Monday, August 30, 2010

Cooking Recipes - How to Make Mexican Style Chili and Baked Meat Manicotti

People who really love to cook will always look for new recipes for them to try out. When it comes to spicy food, the Mexican Style Chili surpasses any other spicy food as this is definitely palatable. Like this spicy recipe, the Baked Meat Manicotti is truly delectable. So have your Rachael Ray cookware set on a table and enjoy doing these recipes yourself.

Mexican Style Chili Ingredients:

14-ounce dry kidney beans 398ml
One-fourth pound salt pork, diced 115 grams
Three cloves garlic, minced 3 cloves
Two large onions, chopped 2 large
1 pound lean beef, diced 450 grams
1 pound lean pork, diced (shoulder is good) 450 grams
14-ounce can tomato sauce 398ml can
3 tablespoon chili powder 45ml
2 teaspoon salt 10ml
One-fourth teaspoon pepper 1ml
One-half teaspoon dried leaf oregano 2ml
Pinch cumin tomato juice pinch

Procedure:
At first, you need to wash and look over the beans. Then have them soaked in six cups (1.5ml) cold water overnight (or you can simply follow the package directions). Afterward, you drain its water.

Next, you need to cook the salted pork in a large skillet or Dutch oven until it becomes very crispy. Then add up the garlic and the onions, and then cook and stir it until it becomes limp. After that, you have to add the beef and the pork bits, and then cook them gently until it becomes lightly browned. Keep on stirring it. Subsequently, you have to stir in all the remaining ingredients except the tomato juice. Then cover it tightly and simmer it for one and a half or until the meat and the beans becomes very tender. Then you add up the tomato juice a bit at a time if the pan appears to be dry. Remember that chili should be moist but not wet when cooking is finished. Often, you need to taste it and adjust the seasoning if necessary.

(Note: I like to make my chili in a large buffet-size electric skillet. When I use it, I have found out that I need to add up quite a bit of liquid during cooking-up to a full nineteen-ounce can tomato juice.)

Baked Meat Manicotti Ingredients

One tablespoon olive oil 15ml
One large onion, chopped 1 large
Two cloves garlic, minced 2 cloves
Twenty eight-ounce can tomatoes 796-ml can
Five one-half-ounce can tomato paste 156-ml can
One envelop spaghetti sauce mix 1envelop
One-half cup water 125ml
Eight manicotti shells (see note) 8
One-half lb spinach (approx.) 250grams
1tablespoon olive oil 15ml
Three-fourth lb ground beef 350ml
One-fourth finely chopped green pepper 60ml
Four ounce mozzarella cheese, cut in very small cubes 115grams

One egg, lightly beaten 1
One-fourth cup grated parmesan cheese 60ml

Procedure:

At the outset, you have to heat one tablespoon (15ml) olive oil in a medium Rachael Ray saucepan. Then, you add the onion and the garlic and cook them gently within five minutes. Keep on stirring it. Next, you add the tomatoes, the tomato paste, the spaghetti sauce, and then mix them with water. Keep in mind that you have to break up any large pieces of tomato. Bring it to a boil, and then you turn down the heat, cover and simmer it within twenty minutes.

Subsequently, you have to cook the manicotti shells in boiling salted water for about seven minutes. Then you need to drain it. Afterward, you have to remove the stems from the spinach and wash the leaves, and then add enough water to make two cups. Next, you heat the one tablespoon (15ml) oil in skillet. Consequently, you add the ground beef and the green pepper and fry them until the meat becomes lightly browned. Stir it constantly. After that, you remove it from the heat. Then drain this of any excess fat and then have it cooled. Later, you toss the meat, the chopped spinach, the cheese cubes and the egg together and mix them with a fork.

Afterward, you have to heat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius). Then have a 12-x 8-x2-inch (30.5-x 20.5-x 5-cm) glass baking dish ready. Then, you put about three-fourth tomato mixture in the baking dish. Next, you should lay the stuffed manicotti in the sauce and pour the remaining sauce all over it. Sprinkle over it with parmesan cheese (500ml when packed). Finally, cook in the water the spinach clinging to each leaves just until it wilts. Then, you drain and chopped this finely with kitchen shears. Bake this for another 30 minutes or until it becomes hot.

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Big Green Egg Vertical Pot Roast

Instructions on how to cook a crispy pot roast on the big green egg grill; your going to love the crust! This is a dry cooked roast so plan on serving it with a bbq sauce like you would brisket.

Vodka Barbecue Sauce Recipe by the BBQ Pit Boys

One of our favorite Barbecue Sauces for dippin in at the Barbeque Pit. All you need is some Vodka, a few added spices in a tomato based sauce for a taste and flavor that is second to none. In fact, you better double up on the recipe because you'll want to keep a jar of it handy in the refrigerator for your next barbecue! You can print out this BBQ Pit Boys recipe at www.BBQPitBoys.com ---

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Sucking At MVPQ: A Beginner's Story Mk. II.

Our not entirely brave lvl. 71 Bellocan beginner BlargNBlarg goes on a quest for fame and riches. He finds none of the above, but such is life. :( This is that silly little party quest event thing that isn't very fun nor does it reward you with anything you might actually want. There's 15 minutes I'll never be getting back. Aaaaaand here's 5 minutes you'll never get back. You are welcome.

Applebee's Coupons - A Brief Info

Applebee's is a large casual restaurant chain in united states of America. It's main branch is located at Atlanta, Georgia. It was opened in the year 1980.

The founder of this exquisite dining place is bill and T.J.Palmer. It is now being known as Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar. Now a days it has been running with a number of branches over 1900 throughout USA.

On dining in this restaurant cum bar a discount coupon has been given to the customers for further use which can levied the charges on further dining. This discount coupon is known as Applebee's coupon. These type of coupons are now being provided or rather available in the official website of the restaurant or available in the local newspaper in cities where any branch of the restaurant is available. eBay is also one of the major sources of Applebee's coupons.

The discount criteria ranges like "$2 for $20" i.e. the customer can choose any two appetizer which will cost only $20.Many other luring and promotional offers are also provided in the coupon from time to time. Other special types of coupons are provided in case of entire family dining package.

All these special types of coupons also fall under the category of Applebee's coupon. Each Applebee's coupon has a fixed period of time which means that it has to be used on or before the date printed on the coupon. Any delay result in the expiration of the coupon and is condition.

Thus people all you have to do to get the mouth watering treat in a convenient and affordable price is to get the Applebee's coupon and enjoy the meals with your loved ones.

Thursday, August 26, 2010

3 Fresh Ideas For Cooking With Pacific Pollock

You might initially think your choices are limited when planning a meal with pacific pollock, but there are many different directions to take with this incredibly abundant fish. It doesn't always have to come back to the ubiquitous fish sticks or fish sandwiches so popular at lunch and dinnertime. Why not take a cue from the different cultures of our country and region and try pollock fajitas or a Caribbean pollock salad? You don't have to keep it simple when you are working with pacific pollock. Try out any of these three recipes when you want to get down to business in the kitchen.

Pollock filet with couscous: Looking for a different take on an old favorite? Alter your spice choices a bit and enjoy baked pollock with couscous to turn around your approach at dinner. Line a baking sheet covered with tin foil with three pats of butter, coriander, paprika, sliced green onion, almonds and currants. Add pollock filets and bake for about twenty minutes. Top with lemon slices and serve with couscous for a Moroccan touch.

Pollock fajitas: You probably know the drill when it comes to making fajitas. It's all about organizing the ingredients and making sure everything is fresh. In this case, you can break up the monotony of chicken or beef by using pacific pollock. Sauté green and red peppers with onions sliced lengthwise. The pollock can either be cooked in a pan or even fried if you want a truly tasty and guilty pleasure. Serve with fresh guacamole and sour cream lining your warm tortillas.

Caribbean fish salad: What does it take to turn a pollock filet into a Caribbean salad delight? In this case, it all comes down to the fruits you are using. Fresh oranges, pineapple and avocado will make all the difference. Grill your pollock using a teriyaki sauce, then place over a bed of greens with a light olive oil dressing. The chunks of pineapple, orange and avocado create a totally different array of smells and tastes. Any time you sense your family getting totally bored by the way you are preparing salads at home, use this recipe and reverse the trend.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Applebee's Recipes - Which Recipes Are Available?

People have often wondered how wonderful it would be if they can be able to create the same dishes they can only have in a restaurant. Among these dining places is Applebee's. Wouldn't it be great to be able to have the Applebee's recipes in your file so you can be able to make delectable dishes on your own to share among family and friends, or perhaps to enjoy them on your own?

There are free Applebee's recipes you can find on the internet so you can make these dishes in the comforts of your own kitchen. In your search for these recipes, you can find ways to create simple yet impeccably tasty dips such as the Mexi-Ranch dip, barbecue sauce, bleu cheese vinaigrette and the spinach and artichoke dip.

Or perhaps something more filling, such as the veggie patch pizza, spinach pizza, the Santa Fe stuffed chicken, chicken wings, chicken quesadilla grande, honey barbecue riblets, tequila lime chicken, smothered chicken, classic patty melt, chicken fajitas, baby back ribs, blackened whitefish sandwich with kookaburra sauce, bourbon street steak, broiled salmon with garlic butter, garlic and peppercorn fried shrimp, smothered steak skillet served with a side of garlic mashed potatoes and the southwest steak skillet.

There are even some recipes meant for light snacking such as soups and salads such as the steakhouse salad, chicken salad, vegetable medley, bacon scallion mashed potatoes, chardonnay mushrooms, Santa Fe chicken salad, and the chicken cheese tortilla soup.

There are even recipes for dessert such as the apple chimi-cheesecake, Blondie brownies and the deadly chocolate sin. There are a lot more different recipes to choose from, the aforementioned are but a preview to what to find, so one may have an idea as to how much meals and variety one can choose from and prepare at home.

Spicy Asian BBQ, On Budget

On this week's 'Chef On A Shoestring' Jet Tila, an Asian bistro chef, shows Erica Hill how to make, Thai Yum Salad, BBQ Chicken w/ Sticky Rice and Fried Banana Egg Rolls for under $35.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

The Magic of Homemade Pizza

I don't know what people ate before the Italians invented and spread all over the world this delicious and easy meal: the pizza. It might have been substantial and tasty food, but unconsciously our ancestors must have missed the well known combination of bread dough, tomato sauce and mozzarella, topping it up with your favorite meat or vegetable ingredients. The best thing about this dish is its variability: once you've mastered the skills of putting the right amount of flour and water to yeast and letting it rest for the exact amount of time, your options to making a pizza are virtually unlimited. Just choose two or three of the ingredients you want to use and craving for, put it on the dough and shove it in the oven. After approximately 10 minutes the appetizing smell emerging from the oven will give you the hint: your pizza is ready to be devoured.

Combining the unvarnished and savory art of pizza making with the social event of an open space barbecue results in the more and more popular backyard pizza baking. As a deduction, its positive aspects are unambiguous, but as a real practice it could provide some difficulties regarding the baking process. First of all, don't try to cook a pizza on the open flame grill bars: it will be full of smoke, dry and burned. Also, try to avoid the irresistible temptation to make a handmade upgrade to your normal barbecue so it will look more like a backyard pizza oven. If you really want to bake your pizzas in the open air, and are sure you will use it enough to clear your costs, get yourself a brand new wood-fired pizza oven. Depending on how handy you are and how much experience you have in matters like this, you can either build your own backyard pizza oven, have a professional do it for you, or in between: buy it ready made in a store and mount it yourself. Why you should choose from the latter two options if you're not an architect or something with a less fancy name but the same effect: building an oven requires a lot of tools you might not have, ingredients like cement, bricks, stones, pipes which nowadays come in all kinds of shapes and sizes and brands and types, which can be confusing and most importantly: because it involves fire and as such, it's extremely dangerous.

But if you do decide to procure yourself a backyard pizza oven, you are in for a treat: it not only can bake you pizzas, but also other delicious pastry like home made bread, croissants and all kinds of pies. So if you have the space, the money and the need for a backyard pizza oven, go get it!

Cooking BBQ Ribs Recipe Pit Boys Country Style

Here at the Pit, we call them "Jacks Ribs" but typically they are known as Country Style Pork Ribs. They are simple to grill and a great recipe to have on hand if you need a quick and easy meal hot off the BBQ grill. Although most Ribmen describe this cut of meat more as a "chop" than a "rib", the pork industry prefers to call them Ribs. So Ribs they are! All you need to get started is 4-5lbs. Country Style Pork Ribs, 3 -18oz. bottles of your favorite barbecue sauce, 12oz. beer (or water will do). Get your charcoal grill good and hot and in about an hour you'll be serving up delicious, moist and tender Barbecue Pork Ribs. You can print out this BBQ Pit Boys recipe at www.BBQPitBoys.com ---

Monday, August 23, 2010

Smokey Sweet BBQ Sauce and Marinade

Episode 164

Chicken Cheese Wings Barbecue Recipe by the BBQ Pit Boys

BBQ Chicken Wings don't get any better than this with this real easy to grill Chicken Wings recipe, as shown by one of the BBQ Pit Boys. Guaranteed tender and delicious every time! You can print out this BBQ Pit Boys recipe at www.BBQPitBoys.com ---

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Grilled Fish Tacos

Deliciously grilled fish tacos topped with Mexican cole slaw and Chipotle sauce.

Chips Coupons - Discounts For Your Favorite Snacks

Who else wants to bring more chips to their out-of-town trip?

Are you planning to go to an out-of-town trip? Then you should get in your bags the right things. Do not over pack as it could eventually make you feel remorseful of all the things you took in with you. Instead, put just the right amount of items in your bag. As for food, bring those in disposable containers you can easily dispose whenever there's a bin around. Do you know a perfect example for this? Chips! And to cut down on your expenses, get your chips coupons online to get discounts!

Chips do make good companions during trips. They are boosting with different flavors that everyone could not resist. There is cheese, barbeque, sour cream, prawn, ketchup and there are even new flavors right now available in the market like blueberry, lamb, tofu, and a lot more. Aside from the wide variety of flavors you can choose from, chips are everyone's favorite. Young and old enjoy a bag or two. And it even works well with dips.

Chips are very easy to bring and do not need cooking, that's why it's been a staple item to trips. Chips could do the trick when someone gets hungry while on the road and the nearest food district would be still far off.

To get your chips coupons, search the internet and you will find websites that offer coupons for that brand you like.

On your next out-of-town trip, remember to pack light and seek to foresee inevitable hunger. And with that being said, bring handy-dandy and very tasty snack chips! Chips coupons are very easy to find on the internet and also very easy to use so do not forget to get yours soon and be sure to bring them on your next food shopping.

Saturday, August 21, 2010

How to Grill Ribs Plus a Delicious Rib Rub Recipe for You

If your idea of the perfect dinner is BBQ pork ribs grilled ever-so-slowly over a fragrant fire (and it really should be), here's your cheat sheet.

Cooking pork ribs is pretty easy -- but for the beginner they can be really difficult to cook well. So many people think they can just throw them on the grate over a raging fire like they would a hamburger or cuts of chicken and have them turn out juicy and tender.

It ain't THAT easy.

But add just a very few little tweaks to your preparation and grilling -- like skinning the ribs, rubbing the meat with a favor rib rub, "mopping" on a sauce during the cooking, glazing at the proper time with a good BBQ sauce, and getting the temperature just right -- and you'll do just fine and have nearly world-class ribs.

At the very least they will be the best in your neighborhood.

Let's start -- but remember this is just a "cheat sheet."

You'll need about 4 racks of Baby Back Ribs, about 1 1/2 cups of wood chips (get hickory or apple if you can) soaked for 1 hour in water then drained, a couple of Lemons, BBQ Rub (remember the recipe follows) and your favorite quality BBQ mop sauce and BBQ sauce.

Preparation -- What we do NOW will determine how good the ribs turn out

First turn all the ribs "meat down" and remove the silver skin from back of the ribs. Use a pair of pliers to get a grip. It should come off completely. Just this first easy step will make your ribs better than 3/4 of what we usually see at picnics and cookouts.

Next, fire up the grill set-up for indirect heat and place those soaked chips directly on charcoal.

Cut the lemons in half and rub over front and back of ribs. Set the ribs aside to "rest" for about 5 minutes.

Rub the ribs liberally with your Rib Rub -- really work it in -- and then let them rest, covered, for another 15 to 20 minutes.

Now you are ready to start grilling.

Place ribs (bone side down first) in the center of your grate. Remember over low heat. Make sure they are never over a direct flame. Grill covered at about 325 degrees F for about 45 minutes.

Try not to open the grill for the first 30 minutes. You want the smoke to circulate well.

Open the grill and mop the ribs on both sides with your mop sauce.

Close the grill and cook until the ribs until they ar well browned, cooked through, and tender enough to pull apart with your fingers. About 45 minutes to 1 hour longer should do.

When the ribs are done the meat should have pulled back slightly from the ends of the rib bones.

Just before serving (not before), coat the ribs on both sides with your BBQ Sauce and place them directly over the fire. Heat them until the barbecue sauce is browned and bubbling, 1 to 3 minutes per side.

Remove the ribs and let them rest for a few minutes, then serve.

YUM!

Here is an easy and quick Rib Rub Recipe for you to use. For plenty more visit the links below.

1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon coarse salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon good quality paprika
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon dried oregano

Just mix all together in a bowl and use immediately. Or store in an airtight container for up to a week.

Friday, August 20, 2010

Healthy Dinner Recipes Using Power Foods Will Help Erase Belly Fat!

Use these power foods in your healthy dinner recipes. You will have a full and satisfying dinner, without loading up on the wrong amounts of calories.

Power Foods
Almonds, and other nuts.
Beans
Berries (raspberries, blueberries)
Dairy (Yogurt, cheese, low fat milk)
Eggs
Instant Oatmeal (regular, unsweetened)
Olive Oil
Peanut Butter
Protein Powder
Spinach and other green veggies
Turkey and other lean meats
Whole grain breads and cereals

Now...here are some awesome healthy dinner recipes for meals using the power foods that I mentioned earlier.

Enchiladas
1 lb chicken breast, cubed
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp chili powder
1 can (16 oz) fat-free refried beans
1 c wheat germ
6 whole wheat flour tortillas
1 can (10 oz) spicy salsa
3 oz reduced-fat Cheddar cheese, shredded
Salsa and sour cream for garnish

How to put it all together:
Cook the chicken, pepper, and spices in a nonstick pan over medium-high heat for 4 minutes. Remove from the heat and add the beans and wheat germ. Add 3/4 cup chicken filling to each tortilla, roll up, and place seam side down in a nonstick baking dish. Top with the salsa. Cover and bake at 350 F for 40 minutes. Sprinkle with cheese. Garnish with salsa, sour cream, and cheese.

Mighty Muffins
(Power foods: 3)
1 egg
1 pound lean ground beef
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1/2 cup oats
1/4 cup minced onion
Salt and pepper to taste

In a large bowl, whisk egg and add everything else, mixing it with your hand until well blended. Divide mixture evenly into a 6-cup nonstick muffin pan. Preheat the oven to 375 F and bake for 25 minutes.

BBQ Pork Recipe
1/2 c uncooked instant brown rice
1/2 c frozen mixed vegetables
2 center-cut pork chops, 1 1/4 inches thick
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp mustard
1 Tbsp brown sugar
1/4 c bottled barbecue sauce
1 c applesauce

Cook the brown rice according to directions. Adding the vegetables as it cooks. Place the pork chops in a broiler pan. Mix together the garlic powder, mustard, brown sugar, and barbecue sauce, and brush the mixture on the chops. Put the broiler pan on the top oven rack, 4 to 5 inches from the heat source, and broil for 8 to 10 minutes per side. Serve with the rice, vegetables, and applesauce.

Pesto Pasta
1 Tbsp olive oil
1/2 c walnut pieces
1 clove garlic, crushed
2 c torn baby spinach leaves
1 tsp dried basil
4 oz whole-wheat spaghetti, cooked
2 Tbsp shredded part-skim mozzarella
Salt and pepper to taste

How to Make this healthy dinner recipe. Heat the oil in a nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Add the nuts and toast them for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring frequently. Add the garlic, spinach, basil, salt, and pepper. Cook for 3 to 5 minutes more, turning frequently. Toss with the cooked pasta and top with cheese. Makes 2 servings per 1-cup serving

Tortilla de Godzilla
(number of Power foods: 4)
1/2 pound extra-lean ground beef or ground turkey
1/2 cup onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup canned kidney beans, rinsed and mashed
2 green chile peppers, seeded and diced
2 teaspoons chili powder
4 large whole-wheat tortillas
2/3 cup shredded lettuce
1 cup chopped tomatoes
1/2 cup grated low-fat Monterey Jack cheese

How to prepare:
1. In a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, cook the beef, onion, and garlic until the beef is browned. Drain the fat.
2. Stir in the beans, chile pepper, and chili powder, and cook until hot. Remove from the heat.
3. Warm the tortillas in the microwave for 20 seconds, then fill each tortilla with half the mixture. Top with lettuce, tomatoes, and cheese, and roll each tortilla tightly into a tube.

Bodacious Brazilian Chicken
(number of Power foods: 2)
1 lemon
1 lime
1 tablespoon ground flaxseed
1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
1 can (6 ounces) frozen orange juice concentrate
11/2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
1 teaspoon hot pepper salsa
3/4 cup chunky salsa

How to Make this healthy dinner recipe.
1. Grate the zest of the lemon and lime into a resealable bag. Squeeze the juice from both fruits into the bag, and throw out the pulp and the seeds.
2. Mix in everything else except the chicken and salsa.
3. Drop in the chicken, reseal the bag, and refrigrate for a few hours.
4. Grill the chicken, turning and basting with marinade a few times, for 10 to 15 minutes or until the center is no longer pink. Serve with salsa.

Mas Macho Meatballs
(number of Power foods: 3)
1 pound extra-lean ground beef
1/2 cup crushed saltine crackers
1 large onion, diced
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tablespoon ground flaxseed or whey powder
1 jar (16 ounces) tomato sauce
4 whole-wheat hoagie rolls
1/2 cup reduced-fat mozzarella cheese, shredded

How to prepare:
1. Mix the beef, crackers, onion, garlic, and flaxseed or whey powder into golf ball-size meatballs.
2. In a nonstick skillet over medium heat, cook the meatballs until browned all the way around. Drain the fat from the skillet, and add the tomato sauce.
3. While the mixture is warming, use a fork to scoop out some of the bread in the rolls to form shallow trenches. Spoon the meatballs and sauce into each trench, and sprinkle with shredded mozzarella, and top with the top half of the roll.

Chili Con Turkey
(number of Power foods: 4)
1 pound ground turkey
1 can (14 ounces) Mexican-style diced tomatoes
1 can (15 ounces) black beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (14 ounces) whole-kernel sweet corn, drained
1 package (11/2 ounces) dried chili mix
1 tablespoon ground flaxseed
1/4 cup water
1 cup cooked rice

How to Make this healthy dinner recipe.
1. In a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, brown the turkey.
2. Add everything else but the rice, and cook over low heat for 10 minutes.
Serve over rice.

Salmon Rushdie Dinner
(number of Power foods: 5)
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 Tbsp lemon juice
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
1 Tbsp ground flaxseed
1 clove garlic
4 6-oz salmon fillets
1 c cooked rice
Green vegetable of choice

How to Make this healthy dinner recipe.
1. In a baking dish, combine the oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper, flaxseed, and garlic.
2. Add the fish, coat it well, cover it, and refrigerate for 15 minutes.
3. Preheat your oven to 450 degrees F.
4. Line a baking sheet with foil and coat it with cooking spray. Remove the fish from the marinade and place the fish skin-side down on the baking sheet.
5. Bake for 9 to 12 minutes. Serve with rice and a green vegetable.

This list of healthy dinner recipes will satisfy you without filling your body full of calories.

Repairing Bottled Water Coolers

Water needs to be stored at times and for this big or small containers or dispensers are required. Dispensers, help to store and keep water cool. At times some coolers malfunction and as a result, repairing the bottled water coolers is a necessity.

If the compressor is found non-functional, the electrical receptacle for correct power and voltage should be checked with a voltmeter. It needs to be verified that the wires from the wall cord are connected to the two power terminals on the cold thermostat. The continuity needs to be checked and it should be ensured that the wires from the wall cord are connected to the two power terminals on the cold thermostat. The wiring harness could sometimes develop an "open" or disruption of electrical flow and it would need to be replaced if all other electrical components are satisfactory and working. It is good to double-check the relay, overload and PTC Starter and be assured that they are in working order, by conducting a continuity test.

The most common problem faced is when the compressor is functional, but does not cool the water. This is caused by a gas leak within the sealed system. Any sign of oil within the cooler, indicates a loss of this gas. The bottled cooler condenser should be cleaned periodically and installed at least 2 -4 inches away from the wall for proper air circulation. The bottled water cooler must be cleaned regularly and placed away from the wall. If the relay or overload is defective, it needs to be replaced.

If there is no water from the cold faucet, then the faucet needs to be replaced. Incase of noisy operation, the wires need to be checked. The bottled water coolers can be repaired at home or by a recognized, authorized dealer.

Thursday, August 19, 2010

The Real Truth About Cooking Great Barbeque Brisket

A barbecue brisket cooked by a skillful barbecue chef is a tasty treat. Have you ever tried to barbecue a brisket? If you are like most folks you know it's troublesome to try and do well. It is nothing worse than trying to chew a tough brisket. When you know the principles to cooking brisket you'll notice that's not that difficult. Follow the principles below and you'll be cooking fantastic brisket that everyone will love.

Barbecue brisket originated in Texas most likely is the results of all the beef that's grown in the state. Brisket is tough. It is the cut of meat now just behind the foreshank. It has a boat load of connective tissue that's filled with collagen.

The great issue about brisket is that It is filled with flavor. Which means that It is good for low and slow barbecue cooking. Let's get to the steps.

1. 1st thing you want to try and do to clean the brisket and pat it dry.

2. The subsequent issue you want to try and do is to trim the fat. Now some brisket cooks wish to trim most of the fat from the meat but I like to leave some fat on the brisket as a result of that enables for self basting and it adds flavor.

3. The subsequent thing you would like to try and do is to season your brisket. Seasoning is a terribly serious step if not the foremost vital step. You'll use a mix of spices to make good brisket. The spices I'd use include onion powder, black pepper, garlic powder, paprika (sweet or smoked or both), salt, sugar, thyme, cumin and cayenne. There are lots of good brisket rubs on the market.

4. The subsequent step is to marinate. To marinate, use the rub in the previous step to cover the meat. Be generous in the amount used. A sensible trick to use is to rub the meat with olive oil before putting the spice rub on. Place the meat in an exceedingly plastic container or plastic bag and refrigerate overnight.

5. The subsequent step is to barbecue the meat. A real barbecue cook will use a sensible dose of wood smoke to urge that real barbecue flavor. Prep your smoker and obtain the temperature to about 225°F. At this temperature the meat will take about nine-twelve hours. Have a few water soaked wood chunks ready to place on a fire.

6. Put the meat in the smoker and Put a few wood chunks on the recent coals. I wish to use Hickory wood chunks for brisket. you would like the brisket to smoke for about two hours or until the meat reaches about one hundred forty°F. At now wrap the brisket in foil and place back in the smoker.

7. You would like the brisket to cook until the inner temperature reaches about a hundred ninety°F.

8. Take the brisket out of the smoker at now and let it rest for about 20 minutes. At this temperature of the meat should be terribly tender and pull apart very easily.

9. If you follow these steps you ought to have pretty enjoyable brisket when done.

Hot Sauce History 101

Things may be heating up for hot sauces, but they've been around since humans first realized they could eat chile peppers. Bottles containing hot sauce have been recovered from archaeological digs as well as shipwrecks, according to "The Hot Sauce Bible," The Crossing Press, 1996.

We have had a long love affair with hot sauces in the United States. Advertisements for cayenne sauces appeared in Massachusetts newspapers as early as 1807, according to some reports. In 1849, England's Lea & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce was first imported into the United States from Great Britain.

Many of the first homegrown hot sauces in the United States came from the South. Cajun cuisine and other fiery ethnic foods fueled the drive to make hot sauces.

One of the first mass manufactured domestic hot sauces was Edmund McIlhenny's Tabasco® Brand Pepper Sauce, which came on the market in 1868 and is still made today. According to McIlhenny "family lore," Edmund first bottled his Tabasco® sauce in recycled cologne bottles. The McIlhenny Company has trademarked "Tabasco," which is why it's the only Tabasco sauce on the market today. (Although it is trademarked by McIlhenny, Tabasco actual refers to a geographic and political region in Mexico - where the Tabasco pepper was said to originate.) Similar sauces can note they are made with Tabasco peppers, but can only be known as "hot sauce." In addition, the McIlhenny Company is so proud of its heritage that it is opening a museum in 2006 in New Orleans.

McIlhenny's initial success also spawned a raft of imitators particularly in the roaring 1920s including Trappey's Hot Sauce (made by B.F. Trappey, an ex-McIlhenny employee) as well as Crystal Hot Sauce, according to Linda Stradley's Whatscookingamerica.com web site. Jacob Frank started selling Frank's Redhot Cayenne Pepper Sauce in 1920 and it was this hot sauce that French's, the current owner of Frank's Redhot Cayenne Pepper Sauce, proclaims as the "secret ingredient" in the original Wing Sauce concocted in 1964 by Teresa Bellissimo at the Anchor Bar and Grill in Buffalo, NY. All three of these sauces are continued to be made and sold today.

Some hot sauces didn't tickle the palate of consumers. Heinz, the condiment company based in Pittsburgh, produced a Tabasco Pepper sauce, but it failed to compete with McIlhenny's original and was eventually taken out of production. Other early America hot sauces included a "Chilli Sauce" from E.R. Durkee & Company, which continues today as a spice and condiment company.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Versatile Vinaigrette

Whenever I am trying to eat a little lighter, I turn to simply poached, steamed, and broiled fish or poultry. And one of my favorite quick and easy ways to give that piece of protein a little flavor is to sauce it with vinaigrette. Just before serving, I spoon a tablespoon or so over each portion and sprinkle with sea salt and pepper... and just like that, excellent flavor!

Vinaigrettes are extremely versatile. Basic vinaigrette can always be modified by adding other flavor components to marry quite nicely with sole, rockfish, scallops, chicken breasts, quail, or even turkey. I make a large quantity of basic vinaigrette at the beginning of the week. The classic recipe of 4 parts oil, 1 part vinegar, a spoonful of good Dijon mustard, and some salt, pepper is a good starting point.

The oil choice may, of course, be extra-virgin olive, but there are lots of other possibilities, like grapeseed, peanut, walnut or hazelnut, or even a mild all-purpose vegetable like canola or corn. While the basic recipe usually calls for red wine vinegar or white wine vinegar, this limits the flavor potential, especially if you use mass-produced vinegars.

I am always looking for new vinegars ideas to broaden my flavor horizons. The basics in my kitchen include wine vinegars that are made in small batches from single varieties of grapes, many of which are barrel-aged to ensure excellent flavor; Champagne, Grenache, Cabernet, Chardonnay, and Zinfandel vinegars are all great possibilities. For even more flavor, try vinegars made from dessert wines like Sherry, Banyuls, or Vin Santo.

These days, the most flavorful vinegars - look for them in specialty markets - are fruit vinegars. They're made not by infusing wine vinegar with fruit flavor, but by using just the fruit. With only 5% acid, these are usually softer than wine vinegars and even more flavorful. Fig, Tomato, Cucumber, Chestnut Honey, Red Pepper, and Black Currant all come to mind. I also like to blend, and my favorite combination these days seems to be a little Champagne, Banyuls, and Sherry vinegars mixed together for a fabulous union.

Once my basic vinaigrette is complete, I often reserve some in a jar, and then add any of an endless array of other savories to the remainder: black olive tapenade, artichoke paste, sun-dried tomato pesto, basil pesto, minced capers, harissa, assorted jams like fig or apricot, assorted chutneys like greengage plum and walnut, or pear cardamom, just to name a few. I make the condiment choice to suite my mood and to match what I'm cooking, whether seared scallops with caper pesto vinaigrette, steamed rockfish with black olive tapenade, or semi-boned quail grilled with fig jam vinaigrette.

Finally, don't be afraid to experiment. I also like to dress steamed or roasted potatoes with some of the same vinaigrette that I've used for the main course. Having the classic base vinaigrette at hand makes menu planning for the week a breeze.

Low Fat Chicken Recipes That Taste Great and Are Easy to Make

If you enjoy cooking as much as I do, then you might want to keep reading this article! Almost everybody in the world loves to eat chicken. To be honest, I make it almost every day. My trick to never getting tired of it is to cook it differently for each meal, one day, I'll bake it and the next day I'll grill it. The main thing I love about is that I can bite into it and finish it really fast. If you're anything like me, you'll prefer this type of meat over the others that take a little longer to prepare and to eat.

The recipes that I'm going to share with you are the recipes I like to prepare at home that are actually low in fat, but still taste great.

Grilled chicken salad

I grew up eating this salad and this is one of the best I've ever had! You need:

1 grilled chicken fillet

1 sliced tangerine

1 head of iceberg lettuce

5 cherry tomatoes chopped

5 dots of Louisiana hot sauce

½ cup of low fat ranch dressing.

Grill the chicken and simply toss all the ingredients together.

Boiled chicken and mashed potatoes with gravy

This is what I make for my family whenever I'm in the mood to cook. Here are the ingredients:

3 boiled chicken thighs

3 large potatoes to mash

chicken gravy mix

After you're finished cooking all the dishes, help yourself and your family!

Whole wheat chicken sandwich

I like to eat this while I'm out handling business. This recipe is very easy to make as long as you have whole wheat bread, low fat barbecue sauce, and baked chicken breast. Whenever I'm hungry and I have to go to my next class, I'll take this sandwich out of my lunch bag and eat it as fast as I can.

Chicken with mixed vegetables

This is the perfect meal to eat in the winter season because it's cold outside and you're trying to stay warm. Hot food is known to make you warm and it soothes your body. To make this a low fat chicken recipe, you simply have to boil the chicken and the vegetables with canola oil.

Grilled chicken fingers

This is the perfect recipe to fix for yourself when you're swamped with work and you want something quick. I eat this occasionally and I dip it in ketchup. If you don't like ketchup, you can dip it in garlic pasta sauce r bar-b-que sauce, even ranch dressing. I've tried this before, and I love it! It may sound different, but it is worth trying.

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Gourmet Salmon Patties: Burger Recipes : Making Dill Sauce for Salmon Burger Recipe

Learn how to make dill sauce for gourmet salmon burgers with expert cooking tips in this free burger recipe video clip. Expert: David Postada Bio: David Postada is Chef and owner of the Big Easy Catering company in Santa Barbara, California. Filmmaker: Diana Bacon

Detroits Best Barbecue

Slows BBQ is Detroits best barbecue restaurant. Located in Corktown near Old Tiger Stadium Slows is the place for great food and casual good times.

Monday, August 16, 2010

How to BBQ a Whole Chicken Without Burning It

Rotisserie chickens on the grill are wonderful, but if you don't have a rotisserie how do you BBQ a whole chicken without burning it and get it to cook evenly? The secret is in the sauce. To be precise, the secret is in not trying to cook the chicken with BBQ sauce but to add the sauce at the end for a finishing touch. The other tips are slow heat and marinade. Hungry yet? Let's take a look at how to BBQ a whole chicken with full flavor, moist meat and tasty sauce.

The Good and the Bad

I've had really good barbeque'd chicken and really bad barbeque'd chicken, more bad than good in my experience. Chicken cooked on the grill gets the majority of it's flavor from the spice rub, not the sauce. The mistake I see made most often is the cook coating the chicken with sauce at the start of cooking. The sauce has sugar in it, sugar burns at a low heat, it flares up, it chars the chicken. You end up with undercooked inside and charred outside and no real flavor. It doesn't have to be that way. With some patience and planning you can BBQ a whole chicken without burning it or needing a rotisserie.

Add Your own Flavor

Chicken with the bone in adds it's own distinct flavor. You can add to this flavor with a spice rub or your own or one that you bought or a marinade or a brine. This is where the cook gets to shine and add their own touch. Do you want spicy, garlicky, sweet, herb? The chicken needs to be prepared with it's rub, brine or marinade a few hours ahead of time to give the flavors a chance to develop and permeate the chicken.

Set and Forget

The best way to BBQ a whole chicken is slowly. Set your grill at a low heat, 200 to 250. You can use a smoker or a grill, each will give the chicken it's own unique flavor and you can add wood chips for even more choices in flavor. Set the whole chicken on the grill. You can cook by indirect heat by placing the chicken on the side of the grill that has no heat and making a foil vent. Plan on 3 to 4 hours of cooking time depending on the weight of the chicken. You will need to check the coals every hour or so and that's a good opportunity to baste with some apple juice, but mostly leave it alone to cook. In the last 1/2 hour or so of cooking is when you start to add your BBQ sauce. Leaving it to the end and using such a low heat is how to BBQ a whole chicken without burning the sauce and keeping the meat sweet and tender.

Glazed Grilled Bananas with Chocolate Sauce

We often forget that fruit is tasty when grilled on the BBQ. Chef Elliott Cohen shows www.WatchMojo.com how to make Glazed Grilled Bananas on the BBQ, with his secret weapon chocolate sauce.

Sunday, August 15, 2010

bbq with Johnny ugly

BBQ BABYZZZZZ

Discover Oklahoma-Jiggs Smokehouse

Have you passed that unassuming little cabin just off RT 66 in Clinton? It looks more like a honytonk than a sandwich shop- but what a sandwich shop! Sandwiches that you must eat with a knife and fork 'cause they're too big to pickup. Besides the monumental sandwiches, Jiggs is also known for its BBQ sauce and beef jerky and they will ship it right to you!

Saturday, August 14, 2010

Healthy Lunch Recipes

Take-out lunches should be forgotten because there are so many healthy lunch solutions that can easily be taken to the office, to school and anywhere else you may need to go. Listed below are some tasty recipes which include delicious fresh produce such as fresh vegetables and lean protein which will fuel you for the rest of the day so that your body will not feel deprived.

o BBQ Chicken Sandwich

Leftover cooked chicken can be tossed in barbeque sauce and crunchy carrots for a quick and healthy lunch.

Makes 1 serving

Ingredients:

1/2 cup shredded cooked chicken
1/4 cup shredded carrots
2 tablespoons barbecue sauce
2 teaspoons light ranch dressing
1 small whole-wheat sandwich bun
1 leaf romaine lettuce

Method:

In a medium bowl combine the chicken, carrots and barbecue sauce. Spread ranch dressing on the bun and top with the chicken mixture and lettuce.

NUTRITION INFORMATION: Per serving:

323 calories
8g fat (1g sat, 2g mono)
62mg cholesterol
38g carbohydrate
26g protein
4g fiber
729mg sodium
456mg potassium
Nutrition bonus: Vitamin A (100% daily value), Selenium (56% daily value).

o Spicy Thai Shrimp Salad

Makes 4 servings

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons lime juice
4 teaspoons fish sauce
1 tablespoon canola oil
2 teaspoons light brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1 pound cooked and peeled small shrimp
1 cup thinly sliced red, yellow, and/or orange bell pepper
1 cup seeded and thinly sliced cucumber
1/4 cup mixed chopped herbs

Method:

Whisk together the fish sauce, lime juice, oil, brown sugar and crushed red pepper in a large bowl. Add the shrimp, cucumber, bell pepper and fresh herbs and toss to coat.

NUTRITION INFORMATION: Per serving:

170 calories
5g fat (1g sat, 2g mono)
221mg cholesterol
6g carbohydrate
25g protein
1g fiber
652mg sodium
315mg potassium
Nutrition bonus: Vitamin C (60% daily value), Vitamin A (25% daily value), Iron (21% daily value).

o Tomato & Fennel Salad

Heirloom tomatoes are best used in this recipe. They are at their peak during the summer months and worth purchasing in your local grocery store or farmers' market. However, any type of tomato will work well in this recipe.

Makes 4 servings

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon champagne vinegar or white wine vinegar
1/2 teaspoon salt
Freshly ground pepper
1 pound tomatoes cut into wedges
2 cups thinly sliced fennel bulb
1/4 cup fresh chopped parsley
1/3cup toasted pine nuts

Method:

In a large bowl, whisk together the oil, vinegar, salt and pepper. Add the tomatoes, fennel, parsley and pine nuts and toss to coat.

NUTRITION INFORMATION: Per serving:

141 calories
12g fat (1g sat, 5g mono)
0mg cholesterol
9g carbohydrate
3g protein
3g fiber
321mg sodium
513mg potassium
Nutrition bonus: Vitamin C (40% daily value), Vitamin A (25% daily value), Potassium (15% daily value).

o Lebanese Potato Salad

Makes 8 servings

Ingredients:

2 pounds of potatoes
1/4 lemon juice
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
Freshly ground pepper to taste
4 spring onions, thinly sliced
1/4 cup chopped fresh mint

Method:

Place the potatoes in a large saucepan and bring to the boil in slightly salted water until tender, 25 to 30 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water. Allow them to cool for 20 minutes and cut the potatoes into 1/2 inch pieces.

In a large bowl, whisk the oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Add the potatoes and toss to coat.

Just before serving add the spring onions and mint and toss gently.

NUTRITION INFORMATION: Per serving:

143 calories
5g fat (1g sat, 4g mono)
0mg cholesterol
22g carbohydrates
3g protein
2g fiber
153mg sodium
516mg potassium
Nutrition bonus: Vitamin C (20% daily value), Potassium (15% daily value).

o Artichoke & Ripe Olive Tuna Salad

Makes 5 servings

Ingredients:

1 12-ounce can tuna, drained and flaked
1 cup chopped canned artichoke hearts
1/2 cup chopped olives
1/3 cup reduced-fat mayonnaise
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh oregano

Method:

Mix together the tuna, artichokes, olives, mayonnaise, lemon juice and oregano.

NUTRITION INFORMATION: Per serving:

210 calories
8g fat (1g sat, 1g mono)
25mg cholesterol
12g carbohydrate
20g protein
3g fiber
791mg sodium
166mg potassium
Nutrition bonus: Selenium (78% daily value), Vitamin C (19% daily value).

o Hot & Sour Slaw

This slaw is a perfect accompaniment to grilled pork tenderloin and a glass of Riesling.

Makes 4 servings

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons rice vinegar
1 tablespoon reduced-sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
3 cups shredded greed cabbage
1 cup thinly sliced red bell pepper
1/3 cup sliced spring onions
1 8-ounce can bamboo shoots, drained and thinly sliced

Method:

In a large bowl, whisk together the rice vinegar, reduced-sodium soy sauce, oil, ginger, white pepper and crushed red pepper. Add the green cabbage, bell pepper, spring onions and bamboo shoots. Toss to coat all of the ingredients.

NUTRITION INFORMATION: Per serving:

62 calories
4g fat (1g sat, 1g mono)
0mg cholesterol
6g carbohydrate
2g protein
2g fiber
112mg sodium
189mg potassium
Nutrition bonus: Vitamin C (85% daily value), Vitamin A (18% daily value).

o Tijuana Torta

This is a Mexican-style torta, just like a burrito, except the "wrapper" is a hollowed-out roll rather than a tortilla. It is the most delicious lunch when it is served with grilled corn on the cob or Spanish rice.

Makes 4 servings

Ingredients:

1 15-ounce can black beans, well rinsed
3 tablespoons prepared salsa
1 tablespoon chopped pickled jalapeño
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 ripe avocado, pitted
2 tablespoons minced onion
1 tablespoon lime juice
1 16-to-20 inch long baguette
1 1/3 cups shredded green cabbage

Method:

In a small bowl, mash together the beans, salsa, jalapeño and cumin. In a separate bowl mash the avocado, onion and lime juice.

Cut the baguette into 4 equal lengths. Split each one in half and pull out most of the soft bread from the center. Divide the mixture and the cabbage equally amongst the sandwiches.

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION: Per serving:

354 calories
9g fat (1g sat, 5g mono)
0mg cholesterol
60g carbohydrate
17g protein
17g fiber
682mg sodium
639mg potassium
Nutrition bonus: Folate & Vitamin C (29% daily value), Potassium (18% daily value), Iron (15% daily value).

Healthy lunch recipes really are that simple. Why go to your local café or restaurant for a lunch that may not be so good for your waistline, not to mention your health, when these delicious lunches can be prepared in no time at all. Another added bonus to preparing these healthy lunch snacks is that you know exactly what ingredients have been used to prepare them. What can be better than that?

Beyond Reality - Top Chef NYC Recap - 12/10/08

Beyond Reality - Top Chef NYC Recap - 12/10/08 Shout out to Knipsx! Its our 700th video! Last week Alex went home because of his impossible creme brulee. Quickfire-guess the ingredients. 1st sauce-Shrimp & Lobster Bouillabaisse. 2nd round for Hosea, Ariane, Stefan, Leah, Radhika, Carla - Thai green curry sauce. Round 3 for Hosea, Carla, Stefan - Mexican mole sauce. Hosea wins immunity. Elimination challenge-something old, new, borrowed & blue - its a bridal shower for Gail & 40 guests! No veal or black beans please. Each team has 1/2 hour, $800 & 2 & 1/2 hrs to prep. 1st course-team old-Jeff, Hosea, Stefan-tomato terrine wrapped w/eggplant, carpaccio w/tomato sorbet & gazpacho. 2nd course-team new-Carla, Eugene, Daniel-surf & turf sushi roll, frisee salad w/wonton, peach miso bbq sauce & yuzu sorbet. 3rd course-team borrowed-Ariane, Radhika, Jamie-Eastern spiced lamb, carrot puree, wilted kale, cucumber raita. 4th course-team blue-Fabio, Leah, Melissa-chilean sea bass, roasted corn puree, swiss chard. Shower is at 24 5th Avenue & the guest judge is Dana Cowin - editor of Food & Wine Magazine. Judges favorites-old & borrowed courses. Winner Ariane for her perfectly cooked lamb. She wins a complete collection of Calphalon cookware & collection of Calphalon Electrics. Judges least favorites-new & blue courses. Team new didn't even tell the ladies how to eat it & team blue's plate was like nursing home food. Daniel is eliminated for adding mushrooms to Carla's dish & standing ...

Friday, August 13, 2010

Why Choose Electric BBQ Grills?

Almost all of the available grills nowadays can be used both indoors and outdoors. Thanks to the innovative ideas of the manufacturers that enables them to operate smoothly without having any problems when it comes to its heating capability. Today most of the electric barbecue grills found in the market has so many features in it that can make your grilling experience worthwhile. You can just simply adjust the heating temperature of your choice without any hassle at all because of its unique design. You can also select different modes of grilling depending on the type of meat you are trying to operate.

The most basic concept of grilling by the use of electricity is through the process of conduction wherein the transfer of energy by means of heat takes place in the metal plate that is incorporated inside the grill. Sometimes manufacturers use a different plate other than metal that is ceramics plate or known as ceramics plate burner. In ceramics burner heat is dissipated throughout the entire surface by means of radiation not by a direct conduction process. Ceramics plate burner using radiation is a lot more effective and efficient compared to the conduction type metal plate burners because of its fast ability to reach a higher temperature to heat.

Electric barbecue grills are obviously better than charcoal ones because of its zero dust emission after the process. All you need is to let the surface cool down and you are ready to clean it up. Electric grills have no other source of energy also and all you have to do is plug it into your house then you are on the go. Unlike other types of grills you don't have to worry in refilling it with kerosene gas or some packs of charcoals which can be a hazard to health and in the atmosphere. As long as there is enough supply of electricity to run your grill then there is no problem at all.

Electric grills nowadays became so popular also which made them so useful when it comes to customers who are very particular in their health. Cooking your food in an electric grill is a whole new experience when it comes to the taste of your food. Well, as a matter of fact cooking your food on charcoal grills and electric grills are all the same. They both give you the taste you've always wanted. The only significant difference here is that when you cook your meat for example in the electric grill, you are eliminating more fats in the meat rather than that of the traditional charcoal grills. The reason why is because electric grilling emits off radiation which actually produces a uniform flow of heat waves all throughout the food. The heat also that is being circulated in the meat is maintained carefully. This is achieved very well because the only source you have is the electricity and nothing else matters. As long as you have electricity then you have all the heat you need to cook the food and at the same time burn extra fats well.

There is no doubt that cooking in the electric grill is much faster to achieve compared to the typical charcoal style and aside from that, you don't have to worry anymore about its whole operation. It's easy to maintain, easy to clean, easy to operate and aside from that it gives a whole lot more of benefits to your health by means of its cooking technology.

How To Create A Tutto-Italiano or "All Things Italian" Spring Picnic

"Arrivederci Roma. Goodbye, goodbye to Rome."

The lyrics sang across my heartstrings as I climbed aboard the train and settled in for the three-hour journey.

As the clanging and puffing high-speed Eurail train rolled out of the station, I reached into my travel bag and pulled out the rustic country bread sandwich - the panino I had purchased earlier that morning from an irresistible display of authentic edible hearth-baked masterpieces.

It was a great adventure to be traveling across Italy by backpack and rail with dad's blessing and dad's financial backing. Even though many years have come and gone since that passage of time when the world stretched wide open with its panorama of possibilities, my memories are as fresh as if they had just been baked.

At the time, my dad's third wife suggested to me that I should journal my experiences.
"Write some travel articles, dear, that you can later put into a book," my high-achieving stepmother with her freshly inked PhD advised. But instead I gave her prophetic suggestion "the boot" and simply stepped into each day of my Italian adventure with gusto and verve, allowing the experiences to become forever pressed into the pages of my memory bank.

Like any traveler enthralled with a new destination, I reveled in the delight of discovery.
I learned that new culinary discoveries are often as memorable as the magnificent art and architecture of the places visited.

On that day my panino lunch, enjoyed during the stunning and scenic train trip to the great renaissance city of Florence, left a lasting impression on my idea of a great tasting picnic sandwich.

True Italian panini's are expressions of simplicity, anchored in absolute freshness with perhaps occasional bursts of pungent, aromatic, fruity or creamy richness.

Having once savored a true panino, it is difficult to say arrivederci to this great tasting edible masterpiece of pure simplicity.

More Ideas from Kathi

If the splendid days of springtime beckon you outdoors why not create your own Tutto Italiano or "all things Italian" spring picnic? Whether you are into styling your own backyard trattoria or are more in the mood for an adventurous jaunt to some hideaway off-the-beaten-track with a picnic basket in one hand and the hand of a companion in the other, you are bound for an adventure that will satisfy more than your taste buds. My picnic menu begins with panini sandwiches, to which you might add:

A pesto-laced and garlic-infused antipasto pasta salad of rich jeweled morsels of sun-drenched tomatoes, ripe olives, creamy imported cheeses, al dente pasta and artichoke hearts bathed in fruity olive oil.
A basket of luscious strawberries, red grapes and figs.
A rapturous homemade tiramisu torte with just the right high-octane notes of java for a sweet edible finale.
Perhaps a few select Italian-flavored musical CD's, a good bottle of Italian vino and perhaps someone wonderful with whom to create a new memory.

(c) Kathi Dameron, Kathi Dameron and Associates

Note to publishers: You may use this article in its entirety if you keep all copyright information and active links intact. Thank you.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Kids Cooking From the Garden

Okay, so the kids have helped in the garden and grown lots and lots of vegetables. Now what? Besides eating all the peas as they pick them and gnawing on the carrots after the great fun of pulling them out of the ground, what's next? Let's take the kids one step further and show them how to get the veggies to the table. Let's get them to experiment. If your kids are like mine, they only like certain vegetables and they only like Mom to prepare them certain ways. Let's shake their world a little and ask them to try these ideas:

Make pizza! Produce from the garden can work well on a pizza. Start with a good crust. I use a simple recipe from my Betty Crocker cookbook. Next comes the sauce. Depending on their level of kitchen skill, they can use a bottled pizza sauce or make one from scratch. The truly adventurous might want to try an alfredo sauce, barbeque sauce, or pesto sauce. Instead of always using mozzarella cheese, they might want to experiment with provolone, feta, gorgonzola, parmesan, or swiss. Next come the veggies, and your kids are only limited by their imagination and taste buds. Don't forget all your garden herbs either. Oregano, basil, and rosemary come quickly to mind.

Each pizza can be a different creation. They can try garlic, green onions, even cooked potato chunks, asparagus tips, and basil with a white sauce, or possibly grilled chicken pieces, red onion slices, cilantro, and broccoli tips over a barbeque sauce. Your kids might prefer a traditional pizza sauce with green and red peppers, cherry tomato halves, pepperoni, oregano and basil. Ooh, here's another one: spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, broccoli tips, rosemary, and Canadian bacon with an olive oil glaze instead of a sauce.

Tips for Success:

Help your child assemble all the ingredients ahead of time. Help them wash and chop so they don't get overwhelmed (or lazy). I find they're less suspicious of the pizza that has at least one familiar item on it; like pepperoni or sausage. If it's really "out there" then it's probably best to call it something other than pizza.

Cold pasta is a perfect backdrop for lots of different veggies, and a perfect way for kids to experiment. Corkscrew pasta, small shells, or anything that grabs their attention will work fine. My kids like the pasta shaped like little peace signs. Cook the pasta al dente and cool. To make it simple, have your child add some Zesty Italian dressing and some Ranch dressing to taste. Keep in mind that the Italian dressing will be absorbed by the pasta, so add a little extra right before serving.

Which veggies to add? Anything they like and anything that sounds like it could go together. Here's a list of possibilities to get them started: mushrooms, red onions, green onions, sweet onions, leeks, black olives, cherry tomatoes, roma tomato chunks, sun-dried tomatoes, broccoli, asparagus, peas, pea pods, green beans, cauliflower, zucchini, egg plant, spinach, peppers, chilies, garlic, basil, oregano, rosemary, thyme, black pepper, cilantro, and parsley.

They can also add cooked chicken or chopped ham, cheese hunks, and slivered almonds or walnut pieces.

Tips for Success:

Again, it's good to help with the chopping of the vegetables. The key is to watch the proportions. Don't overload the salad with so much stuff that you can't find the pasta! If your kids aren't into cold pasta, it can be hot pasta with spaghetti or fettuccini noodles and an alfredo sauce or spaghetti sauce. Just blanch the veggies first before adding them to the hot pasta.

Don't stop there. Your kids can also try adding different vegetables to a green salad, hot rice, or soup.

It's no secret that kids are more likely to sample food they've prepared themselves. By giving them choices to begin with, you're setting them up for a meal they'll be proud to prepare and happy to eat. Challenge your kids to see who can come up with the most creative pizza or pasta with maybe a prize for the best. Call it a Kids' Creative Pizza Cook-off. Don't be afraid to let them loose in your kitchen. I'm confident they can create a masterpiece. After all, they're pretty good at making a great mud soup with sticks, rocks, grass, and sand, aren't they?

Make Tomato Sauce in Your Kitchen

Though tomatoes are categorised as fruits when in the garden nutritionists consider them to be vegetables.
Juicy and delicious, they are greatly valued in the kitchens across the world for their distinct taste and brilliant colour as well as their ability to influence the flavour and texture of other foods.They also make a healthy convenient snack.

Tomatoes are a good source of potassium and beta carotene.They contain lucopene which gives them their distinct red colour,and which is believed to be effective in preventing certain forms of cancer.They are also a useful source of Vitamin C and E.

Ones choice from the various types of tomatoes in the market depends on the use to which they are to be put.Small varieties are valued for the decorative purposes-as garnishes for cooked meals or salads.Larger ones can be used in dishes that call for a lot tomatoes,or for baking whole.

Whatever type to choose to use,select tomatoes that are firm and fresh.They should be smooth,with no cracks or blemishes.If buying maize for use over a long period,select tomatoes that are at various stages of ripening,and use the ripest ones first.Those that are fully ripe can be kept in the refrigerator,but keep the rest in a cool,dry place where they can ripen.

The availability-and cost-of tomatoes is greatly dependant on weather.Make the most use of them when they are in season to thicken stews in place of artificial thickeners
and to make your own tomato sauce.

TOMATO SAUCE
What you need

* 3 table spoons vegetable oil

* 1 yellow onion, finely chopped

* 1 carrot, peeled and finely chopped

* 1 stalk celery, finely chopped

* 2 large cloves garlic, minced

* 4 cups tomatoes peeled and chopped up finely

* 3 tablespoons cilantro, finely chopped

* ½ bay leaf

* 1 teaspoon dried oregano, crumbled

* 2 teaspoons dried freshly ground black pepper.

What to do
Warm the oil in a large, heavy saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion, carrot and celery and sauté for six to eight minutes , stirring occasionally , until the vegetables are softened but not browned . Add the garlic and sauté for a minute longer.

Add the tomatoes, cilantro, bay leaf , oregano basil and water to the pan, cover partially and reduce heat to medium - low. Simmer gently, stirring occasionally, for about an hour and then discard the bay leaf.
In a food processor fitted with a metal blade or with a hand held blender, puree the mixture until smooth. Return to the pan if using a food processor. Stir in the salt and pepper, than continue to simmer the sauce briefly over medium - low heat to reduce it to the desired consistency, then taste to adjust seasoning.
Use immediately with spaghetti, or serve with French fries, eggs or meatloaf. The sauce can also be allowed to cool, covered and refrigerated for up to five days, or frozen up two months. Simply allow to thaw and heat through when required.

TOMATO RICE SOUP WITH GARLIC AND HERBS
What you need

* 3 Table spoons vegetable oil

* 1 ½ tablespoon garlic, minced

* 1 small yellow onion, minced

* 2 ½ cups tomatoes, peeled and chopped

* 3 cups chicken or vegetable or vegetable stock

* 1 cup water

* ½ tablespoon dried oregano or thyme

* I tablespoon red wine . vinegar

* Salt and freshly ground pepper

What to do
Warm the vegetable oil heavy saucepan over very low heat. Add the tomatoes, chicken or vegetable stock. Then the water and simmer, uncovered, for a bout 10 minutes.

Add the rice and cilantro, oregano or thyme and continue to simmer, for two minutes, then ladle into individual bowls and serve immediately.

TOMATO TIPS: To quicken ripening, put tomatoes in a paper bag together with an apple.
To peel, pour boiling water on tomatoes, leave for a moment, then run them under cold water.

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Sauces and Marinades - My 3 Favorite Barbeque Recipes

Summer time is here and it is time to get out your grill, fire up the briquettes, dust off your apron, and get out in the sunshine. Lazy summer days are just made to get together with friends and family (or people you just want to make jealous with your barbequing skills) and savor the tastes and smells of a charcoal grill. And with so much barbequing going on, it's no surprise that so many outdoor cooks find themselves on a never-ending quest for the perfect barbeque recipe that will dazzle their friends and family (and nosey neighbors!) each summer.

While most professional (or dedicated amateur) BBQers insist that the flavor of real barbeque is all in the rub and the fire, the easiest ways to add a ton of flavor to your barbeque recipes is with marinades and sauces. These can vary so hugely in flavor and ingredients that it can be hard to recognize them as the same thing! Read on for a few of my favorite barbeque sauce and barbeque marinade recipes.

Easy BBQ Sauce

The first tasty BBQ recipe you'll find below is just about the easiest thing you'll ever make-- and it's overflowing with flavor. This is such an easy barbeque recipe that it can be whipped up in the kitchen in just a few minutes-- no waiting necessary. And no cooking, either. Just toss it all into a jar the day you're planning to cook, let it sit in the fridge for awhile, and you're ready to go.

Ingredients:
2 small cans of tomato sauce
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup molasses
1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 tbsp. mustard (not dry)
1 tsp. seasoning salt
1 tsp. garlic powder (not garlic salt)
1/2 tsp. onion powder
1/4 tsp. crushed red chilies (optional)

Instructions:The morning before you're scheduled to barbeque, mix all ingredients together in a jar and let sit for 1 hour to blend the flavors. Brush on sauce as meat is cooking over hot coals or a grill. Keep basting meat as it cooks, and as you turn it over.

Teriyaki BBQ Marinade

If you love the way chicken tastes on the BBQ, you're going to love this barbeque recipe. It's sweet, salty, sticky, and the perfect thing to flavor your BBQ chicken or pork. Or beef, for that matter.

Ingredients:
3/4 cup Soy Sauce
1/2 cup Sherry or White Wine
3 tbsp. brown sugar
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp. grated fresh ginger (or powdered)

Instructions: Mix all ingredients together. Place meat of your choice in a 13x9 inch glass casserole dish. Pour marinade over meat and let stand in the fridge for a minimum of 2 hours. Discard marinade. Cook the marinated meat over hot coals or a gas grill for 6-7 minutes each side.

Raspberry BBQ Chicken Marinade

Lots of meats on the BBQ have tons of flavor on their own. Chicken, on the other hand, isn't quite as flavorful and tends to dry out. Which is why it's my favorite meat to marinade. This marinade is easy to make, tastes wonderful, and is elegant and special. Garnish this barbeque recipe with fresh raspberries and serve with a raspberry mustard.

Ingredients:
1/4 cup Raspberry Vinegar or Raspberry Vinaigrette
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup fresh raspberries
3 cloves of garlic, minced
1 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. Sea Salt
1/4 tsp. white pepper

Instructions: Mix all ingredients in a blender. Place 1 whole cut up chicken in a large plastic zip lock baggie. Pour marinade over meat and let stand in refrigerator for 8 hours. Discard marinade. Cook meat over hot coals or a gas grill until no longer pink inside. This barbeque recipe is also great with pork!

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Secret Sauce - We will BBQ for U!

secretsaucecatering.com Do You Want To Cook Or Entertain? No worries. We'll shop, cook and clean up for you, too! Relax and enjoy. We can supply everything needed to have an enjoyable party. Such as a DJ, a Bartender, Servers and even Valet parking attendants. Tables, chairs & tents are also available. More affordable than you think. We are very competitive in pricing due to the fact that the majority of prep & cooking is done right at the site of the event. Keeping overhead down. Tailored to your tastebuds. We custom make your menu with our suggestions or your own. We offer grilling, smoking & deep frying. Seafood, meat, poultry, veggies & appetizers are all prepared fresh and from scratch. Call us for help with your next shin ding. 610.656.5957 or mrstevewilson@hotmail.com

How Long Do You Cook Hamburgers on a Grill?

Introduction

It is a true American favorite treat to cook hamburgers on the grill on holidays, special occasions, or just whenever you have a hankering. But if you are inexperienced at grilling hamburgers, then you may be wondering:

o How long do you cook hamburgers on a grill?
o What temperature should you grill them?
o What should you season them with?

In this article you will learn the answer to these questions. Plus you will learn a variety of useful hamburger grilling tips.

Grilling Times & Temperature

The following table is a general guide and should not replace checking inner temperatures of the grilled hamburgers with a meat thermometer:

Patty Thickness: 1/2"; Grilling Time: 9 min; Grill Temperature: Low (Lid & Vent Closed)
Patty Thickness: 3/4"; Grilling Time: 13 min; Grill Temperature: Low (Lid & Vent Closed)
Patty Thickness: 1"; Grilling Time: 18 min; Grill Temperature: Low (Lid & Vent Closed)

Seasoning the Hamburgers

Some of the mix-ins frequently used by cooks across America include:

o Onion Soup Mix
o Butter & Minced Garlic
o Minced Onions & Garlic
o Cheddar Cheese & Chopped Bacon
o Equal Amount Of Pork Sausage
o Barbeque Sauce & Bacon
o Cheese & Jalapenos
o Diced Onions & Shredded Cheese
o Lemon Juice, Chopped Basil, Chives, Rosemary, & Thyme
o Teriyaki & Pineapple

Often mix-ins are left out and seasonings are liberally sprinkled on each side:

o Salt & Pepper
o Seasoned Salt & Lemon Pepper
o Cajun Seasoning
o Barbeque Seasoning
o Various Grill Seasonings (found in the seasoning isle in grocery stores)

Grilling Tips

o For best flavor, use freshly ground chuck (about 20% fat) or freshly ground round (about 11% fat).
o When making lean hamburgers (such as when using fresh ground round) mix in one egg for each pound of meat in order to prevent crumbling.
o The leaner the hamburger patties, the drier the hamburgers will be, and the more likely they will crumble while grilling.
o When forming the hamburger patties, be sure to press the middle thin or make a thumb-sized hole to keep uniform thickness while cooking.
o Make hamburger patties about 1/2" larger around than the hamburger buns you will be using as the hamburger patties will shrink.
o You may shape the hamburger patties by either using your hands or using a hamburger patty mold press.
o Pre-heat the grill on high temperature. After pre-heating the grill, clean and oil the grates.
o Brushing a little canola oil on the hamburger patty as well as on the grill will help keep the hamburger from sticking to the grill.
o Closing the lid and vents while cooking will reduce moisture-robbing flair-ups.
o Another way to avoid flair-ups is to place the hamburger patties in an aluminum pie tin. Place the hamburger patties so they do not overlap each other. Still turn the hamburger patties over about half way through cooking. Cook directly on the grill after they are 90% done.
o Turning the hamburger patties one quarter of a turn clockwise or counter-clockwise will create crisscross grill marks.
o Do not press the burgers on the grill as this will cause moisture to escape the burger.
o Flip the burger over only once, half way through cooking time, in order to preserve moisture.
o Never cut a hamburger on the grill so that the moisture stays inside the meat.
o When the juices start coming out of the top of the burger, then it is about medium.
o When the juices pool clear (not red) on top of the burger, then it is about medium-well.
o Use an instant read meat thermometer to determine if the hamburgers are done. 160 degrees Fahrenheit is medium. 170 degrees Fahrenheit is well done.
o Never place cooked meat back onto the same plate as was used for raw meat.
o Brush melted butter onto the hamburger buns and briefly toast them on the grill.

Summery

When you have a hankering for a hot, juicy hamburger, nothing beats a freshly grilled and tasty burger. Now you know the answers to: How long do you cook hamburgers on a grill? How hot should you set the grill to cook the hamburgers? What are some ways you can season the hamburgers? Enjoy!

Monday, August 9, 2010

Oysters, Tomales Bay, California

In Northern California, located out on the coast by Pt. Reyes Seashore, are several oyster companies that farm their own oysters. All of them farm their oysters along the marshes of coastal bays and are open to the public. You can buy them to take home, eat them raw at the farm, or at Tomales Bay Oyster Company, you can cook them on the grills they provide. We love making a day of it as we wind through the redwoods and along the scenic coast. We prepare much of our picnic and accompaniments at home and create a wonderful oyster feast with sourdough bread, garlic butter to dress the oysters, louisiana hot sauce, and a nice bottle of chardonnay. The marshes create such a serene backdrop and the winged wildlife is plentiful.

Chinese Cooking Recipes - 5 Great Vegetables For Chinese Food

Chinese food is becoming more popular but the flavors of Chinese cooking recipes differ from other cuisines. One of the biggest conflicts is which vegetables work well in Chinese cooking.

Bamboo Shoots
Bamboo shoots are the edible roots of the bamboo plant which is found almost everywhere in Asia. It has a crunchy snap and a light flavor. It has a slightly sweet taste and can be found sliced in the Asian section of most supermarkets.

Broccoli
There are many kinds of broccoli but the most traditional is Chinese broccoli. It is different than normal broccoli because it is a leafy green broccoli. Normal broccoli is typically used in Chinese cooking recipes if Chinese broccoli can't be found.

Water Chestnuts
Water chestnuts are actually an aquatic vegetable. It has a crunchy texture and a slight nutty flavor. It is usually found canned either sliced or whole in the Asian isle of most supermarkets.

Baby Corn
Baby corn is a small corn on an edible cob. It is firm but gives easily when chewed. It has a very mild corn flavor. Baby corn is typically found in the canned vegetables isle of grocery stores.

Mung Bean Sprouts
Also known as bean sprouts and are readily available in the vegetable area of your supermarket. Bean sprouts are the white sprouts of the mung bean and have a crisp texture with a sweet flavor. The trick to cooking bean sprouts is to not cook them too long. Cooking them for 30 seconds in a hot stir-fry is the general rule.

More Vegetables

Sunday, August 8, 2010

How to Make Peanut Sauce

www.CarolineMiLiArtiss.com Learn how to make peanut sauce which goes so well with satay. This is a Malaysian recipe of mine, great for having with a BBQ and also goes really well with other BBQ food. A delicious sauce.

Saturday, August 7, 2010

Hot Barbeque Sauce - For That Sinful Delight

There are a number of things that go into the preparation of that perfectly smoked chicken, one of them being blending it with an ideal barbeque sauce that serves you right. Very often, styles of preparing barbeque sauces involving key ingredients are different, due to the demand for a particular flavor. This happens because many a times each region even within a state has its own trademark style and prefers to stick to it. For instance, Kansas City in the US is popular for its tomato base BBQ sauce, different from North Carolina which has sauces based on vinegar. Also an ingredient like mustard is considered as basic requirement in South Carolina, Georgia and Mississippi, while beer and chilies are a must in the barbeque sauces of Texas.

Commonest bases for barbeque sauces world over include, vinegar, mustard and tomato with hints of spices or sugar to give that thickness to the gravy. Add-on elements comprise of onions, lime juice, molasses, ketchup and vinegar generating an aroma that puts you to a trance. Over the years, markets have tried to introduce many varieties in barbeque sauce, because of the rapid change in trends, with a difference of a lesser proportion of any spice. From the many variations in barbeque sauces, hot barbque sauce has been a new rage in recent times. As the name itself suggests, its preparation includes specially chosen spices recognized for creating that magic in every food. Unlike the conventional sweet and sour flavors, this sauce makes the tangy flavor of the BBQ meat linger in your mouth for hours. A fairly new innovation, this flavor has been broadly accepted by those who have been yearning for an exciting new flavor of barbeque sauce. With a dash of a slight addition, this flavor dishes out that lip smacking steaming barbeques, meatballs and other food varieties.

Besides tomato, the secret behind hot BBQ sauce is a base of a whole range of peppers such as chili pepper, red pepper, Tabasco sauce, habaneros and paprika. The heat level of the sauce is indicated from the hot pepper ingredients. So it's always wise to have a right balance of all the major ingredients contributing to that spiciness. While you prepare your very own hot BBQ sauce at home using the right amount of pepper it gives you a flavor you've grown to love over the years. Ultimately, what matters is that the BBQ sauce should enhance and compliment the BBQ meat without overshadowing it. Too much or too little of anything can destroy the very essence of the smoked item.

Hence for starters, shop for your favorite hot BBQ sauce from your most trusted store. It's something that you can never compromise on and ruin by experimentation. What is required by you at the end of the day is a genuine product with guaranteed superior quality. The online medium is a much easier method of getting through your favorite BBQ sauce. Make the best deal possible by choosing from a wide range of companies with best prices.

How to Thicken a Sauce

The creation of sauces, like all things culinary, began with French chefs. Today, a wide variety of thickening agents are still used with almost every sauce created, that is, unless the sauce in question is intended to be a jus. In fact, the main difference between a sauce - a liquid dressing or topping - and a jus - the juices from roasting - comes down to the use of thickening agents. Typically, which thickening agent chosen depends on the final usage, taste, and texture of the sauce required by a recipe.

By far, the most popular thickening agent remains the roux, a classic thickener used in white, blond, or brown versions. A roux is nothing more than a cooked mixture of flour and fat (traditionally clarified butter) that is used to thicken a soup or sauce. The color of the roux also dictates the intensity of flavor created such as with béchamel sauce, which is achieved with a barely-cooked white roux and a bit of nutmeg; sauce veloute, made with chicken stock and a blond roux that has a hint of nutty aromas; and gumbo, which is made with a deeply nutty and well-cooked brown roux.

As an alternative to using a roux, other options include using a slurry - a mixture of cornstarch and water that is added while cooking - or a beurre manie - a mixture of raw flour and soft butter that is not cooked as a roux, but rather, is simply added while cooking. Two other ways of thickening a sauce are to use a liaison, which is a mixture of cream and eggs, or a simple reduction, which relies not on adding something, but instead, allows the sauce to thicken on its own through the reduction of water that is within the sauce itself.

Barbeque Painting

Ribs Bar-b-que deers

Friday, August 6, 2010

Bloodstock 08 - Man eating disgusting brussels for beer

My friend eats a concoction of canned brussel sprouts, jagermeister and spicy BBQ sauce. If he doesn't throw up he wins a beer!

BBQ pork Laurens County Style

a fund raising barbecue cook out for 4th of July at Lakeside CC in Laurens County, South Carolina. Cookers were members of the Mens Golf Association in 1993.

Grilled Salmon with Broasted Potatoes Recipe by the BBQ Pit Boys

Looking for a Grilled Fish dinner to serve up at your next Barbeque? Try this easy to do Grilled Salmon and Sugar Maple Garlic sauce served with Barbecue Roasted Potatoes, as shown by the BBQ Pit Boys. You can print out this BBQ Pit Boys recipe at www.BarbecueWeb.com ---

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Photo Bag Gifts

Thinking of inexpensive, creative gifts is usually a difficult thing for many people to do. However, the ability to come up with an appropriate gift for many occasions can be the difference between a good relationship and a great one. Photo bags are especially great gifts because they are very versatile; you can use them similarly to baskets as a base for very diverse gifts. Plus everyone uses bags for carrying necessities, sports equipment, business, or gym paraphernalia. Adding a photo to the bag makes it even more personal. Here are some gift ideas for men for just about any occasion.

Many men agree, "Creating a gift bag for a man can be simple and should revolve around things that many men like." For example, sports. Most guys have a favorite sport or hobby they like to indulge in. For my dad, football is his sport of choice. He even bought my mom a cable deal that included every football game for the season. Putting together a photo bag for him I might include things like a universal remote, snacks, a book or DVD about the history or trivia about his favorite team. Team apparel like a shirt or hat would be a good inclusion. Of course, the picture on the bag itself can fit right into the theme as well. Perhaps that family photo of us all wearing our team's jerseys or of him and my mom at a football game. See how easy it is to customize a photo bag for a sport's enthusiast?

But perhaps your guy doesn't like sports. What kind of hobbies or interests does he have? My brother enjoys grilling pretty much year round so for him I would put together a grilling gift bag. After choosing a barbeque or picnic related photo for the bag I would fill it with different kinds of barbeque sauce with a basting brush, maybe a cookbook, or some grilling tools.

Every photo bag should have a clear theme. You could even use this idea for a couple. Instead of filling the photo bag for one person's interests, put a picture of the two of them on the front of the bag and then choose an activity they can do together. Whether you put a couple movies and microwave popcorn in the bag, a can of tennis balls, towels, and map to the nearest tennis court, or a game of nature bingo, bottle of wine, and two glasses to be enjoyed on a romantic walk; the key to a successful photo bag gift is creativity.

Ray and Judy's Family BBQ Sauce and Gourmet Grill Shop

Ray and Judy's is a family owned and operated business featuring a unique blend of bbq sauces and southern gourmet products.

Common Ingredients and Types of BBQ Sauce Recipes

Getting someone's BBQ sauce recipes away from them can be almost impossible, but that does not mean you can not take some well-known information and basic know-how to make your own fantastic BBQ sauce. Depending on where you live, certain types of sauces might be more prominent. Specifically, the bases for your regional BBQ may be certain items. For instance, the Carolinas have sauces that are based with vinegar and mustard, whereas Texas-style BBQ sauce starts with a tomato base.

While you do not have to work with the ingredients that are mainly found in BBQ sauce recipes in your region, it is good to know so that you can pinpoint specific tastes you like and incorporate them into your own custom sauce.

The sauces that can be found at any grocery store are often lack-luster and do not have the same punch that homemade recipes do. While it would be nice to say that it is because they are mass-produced, the real reason is that BBQ-making companies simply can not make delicious BBQ for every region. Not only that, but there are just some tastes that seem to be popular all over the country. However, don't let store-bought BBQ flavors entice or confuse you: real BBQ is made a certain way and if you want to make a sauce that is truly delicious, you are going to have to really delve into the world of barbeque.

The most common bases for barbecue sauce recipes are vinegar, mustard, and tomato (or ketchup). It is fairly easy to determine which type is the kind you have grown to love over the years considering the extremely varied tastes between the three bases. Vinegar sauces are more sour, while those that are mustard-based are more tangy. Sauces that use tomato as a base are often thicker than the other two and can be a host to a wide variety of flavors.

Besides the bases are, of course, the other seasonings. Common seasonings are: onion, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, paprika, cayenne, salt, pepper, bourbon, molasses, various tangy fruits, and more. Though do not go with what is most common, go with what you think is delicious. Depending on where you are from and the type of BBQ you grew up with, you could like certain flavors that are vastly different from what someone on the other side of the country would.

That's the great thing about BBQ sauce: no two people's recipes are the same, and everyone who makes it puts their whole heart into making the sauce as delicious as possible. BBQ sauce recipes are definitely regional, but the joy that comes from chowing down on some quality BBQ is universal.

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Crazy Canuck Maple Leaf Ribs

Quickie Griller #3 ' Crazy Canuck Maple Leaf Ribs'... Grill Guru Ted Reader cooks up a quick grill recipe using his "Crazy Canuck BBQ Sauce", Steamwhistle Beer, and Maple Leaf Ribs. Get Sticky! For more on Ted Reader & recipes visit: www.tedreader.com For more food Videos & recipes visit: www.legourmet.tv