Quick and Healthy Desserts

By Kristen Thorpe

Let's face it, when you've had a busy day, you want to be able to come home and unwind. Maybe enjoy some white wine and cheese, or maybe a delicious chocolate dessert. While we certainly deserve our treats, some of these can add unwanted pounds. For dessert-lovers, the trick to keeping trim is to create your own unique recipes. Here a just a couple of simple ideas that you might enjoy.

It's important to first remember that baking is not meant to be a chore, but an enjoyable and satisfying creative escape. One simple way to make an easy dessert is to buy a favorite pre-mixed package and adjust the required ingredients to make it less fattening. You can even add additional ingredients to come up with a very different dessert than the original.

You can start with something like a chocolate cake mix and create something completely different. One example is to take the mix and bake your very own low-fat pancake cookies. This is made with about one half of a cup of soymilk, a minimal amount of water and about 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil. As you mix the ingredients you want to get to the consistency of cookie dough. You then just spoon the dough onto a cookie sheet and bake at about 350 degrees. As they bake they will get puffy. You can flatten them with a fork or spoon so they look more like pancakes. Bake until a light golden consistency, removing them from the oven while they're still soft.

You can eat these cookies plain or you can even top them with some fresh fruit like chopped strawberries or raspberries. The cookie will be soft, not crunchy and it tastes wonderful with the fruit on top. You can enjoy these with some fresh roasted coffee, chocolate milk or hot chocolate. It's a great treat for kids and grownups alike.

If you love granola then you'll love this easy recipe. Take some of your favorite granola, maybe something like cranberry nut or French vanilla. Combine with a little vanilla soymilk and warm the granola in the microwave for about 45 seconds. Then heat some berries for a minute or two until they're nice and warm. Pour the berries onto the your cup of granola and mix. This warm, fruity, tasty dessert tastes especially good with a warm herbal or Chai tea.

While these recipes are not complicated or overly artistic, they are simply delicious and will help you to stay on a healthy path even when you are indulging. The key to satisfaction in dessert isn't in the richness, but in the taste. The more you train your taste buds to enjoy fresh and delicate flavors, the more you will appreciate the beauty of a healthy and time savvy dessert.

About the Author:

Follow your big meal with some wonderful desserts. Whip them up in your new mixing bowl set. If you do enjoy cooking and baking, treat yourself to a new kitchen mixers & mixing bowl and you'll be happy you did.

Catering equipment is they key part of any catering business. Look into what you need to know by performing research.

By Ewan S Potter

If you're a catering company or a kitchen based business then you'll need catering equipment. However, before you buy catering equipment there are a few things you should think about. Catering equipment comes in many shapes and sizes and there are literally hundreds of things you can buy that you may need for your catering business.

Tables, utensils, clothing, refridgeration units, cabinets, knives and many other things are all included in catering equipment. In order to get the best deal you'll need to find yourself a cheap dealer because there are a lot of things you'll need to buy if you start a catering business.

Refridgeration, utensils and tables are probably the most popular forms of catering equipment. A lot of people buy catering equipment on a regular basis. Before you buy anything you should do some research and ensure you seek advice about specialist items. Catering equipment is something that is very popular.

The best deals for catering equipment are online usually and especially so at wholesale prices. Finding catering equipment isn't hard at all. Budgeting for catering equipment is important. Although it's usually cheap you will still need to know how much you need to buy - the best prices are online.

Catering equipment is an essential part of any catering business and could help you stick to hygiene regulations as well as serve food properly. You will be able to find catering equipment from a wide variety of stores, both online and offline. You won't struggle to find what you need.

There are plenty of offers available online so you should be able to find what you need at great prices. Online stores always have deals available. If you are shopping for catering equipment then your best bet is probably to do it online because most of the best deals are available online.

When you're choosing catering equipment for your business you'll have a few things to think about such as the space you have as well as your budget. A lot of people forget to take measurements of areas where appliances will be placed and this can cause major problems - you may underestimate or even over estimate your space.

If you're starting a new business or company then purchasing your catering equipment can be very exciting and so it should be. It is essential that you don't settle for poor quality products because you will be using these things for a long time. Catering equipment is very important.

In order to find what you need for your business you'll need to do a lot of research because catering equipment covers a large range of items. You should be able to find out what you need to know with relative ease. If you need to do some research then you should always look online.

Make sure you do some research because catering equipment may seem simple but it isn't an impulse purchase. You need to ensure you know what you're buying. A lot of people think that catering equipment is a simple subject with a few products available. On the contrary, catering equipment is a large topic with hundreds of different products.

If you're starting a catering business then you will find that a lot of catering equipment is designed to help you succeed and produce food quicker. If you're worry about your budget then don't. Catering equipment can be bought at wholesale prices so you'll be able to get some great deals.

Overall, catering equipment is the kind of thing that isn't too well known but if you're a catering business you will need to buy a lot of catering equipment. All in all, as long as you do your research you should find some great deals on catering equipment so you should be able to get some great deals.

About the Author:

Author Ewan S Potter talks over purchasing catering supplies for your business. www.nextdaycatering.co.uk offer a brilliant range of catering supplies so you'll easily be able to find what you want.

A Brief Look at the Past of Making Chocolate

By Colin Joss

Well anything in this universe do has some beginning or an origin where has come from, and you would be familiar with this fat or not making chocolates does has a history too and is quite interesting. Well making out chocolate might be your favorite work for your amusement or say you just have `become addicted to this delicious item. these all things would certainly are not enough to know about the begining of making chocolates.

What we all probably know about the chocolates is that it comes from cocoa tree or the Theobroma Cacao or the food from the Gods. what till now has been known to us bout its origin is that it is found in America's rainforests and specifically in central America. But as we know when we get things together as being a general human being we suspect it and thus these all facts are under debate by many of the historians.

Does any one know about Xocolat?

There are arguments that the Mayans first grew such tree in 300 AD. And the Aztecs had their turn in cultivating such in 1100 AD. The chocolate that you all know now used to be called Xocolat. This was a special beverage that was made out of chilies, anise seed, vanilla, cornmeal and some more spices. Only royalties get to be treated with such delight at the time. It was served using golden cups that were to be used only once.

Saving environment means saving chocolate....

The tree which gives us this delightful treat is known as cocoa tree and as a matter of fact it is very sensitive to its surroundings. The best place where it grows is the shades of the canopy of the rainforest. To enjoy much more of chocolates we must unite in the cause to save our environment and must give special attention to the rainforests where the cocoa tree would most likely survive.

This tree is unique in the sense that its fruits grow on its branches and trunk. The reason for this is because of midges. These are the tiny insects that cause the pollination process during nighttime.

Well there is a fact that is once again really amazing about this cocoa tree that it can have somewhat 10,000 blossoms but do you know how many would get mature into fruits or pods? The number of mature fruits or pods is only 10 - 50. The cocoa tree is very intelligent and thus makes the blossams into fruits to that amount which it can handle and grow, just like an intelligent person.

The cacao tree knows what and how much it can handle and what the maximum limit is. For this accomplishment of long-term objective it self-regulates the process. This helps the tree to govern its growth and all the systems so the branches can be kept from breaking.

An intelligent tree is the rel thing that grows these cocoa beans. harvesters and the farmers wait for fruit or the pods to ripen up and when they do they would handpick the trees and crack them to see the white pulp in them which is like a covering shield around the seed. That white puld is then trashed away and the seeds the cocoa seeds are kept safe as these are the seeds which are the source to your chocolate treats.

These seeds are actually bitter during such time. For this reason, these will go through the fermentation process for about three to seven days. This method will cause the seeds to go through some chemical as well as physical changes. The result of this will then be used for the royalties' treat, the Xocolat.

The beans need to go through several procedures after which before it can be used for the traditional making chocolate purposes. Now that you know where it came from, you'll never look at your favorite chocolate the same way ever again. Or probably not. Whatever it has been through, chocolates will remain a favorite among children and child at heart.

About the Author:

Before you start baking delicious cakes, cookies, and cupcakes you need the best bakeware. For a wide selection of bakeware all with free shipping visit http://www.Bakeware-Pans.com

New England Lobster Clambakes Bring Your Family Together

By Shannon Linnen

If you love to get together with your family, then you also love great ideas for what to do together. When you've been mini golfing a hundred times, it's time to spice things up a little. For good food and good times with your family and friends, why not try the New England Lobster clambake from www.qualityfreshseafood.com, which is delivered fresh right to your door the day after you order.

One of the best parts of any New England Lobster Clambakes is the lobster of course! Whatever your occasion, we've got the amount and the size that's right for you. For a small, intimate occasion we have a four one pound lobster clam bake that's sure to please. If the gang is all coming over, you can bump up the poundage to three pounds, fit for a whole family! No matter what the occasion or the size of your family, we have got the package that is sure to keep everyone full and satisfied!

If you love seafood, then www.qualityfreshseafood.com is definitely the place for you. Of course we have succulent lobsters, but the seafood does not stop there! When you order from us, you are assured of many things. You are going to get the top quality seafood that you expect. It's going to be fresh caught. And it's going to be delivered right to your door overnight. Oh, and also, it's going to be delicious! What's even better, this is one clambake you don't have to do the shopping for. Just sit back, relax, and let us do all the work!

One of the best parts about our New England Lobster Clambakes are the shrimp. You'll get between one and six pounds of the most delicious pre cooked shrimp you've ever had. Yes, that's right, it's pre-cooked. So instead of heading straight into the stock pot, these babies can go right into your mouth as the perfect appetizer for a great meal. Try them with some cocktail sauce for a classic that's sure to please!

There are many other great parts to a New England Lobster Clambake that are sure to knock your socks off. You'll get the choice of not one, but two great homemade fresh seafood soups from www.qualityfreshseafood.com! You can choose from New England clam chowder, and old favorite, or our flavorful lobster bisque. And of course, this being a clambake, there have got to be some clams. Ours comes chock full of little neck clams, caught fresh off the coast of cape cod! And don't worry, we've got you covered with the essentials too. Each clambake kit comes with claw crackers, lobster bibs, wet naps and cloth napkins!

So now that we've talked about all that delicious seafood, I bet you're ready to order a clambake for yourself! Head right over to www.qualityfreshseafood.com and pick out the perfect New England Lobster Clambake for your family. What could be better than having fresh lobster, clams, shrimp and soup delivered straight to your door! As you relax and watch your delicious dinner boil, you'll be happy that you did!

About the Author:

Thanks for surfing by and checking out more about live lobsters. Knowledge on this subject is often elusive, so hopefully you got some value out of this piece. Of course if you would like to get even more info about steaming lobster then come on over to our website.

Live Maine Lobsters Shipped Overnight

By Sherry Shantel

Lobsters, when you simply have to have them overnight; they can now be your next dream supper. If you have had a desire for some really good seafood, and Maine lobster is what your taste buds are anxious for; nothing else will quite do.

Now, you can make any occasion a special one with the addition of this delicious seafood to your menu. Family reunions, birthdays, or lobster bakes will never be the same. This service is fantastic.

Many companies offer lobsters overnight and come with free shipping. Be sure to check all the companies out, and then choose the one that best supplies your every need. If you have never cooked a lobster before, never fear! There are companies that will supply you with books to not only cook these jewels, but to eat them as well.

You may be quite surprised to learn that a romantic Maine lobster dinner for two is actually cheaper than sending your beloved a dozen roses. You supply the champagne, and you have a nice dinner for two. Selected seafood gift packages for any occasion can be sent to you and enjoyed in your own home.

Live Maine lobsters will be shipped to your door within 24 hours. If you are in need of a last minute gift, you can order your lobsters by 12:00 noon Eastern time and receive your seafood by tomorrow. You will be enjoying your banquet by tomorrow night!

Live Maine lobsters can be shipped directly to your door within 24 hours. If you have to purchase a last minute gift, you can order by noon and still have your gift arrive by tomorrow on your doorstep. You can be eating the food you have been craving by nightfall.

All the lobsters you will get overnight will be as fresh as if you caught them yourself. They do not sit in tanks in a store, like many grocery chains. These lobsters are bought directly from the people who catch them and then sent to you. No extra hands to hold your merchandise and no holding tanks waiting for customers.

Remember to reward the important people in your life with a wonderful gift. Sending these lobsters can do many things, such as: strengthen business relationships, reward top performers, attract and retain good workers, and help build customer loyalty.

About the Author:

Thanks for stopping by and learning about lobsters. Real good info on this subject is often difficult to come across, so hopefully you got exactly what you needed out of this article. Of course if you would like to get other informational tips about lobster online then stop by our website.

How to Make Homemade Brownies

By Jane S. Seagman

Who doesn't love brownies? They are fudge-like and delicious and an amazing chocolate treat. They are also really easy to make. They are even easier than cookies because you just pour the batter in the pan and bake, there are no batches or dough rolling to do.

If you want to make homemade brownies, you can either use a box of brownie mix, or you can make your brownies from scratch. It really depends on what you're going for and your own preferences, which is better. It's all up to you which to choose.

First, you need a recipe. If you're making boxed brownies, this step is easy. Just use the recipe on the back of the box. If you are making brownies from scratch, look through your cookbooks for a recipe or search online for a recipe that has great reviews. Maybe a family member has a great recipe you can use.

Now that you've found your recipe, look it over to see what ingredients you'll need. Look through your cupboards and refrigerator to make sure you have everything. Anything you don't have write down on a shopping list. Pick up whatever you need and double check to make sure you have everything.

Now that you have everything, you can start. Look over the recipe careful and start following the recipe. Most likely, you'll need to start by greasing a pan and preheating the oven. Put parchment paper or foil in the pan to make it extra easy for everything to come out of the pan.

Don't slack in the instructions. Follow them all carefully. If you are using a box brownie mix, this will be as easy as throwing in a couple of eggs, oil, and water and mixing. Other recipes will have more requirements. Do what the recipe says or else they may not come out right.

When the batter is ready, you can add just about anything you like that you know will go well. This is when to add nuts or chocolate chips or something like that. You don't have to do this, but it can be done to just about any brownie recipe.

Pour the batter into the pan, and put the pan into a preheated oven. Bake according to the instructions and then remove the pan. Let it cool completely, then lift out the brownies with the sides of the parchment paper or foil. Cut them into pieces and enjoy!

About the Author:

It's not hard to learn how to make homemade brownies or simply how to make homemade brownies that are moist and delicious. They will taste that much better and more delightful!

Beneficial Tips For Baking Delicious Bread

By Jack Bowie

Bread is a delicious, inexpensive and portable food that is made from flour through moistening, kneading and baking. It is one of the oldest prepared foods which is not only convenient but also cheap. Making your own bread at home is quite easy too if you have a bread machine and some nice bread recipes.

Yeast is a tiny plant-like microbe used to make bread dough rise and it is in itself a very nutritious food, being rich in protein and vitamins of the B group. Yeasts consume sugars in the dough and expel gas as they digest it. In a few hours, this gas expands the dough, causing it to rise. Ginger and cinnamon have been shown to improve yeast performance.

Salt is also often used as a primary ingredient in bread to improve the dough as well as the taste. The purpose of salt is to strengthen the gluten and retards yeast growth. Sweeteners such as honey and sugar help browning and moisture retention. Pectin and gelatin can also aid moisture retention, though not as well as lecithin.

The best flour you can use to make yeast bread is bread flour as it is high in protein and other essential vitamins and minerals. By using bread flour, you can be rest assured that the bread you bake is going to be wholesome and delicious. Dough that are made from bread flour will tend to rise better and retain gasses when you bake it, so that your final bread will be larger as well as having better texture.

If you don't have bread flour, all-purpose flour will do too but don't expect your bread to have the same texture quality as bread flour. However, adding a tablespoon of wheat gluten can improve the texture of your bread. Believe it or not, most stretchy dough involves the use of gluten. Professional bakers always use this secret ingredient to bake delicious breads and rolls.

About the Author:

Want to bake something delectable for your family? Why not try this recipe for french bread out?

Smoked Seafood Makes Everyone Happy

By Shannon Linnen

One of the best courses to serve during summer is smoked seafood. For a light yet delicious meal, consider an appetizer of smoked oysters to start. These tasty treats can be bought in most markets as well as chosen farms that specially breed them to sell. If you are lucky enough to live by a port or in a town near the ocean, you will probably find oysters easily. Some may need to venture further away, but the trip will be worth it.

Smoked seafood treats can be enjoyed year around. Don't let the small fact that Summer is over stop you from enjoying the delicious, smoky flavors of smoked seafood all year around. Truly when you get right down to it, smoked seafood is a year around treat. Throwing a social event in the fall and winter months is always a good idea. Spice up the level of entertainment by including a few smoked seafood treats.

Clams are a very popular addition to pasta dishes. Hard clams, also called quahogs, live in sandy coves and can be caught when the tide is low.Smoked seafood also includes clams, smoked scallops and mussels. Farm-raised cultured mussels are fresh and readily available. And, of course, there is always clam chowder! Wild varieties are equally delicious.A great dish to enjoy with butter and garlic is stuffed quahogs.

Scallops require very little preparation and are meatier than clams. Sea scallops are delightfully large, though must be shucked (removed from their shells) almost immediately after capture to ensure they don't lose moisture and die. It is important not to overcook smoked scallops, or you will end up with a chewy, inedible food.

Mussels have blue-black shells and brown hairs called byssal threads attached to their shell. Their meat is usually an orange color and they are full of protein. As with clams, mussels taste great smoked and should remain encased in their shell until cooked.

More smoked seafood includes smoked crab and smoked shrimp. Crab is maybe the most popular shellfish and is widely bought and eaten. The crabbing industry is a multi-million dollar one. While eating crab can be messy and often difficult, special tools have been created to make cracking crab easier. Once you get down to the meaty goodness of crab legs, you will want to make this smoked seafood part of your diet everyday.

Shrimp can be mixed with any meal like burritos , tacos, pasta dishes and many more. Smoked shrimps are also used to spices up stews and soups. Shrimp adds an unique Cajun flavor to Creole dishes. In whatever way you choose to serve it , shrimp makes any meal to remember for its taste.

One of the unknown secrets of the sea is smoked seafood. This is a great way to enjoy seafood and how good it tastes is not widely known. Surprise a friend or that special someone with a smoked seafood dish. Sharing this delicious dish with others is a great way to socialize and entertain.

About the Author:

You can easily get lobster bisque if you live nearby the coast, but if you live inland, it may be much more difficult. Of course the best place to always get high quality seafood is from Quality Fresh Seafood.

Seafood Recipes- Try A New One Tonight!

By Shannon Linnen

Seafood recipes can be fun and healthy and let's not forget to mention EASY! Using your favorite seafood, such as shrimp, mussels scallops or crab and a few of the ideas given in this article you can continue to create unique and healthy seafood recipes time and time again.

There are so many choices when it comes to picking out a seafood recipe that is appealing. The best thing to remember is that you can go to any search engine and simply enter the phrase "Seafood Recipe" and you will find a massive amount of sites that have some really great recipes.

Of course usual clambake recipes and lobster recipes are good, but who has the time for the clambake or the money for lobster? As a working wife and mother, time is of the essence and if I cannot get dinner on the table in a reasonable amount of time, it's not worth doing, but in the process I must be able to please my family.

Measuring is one thing I am terrible at. I like to use a few favorite ingredients in any seafood recipes and adapt it to a healthier tastier way of cooking. And, the best part of cooking seafood is you can use whatever means you have available, whether it be grilling, broiling or sauting.

Let's consider shrimp, for example... a pound of 26 - 35 count shrimp on sale should cost you about $8.00 and what a treat your whole family will love! Peel and de-vein your shrimp using a small paring knife fed through the back of the shrimp from the top to the tail (knife facing away from shrimp body and cutting through the shell) making it easy to open up the shell so your shrimp will pop right out! And by purchasing the already frozen, peeled and de-veined version you can save even more time.

Use about a teaspoon of butter and a teaspoon of extra-virgin olive oil in the bottom of a saut pan, add a clove or garlic (let's be honest - we are not peeling and mincing our own garlic here, we are using a teaspoon of already chopped garlic in the jar), a half of finely chopped sweet onion, some salt and pepper, some parsley and your favorite seafood seasoning. You can just as easily wrap all of your ingredients in foil and pop on the grill or under the broiler for about 20 minutes for no-fuss cooking.

Offer your shrimp over a bed of wild rice (that you cooked in chicken broth) along with a side of asparagus and baby portabella mushrooms (cooked together with a bit of extra virgin olive oil and salt on the stovetop or wrapped in foil on the grill) and you end up with a succulent feast that is not only tasty but healthy, too in 30 - 45 minutes... now if I could only get my husband to do the dishes, it would be perfect.

After awhile, cooking with fresh seafood items will become a standard way of cooking for you. The best part of utilizing seafood in your normal diet is it just so healthy! It is important to note that making sure your seafood is fresh is absolutely necessary. To ensure this, choose a company located on the eastern seaboard to handle the shipping of your seafood items. If at some point you run out of things to cook, no problem, just go online and view all the great seafood recipes out there. Of course you always have the option of visiting a bookstore in your town or city and they almost always have a large collection of cookbooks available.

When presented with the challenge of entertaining your family or just some close friends, it is the absolute best time to prepare a delicious seafood recipe. When you family and friends dig into the tasty seafood appetizer or main course they will have no choice but to automatically think this is a very special occasion and will feel as if this is a very rare treat.

About the Author:

Hopefully you enjoyed this exceptionally good article about seafood. You can always just go to Quality Fresh Seafood where some extremely informative articles are being featured. They are specifically about live lobsters shipped which should be enjoyable to learn about.

Cooking with your BBQ

Barbecue is another way to make cokoing easy. Maybe it is not the fastest way to prepare your food, especially because of the barbecue itslef. You have to prepare it, make a fire or at least make sure the charcoals are hot which takes a bit of time. But with starter liquid and charcoals you can be pretty fast. On the other hand it's a great way to cook and invite your friends and make a delicious meal without suffering in the kitchen all day long.

What is a barbecue?

Barbecue can mean many things :).

Barbecue is a:

- apparatus for grilling your food over hot gases that come from fire and charcoal

- it is the method of making food using the above

- it is also a social event where people gather and use barbecue to barbecue :)

- it is also a name for food that was prepared using a barbecue (try these bbq recipes if you plan to make a bbq)

- etc...

You usually grill meat, thigs like ribs (try these baby back rib recipes) but if you are a vegeterian you can also grill vegetables like eggplants, zucchinis, peppers etc...

Anyway, bbq is a great social event for you and your friends. Try it sometimes. We will try and post some simple and easy bbq recipes, but until then you can check the links we gave you in this post.

Bon appetit!

Can a Toaster Oven Save You Money?

By John Abrar

Everyone knows how to use the oven, microwave and the stove top, but the toaster oven seem to a mystery to most other people. The importance of this particular kitchen accessory is in its ability to perform on a daily bases. It can make great meals, pies, cakes, muffins and all sorts of thing the average oven can. Okay, so what now? What are they?

Simply put, a toaster over is a self-contained oven unit. Lots of styles and sizes and fits right on top of your kitchen counter. The large models will bake a large 12 inch pizza and the small models will bake a small sized pizza. Sure you can use your oven in your stove, but why. The toaster oven does everything your oven does and more. Plus it is compact and very convenient. It generally cooks much faster than a large oven and the clean up is far easier a feature most people find very beneficial.

It can be somewhat challenging to find one that fits your needs, only because there are so many different kinds to chose from. Look at the brands you are familiar with, know and trust. Some are Cuisinart, Hamilton beach, Proctor Silex and Hamilton Beach to name just a few of the popular brands and all make toaster ovens.

The Cuisinart TOB-175bc Toaster Oven Broiler, is a very popular choice by users of toaster ovens. With all the brands available, their variety of sizes and models your sure to find one that appeals to you and will accommodate your needs. There are a myriad of colors and styles to chose from. The most common color choices are black, silver and white, but there are also colors like blue, yellow, red and are available, not as popular, but they do have them.

You can set the oven for any temperature - usually up to 400 degrees, or more with the Cuisinart TOB-195 Convection Toaster Oven, and other models that are on the market.

There are many different brands of toaster ovens that are out there on the market today. The most general brands only have the oven, and some of the toaster ovens have a toaster function as well. The ovens are specially designed to be able to be used on a counter top, which will make a great addition to any kitchen.

About the Author:

John Abrar helps consumers by reviewing the best products for the home. Visit his site to read reviews & see best deals on the Cuisinart TOB-195 Convection Toaster Oven.

Fresh Lobster Meat Tastes Great!

By Sherry Shantel

When you're cooking for your family at home, do you often wish that you were able to provide the quality of food that a fine restaurant can? Do you enjoy cooking with fine quality ingredients, but don't have the time of patience to prepare them all yourself? Are you a seafood fan. If you answered yes to these questions, and don't want to deal with the mess of boiling your own lobster, then the fresh lobster meat from Quality Fresh Seafood is sure to spice up your dinner plans!

Who doesn't love fresh lobster meat, dripping in butter and freshly boiled? It's a wonderful taste, but if you don't live right near the ocean, it can also be incredibly hard to find. For those who do have access to fresh lobster, it's not a walk in the park to cook either. Finding the live lobster, keeping it alive until you're ready, and boiling it are difficult enough, not to mention the cracking and cleaning to find the good meat.

Quality Fresh Seafood and bring you fresh lobster meat without any of the fuss, but with all of the same freshness and quality that you would get boiling your lobsters at home. Our one and two pound packages of delectable fresh lobster are delivered to your door the next day! You'll be the hit of the neighborhood after your fresh lobster canapes and lobster bisque make their debut at your next dinner party!

Whatever type of fresh lobster meat you're looking for, we have the right options for you. For small chucks of lobster for cooking, try our one and two pound packages which include meat from the tail, knuckles, and claws of the lobster. These pieces are the perfect size to pop in your mouth, or to include in an appetizer or soup. They're also guaranteed to be delicious! Whatever dishes with lobster that you can imagine, you'll now be able to easily create with our delicious lobster meat!

When you are planning a dinner party, you want to impress and save time! Imagine trying to clean a dozen lobsters, just for the tails. Where would you find that many lobsters! And even if you did, how would you keep them alive? Not to mention the pounds of excess lobster meat you'd have to crack out from its shell and store! Don't worry about all of that work! Just order your fresh lobster meat tails from Quality Fresh Seafood and let us do all the work for you!

Here at Quality Fresh Seafood, your satisfaction with our product is our number one concern. That's why, when we get your order, we boil your fresh lobster meat, package it, and ship it to you overnight. That way you know you'll be enjoying your lobster as soon as possible, and that it will be the freshest lobster out there. So don't waste your time getting a small piece of lobster at a fancy restaurant, or trying to boil them yourself. Give yourself a much deserved break and order from us!

About the Author:

Hopefully you enjoyed this informative article about seafood. You can always visit Quality Fresh Seafood where some very informative articles are being showcased. The main topic is lobster fest which should be very interesting.

Where Does a Lobster Call Home?

By Sherry Shantel

Did you ever look at a lobster swimming around in the little fish tank at a restaurant and wonder where he lived before he was caught? You may remember he lived in the ocean, but did you realize that most lobsters live in only the coastal regions around the world. Once considered unfit to eat, lobsters have risen in such popularity in the last few decades that fishermen can hardly capture enough of them to meet demand.

A lobster newborn doesn't look much like his parents. Mother lobsters lay as many as 10,000 eggs, and if this lobster baby is real lucky, he'll be one of the 10 out of that number that lives to maturity. The mortality rate is exceptionally high amongst lobster babies. Many of them get eaten during their first two weeks of life while living in the upper three feet of the ocean. During this stage of his life, he will molt three times.

Once the baby lobster has reached stage four, he has learned to swim well. He will spend this stage looking for a permanent place to live on the ocean floor. In the coastal regions around Cape Cod, he will pick out a home in the salt marsh peat. In coastal waters around Maine, his preference will be an area with cobble (small rocks) on the bottom.

Cobble is an exceptionally suitable habitat for lobsters. There are many crevices and cracks around and under the small rocks that make up the cobble which offers him places to hide and wait for his food to come to him. While many coastal regions offer rocky bottoms, Maine is ideal in that it also has just what lobsters like, clean, cold water.

After molting once more and moving into stage five of his life, the lobster moves into his new ocean bottom home. During his first year he spends the majority of his time hiding in his crevice or tunnel in order to keep from being eaten by his numerous predators. After this first year he spends a lot of time during the next three years hiding in the ocean bottom kelp and seaweed while looking for food.

Adolescent lobsters have great survival instincts that keep them hidden for the first few years of their lives. If he were to swim out in the open ocean when he was still this young, he would be eaten within a matter of a few minutes. When he gets larger he will make another move to an area where there are larger rocks for him to hide in. He might also choose to live in a muddy or sandy area anywhere between the edge of the continental shelf and the shore. Wherever he lives, he will live alone, because he's not a social creature.

No matter where a lobster lives, there are sure to be fishermen after him. If he manages to evade natural predators and fishermen, however, he can live a very long life. During colonial times when lobsters were abundant, there are reports that some of the lobsters were five or six feet long.

During modern times, the largest lobster on record was caught off the coast of Nova Scotia in 1977. This monster lobster was between three and four feet long and weighed 44 lbs., 6 oz. He was thought to have been around 100 years old. Believe it, or not!

About the Author:

Reading this article you can tell it is about live lobsters, this really is an immense topic and can't explain it all when that would take multiple articles. There is also steamer lobster that we could probably write another 10 articles on. You may also want to check out to store live lobster.

Seafood Combo Meals Are Easy To Prepare

By Shannon Linnen

Seafood combo meals are not only tasty but are also easy to prepare. The variety of seafood available is more and it is hard to go wrong in selection. All the ingredients which are necessary to prepare Seafood combo meals can be had from your local grocery store.

One of the best things about a seafood combo meal is that you get more than one item or type of seafood in your meal. The only thing better than eating lobster tail for dinner is to eat both lobster tail and Alaskan King Crab. Having both items in the same meal just makes the experience that much more satisfying.

It's easiest to prepare things you already like, as your cooking instincts will be more accurate. Of course, if you're not an experienced cook and your favorite combo is two pound lobster and scallops, it may be best to start with something easier and work your way up. If you're new to cooking it's best to start with simpler items, such as shrimp or fish fillets. If you're not sure what kind of food you'd like the most, try to find a fresh seafood sampler at your local grocery.

When preparing any seafood dish, the easiest cooking method is pan-fry. One very easy starter dish is shrimp pasta. Start with your favorite pasta and a bag of cocktail, or frozen shrimp. It's fairly easy to find these pre-cooked, so you won't risk under-cooking the meal.

Identify all the ingredients you'll use. First the pasta and a pot of water to boil it in, then the shrimp and a frying pan, and lastly your favorite oils and spices. For this dish, a good starting point is olive oil, basil leaves, and garlic powder. Start the pasta boiling and heat the frying pan. Pour a small amount of oil in the pan, and add the shrimp. Sprinkle the garlic powder and basil leaves on top, and stir the shrimp around the pan until they're lightly covered in spices and oil.

When the shrimp begin to sizzle you can turn the heat down slightly, so they quietly simmer in the pan. For added flavor you could add some vegetables, I often add chopped onions and tomatoes. While the pasta finishes the shrimp will simmer, absorbing the flavor of the oil and spices.

When the pasta has reached your preferred softness, strain it and put it on a plate. Add a side of garlic bread or a caesar salad and you've got a hearty, healthy seafood combo meal! There are an infinite number of seafood combo meals you could cook, the best way to learn is to keep practicing different kinds until you find your favorite! Pour the complete contents of the frying pan over the pasta, and mix them together.

As with so many other food items, making your seafood combo meal purchase online is always a great idea. With the advent of overnight delivery by Fedex and UPS it is very feasible to have seafood straight from the northeastern seaboard shipped right to your house.

About the Author:

You can easily get lobster if you live nearby the coast, but if you live inland, it may be much more difficult. Of course the best place to always get food from the sea is from Quality Fresh Seafood.

Lobster - A Tasty Seafood Dinner

By Shannon Linnen

No one should miss the opportunity to sit down to a dinner of fresh shellfish. Living near a coastline would obviously be the easiest way to enjoy such a dinner. Although residents of inland communities may not have as easy access, they may step out to the local fishmonger or restaurant in the area specializing in fresh shellfish who likely have their produce shipped in fresh on a daily basis. A more convenient option is to purchase fresh shellfish from a reputable online store. As Fedex offers overnight delivery within the continental US, you can enjoy a fresh seafood meal on a regular basis without having to settle for the poor substitute of a frozen entree.

Who is to question the king of seafood is none other than lobster? It must have taken a brave person to decide to try this thing the first time. Believe it or not, they were very unpopular for the longest time. To us, this pricey delicacy was once the food of peasants. Although true, it will probably be only a small comfort when your forking over $11.95 a pound in stores or $29.95 in a restaurant. Lots of times, the only way to ensure your getting the freshest lobster as possible is to order online. After all, this way you can be certain its fresh because you are ordering fresh from the coast and having it shipped directly to you.

When preparing lobster at home purchase one live and kicking from your local fish market or seafood counter and bring them home. Be certain not to store them in fresh water as that will kill them, just seal them up in the fridge and plan to at them that evening as lobster doesn't keep very well.

This is the hardest part. Each lobster, sadly, will have to give its life for your meal, and you are the one who has to make it happen. To do it humanely, you can drop them into water that is at a violent rolling boil, or you can put them out of their misery first by inserting the point of a knife briskly between the head and the body, which kills them instantly. If you choose the second option, you can grill them. They can also be steamed in less water.

Prepare your lobster with butter and lemon, grab a bib and jump right in. The shell is filled with yummy nuggets of meat. You can also eat the green tomalley or red roe found in the body, gourmets love it.

An ocean-themed meal like this doesn't have to be limited to just lobster. Try some fresh shellfish like mussels for instance. Just scrub them thoroughly and steam them in in a liquid like wine, water or broth. Also try steamer clams, you steam these and dip them into a broth to wash away any sand left over from the beach. Another great shellfish baked, fried or sometimes raw is oyster. Don't forget langoustines, shrimp and crayfish. All of which are tasty treats from the sea.

There are so many different ways to prepare seafood. You don't have to be some kind of master chef to make a tasty and delicious seafood meal. Often times all you need to do is just cook the seafood to create a great tasting meal. The natural flavor of the seafood can stand on its own merits.

If these kinds of seafood are all still somewhat frightening, there is another choice for the light hearted. The option of going into your grocer and purchasing a bit of clam chowder is always open. Fresh fish isn't bad either, but you'll still get that briny taste of the ocean. Serve with oyster crackers, a dash of cream and lots of ground black pepper. Lastly, enjoy and pretend your on the beach.

When you want to really impress your friends and family, then providing a seafood feast is the way to go! Just imagine the long lasting impressions you will leave after they have left. Most likely this will be something that they talk about for years to come. The party that you throw could very well go down in history as the best meal ever! It all started with you deciding to throw a lobster and shellfish tasty adventure.

About the Author:

You can easily get jumbo lobster if you live on Cape Cod, but if you live inland, it may be much more difficult. Of course the best place to always get high quality seafood is from Quality Fresh Seafood.

It's Simple and Fun to Order Lobster Online

By Shannon Linnen

When we want to entertain friends and family, we almost always take them someplace away from home. Perhaps we spend a nice day at a fancy spa. Perhaps we take the gang to a restaurant or to a movie. The problem with these plans is that they don't take into account the fact that you'd like to spend time at home, relaxing with your guests, and getting to see them and talk to them. For that, entertaining at home is a great option, but it doesn't mean you have to leave all the luxury out. When I want to impress, I order lobster for my dinner parties.

Because lobster is seen as such an expensive luxury item, and it's so simple to prepare at home, it's the perfect marriage of something you can make easily for your guests, that will easily impress them. When you order online, you can get enough lobsters for a large party like a wedding reception, or only buy enough for an intimate party for two. The choice is yours. Your guests will be happy that you've invited them to such a fancy and intimate gathering, and you'll know it was easy.

The reason that you're now able to enjoy a large lobster gathering is the ease of buying lobsters online. In the past, you would have to buy any lobsters you wanted to order from the grocery store, a process dependent on your grocery store even having enough lobsters for you to order. The lobsters that they do have are also often old, which may seem counterintuitive, because they're still alive. But when a live lobster has been banded for more than a day, their claws atrophy. This is why experts recommend eating them within a few days.

You may be wondering how ordering lobster online will give you the freshest lobster possible. The difference is in the shipping. When lobster is ordered by a grocery store, it must be shipped from the coast to their location, usually by truck to save money. This means that by the time the lobster reaches the store, it's no longer fresh. When you order from the fisherman yourself, your order is packaged right after the lobster is caught, and shipped overnight. This means that you get the freshest possible lobster, arriving when you need it.

Ordering lobster online also helps you to save money. The grocery store not only has to pay for the lobsters, but also the fee of the middleman who arranges the sale, for the shipping, and for their store costs. That adds up to one huge surcharge. When you order lobster for yourself, you only have to pay the going price per pound, and the shipping fee. This means you've gotten yourself a great savings on lobster.

Now is the time to give yourself and your friends a party to remember by ordering lobster online. It's a great way to enjoy time with your friends and family, throw a great party that they're sure to remember, and save money as well! So get online, find the price you want, and order today!

About the Author:

Find out more info about boiled live lobster at this website about: boiled live lobster. Or check out fresh live lobsters info.

Fresh Shellfish, Great To Have For For Dinner?

By Shannon Linnen

A wonderful thing to eat all year round is fresh shellfish. It includes clams, scallops, mussels and more. Farm-raised cultured mussels are fresh and readily available. Wild varieties are equally delicious. Clams are a very popular addition to pasta dishes. Hard clams, also called quahogs, live in sandy coves and can be caught when the tide is low. A great dish to enjoy with butter and garlic is stuffed quahogs. And there is always clam chowder of course.

In the summer, fresh shellfish will take your mind off the hot weather. For a light yet delicious meal, consider an appetizer of raw or barbequed oysters. These tasty treats can be bought in most markets as well as chosen farms that specially breed them to sell. If you are lucky enough to live by a port or in a town near the ocean, you will probably find oysters easily and for an affordable cost.

Sea scallops are delightfully large, though must be shucked (removed from their shells) almost immediately after capture to ensure they don't lose moisture and die.It is important not to overcook scallops, or you will end up with a chewy, inedible morsel.Scallops are meatier than clams and require very little preparation.

Mussels come with blue-black shells and brown hairs called byssal threads attached to their shell. Their meat is usually an orange color and they are full of protein. As with clams, mussels taste best steamed and should remain encased in their shell until cooking.

Other fresh shellfish includes lobster and crab. Both are bigger and more substantial than their other, small shelled relatives. They are truly tasty and are a symbol of excellence in every type of cuisine. Lobster is a cuisine favorite in fancy, high-end restaurants and is the most expensive of all fresh shellfish.

Crab is one of the more popular varieties of shellfish, bought and eaten by a large number of people. This has made the crabbing a multi-million dollar industry. Tools have been specially designed to make cracking the shells of crabs easier and with these tools at hand; eating crab is no longer a messy and difficult affair. Once you have tasted the meaty goodness of crab legs, this fresh shellfish will be sure to become one of your favorites.

It seems like everyone these days are trying to lead a healthier lifestyle. With fast food all around us and most foods being processed and stuffed full of chemicals and preservatives it is becoming more difficult to eat healthy. Fresh shellfish is a great alternative. The ocean is the perfect environment to grow all sorts of tasty critters. They develop far away from processing plants and all the unhealthy growing methods being used in other industries. Stay natural and eat healthy, eat naturally grown shellfish from the ocean.

You no longer have to live in close proximity to the ocean or coast, you can get fresh shellfish no matter what. Online vendors now deliver fresh shellfish, crabs, lobsters and much more overnight. Straight from the ocean to your front door. Quality Fresh Seafood specializes in this and uses Fedex to overnight your seafood order.

About the Author:

Seafood is preferred fresh over frozen, there are various ways to obtain lobster clambake in the best form even if you live far from the in the North Eastern United States. Quality Fresh Seafood is a great place to start.

Live Lobsters at a Great Price Online!

By Shannon Linnen

When you're entertaining for friends and family, you want to be sure to knock their socks off. But that can be difficult to do when you're busy with work and family, and don't have time to come up with a lavish spread. To say nothing about trying to save money in these difficult times. You want to make sure everyone is well fed and has a great time, but if can be hard to figure out the best way to make that happen. So why not take the guess work out of it and order live lobsters to steam and share?

Live lobster! What could we possibly be thinking! Isn't lobster a difficult meal to make? You would have to go to the store, and hope they have enough lobster, and then try to get them home and keep them alive until your party, and then try to steam them all! How is that any easier? It's easier, because with online ordering, you can skip those first three steps. You simply need to sit back, relax, and let the lobsters come to you!

Now that the internet age is upon us, it's fast and easy to order live lobsters online! You may have been thinking you'd have to drive from store to store, hoping you could find enough lobsters to feed everyone, and that those you have found wouldn't freeze in your car, but no more. All you'll need to do is choose what size lobster you'd like, and you'll be getting fresh and delicious lobsters caught the day before. It's much less work for much tastier lobster for your holiday gathering!

How are these fresh live lobsters getting to your house so quickly, while still being the freshest available. It's simple, really. When you buy lobsters at your local grocery store, you aren't getting fresh lobster. Instead, you're waiting for a delivery though a middleman, a process that can leave your lobsters in transit for up to a week. When you order live lobsters online, you're getting them directly from the fisherman, which means no waiting in trucks. Instead, you'll have your lobsters shipped to you fresh, the day that they're caught, and they'll arrive at your house by the next day!

When you order live lobsters online, you get a great deal on the price! As you may have seen or heard about, the price of lobster has recently fallen. This savings might not be passed onto you at your local grocery store, however. Because the store has to pay their supplier, and for the price of running the store, which has only been going up recently, they can only give you minimal savings. When you're buying from the fisherman however, you're getting their direct price. This means that you'll get great savings and value for your dollar!

So why not order fresh live lobsters today and impress your friends and family. It's quick, easy and inexpensive, you'll be glad you did!

About the Author:

Find out more about live lobsters shipped at this website about: live lobsters shipped. Also take a look at live lobster shipping info.

Making Chocolate and the Right Way to Market Your Biz

By Colin Joss

The chances of doing well in the business of chocolate making are high because mostly people crave sweets and candies. Its not just an art which you can make you can use of in your past time but as well as earn some money as a professional.

The marketing of such products is not difficult as lovers of the chocolate will buy it anyway. For you its important to plan your strategy and decide how you are going to market your products in a way that it is beneficial to you.

The Four Ps of Marketing

Consider this strategy when you are on the planning stage of your sweets biz. If you are just starting out and just want to make extra income through the product that you will also enjoy, here's a brief explanation of this concept.

Product:

Lets start from the first P that is product. You need to have the full control over you product as in means of information in other words you must have the whole product knowledge.This is necessary so that you can let people know good things about your product and must be ready to answer any questions asked.

Yes, it is a good idea if you will take time to research about the scientific background of this treat. But you can also just focus on what you want to sell. You may want to focus on chocolate cakes. Or how about chocolates in gift baskets? There are many options that you can try for such reason.

Place

Where are you located? Who lives in your neighborhood? And how often do you think they will buy? You have to think about those things to be able to plan out accordingly what will be a big hit for these people. You must give them what they are looking for. You must present them with new ideas that you are very sure that they will like.

It is a good thing that you are from the area. You no longer have to resort on hiring people to do a market analysis to know who these people are. Just spread your wings and increase your public relations. This will also increase the probability that these people are going to buy from you.

Price

The price must not be set so high that most people will not buy it. To know the right price for you, you have to know about your competitors. For this you just have to buy their products and know the prices. Your strategies must be close to theirs. People look for products that are of good quality and not too expensive to buy.

Promotion

Your biz, however small it is, will not survive without venturing into promotions. As a startup of a small business, you can start the buzz about you through word of mouth. To achieve this, you must first come with a very good product. Give those out to people the first few days. If you are confident with what you are selling, for sure, people will also like it. They will be your good source of free advertising.

Turn your hobby of making chocolate into a fun-filled and profit generating venture. Consider the abovementioned in starting up your biz. Create a noise for yourself and establish your name in the industry.

Meanwhile you will find your subject. You will be surprised that your hobby can be converted into money making path towards to your success!

About the Author:

Before you start making delicious brownies, cookies, and cupbrownies you need the best bakeware. For a wide selection of bakeware all with free postage visit http://www.Bakeware-Pans.com

Want to make chocolate chip cookies - the fast and easy way

Keep it simple stupid, moron proof and fast. This little chocolate chip cookie recipe does just that.
You will need:

• Butter – 225 g
• Granulated sugar - 150 g
• Brown sugar – 160 g
• Eggs – 2
• Vanilla extract – 1 ½ teaspoons
• Flour – 295 g
• Baking soda – 1 teaspoon
• Salt – ½ teaspoon
• Semisweet chocolate chips – 270 g

1. Turn on the oven (375 degrees F (190 degrees C))
2. Take a bowl and mix in the butter, and all the sugar, eggs and vanilla.
3. Throw in all the dry ingredients (flour, soda, salt).
4. Mix, halfway through add chocolate chips.

This recipe comes from the chocolate chip cookies recipe site. There's more recipes there if you want.

Use a spoon to shape the cookies (like 2 spoons for one cookie) and put them on baking paper. Put baking paper on baking sheet and put baking sheet in the oven.

They should be ready in 12 – 14 minutes. You know they are baked when they turn golden brown around edges. Let them cool down and eat them!

Live Lobster Dinners Are A Treat!

By Sherry Shantel

Would you like to have a fresh live Maine lobster dinner, sweet and dripping with melted butter? If you answered yes, you should just check out the Internet under Maine lobster.

If you can access your computer and you have a phone, this can be reality for you whenever your taste buds are asking for delicious lobster. You thought that you would have to wait until summer for fresh lobster, now you can have what your heart desires!

You don't have to look too far to find something that will be pleasing to everyone. You can start with the appetizers and end with the dessert. They have all that you will need to make your next dinner party a success. As a matter of fact, the only thing you will need to supply is your appetite.

It will be difficult to decide what to have first, or how much you should order. But, the nice thing about this is, that you can order more than once; it is fine with them.

Your guest might like to have something a little different. You may want to offer them some lobster pie. This looks scrumptious and not as heavy as some of the other choices out there.

If you would like something a little different to dine on, why not try the Lobster Pie?

Maine not in your next vacation? Don't worry, it can come right to your front door. That is, you can have the best that Maine has to offer you.

Why not set down now to your computer with your phone at hand, and look over the vast numbers of lobster dinners available to you. The choices are up to you.

You can start with the appetizers, chowder, and go right to main course with side dishes.

You will also want to be sure to leave some room for the delicious desserts that compliment your meal. Happy eating!

About the Author:

Hopefully you enjoyed this high quality info about live lobsters. To learn more, visit Quality Fresh Seafood where some high quality articles are being featured. Right now the content is about shipping lobster which should be very interesting.

Interesting Certitudes About Rice

By James Frankie

One of the popular questions that many people have in mind when it comes to rice is whether it is healthy for one's health. Since rice is one of the starchy foods, people tend to think that it is fattening but nothing can be further from the truth. However, if you add margarine, oil or even cheese into the rice, the overall calories will increase. Since rice is a one of the grain products that is high in vitamins, carbohydrates and minerals, you can be rest assured that they are good for you.

Rice is the principal food in Asia and most rice is eaten in the country where it is grown and it is the main reason why Asian diets are so low in saturated fat. The finished product of paddy rice is a long black grain that you can find on most grocery store shelves. Asians view rice as the focus of the meal while Americans tend to view rice as a side dish to a meat-centered diet.

Rice is best cooked when simmered. Unless you don't have a proper rice cooker, you can always cook your rice in a pot or an oven. You will also find that wholly unpolished rice is going to be more expensive than the mill-husked rice. You can clearly see the difference between paddy rice and wild rice when you cook them.

Brown rice is the entire grain with only the inedible outer husk removed. The nutritious, high-fiber bran coating gives it a light tan color, nutlike flavor and chewy texture. Fiber helps out by keeping blood sugar levels under control, so brown rice is an excellent grain choice for people with diabetes.

The fiber in brown rice can also help to protect you against colon cancer since fiber binds to cancer-causing chemicals, keeping them away from the cells lining the colon, plus it can help normalize bowel function, reducing constipation. While traditional brown rice requires about 45 minutes of cooking time, quick-fix brown rice is now available that takes only 10 minutes to prepare.

About the Author:

Learn how you can cook flavourful rice meals using these free chicken and rice recipes.

Cooking Online

By charlie reese

In our grandparent's time, cooking from scratch was the norm. People the didn't have aisles and aisles of frozen, ready to eat meals, nor the extensive selection of deli items we enjoy today. As more and more women entered the workforce, with full time jobs, families began to rely on the ready to eat and take out options in order to put food on the table quickly. Busy schedules don't allow for lengthy preparations of food, as was the case in the past.

As a result, cooking has become somewhat of a lost art in the American kitchen. Now, we find that, with food costs jumping substantially, it's time to start cooking more meals at home. If you feel the need for some instruction in basic cooking skills, you ought to look into the Cooking for Dummies series to get you up to speed in a hurry.

Don't let the title names put you off. These cook books offer far more than how to make a tuna sandwich or fry an egg. Also, there are several titles available, emphasizing techniques, special dietary requirements as well as particular cuisines. Do you love Mexican food? Try the Mexican Cooking for Dummies book, which goes into the ingredients, seasonings and preparation techniques you'll need to produce most of the dishes you'll find in your favorite Mexican restaurant or supermarket freezer section.

If Chinese food is your thing, look for the Chinese Cooking for Dummies title to get you started. If you require low fat recipes, the 'for Dummies' series can fill the bill. There's even a book devoted to cast iron cooking, providing an array of versatile and easy recipes requiring nothing more than a couple of cast iron pans, such as a frying pan and a Dutch oven to cook your way to successful and delicious entrees. Another interesting title in the Cooking for dummies series is designed for the grown up beginner cook who wants to teach their kids the cooking basics. The step by step procedures allow you to learn right along with the kids!

The original title in the series is the plain Cooking for Dummies. These easy cooking recipes offer everything you need for all around menus, from how to cook chicken to broiling steak. While you may think this is overly simplistic, you'll be surprised to learn that there are indeed little tricks that can greatly affect the final results. For example, did you know that you can get a juicy and tender fried chicken in half the time, by partially cooking your chicken pieces in the microwave and then finishing it in the frying pan? This works well because you're assured that the inside of the meat is cooked, without burning the outside. This method also allows much of the fat to run off before it gets to the frying pan. These books make it easy to learn to cook. You don't need to know a thing about cooking. All you need is one of the Cooking for Dummies books. Save a lot of money at the grocery and have fun!

About the Author:

Charlie Reese likes giving cooking and psychic advice on his horoscope website daily.

Did You Put Your Crock Pot Away During Your Diet? Get It Out!

By Susanne Myers

This is the year I decided to try a low-glycemic diet. It's working so far, but I'm starting to miss my crock pot meals, and so is my family. I'm sure they're getting tired of eating my "diet" food and would like us all to sit down together and have a nice, hot meal. My crock pot has always been one of my favorite ways of cooking, but now what?

My family is very supportive of my diet, but they are starting to feel just a bit neglected. Well, I can understand that because I'm feeling a bit deprived as well. I miss my crock pot and the wonderful aromas that fill the house after a day of gently simmering savory ingredients together. Will I go off my diet in order to enjoy my crock pot once again? No need to, now that I've worked up a few recipes to create meals fit for my diet AND fit for my family!

Ginger Garlic Beef with Snow Peas

Take a 2 1/2 lb. boneless Round Steak, and cut into 4 pieces. Put the beef in your crock pot. In a bowl, whisk together 1 cup of soy sauce, about 2 teaspoons freshly grated ginger, 2 cloves of garlic, grated or minced, and 2 tablespoons canola oil. Pour over the beef and put on the crock pot cover. Cook on LOW for 6 hours or until steak is fork tender. Serve with hot, cooked snow peas mixed with sauted mushrooms for the perfect Asian inspired meal.

Split Pea Soup with Ham

To create a classic split pea soup, put a 1 lb. bag of split peas into your crock pot along with 2 lbs. of boiled ham, diced up, 3 cloves garlic, minced or grated, 1 medium onion, diced, 3 ribs celery, finely diced, 1/8 teaspoon black pepper, 7 cups fresh cold water, and 5 chicken bouillion cubes. Cook on LOW for 6 to 7 hours. Quickly lift the lid on this a couple times during cooking and give it a stir. Otherwise the peas will sink to the bottom and not get as smooth.

3 Bean n' Beef Chili

In large heavy skillet, brown 2 lbs. of lean, ground beef. Drain excess fat if necessary. Meanwhile, dice 2 medium onions, 1 green pepper, 2 stalks of celery, and 3 minced cloves of garlic and put it all in the crock pot. Add 2 (16 ounce size) cans of diced tomatoes, 2 cans of garbanzo beans, 1 can of butter beans, and 1 can of black beans, all drained first but not rinsed. Add a 15 ounce can of chicken broth, 3 teaspoons chili powder (more or less), 1/2 teaspoon of ground cumin, 1 teaspoon of black pepper, and 1 teaspoon of salt. A bit more salt may be added later if desired. Add the browned ground beef, stir together gently and cover. Cook on LOW for about 6 hours. Serve in big bowls with a spoonful of low fat yogurt topped with chives.

Trying to figure out what you can make in your crock pot that follows the rules of your diet can be a bit difficult. I know if I have just a few go-to recipes for my crock pot that I can put together fast and easy, I'm more likely to stick to my diet. And, when you are cooking dinner in your crock pot, you are most likely cooking for the whole family, right? Well, the fact is, my family doesn't even think of these meals as "diet food" so no one is disappointed, and I'm still on track! These crock pot recipes may be just the start you need to get on that diet and stick to it. Happy Dieting!

If you are trying to follow a low-glycemic diet, you may have given up on using your crock pot. But, my crock pot has become a loyal companion in my kitchen, so what else could I do but figure out a few family-friendly meals that I, and my diet, can live with. With just a couple crock pot recipes at my disposal, we can enjoy home-cooked meals together more often. My family doesn't even consider a crock pot meal as diet food, so everybody is happy! If dieting while trying to feed your family at the same time isn't working for you, give these simple recipes a try. It may just get you on track, too! Good luck to you!

About the Author:

If your family has heard enough about your diet, try serving them a surprise dinner that features either some BBQ Meatballs or a real change of pace like a big plate of Mexican Chicken. They won't believe that you're still on a diet!

Teaching The Kids To Cook? Kids Love Making Homemade Candy.

By Peter Bertonich

When school holidays come around the kids are delighted. But sometimes mom isn't so delighted. What are you going to do to keep the kids entertained these holidays? How about making some wonderful homemade candies these holidays?

There aren't many people who don't like candy, homemade candy especially. And the kids love making it and eating the results too. It's not that hard to make candy if you choose one of the easier recipes and the kids will enjoy the process.

Just last night I was watching the looks on the faces of my kids as they licked out the bowl, and it was hard for them to wait until the candy was ready to eat before they raided the box.

And I believe that it's very important to get kids to learn about the delights of cooking. It is never too early to get started teaching the kids all the joys of cooking, and the skills, and making homemade candy is a great place to start. In fact the perfect place to start the kids cooking.

Unfortunately homemade food seems to be less of the norm than it used to be, I believe they are even making houses without kitchens now. But to me a good family time revolves around making, and eating, homemade food. And homemade candy is one of the best types of homemade food to begin with.

But there's a few things to remember. Always allow plenty of time because cooking with kids always involves more time than you imagine. And you will always have mess, that comes with the territory. Kids must make mess to cook it seems, so you'll have to clean up later.

And remember the golden rule. Always cook double the recipe, because if it's good then everyone wants some and you run out so fast you'll be cooking some more again tomorrow.

And as well as feeding the family, homemade candy makes a great gift. Why not get the kids making candy for grandma, the kids will love it and grandma will love her candy from the grandkids.

So maybe you have kids at home and maybe they're pestering you for great ideas for something to do in the school holidays. Making homemade candy is a great idea, kids love it. And it may start them on a lifelong love affair with cooking.

So get the kids making candy and into the kitchen. But remember, don't eat all the candy in one go like the kids and I did last night.

About the Author:

Want to find some great Homemade Candy Recipes? Visit Peter's Website Homemade Candy Recipes and find out more about making Home Made Candy.

Do You Know How to Cook Cheap?

By Elizabeth Morgan

How good are you at cooking really cheap? I can not tell you how surprised I am that cooking cheap is not done much these days. Really, it is so easy to do: the savings is in your pantry.

Really, Im not kidding!

Here is why. Get your ingredients for cheap meals for pennies by using double coupons and buying when on sale. The only thing you need to do is this to save over 72% on the cost of your meals when you cook from your pantry. Really, just this one piece of knowledge is all you need to cut the cost of feeding your family by hundreds of dollars a month.

So, how do you really save this much? Simple, get as many grocery discount coupons as you can find and do not forget to use them. Buy extra when the price is low and try to buy products that do not spoil easily.

Heres how:

Be sure all of your food is purchased on sale and with a double coupon to maximize savings. Hit the weekly sales fliers first, do a quick online search for high face value coupons, print and then go grocery shopping. Ideally you should have a double coupon for everything in your shopping cart.

Plan to buy a variety of fresh, frozen and canned produce to keep on hand. Use the fresh first, the frozen next and keep the canned stuff for emergencies. Be sure to keep some canned meats like salmon, tuna and water packed chicken on hand for quick casseroles, soups and the occasional sandwich.

Do not ever pay full price for anything. If you do not have something a recipe calls for then just use something else that you do. Knowing how to make substitutions is a real money saver.

Know your staple items and keep your pantry stocked with them. Staples are any product that you use all the time, not just ingredients for baking. You can always find plenty of baking supplies, canned milk, spaghetti sauce and pasta in our cupboards. Shelf stable products help to avoid waste and will save you a large portion of your food bill.

About the Author:

Here are two more budget stretchingarticles to get you started saving money on groceries fast! How to grocery shop cheap and how to cook cheap. Learn more about how to quickly reduce your grocery budget.

Healthy Eating Food

By charlie reese

When our kids are babies, Moms are almost fanatical in making sure that every bite of food that goes in their mouths is entirely healthy and loaded with nutrition. While you might eat junk food every now and then, you'd never dream of feeding your baby such fare! Dessert for your baby is applesauce or blueberries. Beverages are fruit juice and milk.

However, by the time your baby reaches school age, she's soon exposed to the junk food culture. Candy bars and soda creep in to the diet. Before you know it, your first grader is eating chips and drinking soda on a regular basis. Your children, eating healthy foods exclusively, becomes a thing of the past. All of your early efforts comes to naught. Here are some tips on how to avoid the junk food syndrome and keep your children eating healthy foods as the norm. Forming good eating habits will benefit your kids for a lifetime!

One major hurdle you need to surmount is the 'but everyone else gets to have...' argument. If all the other kids at school are allowed soda and candy by the carload, it becomes a peer pressure issue. One way of dealing with this is to have a chat with your kids and let them know what some of the consequences of a poor diet are. With so many kids now considered overweight or obese, being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, formerly known as adult onset diabetes, you've got some pretty persuasive arguments. When you explain how children eating healthy diets tend to maintain a normal weight and suffer less illness than those who load up on junk food and sugar, they might actually listen. Who likes a visit to the dentist to fill a cavity? Not any kids I know! Your chat doesn't need to be an authoritative lecture. Spread out your lessons on children eating healthy foods over time. Take a casual attitude. For example, bring up the issue of diabetes in the context of something you read today. I wanted to let you know something I ran across today that really shocked me. Have you heard about the illness called diabetes? Take it from there. Chances are good that your kid knows someone at school who has this disease.

Another major impediment to children eating healthy foods is availability. Fortunately, many schools are now removing soda machines and stocking snack machines with healthier choices, such as fresh fruit and juices. Almost all of our behavior patterns come down to habit, good or bad. If kids are given only good food choices at school, they'll go for those. If they can choose between a candy bar or a bag of trail mix, which do you think they'll choose? If your child's school still has vending machines with unhealthy food choices, be proactive in pushing for a change!

Perhaps the most effective way to get your children eating healthy foods, as a matter of habit, is to set the example in your own eating choices. If they see you scarfing down sodas and candy bars for snack food, you've already lost the war. On the other hand, if they see you eating fruit or having a glass of milk for a mid-afternoon pick-me-up, they'll tend to follow your lead.

About the Author:

Charlie Reese enjoys giving food and psychic advice on his horoscope website weekly.

Cook Up Your Best Meal Ever in a BBQ Pit

By Paul Cameron

If you'd like to enjoy real barbeque with traditional flavor and style, consider building a BBQ pit. Cooking in a BBQ pit enhances the absorption of heat and smoke into the meat. The taste is out of this world.

This style of outdoor cooking is perfect for roasts and large cuts of meat. Depending on the size of your pit, you could even cook up half a cow or a pig. Keep in mind that this is a slow process and can take upwards of 10 hours to fully cook.

You have two basic choices in open BBQ pits, modern and traditional. The traditional BBQ pit is essentially a hole in the ground. You then lay in your wood or charcoal and light it.

You can cook your food by placing it on a skewer and holding it over the fire. Or you can set up a grill over the fire to place the food on. Another option is to wrap the food in foil and lay it in among the coals after the fire has died down.

A modern BBQ pit is typically constructed above ground. It's generally built from concrete, stone or brick. There's a firebox in which charcoal or wood can be set on fire. You'll likely want to attach a grill to the pit. Just make sure it's far enough away from the source of heat so your meat won't become overcooked.

With an open pit BBQ there are two ways of cooking your food. You can use either indirect or direct heat. When you cook with direct heat, the wood or coals in the firebox are still actively burning, and you place the meat on a grill above the flames. In order to manage the cooking temperature, many people locate the coals at one end of the pit and the food at the other. This is a fast cooking method and works well for smaller cuts of meat and hamburgers.

Indirect cooking is also known as pit cooking. Cooking with indirect heat involves using a very low temperature to cook the food. First you build up the fire until the pit has stored up a lot of heat. The goal is to build up a lot of heat in the interior of the pit.

The fire is then put out and the meat is placed onto the grill. Then you'll have to place a cover over the pit. The meat will become cooked entirely from the heat stored in the pit. This is a much slower method of cooking, and is best suited for tougher cuts of meat. Many people believe this is the best method for authentic BBQ flavor.

About the Author:

Grilling your favorite meats on a BBQ on a hot summer day just can't be beat. But if you're just getting started, it can be hard to know what kind of grill to get, the accessories you need, and how to cook the food. You need to learn how to make the Best BBQ.

Your Life and Turmeric - Super Combination

By Borgon Trocepticlon

It is a common practice amongst people to search for health related foods in a big superstore or other herbal medical stores. But a little peek in your kitchen ingredients can prove to be more beneficial than any trip to any medical or super store. Turmeric, the most easily available spice and herb in the kitchen, can be an answer to your prayers. Its worth dates back to the 18th century, and it is no less beneficial even in the technological age of advanced medicines and equipment.

Curcumin, which is a chemical compound, is the main constituent of turmeric which gives turmeric its yellow color and is proven to have anti-inflammatory properties which are ideal to combat diseases. It has also been established that curcumin has the ability to ward off critical diseases like cancer and HIV infection.

Turmeric also assists in liver disorders. It aids the liver in bile secretion thus protecting it from radiation and other injurious chemicals. It can also treat hyperacidity, indigestion, high cholesterol and blockage of arteries. Regular use of turmeric can be life-saving for people who have a weak immune system and likely to catch fatal diseases quickly. Turmeric is commonly used in India and other eastern countries, to spice up foods and sauces.

Turmeric has gained recognition due to its antibacterial properties and medicinal value. A tsp of turmeric mixed with a handful of crushed neem leaves or coconut oil, applied on pimples and kept overnight has been proven to show miraculous results in treatment of acne. This remedy should be applied for at least three days.

Turmeric is known to mend the wounds swiftly. It works to rebuild the wounded skin with velocity and shields it from the foreign contact of bacteria. Glowing, shiny and smooth skin can be attained and problems of the skin can be kept at bay by applying turmeric paste on the skin regularly.

Turmeric's benefits extend even to the blood of the body. If taken regularly in the form of juice, it purifies the blood. It is also a natural detoxifier and can even act as a painkiller. It even helps with Alzheimers disease to a positive extent. Not only that, curcumin is also responsible for the reduction of plaque, tissue inflammation and memory loss.

Hampering the enzyme control which causes swelling, inflammation and pain in the arthritis disease is also the role of turmeric. Sugar levels in the blood are also regulated and diabetes is kept in considerable check by turmeric.

The range of advantages of turmeric is diverse. Turmeric intake in diet is undoubtedly the best decision you could ever make. Do yourself a favor and start spicing up your foods with turmeric instead of supermarket sauces. Not only is it inexpensive but its striking benefits promote a healthier lifestyle and a livelier body. Increase your turmeric intake and toast to your health.

About the Author:

If you want more information on improving your wellness, get some yoga dvds

How to cook with potatoes

In most parts of the world, potatoes are a staple food thanks to its versatility while cooking. There are hundreds, and probably thousands of ways to cook potatoes. Similarly, you can combine potatoes with other ingredients to produce unmatched and mouthwatering recipes.

So how can you prepare potatoes at home? There are quite a few different ways. You can fry them, you can bake them you can simply cook them and then use a mashed potatoes recipe, you can prepare them in a stew or you can make chipped potatoes. Depending on the preparation it is wise to choose the right sort of potatoes for each preparation process. For instance russet potato is great for baking, frying, mashing and roasting.

For starters you can try and make whipped potatoes. You will need 8 potatoes, milk (1/3 cup), butter ( cup) and some salt and pepper.

The preparation is quite simple. First you need to peel the potatoes, cut them into a few big pieces and put them into a saucepan. Add water and bring them to a boil. Then turn the heat down a bit and cook for about 15 to 20 minutes. How do you know if potatoes are done? Try and pierce them with a knife of fork. It should go in very easily and you must feel that the potato is really soft. If it's not you need to cook it some more. Then drain the water and melt the butter in another saucepan, mix it with milk and beat the potatoes. Then add milk and butter and use mixer on hight speed to mix the potatoes so they become fluffy.

Next I will give you a recipe that you probably all know. but there is a little secret to it. French fries, you know them. You need to peel the potatoes and cut them into stripes. Choose the size that you like for your French fries. Now comes the trick. Soak the potatoes in ice cold water. Leave them there for at least on hour. This way you will get rid of some of the starch and your fries will be much more crunchy. Next you need to heat the oil to 375 degrees and then fry the potatoes until they are golden brown. Make sere that you drain them and dry them before you put them in oil. Otherwise you can get burned. Add salt at the end and they are done!

There are general tips while cooking potatoes that will help you come up with those great recipes. For example, for a crispier skin on your baked potatoes, rub some little oil, bacon drippings or butter on potatoes before baking. If you want to have mashed potatoes that have extra richness, cook them in milk. The milk should be evaporated skim milk as a replacement for whole milk.

A great thing about potatoes is that almost everyone likes them. There are not many people that do not eat potatoes so if you make a meal out of potatoes you can not go wrong.

6 ways to a delicious mashed potatoes

Dishes like french fries, potato chips, mashed potatoes are a corner stone of many worlds cousines. But it wasn't always so. Popatoes were first introduced into Europe and western cousine by Sir Walter Raleigh who brought them over the sea from the so called "New world".

A pioneer in the fiels of potatoes and mashed potatoes in Europe was Frenchman, Antoine Parmentier. He grew them on his farm and he even won an award for them. The story goes that local people stole his potatoes from the farm and this is how they became the part of French coisine.

The basic way to make mashed potatoes is pretty much the same wherever you go. With some exceptions off course. All the different variations are the result of what is later added to the mashed potatoes. The most common things used to spice up your mased potatoes recipe are cheese, bacon, garlic and onions.

So lets make mashed potatoes. You will need:

- one cup of half-half cream (you can also use heavy cream)

- half (1/2) cup of salted butter,

- salt for seasoning and

- six potatoes (medium sized)

First tip I will give you is about what kind of potatoes to use. The best ones for mashing are red and Russet Burbank potatoes. They give a rough and unique texture to the end product. If you don't like lumps in your taters, use Russet and Yukon Gold potatoes. These give a smooth and creamy feel to the whole dish.

Next we need to peel the potatoes and wash them. A little secret here is that if you want to make the recipe a bit rustic you can leave some the skin on the potatoes. They will be harder to mash later but the end result will be special.

Next tip: cut them to big chunks. Big pieces will cook longer but they will soak less water. Then add them to a decent-sized pot and cover them with cold water (tip No.4!) until the spuds are totally submerged. Adding salt is optional at this stage. Cover the pot and apply high heat until it comes to a boil. Reduce it to a simmer and allow it for 15 to 20 minutes. To check if they're cooked, poke it with a knife and it should have no trouble entering. If the taters cling to the knife, they need a few more minutes.

Drain the water and put them back on low heat so all the water evaporates (less water better taste!). In the mean time heat up some cream and butter in a saucepan at a low temperature. Now comes the fun part; the mashing. Use a food mill or a potato ricer. Avoid using electrical mixers, since they will over-mix the taters and break the starch molecules. The starch is what that gives the dish its wonderful texture. Mix them to a nice and lumpy mixture.

After the potatoes are mashed take the butter and cream and mix it in. This gives the best taste but you can also do this at the same time as you mash the potatoes. As I said you can also add some other things to your mashed potatoes and now is the time to do it. Find some recipes to help you out or just use your imagination.

Mashed potatoes are not only very tasty dish, they also have some health benefits. They can improve your glucose tolerance and protect you against colon cancer.