Panini Press

By Anthony Tripp

A panini grill is a must have kitchen appliance for everyone. Whether you live in a house or a small apt. Why even a college dorm room is a great place for a panini maker. Not only can you make fantastic panini sandwiches with a panini maker, you can also use it as an indoor grill.

A panini maker is sometimes called a panini grill or a panini press but no matter what its called, itll make a great sandwich. Theres some sort of magic that takes place when you heat and press several ingredients together on thick slices of crusty bread. Its like of of those whole is greater than the sum of its parts type of situations.

Using a panini maker isn't limited to heating up the panini sandwich itself, you can also grill the ingredients before you assemble the sandwich. How about making something with grilled onions? Toss them on the panini maker. Making sausage and pepper sandwiches? Both the sausage and the peppers can be cooked on a panini grill.

There are several must have features that you're going to want in a panini maker. The first one is easy clean up. Make sure your panini grill has removable grilling plates that you can put in the dishwasher. Next you'll need a large cooking area. Don't buy a tiny panini maker that will only fit a white bread grilled cheese sandwich. When you're cooking panini you're going to want to go big and pile on the ingredients. And that brings me to the next important feature, a floating hinged top. No matter how thick you go, the top will adjust to give your sandwich the best possible press it can.

Just about anything that you decide to make on a panini maker is going to come out pretty good. And with a great panini grill you'll always have the option to make what you want. Whether it's a peanut butter and banana sandwich or a filet mignon cheesesteak or some new sandwich invention you'll be set. And that's why every kitchen should come with a panini maker.

About the Author:

Are you looking to buy a panini grill, make sure you check out the Cuisinart Panini Maker reviews at paninirecipes.goodstuffreviewed.com

EATING HEALTHY IS EASY!

By Marilou Lissandrello

Eating healthy does not have to be complicated nor difficult. After you begin making healthy choices, and make it a habit, you don't have to think about it again. Just have healthy food choices always available and the decision will be easy.

A meal or snack needs to incorporate a proper balance between a protein, carbohydrate and fat.

What have you established for your caloric consumption needs? I know for myself, that if I want to lose weight, my caloric intake cannot exceed 1200 per day. If I'm trying to maintain my current weight, I should not eat anymore than 1500 calories per day.

After you determine how many calories you should be consuming, you then need to divide the calories out over 5-6 small meals/snacks throughout the day. Don't forget to compliment each meal/snack with the proper balance of protein, carbohydrates, and fats. I will give you an example of these choices to make during the day.

I should quickly mention something about portion sizes. Do you know what a serving of protein looks like? No, it's not the 16 ounce Prime Rib at your local steak house. A portion of protein is 3 ounces, the size of a woman's palm.

VISUAL EXAMPLES OF DIFFERENT FOOD PORTIONS:

* 1 medium fruit -- tennis ball or tight fist

* 1/2 cup of rice, pasta, cooked cereal, fruit, or veggie -- cupcake size or tight fist

* 1 cup of salad -- the amount you can hold in two hands cupped together.

* 1 medium baked potato -- computer mouse

* 1 cup of cold cereal -- large handful or tight fist

* 3 ounces of meat, poultry or fish -- palm of a woman's hand or deck of cards

* 1 ounce of cheese -- top half of your thumb or 4 dice

* 1 ounce of poultry, fish, chicken or meat -- 1 egg

* 1 tsp -- the tip of a medium-framed woman's thumb. Also, 3 tsp is equal to 1 tbsp.

BREAKFAST:

We all know that we need a good breakfast to start our day. Without that, we are setting ourselves up for failure of maintaining our blood sugar levels. I would suggest keeping breakfast, lunch and dinner at the same calorie count and then adding smaller snack between meals.

Choose an item from each of the food groups for a healthy balanced breakfast.

Protein: 1 cup nonfat milk, 1 hard boiled egg, 1 oz of low fat cheese, 1 cup low fat yogurt

Carbohydrate: 1/2 cup of whole grain cereal or oatmeal, granola bar, 1 slice of whole grain toast, bagel or muffin.

Fruit: 1/2 banana, small apple, orange, grapefruit, 3/4 cup of raspberries, strawberries, blueberries

LUNCH AND DINNER:

Preparing lunch and dinner is very simple. Pick a lean protein, add some vegetables and top it off with some fruit for dessert.

Choose an item from each of the food groups for a healthy balanced lunch or dinner.

Protein: Turkey, lean beef, pork, chicken, fish, beans, etc.

Vegetable: Salad greens, spinach, zucchini, broccoli, cauliflower, and green beans, etc. For a serving size, fill about 1/4 of your plate with protein, 1/2 of your plate with vegetables, and the other quarter with healthy carbohydrates.

Carbohydrate: 1 slice of whole grain bread, brown rice, corn, sweet potatoes, white potatoes, etc.

Dessert: 1/2 banana, 1/2 cup of strawberries or raspberries with a dollop of nonfat whipped topping, pear, apple.

SNACKS:

Snacks are what make or break the weight loss. You need to maintain your metabolism in between meals so that is why healthy snacks are essential. For your snack, consume between 100 to 125 calories.

Choose an item from each of the food groups for a healthy balanced snack.

Protein: 1 oz. low sodium, low fat luncheon meat, low fat string cheese, hard boiled egg, small yogurt cup, 1/4 cup of low fat cottage cheese.

Carbohydrate: 1 slice of whole grain bread, 1/2 banana, apple, grapes, plum, baby carrots, etc.

Healthy fats: 1 slice of avocado, 2 tbsp of peanut butter, handful of almonds, walnuts cashews or mixed nuts.

Doesn't this sound easy? These are just guidelines for healthy foods. You do not have to eat the same thing every day. There are so many more foods then what I listed here but be creative. Try a new fruit and vegetable every week. Remember, this is easy!

About the Author:

Marilou Lissandrello is passionate about cooking healthy recipes in order to maintain her and her husbands current weight loss and to live a improved daily life together. Her very sensible guide on how to cook healthy recipes for dinner is available free from her blog, Eat Right Tonight.

Popsicle Recipes - Save Money By Making Your Own Healthy Ice Pops

By Dania Petrevski

It's summertime! Time for playing outdoors, time for enjoying the sun and definitely time for icy cold treats. But have you seen the price of popsicles lately? And let's not even get into the ingredients. Nothing but sugar, water, coloring and a drop or two of some artificial flavoring. Yet they cost dollars per pack. Save yourself a few dollars and, while you're at it, serve your kids a frozen treat that's refreshing and good for them, too.

Basic Ingredients Turn Into Frozen Ice Pops

Serve your kids a delicious treat that you make yourself from ingredients you probably already have on hand. Fruit juices are an excellent choice to start with. Combining juices with whole fruits that you've crushed in your blender will add even more nutritional impact. Don't have any juice in the fridge? Try using yogurt as your base for a creamy, smooth treat. Combine any yogurt and some whole fruit in your blender, then pour into molds and freeze. It's that easy!

Using Bottled Fruit Juice To Make Ice Pops

Fruit juices, by themselves, make excellent, cheap popsicles, but tend to be a little too watery and might not freeze well. Pour your favorite fruit juice into a sauce pan and simmer for a little while to reduce it by about half. This will get rid of some of the water and make the juice thicker, closer to a syrup consistency. Stir in 1 tablespoon of corn syrup to help stabilize it. Then just pour into molds and freeze.

Frozen Juice Concentrates Make Excellent Popsicles

This is a great way to make popsicles. Sometimes you can get really super deals on frozen juice concentrates! Mix according to the directions on the juice can, only adding half the water so your popsicles will freeze well. Stir in about cup of corn syrup to help stabilize it and then just pour into molds and freeze.

Lemonade Popsicles - So Refreshing!

The only thing more refreshing than lemonade after an afternoon of softball practice is a Lemonade Popsicle! In a small saucepan, heat 1 Cup of Water and 3/4 to 1 Cup of Sugar until all the sugar dissolves. Stir in 1 tablespoon of corn syrup, simmer for a couple of minutes and remove from heat. Allow to cool. Stir in 1 Cup of freshly squeezed lemon juice (2-4 lemons) and pour into molds. Freeze for about 4 hours. Recipe can be multiplied for more popsicles.

Strawberries And Cream Popsicles

This recipe is a good example of how you can stretch a little of this and a little of that and make a tasty, healthy snack for your kids! Combine " Cup Strawberries, " Cup Vanilla Yogurt, 1 Cup Orange Juice and " Tablespoon of sugar in your blender until smooth. Then just pour into molds and freeze for approximately 4 hours. Voila! Strawberry Creamsicles!

Use Up That Fruit In A Popsicle!

Kids love fruit and you love to have them eat it. So, why not mix it up in a popsicle? Mash one banana and one 10 ounce package of frozen, sliced strawberries with juice with a fork. Stir in one 8 ounce can of crushed pineapple with syrup and Cup milk. Got a few extra maraschino cherries lying around? Toss those in too! Pour into ice pop molds and freeze.

Apple Grape Popsicles

This is an easy recipe and a great way to serve your kids a healthy snack. And what kid doesn't like applesauce and grape juice?! Just mix one cup of frozen grape juice concentrate with 3 cups of applesauce. Pour the mixture into molds and freeze. Note: different types of applesauce freeze differently. You may have to simmer the applesauce for a few minutes to reduce some of the liquid out of it.

About the Author:

Dania Petrevski spends her free time finding simple ways to get her children to eat healthy foods. Visit her website for more Free Ice Pop Recipes and information and reviews of various Ice Pop Molds.

Live Maine Lobsters Make a Party Great

By Shannon Linnen

As a kid, did your parents ever take you to Maine for the summer? If they did, you're sure to remember the idyllic days spent lounging by the cool ocean, reading and playing, and finally, dinner time. Who could forget delicious and fresh lobsters, caught that very morning, steamed with vegetables, and given to you with claw crackers in order to get the meat out of the whole thing. It was fun and delicious. Even if you didn't get to do this as a kid, it sounds great, right? Well, you can share it with your family by ordering live Maine lobster.

It's true, by buying online, you can get fresh succulent lobster delivered right to your door by the next day, at a great price. Have you promised your family a special dinner this week? You can have lobster in time, and wow them with a great home cooked meal. Are your in-laws dropping buy unexpectedly this weekend. Surprise them with a great lobster meal that they'll never be expecting. Because this lobster is so fresh and delicious, everyone is sure to be wowed by it's great taste and texture, even the pickiest of eaters. Live Maine lobster is a great treat for the whole family.

How do you get these succulent live Maine lobsters so quickly? It's easy, really. You're getting your lobsters straight from the fisherman themselves, just like if you were on the beach in Maine. This means that you get the best lobsters there are, directly from the people who fished them, and with no waiting. Instead of waiting for suppliers to buy the lobsters and transport them to you, you only pay for the lobster and the shipping, getting yours much faster.

And one of the best parts of buying live Maine lobsters online is the money that you can save. It's true! Buy buying online direct, you can save enough money that lobster can be more than just a luxury. Instead of paying the middleman's fee's, you pay the fisherman only. It's a great way to bring this delicious and healthy food to your family without breaking the bank. You'll save so much money through buying direct that you'll be able to invite even more people over to your fabulous lobster dinners.

When you're ready for a big family party, you can't go wrong with live Maine lobsters. Your whole family will feel the anticipation as they smell the lobsters and fresh vegetables steaming on the stove. And nothing is more fun than cracking into fresh red lobsters as a crowd, with everyone trying to get the most meat from their lobster. Even kids can join in on the fun!

So why not call some friends and order live Maine lobsters for tomorrow night! It's a great meal to share, and your friends will be astounded that you can throw together such a great dinner party so fast. They'll never know you saved time and money by ordering online!

About the Author:

Get the scoop about live lobsters from maine at this website about: live lobsters from maine. Or look at mail order live lobster info.

Connecticut Clambakes Cooking Techniques

By Sherry Shantel

Traditional Connecticut clambakes aren't just a meal, it's an event - a social gathering that doubles as a very popular and delicious way to feed many guests, whether it be a wedding party, a corporate event, a family reunion or simply a romantic evening for two.

Due to its comfortable casual ambiance, this hands-on eating feast makes it an even better place to meet and talk to new people. Clambakes are indeed fun especially during those summer fun-filled beach events with family and friends.

Traditionally, clambakes were prepared over a fire on the beach. But since beach fires are now prohibited, today's clambakes are usually cooked over a propane burner which is undeniably more efficient. Though it's quite the modern method, the traditional atmosphere still exists.

What foods are included in a clambake may vary. Some folks like to serve quahogs (hard shelled clams) just before the main course. Others prefer steamers (soft shelled clams) dipped in butter and salty broth to start. Mussels can be an additional or alternative shellfish and some folks like to get fancy and serve shrimp and clam chowder as well. Accompaniments include potatoes, corn on the cob, salads, slaws and cornbread. For dessert, ice cream is still the best. But whatever the supporting acts, the star of any clambake is the lobster bisque.

Now, if you really want to follow the original clambake cooking process, you'll have to find a spot on the beach where you can dig a pit which is two or three feet deep. Then line it with rocks and build a huge fire on top of these rocks that would reach 400 degrees F. Line the hot rocks with wet seaweed, layer with potatoes, corn in the husk, and more seaweed. Cover the pit with a tarpaulin which is weighted down with rocks, and let it to steam for three hours.

If you want a simpler method, just have the shellfish and accompaniments steamed on a stovetop. You can put rocks in a large metal washtub across a couple of burners on the stovetop and layer it with clams and seaweed. You can then pour in a couple of gallons of seawater until it boils. Steam the clambake for twenty minutes.

But if you think seawater and seaweed are making things complicated, how about having a clambake on your grill over hot coals? This way, it will help boil the live lobster and potatoes first as they take the longest time to cook. The clams and corn will be cooked through the grill's heat.

For a much simpler version of preparing Connecticut clambakes, just place the clams in a pot add in corn and chorizo and some aromatics such as saffron and shallots. Steam it until the clams open. Since following the traditional clambake cooking method is too laborious, many people opt for the simplest technique. What's really important is that you and your guests will have a fun and healthy time feasting on Connecticut clambakes.

About the Author:

Seafood is preferred fresh over frozen, there are various ways to obtain lobster clambake in the best form even if you live far from the on Cape Cod. Quality Fresh Seafood is a great place to start.

Save Time and Save Money, Order Fresh Lobsters Online

By Shannon Linnen

One of the best things about living on a coast is fresh seafood. Who doesn't love a delicious gumbo or paella or any of the other great seafood dishes you can make when you've got access to the best. It's one of the great parts about growing up as a kid close to the water. And if you are someone who grew up that way, but then moved away from the coast, you probably miss coming home to the smell of a great seafood feast. It may be hard to find fresh seafood at your local grocery store, but now you can easily buy fresh lobsters on the internet.

It can be painful to try to find fresh lobsters when you don't live close to the coast. When you take the trip to the store, you know that you're most likely only going to find a few scrawny old specimens, and that's if they're alive at all. The packaged lobster meat sold behind the counter doesn't really hit the spot in the same way that a fresh lobster you prepared yourself does. And really, who wants to pay an arm and a leg for something you know won't taste its best any longer.

This is where buying fresh lobsters on the internet comes in. Instead of waiting for your grocery store's supply chain to bring you lobsters though middlemen who can take weeks, why not go directly to the source. You can buy lobsters straight from the people who get them from the fisherman, and instead of waiting to have them trucked, you can have them shipped fresh to your door the next day. That's how you know that you're getting the best quality fresh seafood available.

Buying fresh lobsters online is a great way to ensure that you get the highest quality lobsters available. it's also a great way to stay within your budget. That's right, when you order online, not only will you get higher quality lobsters, you'll also save money while doing it. When you buy from the store, there are surcharges tacked onto your order for the shipping of the lobsters, to pay the middlemen who buy it, and for the store's expenses. When you buy online, all you have to pay is the fisherman and the shipping cost! And the next day, you have fresh lobsters, at your door.

Once you've got your fresh lobsters, there's no end to the great ways you can prepare them. Delight friends and family with fresh steamed lobsters, a treat any time of the year. You'll be able to order one, two or three pound lobsters, and choose whether you'd like to give everyone their own, or use a larger crustacean as the centerpiece of a meal. During the cold winter months, why not serve a warm and hearty lobster bisque, sure to keep everyone warm.

Fresh lobsters will allow you to share your love of seafood with your friends and family. Because you can order them easily and conveniently online, you'll be able to save money while getting the best lobster out there, all while sitting at home. It's a great way to share seafood with your loved ones, and stick to your budget.

About the Author:

Get the scoop about order live maine lobsters at this website about: order live maine lobsters. Or look at mail order live lobster info.

Seafood Recipes Are Easy, Quick, And Delicious

By Shannon Linnen

Seafood recipes can be fun and healthy and let's not forget to mention EASY! Using your favorite seafood, such as shrimp, mussels scallops or crab and a few of the ideas given in this article you can continue to create unique and healthy seafood recipes time and time again.

Picking out a seafood recipe is an easy thing to do, with the help of the search engines you can find almost any kind of recipe that you like. Just using the phrase "Seafood Recipe" will return a mountain of sites that will take hours to browse through. Of course if your just looking for one really good recipe, you could easily find that in five minutes or less.

Traditional recipes for clambakes are excellent, as are many lobster recipes. However, clambakes can take most of a day to set up, and lobster is extremely expensive for a family meal. I am a working mother who cannot afford to spend hours cooking a meal. I need to make sure my family has dinner at a reasonable time, but at the same time they expect the meal to be worth waiting for.

Measuring is one thing I am terrible at. I like to use a few favorite ingredients in any seafood recipes and adapt it to a healthier tastier way of cooking. And, the best part of cooking seafood is you can use whatever means you have available, whether it be grilling, broiling or sauting.

Let's take shrimp for example... a pound of 26 - 35 count shrimp on sale should cost you about $8.00 and what a treat your whole family will love! Peel and de-vein your shrimp using a small paring knife fed through the back of the shrimp from the top to the tail (knife facing away from shrimp body and cutting through the shell) making it easy to open up the shell so your shrimp will pop right out! (Hey, save even more time, by purchasing the already frozen, peeled and de-veined version.)

The combination of spices and condiments should start with a teaspoon each of butter and extra virgin olive oil. Add a clove of garlic, or if a clove is not available, a teaspoon of chopped garlic. Half an onion, finely chopped, a sprig of parsley, and salt and pepper to taste complete the seasoning preparations. You may find it more convenient to prepare these seasonings in advance so that when you're ready to actually begin cooking, you can add them with a minimum of fuss and your meal will be ready within about twenty minutes.

Serve your shrimp over a bed of wild rice (that you cooked in chicken broth) along with a side of asparagus and baby portabella mushrooms (cooked together with a bit of extra virgin olive oil and salt on the stovetop or wrapped in foil on the grill) and you end up with a succulent feast that is not only tasty but healthy, too in 30 - 45 minutes... now if I could only get my husband to do the dishes I'd have it made.

Starting to cook with seafood items will become contagious pretty quick. It does not take long for the palette to crave a health and delicious seafood treat! Just the fact that it is such a healthy way to live and is so good for you are two great reasons to adopt this into your diet. As long as the seafood is fresh, there are really no health risks involved! To make sure this is the case, all you have to do is purchase your seafood from a reputable business, preferably located on the eastern seaboard of the continental US. There are so many recipes for you seafood fancies located online, just search for them and they will be in abundance. If all else fails turn to a local bookstore for some great recipe books.

When presented with the challenge of entertaining your family or just some close friends, it is the absolute best time to prepare a delicious seafood recipe. When you family and friends dig into the tasty seafood appetizer or main course they will have no choice but to automatically think this is a very special occasion and will feel as if this is a very rare treat.

About the Author:

This article really explains seafood, one thing is for sure, this topic is rather large and can't really be covered in one sitting. There is also live lobster denver that we could go on and on about. You may also want to check out ship live lobster.