Monday, February 23, 2009

Successful Party Cooking

Tips for Successful Party Cooking

Cooking for a party can be such a taxing ordeal. You will be preparing food for a more people with little time. But party cooking can still be easy if you know how to manage things. With a few tricks up your sleeve you can cook for your party with ease. Here are some few hints that can make your party cooking a smashing success:

1. You do not need to do all the party cooking Parties are about having friends around, and if people who are coming to your party are indeed friends, you can ask them to lend a hand. You can ask them to bring some food items or you can ask them to help you in the kitchen. An extra hand can easily make things easier and more fun.

2. Plan your menu way ahead of the party You have to know what to cook at least two weeks before the party. This can help you calculate how much you need so that you are sure that there will be enough for everybody. Buying enough is also important so that you won’t have to make those annoying last-minute shopping trips because you ran out of supplies.

3. Cook ahead A lot of party foods can actually be cooked ahead of time. Check your menu for food items that can be cooked a few days before the party itself. This way, you’ll have fewer items when the big day comes. You just need to thaw or reheat the pre-cooked items and serve them at the party.

4. Pre-measure For the items that you can’t cook ahead of time, you can just measure the ingredients ahead of time. The night before, place the ingredients in accessible containers so that on the day of the party you just need to cook them and not waste time with the preparations.

Party cooking may appear to be overwhelming but the hustle and bustle is all in your mind. If you plan well and stick to your strategy, you can manage to make party cooking not only easy, but fun as well. Try out these hints for your next party and witness how things go smoothly. And the most important of all is for you to enjoy because the party is after all for fun. This will ensure the success of your cooking and the success of your party.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Outdoor Cooking

Tips for Great Outdoor Cooking

Going camping is always exciting. And among the most thrilling part of the great outdoors is cooking in it. Nothing compares being able to commune with nature as you savor the earths gifts. It may seem tricky for some, but outdoor cooking is easier than most people think. After all, our human ancestors have done it for thousands of years. Here are some great tips for outdoor cooking:

Poke holes in those burgers To cook burgers on the grill perfectly, poke a hole the size of your pinky in the center of the patty. This will help cook the burger evenly. Don’t worry that you might end up with a meat donut, the hole will close up slowly as the meat cooks and you will end up with perfect burgers.

Marvel at the wonders of the Dutch oven Perhaps the most incomparable tool you have for outdoor cooking is the Dutch oven. This deep pot made of cast iron does wonders in the great outdoors and can create the most wonderful dishes you can have outside your kitchen. You can make stews, casseroles and other wonderful things with this beauty.

Be sure to keep covered It is important to cover your pots and pans while cooking outdoors. This helps prevent heat from escaping especially during those cold days and nights. It also keeps foreign objects from getting into your food. You don’t want crickets or grasshoppers in your stew, do you?

Make a garbage omelet on your last day camping To easily clean up your cooler or portable fridge, make an omelet on your last day. Put in all the leftovers from your previous camping days and you’ll end up with a clean cooler without wasting anything.

The foil is your best friend Aluminum foil plays a great role in outdoor cooking. You can use it to wrap food such as fish, potatoes, meat, and vegetables for nice and even cooking that helps keep delicious juices intact. You can use it to cover dishes so that you just have to peel instead of wash. You can also use a fist-sized ball of foil to clean the grill.

Outdoor cooking can be a thrilling experience with the right knowledge at hand. Try these tips in the great outdoors and see how good your cooking can be.

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Amazing Thai Cooking

Tips for Amazing Thai Cooking

Thai food can give you one of the most exciting adventures in the world of cuisine. It is filled with flavors and sensations that are incomparable to other kinds of food. Surprisingly for some, Thai cooking isn’t a complicated matter as the cooking procedures in this cuisine are simple and quite easy. It also pays to know some tips and tricks that can make Thai cooking amazing.

Here are some useful hints when cooking Thai food:

1. Use only the freshest ingredients you can find What creates the difference between good and bad Thai food is the freshness of the ingredients. Dried lemon grass, for example, can hardly be compared to the real fresh thing. Your best bet, if fresh isn’t available, could probably be frozen ones as they can still hold much of the flavors of intact compared to dried versions.

2. Invest in quality kitchen tools Thai cooking is done best with the right tools. The equipment need not be expensive, but you should use the appropriate tools when cooking. The most important tool you have is a wok with wooden spatulas or spoons.

Stir frying is one of the core procedures in Thai cooking and it would be hard to do without a good wok. You will also need a stone or marble mortar and pestle to grind the ingredients. Blenders don’t perform as well in Thai cooking as mortals and pestles do. It also pays to have a rice cooker since most Thai foods will need cooked rice.

3. Use leftover rice for fried rice Newly cooked rice doesn’t really work well for fried rice. You can go best with refrigerated leftover rice for the right texture for your fried rice. The best ones are those that are two days old.

4. Preparation is the key Before actually starting the fire, be sure that you have prepared all the ingredients ahead of time. Thai cooking is rather quick and you’ll need to have everything ready before you actually cook. You also need to give the oil time to heat up before you cook so that the food won’t absorb oil excessively. If the oil has dried up as you stir fry, just add cooking wine or water instead of additional oil.

Thai cooking is an exciting culinary adventure. It is easy and fun if you know these tips. So go ahead and try these things for size.

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Rotisserie Cooking

Tips and Tricks for Rotisserie Cooking

Rotisserie cooking, or more commonly, spit roasting, is a popular method of cooking big chunks of meat using a barbeque grill. A rotisserie often uses a motorized rod assembly where the meat is skewered, basted and cooked within an enclosed space. The rotisserie allows the meat to cook slowly but evenly and because the unit is constantly turning, meat juices are evenly distributed throughout. The end result is a well done, tender, juicier meat with a crispy crust.

Types of rotisseries

The rotisserie is also called spit roasting because of the metal skewers that make up the device. The spit may be made up of one, two or more bars. There are two types of rotisseries that are commonly used, one is the unit that utilizes a single, long bar to skewer meat. Two prongs are used to attach to both sides of the meat to secure it.

Another type of spit uses two skewers that are attached to gears located on both sides of the rotisserie. This is also referred to as the spit rod assembly and since it secures the meat in place, there is no need to use prongs.

Both types may use a mechanical or motorized device to rotate the food. The mechanical rotisserie utilizes a hand crank to cook the meat while the newer types use a motor that uses electricity.

Rotisserie cooking

Cooking with a rotisserie uses two methods: direct heat and indirect heat. Direct heat cooking involves placing the meat over the source of heat, perfect for cooking smaller cuts of meat such as poultry, beef and pork. This allows the outside portion of the meat to be cooked at almost the same time as the inside portion.

Indirect heat cooking, the more popular of the two, is the method that most of us are familiar with. This allows meat to be cooked gradually and slowly, perfect for the larger cuts of meat, since the interior has to be cooked first before the exterior.

Tips for using your rotisserie

To successfully cook meat with your rotisserie, it is extremely important to preheat the device first before cooking. If your rotisserie comes with a temperature gauge, allow the heat to reach the desired temperature before using. If not, allow the rotisserie to heat for about 10 or 15 minutes, more if your unit is bigger.

Keep the lid closed. This helps trap heat so it cooks the meat efficiently. The best shape of meats to use for rotisserie cooking is cylindrical because all portions are cooked evenly at the same time. Irregularly shaped meats are best cooked using a rotisserie basket.

Sunday, February 8, 2009

American Cooking

Things You Should Know About American Cooking

American cooking is highly influenced by immigrants. In fact, a nation of immigrants has a cuisine that is as diverse and unique as each member of the population. Perhaps it is safe to say that American cooking is a mixture of the world's cuisines and it continues to evolve.

Isn't the hamburger American?

When people think of American cooking, they automatically point to the hamburger but even this yummy everyday food is suspect. Foods comparable to the hamburger were brought in by German immigrants. Similarly, much of the cuisine we describe as part of American cooking have influences from other regions and countries. Here are some examples:

Native American

The original Americans cooked some of the most famous dishes known to American cuisine, including turkey, potatoes, pumpkins, corn, beans and peppers. Most of these dishes are often included in traditional cooking and feasts.

California cooking

Characteristically healthy, California cooking depends on the region's harvest of fresh sea foods, fruits and vegetables. It also features some fusion with other types of cuisines, including Chinese and Native American. California cooking enjoys a rich mix of ethnic tastes and some of the best, most innovative avant garde cuisine.

Cajun and Creole cooking

This type of American cooking is a taste of New Orleans and is a terrific combination of French and Spanish cuisine with a little West Indian and African cooking thrown in. Gumbo, jambalaya, chili, hot pepper and other spices are often used, which makes this type of cooking sizzle.

Southern cooking

Barbeque made Southern cuisine famous but this type of American cooking is made up of so much more. Talk about deep-fried chicken and beef served with rich, heavy sauces with fresh vegetables bathed with butter and finished with sweet pies and pudding. Elvis Presley loved this type of cooking and it showed.

Another version of Southern cooking is Soul food, based on African-American cooking. It is characterized by intense, rich flavors and home-cooked meals.


Southwestern

Thanks to its proximity to Mexico, the Southwest was able to develop a wide range of dishes using local harvests and Mexican-style. Another version is Tex-Mex, which is quite popular in cowboy country and elsewhere. This type of American cooking has its own version of barbeque and dishes sprinkled with a good dose of chili. Think nachos, tacos, burritos and salsa.

So what about the taste?

Compared to other cuisines, American cooking may be characterized by foreigners as generally bland. However, we can proudly say that American cooking has none of the snobbery because it was developed mainly from good old down home cooking.

Friday, February 6, 2009

Cooking for a Vegetarian

Things to Remember When Cooking for a Vegetarian

Many reasons may constitute an individuals choice for vegetarian cooking. It could be religion, health, or finances, but one thing is for sure; vegetarians all crave healthy foods that are still full of flavor.

If you are to cook for a vegetarian, there are some pointers you have to consider. Here’s the list:

1. Stop replacing meat-based recipes with veggie meats

It is a common misconception that vegetarians would rather have their typical meat-based recipes still cooked with veggie meat as the main ingredient instead of the red meat.

At some point, it doesn’t taste the same as the original recipe. It isn’t similar to having a vegetarian dish as either.

Experts say that this technique isn’t healthy or economical. Veggie meat is composed of soy, which is commonly high in fat and is a highly processed food. Plus, veggie meats are relatively more expensive compared to the usual red meats.

So when cooking for a vegetarian, it is either you cook a vegetable-based recipe or create a meal that still tastes good even without meat.

2. Identify the type of vegetarian your guest is

There are many sub-categories of vegetarians. Most people think that when people say vegetarian, they refer to those who plainly eat vegetables and nothing else. The truth is that there are still some vegetarians that eat meat, although not the usual red meat but chicken or fish.

There are also some vegetarians who don’t eat any meat at all but also don’t eat eggs, milk, or any products that aren’t plant-based.

Knowing this will help you decide the kinds of dishes you need to serve.

3. Be as varied as possible

When cooking for a vegetarian, it would be better if you use as many kinds of vegetables as you can. In this way, your guest will enjoy the taste of succulent combinations of different kinds of vegetables cooked in an appetizing way.

Having 2 or 3 kinds of vegetables in a dish might appear boring and bland.

4. Use oil

As meat substitutes for adding some flavor in your vegetable dishes, it is best that you use oil, whether low fat or regular. Try to use vegetable or olive oil when sautéing vegetables for added flavor.

You may also add sesame oil in your vegetable soup. The idea is to enhance the flavor of the dish without the meat.

All of these tips will help as you cook for a vegetarian.

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Cooking Contest

The Secret to Joining a Cooking Contest and Winning
By : Roell

Are you thinking of joining a cooking contest but don’t know how or what to do? No problem. Here is a list of wonderful secrets to joining contests and winning. Whip up a batch of wonderful recipes and start looking at your best because these tips are your tickets to cooking contests.

1. Taste test your recipes

Before you enter a cooking contest, make sure that you have tested your recipes. Keep in mind that not all recipes from cookbooks are perfect. You may need to adjust a little on the amount of the ingredients or try some alternatives.

In testing recipes, it is best if you cook for your friends. It is a well-known fact that not all the recipes you have tried and tested will be appreciated by other people. Hence, it is always a good concept to let other people taste test your recipes. If they enjoy eating your food as much as you do, then you are on your way to success.

2. Have your recipe checked

In writing your recipe, have it checked by a friend who isn’t into cooking or who doesn’t know anything in the kitchen. In this way, she will most likely ask you questions regarding some areas of your recipe. This will be your guide in making your recipe more comprehensive.

The key to winning a contest is: ease of preparation and simplicity.

3. Be creative

Keep in mind that creativity is one of the major criteria in a cooking contest. You don’t have to literally make an original recipe. You may adapt some old recipes and give them a twist. Observe the trend in food as well and modify your recipe appropriately.

Make sure that food preparation will also have a touch of your creativity. Foods are more appetizing to eat when prepared in a creative way.

4. Read the rules and follow directions carefully

Having a good bunch of recipes will be totally useless if you don’t follow contest rules. Most cooking contests may require you to use certain ingredients or may ask you to prepare your dish in a particular way. Some may even have a time limit. With this, be sure that you have read the rules carefully and follow instructions in the contest.

Keep in mind that winning in a cooking contest isn’t just about great food. It also entails hard work, dedication, and obedience.

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Italian Cooking

The Main Features of Italian Cooking
By : Roell

What is Italian cooking? Is it more of the food, the preparation, or is it simply a trademark? Generally speaking, Italian cooking is associated with spaghetti and pizzas. And many people even think that Italian cooking is the same all throughout. While that maybe true, Italian cooking can also be diverse and wide-ranging.

The Italian cuisine is referred to as a simple and natural way of cooking. And it just so happens that Italians have a penchant for pastas and cooking them. The result is a multiplicity of pasta recipes served for all occasions. But pastas aren’t all Italian cooking is all about, although their love of sauces, cheeses, and noodles can’t be overlooked.

Italian cooking is the basis of the popular Mediterranean diet. Studies show that the people residing in the Mediterranean area live longer and healthier than others. And so what these people eat on a daily basis was researched. It was found that Italians, and the rest of the Mediterranean people for that matter, eat great quantities of fruits and vegetables. They also use olive oil in their cooking. All these are the backbone of a Mediterranean diet.

Here are the most celebrated Italian cooking delights that everyone loves:

1. Tomato Pizza. Whoever said that pizzas need tons of ingredients in the form of meat, vegetables, and spices for it to taste good? Italians have a way of making the plainest of pizzas look and taste better than you could have ever imagined. Tomato pizzas consist of nothing more than fresh plum tomatoes topped with mozzarella cheese.

2. Macaroni and Cheese. This is yet another simple recipe that has been a household favorite since time memorial. Every American home must have a pack of macaroni and cheese lying somewhere in the cabinet. The main ingredients of this Italian meal are boiled macaroni, cheese, and cream. Meat is optional. But it’s tasty just the same. Kids love it too.

3. Lasagna. If you love spaghetti and macaroni, lasagna can easily be another favorite. There are different variations of lasagna and all of them taste wonderful. Basically, lasagna is distinguished from one recipe to another merely by its main ingredients. There are bologna lasagna, beef lasagna, and chicken lasagna, among many others. Remember Garfield, the lazy cartoon cat on TV? Well, this is his favorite meal.

If you haven’t tasted real Italian cooking, you are missing out. Grab a plate today and realize how succulent it is to eat Italian meals!

Sunday, February 1, 2009

Soup for the Cooks Soul

Soup for the Cooks Soul
By : Roell

Most would just grab a pinch of salt and voila. They feel that this move is enough to complete the taste of the soup. But there are better ways for a chef to make the soup taste better. It doesn’t require too much sodium.

First and foremost, reflect on the ingredients of the soup. Most of the time, veggies, herbs and bones are starting base for a good soup.

If you want to reduce or increase the flavor of the soup, you have to taste it between stirring. Its up to you really. You can reduce the soup by half if you feel that there is a lot more kick to it than you expected, but be ready to double the flavor if there comes a point that its bland.

If you’re done cooking the soup but it tastes like it still needs something, reach for wine, lime juice or lemon. You can also spike it with vinegar.

If you want more flavor to the meat, make sure that you sauté it in the pot. You can add more oil or butter to the pot. You can also toss in chopped garlic and onion. Take the time to sauté all the ingredients and let them seep in with one another.

If you are cooking stew and it tastes slightly burnt, you can remedy it by pouring a bit of milk to balance the taste out. Ice cubes can also eliminate the fat portion from the soup as well as the stew. All you need are just a few into the pot and continue stirring. The fat will attach to the ice cubes. Make sure to discard them before they completely melt. Have a paper towel nearby so you can reach for it as you skim your way across the top.

Finally, when you are reheating your soup, you must always use a double boiler. In that way, the soup doesn’t lose its flavor because the hot water is responsible for securing all the ingredients.

There was this story about a traveler who asked a man and wife if he could stay in their house for the night. He said he could make the best stew they ever tasted with only a rock. Now it was a normal rock. The stew he ended up cooking for the man and the wife ended up to be tasty because the homeowners provided him with the ingredients he needed to come up with the stew.

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