By Queenie1
This is a very simple, easy to do recipe! It’s one of my family’s favorite recipes! Even my ex-husband commented this was one of his favorites.
You need to go to a farmers market, a food stand or else a grocery store and purchase some smaller zucchini’s no longer than 15 inches. If you have 6 adults eating then you will need only 3 zucchinis and less if you have small children but they are also good warmed up later for another meal. Take the zucchini home and wash them off. You will need to cut the zucchini lengthwise in half. One half can feed one adult or be cut into smaller pieces for children so that will help estimate how many zucchini’s you need to purchase for your family.
Take a spoon and scoop out the zucchini centers of the zucchini halves to make the long zucchini’s look like little boats. Put the scooped zucchini pieces into a bowel and cut into smaller pieces to use in the recipe.
Fry about 1 LB of hamburger with 1 Spanish onion. Drain the fat from the hamburger.
Get a 16-oz can of tomato or spaghetti sauce to add to the hamburger and onions. Now simmer on medium heat and add the scooped zucchini pieces so they soften. Cook for 10-20 min until the zucchini pieces are soft.
While this is cooking get some mozzarella cheese and grate it until you have about ½ - 1 cup.
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees and take a cookie sheet to put the zucchini boat shells on. When the mixture of hamburger, onions, zucchini pieces are soft scoop the mixture into the zucchini boat shells until higher than the sides of the boat. It’s okay to be rounded up high in the center of the boat. Take some of the grated mozzarella to sprinkle on top of the zucchini boats. Bake for 30 – 40 min until the outside zucchini boat shell is tender so you can eat it like a squash.
This is a great way to feed a family a low fat meal like pizza without the flour. It’s also good for vegetarians too if you just substitute the meat for something that you can eat.
Showing posts with label Cooking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cooking. Show all posts
Friday, September 11, 2009
Monday, August 31, 2009
Home Cooking Lays the Foundations For a Healthy Body
May 26, 2009, 6:29 pm visits: 61 wordcount: 557
By Sunil PunjabiFast food restaurants may be a dime a dozen these days, but would their easy recipes ever erase the memory of the perfect dishes that your mother dished out, when you came home famished, from school or the playground? Today, all family members, including mothers themselves, grab a bite from the nearest fast food eatery, before they hop back into the office. Dinner may be a pizza oozing with cheese, that either parent picked up on their way home. Flavors of home cooking have been forgotten memories today that visit you only in your dreams. All the fat from the cheese and chips that fast food chains gift, nestle in your body and most of it is seen deposited around the midriff. These fats live in the place of the essential nutrients that home cooking might have provided. From a theoretical point of view, everyone agrees that fast food delicacies are deadly concoctions that their bodies do not need. People do grow nostalgic now and then about home cooking recipes and smells that wafted from grandmother's kitchen, but somehow they go back to their fast food eateries, like an addict going back to his bottle. People have to be de-addicted from it, and giving them free recipes is one way of attracting people back to cooking wholesome food at home. A balanced diet is the ultimate requirement for staying healthy, and one way - rather the only way - in which this can be managed, is by home cooking. There are plenty of home cooking recipes, and easy recipes at that, which make the dishes tasty and provide the necessary nutrition. Tasty dishes are the best way to make mealtimes a pleasure, and perfect mealtimes in which everyone join, are the best way to make family members bond together. In short, home cooked food and the dinner table can become the factor that knits the family together. Dieticians and nutrition experts strongly recommend home cooking. While medical expertise itself endorses the need for home cooked food, simple layman's wisdom is sufficient to understand the importance of cooking at home with recipes that ensure a balanced intake of food. People of developing countries rely less on fast food chains for subsistence, and most of the households in these countries have hundreds of recipes that have been handed down through generations. These are time tested and proven, with unchallengeable nutritive values and taste. They have their own traditional spices and herbs and marinades, and each recipe is unique in its own way. Cooking is an art, and a well laid out table is a symbol of the interest a person takes in the family's health, its gastronomic delights, and the bonding among the members of the family. Nothing will help this interest and care better than easy recipes. There are plenty of tasty and free recipes which may have a rather long preparation time and may require too much of labor. While these have their charm, they may frighten off the beginners, and make them indifferent to cooking. So start with the easier recipes, which can be whipped up quickly. While making the food simple, try to change the recipes, so that there is some variety. Somehow or other make the mealtimes attractive so that the family is attracted less and less to the junk food that goes by the name fast food.Please do visit our site for hundreds of Free and easy Recipes for Home Cooking - Veg Recipes, Vegan Recipes, salads, soups, main course dishes, chili recipes, Appetizer recipes, desserts, Cookie Recipes, Chocolate recipes, and an extensive cooking guide.Source:www.isnare.com
By Sunil PunjabiFast food restaurants may be a dime a dozen these days, but would their easy recipes ever erase the memory of the perfect dishes that your mother dished out, when you came home famished, from school or the playground? Today, all family members, including mothers themselves, grab a bite from the nearest fast food eatery, before they hop back into the office. Dinner may be a pizza oozing with cheese, that either parent picked up on their way home. Flavors of home cooking have been forgotten memories today that visit you only in your dreams. All the fat from the cheese and chips that fast food chains gift, nestle in your body and most of it is seen deposited around the midriff. These fats live in the place of the essential nutrients that home cooking might have provided. From a theoretical point of view, everyone agrees that fast food delicacies are deadly concoctions that their bodies do not need. People do grow nostalgic now and then about home cooking recipes and smells that wafted from grandmother's kitchen, but somehow they go back to their fast food eateries, like an addict going back to his bottle. People have to be de-addicted from it, and giving them free recipes is one way of attracting people back to cooking wholesome food at home. A balanced diet is the ultimate requirement for staying healthy, and one way - rather the only way - in which this can be managed, is by home cooking. There are plenty of home cooking recipes, and easy recipes at that, which make the dishes tasty and provide the necessary nutrition. Tasty dishes are the best way to make mealtimes a pleasure, and perfect mealtimes in which everyone join, are the best way to make family members bond together. In short, home cooked food and the dinner table can become the factor that knits the family together. Dieticians and nutrition experts strongly recommend home cooking. While medical expertise itself endorses the need for home cooked food, simple layman's wisdom is sufficient to understand the importance of cooking at home with recipes that ensure a balanced intake of food. People of developing countries rely less on fast food chains for subsistence, and most of the households in these countries have hundreds of recipes that have been handed down through generations. These are time tested and proven, with unchallengeable nutritive values and taste. They have their own traditional spices and herbs and marinades, and each recipe is unique in its own way. Cooking is an art, and a well laid out table is a symbol of the interest a person takes in the family's health, its gastronomic delights, and the bonding among the members of the family. Nothing will help this interest and care better than easy recipes. There are plenty of tasty and free recipes which may have a rather long preparation time and may require too much of labor. While these have their charm, they may frighten off the beginners, and make them indifferent to cooking. So start with the easier recipes, which can be whipped up quickly. While making the food simple, try to change the recipes, so that there is some variety. Somehow or other make the mealtimes attractive so that the family is attracted less and less to the junk food that goes by the name fast food.Please do visit our site for hundreds of Free and easy Recipes for Home Cooking - Veg Recipes, Vegan Recipes, salads, soups, main course dishes, chili recipes, Appetizer recipes, desserts, Cookie Recipes, Chocolate recipes, and an extensive cooking guide.Source:www.isnare.com
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Can You Eat Well On A Limited Budget?
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By : Judy Jantzen Submitted 2009-04-10 17:03:58
Learning to cook from basic ingredients is the big savings! Pressed for time? Cook extra and have it as fast food another day. Simple cooking is just that. It is a learned skill. If you can read, write and use a computer then you can teach yourself to cook. There is a wonderful amount of information including thousands of recipes for free on the web. It is a great family activity. Teaching your children to cook, helps them to appreciate the effort that it takes, as well as teaching them important life skills. You can learn together. Cooking is a great creative adventure! Please do not spend your food money on anything that does not give you good food for your nourishment. Sodas, chemical drinks and prepackaged foods are full of stuff you may not even be able to pronounce, hurt your health and your pocketbook. Yes, they taste good, but they do not nourish you. I like to make extra spaghetti, goulash, pizza sauces and soups to have on hand for fast food meals. A pot of old fashion oatmeal or cream of wheat will get you through several mornings of fast food, by micro waving a bowl full with some milk. It is a complete protein. Some raisins in it, will give you a fruit. Grits [ground cornmeal] with an egg stirred in and a couple of slices of cheese, is quick and easy. Stir fried rice with an egg added is both filling and a whole protein. It will fill you up and keep you going for hours. Vegetables that are easy on your budget are carrots, cabbage, celery and onions. Carrots and celery are so easy and give you lots of chewing, which is good for your need to chew and reduces your risk of strokes. Cabbage is a very versatile vegetable. Think of slaw, salad, leaves used as wraps for meat fillings, steamed and in soup. Onions and garlic are very good for your immune system as are a lot of herbs like oregano, dill, mint, rosemary and sage and they make a lot of foods taste great. Tuck a few of them in your garden or grow in a few pots. Use the web to find out all the medical uses for them. The very best in cutting your food bill, is an edible garden. Research has shown that a nicely set table with nice music gives the physiological perception of the food costing more and tasting better than the same identical food served on paper plates on a bare table. Just because your budget is pinched, does not mean that you can not treat yourself and your family well with the nice things you already have. You do not have to act poor! Try to make one dinner a week a special occasion with setting a fine table and playing some pleasant quiet music. Act as if important company was coming. It will also help your children learn how to do it, their manners and proper conduct, for their future years. Make it a very special occasion, regardless of your menu. It is a great time to talk with your family. Cloth napkins can save a fortune over the years and you are going to do the wash anyway. Biscuits, cornbread, pancakes, etc. are all good for you and easy on the budget. Making your own bread is good for working off stress. The kneading gives you good upper arm and breast muscles as well as saving money. Nothing matches the wonderful smell of fresh bread or cookies baking. Five cups of flour can make one batch of bread, which can give you a great homemade pizza, a pan of sweet rolls and another batch of rolls or small loaf. Fresh bread and homemade soup can make a feast. For desserts remember things like rice, bread and banana puddings. They taste great and are also full of good protein. The more protein you eat the fuller you will feel and the less food you will crave. Do not forget old fashion popcorn that you pop yourself. It makes a great snack for the family for a TV movie night. It is also a whole grain. Making a batch of cookies with your family will make pleasant memories for a lifetime. Author Resource:- Author: Judy Jantzen,is a freelance author who is actively engaged in writing articles for article marketing. Has spent many years in the kitchen cooking for a family of three.Article From New Ezine Articles
By : Judy Jantzen Submitted 2009-04-10 17:03:58
Learning to cook from basic ingredients is the big savings! Pressed for time? Cook extra and have it as fast food another day. Simple cooking is just that. It is a learned skill. If you can read, write and use a computer then you can teach yourself to cook. There is a wonderful amount of information including thousands of recipes for free on the web. It is a great family activity. Teaching your children to cook, helps them to appreciate the effort that it takes, as well as teaching them important life skills. You can learn together. Cooking is a great creative adventure! Please do not spend your food money on anything that does not give you good food for your nourishment. Sodas, chemical drinks and prepackaged foods are full of stuff you may not even be able to pronounce, hurt your health and your pocketbook. Yes, they taste good, but they do not nourish you. I like to make extra spaghetti, goulash, pizza sauces and soups to have on hand for fast food meals. A pot of old fashion oatmeal or cream of wheat will get you through several mornings of fast food, by micro waving a bowl full with some milk. It is a complete protein. Some raisins in it, will give you a fruit. Grits [ground cornmeal] with an egg stirred in and a couple of slices of cheese, is quick and easy. Stir fried rice with an egg added is both filling and a whole protein. It will fill you up and keep you going for hours. Vegetables that are easy on your budget are carrots, cabbage, celery and onions. Carrots and celery are so easy and give you lots of chewing, which is good for your need to chew and reduces your risk of strokes. Cabbage is a very versatile vegetable. Think of slaw, salad, leaves used as wraps for meat fillings, steamed and in soup. Onions and garlic are very good for your immune system as are a lot of herbs like oregano, dill, mint, rosemary and sage and they make a lot of foods taste great. Tuck a few of them in your garden or grow in a few pots. Use the web to find out all the medical uses for them. The very best in cutting your food bill, is an edible garden. Research has shown that a nicely set table with nice music gives the physiological perception of the food costing more and tasting better than the same identical food served on paper plates on a bare table. Just because your budget is pinched, does not mean that you can not treat yourself and your family well with the nice things you already have. You do not have to act poor! Try to make one dinner a week a special occasion with setting a fine table and playing some pleasant quiet music. Act as if important company was coming. It will also help your children learn how to do it, their manners and proper conduct, for their future years. Make it a very special occasion, regardless of your menu. It is a great time to talk with your family. Cloth napkins can save a fortune over the years and you are going to do the wash anyway. Biscuits, cornbread, pancakes, etc. are all good for you and easy on the budget. Making your own bread is good for working off stress. The kneading gives you good upper arm and breast muscles as well as saving money. Nothing matches the wonderful smell of fresh bread or cookies baking. Five cups of flour can make one batch of bread, which can give you a great homemade pizza, a pan of sweet rolls and another batch of rolls or small loaf. Fresh bread and homemade soup can make a feast. For desserts remember things like rice, bread and banana puddings. They taste great and are also full of good protein. The more protein you eat the fuller you will feel and the less food you will crave. Do not forget old fashion popcorn that you pop yourself. It makes a great snack for the family for a TV movie night. It is also a whole grain. Making a batch of cookies with your family will make pleasant memories for a lifetime. Author Resource:- Author: Judy Jantzen,is a freelance author who is actively engaged in writing articles for article marketing. Has spent many years in the kitchen cooking for a family of three.Article From New Ezine Articles
Easy No-Cook Meals
By : Jimmy Cox Submitted 2008-03-17 09:02:56
It will help us little to eat a four- to twelve-course dinner, consisting of the best carbohydrates, fats, proteins, minerals, starches, sugars and pill vitamins if the dinner is overcooked and all the nutrients destroyed. After years of eating overcooked and processed foods of the finest quality, the majority of us suffer assorted ailments, which vary from debilitating children's diseases to those of crippled maturity and old age. This state of our health has become accepted as the inevitable pattern of our destiny. Some of us however, will not give in and frequently, hopefully follow new fads in eating and are just as frequently led astray to some degree for a very simple reason: because no matter what foods or combination of them are advocated in these fads, and no matter how excellent the ingredients, they fail if they are cooked or processed to death and thus reduced to working against and not for us. It is, therefore, not what you eat, but how it is prepared. All foods, as nature produces them, eaten in any combination, are complete, chemically correct and vital, if prepared at body or, at most, at fever heat. It is my conviction that the whole span of our lives from conception on can be free from all ailments, barring accidents or external infections, if we carefully prepare our food so that the vital vitamins and minerals are retained Below are some tasty supper dishes which can be prepared in such a way as to preserve the important nutrients and thus keep us healthy.
It will help us little to eat a four- to twelve-course dinner, consisting of the best carbohydrates, fats, proteins, minerals, starches, sugars and pill vitamins if the dinner is overcooked and all the nutrients destroyed. After years of eating overcooked and processed foods of the finest quality, the majority of us suffer assorted ailments, which vary from debilitating children's diseases to those of crippled maturity and old age. This state of our health has become accepted as the inevitable pattern of our destiny. Some of us however, will not give in and frequently, hopefully follow new fads in eating and are just as frequently led astray to some degree for a very simple reason: because no matter what foods or combination of them are advocated in these fads, and no matter how excellent the ingredients, they fail if they are cooked or processed to death and thus reduced to working against and not for us. It is, therefore, not what you eat, but how it is prepared. All foods, as nature produces them, eaten in any combination, are complete, chemically correct and vital, if prepared at body or, at most, at fever heat. It is my conviction that the whole span of our lives from conception on can be free from all ailments, barring accidents or external infections, if we carefully prepare our food so that the vital vitamins and minerals are retained Below are some tasty supper dishes which can be prepared in such a way as to preserve the important nutrients and thus keep us healthy.
Quick Supper Dishes Macaroni
Noodles And Spaghetti 1 lb. semolina type macaroni, noodles or spaghett
4 cups hot, but not boiling water
3 tablespoons coarse salt
2 tablespoons olive oil
A child's favorite. Fixed "al dente" it can provide much of the vitamins and minerals required for protection of body needs for growth and function. Place the noodles, spaghetti or macaroni into hot water with salt and oil, and let stand for about five minutes.
Quick Supper Dishes Italian Spaghetti
1/2 lb. semolina type spaghetti, Italian type excellent
2 cups very hot water
2 teaspoons coarse salt and fresh red pepper 6 tomatoes, liquefied
1 chopped onion or 1 scallion
1 diced green pepper
1 stalk celery with leaves
chopped 1 clove garlic
The vegetables enrich this dish with their respective vitamins and minerals especially Vitamin C in tomatoes. Prepare the spaghetti as indicated in recipe for spaghetti. Sear quickly over high heat on film of oil, tomatoes, garlic clove, onion, pepper and celery. Add the seasonings and olive oil. Meat balls may be added.
Spaghetti With Chicken
1 fresh young broiler, cut at each joint
3 teaspoons peanut, corn or olive oil
Dash oregano Basil leaves
2 cloves garlic,
minced Coarse salt and
crushed red pepper as desired
A fun and protein combo.
Quick Supper Dishes
Prepare the spaghetti as indicated in recipe above. Heat pan containing a film of oil and the garlic. Remove garlic when it is browned and saute the chicken which will be seasoned later with salt, pepper, oregano and basil leaves. Turn them over in 3 minutes and leave for another 2 minutes. Cover and remove from fire and serve immediately.
Noodle Chop Suey
1 pkg. noodles
1 chopped onion or scallion
1 green pepper, chopped
2 stalks celery with leaves, chopped
1 cup chopped fresh mushrooms
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 fresh tomatoes, mashed
2 teaspoons cornmeal
Dash oregano
Basil leaf Bay leaf
Coarse salt and crushed red pepper
Saute the vegetables over high flame (1 minute). Add the cornmeal. Remove from flame and add the mushrooms. Place the noodles, which are already prepared in manner described in first recipe, with the vegetables and serve. All these dishes are not only satisfying but healthy. Enjoy!
Author Resource:- Get The Shocking Truth Raw Food Diet Detox And What You Must Do To Eat Healthy! Click Here For Free Online Ebook http://www.rawfooddietdetox.net/Article From New Ezine Articles
The Spices In Your Kitchen Do More Than Flavor Your Foods
By : Darrell Miller Submitted 2007-09-21 18:41:53
Although spices have been part of the human diet for millions of years, recent research has discovered that they can also benefit health. Spices, which are made from buds, bark, fruits, roots, or seeds of plants, can keep their active ingredients for months or even years. They contain phytochemicals which are referred to as phytonutrients. These phytonutrients are compounds in plant-derived foods that are biologically active in the body. They are not a necessity for normal metabolism and do not result in a deficiency disease if they are missing. Although current research is investigating phytochemicals’ effects on degenerative disease states, these compounds do help with the struggle against obesity by activating the body’s natural cooling system, which in turn increases metabolism and stimulates perspiration. Researchers have recently reported that consuming spicy foods, particularly those containing capsaicin, increases the body’s metabolic rate above its basal rate, creating heat. Black pepper also stimulates metabolism by boosting heat production in the body. Researchers have concluded that thermogenic ingredients such as pepper can be considered functional agents to help prevent obesity. Cinnamon is one of the world’s most commonly used spices. It comes from the bark of a small evergreen found in India. Traditionally, it was used to counteract congestion, aid circulation, and ease nausea and diarrhea. However, it is currently being studied for its effects in preventing or helping osteoarthritis and type II diabetes. A recent study concluded that intake of one to six grams of cinnamon per day reduces serum glucose, triglyercide, LDL cholesterol, and total cholesterol and patients with type II diabetes. These results show that adding cinnamon to the diet of those with type II diabetes can possibly reduce risk factors associated with diabetes and other cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, cinnamon has been shown to relieve muscle and joint pain and stiffness, menstrual discomfort, and act as an antimicrobial agent against E. coli and other bacteria. Cinnamon extract has also been shown to have antioxidant activity, assisting wound healing. This spice brings blood from the center of the body to the skin, dispersing blood throughout the body more evenly and possibly decreasing blood pressure. Nutmeg is a seed, which similar to cinnamon, comes from an evergreen tree cultivated in India, Malaysia, and Granada. It was previously used to treat various ailments such as the plague, liver and stomach problems, scarlet fever, apoplexy, freckles, and bad breath. Small quantities were also used to help people sleep, while larger amounts were administered as a sedative. Although the spice is widely used in the West to flavor food, spice wine or ales, or to scent soaps and perfumes, nutmeg is also an important part of Eastern and Indian medicines. Studies have shown that one of the essential oils found in nutmeg has been shown to inhibit medicinally induced diarrhea. Cloves, which are the unopened flower bud of the clove tree, were traditionally used as an expectorant and antiemetic. Clove tea was also once used to relieve nausea. Currently, clove oil is used in dentistry as an analgesic and local antiseptic due to its concentration of eugenol. Author Resource:- Add spice to your life at http://vitanetonline.com/ where a large selection of spices are available for purchase.Article From New Ezine Articles
Although spices have been part of the human diet for millions of years, recent research has discovered that they can also benefit health. Spices, which are made from buds, bark, fruits, roots, or seeds of plants, can keep their active ingredients for months or even years. They contain phytochemicals which are referred to as phytonutrients. These phytonutrients are compounds in plant-derived foods that are biologically active in the body. They are not a necessity for normal metabolism and do not result in a deficiency disease if they are missing. Although current research is investigating phytochemicals’ effects on degenerative disease states, these compounds do help with the struggle against obesity by activating the body’s natural cooling system, which in turn increases metabolism and stimulates perspiration. Researchers have recently reported that consuming spicy foods, particularly those containing capsaicin, increases the body’s metabolic rate above its basal rate, creating heat. Black pepper also stimulates metabolism by boosting heat production in the body. Researchers have concluded that thermogenic ingredients such as pepper can be considered functional agents to help prevent obesity. Cinnamon is one of the world’s most commonly used spices. It comes from the bark of a small evergreen found in India. Traditionally, it was used to counteract congestion, aid circulation, and ease nausea and diarrhea. However, it is currently being studied for its effects in preventing or helping osteoarthritis and type II diabetes. A recent study concluded that intake of one to six grams of cinnamon per day reduces serum glucose, triglyercide, LDL cholesterol, and total cholesterol and patients with type II diabetes. These results show that adding cinnamon to the diet of those with type II diabetes can possibly reduce risk factors associated with diabetes and other cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, cinnamon has been shown to relieve muscle and joint pain and stiffness, menstrual discomfort, and act as an antimicrobial agent against E. coli and other bacteria. Cinnamon extract has also been shown to have antioxidant activity, assisting wound healing. This spice brings blood from the center of the body to the skin, dispersing blood throughout the body more evenly and possibly decreasing blood pressure. Nutmeg is a seed, which similar to cinnamon, comes from an evergreen tree cultivated in India, Malaysia, and Granada. It was previously used to treat various ailments such as the plague, liver and stomach problems, scarlet fever, apoplexy, freckles, and bad breath. Small quantities were also used to help people sleep, while larger amounts were administered as a sedative. Although the spice is widely used in the West to flavor food, spice wine or ales, or to scent soaps and perfumes, nutmeg is also an important part of Eastern and Indian medicines. Studies have shown that one of the essential oils found in nutmeg has been shown to inhibit medicinally induced diarrhea. Cloves, which are the unopened flower bud of the clove tree, were traditionally used as an expectorant and antiemetic. Clove tea was also once used to relieve nausea. Currently, clove oil is used in dentistry as an analgesic and local antiseptic due to its concentration of eugenol. Author Resource:- Add spice to your life at http://vitanetonline.com/ where a large selection of spices are available for purchase.Article From New Ezine Articles
Monday, July 20, 2009
Outdoor Cooking Equipment secrets: Setting up an outdoor kitchen
By Stephen Kember
A warm balmy evening, the patio, friends & family; the outdoor grill; the wonderful flavors and aromas of a meal cooked outdoors, they all come together in absolute perfection in the summer time; what could be better?
Now hold on a minute. This is absolutely true, but if you want a really successful and enjoyable outdoor cooking experience then you need a well thought through outdoor kitchen.
The scale of your outdoor kitchen will be down to available funds but ideally you should aim to have the big seven in your outdoor kitchen: a grill and a stove; a cabinet for storage; a work top, a sink; a refrigerator and a well positioned seating with table area.
Your outdoor kitchen will bring in its wake many benefits. you'll be free of walking in and out of the house so many times you're going dizzy, you'll have everything to hand when you need it; your family will be seriously impressed and enjoy your entertaining and you'll be far more relaxed.... that is of course, assuming you've planned it all well in advance of starting the project.
Finding your way through the myriad of grills and stoves available in the marketplace today is not easy. My advice before you start is to think this one through from the perspective of your families needs and what you'll be cooking. Don't skimp, this is a long term investment and will determine the quality of your cooking experience.
To help you ask yourself some of the right questions the following points are important:
1. Before making any detailed decisions ask yourself: What is the best location for our outdoor kitchen? How will the kitchen work in terms of the house and the garden and the family? How important is our privacy when eating? What permissions will we need? Where is the sun going to be when we're dining? What protection from the elements are we going to need? And, if we're going to use it, will the decking take the weight of the kitchen?
2. Should I buy a grill or a stove or do i need both? If you can afford it go for both as they are so useful working in tandem.
3. If we go for a stove, as well as a grill, what type is going to be best? A 1, 2 or 3 burner unit? Or should I go all in and buy a ceramic grill? I've heard that they are really good and produce exceptionally flavorsome and juicy food because of the special way a ceramic grill cooks. I suggest that you look online at the many bargains and think about exactly what you're going to be cooking and buy accordingly.
4. What cooking will I be doing? What size of grill or stove will suit us best? How many and what type of stockpots, Dutch ovens and Jambalaya pots will we need? How many will we be cooking for? And which do i like best aluminum, stainless steel or cast iron?
5. Should I chose a grill with gas or charcoal? Ask yourself, will the family prefer food beautifully flavored with charcoal smoke and enjoy the fun of cooking with charcoal or do I prefer the simplicity and cleanliness of gas? Or maybe I could be really sophisticated and go for a wood smoker? But then again maybe the ceramic grill will cover this option for me?
6. Are we going to go for stainless steel throughout making everything a long term, easy to clean, great looking investment?
Designing the ideal outdoor kitchen is fairly straightforward providing you think things through and take some simple precautions. Here are some important suggestions. Mundane yes! But oh so important:
1. Should the outdoor kitchen go on the patio or on your decking; each may be the natural choice but both may not be the right decision for you? Think broadly and in the long term and if you're in any doubt don't start until you are sure;
2. Ensure you have some cover over the cooking area given the likely prospect of a shower or two;
3. If you're thinking of having a stove and deep frying avoid placing this on a wooden floor or decking in case the oil spills and you have a fire!
4. Money spent on outdoor lighting is usually a good investment. Nice lighting creates ambiance enhancing everyones sense of occasion; it also allows your evening to go on well into the night as you so wish;
6. Having an outdoor refrigerator is a real bonus, just make sure you buy one that is for use outdoors and comes with a a lock
7. Go for a sink if you possibly can. You are going to need water and a waste outlet so plan for this from the outset. Sinks with water are really handy be it for washing your hands, for food preparation, providing water for drinks as well as for washing up;
7. Its important that your outdoor kitchen is waterproof and all-round weather tight; particularly storage areas; always invest in dedicated outdoor kit; and
8. Don't have any combustible materials around the grill
Happy outdoor cooking.
Stephen Kember
Stephen R. Kember is a acknowledged expert on outdoor living. He now runs an online Cooking Equipment Store. Here you can take a look at the ultimate outdoor grill the Ceramic grill, which is the perfect all-round outdoor grill for use in an outdoor kitchen. To see the full range of equipment go to the http://tinyurl.com/dd6qlf where, for a limited period, prices have been significantly reduced right across the store's full range of cooking equipment.
Article Source: http://www.artipot.com
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Really Inexpensive & Easy Recipes - Biscuit Hamburger Bake, Spoon Bread, & Pink Flannel Hash
With so many people out-of-work and almost all of us watching our finances, inexpensive family meals are becoming more and more important. Here are some old-fashion recipes that offer you meals that are easy, inexpensive yet tasty. These recipes should be a hit with the whole family while saving you money on your food budget. Biscuit Hamburger Bake is quick, easy, inexpensive, and has meat, vegetables, bread, and dairy all in one dish. Spoon Bread is an old recipe from Tennessee for a cornbread type bread baked in a casserole dish. Pink Flannel Hash uses tuna, potatoes, eggs, etc for a quick, inexpensive meal. So take heart, and give these recipes a try to help you save money on your trips to the grocery store.
BISCUIT HAMBURGER BAKE
This recipe is from an old community cookbook in Southern Indiana where I was born and raised.
1 lb ground beef
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 can condensed Vegetable Soup
1/2 tbsp oregano
dash of pepper
1 can refrigerated biscuits
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
In a large skillet, cook ground beef with onion until meat is browned and onion is tender; drain well to remove fat. Stir in the can of soup, oregano, and pepper; heat to bubbling. Pour mixture into a 2-quart casserole dish that has been buttered. Top with the biscuits. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes. Remove from oven. Spread the sour cream over the biscuits then top with the cheese. Return to the oven and bake another 10 minutes.
SPOON BREAD
This is an old Tennessee hills recipe.
2 cups white corn meal
2 1/2 cups boiling water
1 1/2 tbsp melted butter
1 1/2 tsp salt
2 egg yolks, beaten
1 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
2 egg whites, beaten
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Add corn meal slowly to boiling water. Let stand for 3 minutes. Add butter to the corn meal mixture. Stir in salt, egg yolks, baking soda, and buttermilk. Fold in the egg whites and turn into a greased baking dish. Bake at 375 degrees for 40 minutes.
PINK FLANNEL HASH
This old recipe was a clipping I found in a box of my late mother's recipes. I have no idea where this clipping originated.
1/3 cup butter or margarine
1 cup chopped onion (1 large)
2 cups finely chopped red bell pepper
1/2 tsp Tabasco sauce
2 cups Idaho frozen southern style hash brown potatoes
1 can (6 1/2-7 oz) tuna, drained and flaked
4 eggs
In a large skillet melt butter; saute the onions and peppers until crisp tender. Stir in Tabasco sauce and potatoes. Cook over medium heat, stirring often, until potatoes are tender and golden (about 15 minutes). Stir in tuna. Make four wells in potato mixture; break one egg into each well. Cover and cook 3 to 4 minutes or until eggs are set. Garnish with fresh parsley.
Serves 4.
Enjoy!
| For more old-fashion recipes visit http://grandmasvintagerecipes.blogspot.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Linda_Carol_Wilson |
Young kids are not a problem, they always seem to want to help you in the kitchen. Heck, they’ll do dishes, sweep floors, stir what’s in the bowl, and reorganize your Tupperware. It’s the older ones, the tweeners and early teenagers, that sometimes need a little nudge to join in the kitchen fun. Here are some ideas that just might get them interested in cooking up some food, fun, and memorable moments.
Kid in Control
This one will be become a favorite -- an evening where your child is in charge. You basically change places with them. They pick the dinner and do the bulk of the work, but they get to boss you around. They can tell you to chop the carrots, peel the potatoes, set the table, or feed the dog. They're in charge. My kids love bossing me around and I love that they're showing a little confidence in their budding cooking skills. If you try this I'm guessing they'll also tell you to do all the dishes.
One Ingredient/One Meal
Challenge your children to come up with a recipe they'd like to try using any one ingredient that you name. They can pull out the cookbooks or go to the Internet for help. There are many cooking websites that display recipes when given just one ingredient. Depending on the age of your cook, you can make it an easy ingredient like poultry or pineapple, or a real challenge with curry or hoisin sauce. This might be a good time to use what's in season -- cabbage, grapes, broccoli, basil, etc. Not only will they make a dish they've never made before, but they may actually learn a little about the chosen ingredient.
Loud Music and Personal Choice
Some kids are more willing to cook if they get to pick what they want to cook, not you. They’re also more willing to cook if they’re hungry. Give them cookbooks to look through and get ideas from. Usually they’ll pick the recipe with the most appetizing picture or fewest ingredients. Try not to set rules. It’s okay if they make omelets for dinner. They’re cooking, aren’t they? As far as the music goes – let them crank it up while they’re creating in the kitchen. If that makes them a happier cook, then that makes you a happier parent.
Kids Cafe
Remember when your children were little and they liked to play restaurant? "Mommy, you sit here and tell me what you want to eat!" Then they give you a banana, hamburger, spaghetti, and milk carton, all in plastic. Now that they're older, why not recreate the fun? With your help, have them make a very limited menu with maybe one entree, two side choices, and two vegetable/fruit choices ahead of time. You are the customer at The Kids Cafe and they get to set your table, be your waiter, and also cook and serve your food. Not only do they get to practice their cooking skills, but they get to work on following instructions, organizing their time, and learning to please a customer. So sit back and have some fun at the Kids Cafe, and don't forget to leave a tip!
Kids + Friends + Kitchen = Party!
How about a Bring-Your-Own-Ingredient Party? Pizza works well with this concept. You supply the crusts and every child brings a different topping. This leads to some really crazy pizzas and some (gasp) experimental tasting by the kids. If not pizza, the menu headliner can be a taco or fajita bar. For dessert start with some big sugar cookie crusts and see what the kids can bring to put on top. They're only limited by their imaginations. Can't you just picture their proud creations?
Invent a Recipe
Let your kids think outside the recipe. This is a natural for kids, they have great imaginations. They get to use any ingredients they want, which will usually lead to discussions of what normally goes together. Sometimes you might get to discuss the definition of "gross", and sometimes you might get into the realm of science and whether something will remain goo or become solid after baking.
Pick a Theme
It’s simple – your kids pick a theme, and every family member prepares a dish. The theme can be a meal from a different country or from a different time in history. Why not have a theme like all the food needs to be green or all the dishes have to have apples in them. There are so many possibilities, just look at what your kids are currently interested in for some ideas.
Sometimes kids just need to be pointed in the right direction -- towards the kitchen. With a little patience and a blind eye towards the mess, you can help nurture a life-long love of cooking. I hope these ideas help get your children in the kitchen with you, cooking up some good food, good fun, and good memories!
| Peggy Baron cooks with her kids in Colorado, and runs http://cookinkids.com which is a website devoted to helping other parents and kids have fun together in the kitchen. Peggy is the editor of the popular Cookin' Kids Newsletter. Each bi-monthly newsletter has fun facts, recipes, jokes, games, cooking safety, and cooking terms wrapped around a different theme. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peg_Baron |  |
Have Fun Teaching Your Kids to Cook
"STAY out of the kitchen!" Many a hungry child has received that admonition while trying to get an early taste of supper. However, rather than keeping them out, parents have good reason to invite their children into the kitchen. Why so? Because the kitchen is, in effect, a fascinating classroom.
The kitchen is a place where children can develop creativity and problem-solving skills, a place where they can learn to serve others and work as part of a team, a place where meaningful conversations can spontaneously arise.
In this age of technology and information, why use the kitchen as a place for training children? The answer is time. Many parents recognize that there is simply no substitute for spending time with their children-lots of it! The problem is where to find it. Some authorities urge parents to look at the routine work they do around the home as an opportunity to do things with their children and educate them.
The kitchen has a natural attraction for children. After all, where else are they trained to use knives carefully and handle other utensils? Children having fun may even make an occasional mess! What lessons, though, does the kitchen have to offer?
The Kitchen 'Classroom'
Pouring, pounding, peeling, sifting, stirring, and rolling help children develop manual dexterity and eye-hand coordination. Concepts are learned that serve as building blocks for learning mathematics. Following a recipe is an exercise in the use of numbers, measurements, timing, logic, and language. And one cannot venture into the complex and hazard-filled world of the kitchen without learning something about safety, responsibility, personal organization, and teamwork.
Not to be overlooked is the value of learning to cook. It is not uncommon for children who start out by helping in the kitchen to be able to prepare entire meals by the time they reach their teen years. What busy parent wouldn't welcome that from time to time? Furthermore, cooking helps youths develop confidence and self-sufficiency-qualities that can benefit them when they later become adults.
Make Cooking Fun
How can a parent find the time to train children in the kitchen? Try to schedule a time when there are as few distractions as possible. If you have several children, you may want to work with one child at a time when they are starting out. To do this, choose a time when the other children are taking naps or are at school. Plan on spending more time than if you were cooking alone. And be prepared to have fun in the kitchen!
For your first session, you might let your child select something that he or she enjoys eating. Look for a simple recipe that brings swift results. Make sure it includes tasks that he can successfully complete. To keep your child from getting restless and bored, have him find some of the needed ingredients and utensils beforehand. You might even partially prepare some of the ingredients in advance so that the session does not become drawn out and tedious.
Read through the recipe with your child, showing him how to perform each of the tasks. Give your child his own space in the kitchen-perhaps a drawer with a couple of bowls and a few utensils-and give him an apron. Rather than have a boy wear a woman's apron, you might get him one made for a male chef. Right from the start, emphasize the importance of safety and set sensible rules for the kitchen.
Most of all, try to make it fun. Don't have your child just watch you; have him wash his hands, and keep them busy in the actual preparation of the food. Allow opportunity for him to explore, experiment, and ask questions. And when a dish doesn't turn out perfectly, don't worry. If your child made it himself, he'll probably eat it anyway!
So if as a parent you are looking for ways to spend more time with your children, why not invite them to help you prepare a cake or a whole meal? You may find that working with them in the kitchen is a means both to nourish and to nurture your family.
Be Safety Conscious
• In a serious but non-frightening way, explain the dangers of working in the kitchen, much as you would explain the dangers of traffic on a busy street. Set a good example yourself.
• Provide adult supervision whenever children are working in the kitchen. Do not allow a child to use any utensil or appliance, especially electrical, until he can use it safely.
• Keep your kitchen orderly. Clean up spills and clear away clutter promptly. Pets and other distractions should be kept out of the kitchen while you are cooking.
Protect Fingers
• Electric mixers, blenders, and food processors should be used only when an adult is supervising. Make sure that the appliance is turned off and unplugged before your child puts a utensil into the bowl.
• Keep knives sharp, since a dull knife requires more pressure and is therefore more likely to slip.
• When your child is learning to use a knife, have him follow these steps: (1) pick the knife up by its handle, (2) place the knife on the food, (3) put the other hand on the back of the knife, and (4) apply pressure to cut the food.
• Use a cutting board. To keep vegetables from rolling around while your child is trying to cut them, slice them in half first and place the flat side down on the cutting board.
Guard Against Burns & Scalds
• Always turn off stove-top and oven dials when not in use. Keep towels, cookbooks, and pot holders away from burners.
• Position the handles of pans toward the center of the stove, where they cannot easily be bumped and cause spills.
• If you let your child work at the stove, be sure that he is standing on a sturdy and stable surface.
• Don't pick up a hot item unless you already know where you are going to set it down. Make sure others in the kitchen know when you are carrying a hot item, especially if you are going to walk behind them.
| At http://www.kitchenandhousewares.us visitors will find a wide range of kitchen products, as well as gourmet foods, cookbooks and discount magazine subscriptions. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Geoff_Cummings |
Have Fun Teaching Your Kids to Cook
"STAY out of the kitchen!" Many a hungry child has received that admonition while trying to get an early taste of supper. However, rather than keeping them out, parents have good reason to invite their children into the kitchen. Why so? Because the kitchen is, in effect, a fascinating classroom.
The kitchen is a place where children can develop creativity and problem-solving skills, a place where they can learn to serve others and work as part of a team, a place where meaningful conversations can spontaneously arise.
In this age of technology and information, why use the kitchen as a place for training children? The answer is time. Many parents recognize that there is simply no substitute for spending time with their children-lots of it! The problem is where to find it. Some authorities urge parents to look at the routine work they do around the home as an opportunity to do things with their children and educate them.
The kitchen has a natural attraction for children. After all, where else are they trained to use knives carefully and handle other utensils? Children having fun may even make an occasional mess! What lessons, though, does the kitchen have to offer?
The Kitchen 'Classroom'
Pouring, pounding, peeling, sifting, stirring, and rolling help children develop manual dexterity and eye-hand coordination. Concepts are learned that serve as building blocks for learning mathematics. Following a recipe is an exercise in the use of numbers, measurements, timing, logic, and language. And one cannot venture into the complex and hazard-filled world of the kitchen without learning something about safety, responsibility, personal organization, and teamwork.
Not to be overlooked is the value of learning to cook. It is not uncommon for children who start out by helping in the kitchen to be able to prepare entire meals by the time they reach their teen years. What busy parent wouldn't welcome that from time to time? Furthermore, cooking helps youths develop confidence and self-sufficiency-qualities that can benefit them when they later become adults.
Make Cooking Fun
How can a parent find the time to train children in the kitchen? Try to schedule a time when there are as few distractions as possible. If you have several children, you may want to work with one child at a time when they are starting out. To do this, choose a time when the other children are taking naps or are at school. Plan on spending more time than if you were cooking alone. And be prepared to have fun in the kitchen!
For your first session, you might let your child select something that he or she enjoys eating. Look for a simple recipe that brings swift results. Make sure it includes tasks that he can successfully complete. To keep your child from getting restless and bored, have him find some of the needed ingredients and utensils beforehand. You might even partially prepare some of the ingredients in advance so that the session does not become drawn out and tedious.
Read through the recipe with your child, showing him how to perform each of the tasks. Give your child his own space in the kitchen-perhaps a drawer with a couple of bowls and a few utensils-and give him an apron. Rather than have a boy wear a woman's apron, you might get him one made for a male chef. Right from the start, emphasize the importance of safety and set sensible rules for the kitchen.
Most of all, try to make it fun. Don't have your child just watch you; have him wash his hands, and keep them busy in the actual preparation of the food. Allow opportunity for him to explore, experiment, and ask questions. And when a dish doesn't turn out perfectly, don't worry. If your child made it himself, he'll probably eat it anyway!
So if as a parent you are looking for ways to spend more time with your children, why not invite them to help you prepare a cake or a whole meal? You may find that working with them in the kitchen is a means both to nourish and to nurture your family.
Be Safety Conscious
• In a serious but non-frightening way, explain the dangers of working in the kitchen, much as you would explain the dangers of traffic on a busy street. Set a good example yourself.
• Provide adult supervision whenever children are working in the kitchen. Do not allow a child to use any utensil or appliance, especially electrical, until he can use it safely.
• Keep your kitchen orderly. Clean up spills and clear away clutter promptly. Pets and other distractions should be kept out of the kitchen while you are cooking.
Protect Fingers
• Electric mixers, blenders, and food processors should be used only when an adult is supervising. Make sure that the appliance is turned off and unplugged before your child puts a utensil into the bowl.
• Keep knives sharp, since a dull knife requires more pressure and is therefore more likely to slip.
• When your child is learning to use a knife, have him follow these steps: (1) pick the knife up by its handle, (2) place the knife on the food, (3) put the other hand on the back of the knife, and (4) apply pressure to cut the food.
• Use a cutting board. To keep vegetables from rolling around while your child is trying to cut them, slice them in half first and place the flat side down on the cutting board.
Guard Against Burns & Scalds
• Always turn off stove-top and oven dials when not in use. Keep towels, cookbooks, and pot holders away from burners.
• Position the handles of pans toward the center of the stove, where they cannot easily be bumped and cause spills.
• If you let your child work at the stove, be sure that he is standing on a sturdy and stable surface.
• Don't pick up a hot item unless you already know where you are going to set it down. Make sure others in the kitchen know when you are carrying a hot item, especially if you are going to walk behind them.
| At http://www.kitchenandhousewares.us visitors will find a wide range of kitchen products, as well as gourmet foods, cookbooks and discount magazine subscriptions. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Geoff_Cummings |
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