Friday, July 31, 2009

Save Money and Celebrate with Lobster Dinners

By Shannon Linnen

With these uncertain times, it can be hard to feel like celebrating life's special milestones. Birthday's and anniversaries might pass without you feeling like, or being able to afford, going out to celebrate. But even in difficult economic times, one of the best things we can do for ourselves is the celebrate the things that really matter. This doesn't have to involve a big dinner out that costs your friends, family and spouse a lot of money. Why not stay in instead, inviting over the people that really matter, and showing them that you appreciate them as you celebrate your special even. You can do this easily with a cost effective lobster dinner.

A lobster dinner sounds like it would be a fancy and extravagant way to go, but that isn't the case. However, remember this preconception, because it's how your friends are going to feel when you serve them this delicious meal. Because it seems so luxurious and expensive, it will make your friends feel like they've come over for an exciting and extravagant party.

Because lobster is seen as a luxury, you'll be seen as spoiling everyone with a special and extravagant party, whatever the real cost. And because of the new and exciting ways to buy lobster, the real cost will be much lower than what your friends may think. The trick is to order your lobster online. This takes away the high cost that is added on by restaurant and grocery store surcharges.

How do you save such a great amount of money when you order a lobster dinner online, you may wonder. The answer is simple. If you go to a restaurant to order a lobster dinner, you know that the price is much higher than simply the food costs. You are helping to pay some of the cost of the people who prepared your food, served it and cleared it away, as well as the equipment and space costs. And let's not even talk about drinks. Even when buying a lobster from the grocery store to prepare at home, you still end up paying what can amount to a large surcharge.

But buying your lobster dinner online takes away all of those costs. Because you're ordering directly from the fisherman, you pay only the going market price of the lobster, and the subsidized shipping fees. And because you're getting the lobster directly from the person who fished it, you know you're getting the finest, freshest lobster there is. This is a great advantage when you're cooking at home, and the fresh taste can shine through. And because you're ordering online, you get next day shipping, meaning your lobster will be delivered for your party, fresh and without you having to head to the store in advance, hoping there will be enough lobsters for everyone.

So the next time you want to impress your friends and family, celebrate, and save a few dollars, ordering a lobster dinner online is the way to go for you.

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How To Make Chocolate Truffles

By Breanna Lee

The chocolate truffles you find in supermarkets and stores are mostly manufactured in factories and aren't all that good. Most of them are either too sweet or not rich enough. There are even some store-bought cheap chocolates that contain so little cocoa, you are practically eating something high-calorie with zero of the health benefits of cocoa. If you absolutely love chocolates and want to consume healthier chocolates, then it is time you try your hand at making your own chocolate truffles.

You may think it is very hard to make chocolate truffles but nothing can be further from the truth. It is pretty easy to make these delightful mouthfuls of heavenly chocolate once you know how. All you need is some very basic cooking skills and as long as you don't burn the chocolate, you will be able to produce professional looking truffles in no time. Of course, you will need to read on the following tips first before you try your hand at making your own truffles that will tastes much better than those you found at stores.

Before setting out to make chocolate truffles, the first things you need to do is to stock up on the essential ingredients. The most important one is of course, the chocolate. I'd recommend dark baking chocolate that has high cocoa content of 70% and above. We want high cocoa content because only chocolates with high cocoa content are of better quality, richer and has more anti-oxidants that are also good for you. But if you don't really like the slight bitter taste of dark chocolate, you can also choose to get milk chocolate with a lower cocoa content.

The other ingredients that you should include are what you want in your truffles. If you want your truffles to have some crunch to it, you will need nuts like almonds or peanuts or if you want some dried fruits in it, you can get those too. If you want colorful truffles, you can choose to get some multi-colored chocolate rice which you can use to roll the truffles in once done.

The very first thing to do is to break or chop the chocolate into smaller pieces. The put the chocolate into a heatproof bowl. Add in butter and then place the bowl over a simmering pan of water. Be careful to ensure the bottom of the bowl do not touch the boiling water. Using a wooden spoon, stir the chocolate butter mixture until it is thoroughly melted. If you like cheese, you can also get some cream cheese on hand so that you can add it in later.

When the chocolate butter mixture is melted into soft, silky brown liquid, remove it from the pan and leave aside to cool down. You can then add the cream cheese, the nuts, dried fruits or whatever you want to add to your truffles. Use a mixer to blend it all together until it is all well combined. You want to make sure that the whole mixture are evenly combined so that there won't be concentrations of nuts or chocolate or clumps of cream cheese. Lastly, you just pour the thick mixture onto a pan and leave it to cool for awhile. If it is very thick, use an ice cream scoop or a spoon to form small balls out of it. Dip the chocolate balls on the chocolate rice or some cocoa powder. Then put the balls on wax-paper lined trays. Place the trays of chocolate truffles in the fridge to firm up and there you have it, you very own delicious chocolate truffles!

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Having A Fun Clambake At Home

By Shannon Linnen

One of the best highlights of summer would be having fun with family and friends outdoors. With this in mind, why don't you hold out your own clambake? Just picture the tempting seafood cooked over a fire, exotic drinks, relaxing music, and brightly colored decors - you and your loved ones will surely have the best time in the world.

But what happens when the weather is not good for outdoor partying? Would your plans of a great clambake be useless? Actually, no, because you can still have your clambake feast indoors! Yes, a clambake at home. It's just the perfect, fun, simple and healthy way to entertain your guests.

Instead of having the same old clambake, think of having a super deluxe clambake which will surely make your guests happy as it comprises a variety of foods. Just buy some fresh shellfish, clams, live lobster, mussels, shrimp and if you want, some crabs. You can also consider having clam chowder or lobster bisque with corn on the cob and some roasted potatoes.

Aside from the food for your super deluxe clambake at home party, you will also want to purchase bibs for your guests, claw crackers, table napkins, and a good supply of wet towlettes. Eating seafood can get pretty messy, so better be ready.

You are probably wondering how you can have an indoor clambake, when the clams and other seafood in a clambake are traditionally cooked in a pit over an open fire. For this super deluxe clambake, you will be doing all of the cooking on traditional indoor stove tops.

Just have a large stock pot on hand and you're ready to go. Stock pots are available in various sizes and some even come with a basket and a steamer rack. A number of cooking stores and Internet shops sell these things so there's no need for you to worry. And while you're looking for that stock pot on the Internet, you can also browse many good clambake recipes for indoor cooking.

To make planning and preparing for your clambake party even easier, there are many super deluxe clambake kits available. They can easily be found by searching the many Internet shops. Many of the kits contain everything you need, including wet naps, cloth napkins, and claw crackers, in addition to the seafood itself. All you'll need to shop for are the fresh vegetables and you'll be all set for the most popular clambake party of the season.

A clambake gathering indoors may not be the clambake you had in mind. We are all used to having them outside while enjoying the view. But a little variety wouldn't hurt, just use your creativity and you are sure to have an unforgettable clambake at home.

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Homemade Lobster Clambake

By Sherry Shantel

The clambake dates back to the days of the Pilgrims in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Settlers witnessed Native Americans cooking seafood over hot stones and seaweed and thus the famous New England clambake was born. The Lobster clambake has become a summer tradition not only in New England but also all over the country. Now, with the Internet, you can have Maine live lobster shipped from New England to anywhere in the United States.

Live Lobsters can come in many sizes. The smallest lobsters are called chickens, and weigh between 1 and 1.25 pounds. This type of lobsters are perfect for people with small appetites or to be served alongside another main course. For the average appetite, you will want to select 1.25-pound "Quarter" or 1.50-pound "Half" lobsters. These lobsters are larger than the chick and will provide a hearty meal.

There are also different types of shellfish and clams. But you don't have to worry as any type of shellfish will go well with lobster bisque. But if you want your clambake to be truly authentic, you might want to go with New England steamer clams. These types have soft shells and larger sizes. For every person, about 1 pound of clam is recommended.

New England clambakes are most often served with corn on the cob and red bliss potatoes. They add to the delicious distinct flavor and presentation of the clambake. Both can be steamed, boiled or grilled in a similar fashion to the lobsters and steamers.

Clambakes have historically been cooked in holes dug in the sand with seaweed and hot stones. While this makes a nice presentation, the truth is that our typical ovens and pots do a much better job. The recommended way to cook live lobsters is to have them steamed. You're going to need a large pot, a steamer basket, and some salt.

Have the large pot filled with an approximate 1 and inches of water, and for every quart of water, add a tablespoon of salt. Before placing the lobsters in the steamer basket, bring the water to a boil first. And then place the steamer basket in the pot.

One-pounder lobsters should be cooked for approximately 12 minutes. A pound and a half lobsters should be cooked for around 15 minutes. Check the pot periodically to ensure that all the water has not boiled off and add more water while the lobsters are cooking if needed. Remove the lobsters and pull off one of their small legs. Break open the leg and test the meat to ensure that it is already cooked.

For a more wonderful and tastier feast, you can opt to add mussels, shrimp, and clam chowder to your clambake. Add fresh vegetables for a more healthy presentation. Your homemade lobster clambake is now ready to be enjoyed by you and your loved ones.

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Buying Lobster Online is Easy and Affordable

By Shannon Linnen

When we want to entertain friends and family, we almost always take them someplace away from home. Perhaps we spend a nice day at a fancy spa. Perhaps we take the gang to a restaurant or to a movie. The problem with these plans is that they don't take into account the fact that you'd like to spend time at home, relaxing with your guests, and getting to see them and talk to them. For that, entertaining at home is a great option, but it doesn't mean you have to leave all the luxury out. When I want to impress, I order lobster for my dinner parties.

Lobster is a wonderful luxury because it can be prepared in the home, and served easily to guests. Unlike an expensive restaurant meal, you can order lobsters to feed two guests or twenty, whatever the occasion calls for. It's also an excellent way to order something into your home to prepare yourself, which saves a lot of money on catering. Lobsters are seen as such a luxury that your guests will feel pampered, and will be thrilled that you invited them over for such a special meal. It's a great way to let your friends know that you appreciate them!

The reason that you're now able to enjoy a large lobster gathering is the ease of buying lobsters online. In the past, you would have to buy any lobsters you wanted to order from the grocery store, a process dependent on your grocery store even having enough lobsters for you to order. The lobsters that they do have are also often old, which may seem counterintuitive, because they're still alive. But when a live lobster has been banded for more than a day, their claws atrophy. This is why experts recommend eating them within a few days.

How does ordering lobster online guarantee you more freshness? Easily, because you're ordering directly from the fishermen themselves. Instead of waiting for your grocery store to truck lobster to their locations, by which time they're likely no longer fresh anyway, your lobsters are packaged and sent to you overnight as soon as you place your order, or on the date of your choosing. This means that your lobsters will be ready and fresh for whatever day you need.

When you order lobster online, you're also able to save a ton of money, which is great! Unlike the grocery store, which has to pay fees to their middleman, as well as shipping and labor costs, all you need to pay is the price of the lobster, and the price of shipping. This means that you get a wonderful deal on your lobster!

When you're ready to treat yourself and your friends to a night of luxury, lobster is the easy answer. You can order quickly online without having to make arrangements at the store, and your lobster, which will be bought at a nice savings, will arrive right when you need them. So treat yourself to lobster today!

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Panini Grill

By Anthony Tripp

Everyone should own a panini maker. No matter where you live, there should be one of your kitchen countertop and it should get a lot of use. Even if you don't like panini sandwiches you can still use a panini maker as an indoor grill. There's tons of great food that you can make with a panini maker.

Whether you call if a panini press or a panini grill or a panini maker, it's still an appliance that you should start using. The act of heating up food and pressing it together between thick slices of hearty bread make for some great sandwiches. You'll be amazed at how even the most different ingredients blend together to create new and interesting flavors.

I have no problem eating a panini sandwich everyday. But if I only used my panini grill for making sandwiches, I probably wouldn't be getting my money's worth. You can also use a panini maker as an indoor grill. If the panini maker has flat grilling plates, then go ahead and make a nich batch of pancakes for you family on a Sunday morning. You can grill vegetables, make burgers or even fry up some shrimp. It's a must have appliance for someone in an apartment without a BBQ.

When buying a panini maker theres a couple of important features to keep in mind. First, removable dishwasher safe grill plates are a must have. Theyll make clean up a breeze. Second, if you plan on making greasy foods like hamburgers youre going to want a drip spout on the grill plates. Even better if the panini maker comes with a little cup to be used for catching grease from the drip spout. Third, a cool to the touch handle makes panini cooking much easier. Dont forget, youre goal is to press the sandwich together. And thats a little harder to do with a big pot holder on your hand. The cool touch handles make getting a little leverage and squashing your panini a lot easier.

So whether you plan on making pressed gourmet sandwiches or if youre going to making quick and easy grilled cheese, youre going to want a panini maker in your kitchen. Give it a prime location on your countertop because youre going to be using it a lot.

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Thursday, July 30, 2009

Order Lobster Meat Online for a Fast Fresh Meal

By Shannon Linnen

Do you love the taste of fresh seafood, but don't live near the ocean? Sure you can fish in local rivers and streams, and that's fun. But when you want the taste of the ocean, of a crustacean like lobster or crab, there's really no substitute if you don't live near the coast. You can try going to a restaurant, but for some reason, their seafood is just never as fresh as you want it. And that goes double for the grocery store, where the seafood is either packaged and doesn't taste the same, or is alive but old and tough. What you need is a way to get this fresh lobster meat right to you, so you can enjoy it at it's peak, in whatever dishes you can imagine to enjoy.

Do you believe that you can get fresh lobster meat delivered? And not only do you not have to go to the store, but what you can have delivered to your home is not only fresher, it's also more affordable? It sounds like a line, but it's true. You can use the internet to order the freshest, highest quality lobster meat available, and you'll have it delivered directly to your door the next day. But how could this possibly work? When fisherman catch fresh lobster each day, it's brought to the shore, and immediately boiled, shelled and packaged. This is the package of fresh, tasty lobster meat that comes to your door the next day.

But how is lobster meat so much less expensive when you order it to be delivered? Weren't you always paying the 'market price'? When you order lobster to be delivered to your home, you're not paying the middleman, which means a big reduction in how much you are paying.

When you order lobster from a restaurant, not only are you paying for the lobster, you're also paying for the restaurant's overhead, and helping to give them a profit margin. And because you're getting service, you'll need to pay a tip, and for any drinks you order. When you order from a grocery store, you're still paying overhead and for a margin. But when you get lobster delivered directly, you pay only the amount that the restaurant or grocery store would pay.

When you've got fresh lobster meat, there are so many different options of how to cook it that you'll be amazed. Having friends over for a party, make them a delicious lobster appetizer. Want to make a simple and healthy lunch? Then a lobster and spinach salad is an excellent way to give yourself a heart healthy and protein rich meal. When you're cooking for your family, you can warm them up and give them a hearty meal with a lobster newburg. And if you want a simple and elegant meal in no time, try a lobster spaghetti, dressed lightly with oil.

Lobster meat is one of the great pleasures of life, and now that you can order it online, you have no reason not to enjoy it as much as you like. It's an easy and fun way to enjoy crustaceans no matter where you live.

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Why You Cannot Live Without Chicken Salad Sandwich

By Chris Lee

Who does not love a good chicken salad sandwich every now and then? Honestly, for some there is simply nothing better than a good sandwich filled with a delicious combination of chicken and other ingredients that really make the sandwich pop. There are many people in fact who feel that eating a chicken salad sandwich is comparable to heaven on earth. There are thousands of chicken salad recipes in the world, each with its own special taste.

Many recipes include red grapes, almonds and celery, which make wonderful combinations when paired with chicken. Other recipes may call for onions or other vegetables and have a more solid taste, without that sweet kick. There are so many versions of chicken salad recipes available that you could literally eat this treat every day for a month and never use the same recipe.

Of course, your perfect chicken salad sandwich may not be the same as someone else's. For instance, if you cannot stand the taste of mayonnaise, then a sandwich including mayonnaise will simply not be your cup of tea.|You may like mayo in your salad, while someone else does not.|For example, if you do not like nuts, then you would not like a recipe that includes nuts. You may prefer to add mustard to your chicken salad. You might want to enjoy your salad without any dressing.

It makes no difference what your personal taste is, there is a recipe for chicken salad that will cater to your personal taste. Once you have ruled out one recipe, try another until you find your perfect fit. There are many recipes online and in cookbooks that will help you to find the perfect version for you. You can also consider creating your own version of chicken salad. Choose the ingredients that you like and leave out those that you do not. Honestly, chicken goes with virtually everything. So, whatever you like with regards to vegetables, fruits and nuts, you can add to your recipe and create a chicken salad that you will love. Grab some whole-wheat bread or pita bread and you are ready for the ideal chicken salad sandwich.

These are wonderful for a quick yet healthy lunch or anytime that you want an eclectic combination of tastes that work wonderfully together. These sandwiches go for almost any occasion, so enjoy them often. You can also add a few extra vegetables and other healthy foods to make it the best of all worlds.

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Lobster Dinners are a Great Way to Spice Up Your Menu

By Shannon Linnen

Do you ever want to really wow your family with an amazing dinner, but aren't sure where to start? When you're the one who is often doing the cooking, it can be hard to break from your set routine and really show them something different. It's especially hard when money is a consideration, as it always seems to be these days. Of course there's the classic favorites like steak or a casserole, but they've seen you make that before, and it won't amaze them. If you really want to show off, on a budget, and without having to spend the whole day in the kitchen, why not make them one of their restaurant favorites at home, and cook them one of these fabulous lobster dinners.

Lobster dinners can be a great way to bring your family together for a special meal night at home. Instead of heading off this way and that to different activities, your family can relax and enjoy a delicious, unexpected meal together. It's also a great surprise for a spouse after a stressful week of work. Because who would expect to get a juicy, succulent lobster as their dinner?

And because lobster is such a luxury, a lobster dinner is seen as an unexpected treat, which is a great way to surprise your family. And you'll be surprised at how much less expensive it is to prepare it at home.

Making a lobster dinner at home is a great way to give your family luxurious dinners without having to spend a ton of money. But how do you have a great meal like this inexpensively? It's easy, all you need to do is order online. When you buy a lobster dinner in a restaurant, you're paying all of the overhead that the restaurant has, plus a markup for profit. You're getting a great meal, but it's going to cost you. When you buy lobsters at the grocery store, you're also paying a markup. Plus you never know what kind of quality they're going to have. By ordering online, you're getting the freshest lobster available, at market price, meaning great savings for you, and the best quality you can get.

Making lobster dinners couldn't be easier, which is another great incentive to treat your family to one. Simply boil several quarts of water in a stock pot. To this add carrots and potatoes, and your lobsters. As the lobsters boil, they will flavor your vegetables and create stock. When they're finished, take them out, along with the vegetables, and you've got a ready to serve meal, with stock to be served in soups and sauces later. It's a great and easy way to create a balanced meal for your family, and it only takes one pot, which means less clean up for you as well!

If you want to wow your family, and try something new for dinner, make lobster dinners!

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Cooking - The Best Way To Learn To Cook

By Carol Bell

When it comes to cooking, it's vital to bear in mind that everybody started somewhere. I don't know of a single person who was born with a wooden cooking spoon and good to go. There's a lot of learning that has got to be done to become a prolific cook and then there's always space to improve. Not only do you need to start with the fundamentals when it comes to cooking but you just about need to start again when learning to prepare a new cuisine like Chinese, Thai, or Indian food.

This implies that at any given point in your cooking learning cycles there's quite potentially somebody somewhere that is better and / or worse at cooking than you. Take heart from this because even the best have bad days when it comes to cooking. There are several folks who cook for different reasons. Some cook to eat and survive while others cook because they enjoy the method of cooking. Some cook during periods of emotional upheaval and others cook out of sheer boredom. Whatever your reason for cooking or learning to make you must always start with the fundamentals.

The very first thing you need to learn is what the different language you may find in recipes really means. There are numerous new and occasionally foreign sounding terms that you're going to find in common recipes. These terms can imply the difference in recipe success or failure. You should be able to get a good section in any inclusive recipe book that explains the different definitions for unfamiliar language. If you are not fully certain what's meant by "folding in the eggs" it is in your own interests to check it out.

Another great bit of advice when it comes to cooking basics is to try simpler recipes for a while and then expand your horizons to the more complex recipes that abound. Most recipes will have a little note about their degree of difficulty and you can read through the recipe to see whether or not it is something you are interested in preparing or confident that you can prepare. Remember Rome wasn't built in a day and it will take quite some time to build a reliable 'repertoire' of recipes to work into your meal planning rotation.

The excellent news is that once you have learned the fundamentals of cooking it is not likely that you're going to ever need to relearn them. This suggests that you can consistently build up and expand your cooking talents. As you learn new recipes and enhance your culinary talents and skills you may discover that preparing your own meals from scratch is much more rewarding than preparing pre-packed meals that are acquired from the shelves of your local shops.

You will also discover as your experience and confidence grows that you will find yourself more and more often improvising as you go and adjusting recipes to meet your personal preferences. If you prefer more or less of ingredients or want to make a recipe a little more or less spicy in flavor you can make simple adjustments along the way in order to achieve this goal. In other words you will begin in time to create recipes of your very own. And that is something you won't necessarily learn when it comes to basic cooking skills for beginners but you would never learn if you didn't master those basic cooking skills.

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Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Cheesecake: The Dessert Of The Gods And Olympians

By Daniel Bryan Ruso

This article is about: cheese cake

Today, cheesecake is known as being an excellent dessert, for many occasions. It has many favorable aspects: it is easy to make, filling, and can be served many ways.

Not only that, but there is a huge variety of types of cheesecakes to choose from. Simple cheesecakes like the New York cheesecake, chocolate cheesecake, and the basic fruit cheesecake are sure to meet your dessert needs.

There are also more creative, exciting cheesecakes like the tiramisu cheesecake, cinnamon swirl, turtle, and one of my favorites, white chocolate mocha cheesecakes.

What many people don't know is that this dessert was just as popular at the time it was originally created, even been offered to appease the gods.

The history of the cheesecake can be traced back 2000 years. Originally the cheesecake was made by the ancient Greeks.

Although we don't have the name the Greeks used for this dessert, we do know it was served to Olympians in the original Olympic games of 776BC held on the Isle of Delos.

They were served in smaller sizes to the cheesecakes of today, and were seen as a good source of energy for athletes who needed to be replenished.

The Romans eventually did conquer the Greeks, and with the conquest, they adopted much of their culture. They began to implement this dessert in their own diet, calling it placenta (also called Libum).

The earliest manuscript we have for the Roman placenta was written in the first century B.C. by the Roman politician Marcus Porcius Cato.

In his treatise on agriculture, Cato included a simple recipe of how cheesecake was to be made:

Crush 2 pounds of cheese in a mortar. Then mix with 1 pound of bread wheat flour.

After adding one egg, the final step is to cook in a hot fire.

In the Roman culture, offerings were given to household and temple gods to appease them and ask for their blessings.

Roman temple gods were often gods like Jupiter, the ruler of the gods, who had their own temples where sacrifices were made. Household gods included on the likes of Janus and Vesta, who guarded the door and hearth, the Lares, who protected the field and house, Pales, who watched over the the pasture, Saturn, controlled the sowing, Ceres, the watcher of the growth of the grain, Pomona, who dealt with fruit, and Consus and Ops, the overseers of the harvest.

The Romans, who believe their gods brought them success or failure, brought many sacrifices.

The cheesecake that we eat today, was no ordinary food for the Romans, it was very important to the them, who felt that with the use of this dessert they could appease their gods into helping them be more successful.

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Don't Forget Your salad With Dinner Tonight

By Chris Lee

Studies have shown that eating a salad everyday can significantly improve your overall health. Having a salad with dinner helps you to guarantee that you get servings of vegetables every day. Eating out, you are surely going to be offered a salad to go along with your dinner. So, if you eat salad when dining out, then why not enjoy one when you are eating at home?.

Eating a salad every day can be a very good healthy habit to adopt. While many people are looking for the best diet, they are simply overlooking the things that work. Eating salad works. Eating a salad as a side dish is a much healthier choice than having pasta or many other sides. Salads are crunchy, which not only helps to fill you up, but they are just fun to eat.

Salads are fun to eat and even children enjoy digging in to those fresh, crispy vegetables at dinnertime. You can prepare your salad at home just the way you like it. You should however, keep in mind that not everything you can put on a salad is healthy. Opt for lower fat versions of bacon bits and croutons. It is important to keep your dinner salad simple so that you do not add extra fat and calories.

You can add a variety of vegetables and even fruits if you like. Be sure that your lettuce is fresh, for that wonderful crunch and flavor. If you have never tried Romaine lettuce, you should definitely consider adding it as it has more nutrients than Iceberg. Use Romaine lettuce in place of Iceberg as often as possible. Be sure to make your salad colorful by adding a large variety of vegetables. Mushrooms are good for you as well and make an excellent salad addition.

No matter what you are having for dinner, you can add a side salad. Add as many or as few vegetables as you like to compliment your dinner. Fruits such as grapes and cranberries are excellent in salads and compliment a variety of dinner dishes. Just one dinner salad each night and you are taking care of the vital nutrients that your body needs to stay healthy. In addition, salad is one of the easiest side dishes to prepare. You can find bags with salad ingredients already chopped and ready to eat in most groceries now. You just have to throw your salad into your bowl. You can prepare your dinner salad in just a few minutes and have a side dish that the whole family will love.

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Banana Bread Is The Perfect Cap To A Healthy Dinner

By Chris Lee

If you have ever eaten banana bread, then you know what a wonderful cap this can be to a healthy dinner. This wonderfully aromatic and delicious bread is a tradition in many homes during the holidays. Of course, banana nut bread is so delicious that it simply seems a waste to only bake it during the holidays.

Eating banana bread can give you many vitamins and nutrients that your body needs. Bananas are actually loaded with potassium, about 400 milligrams in an average sized banana to be exact. Men and women are recommended to get around 2,000 milligrams of potassium each day. Children should also get potassium each day. So, you can see where eating banana bread after dinner would be healthy.

It helps you to obtain the potassium that your body needs every day. Banana bread also has many other health benefits And, they do not have cholesterol. Of course, banana bread only has a few bananas, but the health benefits are still evident. However, due to the amount of bananas used in baking banana nut bread, you can still count on several milligrams of potassium and other nutrients in every bite. Banana bread typically has nuts, which have been proven to be healthy. Nuts contain healthy proteins and other vital nutrients that your body needs.

Banana nut bread not only tastes wonderful, but it is very healthy. If you are eating healthy, then you should definitely add this dish to your dessert list. With so many people trying to eat healthier, it simply makes sense to have a dessert that is equally as healthy. You could also opt for fresh fruit, but that simply does not have the wholesome taste of freshly baked banana nut bread.

Don't just wait for dessert. It contains the dietary fiber, potassium and other vitamins that can help you to get through your day. You can also make banana muffins to serve at breakfast. While you may enjoy it cold, this bread tastes most delicious when it is right out of the oven. There is simply nothing tastier than fresh, warm banana bread for dessert. Consider adding some ice cream on top for an ala mode. Just keep the ice cream low fat. You want to make sure that you stick with your healthy eating.

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Monday, July 27, 2009

Top 5 Healthy Simple Chicken Recipes That You've Never Heard Of Before

By Matthew Kaplan

Chicken recipes are easy and perfect for any occasion. Sometimes though, chicken can be bland. Mix up your simple chicken recipes with these easy chicken recipes that you've never heard of before. Chicken dishes don't have to be blah.

The phrase "tastes like chicken" will take on a whole new meaning with these simple chicken recipes. Instead of making the same old chicken recipes, mix it up with these unusual, funky recipes. Chances are, you've never had the flavor combinations in these recipes. From sweet and spicy to tangy and crunchy, these easy chicken recipes up the flavor ante. Chicken does not have to be bland and boring. Best of all, these five recipes are good for you too. These simple recipes are the best ways to cook boneless skinless chicken breast.

Guatemalan Chicken Mole - Everybody loves chocolate, but how many of those chocoholics eat it with chicken? Mole is a traditional savory sauce made out of chocolate. Dark chocolate is a great source of cancer-fighting antioxidants. Between the chicken and the pumpkin seeds, this recipe for boneless chicken has plenty of protein. With red pepper flakes and two different types of chilies, this chicken dish packs a spicy punch. Try something new for dinner tonight and combine chicken with chocolate with this recipe.

Lemon Yogurt Chicken - This recipe for boneless chicken is originally from Afghanistan, a country not typically known for its cuisine. The bright lemon citrus flavor and the creamy yogurt make this chicken dish a lot lighter than traditional American chicken recipes. Plus, the recipe requires whole garlic cloves mashed to a pulp, an instruction not found in the typical chicken recipe. This Middle Eastern recipe is one of the best ways to cook boneless skinless chicken breast.

Healthy Chicken Jerky - Walk into any grocery store or gas station and you're bound to see a bag of beef jerky somewhere. The concept of jerky, smoked meat, is common with beef but not with chicken. expand your jerky horizons with this recipe for boneless chicken. Make chicken a snacking favorite with this recipe. Lean and tasty, healthy chicken jerky is a snack all can get behind.

Avocado Chicken - The avocado is relatively common, seen in almost any supermarket. However, the only dish the avocado ever gets used for is guacamole. The avocado never gets used in cooking, which makes this recipe one of the more unique simple chicken recipes. Easy chicken recipes that combine a multitude of textures are great. Combine crunchy almonds with smooth avocado to get a recipe for boneless chicken full of protein and omega-3 fatty acids.

Crispy Baked Chicken - This recipe for boneless chicken is so unique because it replicates the flavor of fried chicken using an oven, a healthier version of fried chicken. Classic chicken recipes like fried chicken are delicious but full of calories. This unique chicken dish replicates the fried flavor in the oven for a healthier version.

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How To Make Friends And Influence People With A Navy Bean Soup Recipe

By Kris Russell

'Goodbye England' ' and 'Hello America'. Once my family and I had taken the decision to lift up our roots and head to the US for a new life, it didn't take us long to make the necessary changes. We were all very keen to embrace opportunities available in the New World, and quite rapidly found ourselves living the life ' and being a part of a real neighbourhood.

One of the things we most wanted to do was to try to fit in. Standing out as foreigners didn't really appeal, and we all wanted to not only embrace the whole concept of the American life, but we wanted America to embrace us too. When in Rome.. and all that. So we all tried hard to understand the local customs, the traditional activities, and even the food. My wife and I both love cooking, and to us food is very important.

For many years we've been very happy to cook traditional British recipes, everything from Fish and Chips to the old Spotted Dick. But now we were in the US we wanted to introduce our family to traditional US recipes. At first we were slightly stumped, knowing that we couldn't very well feed our kids on steak and chips every day. What we needed to do was to find out as much as we could about healthy, delicious recipes we could enjoy making in our new home.

So we spent quite a while trying to identify just what makes a traditional US recipe. We were looking for recipes that were very much part of America, taking in its history and culture as well as local foods and popular dishes. We had started making a lot of friends, and wanted to be able to offer them local recipes and typical US meals, not so much to make them feel at home, but to help them feel that we were trying to feel at home ourselves.

Our search for traditional US recipes was predominantly carried out online, and we found a huge number of US recipes we had never heard of, and were very anxious to try. We came across a Navy Bean Soup recipe which sounded fantastic, as well as a Ham Navy Bean soup recipe. These sounded ideal, not just because they were delicious and healthy, but warming too. As the weather was chilly even by the standards of an Englishman used to the somewhat inclement climate of the UK, we felt that it would be ideal to find recipes that were warming.

After having a go with the Navy Bean Soup recipe, we all agreed, children included, that it was a resounding success. To have the children giving one of our recipes the thumbs up is always good, and we felt as though we'd accomplished an important step in becoming accepted as locals! We tried the Ham Navy Bean Soup recipe too with equal success. Both were heartily warming, although we did feel that it was important to expand our repertoire beyond merely two alternative dishes. I had a look online again, at the same place I got the Navy Bean Soup recipe from.

What I discovered when I went back to the website where I got the Ham Navy Bean Soup recipe from was a whole pack of recipes for sale. In total there were two hundred fantastic recipes, all of which sounded delicious, all healthy, nutritious meals, and all traditional US dishes. This sounded great, but what amazed me was that this pack of two hundred US recipes was for sale for just $10.

To be honest, $10 doesn't get a lot these days, I couldn't even buy a hot dog and chips for my family for that. But now we have a stack of two hundred fantastic recipes, all as successful as our first Navy Bean Soup recipe. We certainly don't run out of ideas now, and not only are our children delighted, and very happy, but we seem to have acquired something of a reputation in our neighbourhood, but at least we have a great many new friends!

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Why Eating Chicken is Positive For Your Health

By Chris Lee

Virtually everyone knows the health benefits of chicken versus beef and pork. Beef is filled with fats, while chicken has lean protein that is much healthier. Anyone with heart-related diseases or conditions should consume chicken regularly, as opposed to other sources of protein. Research has been done on the results of substituting chicken for beef or pork in those older people who have AMD. People who are fifty or older have a much higher risk of contracting macular degeneration or AMD.

Other studies have shown that eating chicken in place of fattier proteins can reduce your overall risk of other diseases. Other foods that help you to enjoy a healthier life include fruits and vegetables. Since most people enjoy the flavor of chicken, this should not be a problem.

Chicken can be prepared in many delicious and healthy ways. Whether you prefer your chicken baked, grilled or topping a nice salad, as long as you are eating it, you are adding to your overall health. Typically speaking, if you were to drop your intake of red meats such as beef and more fatty meats like pork, and replace these with chicken and fish six days out of seven, you would soon see the benefits for yourself. Not only will you lose fat, but you will notice a significant increase in energy, a lower cholesterol level and many other health benefits.

While there are many ways to become healthier, eating chicken is one of the most delicious. Taking this step can lower your risk for many age-related conditions. Controlling your cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar can all be done with chicken when you add it to your weekly meal plans. Frankly speaking, beef and pork contain fatty proteins, chicken does not.

Among all the meats that you can eat, chicken is one of the healthiest, providing you with lean proteins. Do not be afraid that you will grow to hate chicken if you eat too much, there are many ways that you can prepare it that are all different. Due to this versatility, there are thousands of ways to prepare this meat for a number of different meals. There is simply not another meat that offers the health benefits and versatility of chicken.

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Sunday, July 26, 2009

Top Five Healthy Simple Chicken Recipes You've Never Heard Of Before

By Matthew Kaplan

Chicken recipes are easy and perfect for any occasion. Sometimes though, chicken can be bland. Mix up your simple chicken recipes with these easy chicken recipes that you've never heard of before. Chicken dishes don't have to be blah.

The phrase "tastes like chicken" will take on a whole new meaning with these simple chicken recipes. Instead of making the same old chicken recipes, mix it up with these unusual, funky recipes. Chances are, you've never had the flavor combinations in these recipes. From sweet and spicy to tangy and crunchy, these easy chicken recipes up the flavor ante. Chicken does not have to be bland and boring. Best of all, these five recipes are good for you too. These simple recipes are the best ways to cook boneless skinless chicken breast.

Guatemalan Chicken Mole - Everybody loves chocolate, but how many of those chocoholics eat it with chicken? Mole is a traditional savory sauce made out of chocolate. Dark chocolate is a great source of cancer-fighting antioxidants. Between the chicken and the pumpkin seeds, this recipe for boneless chicken has plenty of protein. With red pepper flakes and two different types of chilies, this chicken dish packs a spicy punch. Try something new for dinner tonight and combine chicken with chocolate with this recipe.

Lemon Yogurt Chicken - This recipe for boneless chicken is originally from Afghanistan, a country not typically known for its cuisine. The bright lemon citrus flavor and the creamy yogurt make this chicken dish a lot lighter than traditional American chicken recipes. Plus, the recipe requires whole garlic cloves mashed to a pulp, an instruction not found in the typical chicken recipe. This Middle Eastern recipe is one of the best ways to cook boneless skinless chicken breast.

Healthy Chicken Jerky - Walk into any grocery store or gas station and you're bound to see a bag of beef jerky somewhere. The concept of jerky, smoked meat, is common with beef but not with chicken. expand your jerky horizons with this recipe for boneless chicken. Make chicken a snacking favorite with this recipe. Lean and tasty, healthy chicken jerky is a snack all can get behind.

Avocado Chicken - The avocado is relatively common, seen in almost any supermarket. However, the only dish the avocado ever gets used for is guacamole. The avocado never gets used in cooking, which makes this recipe one of the more unique simple chicken recipes. Easy chicken recipes that combine a multitude of textures are great. Combine crunchy almonds with smooth avocado to get a recipe for boneless chicken full of protein and omega-3 fatty acids.

Crispy Baked Chicken - This recipe for boneless chicken is so unique because it replicates the flavor of fried chicken using an oven, a healthier version of fried chicken. Classic chicken recipes like fried chicken are delicious but full of calories. This unique chicken dish replicates the fried flavor in the oven for a healthier version.

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Why Is Eating Salad Healthy

By Chris Lee

Eating salad can be one of the best things you do for your body. Combined with the minerals and vitamins, the raw vegetables in salads contain very few calories and no fat. Nearly every food establishment in the world offers salads today. Restaurants have them and you can buy pre-made salad mixes in just about every grocery store in the world. But just why are they so healthy and what makes them so good?

Salads contain fresh vegetables and often fruits, which are important for your overall health. Fresh vegetables not only taste better, but contain more vitamins and nutrients than their cooked counterparts. Vegetables, when eaten daily, can help you to ward off heart disease and a number of other diseases and conditions. Vegetables contain many health benefits from lowering your cholesterol to improving your lifespan.

Eating fresh vegetables has been proven to have numerous health benefits from lowering the risk of heart disease to protecting you against eye-related diseases.Eating a salad every day for lunch or adding one on the side of your dinner plate is an excellent way to keep your body healthy. Eating raw vegetables gives you much needed minerals and vitamins and the crunch helps to protect your teeth.

For those who do not prefer the taste of raw vegetables, keep in mind that there are numerous ways to make your salad more appealing.Adding fresh fruit, nuts or lean meats will make your salad tastier and still give you the vegetable serving that you need for the day.Try to avoid adding high-fat foods to your salads. Avoid adding fatty proteins, meats, cheeses and egg yolks as much as possible. Remember that white cheese typically have less fat than yellow, so opt for mozzarella instead of cheddar. Remember also to choose a low fat dressing or simply add some fresh herbs to your salad in lieu of dressing.

You can try adding things like fresh herbs instead of dressing if you do not like fat-free versions. You can also opt to make your own dressing using a light olive oil and fresh herbs and spices.Eating salads, no matter what type, is an excellent way to improve your overall health. If you are trying to eat healthier, you simply cannot go wrong with a salad. Consider adding salad to your lunch or dinner everyday and experience the positive health benefits for yourself.

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How Can You Use Crock-Pot For Cooking Dinner

By Chris Lee

If you have a crock-pot then you can use it to prepare dinner when you do not have time to cook. For those who work during the day, a crock-pot may be your answer to giving your family a wonderful meal. You have the opportunity to cook delicious meals while running errands or working all day. Instead of bringing home fast-food burgers and fries, you can prepare a healthy meal at home. You can add whatever ingredients your family likes.

You can prepare a wonderful dinner in practically no time when you use your slow cooker. You can get everything ready the night before and simply put it in the cooker in the morning. Put it in your cooker, turn it on and then do whatever you need to do for the rest of the day. At dinnertime, you can surprise your family with a wonderfully homemade meal. You can use your crock-pot to stock up on nutritious meals.

It is easy to prepare enough food to last for days. You might want to cook up a large batch of homemade soup. Use these soups to stock your freezer with wholesome meals. Then, after you are finished with dinner, simply put the leftovers in freezer bowls or freezer bags and freeze them. Now you have multiple dinners prepared that are homemade, nutritious and easy to heat up at a moment's notice. There simply is no better way to ensure that your family is getting a delicious and nutritious meal.

You can find a variety of recipes for slow cookers. Slow cooker recipes will tell you exactly what to add and how long to cook your meal. Many will also tell you the nutritional value of the meal that you are preparing. Be sure that marinate anything overnight that requires it.|Consider marinades for your slow cooker as well.|Many recipes call for marinating] Marinades give your recipes a wonderful flavor.

With many men and women working today, using a crock-pot is a good way to prepare a nutritious dinner. There is no easier way to prepare meals. When you arrive home after work, you are ready to sit down with your family to a delicious meal that you prepared while you were not even at home.

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Saturday, July 25, 2009

No Other Salad Compares To Chicken Salad

By Chris Lee

You probably already know how healthy a salad is. Most people also know about the health benefits of chicken. When you add the two together, you get an amazingly healthy and completely delicious meal all in one dish. There are several recipes for chicken salad and all are equally delicious. You may prefer a hot grilled chicken topping a traditional salad.

There are many recipes for the old favorite, cold chicken salad, as well. No matter what you like in your salad, adding certain foods like nuts and fruit can add to the health benefits. Nuts contain good proteins and make chicken salad a kids' favorite as well. Also, remember that although mayonnaise is a common favorite in this dish, there are healthier approaches to adding mayonnaise.

Look for mayonnaise that is low or fat free. You may also want to think about skipping the mayo completely and going for something even healthier such as olive oil with fresh herbs.Look through your mother's old cookbooks and you will likely find a thousand ways to prepare chicken salad. Many online websites also offer hundreds of ways to spice up your chicken salad in a healthier way.

Add some fresh ingredients for a better tasting chicken salad. Consider adding carrots fresh from the garden or apples from your tree. If you prefer to purchase your chicken salad already prepared, be sure that you check the ingredients. Many commercially made salads contain a tremendous amount of fat. Chicken salad can be a very healthy dish so long as you know what goes into it. If you cannot pronounce what goes into your salad, then you have no idea whether or not it is healthy.

Although most chicken salads are delicious, the best ones are those that you prepare yourself. Additives also take away from the health benefits of the chicken and other fresh ingredients. If you prepare your own chicken salad, you can be sure that it is completely healthy. Be sure that you make enough to store some away for the next day. Throw in some celery and carrot sticks and you have a delicious and healthy lunch already prepared. It is also a delicious dish that gives you not only a full serving of vegetables, but healthy, lean protein as well. Add other healthy ingredients to promote even greater health.

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Deep Frying at Home

By Kristen Thorpe

Many of us still love our deep fried food, whether it's a now and again treat or a more frequent part of a diet, even though it's not really a healthy choice for our bodies. It may be classic favorites like a dish of fried clams, a fresh batch of onion rings or French fries, or a spicy hot batch of deep-fried chicken legs. You can simply go to a local restaurant or fast-food place for deep fried food, or you can purchase one of the deep fryers available and make it right in your kitchen.

If you've never had a chance to taste it, you should treat yourself to the homemade tastiness of deep fried food. There are many deep fryers available for home use that make it so easy to fry your favorite dishes in the convenience of your kitchen. Some of these manufacturers include De'longhi, which offers a variety of quality deep fryers for every budget. They offer the deluxe Roto Fryer, the Dual Zone deep fryer, and a Cool Touch fryer as well. Other manufacturers include the well-known Fry Daddy product line as well as George Foreman offering its new Lean Mean Frying Machine.

The types of foods you can deep fry is limited only by your imagination and your willingness to try new taste combinations. You can buy a variety of cookbooks designed for home made deep fried dishes as well as a ton of recipes that you can easily find for free on the web. There are recipes for everything including fried vegetables, fried meats, and fried treats and desserts too.

Are you looking for a simple recipe such as the foodie favorite battered onion rings? You can find many variations of recipes for this sinful goodie - in addition to the onions, most of the recipes will commonly include the batter ingredients of cornmeal, flour, spices such as pepper and salt, and egg. Once you've sliced the onions, you'll soak them in a dish of milk before dipping them in your batter. Then you drop them into your hot deep-fryer and within minutes you'll have a batch of delicious fresh hot onion rings to eat.

Another favorite is fritters including seafood fritters like lobster, oyster, and clam-based fritters as well as ham fritters and green bean fritters. The common ingredients in these dishes generally feature eggs, breadcrumbs, mashed potatoes, and various spices. Once the ingredients are combined, fritters are either rolled into balls or dropped by spoonfuls into the hot oil of the deep fryer.

Another popular deep fried batter is made using beer - there are recipes for beer battered vegetable and beer battered chicken too. These can be a treat as an appetizer for an upcoming gathering or as part of your main meal. Once you've tasted homemade deep fried food, you'll probably never want fried food from a fast food restaurant again.

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Friday, July 24, 2009

Cooking - The Best Way To Learn To Cook

By Carol Bell

When it comes to cooking, it is important to keep in mind that everyone started somewhere. I do not know of a single person who was born with a wooden cooking spoon and ready to go. There is a lot of learning that must be done in order to become a prolific cook and then there is always room for improvement. Not only do you need to begin with the basics when it comes to cooking but you almost need to begin again when learning to cook a new cuisine such as Chinese, Thai, or Indian food.

This implies that at any particular time in your cooking learning cycles there's quite doubtless somebody somewhere that is better and / or worse at cooking than you. Take heart from this because even the best have bad days when it comes to cooking. There are multiple folk who cook for different reasons. Some cook to eat and survive while others cook because they really enjoy the process of cooking. Some cook in periods of emotional upheaval and others cook out of sheer boredom. No matter what your reason for cooking or learning to prepare you must start with the fundamentals.

The very first thing you need to learn is what the different language you may find in recipes really means. There are numerous new and occasionally foreign sounding terms that you're going to find in common recipes. These terms can imply the difference in recipe success or failure. You should be able to get a good section in any inclusive recipe book that explains the different definitions for unfamiliar language. If you are not fully certain what's meant by "folding in the eggs" it is in your own interests to check it out.

Another great bit of recommendation when it comes to cooking basics is to try easier recipes for a bit and then expand your horizons to the more complicated recipes that abound. Most recipes will have a little note about their degree of difficulty and you can read through the recipe to determine if it is something you have an interest in preparing or assured that you can prepare. Remember Rome wasn't built in a day and it will take some considerable time to build a trustworthy 'repertoire' of recipes to work into your meal planning revolution.

The excellent news is that once you have learned the fundamentals of cooking it is not likely that you're going to ever need to relearn them. This suggests that you can consistently build up and expand your cooking talents. As you learn new recipes and enhance your culinary talents and skills you may discover that preparing your own meals from scratch is much more rewarding than preparing pre-packed meals that are acquired from the shelves of your local shops.

You will also discover as your experience and confidence grows that you will find yourself more and more often improvising as you go and adjusting recipes to meet your personal preferences. If you prefer more or less of ingredients or want to make a recipe a little more or less spicy in flavor you can make simple adjustments along the way in order to achieve this goal. In other words you will begin in time to create recipes of your very own. And that is something you won't necessarily learn when it comes to basic cooking skills for beginners but you would never learn if you didn't master those basic cooking skills.

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Why Would You Love Chicken For Dinner

By Chris Lee

There are many ways to make chicken your favorite dinner meat. There are many main dish recipes that include chicken, and all are healthy and delicious. Whether you want grilled, fried, fricassee or a good, healthy chicken salad, chicken is what is for dinner and you will simply love the taste.

Chicken contains a healthier protein than most other meats. With the many ways that you can prepare it, you can literally have chicken every night and never grow tired of eating it. Poultry actually, is the best meat besides fish that you can eat for your health. No matter how you like your chicken, you can find a wide variety of dishes to enjoy. You can find very healthy recipes using chicken in many cookbooks or online. There are hundreds of good recipe sites that offer delicious recipes for poultry. Make preparing your chicken meal a family event. Be sure not to tell your children that your chicken recipes are healthy and they will likely eat more of them. Look for recipes that are prepared in such a way as to make them look unhealthy. And they will have no idea that they are eating a healthy dinner.

Use healthy ingredients such as fresh herbs and spices to make them really delicious. These ingredients will also make your dishes healthier. You simply cannot beat the flavor of fresh ingredients. You can choose any fresh ingredients, so long as you and your family love the taste. There are many chicken salad recipes that contain fruits and nuts. You can add other healthy ingredients as well using whole-grains. Adding chicken to other healthy foods just makes your dinner healthier and more delicious.

Many people prefer chicken for dinner. Not only is chicken healthy, but it satisfies your appetite as well. Many people in America enjoy a dish of chicken for dinner. Chicken has become the most popular choice of dinner meats for many people. You should definitely be one of them.

Chicken should be substituted for more fatty meats on a regular basis. This gives you the servings that are recommended by physicians for optimal health. Not only are you avoiding unneeded fats, but you are enjoying a delicious dinner as well.

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Thursday, July 23, 2009

Easy Pointers To Make Recipes Healthy

By Chris Lee

Finding an alternative to unhealthy recipes is vital if you want to live a healthier lifestyle. You can find many healthier versions of nearly every recipe in the world if you look. The first tip for you is to always choose healthy ingredients for your recipes. You will literally ruin a healthy recipe by adding fats and other unhealthy ingredients that are not called for in the recipe. Ensure that you plan ahead and buy the healthiest ingredients for each of your recipes.

Timing is the second tip. Whenever you find extra time, you should prepare some healthy recipes in advance. Simply prepare your recipes and then freeze them. This helps you to know that you always have a healthy meal when you need one. You can use them when you just do not have the time to prepare a healthy meal. These will be like your own healthy TV dinners whenever you need them.

You third tip is to find fresh produce and other ingredients when possible. Dishes taste much better and are healthier when the ingredients are fresh. Using fresh herbs and spices will improve the flavor of your dishes. Fresh ingredients ensure that you are getting more health benefits in each bite. vegetables should be raw and fresh whenever possible.

Using cooked or canned vegetables takes away from the health benefits. The fourth tip is about choosing healthy meats. Not necessarily the type of meat that you choose, but the actual cut of meat. Although everyone knows chicken and fish are healthy, you can find good choices of other meats as well. However, if your recipe calls for beef then you simply need to use beef. If you cannot substitute, then you need to search for a lean cut.

When using ground beef, many cooks thing that one is as good as the other. This is simply not true. If you have a recipe that calls for ground beef, you can choose a leaner form such as ground chuck. The amount of lean versus fat is listed on most meat packages. If you have problems then you can ask your butcher for help. The fifth and final tip is to avoid creams and sauces that contain unhealthy ingredients. Although many recipes may call for heavy cream, you should learn the substitutions that you can use to avoid things such as this. Learn what foods make good substitutes for unhealthy ingredients and use them.

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Why Should You Eat Cake After Dinner

By Chris Lee

Nearly everyone loves cake. Be truthful, when was the last time you had a slice of wonderful cake after dinner? Cake is the most popular after dinner dessert in the world. Still, there are many who simply have forgotten how delicious cake can be. Cake, no matter what type, offers just the right amount of sweet to satisfy that sweet tooth, while still having the ability to be healthy.

You can eat cake without worrying about the negative health aspects. You can find cakes and cake recipes that contain healthy ingredients. Some cakes contain fruit or even vegetables, which are very healthy. You can eat carrot cake, which actually does contain carrots. Depending on your personal taste, you may prefer something with a little more indulgence to it. Nearly everyone loves chocolate cake. Believe it or not, even chocolate cake has its benefits. You can find hundreds of recipes for chocolate cake that include many healthy ingredients. Dark chocolate is a healthy ingredient that contains antioxidants. This is perfect for those terminal chocolate lovers.

Cakes can be divided into four different classes. Yeast cakes are the most traditional and are made much like yeast breads. Stollen is considered a very popular type of yeast cake. These cakes, while not as sweet as some versions, are still very delicious.Of course, everyone knows what cheesecakes are. Cheesecakes are sweet, yet often not as rich as traditional chocolate fudge cakes. They do not use flour and are often very sweet.

Next is the sponge cake. They are made from beaten eggs and flour and are sweet yet have a spongy texture. There are many types of sponge cake, including Angel food which is very popular for those eating healthy. Finally, butter cakes are the traditional sweet cake that you find in many wedding cakes and birthday cakes. Butter cakes are the most popular for party-related cakes such as weddings. This cake is very sweet and makes an excellent dessert to be served with coffee.

Using eggs, oil and often butter, these cakes are among the most delicious and most popular of all cake types. Choose your favorite and have cake after your next dinner meal. You can serve these cakes with coffee to help counteract the sweet taste.

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How to Make Your Birthday Cake Remarkable

By Chris Lee

Your birthday cake is the most important aspect of the party. If you are planning a party, then keep some things in mind with regards to the perfect cake. There are a few tips to help you with this. If you are purchasing a cake, then be sure to point out specifically what you want on the cake. Most cake decorators or delis will allow you to be as specific as needed to ensure that you get the cake that you want.

You need to keep in mind the person whose cake you are purchasing. You need to choose a cake that is a direct reflection of the person for whom it is purchased. The most remarkable birthday cakes are those that are suited to the birthday boy or girl's personality. Even if you are purchasing a cake for yourself, it should match your own personality. Make sure that when people see your cake they are reminded of you.

If you are a cake decorator, then you should keep a few things in mind as well. The third thing that you want to consider when choosing a remarkable birthday cake is the size/You should also consider the size of the cake. Be sure that you are baking the correct size birthday cake. You want to have a size large enough to feed guests, but small enough that it will not cave or fall if you are making a tiered cake. Be sure that you are keeping the cake's structure in mind before you begin baking it.

You also need to keep the theme of your cake in mind. If you do not have a specific theme in mind, then look online or in party books and choose one. Again, be sure that you are keeping the birthday boy or girl in mind when selecting the theme. Your cake should be the same theme as the overall party. You should choose the party theme prior to constructing the cake to ensure that you are following the same theme. It is very important that your themes for the cake and party match.

It really is not as difficult as it sounds to produce a remarkable birthday cake. It is not that difficult to find a cake or create a birthday cake that will wow your guests. Remember, the birthday cake is the most important aspect of many birthday parties, so choose wisely.

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Sunday, July 19, 2009

How To Eat Well Without Eating Fat

By Dan Sewinski

Today's restaurants serve massive amounts of food, and they are a major reason that Americans have grown accustomed to big meals. If Americans ate food that had high nutritional value and low calorie counts, this would not be a problem. Sadly, this just isn't so. Thus, you should eat smaller amounts of healthy food when you dine at home so that you don't eat too many calories. Cooking light is where the fight against extra calories must start,

The oil used in cooking is as important as the food when it comes to cooking light. Oil can greatly increase any food's calorie and fat totals. Even if you use only healthy vegetables and other low-calorie foods, adding a lot of animal fat in your cooking oil will make the dish unhealthy when you've finished cooking it.

Here are some ways to ensure that you cook light and healthy for your home. Use vegetable-based oil This is the most important rule. Use oil that is vegetable based to ensure that what you are cooking your food with do not have much fats and calories in them. The most popular of these are the corn oil and the palm oil. These oils are made up of what is called the good cholesterol. This kind actually help in the functioning of the heart and balances out the bad cholesterol that we get from meats and animal fats.

You should never put any artificial coloring, flavors, and other chemicals in your food if you can avoid them. They make any dish that you serve less healthy, and can lead to kidney and liver ailments in the future because of all the added salt. You also should avoid batter frying and deep fry mixes. They do not add any nutritional value to food, but greatly increase the calorie total for any dish.

In order to have a healthy diet, you should replace some servings of meat with vegetables and seafood. It is best to have meat for only one or two meals a day. Your family will still gain the protein they need, while reducing harmful fats and cholesterol. White meats, such as turkey or chicken, are more healthy than red meats, such as pork and beef. Turkey and chicken contain less cholesterol than red meats. If you must serve a red meat, choose pork because you can quickly remove the fat from the meat. It is difficult to remove fat from beef since the fats are distributed throughout the meat.

Eating light does not just refer to cooking foods that are low in calories and fat, but also to the size and frequency of servings. Over a period of time, start serving smaller meals and cut back on the side dishes, such as rice. A phased plan to incrementally decrease the serving size will avoid the health problems associated with a sudden decrease in food intake. However, children need the calories from properly proportioned meals in order to grow and should not be a part of a dieting plan without a physician's approval.

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Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Free Weight Loss Diets

By Owen Jones

The march to health and fitness is on and a lot of people are getting in on the act. Some people do it in order to have a beautiful body, some people do it because they are ashamed of their body as it is now, while others do it simply to remain fit and healthy. Because of this, there are hundreds of fitness programs on the Internet, in gyms, spas and fitness centres all over the world. Some are very - so expensive that you will lose weight quickly, just because you have to work hard to earn the money to pay for these fitness programs.

One might not have to go to the gym or the spa or any fitness center and spend a fortune just to slim down and obtain that longed for beautiful body. There are many books available in the bookshops offering weight loss programs which seem easy and cheap. However, the books are not though. These weight loss programs, or diet plans are gaining immense popularity due to their publicity, testimonials and reviews and you might be confused as to exactly which one to follow. So before choosing which weight loss plan to follow, try reading the following precis of the most popular diet programs out today.

The Atkins' New Diet Revolution by Dr. Atkins: This diet plan promotes a high protein diet with fewer carbohydrates. You can eat loads of vegetables and meat, but must not eat bread, rice or pasta. You are not restricted on your fat consumption so it is all right to pour on the (correct) salad dressing and freely spread on the butter. However, during the diet, some people may find themselves short on fibre and high on fat and cholesterol. Grains and fruits are also strictly limited.

The Carbohydrate Addict's Diet by Drs. Heller. This diet plan also recommends following a low carbohydrate diet. It suggests eating mostly meats, vegetables and fruit, dairy and grain products. however, advises against consuming too many carbohydrates. So-called "Reward Meals" can be quite high in fats and saturated fats.

Choose to Lose: by Dr. Goor. It advises restricting your fat consumption. You are allowed a "fat" budget, but you are given free reign on how to use it. It does not force people to regulate their carbohydrate intake. Eating meat and poultry as well as low-fat dairy and seafood is OK. You can also consume vegetables, fruits, cereals, bread and pasta. This weight loss plan is quite healthy, because it advises healthy amounts of fruits and vegetables and saturated fats. Watch your triglyceride levels though. If they are high, trim down on the carbohydrates and eat more unsaturated fats.

The DASH Diet. Advocates eating a fairly moderate amount of fat and protein yet a great deal of carbohydrates. It was primarily designed to reduce blood pressure. The diet plan follows the pyramid food guide and encourages a high consumption of whole wheat grains as well as fruit and vegetables and low-fat dairy. However, some dieters think it advocates too much consumption to produce a significant weight loss.

Eat More, Weigh Less: by Dr. Ornish. Mostly a vegetarian food and low-fat program. Advises to look out for low-fat dairy and egg whites. This diet plan is low in calcium and restricts the consumption of healthy foods like seafood and lean poultry.

Eat Right for Your Type: It is interesting because it is based on your blood type. For example, it advises plenty of meat for people with the blood type O. Diet plans for some blood types are nutritionally imbalanced and too low in calories. Furthermore, for the record, there is no proof that blood type affects dietary needs.

The Pritkin Principle: It is focused on trimming the amount of calories by eating watery foods that make you feel full. Eating vegetables, fruits, oatmeal, pasta, soups, salads and low-fat dairy is OK, although it limits protein sources to lean meat, seafood and poultry. It is healthy because it provides low amounts of saturated fats and large amounts of vegetables and fruits. However, it is low on calcium and restricts lean protein sources.

Volumetrics: It provides for consuming fewer calories. It advises about the same foodstuffs as Pritkin but limits fatty food and grain foodstuffs like popcorn, pretzels and crackers. This diet is fairly healthy given the high volume of fruit and vegetables. It also recommends eating fewer calories and saturated fats.

The Zone: It is moderately low on carbohydrates yet moderately high on proteins. It advises low-fat protein foods such as fish and chicken plus vegetables, fruits and grains. It is also a healthy diet but lacking in grains and calcium.

Weight Watchers: They advise high carbohydrate meals, but are moderate on fats and proteins. A very healthy diet plan and very flexible too. It permits the dieter to devise his own meals rather than offering recipes, although there are Weight Watchers' TV dinners in the supermarkets.

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Foodie Achieves American Dream With Grandmother's Spanish Olive Oil

By Michelle Allen

During the height of the Cuban missile crises on October 19, 1962, 11 year old Miriam and her parents caught the last flight out of Cuba, with one suitcase between them.

"We were on a flight from Havana as Russian missiles were in Cuba pointed at Miami, everything was fear-driven."

Her brother had left Cuba six months before and met them in Miami.

"We were refugees," she said. "We had to start over."

But they were refugees with marketable skills. Her mother, who was a seamstress in the garment industry, found work almost immediately after arriving in the United States. It took a bit longer for her father, who had been a lumberjack in Cuba.

Life in Miami was different -- fallout shelters, radiation drills, a different language and a new way of life. Miriam was one of only five children in her school who spoke Spanish.

Miriam was shaped into the person she is today by these experiences.

Miriam Vigoa didn't plan on making a Spanish olive oil splash in the health food industry when she added spices to her great-grandmother's herbed olive oil recipe and began serving it on menu items at Cafe Latte.

She was already occupied with running Cypress Lighting -- a business she purchased in 1983 -- helping run Cafe Latte, the coffee shop she opened with partner Kristi Linebaugh in 1995 and investing in and maintaining real estate.

Sharing a bit of her heritage with cafe patrons who were requesting the Spanish olive oil -- now known as Canary Island Garlic and Herb Splash, made Miriam Happy

After doing some research, she began hand-blending herbs and Spanish olive oil into Splash and bottling it in her kitchen -- just in time for Christmas 2002.

Still hand blended, the Splash is now bottled in a small cannery in Winter Springs.

Vigoa and Linebaugh decided to hire extra employees to run the cafe on Fridays and to close it Saturday through Monday.

Weekends are now spent hauling a trailer full of Splash throughout Florida -- and often out of state -- attending trade shows and marketing the product.

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Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Why Chicken Breast Recipes Make A Healthy Choice

By Chef Paolo Sorelli

Chicken breast recipes can be a generous staple for many dieters. You can adapt this low fat low calorie lean meat for any chicken recipe whether that recipe calls for chicken breast or a whole chicken. There are many ways to use chicken breasts in recipes that you are not able to accomplish as easily while using other chicken parts.

Some chicken breast recipes are especially good and you can use them to create an exceptionally elegant dinning experience. For instance, you can pound out chicken breasts and then stuff them. Chicken rolls are easy to make and present an elegant dinning layout. Using the technique of cutting a pocket into the side of a chicken breast and fill it, with stuffing is quite delicious.

For example, favorite chicken breast recipes would be chicken Florentine, chicken cordon bleu or chicken with cornbread stuffing. All of these recipes can be made into roll-up logs and sliced for presentation. Whether you use the pocket method to bake your chicken breast with cornbread stuffing or use spinach and cream cheese or ham and Swiss cheese to make chicken breast recipes in rolls you slice, all you have to do is add some rice or a baked potato and you have a meal.

Chicken breasts with sauces are another tasty idea. You can make buffalo chicken breast by adding some Tabasco and blue cheese crumbles. Chicken breasts go well with various types of sauces. For instance, you can dip your chicken in honey Dijon cream sauce, tequila lime sauce or Italian pesto, butter garlic sauces or even Mango chutney. You can enhance your chicken breast recipes with the use of sauces to create unique and flavorful chicken recipes.

Keeping the chicken breast moist is the most essential requirement of making chicken breast recipes. Overcooking will dry them out. Using ingredients that have moisture such as sauces helps the chicken breast stay moist. This is the biggest mistake while preparing and drying out any chicken breast recipe.

Chicken breasts can be baked or grilled. The are popular sliced, grilled and used as toppings on Caesar salads, fillings in fajitas and breaded, fried and served with dipping sauces. There are so many chicken breast recipes that your options are only limited by your imagination or the size of your chicken breast recipes book.

Of course, they are great on sandwiches; you can add bacon, ham, tomato and lettuce for great club sandwiches. You can cube them for casseroles or leave them whole. Add some rice or pasta, cheese or cream of mushroom soup and top with potato chips or crackers and the whole family will love it.

Even if you are on a diet, there are many tasty chicken breast recipes that are low calorie and on the Atkins diet, you can even have a chicken breast sauted in real butter and add cream. From there you can season with garlic, lemon pepper, white wine, dill, rosemary, Dijon mustard, honey or celery salt and have different chicken breast recipes every night of the week that are low calorie, low in carbohydrates and very tasty. Chicken recipes offer a lot of versatility and Chicken breast recipes offer a wide range of variety and flavors.

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Types Of Mixed Drinks, Part 2

By Emma Taylor

Millions of adults worldwide enjoy mixing and drinking alcoholic beverages, and with good reason. They're fun! They come in a variety of colors and flavors, they need some skill (but not too much) to mix well, and they are a terrific activity for social gatherings.

Except for professional bartenders, most people probably know the difference between a gin drink and a whiskey drink, but what about a fix and fizz? Part one of this article described several of the major classifications of mixed drinks: crustas, flips, cobblers and cocktails.

But what other types of drinks are available? Let's take a look.

Cooler: A cooler is a drink, usually served in a tall glass, made with liquor and a carbonated beverage. They are typically garnished with fruit. For a splash of the unexpected at your next party, how about serving a Calypso Cooler? The drink recipe is: 1/2 oz spiced rum, 1/2 oz peach schnapps, 1/4 oz dark rum, 2 oz orange juice, 1 oz grenadine syrup, 1 oz lime juice, 2 oz lemon-lime soda. Pour the spiced rum, peach schnapps, dark rum, orange juice, grenadine and lime juice into a cocktail shaker half-filled with ice cubes. Shake well. Strain into a Collins glass filled with ice cubes, and top with lemon-lime soda. Garnish with an orange flag, and serve.

Fix: Fixes are mixed drinks made with a combination of liquors, citrus and sugar. Here's a fix recipe that is fun to try. Gin Fix: 1 tsp superfine sugar, 1 oz lemon juice, 2 tsp water, 2 oz gin, 1 maraschino cherry, 1 slice lemon. In a cocktail shaker filled half way with ice cubes, combine the sugar, lemon juice, and water and shake thoroughly. Strain this mixture into a highball glass filled with crushed ice. Lastly add the gin and stir well. Garnish the drink with the cherry and lemon slice and serve.

Fizz: A fizz is a variation of a fix which adds a carbonated beverage to the recipe. You can turn Gin Fix recipe above into a Gin Fizz by eliminating the water and substituting carbonated water. Here's the recipe. Gin Fizz: 1 tsp superfine sugar, 1 oz lemon juice, 2 oz gin, 1 maraschino cherry, 1 slice lemon, carbonated water. In a cocktail shaker half-filled with ice cubes, combine the gin, the sugar and the lemon juice. Shake vigorously to blend. Pour this mixture into a highball glass with two ice cubes. Fill with carbonated water and stir, then garnish with the cherry and the lemon slice and serve.

Julep: Juleps are typically sweet drinks, with a blend of liquor and aromatic spices. One julep recipe that is practically an icon is the Mint Julep. Here's a basic Mint Julep drink recipe: 4 fresh mint sprigs, 2 1/2 oz bourbon whiskey, 1 tsp powdered sugar, 2 tsp water. Muddle (crush against side of glass) powdered sugar, mint leaves, and water in a Collins glass. Fill the glass with crushed ice. Add bourbon and top with more ice. Garnish with a mint sprig. Serve with a straw.

So there you have them...four more types of mixed drinks. Your next social gathering will be a terrific success with the addition of these fun and flavorful drinks.

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