COOKING & FOOD

Cooking Food Well: So Much More Than Just Food Preparation

noreply@blogger.com (the.denzo) — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 03:04:00 +0000

Food Preparation Methods

At first glance, the phrase "to cook food well" seems to have a superficial meaning. It seems to simply refer to a chef's ability or technique. Or to jokingly refer to well done meat, meat with all the juice, flavor, and life cooked straight out of it. But I think cooking food well means much more than that. If you assume that to have one of the great meals of your life the food must be the result of "cooking well", then the phrase expands to take on a whole new world of meaning. The great meals of life involve food that is fresh, vibrant, and delicious. Food this good is based on two things happening simultaneously: it was prepared using recipes and techniques that come from a rich cultural heritage, and was prepared by a chef dedicated to making the best food possible. These two conditions set the stage for a meal that can teach you something about yourself and perhaps broaden your understanding of the world.

For instance, any sociologist will tell you that food is a repository of cultural information, a sociology lesson on a plate. The cooking techniques and dishes of a people reflect the climate and geography of their home country. The choice of ingredients can illustrate the social divisions of a society, showing the economic and class boundaries that separate the rich from the poor. Food can also show the bonds that bring a people together, such as the special meals prepared for festivals and celebrations. Food has the power to carry this information because in every culture, it carries a wealth of ideological meaning. People attach this meaning and importance to food because food is crucial to survival. Everybody must eat. And when someone cooks a culturally authentic dish for you, they are not just feeding you. They are communicating with you on a most fundamental level. They are giving you something that helps keep you alive by satisfying a gut-level need of your body, and telling you a story about who they are and about the people to whom this food is important, all at the same time. To cook food well is to understand that the by cooking this meal, you are delivering a potent message, an almost magic gift with the power to sustain life and to tell a story of a people.

To create this magic message requires a commitment to creating the best food possible. Incredibly good food, the kind of food that is full of the flavors, colors, and textures that can deliver on the promise of being a great meal, is not the product of institutional cooking. Rather, it comes from a chef who is dedicated to making good food. A chef that will not take shortcuts for convenience or to increase profit. A chef that will look for and use the best ingredients available, often what's local and in season, with no compromises. This chef, this person with the dedication and vision to create great food, is not necessarily someone who works for a sophisticated, high-class restaurant. They may be a nobody, someone who isn't famous and never will be. But they are someone who knows how to cook. They may be a street vendor, or a friend's grandmother, or a short-order cook in a roadside café. They may have no degree from a culinary institute or they may be famous, but whatever their background they know how to cook food well.

Cooking food well is about more than just creating food that fills an empty belly. It is about giving the eater an experience that transcends simply satisfying hunger. It's about telling the cultural history of the food, the origins of the dish, the spices, the technique...it's about communicating the wealth of knowledge that comes from authentic cooking with each bite the eater takes. It's about making the best food possible out of the best ingredients available, or what you can afford, to make something you know is good. It's an investment in the health and happiness of who you are cooking for while honoring the people who brought this dish into being. This, my friends, is cooking food well.

Baking And Cooking Autumn Food

noreply@blogger.com (the.denzo) — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 17:26:00 +0000

Autumn Recipes

Autumn is a month where the fruits in the super markets start to change and the ice cream counters are reduced to hold Christmas party things such as mince pies and savoury party snacks.
Autumn food can be just as delicious as summer food if planned correctly. Salads can still be made but instead of cold fillings why not have a warmed tossed salad with a warm meat or dressing served with warm toasted baguettes and butter.
Warm crumbles with winter berries are very popular and easy to make. They make a great addition to any meal and taste wonderful.
For the quick way warm up the fruit in a pan or microwave until they are soft apply two table spoons of sugar and gently heat again. Use a crumble mix pre-made to add water and pour over the top, place in the oven until browned and enjoy with ice-cream, custard, or whipped cream.
Everyone makes it different but to make it all from scratch using fruits that are fresh and in season follow a cookery book or measures and quantities.
A popular autumn meal is casseroles served hot with fresh vegetables and dumplings. A slow cooker is an ideal way to cook and prepare a casserole. Choose vegetables that give off a lovely flavour when slowly simmered such as onions, carrots, celery, Swede and many more. Place in with a meat or quorn alternative of your choice and add a casserole mix packet for added flavour place on the lid and leave, go to work ect. After around 4 hours the meal is cooked beautifully and ready to add the dumplings, serve hot.
There is no set meal for any season but autumn is well known for stews, casseroles, soups broths and warmer dishes to take off the chill. Many famous cook and chefs bring out book with dishes inspired for autumn.

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jessica_Damien

A guide to Indian curries

noreply@blogger.com (the.denzo) — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 10:26:00 +0000

Indian Recipes in Tamil

Many of us know that Indian curries are famous for its spicy nature. As a land of immigration Indian cuisine is influenced by immigrants and is flexible to accept new kind of food with their blend of spices. Indian cuisine is diverse in its form and yet the essence remains the same throughout the country.
The word curry comes from the Tamil word 'kari' which is a sauce of various spices. Curry powder which is actually a mix of spices collectively called as garam masala. Speaking about spices, Cinnamon, Cloves, Bay leaves, Cardamom, Fennel seeds, Cumin seeds, Coriander, Turmeric and Chilli powder and Fenugreek seeds plays very important role in garam masala preparation.
Also Garlic, Ginger and Mint are used for wet curries. But Coriander, Chilli and Turmeric powder are the basic needs for Indian curries. Indian curry are prepared by using oil, water and flame, since there is no raw food (Raw foodism or rawism is a lifestyle promoting the consumption of un-cooked, un-processed, and often organic foods as a large percentage of the diet) eating habit.
Some places in India, the vegetables and meat which served as side dish called as curry. Also curry denotes vegetables among vegetarian people and it denotes meat, chicken and other non-veg items among non-vegetarians. And leaves which are used for seasoning purposes called as curry leaves may confuse foreign people who taste Indian cuisine at first time.
These Indian curries go well with Rice and chapatti which is consumed as a staple food in India. Curry powder gives additional flavor and aroma to the recipe and makes the food simply delicious. Indian curries are prepared with delicate mixtures of many different fresh and dried spices.
The proportion of spices varies for each variety and it differs from home to home and no need to say it varies demographically as well. Andhra curry will be rich in chili powder. Tamilnadu people like food with medium spicy. North Indian people like food with more masala and Keralites like their curries with coconut taste.
Indian rituals or customs are unique and it carries some scientific information underneath. Like that, Indian cuisine also has some medicinal value in it. Chilli stimulates appetite, kills pesticides and microorganism present in food.
Cinnamon very useful in treating nausea and diarrhea, Coriander excellent for the eyes, Cumin healing stitches and pain, Fennel cures obesity, Turmeric has been linked to cancer-prevention, Ginger for coughs and colds and so on... Spices supply calcium, iron, vitamin B and C, carotene and other antioxidants.
So enjoy Indian food while the ingredients help your system.
Learn more about this author, Indira Ananthakrishnan.

Delicious Recipes

noreply@blogger.com (the.denzo) — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 16:13:00 +0000

Beef with Shiitake Mushroom Sauce

INGREDIENTS

2 (4 ounce) beef tenderloin steaks (1 inch thick)
1 1/2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
1 tablespoon dry white wine
1 teaspoon minced peeled fresh ginger
2 cloves garlic, minced and divided
1 1/2 cups water
1 (.5 ounce) package dried shiitake mushrooms (about 1/2 cup)
cooking spray
1 teaspoon dark sesame oil
2/3 cup sliced green onions
2 cups hot cooked long-grain rice

DIRECTIONS

Trim fat from steaks. Combine hoisin sauce, wine, ginger, and 1 garlic clove in a shallow dish. Add the steaks; cover and marinate in refrigerator 2 hours, turning steaks occasionally.

Combine water and mushrooms in a saucepan; bring to a boil. Remove from heat; cover and let stand 30 minutes. Remove mushrooms from pan with a slotted spoon, reserving liquid. Discard mushroom stems; cut caps into quarters, and set aside. Bring mushroom liquid to a boil; cook until reduced to 1/3 cup (about 5 minutes). Remove from heat. Remove steaks from marinade; add marinade to reduced mushroom liquid; set aside.

Prepare grill or broiler.

Place steaks on grill rack or broiler pan coated with cooking spray; cook 6 minutes on each side or until desired degree of doneness. Set aside and keep warm.

Heat the sesame oil in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms, green onions, and 1 garlic clove; saute 2 minutes. Add marinade mixture, and cook 2 minutes.

Cut the steaks diagonally across grain into thin slices. Arrange steak on each of 2 plates, and top with mushroom sauce. Serve with cooked rice.

Grilled Marinated Flank Steak

INGREDIENTS

2 (1 1/4 - 1 1/2 lb.) flank steaks
1/2 c. soy sauce (low sodium)
1/2 c. oriental sesame oil
3 tbsp. red wine vinegar
Fresh ground pepper
2 med. garlic cloves, crushed

DIRECTIONS

Place in non aluminum pan. Whisk soy, oil, vinegar and generous amount of pepper in medium bowl. Cover pan tightly and refrigerate 24 hours, turning steaks occasionally. Barbecue high heat 4 minutes per side (medium rare). Transfer to platter and let rest 5 minutes.

Fruit Rum Punch

INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 cups rum
1/3 cup banana liqueur
1 dash grenadine syrup
1 (6 ounce) can frozen orange juice concentrate
1 (6 ounce) can frozen pineapple juice concentrate
1 orange, sliced into rounds
1 lime, sliced into rounds
1 lemon, sliced into rounds

DIRECTIONS

In a large punch bowl, prepare the orange and pineapple juice according to package directions. Stir in the rum, banana liqueur and Grenadine. Float slices of orange, lime and lemon on top.

Irish coffee

INGREDIENTS

1 Shot Irish Whiskey
1 Teaspoon raw sugar
1 heaping spoonful whipped cream
Strong, hot coffee

DIRECTIONS

Pre-warm a stemmed glass. Pour in the whiskey. Add sugar and coffee. Float the whipped cream on top.

Don't stir! Sip your drink through the whipped cream.

Banana Strawberry Smoothie

INGREDIENTS

1 cup skim milk -- cold
8 ounces strawberry yogurt
2 bananas
1 tablespoon lemon juice

DIRECTIONS

Use a blender or food processor for this recipe.
Put all ingredients in blender and turn to puree mode until of desired consistency. (Make only about 2 servings at one time so the blender will not be overfull.) If using a food processor, use the steel knife to process; 8-10 seconds will be sufficient.

Serve in a tall glass.

Paleo Cookbook

noreply@blogger.com (the.denzo) — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 15:32:00 +0000

With These Recipes In Your Hands, You Can Achieve The Best Health Of Your Life, Be In The Best Shape Of Your Life And Experience More Energy Than Ever Before... Let Me Show You How...

Dear friend,

By eating foods provided by mother nature, foods that were available to our hunter gatherer ancestors, foods which are basic to our biology and our digestive system, you can begin to experience these wonderful results in your health, and many more!

As you will soon find out, thousands of people have followed the paleo diet using the same ingredients I have used within the Paleo Cookbooks and have achieved greater results in their health and well-being than ever before.

I want to tell you straight off the bat that the paleo diet is not a diet designed by diet doctors, faddists, or nutritionists; it is a diet designed by nature. It is not the latest weight loss program a diet that leaves you craving tasty foods or a new fad for increasing your energy... The paleo diet is a diet that gets your body healthy - all the positive results simply fall into place.

Increased Energy
Increased Sex Drive
Clearer, Smoother Skin
Weight Loss Results
Better Performance and Recovery
Stronger Immune System

Let me introduce myself. My name is Nikki Young and for the last few years I have been helping people get their lives back on track - helping them achieve higher levels of energy, teaching them how to eat more nutritiously on their own and educating them on the importance of following a healthy diet.

My clients have achieved results in their health, including losing unwanted body-weight, having their skin acne clear up, fighting allergies, achieving their highest levels of fitness while experiencing the true benefits a healthy body can bring.

I've been offering nutritional education and seminars to everyone from the average Joe to qualified personal trainers, nutritionists and beauty therapists - helping them become happier and healthier by simply cooking with the foods of the paleo diet.

When you have your hands on these delicious recipes that I have put together, the same recipes I have passed onto my clients as well as health professionals I have consulted with, and the exact same recipes that have helped them to follow a healthier diet and achieve greater results in their health - you can too.

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Quite Simply, I Believe This Is The Healthiest
And Most Beneficial Diet We Can Follow

Imagine seeing and feeling more results in your body and health in a week than you ever have in a lifetime.

These are the results my clients have experienced and that I have experienced as well - that's why I'm a huge advocate for the paleo diet and I believe you too can experience how amazing it is to suddenly be able to go through your days with more energy, while seeing a happier, healthier body in the mirror.

How can eating natural foods that make up the paleo diet promote such wonderful results? Simple: It is the nutritional value within each and every single food source that our body thrives for. It is the vitamins, minerals, protein, fats and low GI carbohydrates that maintains the health of every organ in our body - and when everything is functioning optimally, you can't help but to experience all the health benefits associated with optimal health.

This is why I have created the Paleo Cookbooks, a total collection of hundreds of my favorite paleo friendly recipes that will help you follow the healthiest and most nutritious diet in the world. These Cookbooks contain:

Grains
Potatoes
Lentils
Dairy
Processed sugar
Preservatives

"Nikki, you have done an outstanding job with these Paleo Cookbooks. My experience in working with patients has shown me that explaining the diet to them and convincing them of its value are the easy parts. Getting them to actually implement it into their daily lives is definitely not! With your cookbooks, you have created some rare resources for those people who are willing to give this very necessary way of eating a try, in a simple and immediately accessible format. I look forward recommending the Paleo Cookbooks to my patients over and over again!"

~ Dr. Daniel Chong
Naturopathic Doctor and founder of SeekHealth.Net

"As a professional health and fitness coach, I tell all my clients to follow the one simple rule for better health and lasting weight loss...."eat real foods". But the biggest issues my clients (and most people out there trying to lose weight) have is learning how to make "real foods" taste great. The Paleo Cookbooks have now taken the guess work out of preparing healthy meals and are a must have in my book for anyone wanting real long term results simple and tasty "real food" dishes."

~ Mike O'Donnell'
Certified personal trainer & health coach

Discover How To Create Healthy And Tasty
Meals In Your Own Kitchen!

With these Paleo Cookbooks I will show you that eating healthy meals does not result in you eating bland, boring or tasteless foods...

You will be cooking with fresh ingredients that provide the ultimate range of delicious flavors that will have anyone rushing to the kitchen to eat your next meal...

You will be able to cook desserts that aren't overloaded with sugar and white flour which often leave you bloated, 'heavy' feeling or fatigued after eating...

And you will feel confident cooking delicious recipes without pasta, rice, bread and dairy.

Over 150 Recipes Per Cookbook - Using 100% raw, natural, healthy
ingredients with exciting flavors that will boost your enjoyment for
eating truly healthy meals.
Simple and Easy to Create Recipes - With clear step by step
instructions you will produce paleo friendly meals that will get rave
reviews from friends and family every time!
8 Recipe Categories - Recipes under the following categories will
excite your taste-buds and have you cooking an easy three course
meal:

Snacks
Meat
Chicken
Fish and Seafood
Soups
Salads
Omellettes
Desserts

Special Recipe Categories - Each Paleo Cookbook contains
unique categories:

Recipes for the 21st Century Hunter Gatherer

Chocolate
Capsicum Sandwiches
Noodle Recipes

Paleo Eating for Modern People

Breakfast Recipes
Foccacias

Measurement Conversion Table - No matter what metric system
you use, you will easily be able to make these recipes without
any hassle!
Absolutely everything you'll need to follow the healthiest diet in the
world and to start achieving the health, energy, vitality and weight loss
results you want.

There is a Reason You Have Never Seen A Picture
Of a Fat Caveman...

The paleo diet is a natural, utterly-simple way of eating that promotes dramatic health benefits and weight loss results you will never achieve from any other diet, weight loss program or fad diet you have or haven't yet come across.

When you consume foods we as humans have evolved to eat, while simultaneously eliminating the over processed sugar laden foods now linked to causing the many diseases we are faced with in society today, your body will be provided with the pure nutrition that will assist in normalizing your body weight.

You and I are designed to eat and live off the land, to eat fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, seeds and animals - this is the ultimate secret (which isn't really a secret) to optimal health, losing weight and staying lean.

COOKING & FOOD

Cooking Food Well: So Much More Than Just Food Preparation

Baking And Cooking Autumn Food

A guide to Indian curries

Delicious Recipes

Grilled Marinated Flank Steak

Fruit Rum Punch

Irish coffee

Banana Strawberry Smoothie

Paleo Cookbook

With These Recipes In Your Hands, You Can Achieve The Best Health Of Your Life, Be In The Best Shape Of Your Life And Experience More Energy Than Ever Before... Let Me Show You How...

Dear friend,

Quite Simply, I Believe This Is The Healthiest And Most Beneficial Diet We Can Follow

Discover How To Create Healthy And Tasty Meals In Your Own Kitchen!

There is a Reason You Have Never Seen A Picture Of a Fat Caveman...

Quite Simply, I Believe This Is The Healthiest
And Most Beneficial Diet We Can Follow

Discover How To Create Healthy And Tasty
Meals In Your Own Kitchen!

There is a Reason You Have Never Seen A Picture
Of a Fat Caveman...