Riesling on the Rise
July 23, 2007
Riesling on the Rise
by: David Roberts
You’ve probably heard the saying that if you don’t like Chardonnay, it’s because you haven’t found the right one. Tongue and cheek sentiment aside, it bears witness to the great variety of different wines that all masquerade under the single title of Chardonnay, some so disparate as to hardly be recognizable as coming from the same grape.
Much of this is no doubt due to the staggering popularity of the wine - the more popular a variety is, the greater number of vintners the world over will produce it, each with their own personal twist or addition. This phenomenon however is hardly limited to Chardonnay, or French wines at all for that matter. Even wines with identities that are traditionally more strongly defined may vary widely from region to region.
Riesling is one such versatile wine whose complexity, variety, and cellar longevity make it more than a worthy competitor for the title of most popular white wine.
Two for One Dinners: Beef
July 22, 2007
If you find leftovers boring, uninviting or downright “yuck,” then here are some ideas to put the “zing” back into mealtime. With a little creativity your home-cooked meal can easily become a delicious meal another night. There are a six articles in this series, today we are going to look at what you can do with beef.
DINNER - NIGHT ONE: Pot Roast
Make a slow-cooked pot roast with onions, carrots and potatoes. Give it a flavor boost with bottled horseradish. Serve it over mashed garlic potatoes with a green salad. Put the leftovers in a tightly covered container, or ziplock bag in the refrigerator or freezer.
DINNER - NIGHT TWO: Vegetable Beef Soup
Chop the leftover beef into cubes and mix with a packaged beef broth with frozen mixed vegetables (i.e., green beans, carrots and corn) for a simple, and filling soup. You can find in your grocer’s frozen food section packages of “soup mix” vegetables as well. Serve the soup with cornbread or biscuits on the side. This soup also makes a great lunchbox item that you can warm up and put into an insulated thermos.
What Do I Do With All These Packets Of DIP Mix?
July 21, 2007
What Do I Do With All These Packets Of DIP Mix?
by: Nicole Dean
It seems that everyone uses dip mix but me. I’ve managed to accumulate quite the collection of dip mixes. (Ranch, jalapeno, Mexican, etc.)
What can I do with these other than make DIP?
Signed,
Drowning in Dip
Dear Drowning in Dip,
I hear you! I find myself in the same situation. But, I ended up with my pantry over-flowing in dip and finally found some solutions. I hope they help you, too.
All you need to use your dip mix is sour cream, mayonnaise or cream cheese. From there, the possibilities are endless.
Tuna to the Rescue: If you enjoy tuna sandwiches, but get tired of the boring standard of tuna and mayonnaise, then make some ‘fancy’ mayonnaise. A few hours before you want your tuna sandwich, mix some mayonnaise and dip packet together. Let it sit. Then, when you want to enjoy your tuna sandwich, simple mix the ‘fancy mayonnaise’ with your tuna - and you’ve got a winner.
No Bake Cookies Are Easy to Make and Fun to Eat
July 20, 2007
Got an urge for a homemade cookie snack but don’t feel like mixing up a bunch of ingredients and baking? No problem. Whip up a batch of no bake cookies to satisfy your hunger craving.
No bake cookies are easy to make and involve only a few simple ingredients. Fresh ingredients like milk, butter, sugar, peanut butter, uncooked oatmeal (rolled oats), cocoa, marshmallows, chocolate chips, raisins and chopped walnuts or pecans are commonly used to make easy no bake cookies.
Online you can find many delicious and unique no bake cookie recipes like:
- Chocolate Peanut Oatmeal Cookies
- Chewy Chocolate Marshmallow Cookies
- Chocolate Fudge Oatmeal Cookies
- Crunchy Cereal Ball Cookies
- Old Fashioned Rum Ball Cookies
- Wonderful White Chocolate Cookies
Kids enjoy making no bake cookies as well as adults because it’s literally as easy as mixing all the ingredients together in a bowl, rolling the dough up into balls, and plopping them down on wax paper to cool.
The most fun part, of course, about no bake cookies is when you get to eat them! For so little effort, they’re a great big delight for your sweet tooth.
About The Author
Copyright 2004 Donna Monday
Seven Fun Things You Can Do with Popcorn
July 19, 2007
Seven Fun Things You Can Do with Popcorn
by: Gary Nave
What type of popcorn lover are you? How do you cook it, stove top, microwave, air popped or camp fire roasted? How about toppings, naked, salted, drenched in butter, cheese laddened, covered in carmel, or coated in chocolate.
Plain popcorn balls are great on their own. However, you can easily change them into something spectacular. You can cover a popcorn ball with white cake icing and red licorice lace to resemble a baseball. If that is too much, you can dress them up by wrapping them in colored plastic wrap. For halloween, wrap them in orange plastic wrap, glue on cut out construction paper eyes, nose and mouth for an edible mini jack-o-lantern.
Popcorn lends its self for great ideas during halloween. Don’t forget the freakishly realistic witch’s hand. All you need is plastic food preparation gloves, candy corn for the finger nails, fill with popcorn and a ribbon to close off the bag. Add a plastic spider ring and watch the fingers bend in odd directions.
The Curious History Of Wine Consumption In America
July 19, 2007
The history of wine consumption in America has been frought with starts, stops, and inconsistencies. The American population has always had a love-hate relationship with alcohol. Historic prohibitionist attitudes amongst much of the American population have blurred the line between moderate wine consumption and detrimental alcoholism. As a result, regular, moderate consumption of wine by the American public continues to face ideological and legal impediments.
The History of Wine Consumption During the Colonial Years
Since its origins, the history of wine consumption in America has been both encouraged and despised by different demographic groups. Spanish missionaries produced the earliest New World wine during the early 17th Century. Shortly thereafter, French immigrants began to cultivate grapes in the Hudson River Valley. They made wine, juice, and preserves.
The early history of wine consumption in America was dominated by immigrants whom were primarily Catholic, and of Central or Southern European descent. The bulk of wine-drinking immigrants came from the wine loving nations of France, Italy, Germany, and Spain. They descended from cultural traditions that valued social wine consumption with the evening meal.
How To Master Your French Press
July 18, 2007
How To Master Your French Press | Plunger Pot Coffee Maker
by: Daryl Plaza
The French press produces a very rich, robust coffee. It is the next best brew to an Espresso. Using medium to coarse coffee grounds which when directly infused using slightly cooled boiling water, will create a great blend of aroma and flavor. The French press method is pre-warming the glass beaker with hot water, adding your preferred amount of coffee in the beaker, then adding some slightly cooled boiling water. The plunger cover is then replaced on the beaker. You should then allow the coffee to steep for about four to six minutes. Then you gently press the plunger lid down allowing it to pass through the suspended coffee. This will separate your finished coffee away from the grounds by pressing all the grounds to the bottom of the pot.
Advantages | Disadvantages of your French press
Advantages: Using this technique gives the richest body of coffee (excluding Espresso). The stop time is less, application of pressure is slight, water is hotter, and the ratio of water to coffee is greater. Grounds in this process (steeping) are just under the boiling point, which means no extra boiling or burning which will save the dark, delightful flavor and coffee aroma - with no bitterness. Also there is no paper filter to take away some of the coffee oils - which will help save your delicate aroma.
Two for One Dinners: Turkey
July 17, 2007
If you find leftovers boring, uninviting or downright “yuck,” then here are some ideas to put the “zing” back into mealtime. With a little creativity your home-cooked meal can easily become a delicious meal another night. There are a six articles in this series, today we are going to look at what you can do with turkey.
DINNER - NIGHT ONE: Roasted Turkey Breast
Any time of the year is a good time to roast a turkey and experiment with different flavors. Try roasting it over carrots, leeks and sweet potatoes and glazing the bird and the vegetables with a mix of soy sauce and molasses. Or, perhaps you want to roast it with turnips, carrots, potatoes and leeks. Be creative and try different veggies! Take care to remove the leftover meat from the bone and store it tightly wrapped in the refrigerator for up to two to three days.
DINNER - NIGHT TWO: Turkey and Pear Salad
A night or two later, when you need a quick meal, chop the leftover turkey and fold it, with diced pears, into a little mayonnaise and lemon juice. Sprinkle with curry powder, salt and pepper and serve on a bed of romaine lettuce. No cooking required! This also makes a great lunchbox salad.
Cooking with Culinary Lavender
July 16, 2007
Cooking with Culinary Lavender
by: Jenny Bishop
Have you tried whole grains with culinary lavender? Whole grains are making a comeback, and their advantages in terms of health and environmental conservancy are well known. However, to many palates accustomed to refined flour, whole grains seem tasteless and heavy. By using our Culinary Lavender, you can create healthy, satisfying meals that taste - and smell - delicious. Adding Lavender Lemon Pepper or Italian Seasoning with Lavender to your whole grains is the key to making nutritious meals that your entire family will love.
Why are Whole Grains So Beneficial?
Natural grains consist of three parts - the germ, the bran, and the endosperm. White rice, flour, and other refined grains are made by processing endosperm and discarding the bran and germ. The endosperm consists almost entirely of starch, while minerals, vitamins, proteins, and other healthy substances are found in the bran and germ. Although the endosperm has a milder taste and softer texture, adding culinary lavender to whole grains makes them just as appealing as refined grains - or even more so!
A Healthy Summertime Snack For Your Kids
July 15, 2007
Oh, for the lazy days of Summer…. As If!
Nowadays we all rush around trying to balance two jobs, the kids and running the house. Many of us are taking classes on top of that.
The end result is we often just grab whatever is handy to snack on. Chips or sweet snacks like cookies or snack cakes. Not very healthy,eh? Try this instead. Take a few minutes and buy a package of tropical fruit mix at the market along with some wooden skewers. Also buy a package of popcorn chicken bites ( Tyson makes some really good ones).
You have all you need to make a platter of mini kebobs that your children will love.
Just make some up in the morning and place on a platter in the fridge.
They’ll grab ‘em and go.
Here’s the recipe instructions:
Take a skewer and slide two pieces of fruit on add one piece of pre cooked popcorn chicken add a slice of banana you may also put cheese cubes next if you like now just repeat the process until the skewers are filled up arrange on a platter and cover with plastic wrap.
