Rachel Ray’s 30 Minutes Cooking
December 5, 2009 at 8:21 am | In Cooking, Dieting, Healthy food, Low carb cooking, Simple cooking | Leave a CommentTags: 30 Minute Meals, Cook, Cookbook, food, Home, Kitchen, Rachael Ray, Rachel Ray
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Cooking may be a delightful task for some, especially housewife’s and mothers who spend a long time in the kitchen cooking some dishes for their loved ones. But for some it may be boring or bothersome task. Then there are others who love to cook occasionally when they find the time. They scour the cooks and recipes trying to whip up some amazing meals. That was not the case some years ago. There was a time when our mothers and grandmothers would spend most their time in the kitchen without any complain. But now everything has changed. We hurry about a lot and sparing about 30 minutes for cooking meals are now some of the best options.
I was never sure how I felt about Rachel Ray, but I love her 30 minute meals. Not only are they pretty easy, they are also meals that are not the ordinary fare that I give my family all of the time. We get stuck in a rut sometimes with the same meals over and over, and that is mostly because they are tried and true favorites. The meals in 30 minutes are great, and they don’t have to be extremely complicated to keep everyone happy with our menu.
Many of the 30 minute meals are so easy that someone like me can do them. I have make many mistakes in the kitchen, and I think it has to do with my short attention span. Finding great meals to make in 30 minutes is just about right, and is something I can concentrate on. These are not your average meals either, so it does require some extra shopping. However, if you can plan your 30 minute meals ahead of time (a week or two ahead) you can get all of your shopping done without worrying about being out of or missing something essential.
You can watch Rachel to get your 30 minute meals, or you can find listings online if you want to plan ahead. You can also find meals in 30 minutes by buying one of her cookbooks. Because she is so popular right now, you can find her books almost anywhere that sells cookbooks, or you can find them easily enough if you do a search online. After a while, you may even be able to come up with some of your own meals that you can make in a half an hour or less. You’ll learn a lot about food and cooking by following along and figuring out how to put things together in a pleasing and fast way.
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Cooking Outdoors
October 26, 2009 at 7:23 am | In Cooking, Healthy food, Low carb cooking, Simple cooking | Leave a CommentTags: Barbecue, Barbecue grill, Charcoal, Cook, grill, Home, Outdoors, Shopping
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Imagine the next time you join a discussion about Outdoor cooking. When you start sharing the fascinating Outdoor cooking facts below, your friends will be absolutely amazed. Hopefully the sections above have contributed to your understanding of Outdoor cooking. Share your new understanding about Outdoor cooking with others. They’ll thank you for it.
Is everything making sense so far? If not, I’m sure that with just a little more reading, all the facts will fall into place.
Well, it looks like summer is coming to a close. It’s now time to get that fire wood stacked for the cold season. Okay, so we’re actually not to that point yet, but it will come soon. It always does. Time flies by so fast now days, I definitely have trouble keeping up. Am I mowing the lawn or shoveling the driveway? It all tends to run together anymore. Do you ever feel this way? Anyway, I guess since the cold season is drawing near, it will be time to put away the outdoor cooking equipment. Right? Whatever! I for one am not storing my outdoor cooking equipment away for the cool months. This is when I use it most. Heck, I love grilling out in the fall and winter. As long as the weather allows it, I’m good to go. So this basically means if it is not snowing or raining. How about yourself? Are you also a hardcore griller?
It’s very hard to beat that wonderful char-grilled flavor that only the outdoor cooking equipment can provide. I am talking about the old-school charcoal grills. You know, the ones you used as a child. I completely got addicted to the grilled meats and vegetables. The smoky flavor sets my taste buds at ease. What is your favorite dish to grill up? I am going to go with shrimp and vegetable skewers. Yum! Can’t you just taste it right now with some Cajun grill rub on it? That makes for a magnificent meal. This past summer I probably made use of my Weber grill and outdoor cooking equipment about once a week. That’s probably a tad more than the typical family. As for the fall, I will use it much more. I am a cool weather nut. Just give me 60 degrees for most of the year and I will be stoked. The main thing I love about grilling outdoors and the outdoor cooking equipment these days is the vast selection. I mean just take a gander at what is on the market these days. It’s truly amazing. You can basically purchase an entire kitchen for outdoors. That’s the kind of outdoor cooking equipment a guy like me dreams of.
Probably some of the finest outdoor cooking equipment I have come across is online. The website, Frontgate.com has an awesome selection of stuff like this. Now, keep in mind that the upper-scale outdoor cooking equipment can cost you a pretty penny. It all depends on how much you love it.
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Darn Good!
September 12, 2009 at 4:10 am | In Cooking, Diet and your Hair, Healthy food, Low carb cooking, Simple cooking | Leave a CommentTags: frozen, good, ice cream, luscious, sweetened, Yogurt
What would you consider the value of a bowl of frozen yogurt?
To be clear, I don”t mean its sentimental value, nothing as romantic as all of that, I”m talking about nitty-gritty, slap-a-price tag-on-that-puppy value.
Hold on, let me give you the details before you all start yelling out answers all The Price is Right-style on me.
This is not just any frozen confection. It is removed from the insipidly-sweet ranks of those frozen yogurts parading as ice cream. It has the unmistakable twang of yogurt, softened only slightly by sweetness. This is one that puts Greek yogurt front and center; yogurt so thick that when spooned it falls lazily back upon itself in luscious folds. This is one where the yogurt plays equal partner to handful upon handful of mixed berries that have been squished and squashed into a violet-hued pulp.
It”s darn good stuff.
Chicken Tikka Masala Edition
September 6, 2009 at 9:47 am | In Cooking, Dieting, Healthy food, Low carb cooking, Simple cooking | Leave a CommentTags: chicken, curry, Indian Food, Thailand, Tikka Masala
Welcome to my culinary experiment!
Sadly, it is time for my orange-colored culinary journey around the world to conclude. It started in East Hampton, traveled across the Atlantic to The Gambia, headed west to Thailand, and now retreats back east a little to India, home country of my next endeavor, chicken tikka masala.
I was inspired to try this dish after my friend Eunnok whipped up a batch for himself and posted pics on Facebook. It looked delicious, and he confirmed that it indeed was. He forwarded me the recipe, one thing led to another, and voila, here I am with another Adventure in Domesticity.
The Sea food and ‘See food’ diet
July 25, 2009 at 9:49 am | In Cooking, Dieting, Healthy food, Low carb cooking | Leave a Comment
Current research suggests that a diet high in omega-3 fatty acids may help prevent one of the leading causes of legal blindness among the elderly. The related report by Tuo et al, “A high omega-3 fatty acid diet reduces retinal lesions in a murine model of macular degeneration,” appears in the August 2009 issue of the American Journal of Pathology Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), loss of vision in the center of the visual field……..Go to the Weight watcher’s blog
New insights for causes of Anorexia
July 22, 2009 at 8:34 am | In Cooking, Dieting, Healthy food, Low carb cooking, Simple cooking | Leave a CommentTags: Anorexia, guidelines, lose weight, weight watch
New imaging technology provides insight into abnormalities in the brain circuitry of patients with anorexia nervosa (usually known as anorexia) that may contribute to the puzzling symptoms found in people with the eating disorder. In a review paper published on line in Nature Reviews Neuroscience, Walter Kaye, MD, professor of psychiatry and director of the Eating Disorders Program at the University of California, San Diego, and his colleagues…Read more
How to plan a perfect BBQ Party
July 6, 2009 at 3:55 pm | In Cooking, Dieting, Healthy food, Low carb cooking, Simple cooking | Leave a CommentTags: Americans, Barbeque, BBQ Party, grill, onions, pickles
Most people in the United States organize barbeque parties on events like the 4th of July, Receptions, birthday parties and other functions. Whatever may be the reason for organizing the party the memories will remain forever etched in your memory as well that of your guests. There are a few rules for organizing a perfect barbeque party. These rules are explained briefly below.
1) First, no barbeque would be complete without guests. Plan ahead of time, checking with your potential guest for scheduling conflicts and issues. Finding a date and time that is suitable for everyone should not be to far as long as you everyone enough advanced notice. Remember that not everyone will be able to come, no matter how much notice you give them, so do not get discouraged if you do not get as many RSVPs as your originally hoped for.
2) Be sure to check the weather for that type of year. If you live in a climate that cannot be predicted, then you may want to have a backup plan just incase unusual weather comes. You cannot predict things like rain and thunderstorms ahead of time, but you can make sure that you hold you barbeque during the time of year that will be pleasant to your guests. A barbeque in cold weather may hold more negative memories of trying to keep warm rather then good memories of family and friends.
3) Purchase the type of meat that you will be serving at your party. You will want to have a least a couple of different kinds of meats, as everyone attending may not like a certain kind. It is usually safe to go with pork, sausage, hamburgers, and chicken. If smaller children are going to be in attendance, you should consider child friendly foods such as smaller hamburgers and hot dogs.
4) Once you have the meat purchased, you will then want to consider what type of sides dished you will serve. If you want a completely traditional barbeque, you may want to stick with traditions sides. Traditional barbeque sides include potatoes, potato salad, baked beans, and coleslaw. Your traditional condiment bar should include pickles, relish, and onions. These foods are typically severed at barbeques because they are easy to prepare and store until the event happens. You may want to cook other items, but any barbeque is complete with just the items listed above. Once again, if children will be present, you may want to consider sides for them as well.
The simplest approach to side dishes is chips and dip. Chips and dip do not require any cooking on your part, and will still be loved by the majority of your guests.
5) Depending on the theme of your party, you may or may not want to purchase decorations. Festive decorations can be found at any local party or general store. You may also consider purchasing decorations that can be stored and reused at a different time, such as reusable tablecloths and Tiki torches.
6) The day before you party, you will want to make sure to thaw, prepare, and marinate the meat you will be cooking. Store the meat stored away, soaking up the marinate until it is time for it to go on the grill. Prepare any side dishes that you can ahead of time.
7) The day of the party, get up early and start preparing for it. You do not want your guest arriving while you are still cooking or hanging decorations. It should only take you a few hours at most to prepare the area in which you will be having the party, but the reactions from your guest will probably seem as if you have been planning this for weeks. Try to have the grill already going by time the guests get there as well, because the smell coming from the grill is sure to get everyone in the mood…..Read more
Advantages of the Gas Barbeque Grills
June 28, 2009 at 4:22 am | In Cooking, Dieting, Healthy food, Low carb cooking, Simple cooking | Leave a CommentTags: advantages, Gas grills, tasty
Advantages of the Gas Barbeque Grills
Grilling or barbequing has been around right from the time when primitive man first discovered the advantages of fire. These primitive humans learned that the raw food that they ate tasted better if they cooked over a fire. Today many communities around the world eat grilled foods. This is true in respect of American families also. It has now become a tradition in the United States that whenever they plan outdoor living and cooking, barbequing is a must. Barbequing has become a means of entertainment and a reason for family get together. More than 90% of the families in the USA hold or attend barbeque at least once a year and more than 70% use the Gas Grill.
Gas grills work by a spark igniting the gas within the grill. Gas grills typically have a knob or button in which you push, which in turn activates a small hammer. The hammer hits the top of an ignition crystal. Then the burner mixes the gas with oxygen and spreads it all over the cooking surface. This makes the gas grill one of the easiest, and fastest grills to use.
Gas grills come in all shapes and sizes, which makes then ideal for just about any type of barbequing party. Smaller gas grills give you the portability needed to plan barbeque parties away from home. Larger gas grills are handy and efficient for cooking larger amounts of food quickly, and without the mess of other types of grills.
So after deciding that you indeed are in the market for a barbeque grill, there are several factors that you must consider when you purchase your first gas grill.
Weight
Gas grills literally come in all shapes and sizes. The type of grill you get should really depend on what you plan on using the grill for. If you foresee camping trips, barbeques at the beach, or tailgate parties, you may want to consider getting a smaller gas grill. Smaller gas grills can range from anywhere from 10 to 40 pounds. Portable gas containers are also available for these types of grills.
If your plans are move focused on home cooking, then larger grills should suit you fine.
Cooking Surfaces
Gas grills, unlike some of the other grills types, have the ability to come with many different types of cooking surfaces. These different cooking surfaces include a BBQ surface, a flat grill, and a ribbed grill. Some grills even offer these types of surfaces as none stick, which allow you to cook a whole array of foods that you would not be able to cook on a grill otherwise. You will be able to cook your whole meal, including side dishes if you plan correctly.
Some gas grills even contain a Wok type surface for cooking pasta and rise dishes, or a full rotisserie set that allows you to cook rotisserie chicken.
Surface Area
Similar to weight, you should consider the amount of cooking surface area you will need, depending on the situations you will be in. If you will only be cooking for yourself or you and one other, you will want a gas grill with a smaller surface area, as it will be easier to clean. If you plan on holding parties or cooking for a larger family, then you will want to consider a gas grill with a larger surface area.
This surface area may also include different types of cooking surfaces. Look for the type that suits you best, or is interchangeable.
Cost
Gas grills are typically on the higher end of the cost scale, as they require more mechanical parts then other grills. You can expect to spend anywhere from $50 for a smaller grill up to $400+ for a large stationary grill.
You also have to remember that you must also purchase the gas for your grill. Propane can be purchased at your local grocery store, superstore, or from a dealer. Bottoms come in all sizes, including miniature versions for portable gas grills….Read more
A family affair – Barbequing an American tradition
June 26, 2009 at 9:00 am | In Cooking, Dieting, Low carb cooking, Simple cooking | Leave a CommentTags: American tradition, Barbeque, family affair, friends, holidays, memorable experience, Summer
Come summer or the 4th of July there is a great chance that someone living in your area is out barbequing. Barbequing has now become a great occasion for families who want to spend their off days or holidays outdoors. In fact it has become a standard American tradition for a family and close friends get together and barbeque. Barbequing has a separate taste and flavor unmatched by other styles of cooking. In fact some of the most memorable experiences are those of a family get together and barbequing.
Planning A Barbeque
First, no barbeque would be complete without guests and proper outdoors weather. Plan ahead of time, checking with your potential guests for scheduling conflicts and issues. Finding a date and time that is suitable for everyone should not be to hard as long as you everyone enough advanced notice. Alternatively, be sure to check the weather for that type of year. If you live in a climate that cannot be predicted, then you may want to have a backup plan just incase unusual weather comes. You cannot predict things like rain and thunderstorms ahead of time, but you can make sure that you hold you barbeque during the time of year that will be pleasant to your guests. A barbeque in cold weather may hold more negative memories of trying to keep warm rather then good memories of family and friends.
Barbequing has been around since early cavemen figured out that food tasted great after being cooked on an open fire. Perhaps one of the main memories attached to a family barbeque is what was on the menu that day. Barbequing opens a whole array of types of foods available. The type of foods you serve should largely depend on your crowd and the event in which you are celebrating. With the wide range of possibilities, you are sure to find at least a few items that will please your crowd.
Make sure that you prepare ahead for your barbeque. 12 to 24 hours before you plan on beginning the party, make sure to thaw, prepare, and marinate the meat you will be cooking. Once you have the meat stored away, soaking up the marinate, then you must start thinking about what types of side dishes you will be having. If you want a completely tradition barbeque, you may want to stick with traditional sizes. Traditional barbeque sides include potatoes and potato salad, baked beans, and coleslaw. Your traditional condiment bar should include pickles, relish, and onions. These foods are typically severed at barbeques because they are easy to prepare and store until the event happens. You may want to cook other items, but any barbeque is complete with just the items listed above.
A themed barbeque may present more opportunities to hold a festive event. With a themed event, you can splurge on the atmosphere and decorations. Matching tablecloths, napkins, and plates can be found at any local store. You can also match your décor to the party. For example, a luau could simply be creative colored utensils, leis, and Tiki torches, all of which are extremely cheap. You can even reuse the Tiki torches later!
Your party area should be set up before guest arrive. It only takes a few minutes to get everything ready, but the reaction you get from your arriving guests may make you feel like you were preparing and decorating all day. Depending on the situation, you may or may not want to have the food already cooking on the grill. The smell will surely be inviting if you start cooking ahead!…Read more
High risk foods
June 22, 2009 at 2:36 pm | In Cooking, Dieting, Healthy food, Low carb cooking, Simple cooking | Leave a CommentTags: high risk foods, Low fat, simple cooking, simple foods
I”m commonly a pretty casual person. Not only is our office population small and unassuming, but we work with food and I never know at the beginning of the day how much time I might need to spend in the kitchen. As a result, I rarely dress up for a day at work (seriously: I can count on the fingers of one hand how a number of times I”ve worn panty hose during daylight hours in the last 12 months). In fact, 3 work days out of 5, you”ll find me in flats and machine washable clothes at the office. The other two days, if I have on something nicer, it”s only because I have a meeting with someone outside of our little group.
Last Thursday, I attended a fancy gala at the Four Seasons hotel that honoured this year’s Ontario Hostelry Institute’s award….Read more
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