Author : Dominic Donaldson

They say that a bad workman blames his tools, but a good cook relies on quality cookware Whether you are a Delia or a Jamie, having the right tools for creating a culinary masterpiece is essential Here we offer up a few ideas for delicious dishes based on the basic cookware that can be found in most kitchens

Stockpot

The stockpot is a great kitchen all rounder Soups and stews, curries and chili con carne can all be cooked to perfection with this versatile pot Its strength lies in its size and the capacity for food to be cooked slowly for many hours If you find yourself offering to cook up a feast for a few friends, then the stockpot is the cookware of choice Simply throw in the meat and vegetables of choice and add passata, chopped tomatoes and even a splash of fresh cream and season according to your dish

The basic ingredients of onion, tomato and garlic are an excellent base to work on using this pot These ingredients can be seasoned with herbs to give a hearty English stew, or with spices for an authentic Indian curry These dishes taste better the longer they are left to cook, and the stockpot is a perfect vessel for such dishes, and saves on the washing up too

Frying Pan

The humble frying pan is probably one of the most versatile items of cookware in a kitchen It is an essential piece of equipment, and without one many dishes are impossible to make Frying onions and spices as a base for a sauce, making a traditional English fried breakfast and the oh so humble omelet would all be impossible without a frying pan There are of course a variety of types and sizes, but if purchasing a good all rounder, go for a twelve inch one with high but sloped sides If you can get one with a lid, all the better, it will extend the range of dishes it can be used to prepare for, such as poaching fish

A firm favourite for the frying pan here is to create a Spanish tortilla, which could be described as a glorified omelet Simply fry onions and garlic in a little olive oil and season with salt, pepper and basil; next add some thinly sliced potato followed by well beaten eggs Make sure you cook the dish slowly so as not to burn the base of the tortilla When the mixture appears to have nearly set, sprinkle the top liberally with parmesan cheese and pop under the grill to brown To serve, cover the pan with a plate tip the tortilla out of the pan

Sauce Pan

I once lived with only once sauce pan, but this basic piece of cookware was my best friend As long as it is larger than a milk pan and has a lid, the amount of dishes that can be whipped up are limitless From heating beans to boiling potatoes, it is difficult to get by in the kitchen without a sauce pan As the name states, the purpose of this pot is primarily to create sauces A few simple ingredients can be turned into a dish worthy of Masterchef by conjuring up a simple sauce

A great treat is searing off an ostrich steak, much the same as you would a traditional beef one and covering it with a red wine and blackberry sauce Place a small amount of oil in the sauce pan and throw in some in the fruit, warm gently then add generous amounts of red wine Heat until bubbling and the blackberries are starting to reduce then pour over the meat Delicious!

Dom Donaldson is an expert in the catering industry.
Find out more about Cookware and the range available for professional and home cooking at Massive Housewares.

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The Book of Cheap and Healthy Recipes

Author : Jonathan Teng

Meatballs how good they are especially when they are from Italy and Mexico

Miam miam

Mexican Meatball and Rice

Yield: 6 servings

Mexican Rice:

~4 oz (1 can) Chopped Green

~3 cups Cooked Seasoned Rice

~1/2 lb Monterey Jack Cheese cut into stripes

~1 pint Dairy Sour Cream

For the Meatballs:

~4 oz (1 can) Green Chilies, (drained)

~2-1/2 tbsp Unbleached Flour

~2 tsp Salt

~2 tbsp Butter or Margarine

~2 lb Ground Beef

~2 c Sliced Onion

~19 oz (1 can) Tomatoes (un-drained)

~1/4 tsp Powdered Cumin

~1/2 cup Sliced Ripe Olives

~1/2 cup Milk

~1 x Mexican Rice

~1 tsp Chili Powder

~1 ea Large Egg, Slightly Beaten

~1 ea Clove Garlic, Crushed

~1 cup Crushed Corn Chips

Instructions for the Meatballs:

In large bowl, lightly combine ground beef with corn chips, milk, egg and 1 tsp of salt Cover and refrigerate 1 hour Shape into 15 meatballs, using 2 rounded tbsp meat mixture for each Lightly roll meatballs in 2 tbsp flour, coating completely In large frying-pan, cook meatballs in hot butter, half at a time, stirring until evenly browned

Remove meatballs from frying-pan as they are browned In same frying-pan, cook onion and garlic about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally In small bowl, combine remaining 1/2 tbsp flour and 1 t salt, chili powder and cumin Stir into onions Add tomatoes, green chilies and olives

Bring to a boil, stirring constantly; reduce heat, cover tightly and cook slowly for 30 minutes Add meatballs to tomato mixture, cover tightly and cook slowly for 20 minutes Uncover and continue cooking slowly 10 minutes Serve meatballs and sauce over hot Mexican Rice

Now instructions for the Mexican Rice:

Combine sour cream, chilies and salt In 13 x 9-inch baking pan, layer 1 cup cooked rice, 1/2 sour cream-chili mixture and 1/2 cheese strips Repeat layers and top with remaining cup of rice Bake in moderate oven (350 degrees F ) for 25 minutes Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and top with meatballs and sauce Continue baking for 5 minutes or until cheese melts

Italian Meatballs in a Basket

Yield: 8 servings

Italian Bread Basket:

~1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese, Grated

~1/4 cup Margarine, Melted

~1 Loaf (16 oz) Italian Bread

For the Meatballs:

~2 tbsp Unbleached Flour

~2 tbsp Margarine

~2 lb Ground Beef Chuck

~16 oz (1 can) Stewed Tomatoes

~1/4 tsp Thyme

~1/2 tsp Basil

~1 x Italian Bread Basket

~1 x Green pepper rings

~1 x Cherry Tomatoes

~1 ea Medium Onion, Chopped

~1 ea Medium Green Pepper, Chopped

Instructions for Meatballs:

Lightly shape ground beef into 1 1/2-inch balls Lightly brown balls in margarine in large frying-pan, about 5 minutes Add the green pepper and onion to meatballs; cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally Drain tomatoes, reserving liquid Add tomatoes, all but 1/4 c tomato liquid, basil and thyme to meat balls Cover tightly and cook slowly 5 minutes

Mix reserved tomato liquid with flour, stirring until smooth Stir into meatballs, cover tightly and cook 5 minutes or until slightly thick Meanwhile prepare Italian Bread Basket and place on platter Spoon meatball mixture into and around bread Garnish with green pepper rings and cherry tomatoes, if desired

Instructions for the Italian Bread Basket:

Cut a 3/4 slice from top of bread With fork, scoop out inside of bread to form basket, leaving 1-inch bread on all sides and bottom of loaf Place loaf on foil in shallow baking pan Brush top, sides and inside of bread with melted margarine Sprinkle loaf with Parmesan cheese, coating sides evenly Bake in hot oven (400 Degrees F ) for 10 minutes

Jonathan Is The Webmaster Of Restaurant Copycat Recipes & Author Of 2 Famous Cookbooks Titled America’s TOP Secret Recipes and Quick Easy Recipes Secrets.

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Crock Pot Cookbook: 440 Slow Cooker Recipes

Author : Charles Cox

A baby shower is a kind of party that celebrates and welcomes a new member to the family In this tradition, expectant parents usually receive gifts or money for their expected child, which, in a way, supports the parents by helping them get the things that they need for their baby (or the things that they may not be able to afford)

Baby showers are generally held in the later stages of pregnancy (in the last 2 months, for instance) There are, however, certain cultural beliefs that make people purposefully wait for the baby to arrive before having a baby shower Adoptive parents, at times, wait until after the adoption is final and the baby has arrived in their home

Baby showers are generally organized by close friends, relatives, or coworkers of the expectant parents (because baby showers center on gift giving, it is considered inappropriate for a family member to host such events)

In its early form, baby showers were held exclusively for mothers to be, and only women were invited to attend the party In addition, baby showers were traditionally held only for the first child Today, however, many people arrange baby showers for both parents, and they can now be also arranged for every succeeding children (even children who have been adopted)

Activities in a baby shower typically include games, special activies, presents, and, most especially, food

Below are some of the most common baby shower recipes:

Pizza Sandwiches

Pizza sauce (can be store bought or homemade)

Cottage cheese (lowfat)

English muffins

Parmesan cheese

1 Mix 2-3 tbsp of pizza sauce with 2-3 tbsp of cottage cheese

2 Spread the mixture onto one half of the English muffin

3 Sprinkle with parmesan cheese

4 Broil for 5 minutes or until cheese is melted Serve

Creamy Tomato Soup

1 tsp vegetable oil

1 can tomato soup (condensed)

Milk

1 tbsp basil

Mozarella or croutons (for toppings)

1 Heat vegetable oil in a medium saucepan

2 Add the tomato soup

3 Add milk (approximately the same amount as that of the tomato soup)

4 Add basil and cook slowly on low heat (do not boil)

5 Top with a sprinkling of shredded mozzarella and croutons Serve

Cheese Balls

1 half lb cheese (cheddar or grated)

1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

1 pack cream cheese

4 oz Tabasco sauce

2 tsp onion

Chopped nuts

2 tsp catsup or chili sauce

1 Mix all ingredients together using a mixer or a food processor (the cheese should be at room temperature)

2 Empty mixed ingredients on small bowls lined with plastic wrap

3 Refrigerate overnight

4 To serve, remove wrap and sprinkle with nuts Serve with assorted crackers

Chicken Puffs

4 tbsp butter

1 half cup boiling water

1 half cup flour

2 eggs

1 half cup shredded cheese

2 cups cooked chicken

2 tbsp olives

2 tbsp wine

1 fourth cup mayonnaise

1 Melt butter in boiling water

2 Add flour

3 Stir vigorously until mixture forms a ball

4 Remove from heat and cool slightly

5 Add egg and beat briskly until smooth

6 Stir in cheese

7 Scoop 1 tsp dough into a greased baking sheet

8 Preheat oven to 400F

9 Bake the puffs for 20 minutes Remove from oven, cool, and split

10 Combine the remaining ingredients with the finely chopped cooked chicken, pimiento, and olives

11 Fill each puff with 2 tsp of the mixture Serve

There are just some of the baby shower recipes, there are numerous others to choose from You can have anything from sandwiches and finger foods, to snacks and dips and sweets that are all very easy to prepare

C.S.Cox has published many ebooks including the new ‘Baby Shower Guide’ designed for those desiring to plan the perfect baby shower at a fraction of the cost. Find out more about the Baby Shower Planning Guide at http://www.livebabyshower.com.

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Recipes Tried and True

Alicia and I went to the gym after I was done with work, but, alas, the gym was closed - so we made dinner instead. Recipe: -1/2 lb. linguine…
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Pennsylvania Dutch Cooking

Author : Stephanie Foster

When you’re trying to live a healthier lifestyle, choosing party snacks can be a real problem The classic ones just aren’t that healthy and you don’t want to bore everyone else by putting out nothing but fruits and vegetables

Now, there’s nothing wrong with having a solid fruit or veggie tray out at a party; in fact, I recommend it highly A little dip will make people more enthusiastic about the vegetables Get a little creative with the kinds of fruits and vegetables offered Try including things like papaya or berries to make the selection really stand out

But for a good party you need more options Fortunately, many favorite party snacks can be made in a relatively healthy manner so long as you pick healthy ingredients Remember that the secret to healthy cooking is in choosing the right ingredients

Pigs in a blanket are always popular, and if you want a healthier variety choose chicken or turkey franks If they aren’t available in mini frank size just chop up larger ones into smaller sizes Wrap in crescent roll dough and cook at 375 degrees for about 12 minutes or until dough is golden brown

When my family gets together the shrimp ring is always popular You can find these in most grocery stores with the other frozen seafood and it comes with cocktail sauce If not, just buy the shrimp on your own and buy the cocktail sauce separately Very indulgent, sometimes a little pricey, but always a hit

Seasoned popcorn can be a great alternative to potato chips You can find recipes all over the place online or come up with your own recipe You can also get creative and make your own recipe I like to add things like garlic and Parmesan to my popcorn’s butter or oil before pouring it over

Baked tortilla chips with a good salsa are reasonably healthy too Guacamole is also rather healthy

Mini pizzas go over well too Rather than buy them, make them yourself on English muffin halves Use salsa if you want a little spice rather than tomato sauce, and keep the toppings healthy Sorry, that does mean avoid pepperoni

Even at a party healthy food doesn’t have to mean boring There are many foods out there that are good for you and will delight your guests Use some creativity and no one will complain that you only have healthy foods available

Stephanie Foster started http://www.makehealthymeals.com/ as an excuse to research more healthy eating options for her family. You can get healthy recipes and more from her site.

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Author : Maria Alexis Rodrigo

Home-cooked meals are more the exception than the rule for most busy families these days Many are missing out on the benefits of a shared family meal, including eating more nutritious and less fattening meals Luckily, the grocery provides many convenience foods that don’t sacrifice taste and nutrition for speed Frozen dough, which you will find in almost any grocery store, is a good example Here are three quick dinner ideas using frozen or refrigerated dough (thaw frozen dough in the refrigerator overnight) To make a complete meal, serve with salad

Speedy Pizza

Preheat your oven to 450F and lightly sprinkle flour or corn meal on a pizza sheet or baking sheet Stretch the dough out using either your hands or a rolling pin, until it is about 1/4 inch thick Prick the pizza dough all over with a fork Brush a thin layer of extra virgin olive oil Top with tomato paste, tomato sauce or tomato puree, minced garlic, chopped leftover cooked meat and vegetables you have on hand, such as mushrooms and bell peppers Bake for 7 minutes Remove from the oven and top with mozzarella cheese Shredded cheddar and Parmesan cheese can also be used in a pinch Return to the oven and bake for another 8 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and the crust is light brown

Focaccia in a Flash

Preheat the oven to 400F Roll either pizza or bread dough into a rectangle on a cookie sheet Make dents all over the dough with your fingertips In a skillet, saute chopped onions and minced garlic in extra virgin olive oil Top the focaccia with the wilted onions and garlic Sprinkle Italian seasoning, coarse sea salt and black pepper Bake for 7 minutes Remove from the oven and top with a mixture of mozzarella and Parmesan chesses, or whatever cheese you have Return to the oven and bake for another 8 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly and the crust is light brown Cut into squares and serve

Easy Sandwich

Preheat the oven to 400F Grease and flour a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan Roll the bread dough into a rectangle 9 inches wide Brush the dough with extra virgin olive oil Top with shredded leftover meats, bacon bits, sliced olives and cheese Add herbs and seasonings such as shredded basil leaves or minced parsley Gently roll and put into the prepared loaf pan Bake for 20 minutes, reduce the temperature to 350F and bake for another 25 minutes Let cool before serving

Every time you’re in the grocery, always remember to grab some frozen bread and pizza dough When you want a filling but delicious dinner fast, remember these quick dinner ideas using frozen dough You can also make quick desserts with them These prepared foods makes it possible to make yummy and nutritious meals in a hurry

Alexis Rodrigo loves to cook and eat but is busy taking care of 3 children and 1 husband while managing 2 home businesses. Save yourself time in the kitchen by checking out her collection of quick dinner recipes and sign up for the free e-course on quick dinner ideas at http://www.myquickdinnerrecipes.com

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Chocolate and Cocoa Recipes and Home Made Candy Recipes

Author : Dominic Donaldson

They say that a bad workman blames his tools, but a good cook relies on quality cookware. Whether you are a Delia or a Jamie, having the right tools for creating a culinary masterpiece is essential. Here we offer up a few ideas for delicious dishes based on the basic cookware that can be found in most kitchens

Stockpot

The stockpot is a great kitchen all rounder. Soups and stews, curries and chili con carne can all be cooked to perfection with this versatile pot. Its strength lies in its size and the capacity for food to be cooked slowly for many hours. If you find yourself offering to cook up a feast for a few friends, then the stockpot is the cookware of choice. Simply throw in the meat and vegetables of choice and add pasta, chopped tomatoes and even a splash of fresh cream and season according to your dish.

The basic ingredients of onion, tomato and garlic are an excellent base to work on using this pot. These ingredients can be seasoned with herbs to give a hearty English stew, or with spices for an authentic Indian curry. These dishes taste better the longer they are left to cook, and the stockpot is a perfect vessel for such dishes, and saves on the washing up too.

Frying Pan

The humble frying pan is probably one of the most versatile items of cookware in a kitchen. It is an essential piece of equipment, and without one many dishes are impossible to make. Frying onions and spices as a base for a sauce, making a traditional English fried breakfast and the oh so humble omelet would all be impossible without a frying pan. There are of course a variety of types and sizes, but if purchasing a good all rounder, go for a twelve inch one with high but sloped sides If you can get one with a lid, all the better, it will extend the range of dishes it can be used to prepare for, such as poaching fish.

A firm favourite for the frying pan here is to create a Spanish tortilla, which could be described as a glorified omelet Simply fry onions and garlic in a little olive oil and season with salt, pepper and basil; next add some thinly sliced potato followed by well beaten eggs Make sure you cook the dish slowly so as not to burn the base of the tortilla When the mixture appears to have nearly set, sprinkle the top liberally with parmesan cheese and pop under the grill to brown To serve, cover the pan with a plate tip the tortilla out of the pan

Sauce Pan

I once lived with only once sauce pan, but this basic piece of cookware was my best friend As long as it is larger than a milk pan and has a lid, the amount of dishes that can be whipped up are limitless From heating beans to boiling potatoes, it is difficult to get by in the kitchen without a sauce pan As the name states, the purpose of this pot is primarily to create sauces A few simple ingredients can be turned into a dish worthy of Masterchef by conjuring up a simple sauce

A great treat is searing off an ostrich steak, much the same as you would a traditional beef one and covering it with a red wine and blackberry sauce Place a small amount of oil in the sauce pan and throw in some in the fruit, warm gently then add generous amounts of red wine Heat until bubbling and the blackberries are starting to reduce then pour over the meat Delicious!

Dom Donaldson is an expert in the catering industry.
Find out more about Cookware and the range available for professional and home cooking at Massive Housewares.

Syndication Source: Article Mind
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Related Items at Amazon:

Recipes Tried and True