Cooking

Recipes in Making Durian Pastillas

2012-12-29T06:42:00.000-08:00

Materials
7 kg durian pilp (approx. 1000 pulps of native variety/ 3kg chance variety)
200 g powdered milk
400 g sugar(white)
400 g glucose
0.5 g sodium benzoate(0.05%)
0.5 g sodium metabisulfite((0.05%)

Procedure
1. buy and select sound durian fruits
2. extract the pulp from the fruit and remove seeds
3. mix all the ingredients
4. cook the mixture untill it is thick enough to be formed into balls ,cool
5. transfer the cooked pastillas to a board then sprinkled with sugar and roll to about 1/4 cm thick
6. then slice to desired size
7. finally wrap individually in cellophane

Yield
16 pack (500 g pack) for native variety
18 packs (50 g pack for chance variety)

Variation
blending of 20% native variety and 80% chance variety.

Learn How To Cook Salmon - Easy Salmon Recipes For Any Occasion by Anselmo Mendez

2012-12-29T06:41:00.001-08:00

Lots of people love salmon and if you are one of us, you'll definitely want to learn more ways how to cook salmon and this article will give you more easy recipes for salmon that you can certainly add to your tasty and easy to prepare salmon recipes.

First, the Salmon Mold.

SALMON MOLD
Salmon mold is a delicious dish, very attractive and it's definitely different from common and popular recipes for salmon that you can always find.
Ingredients:
2 c. salmon 2 Tb. vinegar 1/2 tsp. salt 1/8 tsp. pepper 1 Tb. gelatine 1-1/2 c. boiling water
Procedures:
First get rid off all skin and bones from the salmon when it is taken from the can, and mince it thoroughly with a fork. Add the mixed vinegar, salt, and pepper. Prepare the gelatine by dissolving it in the boiling water. Add the seasoned salmon to the prepared gelatine. With cold water, wet a ring-shaped mold having an open space in the center. Pour the salmon and gelatine mixture into this mold, and allow it to stand until it solidifies. Arrange a bed of lettuce leaves on a chop plate, turn the mold out on this, and fill the center with dressing. Serve at once. Sufficient to serve six.
Second, the Salmon Patties Recipe.

SALMON PATTIES RECIPES
Salmon patties are usually made from salmon by combining it with bread crumbs and using a thick white sauce to hold the ingredients together. You can either sauted them in shallow fat or fried in deep fat.
Ingredients:
2 c. finely minced salmon 1 c. fresh bread crumbs 1 c. thick white sauce 1/2 tsp. salt 1/8 tsp. pepper Dry bread crumbs
Procedures:
First step is to mix the fresh bread crumbs and the white sauce with the salmon. Season with salt and pepper and shape into round patties, roll in the dry bread crumbs, and fry in deep fat or saute in shallow fat. Serve hot with or without sauce.
Third, the Salmon Loaf Recipes.

SALMON TIMBALE OR LOAF
Ingredients:
1 can salmon 1 cupful soft bread crumbs 1 1/2 teaspoonfuls chopped parsley 1/2 teaspoonful salt Pepper 1 or 2 eggs 1 tablespoonful lemon juice 1/4 to 1/2 cupful milk
Procedures;
Combine all the ingredients thoroughly, adding enough milk to moisten. Then pour into buttered timbale molds or into one bowl. Place on a rack in a pan, surround with hot water, and cover. Bake in the oven or cook on top of the range until the fish mixture is firm and is heated thoroughly. Turn out, and serve with White Sauce to which chopped parsley has been added. Peas in White Sauce make a pleasing addition to Salmon Timbale. Tuna fish or other cooked fish may be used instead of salmon.

About the Author
Looking for more great recipes and exciting ways how to cook salmon? Feel free to visit our How To Cook Salmon - Home of Recipes for Salmon blog and you'll never run out of salmon recipes again.

Mexican Cheesecake by Kurt Yordy

2012-12-29T06:41:00.000-08:00

Do you tastebuds a favor, and throw them a mouth party with this tasty recipe.

Prep Time:20 minutes
Start to Finish:9 hr 20 minutes
Makes approximately:20 servings
Â½ cup of all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons of butter or margarine, softened
1 egg yolk
2 packages (8 ounces each) of cream cheese, softened
1 envelope (1.25 ounces) of taco seasoning mix
3 eggs
2 cups of shredded Cheddar cheese (8 ounces)
3 Â½ chopped green chiles
1 full jar of Amish Family Recipes' Yonnie's Hot Pepper Jam
1 cup of sour cream
Crackers, if desired

1. Move oven rack down to lowest position. Heat oven to 400ÂºF. Lightly grease spring form pan, 9x3 inches.
2. Mix flour, butter and egg yolk until evenly mixed. Press mixture evenly on bottom of pan.
3. Bake about 15 minutes or until golden brown; cool.
4. Reduce oven temperature to 350ÂºF . Mix cream cheese and seasoning mix in large bowl.
5. Stir in eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
6. Stir in Cheddar cheese, chiles, and Hot Pepper Jam. Pour over crust.
7. Bake about 40 minutes or until center is set.
8. Immediately spread with sour cream.
9. Bake for five minutes. Cool slightly. Cover and refrigerate at least 8 hours. Remove side of pan. Cut cheesecake into wedges. Serve with crackers.

About the Author
http://www.amishfamilyrecipes.com Visit us for a taste of simpler times!

What to Look for in a Cookbook for Kids by Elliott Cross

2012-12-29T06:40:00.000-08:00

While trying to eat healthy is something that we as adults want to do, teaching our children how to cook and eat healthy can be a challenge. Usually the sweet tooth seems to override the nutrition factor. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches take priority over vegetables.

So, one of the biggest issues if finding a way to help teach your children how to cook healthy meals. On the same note is finding quick recipes for children that are easy to make and simple to prepare, but taste great for them. Finding cookbooks for kids that have simple and easy recipes can tough with so many cookbooks out there. So, how do you determine what cookbook is best for your child?

Once you find a good cookbook for children, is it really useful for them? There are so many terms, steps and measurements that they must begin to learn how to understand that it can be confusing for a child to learn how to cook.

There are a few key areas to look for in finding a cookbook for your child that can help make cooking fun for them to learn.

Simple and easy terms.
With terms such as "al dente", "deglaze" or "puree", it's no wonder that kids loose interest in cooking pretty easily. By finding a good cookbook that has simple and easy to understand terms, you can really make learning how to cook a lot more fun for your child.

Easy Ingredients list.
If the ingredient list is simple and has items in it that your child would eat normally, then chances are that they will like to cook it. If it has brussel sprouts or asparagus, then you probably know the answer to this recipe.

Simple steps for preparation and cooking.
The steps for preparing the recipe should be simple and easy to follow for your child. Usually, one step at a time is the best method. It also helps if there is a good diagram or pictures of the steps that are easy for your child to see and compare what they are doing to what is in the cookbook.
Is it what they would eat?
If the recipe item is something that they would not eat, then chances are that they will not like to help prepare and cook it. Remember the easy ingredients list above.

Safety issues addressed.
Your child's cookbook should also include an area about food and kitchen safety issues. How to wash their hands, store food items, and kitchen appliance safety are good learning points that will help reinforce a child's cooking education for the future.

The best way to find a good cookbook for your child is to take them along to the bookstore or let them see the cookbook online with you. Letting your child help pick out the cookbook will make them feel a part of something special with you and will increase the chances of a good cooking experience with your child. Choosing the right cookbook for kids is vital to the cooking experience.
You can find out more about cookbooks and cooking for kids by visiting cookbooksforkids.blogspot.com

About the Author
Having a three year old is a challenge while trying to cook in the kitchen. In an effort to get her more involved and participating in cooking, my trials and searches for good cookbooks for kids and recipes has led me to many places. I write about those books, tips and recipes at Cookbooks for Kids.

Never-Fail Shortbread Cookies by Tonia Jordan

2012-12-29T06:39:00.000-08:00

This recipe gives you crumbling, melt in your mouth shortbread cookies. It requires that you make a dough and refrigerate it at least one hour before baking, so allow for enough time to bake these cookies.

First, prepare the dough. Ingredients you will need:
1 cup unsalted butter (not margarine), softened to room temperature½ cup powdered (confectioners) sugar1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract1 ½ cups all-purpose flour½ cup cornstarch¼ teaspoon salt

Whisk flour, cornstarch and salt in a separate bowl and set aside. In a bowl, cream butter about one minute with an electric or hand mixer. Add the sugar and beat until smooth, about 1.5 to 2 minutes. Stir in vanilla extract, then gently stir in flour mixture until incorporated. Do not over mix. Flatten the dough into a disk shape, wrap in plastic. Chill dough for 1 to 2 hours.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or spray lightly with cooking spray.
On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to ¼ inch thick. Cut into rounds or into shapes with lightly floured cookie cutters. Place on the prepared baking sheets and bake 8 to 10 minutes or until cookies are lightly browned.

(If you find that your cookies lose their shape during baking, try placing the entire baking sheet with cut dough in the refrigerator for fifteen minutes before baking. This will ensure the cookies keep their shape while baking.)

Cool on a wire rack and store in airtight containers. Cookies can also be frozen.
There are many choices for topping shortbread cookies. Some popular choices include powdered sugar, sugar sprinkles, or even dipping the ends in melted chocolate.

The great thing about shortbread dough is that it is delicious plain or with added flavors. Try adding chocolate chips, espresso powder, cinnamon or finely chopped orange or lemon zest. Each of these can add a good accompaniment to the flavor of plain shortbread.

The secret to this cookie recipe is the cornstarch. In any cookie recipe, you can replace a portion of flour with cornstarch to make the cookie have a crumbly texture. If you're looking for more of a crunchy texture, replace ¼ cup of flour with rice flour. Also, be sure to purchase pure vanilla extract, instead of imitation vanilla (which is made from synthetic vanilla and tastes more bitter). Believe me, you can taste the difference!
Particularly with cookies, using higher quality ingredients will give you a better tasting product in the end. Look for high quality butter (Grade AA is the highest grade of butter, and therefore, the highest quality).

About the Author
Tonia Jordan is an author on http://www.Writing.Com/ which is a site for Writers.

Where To Find A Replacement Bread Machine Recipe Book by Robin OBrien

2012-12-29T06:38:00.000-08:00

If you've lost the recipe book that came with your bread machine or if you bought - or were given - an old model you may want to find its replacement. But, it may not be as easy as you think. Here are some ideas on where to start looking.

It's always a good idea to have the recipe book that came with the bread machine. Many come with great recipes that have been designed for that particular model. Also, if you decide to sell your bread maker later on, having the original recipe book will make it more salable to potential buyers. If you don't know where to look, or if you're having trouble finding its replacement, try out these search ideas.

First thing to do is to contact the manufacturer; don't bother with the seller, at worst they won't help you at all and at best they'll just refer you to the manufacturer. Most can be found on the internet quite easily; just get on Google and search for the manufacturer's name followed by 'bread machine'. You'll find that a lot have printable versions of the user guides - Cuisinart and Zojirushi being two. If they don't they'll provide a phone number or an email address.

This is fine but, if your bread machine is an older model that is no longer in production, chances are, the company won't be able to send you a replacement recipe book - some manufacturers won't even be able to provide you with a replacement even if the model is still in production. So, what next?
The next step is to try and locate a bread machine book online: type in the name of your model followed by 'recipe book' on your favorite search engine. Follow the links and see if there are any sites that can offer advice and locating one. Beware of sites that offer to sell you one; they usually charge extortionate prices and it may not be the genuine article - if you look hard enough you can find someone who'll help you out for free.
If that doesn't help, go back online and search for bread machine or baking forums. These are great places to get information and advice. Don't be shy, join up and post a message on the message board. The members of these forums are just regular folks just like you, all with an interest or passion for baking home made bread.

Tell them your problem, chances are someone there will have a model like yours and will reply to your question. They'll probably help you out by offering to photocopy the manual; if they don't then ask them - most are good folks who want to help out a fellow home baker.

The internet isn't all good, but getting information is its biggest strength. If you search long enough you'll find that bread machine recipe book for your particular model; and, even if you don't you'll get to correspond with like minded individuals - people who appreciate delicious and healthy home baked bread.

About the Author
Follow the links for bread machine reviews on leading makes like the Zojirushi bread machine and the Cuisinart bread machine.

Cabbage Soup Recipes For Fine Eating by Al Bullington

2012-12-29T06:36:00.000-08:00

Cabbage soup recipes are just what you need for quick and inexpensive fall and winter meals. Cabbage is a staple in the diet of many people around the world. Just because it's common doesn't mean it isn't good. And it doesn't have to be bland and smelly either. It is a great dish when properly prepared.

One great way to use cabbage is in soup. Soup of any kind is filling and can be a low calorie part of a meal too. Cabbage soup is even the main part of a diet plan called the cabbage soup diet. With this diet you eat all the cabbage soup you want and then you have just certain foods to eat during each of seven days. The claim is that you should lose ten pounds in seven days. I've done the diet and it does work. But cabbage soup isn't just for diets.

It's cold where I live now and a pot of good soup is hard to beat. Here's the recipe my favorite cook just put together last week. I tested the product and it was mouth watering good.
Kathy's Fast Cabbage Soup
In a stock pot add:
2 quarts chicken broth
1 minced onion
2 minced garlic cloves
2 diced sweet potatoes (peeled)
1 grated small head cabbage
2 chopped celery stalks
Bring to a boil and then simmer 15 minutes.
Salt and pepper to taste. Have Tabasco sauce at the table.
Top with sour cream if that's on your diet.
Make chicken broth when you have chicken the next time. Cover leftover chicken bones with water. Bring to a boil and then lower heat and simmer for four hours. Remove bones. Then refrigerate broth.
This is thrifty peasant eating at it's best. Make up your own cabbage soup recipe using these general proportions. Of course you could substitute carrots for sweet potatoes. Make substitutions like that and make your own recipe.

About the Author
Visit our site to get more cabbage soup recipes and the detailed free 7 day cabbage soup recipe diet plan. Go to http://www.cabbagesouprecipediet.com and get the free plan and you could drop ten pounds next week. Al Bullington enjoys eating too much of his wife's great cooking.

With Coffee Pods, You Have Lots Of Flavors To Choose From by Muna wa Wanjiru

2012-12-29T06:35:00.000-08:00

In a world where speed and efficiency are everything, even coffee making is considered time consuming under certain circumstances. For those coffee drinkers who are too in a hurry to spare some time to make a regular coffee, manufacturers in the business found a viable solution: coffee pods. Coffee pre-packaged in a filter is introduced in the coffee machine and while you take the morning shower, you'll get a steaming mug of coffee waiting for you. All sorts of coffee brands are available under the form of coffee pods; they are usually sold in twenty-piece packages and they are pretty easy to use at home or at the office as well.

Most coffee pods are designed according to standard sizes, so there is no problem about them not fitting your machine. For anyone interested in gardening, it is good to mention that the left overs in the coffee pods can be used as an excellent fertilizer for your plants; not to mention that there is hardly any mess whatsoever. Coffee pods are considered one of the best ways of preparing good espressos since the same quantity of ingredients are used every time; this was actually a great solution that made working in a cafÃ© a lot easier than ever before.

Espresso is considered by many people the most difficult type of coffee to make right: lots of elements contribute to its incredible taste, water pressure, temperature, roast level and freshness. With coffee pods, one doesn't have to be experienced in making espressos since the system works every time; whether guests or clients require cream, exquisite flavor or strength, the coffee will have them all. Presently, there are dozens of coffee pods producers, among which the most famous are Philips Senseo, Mellita One, Black & Decker Home Cafe and so on.

There are not only coffee pods that can be purchased from super-markets, as the system applies very well to tea manufacturing as well. Lots of flavors to choose from and great prices are offered by almost all producers as this type of coffee packing is gaining preeminence; after all, our society tends to evolve towards the oversimplification of many processes required by normal households. Consequently, there comes a moment when using coffee pods is a lot more easier than traditional coffee making, particularly since there doesn't seem to be any difference in taste and quality.

Muna wa Wanjiru Has Been Researching and Reporting on Chess for Years. For More Information on Coffee Pods, Visit His Site at COFFEE PODS
About the Author
Muna wa Wanjiru Has Been Researching and Reporting on Chess for Years. For More Information on Coffee Pods, Visit His Site at COFFEE PODS

A Few Suggestions About How To Make Some Excellent Coffee Drinks To Spoil Yourself With by Muna wa Wanjiru

2012-12-29T06:34:00.001-08:00

With coffee being one of the most popular drinks all over the world, there's no wonder that there are a great deal of combinations that use it together with other flavors for some of the most delicious of results. Just as coffee has become an important ingredient in many types of dessert, the same observation can be made about the large number of coffee drinks that are served in bars, restaurants or in the coziness of your home. Here are a few suggestions about how to make some excellent coffee drinks to spoil yourself with or to impress family and friends at parties.

One of the most frequent coffee drinks relies on the combined effect of caffeine and alcohol, with the impact of the latter drastically reduced. Some great beverages are based on coffee and rum or cream liqueur varieties; chocolate also works great in the combination, particularly the dark kind, with at least 55% cocoa content. All you need to do is prepare some fresh coffee and add the rum or liqueur as well as the hot chocolate and mix them. The best way to serve it is warm, and you may also feel like adding a little cream for both the aesthetic effect and the taste it gives to such coffee drinks.

Among the large number of coffee drinks that are served in pubs and restaurants, we also need to mention a the sugar-caramel latte that also works great for home making. The best type of sugar to be used for the matter is cane brown sugar; add it in some milk while stirring with a whisk, then pour coffee and caramel sauce continuing to mix the combination. From the coffee drinks you may have tried, this one really works great either served cold or warm, not to mention that it is both tasty and easy to prepare.

Amaretto is one more of the many coffee drinks worth mentioning here; it mainly relies on the flavor and properties of very strong coffee, served hot in combination with whipped cream, or milk froth. You may add sugar depending on the taste, but the sweeter you make it, the more likely it is that the coffee flavor should fade. The latest trend in bars is to serve this kind of coffee drinks in wine glasses, preferably with a straw, otherwise you may enjoy drinking it with a mustache and have fun with your friends.
Muna wa Wanjiru Has Been Researching and Reporting on Chess for Years. For More Information on Coffee Drinks, Visit His Site at COFFEE DRINKS

About the Author
Muna wa Wanjiru Has Been Researching and Reporting on Chess for Years. For More Information on Coffee Drinks, Visit His Site at COFFEE DRINKS

What You Need To Make Chocolate Covered Coffee Beans At Home by Muna wa Wanjiru

2012-12-29T06:34:00.000-08:00

Given the great taste match between coffee and chocolate, no wonder there is a whole variety of sweets combining the two: chocolate candies with coffee filling, chocolate covered coffee beans, chocolate and coffee cakes and so on. You really don't have to be a chef to prepare some of the most delicious of desserts: for instance chocolate covered coffee beans are easy to make at home.

All you need is quality coffee beans and some chocolate chips to melt. What you have to do is drop the coffee beans in liquid chocolate, take them out and let the hot chocolate cool on a waxed surface. It is usually advisable to let them harden for at least six or eight hours before serving them or even more simply than that: use the freezer!

For even more delicious flavors you may add vanilla or hazelnut powder to the liquid chocolate or you may roll the chocolate covered coffee beans through such a mix while the composition is still hot. This kind of dessert makes an excellent choice for a party treat, and you can be 100% sure the guests will appreciate it.
Chocolate covered coffee beans that you make at home could be even more special if white chocolate is used for the dripping. Chips usually come in a variety of flavors: there is dark or semi-sweet chocolate that preserves the taste of roasted coffee beans unchanged. One thing you should be careful about is that the coffee beans be high quality; buy something you are familiar with or go for the grocer's recommendation.
Several highly effective tricks can be made when preparing chocolate covered coffee beans: first of all, there is no restriction about using two different types of chocolate for the coating. However, make sure there are no contrasting flavors used; for instance, white milk chocolate and hazelnut dark chocolate could be the perfect combination.

If you want to give the chocolate covered coffee beans a more intense cocoa flavor, you can use some extra cocoa powder to pass the candies through when they are not cool yet. Or another trick here relies on the use of mint candy powder to make the chocolate covered coffee beans a bit spicy.
Regardless of the choice of ingredients, the home making of this dessert requires a lot of care concerning the temperature of the melting chocolate in which you drip the coffee beans; sometimes a steam bath is more adequate to use once the chocolate has reached the boiling point.
Muna wa Wanjiru Has Been Researching and Reporting on Chess for Years. For More Information on Chocolate Covered Coffee Beans, Visit His Site at CHOCOLATE COVERED COFFEE BEANS

About the Author
Muna wa Wanjiru Has Been Researching and Reporting on Chess for Years. For More Information on Chocolate Covered Coffee Beans, Visit His Site at CHOCOLATE COVERED COFFEE BEANS

Why A Special Kind Of Coffee Cup Is Used For Every Occassion by Muna wa Wanjiru

2012-12-29T06:33:00.000-08:00

Probably the most famous and popular drink in the entire world, coffee is presently prepared in hundreds of ways all over the globe. Should you go in restaurant and check the menu for a coffee, you'll definitely be at a loss about what to choose, particularly if you don't have something specific in mind. For serving each type of coffee, a special kind of coffee cup is used. To give a simple but illustrative example here let's consider espresso for instance; this is usually served in a small coffee cup, due to the fact that it is probably the strongest kind you could have. A larger coffee cup allows room enough for adding something else in it to enhance the flavor: milk, rum, whiskey, cream and so on.

Whether you use a coffee cup with a brand name on it, or simple porcelain mugs, coffee drinking makes part of a process some even label as ritual; hence, there are some rules to be followed when you serve coffee to your guests. First of all, a coffee cup should look appealing and inviting; adding a decorative item such as a green mint leaf on the saucer will have a very pleasant aesthetic effect. Don't forget to also offer a glass of water next to the coffee cup, some people actually prefer it after a strong flavor. Furthermore, experts say that no sugar should be added in the coffee during the preparation.

Everybody is free to add as many lumps in the coffee cup as it suits his or her taste, consequently, serving it too sweet or too bitter is definitely a mistake, make it black, that's the best way to please all tastes. The same observation stays valid for the cream and milk one may add beforehand, which is not advisable either unless we're talking about some special type of coffee; however, what you could do to make the coffee cup seem even more inviting is to serve some cookies with it. Make sure that they are not too sweet, as the most intense taste should be that of coffee, not to mention that sugary snacks make coffee taste bitter.

If you want to surprise a friend or a dear one whom you know to be a great coffee lover, you may easily choose to offer him / her a personalized coffee cup. The best way to get it is by turning to a specialized company in the field which actually inscribes the text of your choice on high quality porcelain. Moreover, presenting a personalized coffee cup within a whole set, will make the gift even more unique and funny; every time your friend will drink coffee he / she will have you in mind.

Muna wa Wanjiru Has Been Researching and Reporting on Chess for Years. For More Information on Coffee Cup, Visit His Site at COFFEE CUP
About the Author
Muna wa Wanjiru Has Been Researching and Reporting on Chess for Years. For More Information on Coffee Cup, Visit His Site at COFFEE CUP

The Truth About Easy Vegetarian Recipes by Diana Pells

2012-12-29T06:31:00.000-08:00

There has been much talk about new vegetarians and critics about finding an easy vegetarian recipe. In some cases, the need to find an easy vegetarian recipe is motivated not just by the need to really find one but to satisfy curiosity as well. Is there really such a thing as an easy vegetarian recipe?

The Value of Cooking at Home
Some new vegetarians may be tempted to easily buy take outs at vegetarian restaurants. Most of us know however that there are great advantages to cooking meals at home. Home cooked meals are almost always cheaper to prepare and have the additional benefit of binding members of a family in a comfortable atmosphere. One other major plus factor for you as a vegetarian is that you are 100% sure of the cleanliness of your vegetables and what exactly goes into a dish.

Knowing What Type You Belong To
The first step to finding the right easy vegetarian recipe to cook and serve is to find out what type of vegetarian you are and the people you are going to cook for. The most common type of vegetarian is the lacto-ovo-vegetarians who eat vegetables, fruits, eggs and dairy products. A lacto vegetarian eats the same kinds of food except for the eggs.

If you are a vegan type of vegetarian, then you would probably want to do away with any animal meat and animal-based food in your easy vegetarian recipe. There are other kinds of vegetarians but these are the most common. Once you know where you, your family and your friends belong to, finding an easy vegetarian recipe will be easier.

The Recipe Myth
A common misconception with vegetarian recipes is that they are complicated to prepare. Since most vegetarians also lead busy lives, this may seem discouraging. There is however no truth to this common belief. In fact, some vegetarian recipes are the easiest to prepare.
Some vegans for example simply puree or blend fruits and vegetables for truly fresh and satisfying fibrous meals. Less strict vegetarians however also have a variety of choices. For lacto-ovo-vegetarians for example the only thing that needs to be omitted are meat products and meat based products. This means that you can basically sautÃ© or steam anything you like as long as there isn't any meat in it. For a truly substantial, tasty and healthy easy vegetarian recipe, you can substitute meat with tofu, beans, legumes and nuts.

Stocking
It is advisable for vegetarians to stock variety of fruits, vegetables, grains and dairy products at home. Aside from the usual fruits and vegetables, you can also stock up on spices, seeds, olive oil, pasta, rice, cereal and noodles. Just imagine what you can cook up even with just these basic ingredients. An easy vegetarian recipe can be as convenient as sautÃ©ing some vegetables, spices, beans, tomato sauce and topping it on rice.

Washing
One thing you have to remember about any easy vegetarian recipe is that you have to properly wash and clean all of your fruits and vegetables even those with inedible peelings. Most of these food items have changed hands so often before reaching you that they're bound to carry some dirt or bacteria. Wash your food with running water and use a brush for fruits and vegetables with dimpled, corrugated or hard skins.

About the Author
Enjoy the benefits of a vegetarian diet. Learn how to become a vegetarian with some of the tastiest easy vegetarian recipe for you.

Smiling Boys Food by Vanessa Hamlin

2012-12-29T06:29:00.000-08:00

Sick and tired of hearing "Mac n Cheese" every time you ask what your little boy would like to eat for lunch or dinner...or even breakfast?

Choosing foods that your child will actually eat can be very difficult and most mom's realize they need to be creative in order to get their boys to try new food. However, thinking of enough creative ideas for a week can be hard enough let alone coming up with an adequate amount of meals for a whole year!

After extensive searching, I've found several fun recipes that have boys everywhere smiling for food!

All recipes can be found at the corresponding links!

1. Fun Fruit Kabobs ~ Let them pretend they are "spearing" treasure with their swords as they poke each piece of fruit onto a skewer! http://www.kidshealth.org/kid/recipes/recipes/fruit_kabobs.html

2. Veggie Animals and Edible Art ~ I'll just bet your boys will come up with some really interesting animals! http://familyfun.go.com/recipes/kids/feature/famf19snack/famf19snack.html

3. Monkey Bread ~ Since every little boy is a "monkey"! http://www.weekiwis.com/monkeybread.html

4. Ants on a Log ~ You could call this a race track and cars too if your boys love racing! http://www.weekiwis.com/ants.html

5. Spider Crackers ~ Curious little boys everywhere love to play with spiders and they certainly love to play with their food. So, let them do both! http://www.weekiwis.com/spider.html

6. T-Rex Tortilla Pizza ~ GRRRR...anything scary is guaranteed to please him and dinosaurs are always a number favorite with little boys. http://www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org/?page_id=446

7. Apple Smiles ~ You'll be surprised at how many funny "mouths" can be made with just a few slices of apple, some peanut butter and mini marshmallows! Try using different colored apple slices so he can really get creative! http://www.kids4kids.biz/125%20kids%20recipes.pdf

8. Chocolate Chip Muffins ~ Chocolate is a staple in every child's life (well anyone's life) , trick them into thinking they are "eating something bad for them" and make these with wheat flour! http://www.verybestbaking.com/recipes/detail.aspx?ID=128665

9. Banana Split Cereal ~ Who could ask for more? http://www.cspinet.org/smartmouth/recipes_articles/

10. Kids - Hot Dog Pizza-Dillas ~ Another great recipe for kids by Rachel Ray, this one's definitely a crowd pleaser! http://www.rachaelraymag.com/recipes/kids-recipes/kids---hot-dog-pizza-dillas/article.html

The most important thing to remember when choosing your little boys food is, make it fun or gross! I promise if you choose either of those methods, he will eat it, regardless of what it is. Think bugs, dirt, animals or just plain silly. He loves those things...so what would make you think he wants his food any different?

About the Author
Need more boys food? Check out - Boys Food

Types of Vegetarians by Zhafran

2012-12-29T06:25:00.000-08:00

Whatever your reasons are, you have decided to explore the interesting and exciting world of vegetarianism. If you have been a vegetarian for a while or have been researching about vegetarianism, you might already have some idea of what kind of vegetarian you are or want to be.

Many people think of vegetarians as one homogeneous group that just doesn't eat meat. But nothing could be further from the truth. There are different categories of vegetarians as diverse as the reasons for going vegetarian in the first place.

A vegetarian is generally defined as someone who doesn't eat meat. But someone who is vegetarian could conceivably eat dairy products such as milk, eggs and cheese. A lacto ovo vegetarian doesn't eat meat, fish or poultry, but does consume eggs, milk or cheese. A lacto vegetarian consumes milk and cheese products, but doesn't consume eggs.

A vegan is someone who doesn't consume any animal product or by-product, including dairy food. They eat only vegetables, fruits, nuts, grains and legumes. They also don't use animal products, such as leather. Vegans also don't use white sugar because it's often processed with a substance derived from animal bones that whitens the sugar.

There are other categories within the vegetarian community. Fruitarians, for example, eat only fruit. Their rationale is that fruits, including fruits such as tomatoes, are self-perpetuating and don't need to be planted to create the food source. They consider it a way of eating that's most in balance and harmony with the earth, the most natural.

All of the above will eat cooked vegetables, fruits and legumes. There is also a growing movement towards eating only raw or living foods. This based on the assumption that cooking food processes most of the nutrients out of it, and to get all the nutritional value, vitamins and amino acids from food, it's best consumed raw, or juiced. If cooked at all, it should only be cooked to slightly over 100 degrees, so the nutrients are still retained.

The more restrictive you become with your diet, however, the more educated you need to become to be sure you're getting all the necessary proteins and vitamins that you need to maintain good health, especially muscle and heart health.

Here are 4 types af vegetarianism:
1. Lacto vegetarians- Their diet consists of no animal products, or eggs, but do include dairy products, such as milk, cheese, yogurt, etc.
2. Ovo-Vegetarians- Their diet consists of no animal or diary products but will eat eggs.
3. Lacto-ovo vegetarians- As you may have already guessed; don't include any animal products in their diet but will include dairy products and eggs.
4. Vegan- Their diet consists of only plant-based foods, which means it excludes everything that has come from an animal, such as meat, dairy, eggs, honey, etc.
If you haven't decided what kind of vegetarian you would like to be don't worry! Not everyone knows exactly what kind they want to be at first (I didn't), but by experimenting and trying different recipes you will figure out what you need and want or don't need and want.

About the Author
mampang.com Vegetarian recipe becoming vegetarian directories

Homemade Wine Recipes by Didier LeScraigne

2012-12-29T06:20:00.000-08:00

The ardent fans of homemade wine, know the significance of getting some good homemade wine recipe. Putting some fruit juice and a fermenting agent in a jar and letting it ferment for awhile will only get you a nasty fruit juice. Try your own mixtures if you are adventurous, and the fun of making your own wine is all yours, but particularly if you are a novice you'll want to follow the easy wine recipes. After getting experienced, you can start experimenting with different fruit mixes and sugar levels.

In addition to growing in your garden, concord grapes vines are beautiful ornamental and valuable plants.

A great alternative to hot cocoas, ciders, and other such drinks are Mulled wines. Not only are they very effortless to make, and once you get used to it, you can come up with your own mulled wines recipes. Take one regular bottle of any red wine and put it into a big stewing pot. Add a quarter cup of brandy, about ten cloves, 2/3 cup of sugar, some whole cinnamon sticks, and about a teaspoon of ginger. Let it simmer over very low heat, stirring it occasionally, until the sugar is dissolved. Experiment with this type of simple wine recipe by adding some favorite pureed fruit or fruit juice, or by using honey instead of sugar as a sweetener. Different types of red wines will get you either stronger or mellower flavors. This is a frenzied home made wine recipe.

Another favorite homemade wine recipe is Apple wine and while these easy wine recipes are a bit longer, they yield a very good product. The wine mix is merely 2 containers of frozen apple juice and 4 cups of sugar, with about 2-1/2 quarts of water. Now boil the sugar in about a quart of the water until it is dissolved, and add this to the apple juice. Add about 6 teaspoons of acid blend, a campden tablet, a quarter teaspoon of grape tannin, a half teaspoon of pectic enzyme, and a package of wine yeast. This is one of the most basic homemade wine recipes. You can experiment by mixing the apple juice with other fruit juices. Half apple juice and half grape juice are good; cherry or blackberry juices are also equally good. Using half grape juice and half grapefruit juice alone you may try your luck.

Do not use only sweet fruits or only tart fruits for making this delicate wine. Think of the colors of the fruit, and use two from different colors. Grape and apple, for example banana and cherry, and so on. These types of mixtures more often than not make the best easy wine recipes for homemade wines. Remember never to do the following things.

Never try to sell homemade wine as it is illegal. Do not allow vinegar flies come near your wine. Never use metal containers. Never forget to stir twice a day. Never use too much sugar. Never try to speed up fermentation by increasing the temperature. Never use unsterilized bottles. Otherwise, enjoy these simple homemade wine recipes.

About the Author

Didier LeScraigne is a grape growing expert and experienced wine maker. For more great tips on how to grow grapes and make wine visit http://www.growinggrapesandwinemaking.com

Cooking Vegetarian At Your Dinner Party by E.S. Cromwell

2012-12-29T06:18:00.000-08:00

So, you're having a dinner party and cooking will soon be underway. You've invited friends and family, set the date and planned an unofficial bill of fare, yet, there's a bump or two in your dinner party path. A few of your friends have selective eating habits, as they live vegetarian lifestyles.
At this point, you've been ready to prepare a standard meal, but now you've been positioned to prepare food in an unfamiliar cooking scenario and you're probably a bit intimidated, at least slightly unsure of what to do. Endless culinary complications and dead ends are running through your noggin. You're thinking "What can I make that will satisfy my vegetarian guests and not scare my meat-eating guests away...what can I do to solve this problem?" This 'problem' is really more so a challenge. Cooking a la vegetarian isn't a nuisance either, nor is it difficult to resolve.
There are simple ways to assure your dinner party is a success and goes over well with all your guests. Consider some of the following basic suggestions:

Consult A Vegetarian Recipe:
There is an abundant amount of recipe resources available in printed book and Internet format you can consult before starting to cook for your party. Recipes will range from levels easy to involved. It would be best to try out a beginner's or intermediate's recipe, as it would assure you less hassle and basic vegetarian preparation.
Be sure to use a strictly vegetarian specific recipe instead of altering a normal recipe to make it vegetarian. Do this simply to avoid cooking with ingredients that are otherwise vegetarian unfriendly. Many ingredients included in non-vegetarian recipes can include animal additives and to vegetarians, these are what they try to avoid.
Even while reading a vegetarian recipe, be cognizant of all ingredients that will be used. Research each one, making certain none include animal byproducts or add-ons.

Don't Stress About Shopping For Provisions:
Vegetarian friendly grocers are almost everywhere. As it stands, every grocer has a produce section, some more varied than others, but still, vegetables and fruits are plenty and not difficult to attain. And if the usual grocer does not have what you're looking for specialty stores can be visited. Farmer's markets and organic grocers can provide you with a great produce selection of the freshest quality.
If you're interested in meat substitutions, a vegetarian section in any grocer is your best bet. Any type of meat has some sort of vegetarian alternative. Vegetarian forms of lunch meats, chicken, pork and so on are all available in frozen packages which can be prepared to your liking or culinary specifications.

Separate Meat Dishes From Vegetarian Dishes:
When all your party food is cooked and ready for serving, make sure the meat dishes and vegetarian dishes are served on separate platters. Even consider visibly marking which dishes include meat and those that do not by tagging them with folded note cards.
This might be a bit silly, but also be aware to keep serving utensils separate. Assign each dish it's own serving fork and/or spoon. Do this to avoid meat dishes mingling with vegetarian dishes by utensil sharing. Even if a utensil used for serving a meat dish touches the wrong platter, especially the vegetarian one, the vegetarian guests could easily be swayed to not eat that dish.
So, that dinner party is finally here and guests are about to arrive. You went ahead to mull through some vegetarian recipes, shop for the best vegetarian food and produce, and you even meat-proofed your plating and serving methods. When it comes time to let your guests into your party, be confident. Do so because you've taken considerable steps to be a polite and accommodating host. This will show, as your guests will be comfortable, whether vegetarian or not. Enjoy your party and company knowing all is well.

About the Author
Cooking vegetarian at your dinner party? You'll need a way to store your freshly purchased produce before then. To keep your produce as fresh as the day you bought them consider green bags, specifically their reusable produce bags.

Making Durian Pastillas

2007-12-15T14:54:00.000-08:00

Making Durian Pastillas

Materials

1. 7 kg durian pilp (approx. 1,000 pilps of native variety or 3 kg chance variety)

2. 200 g powdered milk

3. 400 g white sugar

4. 400 g glucose

5. 0.5 g sodium benzoate (0.05%)

6. 0.5 g sodium metabisulfite (0.05%)

Procedure

1. select and buy sound durian fruits.

2. then extract the pilp from the fruit and remove the seeds.

3. mix all the ingredients

4. then cook the mixture until it is thick enough to be formed into balls . then cool.

5. transfer the cooked pastillas to a board sprinkled with sugar and roll to about 1/4 cm thick

6. then slice into desired size and shape

7. finally wrap individually in cellophane

Yield

16 packs (500 g pack) for native variety

18 packs (50 g pack for chance variety)

Variation

blending of 20% native variety and 80% chance variety.

The Human and Vegetable Vendetta by E.S. Cromwell

2007-12-10T01:38:00.001-08:00

Seemingly, there has been a constant feud between humans and vegetables since the dawn of mankind. Well, maybe not since then, but, there sure has been quite a conflict ever since our individual childhoods. A complete disassociation of vegetable from child was all too common. And, we're all to blame, too. As children, we could never just eat our veggies willingly. They were always left as lonesome piles on dinner plates and called every name in the book from yucky, to gross, to poopy.
As adults though, we are fine with vegetables and dare I say it, we enjoy them! We savor them because they actually taste good and the nutritional value is high. But, really, why should we eat vegetables? What makes them worth while?
A Multitude of Reasons
Nutritional Mitochondria:
Veggies are extremely healthful foods. Full of vitamins and minerals, vegetables are fantabulous sources for fiber. Even better, they're low in fat, sodium and calories.
Naturally Medicinal:
Phytochemicals - heart disease, chronic disease and cancerous preventatives ï¿½" exist in a number of vegetables. Broccoli, green peppers and spinach contain natural antioxidants that keep your body in tip-top shape, maintaining a youthful look and feel.
So, with veggie disputes behind due to beneficial knowledge, one would think things would have panned out. But alas, the quarrel with our vegetable beings is far from over. The battle has moved from our dinner tables of old to grocery stores of new. The current problem at hand isn't eating our vegetables, it's purchasing and maintaining their freshness.
Here though are a few tips to absorb and consider when it comes to choosing and housing your vegetables at home:
Keep an eye out for vegetables with bright and shining colors; they're what you want. The best produce available at a grocer will have a regular shape and size with untainted skins or surfaces.
Beyond regular and overall looks, be mindful of appearance in terms of damaging. Be sure to sift through and discard veggies that show evidence of tampering or aging. Nicks, bumps, bruises and the like can be unfavorable for future keeping and serving, as they can attract bacteria and mold to speed up spoilage in your refrigerator's crisper. When selecting your leaved vegetables, be aware of how fresh they are in the store and of the date they'll need to be consumed by; wilted and slimy romaine should be avoided at any grocer.
When purchasing your vegetables, especially if you buy fresh, be sure you'll be eating them within 3 to 5 days, as to not waste your money if they go bad. If you plan on not eating vegetables right away after grocery shopping, buy ones slightly unripe so you can store them and let them ripen over a more extended period of time. Yet, be aware that longer storage times reduces nutrient levels and overall scrumptious taste.
In-season vegetables should be purchased when they're in season! The closer you purchase a specific vegetable in relation to its growing season, the fresher that vegetable will be, obviously. And, the taste is much more enhanced and enjoyable. So, buy in season.
Opt for the produce section rather than the frozen produce section when you can. But, when some vegetables are out of season it's not a bad idea to console your frozen vegetable isle in your grocer. In some cases, frozen veggies contain lower sodium levels and a higher nutrient amount than some â€œfreshâ€ vegetables, since they're processed immediately after harvesting.
The human and vegetable vendetta, it's been an ongoing occurrence for years. We all experienced it in our childhoods and we've grown out of it. Yet, the war still wages on in adulthood, specifically in choosing that perfect vegetable at the grocers. Thankfully though, you'll at least have the above tips and tools to utilize when in combat.
About the Author
Fight for yourself against uncooperative vegetables, use reusable produce bags! Try green bags to prolong the life of your fresh produce.

Hot White Chocolate From The Ancient Cacao Bean by Dean Forster

2007-12-10T01:33:00.000-08:00

There are almost endless possibilities when it comes to choosing and buying chocolate. There are as many chocolate assortments on the market as many people's tastes for this treat. The term chocolate includes a number of foods that are produced from the seed of the tropical cacao tree, native to lowland tropical South America. People used to drink liquid chocolate beverages as back as 3000 years ago by the native Mayans and Aztecs. Chocolate is also associated with the Mayan god of fertility. A lot of the hot white chocolate consumed today is made into bars that combine cocoa solids, fats like cocoa butter, and sugar.
White chocolate is a special chocolate type. One of the first things you should know about it is that although it is called chocolate, white chocolate isn't really chocolate at all.
Yes, the white assortment comes from the same cacao plant, but it turns white because of a different production process. White chocolate was first made in New Hampshire after World War I and of course, hot white chocolate first appeared back then but only with isolated requests. Hot white chocolate isn't as popular as generic hot chocolate is, but it has way more demand than it had in those days.
Chocolate is made from useable items extracted from the ancient cacao bean. While dark chocolates use the cocoa powder ground from the seeds, the versions of white use only the butter. Actually, this is the reason for which the hot white chocolate has that very light color. White chocolate contains neither chocolate liquor nor cocoa solids. Because of this fact, the lack of chocolate syrup from its creation process, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not even consider white chocolate at all to belong to the chocolate family. Some people also state that hot white chocolate hasn't got anything to do to hot chocolate in anyway.
To create this delicious treat, producers use cocoa butter, milk solids, vanilla, sugar and lecithin; these being its main ingredients of course, for hot white chocolate, all of these are powdered (or should be). If real, natural cocoa butter is used, the result is a better tasting, higher quality product. Other producers will not use natural cocoa butter, but vegetable fats (these products are known as confectioner's coating or summer coating). Doing so, they end up with a lower quality chocolate product. If you read on the chocolate bar that vegetables fat has been used, you would better buy another assortment, made using real cocoa butter. It will simply taste better.
When they are made with natural cocoa butter, white chocolates have an ivory color. They are a tasty combination of cream and vanilla and no producer making white chocolate using vegetable fat will ever manage to match it in taste. You can also distinguish white chocolate made using cocoa butter from that made using vegetable fats by their consistency, taste and ability to be stored. White chocolate can be stored for many months before it expires. You can find out more about chocolate including recipes at http://www.gourmetdarkchocolatetruffles.com
White chocolate is very delicate by nature. It melts quite easily and it will scorch even easier. White chocolate can also be difficult to work with. When melted, the cocoa butter can split and create an oily compound that can be recovered by re-emulsifying.
If you want to melt white chocolate in your kitchen for making other treats (such as ganache or chocolate fondue), take care and slow the entire process down to be sure you do not ruin it.
White chocolate is usually used for decoration of milk or dark chocolate confections.
About the Author
Learn more about types of chocolate including Chocolate Truffles, easy to use recipes and chocolates for special occasions at => http://www.gourmetdarkchocolatetruffles.com

How to Make Your Kids Love Filipino Food by Carlo Villamayor

2007-12-10T01:31:00.000-08:00

Feeding kids can be tricky: let them pick their food and theyâ€™ll choose junk, give them healthy food and they wonâ€™t touch it. If youâ€™re a parent, youâ€™re probably familiar with the tantrums that come with every meal. But it doesnâ€™t have to be that way, especially if you know your Filipino food. Our dishes are naturally healthy and flavorful, so thereâ€™s sure to be something your kids will love.
If theyâ€™re really picky, you can always tweak the old Filipino food recipes to match their tastes. Sometimes all it needs is a little extra spice or a change in presentation. Still confused? Here are some things you can do to make your kids love Filipino cuisine, plus some recipes you can try.
Plan your meals together
Have your kids help you with your weekly meal plan. You can choose dinner one some days and let them decide the rest of the week. To help them make healthy choices, let them pick Filipino cooking recipes from a cookbook. The point is to make them feel involved. If they know theyâ€™re helping put the meals together, theyâ€™ll be more open to your ideas.
When planning your meals, make sure to keep the right balance between your choice and your childâ€™s. Donâ€™t plan for a meat dish the day after they choose pork chops or pot roast. Since the point is to give them control, try not to limit them with your own choices. Let them take their pick first, then add in your own picks to fit around them.
Suit their tastes
Take your cue from the junk foods your child likes. Does he always pick cookies and candies, or does he seem to like salty chips and crackers? If they have a sweet tooth (most kids do), sweeten up your old recipes or serve them sweet dishes such as tocino for breakfast or ginataan for afternoon snacks. If they like things a little spicy, add a couple of chilies to your soup or let them season to their own taste.
Some kids have constantly changing preferences, which might make it a little harder. If your kid likes sweets one day and barbecue the next, stock up on sauces and dips. That way, when they donâ€™t like the food, they can always grab their favorite sauce and turn it into something they like. Hereâ€™s a quick dish thatâ€™s easy to customize to any childâ€™s tastes.
Barbecue Meatloaf
Ingredients:
Â½ kg sausage, minced
Â½ kg ground beef
1 c bread crumbs
2 tsp curry powder
2 onions, chopped
1 egg
Â½ c milk
1 c water
salt, pepper and parsley
Sauce:
Â¼ c Worcestershire sauce
Â½ c tomato sauce
2 tbsp vinegar
2 tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp coffee powder
Â½ c butter
1/c packed brown sugar
Procedure: in a bowl, combine the beef, sausage, breadcrumbs, curry powder, onions, salt, pepper, and parsley. Lightly beat the egg and add to the mixture. Add the water and milk and mix well. Grease a baking dish or loaf pan, then pour in the meat mixture. Bake on moderate heat for about 30 minutes or until the meat is just done. Meanwhile, mix all the sauce ingredients and boil together until thick.. Pour over the half-cooked loaf, leaving some for basting, and bake for another 45 minutes. Baste once in a while.
Be creative
Most of the time, presentation makes all the difference between foods that children love and foods that go uneaten. Make your food more appetizing by garnishing with their favorite foods, such as cheese slices or hot dog bits. You can even let them design the garnish themselves. Look for Filipino recipes that can accommodate colorful ingredients such as peas, bell peppers and corn kernels. You can even add a bit of food color if the recipe allows.
Fruits make great garnishes for Filipino desserts recipes. Just cut up one of their favorite fruits and layer it over ice cream, cakes, or pies. Better yet, serve a variety of fresh fruits for dessertï¿½"itâ€™s healthier, and it doesnâ€™t take much preparation time.
Make trade-offs
If your child is being particularly difficult, try giving them incentives in exchange for eating healthy foods. During meal planning, for example, you can let them pick dessert if they promise to eat their vegetables. Alternatively, you can keep a stack of their favorite desserts and give it to them when they eat right. Donâ€™t overdo it, thoughï¿½"they may get used to getting treats and only eat healthy when thereâ€™s something in return.
About the Author
Carlo Villamayor is the owner and co-author of the Filipino food blog, Kusina.ph. A devoted cook, he makes it his personal mission to spread the joy of Filipino recipes with food lovers the world over. Bon appetit!

Fun Food For Kids - Start Them Off Right by Robert William Locke

2007-12-07T15:31:00.001-08:00

Obese kids are getting a hard time from the press. Figures just released in the UK say that about a quarter of five year olds are fat. They say that in the long term, that is going to affect life expectancy. Others say that these figures are not really true and that death rates are not going to be affected in any significant way by obesity.

No matter what your stance is on this, we still have to make sure our kids eat right. That means finding fun food recipes for kids. Discovering a nutritional health program at school and at home will be of paramount importance for a healthy lifestyle from now right into adulthood.

The food industry shows kids about 20,000 ads a year ! The ads rarely show foods or snacks which could be called nutritional or healthy and the aim is to make more money. Most of these snacks are full of trans fats, sugar and salt and as kids will snack constantly, this is worrying. Research just published points the finger at food additives and colourings in these snacks as a possible cause of hyperactivity and ADHD.

Getting kids to help you in the litchen is a great way of involving them and making them aware of what they eat. Kids love to try cooking and have great fun in eating what they have prepared. Their spirit of adventure is greater than we think and if they follow our boring choices, then we only have ourselves to blame.

When parents are diffident about what they eat, kids beome very choosy. Parents need to exploit their kids' curiosity about food and the best way to do this is to be really enthusiastic about what yu are eating. Then they will more than likely want to try it. As a family we should always eat together- research shows that teenagers who were on a healthy nutritional program had always eaten with the family.

Why do kids always choose the same old boring things on the kids' menus? Fact is they are just repeating the same old routine and going for the fish fingers and chicken nuggets which they always have at home ! Again, being enthusiastic about food is a great way for parents to get them out of the rut. Another way is to not let them choose from the kids' menu but to have somrthing with you from the normal menu - in this way they can be involved in the choice.

When The University of Minnesota did a survey of the schools who were offering healthy nutritional lunches alongside with more traditional fare, they found that there was no reduction in the sales for the healthier meals. Some schools now offer a low-fat turkey hot dog and have found that this healthy alternative is popular with the students.

Another great way of getting kids into a nutritional health program without them even realizing it is to get out your blender and go for the smoothies. Kids do not like greens or fruit but when you mix them in a smoothie, then it is much more attractive and easy for them for to drink - tons better than a bottle of soda pop!

About the Author

Tired of thinking up healthy recipes for a healthy nutritional program for your kids ? Fun Food For Kids For Health Tips, visit The Wellness Bible for the latest news and research on wellness, fitness and medicine.

Filipino Food Rice Toppings by Carlo Villamayor

2007-12-07T15:26:00.000-08:00

Rice has always been the staple food in Filipino cuisine, but until recently, plain and fried were the only varieties we knew. It was only a few years ago that we started playing around with rice recipes such as java, garlic, chili, and Chinese. But what seems to be a hit among Filipinos is rice toppings, wherein meat and vegetable dishes are served on top of a box of rice. It's the same old Filipino food, but packed in a light, convenient way. You've probably seen them in malls, sidewalks, and school cafeterias.

But although they come in handy on busy days, they're often overpriced, especially considering that you can do them yourself at home. That's right--you don't have to run to the mall whenever you're craving. What's more, there are no long lines and you can mix and match toppings as you please. Here are some Filipino food recipes that make excellent rice toppings.

Chicken Curry It's more Indian than Filipino, but it fits in perfectly with other Filipino cooking recipes. Curry blends well with rice because of its strong flavors. Use it on plain white rice--flavored varieties will wash out the taste of the curry.

Ingredients: 3 cups chicken meat, diced 1 cup chicken broth 2 tbsp curry powder 1 small onion, chopped ½ tsp powdered ginger ¾ cup flour ¾ cup butter 2 ½ cups milk garlic to taste

Procedure: In, melt the butter and sauté the ginger, garlic, onion, and curry powder. Set on low heat and let stand for about 1 minute. Add in the broth and milk and stir until the soup is thick. Stir in the chicken and cook until the chicken is done. Serve over white rice.

Stir-fried Beef Teriyaki Filipinos love teriyaki dishes because of their distinct Asian flavor. They make excellent rice toppings because they're easy to cook and personalize--you can make them all-meat, all-veggie, or a mix of the two like most Filipino recipes. This recipe can be prepared in advance, perfect for those hectic weekdays.

Ingredients: ½ kg beef round, cut into strips 3 tbsps teriyaki sauce 2 tsps cornstarch 2 bell peppers, cut into strips 6 spring onions, thinly sliced 4 tsps vegetable oil

Procedure: In a bowl, mix together the cornstarch, teriyaki sauce, and half of the vegetable oil. Stir in the beef and refrigerate for about 45 minutes. Meanwhile, stir-fry the onions and bell peppers in the remaining oil for about 3 minutes. Remove from the pan, then stir-fry the marinated beef for another 3 minutes. Stir in the vegetables and cook until the beef is done.

Honey Lemon Chicken This tasty topping provides a good contrast to wild and flavored rice, especially the Chinese and garlic varieties. It also goes well with cold Filipino desserts recipes and salads. The dish is fairly easy to prepare; you can have it ready in less than 30 minutes.

Ingredients: 4 pcs skinless chicken breasts, chopped 1/3 cup honey ¼ cup lemon juice ¼ cup butter, melted 2 tbsp hot water 1 tsp seasoning

Procedure: Preheat oven to 325oF. Place the chicken breasts in a baking dish with the bone side facing down. Sprinkle with seasoning. Set aside. Mix the honey and hot water, then add the butter and lemon juice. Pour over the chicken breasts and cover with foil. Bake until the chicken is just done. Remove the cover and baste with the remaining sauce. Continue cooking until the chicken is browned, basting occasionally to add flavor.

Sweet and Sour Pork A favorite viand among Filipinos, sweet and sour pork is a perfect complement to almost any rice variety. It's great for kids as it offers a nice blend of flavors and a balance of meat and vegetables.

Ingredients: ¾ kg pork loin, deboned and sliced into bite-size pieces 2 ½ c pineapple chunks (reserve juice) 1 tbsp soy sauce ¼ c vinegar ¼ c packed brown sugar ½ c onion slices 1 pc green onion, thinly sliced 2 tbsp cornstarch ½ tsp salt ¾ c water

Procedure: sauté the pork in vegetable oil until it turns light brown. In a bowl, combine the water, pineapple juice, soy sauce, vinegar, salt and sugar. Mix until well dissolved. Pour over the pork andlet it simmer until the meat is soft. Dissolve the cornstarch in 2 tablespoons of water, then add to the pork. Turn down the heat and continue stirring until the mixture thickens. Stir in the pineapple chunks, pepper and onions. Simmer for another 10 minutes, then serve over rice.

About the Author

Carlo Villamayor is the owner and co-author of the Filipino food blog, Kusina.ph at http://www.kusina.ph A devoted cook, he makes it his personal mission to spread the joy of one of his Filipino cooking recipes at http://www.kusina.ph/unique-filipino-fiesta-recipes/ with food lovers the world over. Bon appetit!

Bake Cookies and Still Cut Calories: Learn How to Avoid Gaining 10 Pounds this Christmas by Arlene Pellicane

2007-12-07T15:22:00.000-08:00

When you open your favorite magazine, you see delicious Christmas cookie recipes. Stop by the grocery store and you canâ€™t avoid the special baking displays lined with brown sugar and cake mixes. Christmas means â€œstart baking!â€ The old Pillsbury advertisement said it well, â€œNothing says loving like something from the oven!â€ So how can a mother bake delightful treats for her children without gaining ten extra pounds in December?

1. Bake & Give. Make a list of the neighbors and friends youâ€™d like to bless and then make up a plate for each household. Pull out your favorite recipes: sugar cookies, seven layer bars, chocolate peanut butter balls, and go to town! Have your kids help you bake and decorate your delicious cookies. By the time you get all your cookies wrapped up, there shouldnâ€™t be too many leftover. Just enough for you and your family to enjoy as a special treat, instead of a cookie invasion to last for weeks.

2. Freeze & Save. Freeze leftover cookies and enjoy them slowly in the New Year. They will keep perfectly delicious in your freezer for three months. If you receive lots of treats from different neighbors or coworkers, you can freeze those also. Just enjoy a few cookies and freeze the rest to enjoy in January, February and March. You can divvy up the cookies evenly among family members and bet on who can make the cookies last the longest.

3. Shop & Skip. When youâ€™re out grocery shopping, skip buying the gingerbread pound cake theyâ€™re sampling, the egg nog, and the special holiday M&Ms. Donâ€™t buy any special treats for yourself or your family. There will be plenty of opportunities for treats at school Christmas parties, office parties, neighborhood partiesâ€¦you get the picture.

You donâ€™t need to be a Scrooge and outlaw all cookies in December. But you canâ€™t say yes at every temptation or else youâ€™ll look like Santa Claus come New Year. So bake your favorite cookies, share them with your friends and loved ones, and enjoy the tastes of Christmas in moderation.

About the Author

Arlene Pellicane, mother of a toddler and infant, helps women lose their baby weight and thrive as wives and mothers. Her weekly podcast "Losing Weight After Baby" is full of practical ideas that work for busy moms. An everyday mom herself, you can visit Arlene's website for free articles and exercises at http://www.losingweightafterbaby.com

How To Cook Salmon - Tasty Broiled Salmon Recipes by Anselmo Mendez

2007-12-07T15:17:00.000-08:00

There are lots of recipes for salmon you can search online and once you read this article, it will be certainly a great addition to your collection of easy salmon recipes.

BROILED FISH - 1

The best way in which to cook small fish, thin strips of fish, or even good-sized salmon that are comparatively thin when they are split open is to broil them. Since in this method of cooking the flavor is entirely retained, it is especially desirable for any fish of delicate flavor.

To broil salmon, sear them quickly over a very hot fire and then cook them more slowly until they are done, turning frequently to prevent burning. As most salmon fish, and particularly the small ones used for broiling, contain almost no fat, it is necessary to supply fat for successful broiling and improvement of flavor. It is difficult to add fat to the fish while it is broiling, so, as a rule, the fat is spread over the surface of the fish after it has been removed from the broiler. The fat may consist of broiled strips of bacon or salt pork, or it may be merely melted butter or other fat.

BROILED FISH - 2

Bluefish, young cod, mackerel, salmon, large trout, and all other fish, when they weigh between half a pound and four pounds, are nice for broiling. When smaller or larger they are not so good. Always use a double broiler, which, before putting the fish into it, rub with butter. This prevents sticking. The thickness of the fish will have to be the guide in broiling. A bluefish weighing four pounds will take from twenty minutes to half an hour to cook. Many cooks brown the fish handsomely over the coals and then put it into the oven to finish broiling. Where the salmon is very thick, this is a good plan. If the fish is taken from the broiler to be put into the oven, it should be slipped on to a tin sheet, that it may slide easily into the platter at serving time; for nothing so mars a dish of fish as to have it come to the table broken.

In broiling, the inside should be exposed to the fire first, and then the skin. Great care must be taken that the skin does not burn. Mackerel will broil in from twelve to twenty minutes, young cod (also called scrod) in from twenty to thirty minutes, bluefish in from twenty to thirty minutes, salmon, in from twelve to twenty minutes, and whitefish, bass, mullet, etc., in about eighteen minutes. All kinds of broiled salmon can be served with a seasoning of salt, pepper and butter, or with any fish sauces. Always, when possible, garnish with parsley or something else green.

Hope you enjoy these easy to cook broiled salmon recipes.

About the Author

For more ways how to cook salmon, check out Recipes for Salmon blog and more great collections of great tasting, healthy and easy recipes for salmon.

How to Choose Vegetarian Meals that Are Nutritious and Filling by Muna wa Wanjiru

2007-12-07T15:01:00.000-08:00

The way to good health starts with eating vegetarian meals that are nutritious and filling. You will find that many people feel that a meal is complete when you have meats, vegetables and gravies as part of the main meal.

Whenever you are planning vegetarian meals with a vegetarian main dish you should see that you have chosen one that will provide you with most of the nutrients that your body needs. Any gravies and dressings that you will be using should be light in calories and texture.

These dishes can be ones like bean burritos, eggplant gratin, vegetable biriyani, Zucchini lasagna and others. For meat lovers you have a number of different main vegetarian dishes. These will mock lamb curry, Moussaka, mock beef bourguignon are among the meatless meat dishes that you will find are a perfect substitute vegetarian main dish.

The different foods that you choose should complement each other. Since you will need to make sure that everyone has more than enough to eat you should ensure that you have a goodly selection of vegetarian dishes available in varying quantities.

Once you have decided to have full vegetarian meals you will need to choose the foods for the meal. Since each person has different tastes in foods you will need to take these into account when you are looking at the different foods that you can make.

Since there are so many different foods that can be made with vegetables you will need to look at how these foods are prepared. This preparation method will help you to see what changes you may need to make.

The addition of raw and blanched vegetables will provide an interesting contrast to your vegetarian meals. You can cut some raw vegetables and keep them for at home snacks. The different vegetables and fruits you can change into delicious tasting smoothies. These raw snacks and smoothies will allow you the opportunity of introducing your family to the delights of vegetarian foods in small stages.

Looking at these different foods that you can use, will allow you to make vegetarian meals that provide your family with all of the dayâ€™s nutrients that are needed. You should look at the vegetarian recipes to find the full value of these meals and the different foods.

While there are some people who may feel that vegetarian meals are bland and pale into comparison when compared to other foods, you will find this is only true based on the foods that you choose. Vegetarian meals which are prepared in a tasty manner will help you to choose a better lifestyle.

Muna wa Wanjiru Has Been Researching and Reporting on Vegetarian Cooking for Years. For More Information on Vegetarian Meals, Visit His Site at VEGETARIAN MEALS

About the Author

Muna wa Wanjiru Has Been Researching and Reporting on Vegetarian Cooking for Years. For More Information on Vegetarian Meals, Visit His Site at VEGETARIAN MEALS