Choosing Japanese Kitchen Knives

By Clark Patterson

You don't need to love Japanese food to appreciate the sleekness and usefulness of Japanese kitchen knives. These types of knives have been growing in popularity household kitchens around the globe through the past few years or so. You might have already seen them on popular television programs or in home design shops.

Unlike different types of knives, these special knives are built to be lightweight and are characterized by a fine edge. The solid steel blade of Japanese kitchen knives is very sharp and brittle as opposed to more traditional knives that are constructed to be flexible but tough. This ensures that a Japanese knife to be extremely sharp and useful. The edges of a Japanese knife are less likely to flex, ensuring that it will hold onto its sharpness for a longer period of time.

The Process of Creating Japanese Kitchen Knives

There are two traditional forging methods that are typically used in the creation of Japanese kitchen knives: Kasumi and Honyaki. Knives forged in the Honyaki tradition are made of a high carbon steel and forged completely of one material. Kasumi-forged knives are made from steel and soft iron that is forged to make the knife. The steel part is used for the knife's blade and the iron is used for its body. Both Honyaki and Kasumi Japanese knives are renowned for their unsurpassed durability and sharpness.

Common Types of Japanese Kitchen Knives

The most common types of Japanese knives include:

- Deba bocho - Meat cleaver

- Santoku bocho - Standard utility knife

- Nakiri bocho or usuba bocho - Vegetable-slicing knife

Japanese knives are generally crafted for one purpose, such as cutting vegetables. But traditional Japanese chef will typically only use a couple of knives and use them for many purposes. The majority of the Japanese kitchen knives on today's market are made in Sakai, a region of Japan famous for forging legendary samurai swords since the sixteenth century.

Maintaining Japanese Kitchen Knives

Japanese kitchen knives must be cared for properly in order to maintain their usability and sheen. Consider the following to maintain your knives for as long as possible:

1. Do not put your Japanese kitchen knives in the dish washer.

2. Wash the knives by hand instead.

3. You must to sharpen Japanese kitchen knives far more often than other types of knives because of to the super fine edge. Sharpen them as often as possible for the best results.

4. Dry your Japanese kitchen knives with a soft cloth. Do not let them sit and dry.

Of special note, as with any type of knife, Japanese kitchen knives are super-sharp - store away from the reach of children.

As with any other type of knife, keep Japanese kitchen knives far away from children, especially due to the fact that they are extremely dangerous. - 30289

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Why use lower quality knives when higher quality knives are available to you? Find out how high of a quality Japanese kitchen knives really are.

Learn the Essentials of Choosing a Stainless Roasting Pan, from Construction and Shape to Indispensable Extras

By Bethany Boylan

Do you love cooking a holiday meal for your family? There is nothing like the smell of the roast in the oven. But for creating a perfectly roasted turkey, you need the best stainless roasting pan. If you end up with an inferior roasting pan, it could result in meat that is burnt in some areas and raw in others, scorched gravy, and a pan that is too hard to get out of the oven.

First, the size of the roasting pan matters. Ideally, your pan should fit in your oven and still leave 2 inches for air to circulate between it and the sides of the oven. In addition, you don't want a pan so large that the juices from your average roast will have too much room to spread and will burn.

The metal or alloy that your roasting pan is made of is also essential to consider. Things such as weight, sturdiness, and heat conductivity vary from pan to pan. The best heat conductor is aluminum, but it can react badly to acids in some foods. Stoneware is nice but it can be heavy and sometimes fragile. The best choice is a sturdy stainless steel roasting pan, layered in with aluminum and maybe copper. This gives you the best heat conductivity, low reactivity to acids in foods, and a good weight.

Your turkey roasting pan must also be able to stand up to high oven temperatures and the high direct heat of the stove top. You often will want to use your roaster on the stove top to sear the meat and also to make gravy after roasting. Some lightweight pans can buckle under high-heat conditions. The poorly made pans can also distribute heat unevenly and cause burning and scorching of your roast or gravy.

Did you ever consider the handles on a pan? Easy to forget about, but essential when you are removing that heavy, hot pan from the oven. The best handles are strongly riveted to the pan and stand straight up from the pan so oven space is not wasted. Cheaper handles stick straight out from the pan or even worse, fold down. Try getting your potholder-covered hand through that handle easily. In addition, you should choose a rectangular pan with rounded corners that facilitate easy cleaning. The height of the sides of your pan should be 2.5 to 3 inches, which is the happy medium to allow air to circulate, yet won't allow hot juices to spill easily.

There are deals on pans that include handy extras. A rack is one. My favorite extra is heavy forks. Even if I only use my forks once a year to lift that heavy turkey out of the pan onto my serving platter, they were worth it. - 30289

About the Author:

Learn more about stainless roasting pans. Stop by Bethany Payne's page where you can find out all about turkey roasting pans and get recommendations.

Ethiopian Coffee History and Ritual

By Habesha Abesha

The coffee ceremony in Ethiopia is an important part of their social life and cultural life. Whenever you are invited by an Ethiopian to his/her traditional coffee ceremony, it means you have been accepted as a friend and you have also earned their respect. It is an excellent example of their hospitality.

Most people who find themselves as guests in their house would never fail to notice, the coffee ceremony Ethiopians are quick to present to their guests or visitors.

Their homage to coffee is sometimes ornate, and always beautifully ceremonial. The ceremony is usually conducted by one young woman wearing her traditional Ethiopian clothing of a white dress, with woven borders made up myriads of spectacular colors.

The extended Ethiopian coffee ceremony starts with the ceremonial equipments being arranged upon a bed of long scented grasses. After that, the coffee is roasted on a level roaster above a small charcoal furnace, the aromatic smell blending with the heady scent of incense that is also customarily burned during the Ethiopian coffee tradition.

Next, the woman who is in charge of the coffee ceremony carefully washes the handful of coffee beans on the heated furnace, then stirs and shakes the remains away. Once the coffee beans have turned black and shining and the aromatic oil is coaxed out of them, they are ground by a pestle and a long handled mortar.

Next, it is time to cautiously stir the ground coffee into the Jebena, or flat-bottomed pot.

Due to the archaic method used by Ethiopians, the ground result can be called anything but even, so the coffee is strained through a fine sieve several times.

The youngest child is then sent out to announce when it is to be served and stands ready to bring a cup of coffee first to the eldest in the room and then to the others, connecting all the generations.

The lady finally serves the coffee in tiny china cups to her family, friends and neighbours who have waited and watched the procedure for the past half-hour. Gracefully pouring a thin golden stream of coffee into each little cup from a height of one foot without an interruption requires years of practice. - 30289

About the Author:

Looking to find the best information on Ethiopia, then visit Abesha Bunna Bet blog. Also more information on Ethiopian Culture for you.

How To Choose An Espresso Coffee Maker

By Mark Knowles

Espresso has become very popular in the last 10 years or so. Almost every city has one or more Starbucks or similar stores where you can buy an espresso on your way to work. May gas stations also feature the European coffee. However, the cost of buying very expensive coffee every day quickly adds up, and you may find it makes sense to buy your own espresso maker so you can make your own cup of espresso at home. Below, we are going to tell you about a wonderful maker that will be worth waking up to each morning...

There are two basic models for espresso machines. Some are steam driven while others are pump driven. Some experts claim that pump driven espresso tastes better; however, chances are that the steam driven makers will make a cup that is to your liking if you aren't a gourmet espresso drinker. The steam driven coffee machines are also cheaper. You should read reviews, talk to other espresso drinkers, and consider which coffee maker fits your budget and kitchen size best before purchasing any coffee machine.

Some people claim that pump driven coffee is tastier or more authentic. If you are not an espresso connoisseur, however, you likely won't notice the difference and could possibly save a few bucks with the steam driven coffee maker. You should research the pros and cons of each coffee machine before deciding what to buy.

Many kitchens feature far more appliances than there is counter space, leaving you to move machines around whenever you need to use a particular appliance.

A small coffee maker that can be easily put away might be your best bet if you are facing this situation. You also want to think about how easy the coffee maker is to clean, whether it has a programmable timer, and so on.

The most important factor is how the espresso tastes. Unfortunately, you can't try out the coffee machine in the store. So if you know anyone who has an espresso machine you should taste the coffee it makes and see if you like it before buying your own machine. - 30289

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Before buying an espresso machine, it is vital to do some research and testing if possible. Any Italian espresso maker can vary greatly in price and quality from manufacturer to manufacturer.

Items You Will Probably Want To Buy For Mexican Cooking

By Beverley Drake

In order to cook authentic Mexican foods you will need some special tools. While it is possible to do Mexican cooking without these tools, true Mexican flavor depends on some of these tools that allow the food to develop the traditional flavors.

Mole is best made in a Cazuelas. This is a small bowl like pottery dish with handles that is used to simmer sauces. Clay is very good at dispersing heat and prevents hot spots where sauce is burnt. The handles make them easier to handle in open fires. The outside may be painted brightly and beautifully, while the inside is glazed. These clay pots look great when just setting on a shelf as decorations.

The Olla or Barro are also clay pots from Mexico. They are very large and are used to slow cook beans, soups or stews. Heating is very even and ingredients can be cooked all day long on open flames. These pots will break, especially if exposed to extreme temperature changes.

The griddle or Comal can be made of cast iron, aluminum or even clay. The griddle is round and can be used to warm tortillas or for roasting vegetables including chiles. There are several sizes of Comals available, some up to two feet in diameter.

The Metate y Mano is a hand grinder that has been carved from lava rock or stone. We would call it a mortar and pestle. In Mexico, it is used for grinding corn or spices and foods may be mixed using the cylinder of stone. There are usually three legs that have been carved to hold the bowl upright.

Mexico's true mortar and pestle is called the Molcajete y Tejolote. It can be made out of clay, wood or stone. A cylinder of the same material that has been rounded on each end is used to crush the spaces or chilis to prepare them for cooking.

The Molinillo is a wooden whisk that is used to make foam on top of a cup containing hot chocolate. The Molinillo is spun between your hands in order to form the foam.

A Tortillera or tortilla press can be made or wood, cast iron or even plastic resin. Presses can be found made of aluminum, but these should be avoided since they break easily. The press can have wood blocks or round plates. Mesa is prepared and rolled into a ball. The ball is pressed to make the tortilla.

Traditional Mexican cooking, like many other traditional methods of cooking can is labor intensive and can take some time. Today, we have many shortcuts available that may help. Many people use these shortcuts to make very good Mexican foods in their kitchen.

In addition, you may be able to find a high quality Mexican bakery in your neighborhood that can supply you with high quality tortillas so you will not have to grind your own corn or press your own tortillas in order to make your own authentic Mexican food. - 30289

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Perhaps you will want to find out learn to cook online at the Yellow Rose Peace Bus.

Successful Tips To Healthy Cooking

By Britni Lindsey

Due to the increasing heart disease cases coming up in the recent years, these days people are becoming very health conscious. One has to keep a lot of things in mind in order to lead a healthy life style.

Healthy cooking habit can be developed if you practice it on a daily basis. Now let me tell you some ways through which you can cook your food in a very healthy way.

1. Use as little salt as you can in your food. You can still maintain the taste of the recipe by adding lemon juice, herbs, flavored vinegar or different spices.

2. Use less of all fats like butter and oil. While cooking, avoid saturated fats; instead use unsaturated fats like soya oil, olive oil, vegetable oil or peanut oil.

3. As far as you can, avoid frying your food items. Instead of frying you can bake, boil, steam, grill or roast the food.

4. Always avoid using too much of tomato, soya or other processed sauces because they have a high level of salt content.

5. Canned fruits and vegetables have a high sodium content, so if you want to cook a healthy dish, it is best to use fresh fruits and vegetables.

6. Replace your whole milk with fat free or skim milk if you are obese or fat, this would surely help you in loosing the fat that is stored in your body.

7. You should never cook your food more than it is necessary. Sometimes overcooking the food at high temperature can eventually destroy the nutrients present in it. Always steam or stir fry your vegetables.

8. Always go for natural food rather than preserved or processed food items. You can use herbs, tomatoes, vinegar, salads and onions as much as you can.

9. Fiber is very essential for your body, so you must try to increase the fiber content in the food that you cook.

10. Trim all the fat from the meat items before cooking. Remove the outer skin of the chicken and turkey. If the meat dishes have chilled while kept in the refrigerator, you should always spoon off the fat from them even if it has hardened.

Follow the above stated tips, if you really want to cook your food using all the healthy methods. - 30289

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How to Learn quick and easy cooking ? There is some Home Improvement Tips for you.

The Benefits Of Using Baked Chicken Recipes To Feed Your Family In A Cost Effective And Healthy Way

By Scott Maples

In a quest to find cheaper, healthier alternatives, I've been trying to find new dishes to cook for my family.

In addition to being kinder to my wallet and better for my health, they also had be simple, quick and, most importantly, they had to be recipes my children would actually eat!

Our greatest success has come from baked chicken recipes.

You may wonder why such an old concept as baked chicken is so popular with my family?

1. These recipes for baked chicken use all natural ingredients, so they are healthy and nutritious.

The cooking process is healthier, avoiding the use of oil or fat for frying and the chicken itself is packed with nutrition.

Because chicken is so versatile, it's encouraged us to experiment with different ingredients and the variety of vegetables and pulses we eat has increased as a result.

2. Baked chicken recipes are quick and easy.

They are quick to prepare, which is exactly what I need as a working parent spending long days at the office on top of long hours commuting. All the ingredients for a dish are baked at the same time in one pot, they are tossed in together in a matter of a few minutes and then baked into a delicious and healthy dinner.

It may seem lazy, but it's really a huge time-saver that allows me more time with my children.

3. The recipes for baked chicken are delicious and versatile.

We have an extremely picky eater in our youngest daughter, so we take care to try to prepare meals that will please her. We don't want to start the habit of preparing separate meals for every person in the family. It's very important to us for the family to all eat the same meal together.

This problem can be solved with baked chicken recipes as such a variety of ingredients and flavors can be used, it's possible to please all the people all of the time.

4. Baked chicken recipes are also incredibly easy to make.

You don't have to be a master chef to follow a baked chicken recipe. Even I find them easy!

It's not only the 'one pot' cooking approach that helps but it's easy to find chicken already prepared when buying it, so there's no need to spend time dicing or slicing, it's already done for you.

It uses all very basic steps and ingredients, nothing fancy or complex. Just simple, fast, nutritious and delicious dinners.

5. Baked chicken dishes are inexpensive.

Trying to feed a family is not easy at the moment with food and fuel costs increasing.

Like most people, we are trying to stay on a budget, and a major part of our budget is groceries. Baked chicken recipes can be prepared for a fraction of what would be spent on a convenience meal.

6. Baked chicken recipes even please picky eaters.

We've been amazed to see our kids dig into all the baked chicken meals we've been having. Our eldest wants certain dishes over and over again, and is disappointed when we tell him we can't eat the same thing for dinner every night!

I would never have believed that the whole family could eat the same meal (that isn't take-away) and everyone enjoy it.

Watch this space for some of the baked chicken recipes we found successful. - 30289

About the Author:

Learn more about baked chicken recipes at Scott Maples's site, where you can find free, tasty and healthy baked chicken recipes!

Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Mexican Spices

By Ken Kudra

Mexican cuisine makes most of us think of assertive spices; mostly chilies and cumin. This combination of spices is one, which is a perfect representative of the country's culinary history; an ingredient, which came from the old world with the Spanish and one, which has been a central part of Mexican food for thousands of years.

Chilies are one of the most ancient of Mexican spices, having been used for millennia. Hot peppers, just like bell peppers, potatoes and tomatoes are actually native to the Americas. Peppers have always been an important part of the diet in Mexico, a status they retain to this very day.

A familiar type of pepper to Americans is the jalapeno; these small to medium sized hot peppers are a common ingredient in salsas, where they lend their characteristic kick to these sauces. They are also commonly pickled on their own or as part of an escabeche (which is somewhat similar to a Mexican take on Italian giardinera). The Serrano pepper, a smaller and usually slightly hotter pepper is also seen fairly often in US markets. It is hard to imagine Mexican cuisine or Mexican food without the presence of these peppers, as well as others, which are often dried, and ground, as are anchos and pasilla peppers. You will also find peppers smoked to provide a milder, smoky heat as with the smoked jalapenos known as chipotle peppers.

Culantro, Mexican oregano and epazote are three common herbs used in Mexican cooking which are native to the Americas. Culantro is used widely in Central America and the Caribbean, but is largely unknown outside of the region. Like many other Mexican spices, it is easier to find in the US than it once was, but it has a flavor which is similar enough to cilantro that cilantro can safely be substituted if cilantro is unavailable.

Do not let the name fool you - Mexican oregano may taste something like a more assertive version of the familiar Greek oregano, but this herb is actually a close relative of lemon verbena. Its flavor is an important component in a number of Mexican dishes, but you can substitute the old world herb if needed. However, Mexican oregano is becoming easier to find. You can usually purchase this herb from specialty spice shops as well as Mexican groceries. It is usually used dried, just like Greek oregano.

An herb, which is often used in bean dishes, especially those that include black beans, epazote is an herb, which has a flavor, which is not quite like anything else (though it is often compared to tarragon). If you cannot find epazote, however, simply omit it - there is no real acceptable substitute for this Mexican herb. You may be able to find it in your local Mexican grocery however, either in the produce section when it is in season or dried along with other spices.

Cumin is one of the spices, which we think of the most in connection to Mexican food. This spice is also a staple of Turkish and other Mediterranean cuisines; introduced to Mexico by the Spanish (who themselves were introduced to it by Arabs during the Moorish period in Spain), this ingredient was adopted by Mexican cooks with enthusiasm. This newcomer quickly became an important ingredient in a great many Mexican dishes.

You might say that Mexican food is among the world's first fusion cuisines, with its blending of old world and new world flavors. Using ingredients from both Europe and the Americas, Mexican cooks created something unique, new and distinctively Mexican. It is a cuisine which has a flavor all its own and thanks in part to Mexican spices, it has become popular in nearly every part of the world. - 30289

About the Author:

Mexican pots, pans and utensils can make cooking a Mexican recipe a lot of fun but Mexican cooking equipment is not an essential part of Mexican cookery if you do not have it. With our easy Mexican recipes, you can make many delicious recipes with your existing cookware and utensils.

Great Spice Racks

By Donna Jonston

A spice rack is a stable feature of each kitchen - yes, even if you never cook. Face it, it looks good and it makes you seem like you do cook. Spice racks are available in shops, specialty stores, kitchen accessory stores, and online . Bear in mind these items also make nice house warming gifts, or any-occasion gift for a person that likes to cook. Spice racks come in many different sizes and styles : wood, metal, plastic, and acrylic. They also come in countertop style, wall mounted style, and in drawer style.

So the next question is after getting a spice rack, what spices should be placed in it? Some spice racks can be purchased with spices included in nice containers ( again in either wood, metal, plastic, or acrylic ). Some spice rack continues has the kind of spice preprinted on the apex of every one of the individual boxes.

Spices are defined as a dried seed, root, bark, fruit, leaf or veggies used in small quantities to add flavor or color to your food. You may commonly find the following spices in a spice rack, especially if you purchase a spice rack that already contains spices : rosemary, dill seed, basil, bay leaves, cardamom, caraway, marjoram, paprika, parsley, thyme, mustard powder, and tarragon. Refills of these spices can be discovered at grocery stores, gourmet stores, health and organic food stores, and online.

Rosemary - used to flavor roasted birds, fish, beef, and plants.
Dill seed - employed in spreads, salads, vegetables, stews, soups, and pickling.
Basil - used to flavor stuffing, soup, stews, sauces, chickens, fish, and meet.
Bay leaves - employed in many dishes throughout the world, particularly in soups, sauces, and stews or seasoning of fish, meat or poultry.
Cardamom - used mainly in dishes from the Near and Far East.
araway - used mainly in dishes from Germany, Austria, Eastern Europe,a d Scandinavia.
Paprika - used principally with Hungarian dishes, employed in the remainder of the world as a garnish.
Parsley - used to flavour soups, sauces, stews, rice dishes, veggies, and fish.
Thyme - used to flavor beef, lamb, veal, fish, poultry, stuffing,veggies, and casseroles.
Mustard powder - used to flavour developed eggs, beets, barbecue sauces, baked beans, and many beef dishes.
Tarragon - used to flavour salads, tartar sauces, and veal.


There are benefits and downsides of getting a spice rack that already contains spices. The advantage of buying one with spices included is that you will not have to purchase them individually which would be an additional expense, and take the time to individually fill each container. On the other hand, if you are going to buy the rack without the spices included, and the containers don't have the names of the spices preprinted on them, you can fill the spice boxes yourself with the spices that you use most often.

The benefits of having a spice rack in your kitchen, assuming you do cook, is very definitely organization and the amenity of having all of your spices in one location, and a space saver in a kitchen that will all too easily become cluttered. Just a word of recommendation on the location of your spice rack, don't place it too closely to the oven because heat from the burner can be dangerous to the potency of the spices. - 30289

About the Author:

Go to Spice Racks to get free information on Carpet Cleaner Rental. This website will give you all of the information you need on Spice Racks along with a lot of other free information. Don't miss out on this new website if you are looking for information on Spice Racks

Frosting Recipes, Take The Time To Make Your Own

By Maura Luke

Making your own frosting is easy with the right frosting recipes, it is also more economical, tastier, healthier and convenient. Preservative free frosting just like Grandma used to make looks better, tastes better and will give you a sense of achievement.

On the whole, Americans have gotten used to convenience in everything they do, but convenience is not always good for you, except in very small doses. Things which come out of a tube would never have been recognized as food by Grandma and this should be the way you look at food. If she did not recognize it as being food, like cheese in a tube, then it isn't food.

It does not take as much time as you think to make frosting, and today we have all the beaters and kitchen gadgets we want at our disposal. Grandma would have made it with a bowl and a wooden spoon, we don't have to do that and our frosting will taste just as good as hers, the kids will never want you to buy store bought frosting again!

There are butter cream frosting recipes, which can be used as a basic and changed according to needs. If you want a batch of chocolate, lemon and strawberry, make up a batch of one mixture and divide it into three to get your different colors and flavors. Use cream cheese instead of butter and get a great alternative for health and carrot cakes.

There are so many fast, easy and delicious frostings which can be made from a set of very basic rules, and it can be used on cup cakes, brownies, cakes, you name it. Frost Graham Crackers for something completely different, your children will love them.

A couple of tips include, don't use granulated sugar, your frosting won't work, use "confectioners" sugar, one can't be substituted for the other. Use butter, not margarine, and only frost your cakes after they have cooled down completely. - 30289

About the Author:

Looking to find the very best dessert recipes on the net, then visit www.dessertindex.com to find the best advice on cake frosting recipes for your next cake.

A Roasted Turkey Recipe To Please The Whole Family

By Mark Knowles

With Thanksgiving just around the corner everyone is looking for the best traditional turkey recipe. If this is the first time to olde worlde roast a turkey, do not fret. It is much r than you imagine.

If your turkey is frozen, the first step is to thaw it. You need to plan well ahead, because you will need to thaw the bird 24 hours per 5 pounds of turkey. Thawing in the refrigerator is the safest way, and will prevent bacteria from forming.



After the thawing is complete, reach into the cavity of the turkey and take out the neck and giblets. Wash the turkey inside and out. Use softened, unsalted butter, and apply on the outside and inside the bird. Use salt and pepper to taste.

The turkey can now be transferred to a cooking pan, with the breast up. Using a shallow dark pan is best. Shiny pans look nice, but the cooking time will be longer if you use one. Some people like to stuff their turkey, and others choose to make a dressing on the side. If you decide to stuff the bird, do it right before you put it into the over. A couple of cups of turkey stock added to the bottom of the pan will help keep the bird moist.

Covering, or not covering, the turkey is up to you. If your traditionaling pan has a lid included, that will work best. An aluminum tent is another option, as is a traditional roasteding bag. It is not advisable to use a paper shopping bag. Many shopping bags contain recycled paper and could contain toxins.

Your oven should be preheated to 325 degrees. You can select a higher temperature if you choose. After placing the turkey in the oven, it is important to baste the turkey every 30 minutes. Did you decide to add a cover or olde worlde roasting bag? If you did, remove it after the turkey has cooked for 2 hours. Cooking times are different depending on where you live. For the best advice, ask the butcher at your grocery store.

I told you it would be easy. Did you ever think you would find a roast turkey recipe that would be easy and delicious? Lucky you! - 30289

About the Author:

With Thanksgiving approaching, it is time to think about the best roast turkey recipe and I prefer a traditional recipe, with traditional presentation, which includes a classic turkey gravy boat to present the traditional gravy made the old fashioned way.

An Overview on Popular Coffee Maker Accessories

By Celia Hand

Coffee has become an important part of our daily life. At breakfast, lunch, dinner and those in-between meals, we coffee lovers tend to ask for this wonderful drink. Whether for a little energy or for the taste and aroma, coffee will always be around. There is a lot of coffee in the market today and depending on your tastes, you can choose from a wide variety available for sale.

Coffee differs in tastes and aroma depending on which tropical country it has been produced. Its taste may vary because makers have their own method in producing coffee beans and in the way they roast, mill, and grind it.

But to have this wonderful brew right at your fingertips without ever visiting your local caf? you need to have your own coffee maker and equip it with accessories important in making a blend. Some of these essential accessories are water filters, coffee filters, warmers, and coffee grinders.

Just like any other coffee maker accessory, one of the most fundamental is the water filter. Contaminants found in regular tap water can greatly affect the taste of your blend. Using paper filters is much more expensive than using water filters for your coffee maker. These filters also come with the ability to remove tiny particles in the regular tap water, thus protecting your coffee maker from excessive wear and tear.

Another vital accessory is the coffee filters that separate ground coffee from the pot. Coffee filters come in three different types which are paper filters, cloth filters, and gold coffee filters. These are essentials because they prevent you from sipping ground coffee in your blend and potentially ruining your coffee experience.

A paper filter is the cheapest and most common option although it leaves an aftertaste in the blend. A cloth filter is more economical and eco-friendly because you can recycle it by washing away sifted ground coffee after each use. Gold coffee filters are the rarest and come with a larger price tag. The edges of these filters are lined with actual gold that makes it tougher and long lasting than any other coffee filters.

Another supplementary coffee maker accessory is the coffee grinder. With these, you can grind your own coffee beans. This particular device uses sharp-edged blades that quickly let you turn coffee beans into fine grinds ready for brewing.

Warmers are also a type of add on. They help you keep your pot warm so you never have to sip cold brew any more. Aside from your coffee pot, you can also use this to heat your soups or any beverages you wish to keep warm. - 30289

About the Author:

One of the best coffee maker accessories that you might add to your home coffee bar are Krups Coffee Maker Accessories.

Try These Original Desserts

By Debbie Rivers

Desserts are one of those lovable guilty pleasures. The sweetness of a nice dessert after a good meal is about as good as anything you could want to eat, especially if it's prepared right.

Whether it's a hot cake or some cold ice cream, there are so many desserts in this world to enjoy. I know that I've had my share of them, but here are a few that I've just recently tried.

If you're looking for an original dessert dish that deviates from the norm, you might be interested in trying out any one of the following three suggestions. Be creative and you can even expand on these.

First and foremost, white chocolate mousse is a rich, delicious treat that presents itself as a nice change from the usual. If you've never had it before, I suggest that you give this one a shot.

If you prefer to add something to your mousse, there are a number of different things you can throw into the mix. I'm sure your imagination is already at work with respect the the numerous possibilities there.

My next suggestion is something a bit colder, as many people prefer to stick with ice cream. If you believe this to be the case when it comes to your own preferences, go for the ice cream martini dessert. All you need is some martini glasses and a few toppings to pair the ice cream with

Have some fun with it and throw in some trimmings so that you have a sundae in a martini glass. Your guests will love the added touch that the martini glass brings, not to mention the taste of the dessert.

3. Mango rose with ice cream filling. You're basically cutting the mango up to look like a rose. It's not as hard as it sounds, as there are instructions online.

From there, you'll put some ice cream inside the mango, which makes for a beautiful presentation and a tasty dessert. - 30289

About the Author:

About this writer: When she's not thinking about sweets, she's writing about prices of diamond drop earrings on sale and the best pearl drop earrings.

Easy Meals With Sandwich Wraps

By Laura Cokherell

For busy people who want a quick grab-n-go meal, sandwich wraps are the perfect choice. Using only simple ingredients that you have on hand, you can put together delicious and healthy meals in minutes. They are perfect for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even snacks whenever you are short on time or energy.

It's really simple to put a sandwich wrap together. Here is a basic recipe that you can use and adjust to your taste or to whatever you have on hand in your refrigerator or cupboards. Place the ingredients that you choose in layers down the center of the wrap, leaving an inch or so at the bottom to close the bottom when you are done filling the wrap sandwich.

1. The type of wrap you choose can be anything from soft tortilla shells (plain, whole grain, flavored varieties like spinach, tomato, etc.), kale leaves (just be sure to cut out the hard stem and use the soft leafy portion and use raw or steamed), or large lettuce leaves, or even some steamed cabbage leaves.

2. Choose a flavorful spread. This is the base upon which all your other ingredients will be placed. Spread on some of your chosen spread as thin or as thick as you like over the wrap you have picked. You might like to try any of the following ideas for spreading on your wrap: Greek style plain yogurt, pesto (basil pesto, artichoke pesto, roasted red pepper or olive pesto), hummus (regular, roasted garlic, roasted red pepper, dill or lemon), or plain cream cheese (regular or whipped style).

3. Fill the wrap. Choose a single item or a combination of items and place as much as you like down the center of the sandwich wrap. Try tofu (bake and seasoned), cheese (sliced or shredded), leftover cooked chicken or steak, avocado, canned salmon or smoked salmon slices, etc.

4. Add some vegetables or fruit to the wrap. This is a painless way to get vegetables and fruit in your diet. Place your chosen vegetables or fruit on top of your filling. Here are some simple and flavorful suggestions:

Vegetable Suggestions: select a variety from broccoli slaw, fresh tomato slices or diced tomatoes, shredded lettuce, peeled and thinly sliced jicama, marinated artichoke hearts, shredded cabbage, shredded carrots, sliced mushrooms, sliced scallions, sliced roasted red peppers, sliced sweet bell peppers, very thinly sliced fennel, chopped or diced onion, thinly sliced cucumbers, etc.

Fruit Suggestions: diced or sliced apples or pears, peach slices, sliced strawberries or mango, raisins or dried fruit of choice, cubed papaya, etc.

5. Add an extra layer of flavor. These are food items that boost the flavor of your sandwich wrap. Use as much and as many as you would like. Here are a few ideas for flavor accents to add depending on the type of wrap you are creating.

Crunchy/Salty/Spicy Flavor Toppings: chopped nuts, salsa, pickle relish, a little chopped fresh herbs of choice like mint, oregano, basil, cilantro or dill, a sprinkling of soy sauce, peanut sauce, oyster sauce, or cooked and crumbled bacon bits (regular or vegetarian)

Sweet/Spicy/Crunchy Flavor Toppings: nutmeg or cinnamon, granola (use your favorite flavors), chopped nuts, a spoonful of marmalade or all-fruit spread, a little chutney, shredded coconut, mini-chocolate chips, etc.

After all the ingredients have been added to the wrap, simply fold up the bottom flap and then carefully fold in the sides to close the sandwich and enjoy.

Sandwich wrap ideas are easy to come up with and here are a few quick meal ideas to get you going.

- tomato flavored tortilla wrap, bottled marinara sauce, provolone cheese slices, cheddar cheese slices, pepperoncini rings, spinach leaves, pine nuts

- whole grain tortilla wrap, tahini, chayote slices, chunky applesauce mixed with some plain, Greek yogurt, cinnamon

- spinach flavored tortilla wrap, garlic hummus, grilled chicken slices, thinly sliced cucumber, sliced apples, chopped fresh mint

- whole grain tortilla wrap, almond butter, sliced peaches, sliced strawberries, honey, cinnamon

- spinach flavored tortilla wrap, basil pesto, cooked vegetarian sausage links sliced lengthwise, shredded cheddar cheese, diced tomatoes

- lettuce leaf, mustard, deli ham slices, roasted red pepper slices, goat cheese

- whole grain tortilla wrap, Dijon mustard, scrambled egg, marinated artichoke hearts (drained and chopped), sour cream, pitted and chopped green olives

- whole grain tortilla wrap, oyster sauce, baked tofu (thinly sliced), sliced radishes, sauerkraut (drained), chopped peanuts - 30289

About the Author:

Laura Cokherell, an avid cook, maintains her site at www.quick-salad-recipes.com, offering simple solutions to meal preparation for everything from breakfast to dessert, including more of these sandwich wraps. Creating fresh and healthy meals has never been so easy with these quick recipes that use just a few ingredients, simple preparation, and natural food.

The 5 Key Secrets Why You Need to Use Copycat Recipes at Home

By Bill Lane

Just imagine the last time you were heading to your favorite restaurant? Did you have to wait to be seated? After you were seated how long were you waiting for your food? Then there was that feeling when the food was set on the table. Finally, everything was perfect? Or was it? Was your food cooked just right? Or was it the right temperature or was something you ordered missing? Did you have the same feeling when you got the bill? Well I am going to show you how these problems that go along with eating out can be avoided. It's all done through the use of using quality copycat recipes. Do you want to know the top 5 reasons copycat recipes are better to use than eating out?

Cost How much will it really save you to use copycat recipes? Let's say you and your significant other head out to eat. You get an appetizer, 2 entrees and maybe split a dessert. Now let's addon a tip and some drinks. You have easily spent anywhere in the neighborhood of $60-$80. You could have made this same meal at home for $25-$30, less than half of the price of eating out! And not sacrificed any flavor in the process. In these economic times, that is a huge savings. That sounds great but how many recipes are we talking about?

Variety Almost all popular restaurants have copycat recipes for their famous dishes. I am not talking about just one or two copycat recipes, I am talking about upwards of 30 for the larger establishments. They are well known restaurant too like O' Charleys, Olive Garden, Applebees, Starbucks, McDonalds just to name a few. But are any of the copycat recipes able to offer options for healthier eating or weight loss?

Health That's the awesome thing about making copycat recipes at home. They give you the exact ingredients but you can change them however you see fit. Whether it is to give the food a different flavor or add your own home grown vegetables in. You can also substitute ingredients that are lower in fat or omit ingredients you are allergic to. The possibilities are endless. You are in complete control. How do you know these recipes taste like the original dishes?

Quality These recipes are perfected by masterchefs. They are tested and tried and tested some more to make sure you are receiving the precise ingredients and directions to create these favorite dishes. If you wanted to, you could go on the internet and located several recipes that claim to be true copycats. They would even be free. And that is because they are not the real copycat recipes. Not even close. In the beginning I tried several and they didn't even taste that good. I will show you how to regain your freedom using the real copycat recipes.

Freedom Do you realize how much of your time and freedom is spent eating out. Can you get your favorite meal at midnight? Can you eat your favorite meal while watching your favorite show? For example, you drive to the restaurant, wait to be seated, wait to get your appetizer, wait to get your meal, wait to get your dessert and you guessed it, wait to pay your bill. So how much waiting have you done? 2 hours, 3 hours, more? Take back your freedom and your time and fix your favorite meals at home. Use these copycat recipes to make your favorite meal when you want it and how you want it. - 30289

About the Author:

Don't wait another minute! Get your Copycat Recipes right now. You could be creatingyour favorite meal at home in just minutes by visiting www.copycatrecipe.info.

Great Advice on Spice Racks

By Wayne Cornbauer

If you adore to cook, then you almost certainly have accumulated a big number of spices. If you go to find the particular spice that you need, it is probably tough to find it right off the bat. More than likely you will have to dig through your cupboard and drag a lot of them out before you find the right one. You should definitely take a look at all the new spice racks that they have available on the market today.

Spice racks come in a wide selection of different sizes. Regardless of how many spices you have, you'll be capable of finding a spice rack that holds each one of them. They come in a wide range of styles as well . So, if you want to cover them in the cupboard or display them on the counter, you will be able to find the one that may suit your needs.

If you perform a search on the internet, you will be capable of finding a large assortment of different sites that offer spice racks for sale. If you do some comparison shopping, you are sure to find the right one for you at the right cost.

You should expect to pay more cash for spice racks that hold a bigger number of spices than for spice racks that don't hold very many. You can find spice racks for as little as $15 and up to as much as $250. You can purchase spice racks with the spices included, or you can purchase spice racks that are empty. The empty spice racks are cheaper. In some cases, there can be as much as a $100 difference between the two differing types of racks.

Spice racks are made from metal, wood, and even acrylic. A wooden spice racks are dearer than any other spice rack. The acrylic spice racks are the least expensive ; they don't seem to be generally offered in very large sizes. Metal spice racks can add a little personality to your kitchen.

You can choose between counter spice racks and hanging spice racks. Some spice racks look like test tubes with a test tube holder, while other spice racks spin for straightforward access. Some spice racks offer a dial-a-spice feature.

Whatever your wishes are, you may be ready to find the ideal spice rack. If you do purchase one that already has the spices in it, you may probably get some spices that you haven't ever heard of before. No matter which spice rack you decide to purchase, just ensure that you have room for your spices and room for you to enhance your collection. You would like to ensure that the bottles are large enough to hold a whole bottle that you buy from the store ; otherwise, you will have to store the spice rack and the additional spices that are left over in the bottles. That sort of defeats the purpose. - 30289

About the Author:

will give you all of the information you need on Spice Racks along with

Making Easy Cold Pumpkin Soup

By Ken Kudra

If cold pumpkin soup sounds a little strange to you, you are not alone. Lots of people in the US have never encountered this cool, smooth treat, but they are missing out. If you have only every had pumpkin soup at Thanksgiving, you have never really experienced it. There are all kinds of soups from all over the world that you need to try.

Pumpkin soup is a real taste treat, even if the idea of an orange soup seems a little strange. Many people have never even tried the more common hot pumpkin bisque that is often made for Thanksgiving. However, if you have not had sweet, delicious cold pumpkin soup yet, you are missing out on a really delicious experience.

Serve up your favorite pumpkin soup in bowls or mugs, cook it right in the pumpkin, or hollow out a pumpkin to serve as centerpiece and serving dish, too. Garnish with green onion, chopped parsley, or sweet spices like cloves and cinnamon. While your family might start out skeptical, they will end up loving this unique dish.

Pumpkins do not just make creamy, delicious meals - they are also full of good nutrition. Vitamins A and C, iron and fiber are all found in pumpkins, as well as a number of other important nutrients, too. Even your kids will love eating their vegetables after you get them hooked on pumpkin soup.

Try a southeast Asian inspired pumpkin soup recipe easy and quick. With a little carrot and coconut, you have a spicy, exotic treat that is great served during those last hot late summer days, when pumpkins first appear at roadside stands. Of course, to try this soup when pumpkins are not in season, just used frozen or canned products.

The best kind of pumpkin to use for these soups is a small type, usually referred to as a pie pumpkin. Do not use a jack-o-lantern pumpkin! They are harder, woodier, and less flavorful than their smaller, sweeter, more tender cousins are. Pumpkins can be easily prepared for cooking by slicing them in half, cleaning out the seeds, and cutting them into smaller pieces.

Next, peel your pumpkin and cook the flesh until it is soft, or boil or bake it, then scoop the meat out of the skin once the pieces have cooled off. Either way, compost the parings or use them to make stock, then mash the pulp or put it in the blender.

Savory ingredients that go well with pumpkin include garlic and onion, as well as chicken and vegetable broths. Add in coconut, soy, or cow's milk, or some cream or half and half. Then blend partially or completely to get a smooth result, with or without some textural pieces. Chill and serve for a real taste sensation. - 30289

About the Author:

Choosing recipes for creamy pumpkin soups can be a daunting task. There are just so many! Go with your gut feelings. Do you think your family will prefer a sweet soup that is more like pumpkin pie? Or do they prefer savory or spicy flavors? These will help narrow your choices.

Teach Your Kids To Cook. Make Homemade Candy.

By Peter Bertonich

A skill that we seem to be losing in our society is cooking. Proper homemade cooking, the type grandma used to do. Homemade cooking should be taught to all kids, and it's up to you as a parent to do so. And start your kids with homemade candy.

If you start teaching your kids to cook something they don't like they probably won't develop a love of cooking. But if you start the kids out cooking homemade cakes or homemade candy you can just about guarantee that the kids will love it, and want to do more.

Last night I was cooking a chocolate candy with my kids, 8 and 11. They loved it and I can still see the look on their face as they licked out the bowl. The enjoyment that kids get from cooking is directly related to how yummy the result is, and if you cook homemade candy the result is always yummy.

And once kids learn to cook they have a skill for life. And they graduate pretty fast from homemade candy onto other stuff.

There's a few simple things to remember, whether they're cooking homemade candy or anything else. Allow plenty of time, expect mess, start with a simple recipe and get them started on the simple tasks.

And follow some basic rules for safety too. At the start keep the kids away from heat. So if you're cooking a homemade candy recipe for example, you should always keep them away from hot stuff like syrup. Syrup is heated to a high temperature, so start with something else. No syrup burns for kids.

There's some wonderful simple homemade candy recipes to begin with. I already mentioned syrup. I've suggest keeping away from making any candy that starts with a syrup to begin with. Many candies need a syrup, and getting the temperature right can be tricky, and a little boring for kids. So start with some simple candy recipes first. Pralines and truffles would be a good start.

But once you're all up to skill there's no end to the homemade candy recipes you can try. Truffles, nougats, chocolate anythings, toffees, the list goes on and on. Oh and if you try toffee make sure you do chewy toffee, it's absolutely the best toffee ever.

Now I'm hungry, got to cook some candy.

But seriously, homemade candy making is a fine way to get the kids to learn, and enjoy, the art of cooking. They're making something they will be guaranteed to love to eat, and they're learning one of life's essential skills.

So get out there and find some hot homemade candy recipes, there's thousands, including lots on my website. It's cheaper to make your own candy and it makes great candy. Get the kids involved, in the future they'll thank you for it. - 30289

About the Author:

Find some great Home Made Candy Recipes? Visit Peter's Website Homemade Candy Ideas and find a great Homemade Candy Recipe and get the kids cooking candy.

Kitchen Remodeling Uprades That Make The Biggest Impact

By Larry Terson

One of the cheapest ways to make a dramatic change in the look of your kitchen is to paint it a different color. However, it is important that you explore all sorts of different color ideas before you jump in and start painting. The kitchen is such a central room in the house that you need to make sure you make the right color choice.

Before you jump in and paint your kitchen a new color, make sure you make the right choice, as some colors will not work too well. The color(s) you choose should blend well with the surrounding rooms and probably not be too bright and flashy. The kitchen is a room that is commonly used as a gathering place so the color must be cheery but not too overbearing.

Another thing that will make a big difference in any kitchen is a change in the flooring. Many older kitchens have some type of linoleum and that can be a pleasure to replace with something more modern. Houses now days have kitchen floors made out of wood and tile with wood being the most popular. Make sure you choose the type of floor that will look appropriate with your style of kitchen and have a color that looks right too.

Other than wood and tile, you can choose floor materials like stone, laminate, and granite. Laminate floors are common in older houses while wood and granite floors are quite rare but very nice when done in the right kitchen environment. Putting in a new kitchen floor is usually a big job but it is something that will make a big impact on the look of your kitchen and help greatly to modernize it.

Lighting also plays an important part in your kitchen and changing or upgrading the lighting can also make a big difference. Track lighting can be used to highlight parts of the kitchen and many homes have lights that hang down over the counters or island. These lights are similar to what you might find in a bar or nightclub and they make the kitchen look very modern. Ideally, you should have the lighting help show off the colors of your kitchen and they can work to give it a unique feel. - 30289

About the Author:

Are you trying to find some good kitchen lighting ideas? If you are, please visit my site Kitchen Design Ideas.

Cooking Classes for Teens And It's Benefits

By Sandra Parker

Developing cooking classes for teens can be a worthwhile " and potentially rewarding " endeavor nowadays. As the ability to cook starts getting viewed as something to be proud of in teen and tween circles, we are seeing more and more teens seeking to sign up for cooking classes, and there are hardly enough courses to meet the need.

But while developing cooking classes for teens has potential to be rewarding there are some things you need to take into consideration if you are to make a success out of that effort. This is because the teen mind is quite different from either the adult mind or the child's mind, meaning that the task of designing cooking classes for teens has to be approached with a lot of care if one is to come up with a course that will find widespread acceptance with teens.

Cooking classes for teens, for instance, have to be fun. This means presenting the concepts in a friendly manner, and in the case of internet-based courses, having a friendly user interface. Anything that is not fun simply wont be accepted by teens. And anyone who has worked with teens at some point will aver to the difficulty of trying to get them to do something that they find not to be fun.

These classes have to be moderately challenging. Give teens something that is not challenging enough and they get bored (and simply give up on it). Give teens something that is too challenging on the other hand " and they soon get discouraged and simply give up on it too.

It must not be too time consuming. If taking the cooking classes ends up taking too much of the teens time (and therefore eating up into time set aside for other activities in the teens life) it risks ending up being resented " or even shunted to a siding altogether " when the individual teens reconsider their priorities.

Cooking classes for teens have to offer some immediate (instant) rewards for the teens taking them. The rewards can be something as simple as the acquisition of the ability to do something that the student couldn't do at the beginning of the class, and so on. This means that cooking classes for teens that are task-oriented rather than theory-oriented are likely to be more successful as the teens want to see the returns on the time they invest in the learning immediately. - 30289

About the Author:

To learn more about cooking classes be sure to check out our site today.

All About Japanese Fish Rolls

By Kimikoshi Sumo

Sushi rolls are the most popular form of sushi. Japanese and American restaurants serve two types of sushi to their patrons.

The first style of sushi roll has the nori, or seaweed, on the outside of the roll. The other type has the nori on the inside of the roll.

Whether or not the nori is on the outside or inside of the roll can dramatically change the flavor and texture of the sushi.

Those who enjoy nori often prefer the style of sushi roll where the nori is on the outside of the roll. This style of sushi roll is called futomaki.

Sushi rolls that have nori inside them are called uramaki. People who like sushi prefer futomaki as it is more popular and traditional compared to the other form.

Futomaki is preferred to uramaki as it is more popular and and traditional in form. A sushi restaurant or sushi bar, even a grocery store, would supply you the futomaki variant.

Even though futomaki is vegetarian it is served with toppings of fish eggs. Sushi rolls prepared the futomaki way are served in pieces, though it is traditional to offer it as an entire roll during celebrations and Japanese festivals.

Japanese prefer to eat with their fingers, so uramaki is becomes a less popular choice. As uramaki is has a tendency to be sticky and it falls apart under pressure, it is difficult to eat it either with fingers or chopsticks. A uramaki sushi roll, on the other hand, is non-vegetarian in nature and is served with sesame or fish egg toppings.

Since most Americans do not fancy futomaki with its black coating, uramaki is the preferred form of sushi rolls.

In the entire spread of sushi rolls hosomaki is the clear winner. Hosomaki, like futomaki, has seaweed on the outside and is served as such.

Kappamaki, Tekkamaki, Negitoromaki and Tsunamayomaki are the four varieties of hosomaki.

Kappamaki contains cucumber, as well as some other ingredients, and is used to cleanse the palate between raw fish dishes and other parts of the meal.

Tekkamaki is the tuna sushi roll, named after the red color of the fish meat.

Negitoromaki is filled with tuna and scallions. Fatty tuna is commonly used in this type of sushi roll.

The fourth variety of hosomaki, that is Tsunamayomaki, has canned tuna and mayonnaise in it. Such sushi rolls are easy to prepare at home and can be tried by any sushi enthusiast. - 30289

About the Author:

Kimikoshi Sumo is a continental cuisine expert. Her sushi help website at http://www.hereishelp.com offers simple yet delicious sushi recipes. Kimi's sushi cook ebook "Introduction to Sushi" is jam packed with tips for making mouth watering sushi delicacies.

Unlock the 5 Secrets of Why You Should Use Copycat Recipes

By Bill Lane

Just imagine the last time you were heading to your favorite restaurant? Did you have to wait to be seated? After you were seated how long were you waiting for your food? Then there was that feeling when the food was set on the table. Finally, everything was perfect? Or was it? Was your food cooked just right? Or was it the right temperature or was something you ordered missing? Did you have the same feeling when you got the bill? Well I am going to show you how these problems that go along with eating out can be avoided. It's all done through the use of using quality copycat recipes. Do you want to know the top 5 reasons copycat recipes are better to use than eating out?

Cost Will you save any money using copycat recipes? Suppose you go out to eat with you significant other to your favorite restaurant. You all order 1 appetizer, 2 entrees and then you share dessert. Throw in a gratuity and some drinks and your bill for the night was somewhere between $55-$85. Now for less than half that price, probably closer to 1/3 of that price, you could have made the same exact meal at home. And it would have tasted the same. These times are tough financially and these savings add up. This all sounds great, but are we talking about a few recipes?

Variety Just about every popular restaurant has copycat recipes for their dishes. Not just one or two, I am talking about upwards of 30 or so for the bigger restaurants. And the restaurants are well known. Here are some examples: Olive Garden, Ruby Tuesday, Macaroni Grill, Cracker Barrel, Outback Steakhouse and many, many more. So, do any of these restaurant copycat recipes offer healthier options to substitute?

Health This is one of the best things about making copycat recipes at home. You are given the exact recipe but you can change out any ingredients you like. Whether you are going for a different flavor or trying to use some of those vegetables your mom left you. You are in total control. You can even take out ingredients you are allergic too or substitute ones that are less fattening. It's totally up to you. Are you wondering if these recipes taste like the real thing?

Quality These recipes are perfected by masterchefs. They are tested and tried and tested some more to make sure you are receiving the precise ingredients and directions to create these favorite dishes. If you wanted to, you could go on the internet and located several recipes that claim to be true copycats. They would even be free. And that is because they are not the real copycat recipes. Not even close. In the beginning I tried several and they didn't even taste that good. I will show you how to regain your freedom using the real copycat recipes.

Freedom So, do you know how long you actually wait at your favorite restaurant? You have to drive there during their hours of operation, wait to sit down, wait for food, wait for refills, wait for dessert and you even have to wait to pay the waitress. Is this place open at 3am? Will this place let you watch your favorite show while you eat? Not to mention the 3- 4 hours you just spent driving and waiting total. I say take control and eat your favorite meals whenever you want. Whip up a copycat recipe and watch your favorite show at 3am. You decide when and where to eat with copycat recipes. - 30289

About the Author:

Don't wait another minute! Get your Copycat Recipes right now. You could be creatingyour favorite meal at home in just minutes by visiting www.copycatrecipe.info.

Awesome Hawaiian Macaroni Salad and Barbecued Chicken

By Mike Jackson

If you haven't been to Hawaii, you are missing out! You have to go, even if you just go for the food. My absolute favorite dishes are Hawaiian Macaroni Salad and Hawaiian Barbecue Chicken. You're in luck, I have both recipes here:

Ingredients: 3 Cups Macaroni Pasta, 1/4 Cup (grated) Carrots, 1 Cup Mayonnaise, Black Pepper (to taste), Salt (to taste), 1/4 Cup Milk. Simple, right?

Here are the easy to follow cooking directions:

1. Cook macaroni until tender (8-9 minutes), drain and rinse with cold water.

2. Add the grated carrots, mayonnaise, and milk until well coated. Salt & Pepper to taste. Use more mayonnaise if desired.

3. Chill in refrigerator, when ready to serve you may want to add more mayonnaise (i love mayo, so i add it).

4. Tip: get creative and consider adding ham, peas, boiled eggs or tuna!

What else can you make with Hawaiian Macaroni Salad? Make some delicious Hawaiian Barbecue Chicken for an awesome picnic. Here is a simple recipe for Hawaiian Barbecue Chicken:

Ingredients: 1 12 ounce jar of Apricot Jam, 1 (8 oz.) bottle Kraft Russian Salad Dressing with Honey Russian Dressing, 1 envelop Onion Soup (Dry - Packaged), Whole Chicken.

Cooking Directions: Put the chicken pieces in a pyrex flat pan. Combine preserves, salad dressing and soup mix. Pour over chicken and bake at 300'F for 2 1/2 hours. Baste often during baking.

Great Picnic Tips:

1. Keep extra condiments from fast-food restaurants and drive-throughs in a drawer in your kitchen, just for use on picnics! It'll save a lot of room in your cooler or insulated food compartment and will be easiest once you are at the picnic site.

2. Help your thermos keep food cold or hot longer: For hot food, place the thermos in boiling water just long enough to heat it up well, then fill it (carefully - be sure to let it cool down enough to the touch so it won't burn your skin). For cold contents you could place it in the freezer, or in some ice before packing.

3. Recycle your plastic bags from the grocery store for use as garbage bags on picnics. - 30289

About the Author:

Tasty and awesome hawaiian macaroni salad recipe and fantastic barbecued chicken recipe.

Wall Fountain Basics

By Jason Myers

Your room reflects your personality; it is a good sample of your taste, of what you are fond of and dislike. Putting in something fresh to your room will create a difference in the otherwise dull looking room. Wall fountains can be ideal choices. They have the feel of elegance and elegance about them.

Wall fountains will look nearly anywhere. They may be a section of your living room garden or dining area. It was probably the Romans who influenced the idea of wall fountains. The water would be piped throughout the walls in the city and the lion would sprout the water. The lion was considered as a symbol of power and bravery, and Romans would include the lions to adorn the city.

Even today these leonine figures are being utilized for beautifying public areas. Wall fountains have a feeling of nostalgia. Presently wall fountains are cheaper which signifies that you can simply add them to your house. If you want a lion or a gargoyle as fountains, you can include it in your house dcor. After you have selected the design, you can select the substance or the stone that will be used to make the figure. Before purchasing a wall fountain, you should think of the whole space at your disposal. If you own plenty of space in the living room, the wall fountain with a panel can look splendid. The wall fountains are available in both vertical and horizontal kinds.

If you have high ceilings in the room, a tall wall fountain will look wonderful. If you have a big wall, it is much better to avoid a tall vertical fountain except if there are additional features which you may include at a later time. If the room features alow ceiling height it will look better if you use a horizontal wall fountain. The depth of the fountain is a subject of thought. If it is a narrow hallway, you cannot use a deep wall fountain.

Even if the normal depth of wall fountains is six inches, it will be great if you place a wall fountain with deeper panels in the wall. - 30289

About the Author:

Jason Myers is a professional writer and he writes mostly about home improvement tips. He's also interested in publishing cooking tips and recipes online.

A Passion for Pink Stuff

By Ian Tyrrell

In the last few years, there has been a new colour invading high fashion and personal accessories: the colour pink. Pink lovers are finding new ways to incorporate their favourite colour, using pink as a fashion statement that seems to represent a whole outlook on life, even become an obsession. How did this trend start?

The story of Pink - Surprisingly, prior to World War II, the colour pink was more often associated with baby boys than girls. Red was viewed as a masculine colour, and baby boys were expected to wear the diluted colour red. Baby girls were often dressed in blue! However, things began to change starting sometime after the second World War, and pink began the rise to feminine dominance that would continue for decades.

The 1950s saw the rise of pink as a feminine symbol, as women returned from working in factories to working in the home. The booming post-war economy led to a rise in make-up sales and a corresponding association of the colour pink with women. Pink crept into high fashion: there was an "all pink" sequence in the Audrey Hepburn film "Funny Face." The phrase "Think pink" appeared in a musical number in the film and began to be used as a marketing phrase in magazines. The decade also saw the growing popularity of Barbie dolls, who were often dressed in the colour pink. The 1960s added to the trend with the "Pink Panther" films, which gave an ironic, cheeky twist to the colour. The 1980s gave us the song "Pink Cadillac" and films like "Pretty in Pink." The 2000s saw the rise of the musician Pink, who started her career with a shocking pink hair.

What Started the Current Pink Obsession? - The real cause of the current pink obsession may be the 2001 film "Legally Blond." In the film, Reese Witherspoon stars as Elle Woods, a law student with a pink-clad Chihuahua who manages to overcome the sexism of her cruel boyfriend and the legal system by pluckiness and a love of the colour pink. The film, which depicts how a woman can simultaneously be intelligent and sexy, was so popular that it was even turned into a Broadway musical. The popularity of pink climbed as women began to embrace the colour as the perfect symbol of modern femininity.

Pink in the Home - Those in search of a rosier world can now find a wide range of ways to decorate their homes in fashionable pink things. Pink can be the dominant colour scheme for a room, or it can be used as an accent colour to bring a little fun to the everyday. In the bedroom, pink blankets and sheets create a cosy haven, with pink fuzzy slippers waiting at the foot of the bed. In the bathroom, pink toothbrushes and shower curtains can create a sense of pampering, and pink clocks and rugs create elegant touches for the living room as well. Pink has even invaded the kitchen. Now pink kitchen accessories are available, from pink kettles and toasters to a pink microwave oven!

Pink Motoring - Those who love pink do not just want it for the home, however. Pink car accessories are now the rage, with pink flashlights, key chains, and even car mats for pink floors. Travellers heading overseas may decide to purchase pink luggage, which not only makes a statement but is easy to spot at the airport.

A Psychology of Pink - A "pink princess" is the nickname given to women devoted to the colour pink. Pink princesses embrace pink as a whole identity, a personal statement and an outlook on life. Edith Piaf's song "Ma Vie En Rose" translates well for these pink lovers: "My Life in Pink." The colour offers a wonderful combination of associations: on the one hand, pink is soft and flirty, but it is also elegant and fashionable. The growing field of colour psychology makes even more dramatic claims about pink, arguing that the presence of pink even has the power to soothe. Studies suggest that even criminals may behave better when surrounded by the colour pink.

The rise of pink may be driven by these new psychological explanations. Pink lovers are doing more than just choosing a few fashion accessories. They are hoping to "see the world through rose-colored glasses," to use the power of a positive colour to bring more happiness to their lives. - 30289

About the Author:

Ian talks about new automobile trends like pink car mats alternatively known as rose accessoires auto

Ready to Juice Up with Some Much-Needed Nutrients?

By Aaron Benjamin

Being healthy is an enjoyable job if you keep your Breville BJE510XL Ikon 900-Watt Variable-Speed Juice Extractor ready on the kitchen counter.

If you keep your body properly nourished, or just wish you could, an essential kitchen machine that you will not want to do without is a juice extractor. There are shelves full of bottled juice drinks, and even though they probably provide many good points as opposed to sodas or powdered drinks, the best way to receive the many health benefits of fruit and vegetable cocktails is by consuming them fresh.

The Breville BJE510XL Ikon Juice Extractor is an innovative fruit juice extractor which may turn into your best helper in staying healthy and making it easy for your household to try out the health benefits of fresh juice. In addition to the machine, you additionally get an instruction manual as well as a handy juice recipe book once you buy the Breville Juice Fountain.

The Breville Juice Fountain is uncomplicated to work with and has plain pieces which you will find a breeze to put together. The most important part is the piece that holds the motor; next you'll find a small screen for filtering out the seeds and fibers; and finally a holding container and a pusher that guides the fruit into the extractor. The least complicated piece is essential because you should not need to be concerned with unintentionally hurting your fingers by forcing fruit into the extractor.

The pair of continers on the side of this juicer are for the drinkable juice and the pulp. You may make use of a plastic bag to hold the pulp inside the container which renders it easier to clean afterwards.

One issue that you probably won't love about a Breville juice fountain is the noise it produces when you turn it on. It sounds like an airplane coming in to land. Additionally, the extracted juice chamber can store only enough juice for a large tumbler full. So, if you would like to provide juice for other members of your household, you may have to start juicing way before your household arises for breakfast.

The Breville juice fountain can also be used for many vegetables. You will find ideas about which fruits and vegetables can be the easiest for juicing in addition to the instruction manual. For some foods that make foam when juiced, the Breville Juicer includes a skimmer lid that takes off the surfeit of foam from your juice before you serve it.

Cleansing a Breville juice fountain is a bit time consuming, much like cleansing a food processor. This is for the reason that there are a fair few different parts, and the fruit or vegetable pulp gets smashed against the extractor chamber or the mesh screen. Fortunately, the product engineers apparently have anticipated that, so they provided a free perfectly sized brush for cleaning the mesh. Still, cleansing the appliance is by far the most bothersome process involved in juicing.

Keep in mind, the advantages of having a Breville BJE510XL Ikon for your family completely overshadow the drawbacks. The juice which this juice fountain produces is rich and very nourishing. You will notice that the pulp which ends up in the egress container is negligible which is evidence that this juice fountain really works well. - 30289

About the Author:

Take a look at Aaron Benjamin's site to see reviews and find nice bargains on Breville BJE510XL Ikon, and start a healthy lifestyle for yourself and the ones around you.

Silicone Baking Mats: Top 5 Reasons To Use One

By Anna Mckayla

Do you enjoy baking cakes, pastries, and breads, but experience problems when it comes to removing your baked goods from the pan? Whether you spend your whole day in the kitchen, or only bake once in a while, this challenge has plagued every baker at one time or another. The trouble with some baking tools used to keep baked goods from sticking (e.g. wax paper, baking pan spraying oil, baking sheet) can sometimes be beneficial, but can also cause some difficulties such as not being economical, changing the taste or texture of the food, or simply do not do the job that they are advertised to do. You may find that a silicone baking mat will be the best product for your money. This functional, flexible product can be used again and again. You can feel that most of your other baking aids in the kitchen can be replaced by a baking mat. Let's talk about the additional benefits of utilizing the silicone baking mat.

1. They are flexible. The silicone is pliable and malleable. It may bend like paper, but is 100 times stronger. The mat won't tear or shred when you bend or flex it to loosen baked goods and remove them from the sheet. The mat will fit inside of virtually any sized pan that you use in your kitchen.

2. The silicone baking mat is versatile. Along with being useful for lining all of your pans, the baking mat can be utilized to protect your counter when preparing foods that tend to make a mess such as chocolate spreads, carmelized suar mixes, and fondues.

3. Clean up is easy. A wipe with a damp towel is all that is needed, then set aside to dry. The mat can also be washed in the dishwasher if needed.

4. It is non-porous and non-absorbent, which makes this product resistant to stains and odors. And because this is a silicone based product, there is very little chance that micro-organisms will survive on its surface.

5. It is heat resistant. This means that you can keep the temperature high while baking without having to worry about your silicone baking mat bursting in flames. - 30289

About the Author:

You need a good baking mat for perfect baking. Visit my Baking Mat blog for recommendations, videos, advice on baking and baking mats.

Invest in Victorinox for Your Cutlery Needs

By Moses Harun

Any time that you encounter the word Victorinox, you doubtless associate it immediately with Swiss Army knives. Well, you are accurate in that respect as Victorinox is presently the exclusive supplier of the world-famous multi-purpose tool with the distinctive emblem. A great set they offer is the Victorinox 8 Piece Knife Block Set.

Interestingly enough, before Victorinox became renowned for its Swiss Army knives, the company was a famous manufacturer of cutlery. Now, two brand names are marketed by this manufacturer: Victorinox and Forschner, both of which are successfully promoted without any reference to the Swiss Army brand. Therefore the Victorinox knife set is being made available to civilian consumers.

Product Features

The Victorinox knives are manufactured with the forge process and then they get ice tempered. As such, these knives are uniformly solid and thick with a full tang going all the way through the core of the handle.

The Forschner knives are produced with the stamped blade prodedure. These knives are also manufactured from the same piece of steel from tip to tang, but the blades are less heavy than the Victorinox cutlery, which renders them ideal for chopping and cutting continually.

The hilts in a Victorinox knife set normally come in two colors: black and rosewood. There are red handles, of course, but they are usually restricted to the individual knives that you are able to add to a set. If you intend to invest in the block set, opt for the block with two extra slots to make room for your additional Victorinox knives.

Advantages

Among all the cutlery reviewed, the Victorinox product consistently gets high standing from both ordinary users and the trade publications, among them the prestigious Cooks' Illustrated. In fact, it keeps up favorably against its high-end peers like Wusthof and Henckels. A nice set to consider is the Victorinox 8 Pc Knife Block Sets.

First, the wood storage block included with a Victorinox knife set includes beautiful grain structure in dark oak as well as light oak. It's completely stable to promote safety and designed to be accessible in the most cramped of places on your kitchen countertop.

Second, the knives' cutting performance vis--vis sharpness, weight and balance are, predictably, the cutting edge in blade production. This performance can be a result of their relatively narrow backs which show practically no wedge effects. Naturally, Victorinox produces exceptionally sharp blades for the Swiss Army knives, so can't we presume that from their other blades also?

Third, the variety of knives in a Victorinox knife set works for amateur as well as professional chefs. There are not such a number of knives that a hobby chef will be bewildered, however there are just enough different knives to stop the experienced chef from feeling frustrated.

Fourth, the Fibrox grips may be the most convenient ones yet. You can control the knives easily no matter what the size of your hands, which can be a boon in case you have cooks of all ages ruling your kitchen.

Fifth- and this is significant for decorative uses- the full set appears quite professional. Just imagine how experienced you will feel with these Victorinox knives on your kitchen counter!

Disadvantages

Virtually the only drawback that you can experience with a Victorinox knife set is the pricey cost. Some models can run as high a $1,270 for a 17-piece knife collection! Another nice option is the Victorinox 8 Piece Knife Block Set.

Still, if you consider the good points, you will be open to paying more to benefit from more of the aforementioned advantages. Now, if you could just afford to buy the newest Victorinox digital-age Swiss Army knife, your collection of cutlery pieces will be complete. - 30289

About the Author:

Moses Harun owns & operates a site that assists consumers in making better decision when shopping for knives. One of the highest rated knives reviewed on his site are Victorinox 8 Piece Knife Block Set.

Choosing and Cooking Different Cuts of Steak

By K.C. Kudra

Are you someone who has a lot of trouble telling different kinds of steak apart? It is not an uncommon tendency, particularly among those of us who eat our steak mostly in restaurants. However, if you would like to start making your own steak dinners at home, you can learn how to do it. Let us take a look at the options available and the best ways to prepare them.

Rib Eye - One of the best cuts for all around cooking, this is a steak with a high fat level that makes it almost impossible to ruin. Even beginners can turn out a tender, flavorful, juicy rib eye steak with minimal difficulty. This steak is great under the broiler, in the pan, or on the grill.

New York Strip - Also, this versatile and tender cut is relatively flavorful. It is best prepared by pan frying or grilling, not broiling. The fat can be trimmed, but do it only after cooking - the fat is what adds the flavor to this great steak.

Tenderloin - This is one of the most expensive cuts of steak on the market, and is extremely tender and lean. That has why many decide to pan sear it in butter, or cook it in a wrapping of bacon. Due to its price, most people only cook tenderloin as a special treat.

T-Bone - We have all heard of the t-bone, a combination tenderloin and New York Strip. Porterhouse steaks are a kind of large, tender t-bone steak that is cut further up the loin. They can be pretty tricky to cook, since the bone makes it hard to cook evenly throughout. This is not a steak for those who prefer their meat well done, and it does not sear or pan fry well. Try broiling or grilling a t-bone for best results.

Flank Steak - This long thin cup of meat is traditionally used for making London Broil. Many people like it during grilling season, as it is a good choice for large groups. This steak is more flavorful but tougher than the above steaks, and should be marinated, grilled or broiled whole, and sliced across the grain on the diagonal.

Skirt Steak - Similar to flank steak, this long thin piece of meat can be cooked a number of different ways. cooking steak in frying pan is a great choice for this meat, traditionally used in fajitas. It can also be braised, stuffed, and grilled.

Top Sirloin - This is one of the most popular steaks for shoppers on a budget, and is more tender than a flank steak, but tougher than a New York Strip. Very lean meat such as this should be pounded, marinated, and used in Asian cooking or in kebabs. - 30289

About the Author:

Cooking perfect steak is a goal many home cooks want to achieve. This takes practice and know how. If you want to find out the secrets of turning out great steaks every time, read some of the cooking tips at EasySteakMarinades.net. You will be amazed at how well your steaks turn out.

Learn How To Make Chocolate

By Kareechy Ken

People of all ages enjoy eating chocolate. There are many different varieties and flavors available to suit almost all tastes and preferences. Today we buy our chocolate from a shop, but do you know how to make chocolate in your own kitchen?

This takes a fair degree of patience and persistence to produce a chocolate that is on a par with our most loved brands.

Chocolate is made from cocoa beans. It is not always easy to locate cocoa beans so it may be best to source an amount through the internet. When you have a fair amount of beans the first thing you need to do is roast them. This should be at a temperature of around 400 degrees and for a duration of approximately thirty minutes.

After the beans have cooled down you will need to get rid of their husks as these are not used in the process of making chocolate. Next, using a mortar and pestle, break and grind up the beans until they have a fine consistency. You may notice that they start to become smooth and liquefied.

The mixture should then be heated in a pan for just a couple of minutes before again grinding to ensure that there are no lumps left. If you now have a smooth mixture then you can add sugar and whatever flavoring you desire. Many people choose to add vanilla or a fruit based flavor to the mixture. It is important to make sure that the flavoring and sugar is fully stirred into the mixture.

The final step is to allow the liquid chocolate to become solid. Most people choose to place the mixture into small sized containers and then leave in the fridge overnight. Once it has set you can enjoy beautiful home made chocolate. - 30289

About the Author:

Want to find out more about How To Make Chocolate, then visit www.howtomakechocolatetips.com site on how to choose the best How to Make Homemade Chocolate for your needs.

Selecting A Flatware Set For 8

By Dana Taylor

How Can You Find a Flatware Set For 8 People?

Many people have been asking me about where they can find a flatware set for 8 people. What does a flatware set for 8 mean? It's important to understand that a flatware set for 8 is different than an 8 piece flatware set (an 8 pc set would probably only serve 1-2 people). In order to find a flatware set for 8, a little multiplication is required.

Most flatware sets come with 5 pcs per place setting. Most place settings consist of a dinner fork, a salad fork, a butter knife, a teaspoon and a tablespoon. This is the basic place setting for a normal flatware set (fancier sets exist with extra pieces, but they are harder to find). To have a flatware set for 8, you'll need a total of at least 40 pieces (8 * 5 = 40 piece set).

There are fancier flatware sets that contain 6 or more pieces of flatware per person. A flatware set for 8 people in this case would be found by multiplying again (8 people X 6 pcs = 48 pc set).

Every flatware set gives different bonus pieces. This means that in addition to the normal place setting for each person, the flatware set will throw in a few bonus pieces (like two serving spoons, a special butter knife, etc...). A flatware set for 8 people will have at least 40 pieces and usually won't have more than 53 pieces. Most of the time a flatware set for 8 will be a 45 pc flatware set.

Where is a flatware set for 8 sold? The Internet is a great place to find a premium flatware set for 8 at a reasonable price. The 45 pc flatware set is the most common flatware set for 8 people. 45 pieces of flatware are included in each of these sets. The standard 5 piece place settings are included in each set, plus a few single bonus items used for serving the table. The 45 pc flatware sets that I've used have been truly amazing.

One of the highest quality flatware manufacturers is Gingko. My top pick is the 45 pc set with platinum finish (I love seeing this on my table)! The most popular 45 pc flatware set for 8 is the Gingko stainless flatware set for 8. Our website visitors love the quality of this popular flatware set. Gingko also makes a mirror finish flatware set for 8 that looks really nice on the holiday dinner table. Each one of the Gingko sets is a similar price and quality and all are priced better than you can find in most offline stores. - 30289

About the Author:

Looking for a flatware set for 8? For the nets best deals on flatware sets, visit www.NiceFlatwareSets.net and you'll be glad you did.