.

Different Ingredients

The other important factor behind the difference in the cuisines of the two countries is geographical. The Spanish had to adapt to the ingredients, which were available in Mexico, just like the pilgrims learned to cook the local produce in Massachusetts. In Mexico, ingredients like corn, chilies, avocados, pumpkins, tomatoes and others which were new to the conquistadores quickly became staples and were cooked along with old world ones like rice, coriander and olives.

It is this adaptation of European recipes to the ingredients of the new world and the incorporation of Spanish ingredients and techniques into the indigenous cuisine that has made Mexican food the unique cuisine it is today. From Mexican food recipes like pozole to Mexican casserole recipes, tostadas to pumpkin recipes, Mexican food is one of the world’s greatest fusion cuisines that no one thinks of as a fusion cuisine.

Traditional Mexican meals are not difficult to make and you can buy ready roasted peppers and other such ingredients to speed up the cooking process. If you are interested in making dried chilies or canning roasted peppers yourself, these are simple to do as well and they will taste unique and homemade.

Ken Kudra Dieting , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

How To Use Dairy Produce: Part 4 - Eggs (cont).

June 9th, 2009

Basic Preparation Of Foods: Dairy Produce.

Eggs: Part Two

Poaching: boil 40mm water in a frying pan; add a teaspoon of salt and a teaspoon of vinegar. Crack egg into cup, inspect and tip into water. Turn down the heat. Gather the white around the unbroken yolk with a spoon and simmer for 3-4 mins. Lift out with a fish slice, drain and serve on hot buttered toast.

Scrambling: beat the eggs well; add salt, pepper to taste and a dash of milk. Melt enough butter to cover the bottom of a small pan. Heat the eggs slowly, stirring constantly. Cook in a basin floating on boiling water, if preferred. Dish up when almost completely set, in about 5 minutes.

Fried Eggs: Melt enough fat to easily cover the bottom of (a|the frying pan. Tip the egg(s) in gently and gather the whites around the yolks. When the white has set, baste the yolk to taste and remove whole with a draining spoon.

Baking: lightly grease a fireproof dish and slide eggs into it. Sprinkle with salt, pepper and butter. Bake in a moderate oven and serve in the same pan after the whites have set.

Omelette: buy a pan and keep it solely for omelettes! The base should be smooth and clean. Allow two eggs per person; beat lightly and add salt and pepper to taste. Melt enough butter to cover the base of the frying pan. When the butter is hot, gently tip in the eggs; as it sets, raise up the handle and draw the set mixture up towards the handle, allowing the liquid egg to run down onto the hot pan. When all the liquid is set, tilt the pan forward and roll the omelette over. Serve immediately on a hot plate. It can be filled with almost anything, before being rolled over.

Pouring Custard: beat 2-3 eggs for every one pint of milk lightly. Heat the milk and pour gradually over the eggs; add sugar and flavouring to taste; cook in a double pan or jug and hot water until the required consistency has been reached. If it is not to be served immediately, pour a thin layer of water onto it to prevent a skin forming.

Baked Custard: proceed as above and then pour the custard into a greased dish; sprinkle lightly with nutmeg and place dish in water to halfway up its sides. Bake at 350 F for 35-45 mins; test its solidity by inserting a knife - it should be clean on removal.

Steamed Custard: proceed as for above, but cook in a steamer or a pan in boiling water. The length of cooking time is about the same too.

Custard Tarts: pour a little pouring custard into each unbaked pastry case and bake in the oven for around 40-50 minutes. A little strawberry jam can be placed at the bottom of the pastry case first, if preferred.

About the Author:

Owen Jones Dieting , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Typical Mexican Meals

April 8th, 2009

Mexican cuisine is known for its colorful presentation and healthy qualities. Home to the Aztecs, Mayans and Zapotecs, Mexico developed a strong agricultural civilization early. They grew many foods like avocados, peppers, beans, corn, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, and squash. They hunted for deer, turkey, rabbit, and quail. Chocolate is grown in Mexico, and was originally served as a drink to Aztec royalty.

Once the Spanish arrived, their cuisine was introduced. Bread, cheese, beef, and cream were added to the native foods. They introduced chickens, sheep and pigs, as well as wheat and sugarcane. By the time Spain gave up ruling Mexico, their influence was well blended with the native cuisine.

A major component of the typical Mexican meal is corn. Masa, or cornmeal, is made into dough that is then used for empanadas, tamales, and tortillas. Corn is also used in stews, soups, and other traditional foods. In northern Mexico, tortillas are usually made of flour instead of corn. Chili peppers also are an important staple in the Mexican diet. They frequently choose jalapeno, Serrano and poblano chilies.

Beans also provide a good source of protein in Mexican meals. Pinto beans are found in the north, while black beans are popular in the Yucatan peninsula. There are many different varieties used throughout Mexico to make dishes like frijoles (refried beans).

Other regional favorites in Mexico include beef in the north, due to the vast grazing lands; coffee and corn stew on the Pacific Coast; and seafood, fish and tropical fruits on the Gulf Coast. Central Mexico has the most Spanish influence due to the fact that this is where most of the Spanish settled. The Yucatan Peninsula is known for its shellfish, seafood, and black beans. Herbs are used all over Mexico.

When making a typical Mexican meal at home, there are many recipes you can try. Mexican chicken enchiladas recipe can be easily replicated at home, and it uses many of the most common ingredients found in Mexico. Once you have tried making them at home, you will see how tasty an authentic Mexican meal can be.

Jump right in and try something new. Maybe you will try a variety of bean you have not tasted before to add a new texture or flavor. Add some simple tortillas and salsa to any meal, or add some seafood to citrus juice and make ceviche on a summer day. Tacos and quesadillas are easy enough for the kids to try.

For something different, try a Mexican breakfast. Mix some tropical fruit in a bowl for an easy meal. Scramble some eggs and salsa for heurvos rancheros. Alternatively, you can top a tortilla with an egg and add some bacon or ham, chilies, tomatoes and cheese. Serve it with some refried beans for a traditional breakfast.

About the Author:

KC Kudra Dieting , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Traditional Use Of Dairy Produce: Part 1 - Milk

April 1st, 2009

The Basic Preparation Of Foodstuffs: Dairy Products

These basic tips may seem unnecessary for most modern households with a refrigerator, but modern devices can make people lazy and it is well-worth while knowing ‘why’ we must do certain things. It is also worth remembering these tips when refrigerators are not at hand or are so small that they will not hold everything, such as when camping or boating or on holiday in some parts of the world.

MILK:

Milk has been called ‘nature’s perfect food’, because no other food, taken alone, can support adult life. It is of the first importance for the growth and development of young people, but it must be clean as bacteria also find it very nourishing and quickly multiply in it. If milk is not bought pasteurized, then it should be scalded and quickly cooled before consumption.

How To Scald Milk: Rinse a clean saucepan with cold water, pour in the milk and apply heat until bubbles form around the side of the pan. Keep it at this temperature, that is not letting it boil, for 3 minutes. Do not overheat, as milk burns easily. Pour immediately into a clean jug and place in a basin of cold water and cover with a fine cloth to prevent the ingress of flies and dust.

How To Keep Milk Fresh: If milk the is not be preserved in the receptacles in which you bought it, pour it into a clean container, which has been rinsed with cold water. A warm receptacle will cause the milk to stick to the sides and go off much more quickly. Always keep milk covered and in the coolest place in the larder. it is a good tip to remember that draughts usually occur at ground-level and that hot air rises. Never keep milk in an airless cupboard and in hot weather stand the milk in a container in a bowl of water with the cloth covering hanging in the water. The muslin will soak up water, which will evaporate, which dissipates the heat, ensuring that the container remains cool. Keep milk away from strong-smelling foods, as it absorbs smells easily. Never mix old and new milk together.

Sour Milk: Milk straight from the cow is a little alkaline, but as it ages, lactic acid is formed and it becomes what we call ’sour’. Pasteurizing or scalding the milk retards this process. Milk which is ‘on the turn’ can be rejuvenated by boiling with a pinch of bicarbonate of soda to restore its alkalinity. Once the milk has gone too far and has curdled, it can be strained through (cheese) cloth, thereby separating the curds from the whey. The curds can be used as a filling for cakes, tarts, scones etc and the whey can be used as the liquid for making scones, cakes and soups etc., as it still retains much of its goodness.

Evaporated Milk: Evaporated milk is ordinary milk, which has had some of its water content driven off by heat in some way or other before being canned. Once reconstituted by adding water, it will last only a little longer than fresh milk.

Condensed Milk: This is simply evaporated milk to which sugar has been added before canning. The sugar acts as a preservative and will keep the milk for about a week. Do not keep in the tin, but decant it into a jug.

Dried Milk: Dried milk comes in a variety of forms and particular attention should be paid to the instructions on the label. Specialized products can be bought for babies, invalids, convalescents and dieters, all of which contain varying amounts and types of added vitamins and minerals. Usually, they are very much lower in fat content than ordinary milk.

About the Author:

Owen Jones Dieting , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Your Life and Turmeric - Super Combination

March 20th, 2009

Many people search far and wide for extraordinary herbs and beneficial ingredients. But a quick look around your kitchen can not only save you from the exertion, but also lay the most powerful and valuable ingredient in your hand. Yes, I am talking about the one and only most commonly available herb turmeric. It proved its miraculous healing properties way back in the 18th century, but today it has gained recognition for its supreme role in healing various conditions and diseases.

Ever wondered what gives turmeric its healing properties? Curcumin, a chemical component and an active agent in turmeric gives the turmeric its yellowish hue and is also famous for its anti inflammatory properties. Moreover, it has also shown its benefits in creating antibodies and fighting HIV bacteria and various other cancers.

Turmeric’s multiple attributes include aiding the liver function and eliminating its disorders. Protection from harmful chemicals and radiation is also given as it assists the liver in secretion of bile which is a protective base for the liver. Clogging in the arteries, indigestion, high cholesterol and hyperacidity are also relieved by the regular use of turmeric in foods. It also strengthens the immune system and shields the body against viral infections. India is well known for its use of herbal spices and turmeric in regular foods and sauces.

Turmeric also has medicinal and antiseptic properties where acne and wounds are concerned. To treat acne, you can simply crush a handful of neem leaves and mix them with a tsp of turmeric, applying the paste on acne spots. Coconut oil can also be used if neem leaves are not available. A paste of coconut oil and turmeric can be prepared and applied on acne spots to be kept overnight. Two to three days of application is guaranteed to show desirable results.

Turmeric is known to mend the wounds swiftly. It works to rebuild the wounded skin with velocity and shields it from the foreign contact of bacteria. Glowing, shiny and smooth skin can be attained and problems of the skin can be kept at bay by applying turmeric paste on the skin regularly.

Turmeric, if taken in the form of a juice, can act as a natural blood purifier. Not only that, it is also a natural pain killer and detoxifier. Alzheimers disease can also be kept in reasonable check by its daily use. Inflammation in the tissue and memory loss is eliminated considerably and plaque is reduced by curcumin.

Arthritis can be alleviated with turmeric as it inhibits the enzyme which is responsible for inflammation, puffiness and throbbing. It also normalizes the sugar levels and is very beneficial for diabetes patients.

There are innumerable benefits of using turmeric regularly. Its regular use is a wise and healthy decision. Not only that, it gives a unique taste to foods if added as a spice. It’s inexpensive and wide availability makes it a good choice for a regular spice instead of the costly sauces purchased from the supermarket. Besides, you can always rely on turmeric’s enormous benefits and can lead a healthier and a more active life. So start today to get that boost in your lifespan.

About the Author:

Borgon Trocepticlon Nutrition , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,