Best Recipes: Rum Raisin Cheesecake
May 31, 2009
Best Recipes: Rum Raisin Cheesecake
by: Donna Monday
If you like rum raisin ice cream, you’ll enjoy the flavor of rum raisin in this unique cheesecake.
Crust
1 cup old fashioned or quick cooking oats, uncooked
¼ cup chopped nuts
3 tablespoons margarine, melted
3 tablespoons packed brown sugar
Filling
2 8-oz. pkgs. cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup granulated sugar
¼ cup flour
2 eggs
½ cup sour cream
3 tablespoons rum
2 tablespoons margarine
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup raisins
¼ cup chopped nuts
2 tablespoons old fashioned or quick cooking oats, uncooked
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Combine oats, nuts, margarine and brown sugar; press onto bottom of 9-inch springform pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.
Combine cream cheese, granulated sugar and 2 tablespoons flour, mixing at medium speed on electric mixer until well blended. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Blend in sour cream and rum; mix well. Pour over crust.
Grilling Tips ? Safety Comes First at the Barbecue
May 30, 2009
You’re standing at the gas grill in the hot sun, wiping the sweat from your brow, and having your favorite cool drink. You are making one of your favorite grill recipes for the neighbors that are coming over in a few minutes for a home and garden party. You are using your brand new gas grill with all of the bells and whistles. You even went to the trouble of sending out fun invitations you found on the internet and you have just the perfect theme picked out for your party. Your new pool furniture has arrived and the weather is a perfect 80 degrees. Your picnic table is set up for the kids and their friends. Summer life doesn’t get much better than that. With every grill recipe, party and backyard barbecue you can still maintain safety and common sense. Your party could be a disaster without first thinking about safety for yourself and your guests. Here are a few tips that ensure safety first:
Best Recipes: Chocolate Velvet Cheesecake
May 29, 2009
Best Recipes: Chocolate Velvet Cheesecake
by: Donna Monday
Smooth, creamy, and oh so sophisticated - that’s chocolate velvet cheesecake.
Crust
1 cup vanilla wafer crumbs
½ cup chopped pecans
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
Filling
2 8-oz. pkgs. cream cheese, softened
½ cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 6-oz. pkg. semi-sweet chocolate pieces, melted
3 tablespoons almond flavored liqueur (substitute 2 tablespoons milk and ¼ teaspoon almond extract for almond flavored liqueur)
Topping
2 cups sour cream
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
Directions
Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
Combine crumbs, pecans, granulated sugar and margarine; press onto bottom of 9-inch springform pan. Bake at 325 degrees for 10 minutes.
Combine cream cheese and brown sugar, mixing at medium speed on electric mixer until well blended. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Blend in chocolate and liqueur (or extract and milk); pour over crust. Bake at 325 degrees for 35 minutes.
Increase oven temperature to 425 degrees.
Combine sour cream and granulated sugar; carefully spread over cheesecake. Bake at 425 degrees for 10 minutes.
Pairing Beer With Food
May 29, 2009
Pairing beer with the fine cuisine has recently come to the attention of many eating establishments as they try to cater to the 90’s micro-brew crowd. No longer is wine considered the only drink fit for a succulent entree. You too can bring this art form into your own home with a few simple tips.
Much like wine, you must consider the style of cuisine and the predominant flavors in a dish. Here are a few examples to get you started:
- Deep savory flavors, such as a dry-rubbed steak, can be balanced by a sweeter beer, such as a German Dopple-bock or cream stout. For the opposite effect, some like a dry Irish stouts here as well, but I would recommend a porter to avoid strong bitter flavors.
- Barbeque chicken, especially tomato based sauces, can be complemented by Hefe-weizen (wheat beer) where the citrus flavors show through.
- For more subtle fish or pork dishes, a nice Czech style pilsner, with crisp, hoppy notes will spice up the palate between bites.
- The yeasty belgian beers can have a bread-like flavor, which work well with fruit and cheese.
Gourmet Coffee Beans - a Brief Overview
May 28, 2009
Gourmet Coffee Beans - a Brief Overview
by: Jerry Powell
The coffee plant has two main species. There is the Coffea Arabica, which is the more traditional coffee and considered to be superior in flavor, and the Coffea Canephora known more commonly as Robusta. Robusta tends to be higher in caffeine and can be grown in climates and environments were Arabica would not be profitable. Robusta is also typically more bitter and acidic in flavor. Because of this Robusta tends to be less expensive. High quality Robusta is also used to blend espresso for more bite, and to lower costs.
A little known fact is that some coffee beans improve their flavor with age. It is the green unroasted beans which are aged; the typical length of time is 3 years, though there are some houses which sell beans aged to 7 years. Aged beans have a fuller flavor and are less acidic.
Growing conditions, soil types and weather patterns during the growing season all contribute to the flavor of the bean, creating the differences in flavor from points of origin, such as Kenya or Brazil. However, roasting adds its own flavor, sometimes to the point that it is difficult to tell where the beans originated from, even by experienced cuppers.
Do You Know How Many Ways There Are To Eat A Cat Head Biscuit?
May 27, 2009
A time honored Southern tradition, the infamous “Cat Head” biscuit has become as much an icon of southern cooking as fried chicken. Just say the words “Cat Head Biscuits” almost anywhere in the South and you will instantly conjure up memories childhood and of mouthwateringly delicious meals.
Born of humble beginnings, the “Cat Head Biscuit” was never anything fancy. Just a few simple ingredients, usually mixed and “patted” out by hand, these delicacies bring back wonderful memories like no other food can.
What makes a “Cat Head Biscuit” so special; it’s just a biscuit after all, right? I can’t honestly say why they are loved so much or why just the mention of the name sparks such comforting memories. Maybe it’s the thoughts of our mothers and grandmothers standing in hot kitchens, over wood burning stoves, lovingly preparing food for their families or maybe it’s that first bite fresh from the oven. This is the very definition of “Comfort Food”. From that first savory taste of butter as you bite through the crispy crust to the soft, warm inside; you know you are in for a real treat!
Cheese — Explore a new Taste
May 26, 2009
Cheese — Explore a new Taste
by: Jerry Powell
Setting out to find a new cheese to add to your life is a great way to spend a weekend afternoon. There are some great spots in just about every city to explore new tastes. Once you find your new cheese, having it loose its flavor or dry out before you can share it with others is a sad moment. So let’s talk about caring for the cheese.
As a rule, you shouldn’t slice up your hunk of cheese before you are ready to use it. Unpasteurized cheese will begin to loose subtlety and aroma once it is sliced and more area is exposed to the oxygen in the air. So keep them in hunks as long as you can.
Find out from your cheese vendor, or from searching the Internet, what conditions were used to mature your new found cheese. Storing your cheese in the same conditions is often the best way to keep it flavorful. For hard, semi-hard and semi-soft cheeses the normal storing temperature is about 8-13 C (about 46 degrees Fahrenheit) for example. Cheese stored in the refrigerator should be removed about an hour and a half before serving, letting the cheese warm up allows the flavor and aroma to develop.
Weight Loss With Avocado, Walnuts and Crispy Bacon
May 25, 2009
Weight Loss With Avocado, Walnuts and Crispy Bacon
by: Kim Beardsmore
Losing weight doesn’t have to be boring when you focus on bright, colourful meals. What does this mean? Simply by making sure your plate reflects a range of colours, you’ll naturally create more balanced and healthful menus. Not everyone has the time or the patience to count calories, but assessing the colours on your plate is something anyone can do - and it only takes an instant! Why is colour important? Many fatty and caloric foods, such as dairy products and startchy carbs, are beige or brown. When there are too many of these drab colours on your plate, weight gain is almost certain.
That’s because these beige foods often are high in calories and can leave you feeling hungry later. A cup of beige or brown beans can be over 200 calories….but a cup of red or green vegetables is under a hundred! Add fresh greens, deep purple-reds and bright yellow-orange to a meal, and water the nutrient content go up, while calories go down! Plus, you’ll get more enjoyment from eating when there’s a variety of colours and flavors on your plate.
Working with Eggs
May 24, 2009
Bad eggs are rare but they do occur. Crack eggs into a separate bowl before mixing with other ingredients. If the egg is bad it will have an unmistakeable odor.
If you find an egg stuck to the carton, fill the indentation with cool water and let sit for five minutes. The water will soften the dried egg white that is holding the egg in the carton.
Many techniques are used for cracking open an egg. Their is an easy method you can use if you want to keep the eggshell out of the frypan. Using the following method will keep the egg shell from shattering when you crack the egg.
1. First, find a flat surface, you want to crack the egg on a flat surface and not on the edge of counter or frying pan.
2. Place the egg in the upper part of your palm, between your thumb and first three fingers. Leave a space between your middle and ring finger. Give a short, sharp crack to the exposed area on a flat surface.
Pasta Recipes ? The Very Best In Italian Cuisine!
May 24, 2009
These pasta recipes are excellent for dinners or parties.
In this article, I’m going to share with you three delicious pasta recipes that you can prepare for any occasion that suits you. The recipes are very easy and can be prepare in less than 30 minutes.
So, here we go?
Lemon Tuna Pasta
- 4 tsp Butter
- 18 Black olives, pitted & sliced
- 1 tsp Oil; olive
- 2 can Tuna; chunk, drained
- 4 large Garlic cloves, chopped
- Pasta; penne, cooked and drained
- 1/8 cup Lemon juice
- 4 tsp Butter (add at end)
- 3 tsp Capers, drained
Melt butter with oil in skillet. Add garlic and cook 2 minutes. Add lemon juice, capers and olives and cook another 2 minutes. Turn heat to lowest setting. Add tuna & separate it (do NOT flake) with a fork. Heat through, stirring gently. Drain pasta. Add remainder of butter and sauce to hot pasta, tossing well.
