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.