The Fun Times Guide to Food

Grilling Tips - A Collection Of The Best Tips To Make You A Grill Master At Home

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 12:20:05 -0600

If you're like me, the gas grill has a permanent position just outside the door on the deck.

For at least 3 seasons of the year, if I get the urge for a quick bratwurst for lunch or a steak for supper, my trusty propane-powered cook station is at the ready to satisfy my need for charbroiled meat.

Though I prefer the flavor of a true charcoal barbecue, the convenience of turning the knob and pushing the piezo electric igniter better suits our last-minute "Let's do shrimp on the barbi" lifestyle.

Following are some of the best grilling tips to make you a grill master at home. See lots of little-known secrets from the pros!...

11 Ways To Get The Most Bang For Your Buck When Shopping At The Local Farmers Market

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 20:35:14 -0600

My first exposure to a Farmer's Market was the Dane County Farmer's Market held every Saturday morning around the courthouse square in Madison, Wisconsin.

There, like at most Farmers Markets, you'll find fresh produce, homemade preserves, unbelievable artisan breads, and the aroma of so many different marvelous foods (like fresh-pressed hot apple cider!) -- all supplied by farms around the area.

Ever since that first time, I've looked forward to visiting every new Farmer's Market I can find. My plan is always to capitalize on all the seasonal good eats I can find!

Following is a collection of tips to help you get the most out of your next shopping trip at the local Farmer's Market...

Do You Know What You're Eating? Fish Like Orange Roughy & Chilean Sea Bass Have New Names!

Wed, 05 Aug 2009 12:54:05 -0600

Would you eat Slimehead? What about Patagonian Toothfish or Goosefish?

No?

Well, if you've eaten Orange roughy, Chilean Sea Bass or Monkfish then you have.

Those are new, tastier-sounding names for fish that otherwise wouldn't have much market value. They are also 3 fish that a new study, released in the journal "Science," says are part of the 63% of the sea's fish that are in danger and below healthy levels.

I read about the report in the Washington Post. And while the overall report warns of the collapse of seafood stocks if current fishing conditions continue and nothing is done to help these fish regain their numbers, I found the effects of renaming on populations interesting.

Edible Arrangements: Healthy Fruit Bouquets Are A Fun Alternative To Sending Cookies Or Flowers

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 13:24:12 -0600

Edible Arrangements are fresh fruit bouquets (including a few chocolate-dipped pieces) that are designed into beautiful flower-like creations.

Compared to cookie arrangements, these strawberry, pineapple, and melon arrangements are a much healthier way to say 'I love you', 'Thank you', or 'Best of luck.'

Edible Arrangements has been in business for 10 years and there are nearly 900 locations across the U.S. So it's not difficult to find a store near you if you'd like to pick up an arrangement. But even if there is not a store near you, you can still have an edible arrangement delivered to someone special.

11 Healthy Foods That Are Also Good For Your Skin!

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:05:15 -0600

We all want to be healthy. And part of being healthy is maintaining healthy skin.

As I get older, I notice that the health of my own skin, particularly on my face, definitely has its moments. When I'm drinking lots of water, the laugh lines seem to disappear and my skin seems more soft and glowing.

However, when I'm busy trying to meet deadlines, dealing with stress, not eating well, or drinking enough water, the look of my skin changes. So, just from my own observations, I can tell that when I'm not taking good enough care of myself, my skin shows it.

That being said, there has to be something I can do to help my skin during those rough times, right? Well it turns out there are foods you can eat that can help to keep your skin healthy and looking great.

If you want healthy skin, then you'll want to add these foods to your daily diet...

Homemade Breakfast Potatoes: A Simple And Quick Potato Recipe

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 13:47:40 -0600

In our house, Saturday morning is the one day of the week that the box of bran cereal gets left in the cupboard.

On weekends, my wife Mary and I like our breakfast to be more like a brunch -- so a few extra calories won't destroy a week's worth of careful eating. After all, eating your main meal for lunch along with a lighter supper later in the day means your metabolism gets the opportunity to burn up the extra fuel before bedtime.

We could go out for a late breakfast, but why? When you look at the cost savings of doing it yourself, combined with the fact that you are in control of the portion size, making your own just makes sense to us. (Plus, we can sit around in our pajamas for as long as we like!)

We could also buy pre-packaged hash browns, but there's a big difference between processed and homemade. When you combine long-term freezing and questionable storage while in transport (thawing and refreezing), store-bought hash browns just don't compare to fried potatoes made fresh at home.

Here's how we make our own breakfast potatoes from scratch...

Home Remedies For Health Ailments: 6 Foods That Cure

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 07:08:52 -0600

Over the years, most of us have heard about foods that claim to cure a variety of ailments.

Lots of examples can be found in the book, The Healing Foods by Patricia Hausman and Judith Ann Hurley.

However, the most interesting thing is the fact that there is now scientific evidence to back up claims that certain foods can both prevent -- and in some cases cure -- a number of physical ailments.

Considering the billions of dollars Americans and others around the world spend on chemical medicines that can have horrible side effects, the idea that certain foods can improve your health is an important one.

That being said, following is a list of common ailments and the foods that can prevent them, if not cure them completely...

Meal Delivery Systems: Easy Take-And-Bake Options For Busy People

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 08:16:30 -0600

Are you tired of cooking for yourself?

Maybe you don't have the time to cook because of your busy lifestyle, including your job and family obligations.

Maybe you're concerned about the kinds of foods you and your family are eating.

Maybe you want to lose weight, but don't have the time to eat right.

Whichever it is, there are a number of take-and-bake options available these days. They're perfect for busy people!

Each provides fast, healthy meals to go. Here we will explore 5 meal delivery systems at depth, and mention a number of others that may also be worth considering.

Crock Pot vs Pressure Cooker - Which Is Better?

Sun, 17 May 2009 15:30:25 -0600

It's time to prepare dinner. Should you use a pressure cooker? Or should you use a crock pot (or slow cooker)? Dilemmas... dilemmas...

The pressure cooker claims speed similar to a high power microwave, the crockpot insists "low and slow" but ready by supper time is the better way.

Here's my point-by-point comparison of the two, after making the same dish made in both a crock pot and in a pressure cooker...

Don't Use A Bread Machine To Make Bread... Try These Step-By-Step Instructions For Bread Making

Wed, 13 May 2009 16:42:41 -0600

Okay, I admit it. I cheat. I use a bread machine.

The reason I cheat is because while I can knock-out an entrée or side dish without any problem, getting bread to come out of the oven and have the texture and taste I want is often a problem.

That's why I was glad to find this thorough guide to bread making on Epicurious.

Top 10 Recipe Search Sites To Find Recipes Online

Wed, 06 May 2009 10:38:03 -0600

The Internet is our recipe box.

Sure, people are still buying cookbooks (and there are some good ones, but that’s for another post). The reality is that more and more of us are powering up our computers to find something to make for dinner.

But where are we looking for that tasty dish?

If you type “recipes” into Google, the search engine spits out just fewer than 100 million results. But according to data from Hitwise (a company that tracks Internet traffic and search patterns) almost 25% of us end up going to just 2 sites:

Food Network

All Recipes

Edible Weeds - Don't Kill The Weeds In Your Yard, Eat Them!

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 10:06:54 -0600

Did you know that most weeds that grow in your yard are actually edible?

This means that even the worst gardener can produce food in the garden! All you have to do is harvest it.

Edible weeds are sadly overlooked as a source of food, nutrition, and variety that can be a valuable addition to our daily diets. After all, many of the edible plants that we call weeds are close relatives to the vegetables and herbs that are cultivated in our gardens. But these edible weeds grow on their own accord and are free for the picking. -- Veggie Gardening Tips

Here are some of the foods that will grow themselves in your yard...

Low-Carb Dessert Recipes & Fun Snacks That Are Atkins-Friendly

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 15:30:08 -0600

The whole premise behind low-carb diets (like the Atkins Diet) is to eat a balanced diet that is low in refined carbohydrates such as sugar, flour, and high fructose corn syrup.

By avoiding carbohydrates, the body's metabolism changes from burning glucose to using stored fat as the fuel for the human furnace.

When we think of snacks and desserts, we generally think: cake, pastries, cookies and any number of things concocted from refined carbohydrates (which are the root cause of obesity for many people).

Interestingly, these refined carbohydrates will also negatively affect those of us who are Type II Diabetic.

Does this mean that forever more you are restricted to a menu of steak and vegetables?

Fortunately, no! There are many satisfying snack and dessert options available that will satisfy your sweet tooth if you're on a low-carb diet, like the Atkins Diet.

Do You Really Have To Wash All Fruits & Vegetables First? What's The Best Way To Wash Produce?

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 13:23:51 -0600

We all know the importance of washing produce, especially with all the chemical sprays and such that farmers use these days.

But did you know that there are at least 5 different ways to remove pesticides, dirt and bacteria from produce? In fact, not all of them are recommended, although they still remain popular today.

Perhaps the biggest questions about washing produce are:

What is the best way to wash produce?

Do you really need to wash all produce?

Some people even wash bananas and other fruits before peeling them... why?

How To Get FREE Cookbooks

Sun, 05 Apr 2009 06:20:40 -0600

I've written before about how the Internet is a cook's dream; thousands of recipes just a few keystrokes away.

But now I've found a way to use the Internet to get cookbooks (and other books, for that matter) for FREE.

It's actually really simple. Scribd.com is a website where you can download any number of books and publications.

You can also upload your works and discuss with the site's community about your favorite books, authors, or whatever else is on your mind.