How to Order Wine in a Restaurant
March 15, 2008
Ordering wine in a restaurant is not much different than buying it in a wine store. The main difference is that you have an audience. Yet ordering wine in a restaurant can be intimidating especially if the wine list is extensive.
Experiment or Homework Keep in mind that even the experts will not be familiar with every selection on a wine list. If you are a novice and your are going on an important date, you should do a little homework to get some idea of what you might want to order. Unless you are feeling extremely adventurous, a restaurant is usually not the place to try something new since the mark up can range from 100 to 200%.
The Wine List Today, most restaurants have a wine list, but expect a myriad of shapes and sizes. Some establishments might simply offer just a house red or white, while others have a daily blackboard to outline their rotating selection. Most wine lists are presented as a printed menu, with the wines arranged by color; red, white, and rose and the region of country. Additionally, many establishments will number their wines on the list, which helps big-time if you do not know how to pronounce the wine. You can simply say, “I will have the number 8″.
Is Cooked Food Really All That Good For Us?
March 14, 2008
In nature all animals eat living foods as yielded up by Nature. Only humans cook their foods and only humans suffer widespread sicknesses and ailments. Those humans who eat mostly living foods are more alert, think clearer, sharper and more logically and become more active. Best of all, live food eaters become virtually sickness-free!
Cooking is a process of food destruction from the moment heat is applied to the foodstuff. Long before dry ashes results, food values are totally destroyed.
If you put your hand just for a moment into boiling water or on a hot stove, which should forever persuade you just how destructive heat is. Food is usually subjected to these destructive temperatures for perhaps half an hour or more. What was living substance becomes totally dead very rapidly with exposure to heat!
Cooking renders food toxic! The toxicity of the deranged debris of cooking is confirmed by the doubling and tripling of white blood cells after eating a cooked food meal. The white blood cells are the first line of defense and are, collectively, popularly called “the immune system.” As confirmed by hundreds of researches cited in the prestigious National Academy of Sciences National Research Council’s book, “Diet, Nutrition and Cancer,” all cooking quickly generates mutagens and carcinogens in foods.
Making Pancake Batter the Night Before (with Recipe)
March 13, 2008
Mornings are hectic. If you make your pancake batter the night before, that will save you precious minutes. Some pancake batter can be made the night before and stored in the refrigerator and some cannot. Here’s how to tell the difference:
Pancake and waffle batters made with baking powder can be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator overnight. Since the baking powder may lose some of its potency overnight, add a little extra. If the first pancake doesn’t rise enough, sift a little more over the batter and gently stir it in. Alternatively, you can add an extra 25 to 50% when you make up the batter.
Pancake and waffle batters leavened with baking soda cannot be stored. These leavenings go to work as soon as they are moistened and will lose their power overnight.
Some pancake and waffle recipes call for whipped egg whites to give them extra volume. If the recipe calls for baking powder and egg whites, you can mix the batter the night before but wait till morning to fold in the egg whites.
Since you may not be familiar with recipes that call for whipped egg whites, we thought we would share one with you.
How to Satisfy Summer Time Fresh Tomato Cravings Today
March 12, 2008
How to Satisfy Summer Time Fresh Tomato Cravings Today
by: Steve Melton
Disappointment reigns heavily when it comes to out of season tomatoes. Yes, summer is over as the harsh freezing cold temperatures blanket the entire North American continent and we are missing, craving more than likely, the incredible taste of vine ripe tomatoes straight from the garden. Perfectly picked at their peek of freshness and aromatic fragrance.
Sure you try the produce market at you local grocery looking for bright red tomatoes that give a little to the touch but don’t feel mushy. Your journey is unsuccessful instead you settle for the less than perfect specimen, pale and still a little green in color. Your hope is it will ripen at room temperature on the kitchen counter and be ready to use in a couple of days. Disappointment follows it has no taste whatsoever.
Cravings are persistent and lead to more intense desires for the fresh taste of summer time tomatoes.
Ouch, did you hear the weather report? Several more days of below freezing temperatures are ahead with no end in sight.
Mi Vida My Life
March 11, 2008
Mi Vida My Life
by: Chris Robertson
Do you appreciate the taste of great food, but worry about your health? Are you on a restrictive diet, such as a diabetes diet or a low carb program? If you are, then it may be very difficult to find great tasting fresh foods that answer your health needs while still satisfying the taste buds. Even with the recent explosion in low carb foods, it’s rare to find one that actually tastes better than the original; and very few people are willing to give up their favorite foods just because there is no low carb or sugar free version available. In spite of the boom of health-conscious dieters in the world today, it’s just plain difficult to find foods that are not only low carb, but sugar free, low in sodium, and great tasting, too.
Those who appreciate great tasting food and still want to take care of their health may very well find their answer in the uniquely designed, privately owned company called Mi Vida My Life.
How to Bake Quick Bread: Apricot-Orange Nut
March 10, 2008
We love moist, fruity quick breads–and this is one of our favorites. It’s nutty, flavorful, and full of wholesome ingredients. We would like to share this recipe with you and demonstrate the baking principles for wonderful quick breads.
The definition of quick breads is imprecise. Often cookbooks classify muffins, coffeecakes, and biscuits as quick breads–not just those moist loaf breads made without yeast–breads like banana nut bread and date nut bread. And there is a thin line between quick breads and cakes. Quick breads contain less sugar and fat than cakes. They usually, but not always, contain fruits or nuts to add flavor and moisture and make up for the low percentage of fat and sugar. When we refer to quick breads, we’re talking about loaf-shaped breads without yeast.
There are two major makeup methods for quick breads–the muffin method and the creaming method. In the creaming method, we cream the fat (butter or shortening) with the sugar until light and then add the other ingredients. In the muffin method, we mix the liquids and the dry ingredients separately and then stir them together until just combined. Today, we will look at the muffin method.
International Gourmet Deliveries Take the Hassle Out of Gift Giving
March 10, 2008
International Gourmet Deliveries Take the Hassle Out of Gift Giving
by: Chris Robertson
In our global economy, everyone from the businessperson to the neighbor who traveled abroad on holiday is facing the same dilemma: how to send gifts to business associates and new friends who live overseas. Increasingly, gift givers are choosing the convenience of international gourmet deliveries over the hassle of shipping gifts overseas through conventional methods.
Utilizing the availability of gourmet gifts worldwide, many gift givers are sending hampers to Britain and other nations. Of the hamper baskets worldwide, the most popular gourmet baskets to Britain include fruits, cheeses, and meats. Companies known for their outstanding gourmet baskets to Britain, such as www.gourmetgiftuk.com, have established local shipping posts in nations around the world. Therefore, gourmet gift baskets can be shipped from a location close to the recipient, ensuring the utmost in freshness and quality.
International gourmet deliveries are especially appropriate for business associates and personal acquaintances, for whom gifts are traditionally difficult to choose. A basket containing a bottle of Australian wine and a bottle of South African wine, combined with English cheddar cheese and table biscuits, conveys a sense of adventure to an already thoughtful gift. For those who have a sweet tooth, an international gourmet delivery of chocolate wafers, biscotti, flavored coffee, truffles, and cocoa will be delightfully received. If the gift recipient’s tastes run to the savory, a hamper containing corned beef, new potatoes, liver pate, ham, and baked beans will be welcomed.
Better Breakfasts Ideas
March 9, 2008
Nutritionists tell us that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. With breakfast, we are replenishing our bodies from the night before and charging them for the day ahead. How we will perform during the day is affected by what we eat in the morning. Yet, breakfast tends to be rushed and routine–more so than any other meal. Here are dozens of ideas to help you build better breakfasts.
Eggs don’t have to be boring
Wander through an egg cookbook for a skillion ideas on what you can cook with eggs. Years ago, we got a little egg cookbook from the Iowa Egg Council and have worn it to tatters. I notice that they have more cookbooks available.
Here are some of the egg dishes that we enjoy. (They’re more techniques than recipes but you’ll get the idea.)
? Scrambled eggs in all their variations. Try Spanish scrambled eggs with leftover rice, salsa, and sautéed onions, peppers, and chilies. Or the old standby–cheddar scrambled eggs. Try adding a can of Mexi-corn to scrambled eggs. We like Chinese vegetables added to our scrambled eggs.
Christmas Recipes: Edible Gifts. No.4 of 8 - Chocolate Truffles
March 8, 2008
Christmas Recipes: Edible Gifts. No.4 of 8 - Chocolate Truffles
by: Paul Curran
Christmas recipe makes: 2 dozen
Calories per truffle: 65
Preparation time: 30 - 60 minutes
Cooking time: 0 minutes
Suitable for freezing
Christmas recipe ingredients:
Truffle Mixture:
chocolate, bitter, plain or milk 225g (8 oz)
double cream, 75 ml (3 fl oz)
brandy, 75 ml (3 fl oz)
or rum,orange liqueur, coffee liqueur, coconut liqueur
Rolled Truffles:
cocoa powder
chopped nuts
coconut, dessicated or grated
chocolate vermicelli or grated choclate for rolling
Dipped Truffles:
chocolate, plain, milk or white (350 g (12 oz)
or mixture of all three
Suitable for freezing.
Christmas recipe instructions:
1. Truffle Mixture: Add the cream to grated chocolate and melt in a bowl over water at boiling point, stirring until smooth. Allow to cool and thicken.
2. Add your alcohol of choice and whisk until the mixture is strong enough to stay ‘up’ when a strand of mixture is pulled up by the whisk. Then put the mixture into a shallow tin (covered) and cool till firm.
Merry Christmas Cheesecakes
March 7, 2008
Merry Christmas Cheesecakes
by: Luke Indran
Do you have a weakness for cheesecakes? There quite simply isn’t a better time than Christmas to luxuriate in the irresistably sweet and satisfying creaminess of posh cheesecakes, for the cracking festive cheer is the perfect accompaniment to this luscious Yuletide treat. Merry Christmas folks!
MERRY CHRISTMAS CHEESECAKES
1 cup of flour
1/2 cup of margarine
1/2 cup of brown sugar, firmly packed
1/2 cup of nuts, chopped
–FILLING:–
1 (8 oz.) pkg. of cream cheese, soft
1/4 cup of sugar
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon of vanilla
2 tablespoons of milk
2 tablespoons of lemon juice
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In 3 quart bowl combine flour, margarine, and brown sugar. Blend with mixer. Stir in nuts. Reserve 1 cup of mixture for topping. Pat remaining in ungreased 8 inch square pan. Bake near center of oven 8 to 10 minutes.
Prepare filling. Spread over partially baked crust. Sprinkle reserve crumb mixture on top. Return to oven 23 to 30 minutes. Cool, cut and store in refrigerator.
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