Thursday, January 29, 2009

Become a BBQ Master with Competition BBQ Secrets

Get your BBQ sauces right. Competition BBQ Secrets is just the tool to make a difference. Discover inside information for preparing the Chathan Artillery BBQ Team's prize winning ribs.  It's more of a barbeque instruction manual than a recipe cookbook, so don't be surprised if there is no grilling information and there is not a lot of useless sauce and rub recipes.

Become a champion at barbequing brisket, rib, chicken or pork with this manual. "Competition BBQ Secrets" will allow you to become a top BBQ chef at smoking pork, beef, briskets and ribs.

This book will also tell you how to properly use finishing sauces and glazes on your barbecue recipes - the raspberry vinagrette based "secret" recipe for chicken is worth the price of the book by itself. It's by far the best chicken I have ever tasted and took 9th place out of 50+ of the best teams in the Country - not too shabby! Just like most diners, comptetition judges prefer a sweet barbeque sauce!  Your family and friends can share in these trophy recipes."

When judging a contest you can certainly sympathize with the judges who have to repeatedly sample the same sauces. How you present your ribs is number one on the judges scoring pad. Combine your beans, coconut milk, bacon, green onion, thyme and habanero in a large saucepan. Cook over medium-high heat until it begins to simmer. Ideas for sauces, rubs, marinades and meat choices as well as cooking preparation suggestions and much, much more.

This is What You Get:

  • Very detailed and exact barbecue recipes to cook championship ribs, butts, chicken and brisket.
  • One chapter for each type of meat with different barbecuing techniques wrtten precisely for them.
  • Cookers - the different types and how you can slowbarbecue rib recipe smoke on anything from a professional offset smoker to your old trusty Weber kettle grill and everything in between.
  • Suggestion for smoking a turkey.
  • Proper wood selection will produce the top smoke flavor for your meats.
  • Marinades, brines and injections for enhancing the flavor.
  • Rubs are mandatory... leaving these out will produce boring meats. You will be educated on all there is to know.
  • Your new book will also tell you how to properly use finishing sauces and glazes on your barbecue recipes
  • You will get some great information on competitions, how to prepare for competitions, and even a checklist of what to bring to a competition.
  • Information about all the well known BBQ organizations with their e-mail and website addresses.
  • Each BBQ Association has it's own contests and you can find their schedules easily with the information in your new book. Easy to locate list of all competitions. How to trim spareribs St Louis Style and how to trim a brisket.
  • A whole chapter on barbecue science - smoke rings and maillard reactions.
  • Discover where to locate the best smokers, rubs, sauces, online sites and more!

Your favorite BBQ hot spots will be history after you become a BBQ master with this book. Now... collect inside information that only the blue ribbon winners know. Become a competition level BBQ king or queen in just one reading.

Monday, January 26, 2009

Best Ways To Learn How To Cook

People universally love good food.We enjoy a good meal and good conversation and some of us aspire to become chefs someday.We like watching the cooking shoes on Food Network and Bravo.  We love seeing those amazing creations they make out of the simplest of ingredients.  In this article you will learn about how to start your own culinary adventure.  If you want to learn how to cook, there are plenty of options available to you. 

Ways to learn how to cook.

If you want to learn how to cook, you can certainly go to culinary school.  You can learn from professional chefs and learn how to prepare those fancy dishes that come on those fancy plates and cost so much.  You can become a pastry chef or personal chef and make a good income.  A culinary program can take a couple years in school and cost several thousand dollars.I would select this option if you want to run your own diner or restaurant.

Another option if you do not want to go to culinary school or do not have big aspirations, you can watch how to cook videos on all the free video sites.YouTube hosts tons of free cooking videos filled with cooking tips on all kinds of dishes.  Many are from amatuer chefs who just love to cook and want to share their recipes.  Others are from professional chefs and they can teach you how to make the fancy dishes for free.  Check out the free cooking videos to learn how to cook for free.

The last option is to buy a cookbook and start experimenting.  You can learn through trial and error and perfect your dishes.  You can use your friends and family as guinea pigs until you get better and better at cooking.  In this day and age, people get fast food more than cook for themselves because we are all pressed for time.  But, if you learn how to cook you will experience more joy and satisfaction in your meals and your family will eat healthier.  Unless your idol is Paula Deen.

Saturday, January 24, 2009

Smoked Pork Butt – A Classical BBQ Dry Rub Recipe



If you are wanting to do something different but at the same time well known a smoked pork butt with bar b que dry rub is a great means to deliver smoked meat with wonderful flavor affodably and easily.

All that is necessary to make this recipe work is some basic fixins for the barbeque dry rub, wood chips and charcoal, a smoker, and about an 8 to 9 lb pork butt.  Despite what individuals reckon, a pork butt is not the rear end of the pig. In truth it is the shoulder where the leg “butts” up against the shoulder blade.  The meat here is exceedingly flavorful and works very well in a smoker.

Steps To Making The Ideal Barbeque Dry Rub

First off what you have to do is set up the barbeque grill dry rub for the meat.  This is not a difficult recipe but, it must be followed precisely to realize the most superb results.  You will need :

2  tablespoonfuls of kosher or coarse salt,
2  teaspoonfuls of ground black peppercorn,
2  teaspoonfuls of paprika,
1  teaspoonful of red pepper,
1 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
1 teaspoon granulated garlic
1/2  teaspoonful of ground cumin

Combine them in a good sized mixing bowl.   When these are thoroughly mixed take the barbeque dry rub and rub the butt down thoroughly.  Then stick it in a pan and allow it to sit in the refrigerator for the night.  This will greatly enhance the taste of the meat and is a crucial step.

Once you are satisfied that the pork butt has absorbed as much season as possible, ready your smoker.  If this is your first time doing this realize that it isn't difficult process, but one that will take some time.  Be sure that you pick up a smoker that possesses a temperature guage on it.  You need to get your smoker up to around 225 nominal.  For me the best spot is right around 240 degrees. When your smoker comes up to the desired temperature, seat the butt in the smoker fat side up and keep it in there until it is nice and soft.  By placing it fatty side up you grant the fat juices a chance to soak all through the meat.  You may want to turn it and swab it every couple hours or so.  Average smoking time is an hour and 10 minutes per lb, or anywhere from 8-10 hours.  You can tell when your meat is done when it is tender to the fork.  You'll want to check the temerature and check for tenderness in the area around and especially below the bone.

Once you have pulled it out, let it cool for roughly thirty minutes then with two forks pull the prok apart.  Blend with bbq sauce to taste and it is done.

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

What Are The Best Foods For Dieting?

frozen foods

The best foods for dieting don't come in a can or a frozen foods container. They're found right in the produce section, the canned good aisles and the refrigerator sections of your local supermarket. It can be tempting to use frozen Weight Watchers or Jenny Craig meals to jumpstart weight loss, but too often these food snacks contain extremely high sodium levels and extremely low nutritional value (compared to their raw foods counterparts). Time and time again, processed foods disappoint us by containing harmful elements like trans fats or acrylamide. Eating healthy and losing weight isn't rocket science; it is knowledge that we must take a moment to assimilate.

Generally, health foods are filling and delicious. Oatmeal with cinnamon sprinkled on top is one of the best foods you can eat for breakfast. Not only will you be filling your body with whole grains, fiber, phosphorus, magnesium, phytonutrients and antioxidants, but you'll also be ingesting just 110 filling calories and 2 grams of fat. A recent study found that eating two bowls of oatmeal a day can reduce cholesterol levels by six points in just three months. Why the cinnamon? Research from the US Department of Agriculture found that a dash of cinnamon helps control insulin spikes and the USDA says that just a quarter-teaspoon a day lowers blood sugar, cholesterol and triglyceride levels in people with type II diabetes.

For lunch, the best, healthy foods can be typical or slightly surprising. Salad is an obvious choice for eating healthy, as it is low in calories, not to mention high in vitamin C, E, folic acid, lycopene and disease-fighting carotenoids. In a Penn State study of 42 women, not surprisingly those who ate a big low-cal salad ate 12% less pasta afterward. Many diets also say that beans are excellent for weight loss, appetite suppression, keeping blood sugar stable and lowering cholesterol. Chicken noodle soup and tofu are other less-noted appetite suppressors. Hot red pepper is an item you may not routinely think of in weight loss but a Japanese study found that the ingredient capsaicin helps to suppress the appetite and increase metabolic rates.

Condiments aren't usually considered the best foods but it's important to factor-in cooking oils and accoutrements wisely when dieting. As you may have heard, extra virgin olive oil is preferable to butter, yet why? Olive oil as a bread dip, salad dressing base or for sautéing helps you burn calories and boost your metabolism, while delivering omega fatty acids. Vinegar helps regulate sugar levels, slows the passage of food from the stomach into the intestines and allows you to feel fuller longer. By adding "superfoods" to your daily agenda, you'll be on your way to a healthy diet in no time.

The All to Famous Healthy Chicken Recipe

When we ponder what kind of delicious meal we would like to prepare for our friends, family or guests, the main staple that pops into our head most of the time has to do with a variation of a chicken breast recipe. Most of us know that there are all sorts of different variations of a typical healthy chicken recipe from something we would consider traditional to an all out extreme, with that being said there are many options to pick from. Try something new and ask your friends for their opinions after they come for dinner and try your new and different healthy chicken recipe, hopefully they will let you know that they enjoyed it but it might spur on some other ideas or conversations about similar recipes.

Chicken is easy and tastes great, it shouldn't be a problem to cook something that is going to be enjoyed by your dinner guests. There is no excuse to making a great meal when preparing a healthy chicken recipe, most are great tasting and simple to prepare, making a fabulous dish that will be liked by your dinner party should not be a problem. The coolest thing about healthy chicken recipes is you have the flexibility to create something that is simple and easy to something that is complex and not so simple and easy. Your decision is affected by your time restrictions, your love for cooking, and what types of ingredients you like on what healthy chicken recipe you will prepare.

Hunting Down Those Ideas

Cooking up a basic healthy chicken recipe is something that is in most people’s repertoire. However it is nice sometimes to try something new and different, so you may find yourself on a search for that next perfect family recipe selection. When it is time to start looking for all those healthy chicken recipes, it is important to keep a broad search in mind so you don't rule out any selection possibilities. It is likely and a good idea to start with a few different cookbooks, this is a great place to start, but you may not find the variety of recipe you'd expect.

One of the best places to find a new and exciting healthy chicken recipe is from the Internet, there are a lot of cooking websites and recipe forums out there. Find a chat forum, sign up and start talking with other people who share the same interests that you do. Exchange recipes between each other and read through all the posted information on healthy chicken recipes, you should be able to find that next perfect dish to make and share with your family and friends.

Monday, January 19, 2009

Desert Recipes

By desert recipes we don't mean sweet treats to eat.  Don't read it for tips on healthy ends to nutritious meals either.  If that's what you expect, there is some confusion.  Dessert takes place after dinner, while a. desert is usually in the sand.  This article is about desert cooking.

Desert Recipes

A desert is practically ready-made for food preparation because of one important element.  Look up in the sky, it's the sun.  Temperatures in the desert can top 150°F, that's good for cooking.  If harnassed, it can mean cooking without modern appliances like microwaves, stoves or even gas or charcoal grills. 

Solar cookers are easy to find or even to make.  Such cookers can reach up to 300°F, perfect for many desert recipes.  Everything from eggs stakes can be cooked on this.  But keep two things in mind.  The first is that this is a slow cooking method.  That's many hours needed to cook.  It takes constant realignment of the solar cooker to keep the sun focused.  And when the sun isn't shining, on a cloudy day or at night, a solar cooker is no good.

Desert Recipes

Solar cooking has some unique advantages too.  Slow cooking keeps food moist.  There is also a lot of leeway as far as burning food because it's cooking so slow.  Don't believe it?  Try rice on the stove for an extra minute.  Plus cooking over a longer period means more time to savor the aromas.  Food tastes better when some care is taken in the preparation.  Don't let people tell you solar cookers don't brown foods.  They do.

What are some desert recipes for solar cooking?  Try desert spaghetti squash with sausage, spaghetti sauce and Parmesan cheese.  Another possibility is a delicious Chile casserole.  That's not Chile with meat and beans, that's hot Pablano Chiles, by the way  A quick search on Yahoo will find even more.

Desert Recipes

The sun makes desert recipes a snap to cook.

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Types of Japanese Cuisine

Tempura, sukiyaki, sashimi, sushi – even the words used to describe the most basic of Japanese dishes are exotic and beautiful. Japanese dishes is one of the healthiest food in the world, with its huge concentration on fresh fish, seafood, rice and vegetables. The pungent sauces and delicate flavors of fresh foods complement each other perfectly, and the methods of presentation turn even simple meals into beautiful events.

The Japanese have many different names for rice, depending on how it is prepared and what it is served with. The most common meal is a rice bowl, a bowl of white rice served with various toppings or ingredients mixed in. So popular is it that the Rice Bowl has even made its way into the world of Western convenience foods alongside ramen noodles. Domburi is a bowl of rice topped with another meat or food : domburi tendon, for instance, is rice with tempura and domburi gyudon is rice with beef. The Japanese adopted fried rice from the Chinese dishes, and a century ago, when curry was first introduced, developed Kare Raisu, curry rice. It is now such a famous dish that there are many fast-food restaurants that serve several versions of it in take-away bowls.

Besides white rice served as a side dish, Japanese cuisine also features onigiri – rice balls wrapped in seaweed, often with a ‘surprise’ in the middle, and kayu, a thin gruel made of rice that resembles oatmeal.

As an island country, it’s not surprising that seafood is featured in Japanese cuisine. Sushi and sashimi both are raw fish and seafood with various spices. Without a doubt fresh fish is the secret to wonderful sashimi and sushi, served with wasabi and soya sauce. The Japanese love of beauty turns slices and chunks of raw fish into miniature works of art. Fish sliced so thin that it’s transparent may be arranged on a platter in a delicate fan that alternates pink-fleshed salmon with paler slices of fish. Sushi is prepared in away to best display the colors and textures, turning the platter and plate into palettes for the artistry of the chef.

Traditionally, meat plays a small role in the Japanese diet, though it has been taking a larger and larger role over the past fifty years as Japan becomes more westernized. Beef, chicken and pork has been served with several meals a week now. One of the more popular dishes is ‘yakitori’ – chicken grilled on a skewer and served with japanese sauce. A typical lunch might include a skewer of yakitori and a rice bowl with sushi sauce.

Interestingly, Japan has also adopted dishes from other cuisines and ‘Japanized’ them, adopting them as part of their own cuisines. Korokke, is actually croquettes adopted from those introduced by the English last century. In Japan, the most common filling is a mixture of mashed potatoes and minced meat. Other Soshoyu – western food that have made their way into Japanese everyday cuisine include ‘omuraisu’, a rice omelet, and hambagau, the Japanese version of the American hamburger.

Japanese cuisine has become popular all over the world including Thailand. A popular Japanese Restaurant in Chiang Mai known as Genki Ramen Tei serves a wide range of Japanese cuisine including the popular Japanese Ramen in Chiang Mai, visit the company website at www.GenkiRamenTei.com - Chiang Mai Food for more information on the menu available. Be sure to stop by the restaurant when looking for Japanese Ramen Chiang Mai

Also refer to cooking portal for Cooking Lesson of Japanese Cuisines.

What you Should Know About Preparing Crabs

From garden parties to beach cookouts, no food says summer like the versatile crab. You can go to your local grocery or deli to get this wonderful item for your menu. The best place to look for a good crab recipe might just be the place you buy the crab. Large grocery stores have recipes in the store if you know where to find them. You may decide to seek advice from the workers at the seafood countet. Crab legs are easy to prepare, and almost everyone enjoys them. crab meat makes everything from crab/cheese wontons to Crab Rangoon. No tea party or buffet can be considered complete without crab cakes.

They can be bought frozen or fresh from the deli, or if you like to cook a good crab cake recipe is easy and delicious. The hardest part about looking for a standard recipe online isn't finding it, it's narrowing down your choices. I look over the recipes in a few seconds, copying the more promising ones into a blank email so I can more carefully persue them once I've finished searching. If you search the internet for crab cake recipe, you can add this wonderful seafood to your lunch at any time. For most of us, though, the crab's finest moment on land is in a crab salad. From picnic to potluck to New Year's Eve, this is the dish!

It is very easy to make, available in most deli's, and also prepackaged at most markets. You can make it in various ways, from gourmet recipes in which you cook the crab meat to simple mixtures of mayonnaise with the crab meat. A good place to locate a good crab salad recipe would be at the public library in your community if you can't find one in your recipe books If you do not have the internet at home, most libraries offer that service as well. The store that you shop for food may have a crab salad recipe, if not there may be one on the crab package.

Using the versatile crab and your imagination, you can produce many delicious variations of the basic crab salad recipe. Celebrate summer! Take a crab to dinner today.

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

More Life to Your Food with a Vacuum Sealer

Protecting your food is a requirement if you plan to keep it for months at a time. Vacuum sealers are made to help you safely keep your food. For that matter, when you use a vacuum sealer, you may purchase your food in bulk quantities and use it at your own pace. Storing your food with a vacuum sealer system can also help you store larger quantities of food in less space, and store it longer and more safely.

A Deni vacuum sealer system lets you store your food in a vacuum sealed bag. You position the food in the bag and then send the bag through the appliance. The vacuum sealer will expel the air from the bag, then constricts the plastic tightly onto the food. After that, the vacuum sealer will employ heat to seal the plastic around the food. Now that the bag is sealed, it is air tight and exceptionally sturdy. Vacuum sealed bags are challenging to open unless you use scissors, and are nearly impossible to puncture.

Vacuum sealers package your food in a way that takes up less space than commercial packaging. A vacuum sealer bag is never bigger than the food stored in it. Therefore, you can use less of your pantry for food storage, and more space for other important things.

Vacuum sealers also enable you to store your foods longer than other ways of preserving. Depending on your climate, a regular box of biscuits may last a few days in the wrapping you brought it home in. If, instead, the food has been sealed using vacuum technology, the bread may be stored three or four weeks before it must be discarded. Similar improvements can be seen with other kinds of foods.

Purchasing food in large quantities is a obvious way to spend less money, but that plan will be successful only if you can eat the food quickly or store it safely. Vacuum sealers make it easy for you to store your food longer, and that enables you to get larger quantities of it at one time. Vacuum sealers also enable you to seal food in specifically measured portions so that you simply open what you need, leaving the rest in a vacuum-sealed storage vessel and enabling it to stay fresh longer. A few vacuum sealers even let you re-close a bag if it happens that you don’t use all the contents.

Vacuum sealer systems can also ease your job when cooking your food. Meat could be marinated and vegetables may be chopped and seasoned in preparation for being placed in a vacuum sealer bag. If you take advantage of this system, then making your favorite foods can be quick and easy now that your main ingredients are already portioned. A good product to look into is the Deni Vacuum Sealer.

Vacuum sealers are great options to consider for storing your food. You will extend the life of your foods through a vacuum sealer, and you can even save money and reduce food spoilage. Vacuum sealers also save storage space and help with meal preparation. Why would you use anything else?

Monday, January 12, 2009

All about Finding That Perfect Recipe

When making dinner for all of your family and friends you strive to prepare the best possible meal you can, you want to make sure you prepare something they are going to enjoy, why not try a new recipe? We all know there are a lot of people that have natural cooking ability, and can put together fabulous dishes without even looking at a recipe or a cookbook, however we are not all that handy in the kitchen. For the rest of us, we need a little help in the kitchen that's why we turn to the recipe.

If you are looking for something quick and easy to make for dinner, and want to please everyone try something like a chicken recipe. This type of recipe is great because there are always plenty of them to choose from. It seems like chicken is usually a household favourite, and something people don't usually get tired of eating. Not only is it something everyone seems to enjoy but there is virtually no end to how creative you can be when using this recipe. With enough time and practice using similar recipes you will become a lot more courageous and alter them by changing the spices or the ingredients to add your own special twist.

Looking for The Best

Discovering and searching out the best possible recipe might just start with your family and friends. You never know what you may find when you strike up a conversation about trying some new recipes. Those best dishes are the ones that have been passed to us from previous generations. When cooking there is nothing that gives you more pride and pleasure than using a prized recipe that was passed down from a family member or loved one. Dinners are always made from a combination of all different kinds of recipes, the best dinners are usually ones where we incorporate old family recipes with new discoveries. Bringing together the old with the new just adds that special touch to that already perfect dinner whether you are serving something up for the holidays or planning a weekly meal.

If you aren't one of the lucky ones that has a great family that is willing to pass along recipes and cooking secrets, there is still lots of hope for you and your family.  There are all kinds of additional resources to find these recipes. Start talking with your friends or neighbors about gathering tips and dinner ideas. Seeking out a great cookbook will give you a number of dinner ideas and recipes. Searching the Internet gives you the options to find recipes from different and diverse cultures.

Saturday, January 10, 2009

Here's How to Make Your Knives More User Friendly

Knife sets include several methods of construction. It is vital to find out the make of the handles of the knives in any knife set before buying one. A knife handle needs to be made so it is nice to grip and easy to keep a handle on without it slipping. This is so that it will be simpler to utilize the knives and so that they will pose less of a safety hazard.

Polymer handles are some of the best types of handles to get in knife sets. This style of handle is excellent because it is non-porous - it will never be harmed by moisture or any similar materials that it can get in contact with during food preparation or handling. More importantly, it is a special type of material that always looks polished.  Thanks to this, the knife set will be a good fit for any style of kitchen area. A very nice set to look into is the Wusthof classic knife set.

The handles that are used with the knife should also be ones that are complete with good rivets. This is so the handle will be one that is tightly held to the blade so that the blade will not snap off or slip. In many cases the handles in knife sets will be double riveted or even triple riveted for safety and durability purposes. Standard kitchen nails are employed as rivets for the handles and are ones that are tough and strong without any risk of being damaged.

It always helps to have a knife handle that is nicely grooved. A grooved handle is superior, because it will work with the grip of the person using it. This handle is specially shaped so that when a person grips the hand around it, the fingers will be able to fit into the creases that are made into the handle. Because of this, it turns out to be less troublesome to control the knife properly; it is will no longer be able to come out of one's grip.

These aspects need to be accounted for when you are looking for a knife set because of two things. To start with, the knife should be one that it is simple to manage so that it will make chopping less of a chore. The second reason is so it will be less dangerous to use in the kitchen. With ergonomic handles, the knife cannot slip and hurt the cook or anyone else nearby.

The knife handle is among the most essential things to scrutinize in the knives packaged in knife sets. The handle must be cast in a tough polymer material and should be riveted securely. It should feature a grooved handle, as well. With these thoughts in mind, safer and more workable knives can be utilized. We recommend the Wusthof classic knife set as a very good buy.

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Cuisine on the Web

I have declared myself a gourmet from the womb, I'm always going out to try the latest restaurants and their cuisine wherever I find myself. But sometimes, its nice to have a night in and be the one making the meals, rather than just eating them. Because I'm not the type to stick to a one-pan-easy-casserole-type-of-concoction, nor am I adept enough to combine flavors like the experts in my favorite restaurants, I turn to food sites for help with all my culinary questions.

If you're like me, and can't always follow a recipe without visual instructions, check out www.Gourmandia.com. The site includes not only written instructions, but also videos of chefs preparing the recipes. Recipes are divided into categories of the most popular videos, as well as by restaurants, which are predominantly French or French-inspired, as well as healthy recipes. You can also search by chef and see their Michelin ratings, which is fun as they are all European. Also take advantage of the site's special touches, like napkin-folding instructions as well as a store where you can purchase a selection of quality gourmet goods.

If you're not in the mood for French but feel like trying out a new recipe, and can't decide whether to go exotic or traditional; direct your browser to www.ifood.tv, where you can watch people who love to cook make recipes in their home kitchens. You can watch your dish being made and then print the recipe for your own time spent in the kitchen. If you're really inspired iFood is the thing for you.tv and share some of your own recipes with the cooking world.

At www.VideoRecipesOnline.com, you can find video instructions on cooking meals that are quick and easy. Each video demonstration shows how to make a whole meal out of packaged food-products and flavorings. Families who have little time to cook, but who still want to make home-cooked meals will love this site. However, if you're into making elaborate meals from scratch, you can skip it.

Are you aware how popular the Food Network has become over the last few years? The chefs are just as celebrated as their famous clientèle! If you are a fan of the famous foodies, watch your favorite Food Network stars make the recipes you forgot to TiVo anytime you want at www.FoodNetwork.com. You can search videos by popular chefs or by recipe categories and make yummy noises right along with Rachel or Giada.

One of my favorite sites, and the one I probably use the most can be found at http://AllRecipes.com. I like allrecipes.com because it really does seem to have every recipe imaginable. Not only does the site include recipes, it also has instructional videos on those tricky techniques real chefs seem to perform with such ease; like pitting an avocado or cutting and serving cake without all the layers falling apart. The range of recipes and levels of expertise are also extensive, so no matter what you're cooking up, allrecipes.com can probably help you out.

These sites are easy to navigate and can provide a lot of help for those who like to eat and want to try making fabulous food for themselves.

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

All-Clad: A Lifetime Investment or a Drain on the Wallet?

Preparing Food while using All-Clad copper core set of kitchenware is an experience every cook will cherish. This cooking collection, adorned by a mirror finish exterior and accented by a band of copper looks very striking. Its utility is also unsurpassed. All-Clad is a first-rate kitchenware manufacturer that has been making an excellent product for many years. It commands a worldwide presence and its wares are known for their legendary performance. In the beginning, the All-Clad copper cookware was designed for restaurant use however today it enjoys a large number of followers in the home cuisine demographic also. This manufacturer is in the company of the top crafters of cookware in any hemisphere and has maintained its position as a innovator for the past two generations. There appears to be no other splendid combination of good looks and performance that compares to the All-Clad collection of kitchenware. One of the better products they offer is the All-Clad Stainless 3 Quart Saucier Pan.

The most important attribute of the All-Clad cookware is the copper core, which is an efficient conductor of heat, so you can cook food swiftly in this kitchenware. Moreover, the heat is evenly spread out along the entire cooking surface – in addition to the sides.
You use less natural gas, and the food prepared in this manner tends to be better tasting and more wholesome.

The stainless steel nonstick cooking surface ensures effortless cleansing. The All-Clad copper core pots and pans have a 5-ply bonding that is an exclusive trademark of the copper kitchenware of this company. You can hardly expect to find such quality in any of the competing products made by other companies. This is the reason the cookware of this manufacturer have been used in many of the most admired kitchens today. One of their most popular options is the All-Clad LTD Nonstick Grande Grille Pan.

The stainless steel cooking interior is certified as food grade and you need not worry about any toxins on the surface of the cookware reacting with the food while you are preparing it. Most of the cookware produced by other manufacturers could possibly be covered with chemicals that might possibly react with the cooking ingredients at high temperatures. Remember, though, it is still suggested to clean the surface of new pots and pans completely a few times before cooking with it for the first time. The first bit of food heated in the kitchenware can be disposed of. You can easily notice the craftsmanship of the copper core.

The cookware comes with heavy stainless steel grips that are designed to give you a firm control of the cookware even when it is particularly hot. The handle is solidly attached to the bowl of the cookware and it does not sever easily. Normally, All-Clad kitchenware is  designed for professional use. It is particularly bulky and is pretty costly. For these reasons the bulk of the domestic users are not able to afford it, although they would love to possess it. If you want to make one heck of a sandwich, just try the All-Clad Panini Pan with Press and watch as your taste buds reach new heights!

Friday, January 2, 2009

BBQ Tools You Can't Live Without

Some of the best BBQ tips concern the tools and accessories you need to do the job right. The kinds of BBQ tools that are essential and the ones are just nice to have around will depend on the type of barbequing you plan to do. However, there are a number of tools that will be used over and over.

The final outcome is sometimes what matters most, and in this case it's cleaning up the grill. Sometimes this can be a real pain, but if you have the proper tools it doesn't have to be that way.

One way to ease the burden of clean up is to not get so messy in the first place. Disposable drip pans are a great way to accomplish that. Stray pieces of meat and grease drippings that fall through the grill are captured on the pan, and once you're done, you just remove it and throw it in the garbage.

The next best thing to disposable drip pans for the BBQ are removable ones. The job will be made easier when you just have to remove the pan, spray it with cleaner and scrub it down. It's much easier to use oven cleaner if you're not trying to clean around numerous objects poking out everywhere. And if you don't use oven cleaner directly on the grill, you don't have to worry about rinsing it thoroughly to remove the residue. If you don't, the result will be bad smelling and bad tasting food the next time around, which could actually be unsafe.

A wire brush is a requirement for most BBQ clean up situations. A dual purpose style is your best choice. These feature a wire brush on one side and a metal scraper on the other. It really can't be beat for eliminating the blackened food left behind on the grill.

You can find all sorts of BBQ tools that make grilling more fun. For example, skewers are handy for shish kabob meals and for cooking a big chunk of meat that requires frequent turning. A good set of barbeque tongs will also be highly useful. By good, it means heat proof, fits well in your hand, and won't slip around.

BBQ oven mitts are another essential accessory. It's inevitable that you'll come in contact with grill parts and metal tools that make wearing them the only sensible thing to do. There's just too much heat around to do without them.

You'll probably find a wire BBQ basket handy from time to time, if you cook fish or want to be able to turn a slice of ham without using tongs. Choose a model that lets you cook veggies in a mesh basket with a handle so you can make your entire meal on the grill.

There are dozens of useful BBQ tools. But make certain you're purchasing good quality products. That way they'll end up in your hands, and not in the drawer collecting dust.