Tuesday, May 31, 2011

When Do We Normally Use a Digital Meat Thermometer?

Digital-Meat-Thermometer is a powerful in insuring safety in the food we eat. There are a variety of products where we can use the instrument. To give you a little head's up on the functions of digital thermometer for meat, it is an instrument inserted in our cooked or processed meat to measure the meats temperature. You might ask the importance of meat temperature.
The meat's temperature will tell us if the meat is cooked or not, or if the meat is still subject to living harmful bacteria that reside in the food we eat. There are different types an kinds of Digital-Meat-Thermometer, though these thermometers have the common goal, and that is to keep our food safe. The digital meat thermometer can be subjected to different types of meat and poultry products. This article will be dealing more about the products where digital meat thermometers are commonly used.
First is for poultry products. There is actually a type of meat measuring temperature that is intended for poultry products alone. This is the pop-up type. What is normally done is the thermometer is being inserted to the turkey or chicken breast. Make sure that the thermometer will not touch the bones. It is different if the product is stuffed since the stuffing temperature must at least reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit. For stuffed products, the measurement should be done near and at the end of the stand time.
Digital-Meat-Thermometer can also be used for beef, lamb meat, roasts, chops or steaks, and all other types and kinds of meets including van and ham. It is still the same process wherein you have to insert the thermometer into the meat. However, for accuracy and efficiency, it should be inserted into the meats' thickest part, away from the meats' gristle and fats.
Another product where the instrument can be used is on ground products. It may b meat or poultry products. The same process applies. All you have to do is to insert the meat thermometer on the thickest part of the ground product to get accurate and efficient results. However, for thin items such as patties, the meat thermometer can be inserted sideways.It can also be used in casseroles and egg dishes with the same instructions apply. The insertion of the digital meat thermometer should either be in the beginning of the cooking time, or after the product has been cooked depending on the type and usage of the digital meat thermometer.
Bearing in mind these proper usages of digital meat measuring temperature will be beneficial for those people who are health-conscious and want everything safe. This will lead us to a safer product, which may be in form of meat of poultry products. This information will also educate us about the proper usage and the products where it can be used for future reference. This way, we will ensure to use it properly, and accurately across applicable poultry an meat products we get from the market.




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How to Cure and Smoke Your Own Meats

In the days before man had refrigerators, curing meats guaranteed a supply of meat throughout the summer months when food poisoning from spoilage was a constant and ever-present danger. Even today, where proper refrigeration methods are readily available, cured meats are still an excellent and wonderfully tasty way to create your very own restaurant or deli quality meats.

In order to cure and smoke your own meats, you will need a few things first. Obviously you will need something to hold everything in, so get a container made of stainless steel, glass, or plastic. Additionally, it must be large enough to hold the brine solution plus the meat. Aluminum, tin, or copper can react with the salts used in curing and cause the meat take on an off flavor and color. Food safe plastic buckets are perfect for this method.

Meat Casseroles

The brine curing process takes a number of days, so if you are in more of a hurry, the next item on your list should be a meat Injector or pump. This is essentially a big syringe, or a pump system, that allows you to distribute pickle ingredients evenly throughout the interior of the meat to assist in protection from harmful microbes. This process also allows the curing to begin on the inside of the meat and work outwards, while the brine will cure from the outside in. Together these two elements will provide an even cure even with the the required wait times reduced significantly.

A smoker is obviously something that you have to obtain as well. Without it, it is pretty much impossible to smoke a piece of meat!

Now that you have everything you need, lets create our cure.

Ingredients for 5 Gallons Of Brine/Curing Solution - If you will require more than 5 gallons, this recipe is easily doubled and tripled. If you don't need a full 5 gallons, you can cut this recipe in half or even one-quarter. You can brine as much product as you can submerge in your brine (without overcrowding).

A GOLDEN RULE OF CURING YOU MUST REMEMBER: DON'T SAVE OR RE-USE THE BRINE - IT SHOULD ONLY BE USED ONE TIME!!! THE RISK OF CROSS CONTAMINATION AND ILLNESS IS TOO GREAT TO EVEN THINK ABOUT RE-USING YOUR BRINE!!!

5 Gallons Water1 Lb. Canning Salt 1 Lb. Cure 1-1/2 Lb. Dextrose or Corn SugarChill the water to 38 F and dissolve all of the ingredients listed above in the water to make the brine/curing solution. Thoroughly trim the meat of fat and waste. Once trimmed, wash the turkey, chicken, bacon or ham with very cold water in order to keep the meat chilled and as close to 38 F as possible.

After washing, submerge the meat in the brine solution for 4-5 days, keeping the meat and brine at a steady 38-40 F. To keep the meat from floating above the brine, place a heavy plate on top to weigh it down. Larger cuts of meat, such as turkeys or hams, should be submerged for 5 days. Make sure you account for the weight of the meat and the level of brine in your container to prevent overflow and a mess.

As mentioned earlier, if you are in a time crunch and can't wait 4 or 5 days, you can inject the turkey, chicken, bacon or ham with the brine/curing solution using an amount equal to 1/10th of the meats weight. For example, a 10 lb. ham would require 1 pound of brine for proper injection. After injecting the meat, place it in ice-cold water for 3-4 hours. Remove the meat from the water and submerge in the brine solution, keeping both the brine and meat at 38-40F for at least 48 hours.

Once the curing process has completed, thoroughly wash the meat in cold water. If your smoker is large enough to allow for hanging, such as in a vertical smoker or in a smokehouse, take the meat and place it in a smoking bag or hang it with hooks.

Tip: To prevent the bag from sticking and for easy removal, pre-soak the smoking bag in vinegar.

Place in a smoker which has been pre-heated to 130 F and heat at this temperature for 1 hour with the damper open. Close damper and apply smoke for 4 hours at 130 F. Raise temperature to 150 F and hold for 4 hours.

When cooking bacon, remove it from the smoker when the internal temperature reaches 135 F. For ham, turkey or chicken, raise the temperature to 180 - 185 F and hold until the internal temperature of the meat reaches 160 F. Measure the internal temperature of the turkey or chicken by inserting the thermometer into the breast or the ball and socket joint of the thigh, making sure not to come into contact with any bones. Measure the internal temperature of your ham in the thickest part.

Once the meat has reached temperature, remove it from the smoker and immediately wrap in foil to rest. This resting period will allow the juices within the meat to distribute themselves throughout so they do not simply pour out when you cut the meat. Let the meat cool until the internal temperature drops to 100 F, then cut into portions for freezing or serve.

Using cures will cause the meat to turn pink in color, which is perfectly normal and safe. If this change in color is not desired, or you do not wish to use curing products, they can be eliminated from your ingredients. We recommend using the cure, as this will enhance the flavor of the meat, as well as better prevent bacteria and assist in the smoking process.

HOWEVER, if you omit the cure you must preheat the smoker to 180 F and hold the product at this temperature for 1 full hour. After an hour, raise the temperature of your smoker to 200 F and cook the meat until the internal temperature reaches 170 F. Without using curing products you must cook the meat to these higher temperatures to prevent food poisoning. Once the meats have reached temperature, remove them from the smoker and wrap in foil. Place in a cooler to rest until the juices have had a chance to redistribute throughout the meat, and then cut into portions to freeze or serve.

How to Cure and Smoke Your Own Meats

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Monday, May 30, 2011

Easy Chicken Recipes: Where to Find Them

If you enjoy chicken, there are many different easy chicken recipes that you can try. They range from the simple recipe where you cook some plain chicken or chicken with just a few spices to more elaborate but still easy recipes that might include vegetables, rice, soups, spices, and other simple ingredients. One Foodieview.com recipe even just requires you to cook your chicken in a crock pot. No other ingredients are even required. To find this recipe and other easy chicken recipes, you can go to the Foodieview website and type "easy chicken recipes" into the search box. You will get 131,564 options for easy chicken recipes.
There are a variety of ways that you can cook your chicken when using easy chicken recipes. Some recipes will require a cock pot. With a crock pot, if you want to eat the chicken for dinner, you will start the dish early in morning, put it in the crock pot, and allow it to cook all day. You can also start the chicken before you go to bed and have it ready in the morning. Cooking your chicken using a crock pot is going to take a few hours, but the good thing about it is that you can just put all the ingredients in your crock pot and let it cook on its own. There does not have to be a lot off effort on your part to complete the dish. Many crock pot dishes will also have you put vegetables, bouillon, or rice with your chicken to give it more flavor. The good thing about a crock pot for your easy chicken recipes is that you can often adjust the temperature and the cooking times depending upon when you want the dish completed. Many easy chicken recipes will even tell you how to do this.
Another cooking option for many easy chicken recipes is to cook the dish in the oven. At 375, most dishes will take about an hour, and at 425, they will take about 40-50 minutes. Of course, the size of the chicken and the other ingredients put in the dish need to be taken into consideration when deciding how long a dish is going to take. For example, a full chicken is going to take longer to bake than one that has been cut into smaller pieces. Precooked chicken in a casserole is going to take less time than a dish that is being cooked for the first time.  
Even if a recipe tells you that your chicken should be completed in a certain amount of time, it is important that you check to make sure that the meat is really done. It should no longer be pink. When poked with a fork or knife or cut, the meat should be juicy. Make sure that the juice coming out of the chicken is clear and not bloody. Chicken that is cooked properly should be tender and juicy. It should not be difficult to cut. If you are using chicken thatís on a bone, it should fall freely off the bone.
Although chicken with little more than a few spices and maybe some soup and vegetables are going to be your easiest chicken recipes, there are other easy chicken recipes that are a little more exotic that you might want to try. For example, chicken enchiladas are a fairly easy and quick recipe. Even soups and salads can be made from chicken in a quick, easy manner.



FoodieView is a leading food portal with a convenient “Google™-like” recipe search engine providing one-stop access to the Internet’s largest and highest quality recipe collections, along with virtual recipe boxes, a metro restaurant guide, restaurant reviews, food photos, meal plans, social foodie networking and more.

Save your stomach and your time by using our FoodieView Recipe Search Engine to find thousands of easy chicken recipes.

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Easy Casserole Recipes - Ground Beef Casseroles

Casseroles are a great way to make a hearty, inexpensive meal for your family. My favorite ingredient to use in them is ground beef. There are countless recipes you can come up with using ground beef in your casserole dishes. If you have it in your home, odds are you can put together a delicious meal with ingredients already in your pantry. It's also a great way to combine all four food groups into one dish. Here are a couple quick and easy ground beef casserole recipes that your whole family can enjoy.

Ground Beef Casserole

Meat Casseroles

What you need:

2 lbs lean ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, chopped
8 oz macaroni noodles, cooked and drained
2 (8 oz) cans tomato sauce
8 oz sour cream
8 oz pkg cream cheese, softened
3/4 c cheddar cheese, shredded
1 t salt
1/4 t black pepper

What you do:

In a large skillet, add beef, garlic, salt and pepper and cook until meat is browned. Drain grease from pan, add tomato sauce and onion and mix well. Simmer uncovered for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Layer noodles on the bottom of a large baking pan or casserole dish. In a medium bowl, combine cream cheese and sour cream. Cover noodles with cheese mixture. Pour meat mixture on top of cheese and noodles. Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese on top. Bake, uncovered, for 40-45 minutes.

Southwest Pasta Bake

What you need:

8 oz corkscrew pasta, cooked and drained
1 lb lean ground beef, browned and drained
3/4 c prepared medium picante sauce or salsa
1 c sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
1 egg
1/4 t ground cumin
1/4 t black pepper
16 oz cottage cheese
10 oz package frozen corn, thawed and drained

What you do:

In a large bowl, combine beef, salsa and corn. In a small bowl, combine egg, cottage cheese, pepper and cumin. Place half of beef mixture in bottom of 11/2 to 2 quart casserole dish. Add pasta on top of beef. Add cottage cheese mixture on top of pasta. Top off with remaining beef mixture. Add cheese to top of casserole. In a 350 degree preheated oven, bake casserole for 30 to 40 minutes, or until heated through.

Easy Casserole Recipes - Ground Beef Casseroles

If you enjoyed this article and recipe, please visit Easy Breezy Recipes at http://www.easybreezyrecipes.com for cooking videos, articles and quick and easy to make recipes.

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Sunday, May 29, 2011

How To Maintain Your Grocery Budget

The best way to stick to a budget is to prepare a weeks worth of meals ahead of time and only buy what you are going to need for those meals. Make brown bag lunches and avoid juice boxes and soda by replace them with a thermos. It’s better for the environment and it will save a ton of money over time. With the poor state of the economy, there is not much room left in a budget for eating out, so plan meals around family activities and keep snacks such as granola bars, raisins and beverages in your car to avoid fast food when the kids are hungry.



My name is Wendy Crittenden and I have 12 plus years experience in the medical field. I have held positions in disease management, quality assurance and social work. I have a degree from SUNY Learning Network in New York and my goal is to help people lose weight and have a healthy lifestyle through proper nutrition. I also own a website http://www.goodfoodandfitness.com, which has many articles related to fitness, diabetes, childhood immunization charts, weightlifting workouts, healthy recipes and more.

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Wild Boar Meat for Sale - Tickle Your Taste Buds

Since wild boar meat is very lean, you need to handle it differently from the way you cook other kinds of meat. Since most of these animals are range-fed, you can serve them rare without worrying about potential risks. However, cooking this kind of meat is an entirely different issue. Although most people base the cooking process on their personal preferences, there is still a preferable way to cook this lean and delectable meat.

Creative recipes with this secret ingredient can tickle the taste buds of even the most meticulous palettes. Since it has a tighter texture and darker color, you may need to think about its quality and taste before incorporating it into exotic recipes.

Meat Casseroles

Preparing and cooking wild boar meat

In general, you have to cook this kind of meat in lower temperatures. Once you overcook them, you can ruin their soft texture and beautiful colors. The general rule of thumb when cooking it can be summed up in three words low and slow. For example, the perfect temperature for roasting it ranges from 250-275 degrees Fahrenheit. The amount of time you want to cook them will depend on your personal taste and preferences. When using this meat to prepare chops, you may also need to bake it with a succulent sauce for best results.

Just like beef and pork, wild boar meat also tastes excellent when it is roasted. As long as you were able to prepare it properly, this meat can become very tender and flavorful when it is barbecued. It is also excellent for preparing jerky, sausages, and common ground meat products.

During the preparation phase, you have to remember that you do not have to thaw or cook it in a microwave. This will only make it dry and tough. Instead of using the microwave, slowly thaw it the day before you want to marinate it. Wine and pineapple juice are excellent marinades for this lean meat because they contain powerful enzymes. This makes them powerful meat tenderizers that can easily break down the fiber and muscle of wild boar meat for sale.

Unique boar recipes

If you are looking for a great wild boar meat recipe that can add some spice to your daily meals, you can always consult the Internet for various recipes. While most of them categorize recipes according to the part of the boar that is being used, other sites arrange them based on their origins. If you want to expand your cooking experience, you can choose from different recipes such as Korean meatballs, buttered chops, or even quesadillas.

These simple tips will help you bring out the flavor and wonderful texture of this type of meat. As long as you know how to cook wild boar meat properly, it will never fail to tickle your taste buds and give you a memorable dining experience.

Wild Boar Meat for Sale - Tickle Your Taste Buds

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Saturday, May 28, 2011

Healthy cooking tips

Good nutrition is not a matter of selecting the "right" foods to eat. It's also important to prepare these foods in ways that will maintain their nutritional benefits. Careful decisions about cooking techniques can have a profound effect on the nutrient content of the foods they prepare. These cooking strategies and ingredient substitution ideas can help retain and, in some cases, improve, the nutritional value of your most popular dishes. They can also help you meet the American Institute for Cancer Research's recommendations for lower cancer risk and better overall health:



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Casseroles for the Holidays

The holidays are a wonderful time of year when friends and family arrive in droves, and extra cooking time is in short supply. Feeding lots of extra loved ones on limited amounts of time need not be a worry this holiday season. Casseroles are delicious holiday table staples that provide large amounts of food perfect for your many guests. Comforting to eat and quick to make, casseroles are a favorite of young and old alike. This holiday season spend more time with your family and less time in the kitchen. Casseroles will make your holiday cooking a breeze.

Breakfast Casseroles
Breakfast casseroles are holiday favorites, especially during Christmas. Many can be assembled the night before, chilled overnight, and cooked the following morning. Popular breakfast casserole recipes include ingredients such as eggs, meat, cheeses and vegetables. They are great to experiment with, as well. Many traditional breakfast casserole recipes have been added to and perfected over the years, and eating the casserole becomes a special family tradition.

Meat Casseroles

Side Dish Casseroles
Side dish casseroles can be found in abundance. From green bean to sweet potato casseroles, there are thousands of side dish casserole varieties. The ingredient options are endless, and most can be adjusted to fit individual likes and dislikes. No holiday table is complete without a side dish casserole, so add one to your holiday menu today.

Main Dish Casseroles
Dinner casseroles are a lifesaver for most busy families around the holidays. Many can be made ahead and frozen for up to a few months to save on prep time. Most include a meat, starch, cheese and vegetable. Chicken, turkey and ham casseroles tend to be very popular around the holidays. Main dish casseroles can be fancy or simple, but rest assured, they will be equally enjoyed.

Enjoy more time with family this holiday season, and feed them comfort food that will delight their palates. The holidays are a great time to introduce fresh recipes, so there is no better time to surprise everyone with a new casserole. Casseroles are sure to make your holiday table warm, welcoming, and delightfully appealing.

Casseroles for the Holidays

Casseroles are true comfort food. We have put together a collection of delicious casserole recipes that will satisfy the hearty appetite; and that can be served for holidays, special occasions and everyday dining. Find the perfect casserole recipe from our growing selection of appetizers, side dishes, and entrees.

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Friday, May 27, 2011

Shaping Up For Your Prom

Prom night is almost here. You've put on just a few extra pounds and now your tummy is starting to show just a little. And unfortunately, most prom dresses don't leave any room to grow. But don't worry. If you still have a few weeks left until prom night, you can take these simple steps to get those extra pounds off. You'll feel light on your feet and glow with fashion and pride on that special evening.
Foods to Avoid until the Prom
Over the next few weeks, try to avoid foods high in carbohydrates such as pasta and bread. Check labels for substitute items or for items with fewer carbohydrates. Avoid regular soft drinks as well and replace these with diet soft drinks, Gatorade, or flavored water. Carbohydrate-rich foods as well as soft drinks tend to cause bloating in many people. Even the slightest bloating that normally wouldn't affect the fit of your regular clothing could make your prom dress too snug. Remember, you're going to be dancing and moving about so you'll need some breathing room in your formal eveningwear.
Try to avoid junk foods such as snack cakes, candy bars, and potato chips. Choose healthier snacks such as baked chips, nuts and cashews, raisins, low-fat ice cream or yogurt. These can be eaten in moderation without worry of putting on more pounds.
Other things to limit include whole milk, casserole dishes, and fried foods. And, steer clear of the fast food restaurants over the next few weeks!
Foods to Eat before Prom Night
As mentioned previously, prom dresses tend to be less forgiving than regular clothing so you must choose your foods wisely these last few weeks. Choose foods that burn fat and tone the body. Foods high in protein such as chicken, beef, fish, pork, and lamb are excellent fat burners, especially when carbohydrate intake is limited. Eat meats in moderation along with healthy green or yellow vegetables at each meal.
Between meals, snack on fruits or veggies such as apples, grapes, oranges, bananas, strawberries, watermelon, carrots, tomatoes, pears, and peaches. These all help keep your body healthy, increase energy levels, and keep off those extra pounds.
With each meal, eat smaller portions so your tummy will shrink. You'll notice a significant difference within just a few weeks.
Prom Dresses and Water
Water is always good for your body, and it's good for prom dresses too! Drink six to eight 8-oz. glasses of water per day to hydrate your body. This helps reduce bloating, gives you an energy boost, and beautifies your skin and complexion. Water also helps to deter those food cravings. Oftentimes, we are thirsty when we think we're hungry. Drink water every time you feel hungry to see if the feeling goes away. You might be surprised at how much less you'll eat.
Exercise for Toning
To tone up your body before the prom, create a daily exercise routine that includes stomach crunches, arm lifts, walking, jogging, or bike riding. These can help tone your tummy, legs and arms for that special evening. Avoid rigorous exercises, and focus on consistency rather than performance.
Note of Warning
Be sure to consult with your physician before starting a short-term or long-term diet and exercise plan. Every individual is different and has different needs, so ask your doctor which plan is right for you, especially if you have any health problems.
These tips can also apply for other formal occasions where evening gowns must be worn such as a homecoming or Quinceanera event. With proper diet and exercise, you'll look fabulous in your prom dress!







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Rotini Bake, Spaghetti Bake, Casseroles

This is a recipe for Rotini Bake. It is adapted from a traditional Spaghetti Bake recipe. This is the quick version as it calls for the jar of spaghetti sauce. It tastes even better and more personalized with homemade sauce. This is one of my favorite recipes.

2 lb ground beef

Meat Casseroles

2 26 oz jar of spaghetti sauce

1 8 oz package mozzarella cheese

1 8 oz package cheddar cheese

1 16 oz box of rotini noodles

1 medium onion chopped or 1 tablespoon onion powder

1 Tablespoon garlic powder

Non Stick Spray

Preheat oven to 350 Degrees

Technique

Step 1: Put a generous amount of water into a pan. Bring to a rolling boil. Boil noodles for 5 minutes. (Noodles will not be cooked all of the way). Drain noodles, set aside.

Step 2: Brown ground beef with chopped onion (or onion powder) and garlic powder. Drain well. Mix with rotini noodles. Add 2 jars of spaghetti sauce. Mix well.

Step 3: Spray a baking pan with non-stick spray. Add half of the spaghetti sauce, ground beef and noodle mixture to the bottom of a baking pan. Sprinkle half of the mozzarella cheese and cheddar cheese over the mixture. Add the other half of the spaghetti sauce, ground beef and noodle mixture. Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top.

Step 4: Cover pan with Foil. Place in oven and bake for 30-45 minutes or until cheese is bubbly. Remove foil and bake another 15-20 minutes (or until golden brown)

You can also substitute the ground beef with ground turkey to make this a healthier option. This dish is best served with garlic bread and a side salad.

Rotini Bake, Spaghetti Bake, Casseroles

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Thursday, May 26, 2011

CURRY IS THE KING IN THE UK

The first Indian restaurant opened its doors in London more than 200 years ago but the venture flopped and its owner was declared bankrupt. But Sake Dean Mohamet’s sweat in the kitchen did not go in vain because he created history and opened the doors to a multi-million dollar Indian food business. SHAMLAL PURI takes a look at the Indian culinary delights available today in the UK. He writes never will an Indian coming from India miss the food back at home.



Shamlal Puri is a veteran British journalist, broadcaster, author and press photographer. He has worked with the media in Europe Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

His latest novel ‘Dubai Dreams: The Rough Road to Riches’ ISBN - Hardback 978-0-9552627-2-2, Softcover - 978-0- 9552627-3-9 will be released around the world in 2010.
He is widely traveled in a journalistic career spanning 30 years. His work has been published in more than 250 magazines, newspapers and journals around the world.

He is also the author of Axis of Evil: Blood Money and That's Life; Michael Matatu at Large (based on his columns in Drum and its sister magazines,)

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Healthy Eating - Kids Meals - Slow Cooked Meals All Kids Will Love

Slow cooked meals are an excellent choice for busy families with fussy kids to feed. Any meal where we consume the liquid the vegetables and meat was cooked in increases the level of nutrient we take in. When we boil or steam food much of the nutrient value is discarded in the water. Meals cooked in slow cookers, casseroles, Stews and Soups provide the added benefit of consuming the nutrient rich liquid.

Some nutritionists say the opposite is true because when food is overcooked the enzymes are broken down and nutrient value is lost. Considering alternative Fatty "Take Away" options for busy families with young children the Nutrient value comparatively is quiet high.

Meat Casseroles

Hard vegetables such as carrots, broad beans, canned kidney beans, sweet potato, turnip and parsnip are ideal vegetables to use in a slow cooker, as the slow steady cooking process will leave them tender and more appetising. Softer vegetables can be added half way through cooking to reduce them breaking down too much.

Older meats such as Mutton or Tough cuts of beef can be good options to use in a slow cooker for similar reasons as mentioned above. The slow cooking process breaks down gristle and leaves the meat tender and flavoursome.

Many softer vegetables break down to almost unrecognisable portions in a slow cooked meal. This is a good way of using vegetables that kids often prefer not to eat.

In addition to traditional Stews, Soups and Casseroles, Slow cookers can be used to cook Roasts and can also be used to cook cakes, bread and deserts that all kids will enjoy.

An excellent slow cooked main meal that kids will love can be made by mixing:
300g diced beef (lean stewing or casserole steak is fine) 1 Cup chopped carrot 1 Cup chopped potato 1 Cup chopped celery Half a cup chopped sweet potato Half a cup chopped turnip 1 Large finely chopped onion 1 Cup peas Half a teaspoon curry powder Pinch of salt Corn Flour 1 Cup of Water

Combine all ingredients except cornflour in a large slow cooker. Cook until meat is soft to the point it pulls apart easily. Mix cornflour with sufficient water to forma paste and add to pot. Cook for a further 30 to 45 minutes and serve with crusty bread drizzled with olive oil. Creamy mashed potato is also an ideal accompaniment to serve with this.

The above recipe is obviously just a basic option. You can include any and many variations to suit your families' individual tastes.

Any herbs should be added as a garnish or in the last hour of the cooking process.

Healthy Eating - Kids Meals - Slow Cooked Meals All Kids Will Love

Eric J Smith describes himself as being "Passionate about Organics". He is committed to Educating people on the importance reducing the chemical load on our bodies and the Environment. Eric is Married and has 2 Children. Eric and his wife Narelle represent Miessence Certified Organic Skin Care, Cosmetics, Home & Nutritional Products. www.buy-organic-products.com.

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Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Most Frequently Asked Question For Cooking

Do you get lumps in your white sauce? When making white sauce (béchamel) or any sauce that requires slow cooking to thicken use an egg whisk and you can increase the temperature (not too much though) to speed the process up.and you wont get any limps in it.
Turn your open barbeque into a gourment oven. Want to try a new barbeque recipe that requires a hood on the barbeque which you may not have. Try using a wok lid or any domed lid. This works very well indeed. Great for roasted meats when camping out.
Never buy frozen pastry again. Do you hate making short pastry. Use a kitchen whiz instead of the usual hand method. Use slightly less liquid than may be asked for in the recipe.Just run the whiz until all the pastry forms into a ball. If it wont form into a ball you may need just a touch more liquid. The liquid depends on what recipe you use for your pastry.
Do your scones look more like rock cakes ? Make your scones in a kitchen whiz. Many people just can't make scones no matter what. Usually the problem is too much handling. Using the whiz eliminates this problem.
Also try and make your scones as though people or the family are sitting at the table waiting. In other words the less time you take means less handling. The mixture should be quite moist not dry after you add the milk.
Turn onto a well floured board and top a few times with the tips of your fingers to draw the extra four in. This should only take you about 5-8 seconds. Gently pat into shape and cut into whatever shaped scones you want - round or square -whatever.
Scones seem to come out best when cooked in what is variously described as a rising oven. In other words turn your oven on not too long before you start to mix your scones and when they are put in the oven it still has not quite reached the required temperature.
I learnt this way of making scones when I was used to crew on a yacht when I was younger and the guys would want morning tea and see if they could cajole me into making some. Hence my reference to having a waiting audience. The oven was only a small benchtop gas oven and I would turn it on to its maximum temperature and then throw the flour butter and milk together. They were most impressed and I was most surprised at the result. I was not at all sure of my expertise in scone making as my mother could never make scones - hers were the ones that came out like bullets.
I did later convert my mother into making scones in the kitchen whiz when she was around 65 and she was amazed that she finally learnt to make a scone that was edible.
I might add that scones became a regular morning tea item
Are your curries chewy? Do you have trouble working out if a casserole or curry is cooked. When the oil (fat) rises the dish is cooked. All meat dish casseroles have some fat content and when this is released the meat is cooked.
Are you missing the magic ingredient? Have you ever cooked a curry or casserole and the flavour just needs a little something and you cant quite work out exactly what is needed. Maybe it seems as though the flavours don't quite go together. It is a small intangible ingredient that is lacking. Try a very small amount of sugar and you will be surprised how it seems to blend and mellow the flavours into a more harmonious combination. The flavours will cease to fight against each other.
Whoops have you ever slipped with the salt pot when cooking? Have you ever added just a touch too much salt to a recipe. Never add sugar to correct this try a squeeze of lemon juice.
I hate washing roasting pans. Do you like to have roasted potatoes occasionally but hate washing up the pan afterwards. Here is a simple easy method and it uses less fat. Cut each potato with the skin on, in half so that you have the largest cut area. Add a little margarine and spread it on the cut side of the potato. Then sprinkle with salt and pepper if you want.
Place the buttered potatoes buttered side down on a sheet of aluminium foil wrap. Fold the foil and seal. Add to a preheated hot oven 200 degrees centigrade and cook for approx half an hour. When cooked unwrap and gently peel the foil off the potatoes and serve. Throw the foil in the garbage and voila - lovely scrisp roasted potatoes and no mess.



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Classic Casseroles: A Satisfying Meal Choice

Nothing says "comfort food" quite like a homemade classic casserole served steaming hot from the oven. On days when the idea of a salad or a quick grilled meat just doesn't seem inspiring, a deep-dish casserole is a hearty and tasty alternative. The aroma itself, filling the kitchen as it slowly bakes in the oven, evokes feelings and memories of why home cooking is so nurturing for many people.

What exactly is a casserole? This French word simply means "saucepan." Thus, a traditional casserole consists of ingredients combined together in a deep dish (the casserole dish). A casserole then bakes slowly in the oven and is served hot in its baking dish, thus retaining the juices and pan flavorings for optimal taste.

Meat Casseroles

The ingredients of a classic casserole can vary widely from region to region, but the basic idea is the same everywhere. Meal-in-a-dish casseroles start with a meat or a fish choice. This can be freshly chosen for the dish; however, a casserole is also a much-loved opportunity to use up leftovers. Next comes vegetables, seasonings, and, often, a starch such as pasta, rice or flour. Many casseroles also use added liquid for flavor and consistency. Some typical examples of added liquid are wine, stock, milk, and condensed soup. Finally, there may be a bread or cheese topping to add a pleasantly flavored crunchy texture.

Some classic casseroles are side dishes and may not include meat or added vegetables. Favorites of this variety are scalloped potatoes and classic green bean casserole, both baked in the oven and served in their dish alongside the main course of a meal.

Some favorite classics, such as tuna and noodle casserole, are staples of American cooking from 1950s. During the post-war era, casseroles of all kinds could be found on the dinner table, as well as at church suppers and family potlucks in every state. Other popular casseroles originate from Europe and beyond. One only has to think of Italian lasagna, ratatouille or eggplant parmesan, Greek moussaka, French cassoulet, or traditional English shepherds' pie to realize how universal the method of casserole cooking has been and continues to be.

With so many choices, there is a classic casserole to suit every taste and budget. The aroma, presentation and intense flavors are sure to please everyone at the table as they enjoy this satisfying home-cooked meal.

Classic Casseroles: A Satisfying Meal Choice

Casseroles are true comfort food. We have put together a collection of delicious casserole recipes that will satisfy the hearty appetite; and that can be served for holidays, special occasions and everyday dining. Find the perfect casserole recipe from our growing selection of appetizers, side dishes, and entrees.

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Tuesday, May 24, 2011

The Holidays and Your Diet

The approaching holidays are a nightmare for anyone engaged in a weight loss or diet regimen and with very good reason. With all of the temptations that seem to lurk around every corner, office get-together and holiday party; it can be easy for even the most determined dieters to get sidetracked and lose sight of their weight loss goals. This year; however, by giving your choices and portions a little carefully aimed attention you can avoid destroying all the hard work you have put into your diet the rest of the year.
One of the biggest challenges for many dieters during the holiday season is avoiding the hectic round of get-togethers and parties that almost always come hand in hand with the holidays. The good news about such events; however, is that many of them tend to be buffet and pot-luck types of affairs; which gives you numerous options that can help you to stick to your diet plans. While buffet tables are typically laden with heavy casseroles and fatty appetizers, you can usually find at least one platter of fresh vegetables served with a nice low-fat dip. Also, opt for fresh fruits instead of the abundance of baked desserts that are typically offered. Instead of stocking your plate up with diet dangerous foods, choose steamed vegetables and healthy grains such as wild rice and wheat bread. Opting for white meat instead of dark meat can also help you to stay on the straight and narrow, by avoiding additional calories.
Whenever possible, limit the amount of alcohol based beverages that you consume. Just a few alcoholic beverages contain a surprising amount of calories; not to mention the fact that they only serve to increase the appetite of most people. Choose a light bear, wine spritzer or carbonated flavored water instead.
When it's your turn to prepare the mound of requisite holiday food, remember that there are several tricks you can employ in order to stay true to your diet goals and keep family and friends pleased at the same time. One way to do this is by substituting evaporated skim milk for regular milk or cream in your holiday recipes. This will help to tremendously cut down on the amount of fat and calories included in your dishes without sacrificing taste. Unsweetened applesauce makes a great substitute for calorie laden oil while egg substitute can easily replace the requirement for eggs in most recipes without any noticeable change to the taste.
Finally, one of the best ways that you can avoid overindulging this holiday season is to take it slow and easy. Remember that the entire point of this time of year is to get together with friends and family members; many of which you might not see for months to come. Focus on the fun and conversation instead of rushing through a heavy meal and you'll find that not only did you enjoy this year more, but that you made it through with your diet intact.




Learn about hatching ducks and appleyard ducks at the Different Types Of Ducks site.

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Some Very Tasty Vegetarian Casseroles

Casseroles are cooked in dishes that are deep and large which are also used as serving dishes. We will focus on vegetarian casseroles in this article. You can get the same effect by using a crock pot and there are many vegetarian casseroles recipes available for use in a crock pot.

However, this does not mean that the meat eaters among you have to skip over this section. These dishes can be an accompaniment to your meat dishes.

Meat Casseroles

Zucchini and Tomato Casserole. Ingredients. 6 medium zucchini (cut into 1/2 inch slices);4 medium tomatoes (diced);5 cloves garlic (finely chopped);1 onion;1/2 cup olive oil;1/4 cup oregano (chopped);Salt and pepper to taste. Directions. Set oven to 350 F. Place 2 tbsp olive oil in skillet over medium heat and add onion and garlic. Cook for about 3 to 5 minutes until softened. Place onion mixture with zucchini, tomatoes and oregano in a large bowl, and season with salt and pepper and toss. Place in 2 quart casserole dish and drizzle with rest of olive oil. Bake for 45 to 50 minutes until vegetables are tender. Tilt pan from time to time to collect juices and baste vegetables.

Vegetarian Brown Rice Casserole (Preparation time is approximately 7 minutes and cook time is approximately 5 minutes. Ingredients. 1 can (19 oz) ready-to-serve lentil soup;1 package (about 9 oz) ready-to-serve brown rice;1 can (7.75 oz) unsalted mixed vegetables, drained;1 large or 2 small canned roasted red peppers, diced;1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided;Salt and pepper to taste. Directions. Combine soup, rice, mixed vegetables, peppers and 6 tablespoons of the cheddar cheese in a 2-quart microwave-safe casserole dish. Season with salt and pepper to taste and level the top of the mixture. Sprinkle with the remaining 2 tablespoons cheddar cheese. Cover and cook in a microwave oven at full power until heated through and the cheese on top melts, about 5 minutes.

Green Bean Casserole (using a crock pot). Ingredients. 2 bags frozen green beans;1 can cream of mushroom soup;1 can French fried onions or 1/2 onion (chopped);1/3 cup milk or soy milk;1/4 teaspoon salt;1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Directions. Mix together the green beans, soup and milk in the pot. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and half of the French fried onion or all the chopped onion. Cover and cook on low for 5 to 6 hours. Top with remaining French fried onions just before serving.

Chili Rice Casserole. Ingredients. 1 cup raw instant rice;1 can cream celery condensed soup;1 can chopped up green chili peppers;1 cup sour cream;1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese. Directions. Set oven to 325 F. In a baking dish mix rice, chili peppers, sour cream and soup. Place cheddar cheese on. Bake in oven for approx. 25 min.

As you can see, casseroles are quite simple to prepare and are hassle free as you put all the ingredients into the dish and cook. Vegetarian casseroles can be made either in the oven, in a crock pot or in a microwave.

Some Very Tasty Vegetarian Casseroles

My web site is a casserole recipe site My site gives many recipes for different types of casseroles including pasta, vegetarian, seafood, and breakfast, casseroles. Along with tips and suggestions. You can find my site at http://www.best-made-casseroles.com

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Monday, May 23, 2011

7-Day Detox Plan

Your plan can include:
Fruit - your plan can include any fruit including fresh, frozen, dried or canned in natural fruit juice. This includes apples, bananas, pears, oranges, grapefruit, satsumas, sultanas, raisins, pineapple, mango, kiwi fruit, strawberries, raspberries, blackcurrants, nectarines, peaches, melons, star fruit etc
Fruit juice - either make homemade fruit juices or smoothies from fresh fruit, or drink ready-made juices. Make sure ready-made juices are labelled as being 'pure' or 'unsweetened'.
Vegetables - eat any vegetables including fresh, frozen or canned in water (without salt added). This includes carrots, onions, turnip, swede, sprouts, cabbage, peppers, mushrooms, sweetcorn, peppers, leeks, courgettes, broccoli, cauliflower, salad, tomatoes, cucumber, spring onions etc
Beans and lentils - eat any beans, including those that have been dried or canned in water. This includes red kidney, haricot, cannellini, butter, black eye, pinto, red lentils, green lentils and brown lentils
Tofu and Quorn
Oats - sprinkle oats over fresh fruit or use to make porridge, sweetened with honey and fresh fruit
Potatoes - all types
Brown rice and rice noodles
Rye crackers, rice cakes and oatcakes
Fresh fish - eat any fresh fish including cod, plaice, mackerel, salmon, lobster, crab, trout, haddock, tuna, prawns, Dover sole, red mullet, halibut, lemon sole, monkfish, swordfish etc. Canned fish in water is suitable too eg salmon or tuna
Unsalted nuts - eat any including Brazil, peanuts, almonds, cashew, hazel nuts, macadamia, pecans, pine nuts, pistachio, walnuts etc
Unsalted seeds - eat any including sunflower and pumpkin
Plain popcorn - without sugar or salt
Live natural yoghurt
Extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar
Garlic, ginger and fresh herbs
Ground black pepper
Honey
Water - at least 2 litres a day. Tap or mineral water is fine.
Herbal or fruit teas
Foods to avoid during your detox
Red meat, chicken, turkey and any meat products like sausages, burgers, and pate
Milk, cheese, eggs, cream
Butter and margarine
Any food that contains wheat including bread, croissants, cereals, cakes, biscuits, pies, pastry, quiche, battered or breadcrumbed foods, etc
Crisps and savoury snacks including salted nuts
Chocolate, sweets, jam and sugar
Processed foods, ready meals, ready-made sauces and takeaways
Alcohol
Coffee and tea
Sauces, pickles, shop bought salad dressing, mayonnaise
Salt
Fizzy drinks and squashes, including diet versions
Detox Plan Breakfasts
Banana porridge
Porridge made with water and topped with natural yoghurt, banana, raisins and sweetened with honey.
Fruit salad with yoghurt and oats
Fresh fruit salad with natural yoghurt and a sprinkling of oats.
Fresh fruit smoothie
Fruit smoothie made from fresh fruit, natural yoghurt and honey to sweeten if needed.
Muesli and yoghurt
Homemade muesli made from oats, seeds, nuts and dried fruit served with natural yoghurt.
Fresh fruit and yoghurt
Fresh fruit and a pot of natural yoghurt sweetened with honey.
Detox Plan Lunches
Vegetable soup and oatcakes
Large bowl of vegetable or lentil soup (either homemade or supermarket 'fresh') with oatcakes.
Tuna and sweetcorn jacket potato and salad
Jacket potato topped with tuna (canned in water) mixed with sweetcorn and natural yoghurt and served with salad.
Mediterranean salad with rice cakes
Rice cakes served with rocket, avocado, tomatoes, fresh basil and black pepper. Plus a handful of unsalted nuts.
Guacamole with crudit?s
Homemade guacamole made from avocado, lemon juice, fresh chilli, tomatoe and garlic served with vegetable crudit?s and oatcakes.
Tzatziki with crudit?s
Homemade tzatziki made from natural yoghurt, garlic, cucumber and lemon juice served with vegetable crudit?s and oatcakes.
Avocado and prawn salad
Fresh avocado served with prawns, salad, balsamic vinegar and lemon juice.
Jacket potato with grilled cod
Grilled cod fillet served with jacket potatoes and lightly steamed vegetables.
Detox Plan Dinners
Chinese vegetable stir fry
Stir fry a selection of vegetables such as bok choi, spring onions, mushrooms, bamboo shoots and beansprouts in a little olive oil with garlic and ginger. Serve with brown rice.
Baked salmon with jacket potato
Bake a salmon fillet and serve with a jacket potato and steamed vegetables.
Tuna and prawns with noodles
Gently fry a selection of vegetables such as onions, mushrooms, peppers, courgette and leek in a little olive oil. When lightly browned, add a handful of prawns. Cook for a few minutes, then add canned tomatoes, tomato puree, black pepper and tuna canned in water. Bring to the boil and simmer until the sauce thickens. Serve with rice noodles.
Sweet and sour stir fry with rice
Gently fry a selection of chopped vegetables such as onions, peppers, baby sweetcorn and mushrooms. Add canned pineapple (in fruit juice), canned tomatoes, tomato pur?e, white wine vinegar and honey. Bring to the boil and simmer until the sauce has thickened. Serve with brown rice.
Potato and bean casserole
Gently fry a selection of typical casserole vegetables such as onion, carrots and parsnip in a little olive oil with garlic. When browned, add diced potato and fry for a few minutes. Add fresh vegetable stock, black pepper and your favourite beans. Bring to the boil and simmer until the casserole thickens.



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How to Cook Canned Crab Meat

Fresh crab meat is a delight, but if you don't have it available, you can use canned crab meat instead to make a host of delicious recipes. Some are so good that you won't even miss having fresh crab.

An important thing to remember when using canned crab meat is to carefully look through it and remove any fragments of bone or shell you find. There are almost sure to be at least a few tiny shards in amongst the meat, and unexpectedly biting down on one can sure ruin the eating experience.

Meat Casseroles

My favorite snacking use for canned crab meat is as a spread for bread. Melt some butter in a pan, mince a clove of garlic and throw it in, then stir in some crab meat and cook over medium heat for just a few minutes. While the meat is still hot, spread it over pieces of crusty French bread or a slice of sourdough. Mmmm!

I also use crab meat, canned or fresh, in two recipes that call on my Louisiana heritage:

Gumbo. Of course! Just add crab meat to any gumbo recipe that normally calls for shrimp. Or, use crab meat and shrimp together in the gumbo.

Cajun crab stew. First, make a thick roux. Add some chopped onion and bell pepper and several cloves of garlic that you have minced. Cook until the onion and pepper chunks are slightly browned. Add water, crab meat, a few shakes of crushed basil, several dashes of worcestershire sauce or tabasco sauce, some crushed red pepper, coarsely ground black pepper and ½ teaspoon of salt. Turn down the heat and let simmer for 12 to 16 minutes, stirring frequently.

There is much more that you can do with canned crab meat, of course, so don't be afraid to experiment. Heck, I've even eaten crab straight from the can when I was too tired to do anything else. But finding imaginative ways to cook crab meat is the best use you can make of it.

How to Cook Canned Crab Meat

Sarah Sandori is the food and entertaining columnist for the Solid Gold Info Writers Consortium. Have you ever wanted to be able to exactly duplicate a favorite dish from a favorite restaurant? Check out Sarah's article where she reveals her source for the most mouth-watering secret restaurant recipes in America: http://www.solid-gold.info/most-wanted-recipes.html

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Sunday, May 22, 2011

Secrets To Becoming Vegetarian Tonight, Armed With Vegetarian Dinner Recipes

It can be tough to drop pounds and come up with healthy family meal plans when you stick to a normal Western diet comprised largely of meat and simple carbs like breads, pastas, and baked products. That's why many individuals who want to be fitter and shed the pounds are now becoming vegetarians.  The health advantages of vegetarianism have been generally known for years , but many folks are reluctant to make the switch because the idea of eating an entire diet of predominantly vegetable matter seems like it might get dull very fast.  However, with the huge resources available on the web at this time, it's simple to design a vegetarian meal plan that works for you.  It is feasible to make easy vegetarian dinners and also gourmet vegetarian recipes that the whole family can enjoy.  You may also follow a vegetarian weight loss plan that may help you shed those stored pounds!  With some study and experimentation, improving your fitness with a vegetarian diet is certainly possible.  
Hunting Down vegetarian dinner recipes on line is a lot easier than you might imagine.  Chatalaine, Canada's foremost ladies magazine has plenty of quick and easy vegetarian recipes available throughout it.  Many women use Chatelaine meal plans to make their lives less complicated and more fit. However, there are heaps of different places online that are fully dedicated to recipes that provide free, healthy meal ideas and instructions for a vegetarian lifestyle.  Locate quick vegetarian recipes for every style, taste, and skill level, from easy vegetarian casserole recipes to trickier Italian vegetarian cooking.  You can also make vegetarian jello for dessert! The probabilities are virtually endless - modern vegetarian meals can mount up to a really gratifying diet and lifestyle.  
While it is obviously more healthy for most people to eat a vegetarian diet, you may also be surprised to learn that consuming a vegetarian diet can also be a good fat loss technique.  With the growing popularity of low carb diet meal plans that prohibit fruit and vegetable intake, many people mistakenly believe that they cannot shed weight by eating lots of fruit and veggies. However, the opposite is right, even with a low carbohydrate diet! Though all vegetables and fruit are classified as carbohydrates, there really are low cal, low carb vegetarian recipes that you can use as a part of a vegetarian weight loss program.  Any diet weight loss meal plan should include fresh fruits and vegetables for optimal health and the most satisfactory results.



Visit this vegetarian meal recipes to learn to make healthy raw vegan dishes.

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How to Use Summer Vegetables in Delicious Old Fashion Casseroles

Enjoy those wonderful summer vegetables from your garden, grocery store, or farmer's market in delicious casseroles. Quick, easy, inexpensive and perfect for family reunions, picnics, pitch-in meals, etc. Choose from Zucchini Cheese Casserole, Shirley's Asparagus Casserole, and Summer Squash Casserole.

ZUCCHINI CHEESE CASSEROLE

Meat Casseroles

1 1/2 qts (6 cups) peeled, seeded, diced zucchini
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup evaporated milk
3/4 cup Ritz style cracker crumbs
6 tbsp melted butter or margarine
8-oz pkg shredded cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Mix together all ingredients except one-half of the cheese. Pour mixture into a 9-inch square baking dish that has been lightly greased. Top with the remaining cheese. Bake at 325 degrees for 45 minutes or until zucchini is tender and casserole is bubbly.

SHIRLEY'S ASPARAGUS CASSEROLE

2 cans asparagus (or an equal amount of fresh, steamed)
2 tbsps milk
3/4 box cheese crackers or saltines
3 hard boiled eggs
1 or 2 pieces pimento, chopped
2 small cans English peas
2 cans mushroom soup
1/2 stick butter or margarine, melted

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Heat mushroom soup and milk together in a medium saucepan. Crumble crackers into melted butter and mix well. Using half of each layer asparagus, sliced eggs, peas, soup mixture, sprinkle with pimento. Repeat with remaining items. Top with crackers. Bake at 325 degrees until browned and bubbly.

SUMMER SQUASH CASSEROLE

2 lbs. yellow squash, sliced (can mix yellow squash with zucchini if desired)
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 cup sour cream
1 cup shredded carrots
1 pkg (8-oz) herb stuffing mix (I prefer Pepperridge Farms)
1/2 cup melted butter

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a saucepan, cook the squash and onion in boiling salted water for 5 minutes; drain. Combine cream of chicken soup with the sour cream. Stir in the carrots. Fold in squash and onion mixture. Combine stuffing mix and butter. Spray a 9 x 12-inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. Spread half the stuffing mixture in bottom of dish. Spoon vegetable mixture over the stuffing. Top with the remaining stuffing. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes.

Enjoy!

How to Use Summer Vegetables in Delicious Old Fashion Casseroles

For more old fashion recipes visit http://grandmasvintagerecipes.blogspot.com For more of Linda's recipes and diabetic information go to http://diabeticenjoyingfood.squarespace.com

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Saturday, May 21, 2011

An Introduction to the Superfood Quinoa

Quinoa has been enjoyed in its home country of South America for over 3000 years. It is still grown mainly in Bolivia and Ecuador although farmers in the southern states of the USA are now growing quinoa as it becomes more and more popular. In the UK it is now available in some of the major supermarkets as well as the larger health food stores.

What is quinoa?

Quinoa is often called a grain and is usually catalogued in the grain section of shops. It is actually a seed from a plant that is related to Spinach and Chard. You can eat the leaves as well as the seeds. Of course the leaf version is only available where it is grown as it does not store or travel well. The seed version however is increasing in production and is recognised by nutritionists as one of the most beneficial foods in terms of mineral and vitamin content.

What is Quinoa Like?

The Quinoa seeds are little oval seeds 2 - 3 mm in size. They are usually creamy yellow although red and black varieties are available in some countries. They come in dry packs of 500g or 1kg ready for you to cook. You can use them as a replacement for rice or cous cous. Having said this it does have its own flavour and characteristics that make it quite versatile in the kitchen.

How do you cook Quinoa?

The most basic method of cooking quinoa is to boil it in water and simmer for 10 -12 minutes. You need 1 measure of quinoa to 2 measures of water. All the water will be absorbed by the Quinoa. Some quinoa still has a coating of bitter tasting saponins. In this case you need to pre-rinse the quinoa to remove this coating before cooking. You are unlikely to buy coated quinoa as most shops sell it pre-rinsed but its best to be sure.

Once you have cooked the quinoa you can add it as a base for meat dishes instead of rice. You can also include it salads and soups. It takes on the flavour of the foods you cook it with and adds it own little bite to the taste.

When the quinoa is cooked you get a little "tail" that is the germ of the seed. This has a very pleasant crunch to it when you eat it. This is why I think people say it tastes a bit nutty. I'm not sure I agree but quinoa does taste good.

You can microwave quinoa and put it in casseroles as a thickening agent. You can also find quinoa flour and quinoa flakes that you can bake with. The flour is not like wheat flour and you need to use your ingenuity to use it properly.

What is special about Quinoa?

There are a number of things that make quinoa special. Firstly it is gluten free so for people who need to avoid gluten it is a great addition to their diet. It also has all the essential proteins so is good for supply vegetarians with minerals and vitamins you can't get easily from other foods. Finally it releases its carbohydrates into the body very slowly so helps people with diabetes, Irritable Bowel Syndrome and other dietary related diseases.



Quinoa is well worth including into your diet. You will enjoy the new flavour and the health benefits Quinoa gives. www.quinoatips.com

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Double Dead Meat - Food To Avoid In The Philippines

Double dead meat, aka hot meat, is a Filipino term designating meat or poultry sold in markets, which have already died from disease before having been cut up. The term botcha is also used interchangeably with double dead meat. The term is said to originate from two Chinese words bot and cha, which means "do not eat".

The source of hot meat that has been circulating the country is still uncertain. However, past accounts of smuggling from China would tell us that the issue is not something new anymore. It must be recalled that, among others, a shipment of double dead meat from China was stored at the Customs warehouse and found its way to a meat processing company in Pampanga. In any event, the issue of the proliferation of double dead meat in various markets all over the Philippines has been plaguing the country just recently, especially since majority of the Filipinos are meat lovers.

Meat Casseroles

The distinguishing characteristics of meat being double dead are: foul smell, pale color with greenish-gray or bluish hue, dark hide, hair remain stuck to the meat's fat albeit having been dipped in boiling water, sticky and slippery. To be sure, the buyer should avoid buying frozen meat kept in boxes and those that are sold in unusually low prices. Instead, the buyer must look out for meat with pinkish or reddish color with some traces of blood, signifying that it is fresh.

Instead of being displayed in markets, the meat should be properly disposed of and burned. The health repercussions of consuming the meat of a sick animal are readily apparent. First, the nature of the disease is unknown, not to mention the medication administered to the animal. Second, a dead animal is likely to contain germs, microorganisms and some unknown parasites which could be absorbed by humans when the animal's meat is consumed, notwithstanding that the same is cooked. Thus, the person suffers from severe diarrhea and food poisoning.

As a precaution, the public is advised by the government to buy meat only from their trusted meat vendors with licensed outlets certified by the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS). This certification should be posted on the vendor's stall or establishment. Moreover, the purchaser should see a NMIS inspection mark on the meat before buying one.

Finally, the public must be aware that the sale of hot meat is strictly contrary to the Meat Inspection Code, as well as the Consumer Act of the Philippines and other local ordinances, and is penalized by imprisonment. Thus, the public is urged to immediately report to the local officials any knowledge of the presence of these double meat traders and of their activities.

Double Dead Meat - Food To Avoid In The Philippines

Justin Cooke is an author and partner at TryBPO.com, a Philippines outsourcing company based in Davao City, Philippines. Additionally, he creates niche informational sites about topics such as Emtek Hardware and buy vitamin supplements for a variety of different industries.

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Friday, May 20, 2011

My Favorite Cracker Barrel Recipes

This is one my favorite restaurants to visit on the weekends.  If I had to pick my favorite breakfast or favorite home country cooking restaurant, Cracker Barrel would be my choice!  I love great home cooking, and this is the restaurant to visit if you want great home cooking food.  Recently, I have started experimenting with making restaurant recipes at home.  I have a few  Cracker Barrel Recipes that I really like.  Here are my favorite Cracker Barrel Recipes!



Jake Kelly is passionate about restaurants and restaurant recipes! He has years of experience in reviewing restaurant food, and today he writes articles on restaurants and the best food in the industry!



More Cracker Barrel Recipes!

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How to Make a Yummy Breakfast Casserole

Whether you are feeding a large group breakfast or brunch or you simply want to make your family a hardy breakfast, this casserole is sure to be a big hit! In fact if you are like me and like breakfast for dinner or supper this breakfast casserole is good at any time.

The bread in it makes this breakfast casserole very filling. The perfect blend of cheese and meat is sure to make your taste buds happy and your guests coming back for more! This recipe feeds quite a few people but if you are feeding a smaller group simply make half of it. You can make the casserole the evening before and simply refrigerate it until you are ready to bake the next day.

Meat Casseroles

Here are the ingredients you will need to make this breakfast casserole:

16 pieces of wheat or white bread (your favorite)

3 cups of ham

3 cups of Velveeta Cheese

4 large eggs

3 cups of milk

½ teaspoon of dry mustard

½ cup of margarine or butter

3 cups of crushed corn flakes or rice crispies (whichever your prefer or have on hand)

Margarine or butter

 

Begin making your casserole by cubing up your ham and your Velveeta cheese and setting aside. Then, butter eight of your pieces of bread on one side and place them butter side down in an ungreased nine by thirteen inch baking dish.

Follow that layer with all of your cubed ham and your cubed Velveeta Cheese. Spread it as evenly as you can over the first layer of bread. Then, butter the rest of your bread on one side and place them on top of the cheese and ham with the butter side facing up.

Now, in a medium size mixing bowl, beat your eggs until frothy. Then, add your milk and mustard and beat well. Pour this mixture over the entire casserole.

Next, in a small saucepan over high heat melt your butter or margarine. When your butter or margarine is melted mix with your crushed corn flakes or rice crispies. When well mixed, spread evenly over the top of your last layer of bread.

Bake your breakfast casserole for an hour at three hundred and fifty degrees or until browned. Cool it slightly before serving.

If you make this the evening before, do not add the milk and egg mixture until just before baking. If you do your bread will be very soggy. Enjoy!

How to Make a Yummy Breakfast Casserole

Along with enjoying a hearty breakfast, Tina loves working in her garden and growing her own vegetables. She gets most of her supplies from Garden Harvest Supply. They have everything from asparagus crowns to seed potatoes for sale.

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Thursday, May 19, 2011

Cook an Impressive Meal for Your Date

Preparing a homemade meal is a great way to impress your date with not only your cooking skills (don't worry if yours are lacking) AND your thoughtfulness! Cooking is, in some ways, an art. 'But you don't have to be an artist to make a good tasting meal. This article is going to help you cook a terrific meal, complete with sides and dessert, without bogging you down with confusing and time-consuming techniques. This won't be head chef work, but by golly you'll certainly convince your date that you can do a thing or two around the kitchen!









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10 Ways to Use Leftover Meatloaf

Have you ever made meatloaf, and found yourself with enough left overs to last the whole week? If you're like me, I do not enjoy eating the same meal more than twice in a row, once for dinner, then lunch the next day. I discovered that a little meatloaf can go a long way, and that does not mean by sprouting legs from sitting too long in the fridge.

The following is a list of things that can be done so your family will not even recognize the meat loaf from the night before. This list is by no means exhaustive, but it should give you a good start, and may spark your own creativity.

Meat Casseroles

1. Whenever you make too much of something, one option is always to divide into individual portion sizes, date, label, and freeze. You can easily grab it out for a quick meal.
2. Easy Chili: Crumble up your leftover meat loaf into a pot. Add a can of kidney beans, rinsed and drained. Add a couple cans of tomato sauce, or your choice of ground or chopped tomatoes with juice (if your tomato base is runny, add a tablespoon of cornmeal). Add a tablespoon of chili powder, half a tablespoon of seasoned salt, and half a tablespoon of brown sugar. Simmer for ½ hour and serve with cheese and sour cream if desired.
3. Shepherd's Pie: Crumble the leftover meat loaf. Stir in a can of cream of mushroom soup and half a can of water or milk. Spread into bottom of casserole dish. Add a layer of your favorite vegetable: if canned just drain and add, if fresh or frozen, cook and drain then add. Top with mashed potatoes and cook on 350 for half an hour.
4. Tater tot casserole: Prepare meat and vegetables like you would for shepherd's pie. On top of the vegetables, put a layer of chopped Velveeta or sliced American cheese. Top with tater tots and cook at 400 for 20-25 min.
5. Chip dip: Mix meat loaf with salsa and Velveeta, or similar cheese. Microwave until cheese is melted. Mix well and serve with tortilla chips.
6. Sloppy Joes: Put meat loaf into a frying pan with ketchup, mustard and barbeque sauce. Simmer for 10-15 minutes on low heat. Serve with pickles on buns.
7. Patty Melts: Slice the meat loaf into medium slices (about burger thickness). On a frying pan or griddle, place a piece of buttered bread, butter side down. Place the meat loaf slice on the bread with a slice of cheese on it. Toast another piece of bread on the griddle for the top. Sauté onion rings and place on the meat loaf and cheese combination. Top with the other piece of bread and serve with desired condiments.
8. Taco Salad: Chop meat loaf in a frying pan and cook on medium heat. Add a package of taco seasoning and amount of water indicated on the package. Simmer for 10-15 minutes. Serve with tortilla chips, lettuce, cheese, sour cream and tomatoes.
9. Spaghetti Sauce: Add crumbled meat loaf to a sauce pan. Add two cans of tomato sauce, ½ tablespoon Italian Seasoning, and 1 teaspoon of salt. Simmer for 15-20 minutes. Serve with your favorite cooked noodles.
10. Biscuits and gravy: Crumble meat loaf into a sauce pan and set to medium heat. Add 2 tablespoons of flour and stir until coated. Add 2 cups of milk and stir until thickened. Add salt and pepper to taste and serve over biscuits.

10 Ways to Use Leftover Meatloaf

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Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Use Your Microwave for Dinner in Half an Hour: Meatloaf, Carrots and Ice Cream With Fudge Sauce

Cruise on past the fast food drive-thru windows and head home to your own kitchen. You can have a tasty meal on the table in around a half hour. This meal is simple, easy, quick, inexpensive, and best of all, very good. The microwave oven is one of your best friends for quick meals. This menu takes advantage of the microwave with an Easy Microwave Meatloaf in a Bag that only needs 15 to 17 minutes to cook. The Sunday Glazed Carrots also cook in the microwave in a matter of minutes. The Rocky Road Fudge Sauce that goes over the dish of ice cream can be made in the microwave, too.



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Quick Recipes Using Ground Beef

I have always been a red meat eater. I remember when I was pregnant with my first daughter. I ate red meat just about every single day. I'm sure some of it was because of the iron, but I've just always loved red meat.

I love when the stores put multi-packs or family-size packs of ground beef on sale. I'll buy the multi-packs and then divide them into one pound servings and freeze them.

Meat Casseroles

I'd like to share a few quick recipes using ground beef. This first recipe is a very kid friendly recipe. Kids love tater tots and kids love ground beef:

2 pounds ground beef
2 pounds frozen tater tots
1 cup shredded cheese
1 can cream of something soup (we like either chicken or broccoli)

Spread the meat into the bottom of a 9x13 casserole dish. Pour the soup over the meat. Sprinkle the cheese on top of the soup and finally spread the tater tots on top. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for forty-five minutes. Uncover and bake an additional fifteen minutes.

One of my kids' favorite recipes is sloppy joes. All I do is take ground meat and brown it in a frying pan. I then add bottled BBQ sauce and stir. I allow it to simmer for a bit and then serve on hamburger buns. My girls both love this.

The next recipe I'd like to share is actually made for the crockpot. It's a beef stroganoff recipe that's very quick to make.

Brown two pounds of ground beef. Add in chopped onions and a few cloves of chopped garlic. Drain off the fat. Pour the beef mixture into the crockpot.

Mix together the following:

1 cup beef broth
3 tablespoons tomato paste
Salt and pepper to taste.

Pour over the beef and then cook on low six to eight hours. For the last hour of cooking add in one and a half cups of sour cream mixed with four tablespoons of flour. We use non-fat sour cream.

When ready to eat, cook the noodles of your choice and pour the beef mixture over the noodles.

This last recipe is what I call comfort food. There is just no other way to explain how it tastes:

Brown one pound of ground beef and drain. Make brown rice according to package directions.

In a bowl combine one package of onion soup mix, one can of cream of chicken soup, 1 1/2 cups of cooked rice and ¾ cup of water. Add in the meat and mix well. Pour this into a casserole dish and sprinkle with crushed potato chips or crushed Corn Flakes. Bake at 350 degrees for one hour.

There are just so many possibilities on using ground beef in cooking.

Quick Recipes Using Ground Beef

Audrey's mom always entertained when she was growing up. Audrey learned to prepare for large groups and has often entertained 15-30 people in her home at a time. You can find more great recipes at http://www.recipe-barn.com

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Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Soul Warming Slow Cooker Recipes

Many traditional recipes can be converted to a slow cooker recipe by reducing the liquid by 50 percent and increasing the cooking time.  As a guideline 1 hour in the oven equals about 6 to 8 hours on LOW in the slow cooker.



Melissa lives in Brisbane, Australia and writes for www.foodlovers.co.nz as well as a range of other clients.

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When Do We Normally Use a Digital Meat Thermometer?

Digital meat measuring temperature is a powerful in insuring safety in the food we eat. There are a variety of products where we can use the instrument. To give you a little head's up on the functions of digital thermometer for meat, it is an instrument inserted in our cooked or processed meat to measure the meats temperature. You might ask the importance of meat temperature.

The meat's temperature will tell us if the meat is cooked or not, or if the meat is still subject to living harmful bacteria that reside in the food we eat. There are different types an kinds of digital meat thermometer, though these thermometers have the common goal, and that is to keep our food safe. The digital meat thermometer can be subjected to different types of meat and poultry products. This article will be dealing more about the products where digital meat thermometers are commonly used.

Meat Casseroles

First is for poultry products. There is actually a type of meat measuring temperature that is intended for poultry products alone. This is the pop-up type. What is normally done is the thermometer is being inserted to the turkey or chicken breast. Make sure that the thermometer will not touch the bones. It is different if the product is stuffed since the stuffing temperature must at least reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit. For stuffed products, the measurement should be done near and at the end of the stand time.

Digital meat thermometers can also be used for beef, lamb meat, roasts, chops or steaks, and all other types and kinds of meets including van and ham. It is still the same process wherein you have to insert the thermometer into the meat. However, for accuracy and efficiency, it should be inserted into the meats' thickest part, away from the meats' gristle and fats.

Another product where the instrument can be used is on ground products. It may b meat or poultry products. The same process applies. All you have to do is to insert the meat thermometer on the thickest part of the ground product to get accurate and efficient results. However, for thin items such as patties, the meat thermometer can be inserted sideways.It can also be used in casseroles and egg dishes with the same instructions apply. The insertion of the digital meat thermometer should either be in the beginning of the cooking time, or after the product has been cooked depending on the type and usage of the digital meat thermometer.

Bearing in mind these proper usages of digital meat measuring temperature will be beneficial for those people who are health-conscious and want everything safe. This will lead us to a safer product, which may be in form of meat of poultry products. This information will also educate us about the proper usage and the products where it can be used for future reference. This way, we will ensure to use it properly, and accurately across applicable poultry an meat products we get from the market.

When Do We Normally Use a Digital Meat Thermometer?

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Monday, May 16, 2011

The Correlation Between Health And Diet

Healthy living doesn't happen at the doctor's office. The road to better health is paved with the small decisions we make every day. Healthy people may not be very much affected by foods grown in distant climatic regions.



Everyone is so focused on fat loss and building abs that they forget they are LOSING muscle mass. Our forum members share nutrition and amp; training tips and supplement ideas to keep that muscle! Everyone knows what the answer is, and it's a little frustrating even from my point of view, because no matter how much research you do, you're going after a monolithic dogma, in effect. And dogmas protect themselves.



Carbs are actually your body's preferred choice of fuel. The trick is to choose healthful complex carbs such as fruits, veggies, and whole grains.



Carbohydrates are important, however it's the volume of carbohydrates that are the most important. When people are on the first phase here at the Rice House, the total calories are low. Carbohydrates include all substances which end in -ol or -ose. The diet is often very sensitive to even small amounts of these carbohydrates.



Typically, patients embark on an elimination diet under the advice of a doctor, although some people may experiment with such diets on their own to see if they can identify the root causes of their medical problems.



Food allergies can cause a wide range of symptoms including intestinal distress, heartburn , hives, rashes, and difficulty breathing; by eating an elimination diet, a patient can identify foods which should be avoided in the future.



Typically, an interview will include a full nutritional and health history, height and weight and determination of Body Mass Index, or BMI. This is a number arrived at by using a formula that factors in height and weight.



General advice was given to increase fish, whale meat, vegetable and fruit intake. Over 5 years the mean difference in serum cholesterol between the two groups was relatively large for a dietary trial - 13% and tobacco consumption was lower in the intervention group. Genes may interact with environmental toxins such as alcohol in the womb, lead, and parental smoking to cause later problems with attention span.



Raw fat is also vitally important in carnivore's diet for optimum health and performance. Raw food is full of naturally occurring water! All the moisture needed to digest raw food is contained in raw food! Raw or cooked, you should not use a meat source that will cause the breed of dog you are feeding nutritional distress.



It has been PROVEN that the differences in per kilogram nutritional requirements of the different breeds makes it impossible for any one diet, including a raw meat diet, to be nutritionally correct for all dogs.



Additional impacts on the environment from a meat-eating diet are the pollution of our water and air. All of the livestock being raised throughout the world produce enormous amounts of manure and urine, which in turn pollute natural resources. Additionally, these advocates endorse the idea that milk (after weaning) and grains were never intended for human consumption.



Add vegetables whenever possible to ensure your five-a-day intake. Experiment with more veggie variety in salads, try new vegetable mixes, include some shredded vegetables in casseroles, and add different vegetables to soups and stews.



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Casseroles: Perfect for Any Meal

Casseroles are said to have originated from a time where households needed a quick meal occasionally. Today with our busy schedule, it seems we need a quick fix all the time.

For a Quick Breakfast

Meat Casseroles

You can try green chili strata, where you only need grated cheese, milk, green chili pepper, oregano, flour tortillas, ground cumin and salt. Lightly oil the bottom of a baking or casserole dish. Fill the bottom of the dish with tortillas and top with half of the cheese and green chili pepper. Arrange a second layer over the first. Mix milk, eggs, salt and seasonings in a bowl. Arrange egg mixture over layered ingredients. Put the casserole in the fridge for the night and then bake at 350 degrees F. for 30-45 minutes the next day.

One the Kids Will Love

The spaghetti casserole is so easy to make, and you can easily find the ingredients in your pantry. Simply cook spaghetti as indicated in the package instructions and drain. Add bottled or grated fresh Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese and butter and toss the pasta for a light coating. Pulse or puree canned, peeled tomatoes and garlic. Combine the puree mixture and the spaghetti sauce, along with Italian seasonings, heavy cream and mozzarella cheese. Finally, add in the spaghetti. Spoon the mixture evenly into a baking dish sprayed with oil. Top with grated Parmesan and place a lid over the dish. Bake casserole in a preheated 350 degree F. oven for half an hour, or until heated through. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese, return to the oven and heat until cheese has melted and browned.

Late-Night Fix

For a midnight snack, try the hot brown casserole. This dish derived from the Kentucky Hot Brown Sandwich created by Chef Fred K. Schmidt at the Brown Hotel in the 20's. It is made as an alternative to ham and egg late-night dinners. Turkey or chicken are diced and layered at the bottom of a baking dish. Melted butter and flour are cooked in a saucepan on the stovetop for a bit before milk is gradually whisked in. Next, eggs and the white sauce are incorporated together, along with pepper, grated fresh Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese and coarse salt. The egg mixture is spooned evenly over the meat. The dish is topped with Colby Jack cheese and baked for 20 minutes at 350 degrees F. until heated through, the cheese has melted and the top is golden brown.

Casseroles: Perfect for Any Meal

Casseroles are true comfort food. We have put together a collection of delicious casserole recipes that will satisfy the hearty appetite; and that can be served for holidays, special occasions and everyday dining. Find the perfect casserole recipe from our growing selection of appetizers, side dishes, and entrees.

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