Finger Foods

December 3rd, 2008 by Administrator

Finger foods are something that I hold very near and dear to my heart. I love the way you can just pick them up and eat them, any time you want. For the Super bowl, I like to make pigs in a blanket for all my guests to enjoy. What makes them like them so much is the our love of fatty foods that are horrible for us. To make them I like to use the little smokiest filled with cheese. First I take the little smokiest out of the wrapper and lay them all out on the piece tin foil that I have set up to help keep the place looking nice. Go to the store and get some of your favorite crescent rolls, and some processed cheese slices, and if you really wan to impress everybody…some bacon. Then go home and let the process begin. Take your little smokiest, and wrap them up in the cheese. Be sure to cook the bacon almost all the way, then wrap up the chasse and smokier, then wrap it up in the crescent toll and bake it in the oven. All of your guests and friends will marvel at your creation for years to come. Just be careful, this could be one of those thing that you will be forced to bring to every party over then next decade. That is until they put a outlaw on delicious and fatty foods.

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Cooking As A Culinary Art

April 9th, 2008 by Administrator

Culinary arts is the art of cooking. Cooking is a way to prepare
food that will be eaten or served to other people.

The culinary arts is comprised of many categories - some of
which are tools, methods, combination of spices and ingredients
that adds flavour to the food. It normally needs the right
measurements, proper selection and accurate combination of
ingredients involved to reach desired result.

The diversity of the Culinary arts around the world mirrors many
considerations such as:

- Economic - Aesthetic - Nutritional - Religious - Cultural

1. The Dawn Of Fire

The culinary arts, if not always, is associated with fire. The
heat generated by fire is oftentimes required to be applied to
be able to change the food’s texture, flavour, nutritional
contents and even its appearance. Heating is important in the
culinary arts because it disinfects the food and makes it
softer. The food danger zone is between 4 to 60 degrees Celsius.
Within these temperatures, the bacteria found in the found or
even those that were transferred to the food can grow at a very
alarming rate. Under ideal conditions bacteria can double their
population every twenty minutes. Although at a glance, these
foods may not appear harmful, when ingested they can be. Many
people have the misconception that bacteria will die when we
freeze our food or refrigerate them, but this actually does not
rid the food of bacteria, merely it slows down their expansion.

2. Baking

Baking is probably the most famous department in the culinary
arts. In the culinary arts, baking is the art of cooking food
using an oven. The food is cooked through applying dry heat
evenly through the oven and onto the food. It is used in
producing pastry based goodies such as pies, tarts and cakes.
The dry heat in the oven causes the starch to gelatinize and
results to the browning or charring of the outside of the food.
Some uneducated in the culinary arts might think that the
charred part or the brown part is not as tasty as it sounds, but
this part is actually what gives taste and flavour to the baked
good, partly sealing the moisture of the food. The browning
apparent in the baked good is caused by the sugar caramelizing
and the chemical reaction that happens between the reduction of
sugar and the amino acid (Maillard reaction). Moisture in the
baked goody, on the other hand, is not really completely kept
in, in time as the goody is being baked it will become drier and
drier.

3. Boiling

Another category is boiling. Boiling is when there is a rapid
vaporization of any liquid when the liquid is heated. In
cooking, boiling is divided into many other categories.
Blanching, a cooking term used to describe the submersion of
food into boiling water and removing it after a certain period
of time and then throwing it into cold water or letting water
run over it causing the firming of food. Pressure cooking is
when food is cooked inside an enclosed cooking tool that would
limit the air that’s coming in or going out of that tool - this
technique speeds up the pace of cooking. Stewing would probably
be the most popular cooking technique in the culinary arts
division. It is a method where meats are cut up into smaller
pieces and along with some vegetables are simmered into a
liquid. Simmering, then again is a cooking method where the
liquid is barely kept away from its boiling point. Other boiling
techniques are braising, codding, steaming, infusion, poaching,
double steaming, steeping and vacuum flask cooking.

4. Other

To most Americans, microwaving and grilling are the most common
forms of cooking. Microwaving is the easiest and simplest form
of cooking; it is a technique used mostly to reheat sumptuous
meals ready to be consumed. And for grilling, most Americans
have a grill station in their backyard. Grilling is a roasting
method that is cooking directly under a source of heat. Other
roasting methods are Barbecuing, Searing and Rotisserie. A less
common method is smoking meat, or even salting it.

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What Fruits To Add To A Fruit Basket

April 1st, 2008 by Administrator

If you want to give a unique gift that is guarantee to be used
an enjoyed by the recipient, consider a fruit basket. Fruit
baskets are fabulous ways to provide your friend, family member,
neighbor, co-worker, or client with a delicious–and
healthy–treat that looks like a million bucks, but is actually
budget friendly. When looking a fruit basket, you can either
choose to purchase one pre-made or make your own to save you
some of your hard-earned cash. Regardless where you get your
fruit basket, carefully consider the contents and personalize
the gift to the recipient.

The most important thing about a fruit basket is indeed the
fruit itself. When looking for what fruits to add to a fruit
basket, consider these popular options:

* Apples: This hearty fruit is a fruit basket favorite. Most
everyone loves an apple, so you do not have to worry about less
adventurous tastes avoiding the goodies. Also, apples tend to
travel or ship well and have a long shelf life, so you do not
have to worry about the fruit in your basket arriving spoiled or
crushed.

* Pears: Like apples, pears are another fruit basket favorite.
However, due to the more delicate nature of the pear, they may
need a bit more protection–especially if the basket is to be
shipped. Most pears are purchased in some protective covering,
usually either a plastic container or foam wrapping, so consider
leaving this protection in place when assembling your fruit
basket.

* Citrus: Oranges, grapefruits, nectarines, tangerines, and
clementines are perennial favorites in a fruit basket. In
addition to adding a fantastic color, these sweet treats are
favored by most individuals. However, keep in mind that some
citrus, mainly oranges and grapefruits, are large in size and
heavy in weight. If you plan on adding many of these juicy
delights, ensure your basket is of the appropriate size to
handle the fruit.

* Pineapples: Usually, the thought of fruit baskets and
pineapples go hand in hand, as these elaborate fruits add a
tremendous punch to the baskets appearance. Before you throw in
a pineapple “just because,” consider also purchasing a pineapple
cutting, a small, inexpensive device that will allow your guest
to enjoy the delicious meat of the fruit.

* Grapes and Berries: More delicate fruit, including grapes and
berries, should be added judiciously. Since these fruits
generally do not ship well, you should reconsider adding these
fruits to baskets going great distances. In addition to their
fragility, these fruits do not have a long shelf life, meaning
they can potentially be spoiled upon arrival of the gift.

* Unique Fruits: Depending on the type of basket you are
assembling, you may decide to include unique fruits. Usually
tropical in nature, consider adding kiwi, star fruit, plantains,
and even coconuts if the recipient will enjoy this more unusual
fare.

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How Chocolates are Manufactured?

March 28th, 2008 by Administrator

Making chocolates is a long process. It starts from harvesting cocoa and finishes with the drying of chocolate. The process begins with,

Fermentation: After collecting the cocoa beans and surrounding pulp from the cacao tree the fermentation process starts. These seeds and pulp are placed either in boxes or banana leaves. It takes 5-6 days to form alcohol from the sugar of the beans. In the mean time the surrounding pulp becomes liquid and drains out. During the fermentation process the seeds germinate and are killed in high temperature. The beans turn into brown color and look like our familiar cocoa seeds.

After the fermentation process the beans are dried and water content is lowered from 60% to 7%.

Roasting: After drying, the roasting process takes place. The required temperature for roasting is 210F. For 10 to 115 minutes the beans are roasted. Roasting develops the aroma and flavor. Constant monitoring is needed during the process. Over roasting can make beans useless.

Winnowing: In this process the shells of the beans are removed.

Grinding: Ready beans are ground in two phases. In the first phase large stones are used for grinding. In this process a liquid pulp is produced. This is called cocoa liquor. Then sugar is added into the pulp. The average size of the particles would be around 100 microns at this stage. Then starts the second phase of finer grinding and this grinding turns the particles into 18 microns in size.

Conching: At 180 degrees Fahrenheit the pulp is stirred and mixed. In this process the sugar and cocoa particles collide together and this makes the pulp smoother. The conching process can be for few hours to 1 day. In fact, the longer you conch the better chocolate you make. In the process extra cocoa butter can be added. To stabilize the chocolate, soy lecithin is added. And at the last stage vanilla is added.

After the process the pulp is taken out of the concher and poured into a suitable pot. When it cools down the chocolate is ready to eat.

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Smoked Turkey

March 20th, 2008 by Administrator

The turkey is a big, domesticated bird, native to North America. Turkey is distinguished by its white plumage and a bare wattled neck and head. The name turkey was first applied to the guinea fowl that was thought to have originated in Turkey. However, the American turkey is a quite different species from the guinea fowl, though the name remained.

Smoked Turkey is a popular delicacy in North America. It is generally made for large parties, especially Thanksgiving. Buying a Smoked Turkey can be very expensive. Smoked Turkey can, however, be also made at home. It is a very easy and economical way to enjoy Smoked Turkey.

For making a Smoked Turkey, you need a water smoker. Water smokers can be electric, gas or charcoal based. Another alternative to a water smoker is the indirect smoking method over the grill. Different kinds of woods can also be used, including: mesquite or hickory, chunks of water-soaked hardwood, or fruitwood. When the wood is added, place a lid on the smoker till the temperature reaches 250 to 300 degrees F. The temperature can be checked using an oven thermometer if the smoker doesn’t have a built-in thermometer.

Almost all parts of the turkey, including the breasts, drumsticks and wings, can be smoked. However, whole turkeys can be smoked provided they are lesser than 12 lbs in weight.

A turkey should not be stuffed before smoking. There is also no need to add any special seasoning. All that is required is salt, pepper and a little poultry seasoning. You can also add some wine or juices instead of water for smoking. The turkey can also be brined before smoking. The brining solution usually consists of water, salt, spices and a little sugar. However, the turkey should be brined for at least 24 hours before smoking.

Once the required temperature is reached, place the turkey inside and replace the lid. Smoking time depends on the size of the turkey as well as the temperature of the coals, distance of the smoker from the heat and the external temperature. A meat thermometer can be used to check whether the turkey is cooked or not. The temperature of the inner thigh should reach 180 degrees F. The turkey should also look pink and “cooked”. There should not be any rawness to it. It should also be moist and tender to taste, not chewy.

There are some guidelines for getting a perfectly Smoked Turkey: ensure that there is no wind, as this could put out the fire; don’t open the smoker’s door too many times or for too long; smaller birds less than 15 lbs are better since larger ones take too long to smoke; thaw a frozen turkey thoroughly before smoking it; ensure that the temperature is at least 160 degrees, to destroy any bacteria effectively.

Turkey provides detailed information about turkey, turkey hunting, turkey recipes, deep fried turkey and more. Turkey is the sister site of 1200 Calorie Diabetic Diets.

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