The Color of Maine Lobsters Exposed

By Sherry Shantel

Think that all lobsters coming from Maine are red? Then time to think again ! The lobsters that come from Maine are actually greenish-brown or black, but they can also be blue, yellow, or even white. About one in every 30 million lobsters is born with a blue shell.

Contrary to what many believe, lobsters don't commonly have a red shell. If you see one with black holes or marks on it, that is a sign of wear and tear. The marks are not harmful.

The color of a lobster's shell does not affect its flavor or its texture. When cooked, all of the color pigments except for the red are hidden. That is why when you have completely cooked the lobster, it takes on the beautiful red hue.

These gems can be broiled, steamed, baked, or grilled. You will find the white meat in the tail, claws, and knuckles. Meat can also be found within the body and the legs.

Live Main Lobster can be boiled, grilled, steamed, or baked. The white meat of the lobster is located in its tail, knuckles, and claws. Meat is also located in parts of the body and the legs. The red substance in the tail section is the roe, or female eggs and is considered a delicacy. The green matter at the section of the body and tail is known as tomalley, which is the liver, and has a peppery taste, used in many recipes.

Eating tomalley on a regular basis is not recommended. Contaminants may settle in the liver, as it does with other animals, so it is best to refrain from too much.

Maine lobsters are both healthy and nutritious. Remember, not too much butter! This seafood has less calories, saturated fats, and calories than lean beef, pork, or skinless chicken. A great source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids, lobster helps prevent hardening of the arteries and risk of heart disease.

Eat well! Celebrate your special occasions by eating lobster. This treasure from the sea is sweet, succulent, and delicious. Remind yourself to seek only the very best. Look for Maine Lobsters and enjoy your meal. - 30289

About the Author:

This article really explains lobsters, one thing is for sure, this topic is rather large and can't be justified by one article. There is also delivered lobster and those would take several more articles to cover adequately. You may also want to check out steaming live lobster.

Who Else Wants to Take Online Cake Decorating Classes?

By Maria Campbell

Do you ever wish that you could decorate a cake like a pro? Whether you want to bake and decorate the perfect wedding cake or simply give your child a neat, homemade cake for his or her birthday, you can take cake decorating classes and learn how!

Sure, some local retailers offer onsite lessons, but most of the time they are only for one day and what you learn is extremely limited. Plus, you cannot practice your lessons over and over like you can at home.

Online classes are a lot less expensive, and the material is thorough so that you can go back and review numerous times. At an onsite class, you can only practice while you are there with a teacher looking over your shoulder.

Cake decorating classes at a regular culinary school can be quite expensive. Plus, we are all busy these days with work and family obligations. Who wants to take time out every week to drive to a class? With online lessons, you can take them when you want and how often you want.

With online cake decorating classes, you can also learn the specific techniques that you want to learn. This way, you are able to focus on those tasks and skills that interest you.

Maybe you only want to take one lesson per week so that you can take your time. Perhaps you are an over acheiver and want to take a lesson everyday. Either way, online classes give you the option of doing that.

Make sure that the class you choose has a thorough ebook that will walk you through the techniques. You want something that you can refer back to time and time again.

Cake decorating classes can be a very fun and wonderful experience. You will soon become the best baker in your family, and everyone will want you to bake their next birthday cake! - 30289

About the Author:

Do you want to take cake decorating classes? Imagine creating the coolest birthday cake that your kid has ever seen. Their friends are in awe and jealous. Imagine making a wedding cake that you can sell for a huge profit. All of these methods can be learned by taking a good online cake decorating class.

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Salsa

By Kc Kudra

What do you think of when you think of salsa? If you are like most Americans, the first thing, which comes to mind, is probably the very mild sauces which are available in a jar at any grocery store or convenience store. This tomato-based, mild flavored salsa is indeed a type which you may see in Mexico, but there is a lot more to Mexican salsas than the Americanized variety you can find just about anywhere.

Over the last decade or so, salsa has really caught on with the American palate, managing to overtake ketchup as the best selling condiment in America. The most popular type is the mild tomato-based one discussed above, but there are a lot of different varieties you may want to try. While many are spicier than what you may be familiar with, fear not: there are Mexican salsas for every palate, from the most heat-averse to the most adventurous.

Salsa is the Spanish word for "sauce" and while it conjures a certain type of sauce to our minds, the word is used to refer to all manner of different condiments seen at the table in Mexico and increasingly, the US as well. There are salsa recipes, which are made from many different ingredients.

Other than the basic tomato salsa with onions. Herbs and peppers (usually jalapeno or Serrano peppers), you will also find many green salsas (called salsa verde in Spanish) which are made from tomatillos and green chilies. There are also salsas made from ground pumpkin seeds and nuts with chocolate and chilies, salsas made from dried chilies like pasilla and guajillo peppers and even fruits!

If you like a Mexican food recipe and are looking to try a Mexican salsa recipe, which is a little different yet is still on the milder side, why not try making a fruit salsa? The most commonly used fruits in these salsas are mangoes and peaches, since these fruits have a good balance of acidity and sweetness, making them good companions for tomato and cilantro while taking some of the burn out of the jalapenos or other hot peppers. These salsas are a delight, especially if you have never tried them before.

It is easy to make your own fruit-based salsas as well. While peach and mango are two of the best fruits for this purpose, you can experiment in your kitchen to find a salsa recipe that you are fond of.

Another popular type of salsa you may want to try making on your own if you have not already is pico de gallo (Spanish for "rooster's beak"). While salsa is almost always a quick and easy thing to make, pico de gallo is perhaps the easiest of all. It is a simple recipe consisting of diced tomatoes, onions and a little jalapeno peppers. Most cooks prefer to add a little finely chopped cilantro and some limejuice as well to give it a little more zip.

Unfortunately, we do not have nearly enough time to tell you about all of the many variations on Mexican salsas which you could try at home. These ideas can get you off to a good start; with a little research and a little experimentation in your kitchen, you are sure to come up with some of your very own salsa recipes, which can add a little variety; and a little spice to your own Mexican creations. - 30289

About the Author:

Enchiladas are known all over the world, like a lot of other Mexican foods, perhaps because they are a unique food and nothing else will do when you have an enchilada craving! Enchiladas are easy to make yourself and they make a really tasty and filling dinner for the family.

Creative Breakfast Ideas Involving Fruit

By Amy Nutt

The American Dietetic Association stresses not only the importance of breakfast, but the quality of breakfast foods consumed. A nutritious breakfast will give you a healthy start to your day. Fruit is one important food that should be included in ones breakfast as it is packed full of vitamins and antioxidants.

The following is a list of creative breakfast ideas involving fruit:

1. Spread peanut butter on a small pita and wrap it around a banana. Make sure you get your calcium with a large glass of cold milk.

2. Have a delicious waffle that is topped with berries and yogurt.

3. Fill a pita with fresh fruit and cottage cheese.

4. Have a scrambled egg or omelet sandwich with a tall glass of freshly squeezed orange juice. Have a fresh banana with it.

5. For a light breakfast, have a muffin or English muffin with a fruit spread, a banana, and a glass of milk.

6. Have a fruit smoothie made in a blender. One recipe is:

Berry Banana Smoothie

Ingredients: 1 frozen banana, peeled and cut up 1/4 cup fresh or frozen berries (such as raspberries, blackberries and/or strawberries) 1 cup of freshly squeezed orange juice 3 tablespoons plain yogurt

Preparation: Put the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.

7. Have a delicious fruit salad. Cut up all your favorite fruits in a bowl. Add yogurt or honey. Add some granola on top. You can also try the following recipe:

Ingredients: 2 cups cubed cantaloupe 2 large red apples, chopped 1 cup red or green grapes 1 medium banana, sliced 1/2 cup lemon yogurt 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed orange juice

Preparation: In a bowl, combine the fruit and mix. Combine the yogurt and orange juice and sprinkle it over the fruit.

8. Make some pancakes and add fresh fruit such as strawberries, blueberries, or raspberries.

9. Have a parfait that includes layering granola, yogurt, and fruit in a parfait dish.

10. Make a toasted bagel topped with cream cheese and fruit slices such as berries.

11. Have a healthy fruit Hodge Podge:

Ingredients:

1 honeydew melon cut up into chunks 1 banana cut into pieces 1 apple cut into pieces apples 50g of a granola cereal 2 tablespoons yogurt

Combine all ingredients. You can also use your own favorite fruits.

12. You can try this Breakfast Fruit Cobbler:

2 Cups of fresh, canned or frozen fruit Place fruit in a baking dish sprayed with cooking oil.

2 Tablespoon sugar 1 Teaspoon cornstarch 2 Teaspoon water or (juice from the canned fruits) 1/2 Teaspoon lemon juice

Mix together and pour over fruit in dish.

1/2 Cup quick cooking oats 1/4 Cup all-purpose flour 1/4 Cup brown sugar 1/2 Teaspoon cinnamon or (1/4 Teaspoon of cinnamon and 1/4 Teaspoon of nutmeg) 1/4 Cup cold butter

Preparation: Mix together cutting in the butter until crumbly. Sprinkle over fruit in dish. Bake at 375 degrees for 20-25 minutes. Makes 4 servings.

A nutritious breakfast includes fruit which is a great source of fiber. Being creative with your breakfasts will make your food more enjoyable and give you the necessary fuel to take on the day. - 30289

About the Author:

Our mandate is to provide consumers with a guaranteed supply of safe, high quality eggs at the most reasonable prices possible through the efficient management of the production of eggs. For more easy recipes please visit our website.

Tantalize Your Taste Buds With Italian Cheeses

By Luigi DeMarco

If you begin to look for Italian cheeses, you will find more than four hundred varieties. Most of the time, we only think of four cheeses as we think of Italian foods.

The four cheeses with which we are most familiar include those used in pizza, those sprinkled onto spaghetti, those used in sandwiches and the ones used in lasagna. The four cheeses we most associate with Italy include mozzarella, provolone, Parmesan and ricotta.

In addition to the limited numbers of Italian cheeses we do eat, what we often find in the grocery store is nothing like the cheeses of Italy.

Our mozzarella is made of cows milk, while traditional mozzarella is made of the milk from a water buffalo. Our mozzarella often sits for weeks on the grocer's shelves, while Italian mozzarella is served freshly made. In fact, many people in Italy enjoy a fresh slice of mozzarella with freshly baked bread. The people of Italy also make a great salad that uses mozzarella, tomatoes, basil and olive oil. The tomato and cheese are sliced and topped with the oil and crushed fresh basil.

Italian Parmesan is nothing like the stuff Americans buy by the tons in little cans to shake over pasta. Italian Parmesan is formed in wheels that have to be cut with a saw or broken using a chisel. The resulting smaller pieces of hard cheese are freshly grated and served over pasta.

Provolone is used as a table cheese in Italy. This cheese is also made from whole cows milk. The finished cheese is aged at least four months. The loaf is traditionally in a pear shape.

Another fresh cheese is ricotta. This cheese is easily made and dated back to Roman times. Made for whole milk, the cheese is sweet and often used in preparing deserts. If you want a real ricotta experience rather then watery, sour, part-skim ricotta sold by your grocer, try making your own. You will need cream, whole milk, salt and lemon juice. The first three ingredients are boiled together and the lemon juice is added to cause the mixture to curdle. The ricotta is allowed to drain through cheese cloth for about ah hour and drained until firm. Use the finished product within the next couple of days.

Italians in Italy buy their cheese at a dairy store rather than at a supermarket. Many of these stores still make their own cheeses. You can buy fresh cheeses, including ricotta and mozzarella that were made the same day.

There are many other Italian cheeses available. Some are local to one region. Italian blue cheese, veined like Roquefort, is said to be an excellent choice to melt with butter and garlic to serve over pasta.

One of the best ways to try the many cheeses of Italy is to take time to visit the country its self. While there, spend time eating at the many local dining establishments and ask about the cheeses that you are eating. The more you can learn, the more likely you will be able to find a similar cheese when you are back home. - 30289

About the Author:

Before you buy anything online, make sure you check Italian Food Import's website on the different types of italian cheeses.

Choosing Pumpkin Soup Recipes

By Kc Kudra

As the weather gets cooler, we all want to enjoy some hearty seasonal foods. One excellent choice to spice up your menu a little is pumpkin soup. Pumpkins are good more than just pie, and there are all kinds of wonderful options available. Creamy bisques, cheesy soups, and hearty stews are all great with pumpkin.

Pumpkin works great in cuisines from all over the world - a curried pumpkin soup might be a great choice for you. Alternatively, you could stick with homey traditional tastes. There are all kinds of options out there, even though many people do not realize that pumpkin is good for more than just desserts.

Most people run into one big problem with making pumpkin soup right away, however. Finding recipes can be really tricky, especially since a lot of people do not even know you can make soup out of a pumpkin. Most cookbooks do not offer a lot of information about using this method to cook pumpkin. Fortunately, that does not mean you cannot find a good recipe. All you really need to do is check online.

The Internet has lots of great options for making soup out of pumpkins, from cooking blogs to major recipe hubs with all kinds of choices. Do a quick search in your favorite search engine or check out your favorite cooking site and you will find a lot of options.

Of course, not all recipes for pumpkin soup are going to be the same. Some of them will assume you know to include steps, without adding them to the instructions. That could result in a recipe that is not like you expected. Make sure you look over any option you choose to be certain it will get the job done, and make sure you understand what you should be getting.

Of course, you can also just head to a site you know that you can trust. Specialty sites covering pumpkin cooking and fall recipes are a great choice, and the information there will have been checked out for you in advance. While that is no guarantee you will like the recipe when it is done, you can at least know that there will not be any missing steps or wrong temperatures to deal with. That can be a real help.

Just go over the recipe to make sure you like the ingredients, and you understand the methods of cooking that are being used. After all, there are lots of great ways to make a soup with pumpkin, from crock-pot cooking to actually making the soup inside a hollowed pumpkin! There are also lots of interesting presentation options out there that can help you make a great looking Halloween or Thanksgiving meal.

If you have been looking for something new this autumn, it might be time to start looking for more than your usual recipes. Pumpkin is for more than just desserts, and soup is one of the best choices you can make. Do not just stick with the same old thing you have been making for years when you could be having something new and different. - 30289

About the Author:

Curried pumpkin soup is a wonderful rich, spicy soup to serve as an appetizer or as a main dish. Serve this dish when you want to impress your guests. Garnish it with a dollop of sour cream right in the center of each bowl. The flavors blend together extremely well.

The Modern Founding Fathers Armed Only With A Navy Bean Soup Recipe

By Kris Russell

You can imagine the surprise on our kids faces when we told them we were going to America, not for a holiday, but for a new life. It took a fair bit of planning though not much persuasion to get us here. We all waved a cheery goodbye to the cold, grey dampness known as England and embarked on our journey of discovery and adventure. To be honest, we all felt a little like the Founding Fathers at first.

One of the things we most wanted to do was to try to fit in. Standing out as foreigners didn't really appeal, and we all wanted to not only embrace the whole concept of the American life, but we wanted America to embrace us too. When in Rome.. and all that. So we all tried hard to understand the local customs, the traditional activities, and even the food. My wife and I both love cooking, and to us food is very important.

We've always had an interest in food and cooking, and we seem to have passed this on to our kids who have a healthy appetite, and a broad range of tastes. They were as interested as us in trying the local food and traditional US recipes. The only trouble was that none of us really knew much about US cooking, except that it was almost certainly more varied than burgers and fries!

One of our first projects, therefore, was to investigate what traditional cooking means in the US, and to try to track down wholesome, appetizing recipes we could try out for ourselves. In no small part we also wanted to try to adopt local custom and entertain our new friends with traditional US food, rather than always falling back on the common denominator.

Another reason we were keen to find some good recipes was that the weather was somewhat chilly. With the winter looming we wanted to find some warming recipes we could enjoy, and which would keep us going. Our main port of call was the internet, where we came across a fantastic Navy Bean Soup recipe, very traditional. On the same website we found a Ham Navy Bean Soup recipe as well, and so we downloaded them and tried them out.

After having a go with the Navy Bean Soup recipe, we all agreed, children included, that it was a resounding success. To have the children giving one of our recipes the thumbs up is always good, and we felt as though we'd accomplished an important step in becoming accepted as locals! We tried the Ham Navy Bean Soup recipe too with equal success. Both were heartily warming, although we did feel that it was important to expand our repertoire beyond merely two alternative dishes. I had a look online again, at the same place I got the Navy Bean Soup recipe from.

When I had another look at the website where the Ham Navy Bean Soup recipe was from I was amazed. I found two hundred similarly enticing recipes available - all traditional US recipes, easy to follow and definitely enough to get my mouth watering. But more than this - the whole pack of two hundred downloadable recipes were available for just $10.

To be honest, $10 doesn't get a lot these days, I couldn't even buy a hot dog and chips for my family for that. But now we have a stack of two hundred fantastic recipes, all as successful as our first Navy Bean Soup recipe. We certainly don't run out of ideas now, and not only are our children delighted, and very happy, but we seem to have acquired something of a reputation in our neighbourhood, but at least we have a great many new friends! - 30289

About the Author:

If you are looking for a traditional navy bean soup recipe then take a look at this website. Just fill in your email address and get instant access to a FREE recipe just like grandma used to make and if you act quick, you can also get a great ebook with over 250 other great soup recipes. Check it out now, your family will love it!