Cinnamon Churros Recipe

1/2 cup unsalted butter
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup cold water
1 cup flour
3 large fresh eggs
1 tsp real vanilla extract
sugar mixed with cinnamon for sprinkling

Turn your oven to 350 degrees and get out a pastry bag with a large 'star tip.' (If you don't have a pastry bag and tip, use a plastic food bag.) Also prepare a cookie sheet by lightly spraying with cooking oil.

In a saucepan over medium heat, combine the unsalted butter, salt, and the water; bring to a boil, then remove from heat and stir in the flour, continuing to stir until the flour thickens and forms a dough-like substance.

With an electric hand-mixer on low, start beating the dough in the saucepan. With the beaters running, add one egg at a time, blending them in totally before adding another egg.

When the eggs are all combined and the dough is thick, add the vanilla and incorporate it into the dough. Your dough should look somewhat like mashed potatoes but with a sticky feeling.

Now spoon the dough into the pastry bag (or plastic food bag).

Squeeze slender lines of dough into rows leaving at least an inch in between each row. Each line of dough should be about 4 inches long.

Bake in the preheated oven for about 15 to 18 minutes or until they are deep golden brown.

Remove the cookie sheet from the oven and immediately sprinkle cinnamon-sugar over the warm churros.

Enjoy while they are still warm or they may be served at room temperature.

A Brief History Of Cocoa

The Pleasures And Promises Of Cocoa - A Healthy Surprise

Just like many discoveries, the cocoa bean was little understood and certainly under-appreciated in the early years. Although it is believed that Columbus found the cocoa bean nestled in a vessel full of fruit, the use for this bean was a mystery. It was just a few years later, however, when Cortez realized the value of the cocoa beans.

But long before Cortez landed in Mexico, the cocoa bean had formed a part of the culture of the Aztecs who used the bean for worship in religious ceremonies. Through centuries, this bean had become an important part of the life and livelihood of the people. The cocoa bean during this time was most often consumed as a drink - xocolatl - which was a stimulant enjoyed by the Aztec people. As word of this drink was spread by Cortez and Montezuma, the beans were almost like gold.

As recipes developed and became more complex, the original xocolatl changed. Experimentation resulted in hardened cakes of cocoa, some sweetened and flavored with spices. These changes led over time to many of the products we know today.

We are still a little mystified by cocoa. There is an entire industry built around the desire or, dare I say, addiction to cocoa, more often called chocolate at this point. The chemical complexity is still not fully understood, which leads to even more mystery. The stimulating effects of cocoa are widely believed, so there is no debate there. Just how this translates to healthy benefits is another story.

Aside from the stimulants, many people are finding cocoa to be beneficial in several ways. Of course, we are looking at real pure cocoa and not sugar-laced chocolate. Here's what we have learned.
Just looking at nutrition, cocoa is low in calories and fat, but high in dietary fiber, iron, calcium, potassium, magnesium, manganese, and even protein. 

Antioxidants are the name of the game, and cocoa is definitely a player. With over 40 mg of flavonoids per gram (part of the powerhouse family of polyphenols), cocoa contains one of the highest amounts of this antioxidant of any group in its class. This saturation of antioxidants may help reduce the risk of cancer, heart disease, and pre-mature aging caused by those destructive free radicals.

Consuming raw cocoa powder may also help increase blood flow through the arteries, lower blood pressure, help improve brain function and memory, reduce LDL cholesterol, and elevate HDL cholesterol. Cocoa also contains the substance phenethylamine, which is a substance in the brain responsible for mood elevation and fighting depression. Cocoa also boosts endorphins, which is the substance in the brain responsible for the  natural "high" we feel when exercising. Cocoa may also boost serotonin, which is another substance our brain needs to feel good.

By the sounds of things, it looks like the Aztecs were on to something. The stimulant effect of cocoa is well documented. Montezuma consumed large quantities of cocoa as a way to boost his mood and libido. The results from that time are not well documented, but modern science seems to have proven the ancient claims of health and well being from this little bean. No matter what, none of us can argue the attraction or, perhaps, addiction, of cocoa. It definitely is worth a taste... for our health, of course!

Chunky Chimichurri Sauce Recipe

1 cup chopped flat leaf parsley
4 garlic cloves, grated
1/2 tsp kosher or sea salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
1 Tbsp dried oregano flakes
2 green onions, chopped
1/2 cup olive oil
3/4 cup white wine vinegar
3 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup water

Put all the ingredients in your food processor.

Hit pulse and process just until blended, but still chunky, not pureed.

Pour out into a glass storage container and refrigerate, covered.

Serve as a sauce on grilled meats, poultry, fish and veggies. You can also use this sauce to marinade meats and vegetables before grilling.

Discover The Healthy Benefits Of Chili Peppers

Chili Pepper Primer - Discover Healthy Benefits Beyond The Heat

If you just took a bite into a spicy Mexican dish that made your eyes water as if trying to put out the fire on your tongue, you probably just had a dose of chili pepper. But there's more to this vegetable than fire and heat.

There are hundreds of chilies that fall under the food family name 'Capsicum.' Cultivated for thousands of years in Mexico, Central America, and South America, these peppers were used for everything from medicinal purposes to decorations to food and flavoring.

We are most familiar with cayenne, chipotle, anaheim, ancho, jalapeno, and habanero peppers. A variety and combination of these chilies are used to create many of our most popular spices, such as chili powder, cayenne powder, and paprika. It is easy to be confused which chili pepper is which since some peppers are referred to by one name when used fresh (poblano) and another name when dried (ancho). No matter what chili you choose, just remember the basic rule of thumb - green, fresh chilies are milder than red, dried chilies.

Now you know there are many varieties of chili peppers, but did you know there are benefits to eating chili peppers beyond the spicy flavor?  Let's take a look.

Nutritional Boost

Just two teaspoons of dried chili peppers provides a very respectable amount of the B complex vitamins, as well as vitamins A, C, E, and K. You'll also find a good dose of calcium, iron, and manganese, along with some dietary fiber and even Omega-3 fatty acids. As you can see, that kick of heat offers more than just flavor.

Health Benefits

The substance found in chili peppers that produces the heat we know and love is called 'capsaicin' which acts to prohibit inflammation. You'll find more of this substance as the pepper gets hotter. So enjoy a habanero for the greatest anti-inflammatory benefits. Jalapenos offer a less potent amount of capsaicin, but they are all good for you, helping to reduce pain from inflammation associated with arthritis, for instance.

Cayenne has been used successfully to reduce cholesterol in several studies. Adding hot chili peppers to your diet may also help fight those damaging 'free radicals' in your blood stream. In some studies it was even shown that ingesting chilies regularly over time helped lower resting heart rate and increased blood flow to the heart.

Most of us already know that when we enjoy a healthy dose of chili peppers we breathe a bit easier. Yes, chili peppers do help clear sinuses, relieving congestion in the respiratory system. This process helps reduce the risk of sinus infections in those who suffer from upper respiratory inflammation.

The bright red color of chili peppers is a clue to the super saturation of beta-carotene; vitamin A. Along with a good dose of vitamin C, this combination of vitamins boosts immunity and builds a natural defense against the pathogens that attack us on a day to day basis. The mucous lining in our respiratory and digestive system is kept healthier, which keeps us healthier.

Chili peppers have a bad rap when it comes to creating stomach ulcers. Eating too much of this good thing may cause stomach problems, but eating a little chili pepper every day acts in just the opposite way by killing bacteria and stimulating the stomach lining to secrete protective juices for digestion. This process prevents ulcers rather than causes them.

Weight loss is another benefit of eating chili peppers. When you feel that heat after eating a good chili pepper, you are feeling your body burning calories. Chili peppers also help reduce the amount of insulin needed to lower blood sugar levels after eating a meal, helping to eliminate those sugar 'spikes' that can trigger weight gain and be a contributing factor in diabetes.

Is there any reason NOT to enjoy a bit of heat in your food? The next time you reach into your spice cabinet, be brave and choose chili peppers to create a hot, spicy, and surprisingly healthy dish.

Cantaloupe Orange Slushie Recipe

1 medium size ripe cantaloupe
2 1/2 cups real orange juice
4 ice cubes
sugar or honey to taste

Clean and dice the cantaloupe, and put in blender with orange juice and ice cubes.

Blend until smooth and frothy. Taste and add sugar if desired.

Pour into glasses and serve immediately.

Will serve 2 to 3.

How To Use Chili Peppers In Your Cooking

Fear Not The Chili Pepper - Easy Ways To Use And Enjoy

The first rule of buying and using chili peppers is this: Do not let them intimidate you. You are the boss of the chili pepper. You can walk into the store and buy one, two, three, or more chili peppers without fear. Once you get them home, you can even use them in lots of ways without being afraid.

Let's take a look at a few basic things to keep in mind to get over the fear of chili peppers.

Moderation

We begin by telling you to take it slow and enjoy chili peppers in moderation. Not everyone wants to set fire to their tongue when they bite into their food. Choosing chili peppers that are milder may be the best place to start. You want to add zest to your food, not let the chilies take it over.

Fresh, green chili peppers are typically milder than dried, red chilies. When in doubt, ask the produce manager, but just remember to start with something milder. The Scoville Scale is the heat index that is widely used to judge the heat of a pepper and pepper sauce or spice mixes.

At the mildest end of the scale you'll find the sweet bell peppers, sweet banana peppers, and the pimento peppers. You can then move up to anaheim, then to ancho and jalapeno, then chipotle, cayenne, tabasco, aji, and up and up the scale you go. So start slow and experiment, using moderation as your motto.

Selection

When choosing fresh chili peppers, be sure that they have firm skins and are bright in color. Check the stems to be sure they are fresh and are not blackened or soft. If you are buying bagged peppers, be sure to check the bag thoroughly for any slime or excess moisture.

Dried chili peppers should also be bright colored. The peppers should feel solid, without any spongy spots. However, they should not be so dry that their color has faded. If they are not vivid in color, they will not be vivid in flavor.

Storing

Take individual fresh peppers and put them in a paper bag, fold over tightly, and store in the vegetable drawer in your refrigerator. Do not wash the peppers before storing to avoid excess moisture. For that reason, do not store in plastic bags. If you buy peppers that are in plastic, unwrap them and store them in paper bags in the refrigerator. If you store them this way they will keep for about one week without losing quality or color.

You may also wish to dry fresh peppers you purchased. Hang them upside down by the stems in full sunlight in plenty of ventilation. Rotate the peppers often and check for any signs of spoilage. Keep a fan running in the room to help with ventilation if necessary. Once the peppers get all wrinkly and dry, take them down and store them in an air tight container away from sunlight. All dried chili peppers, including ground chilies and chili spice blends, should be stored in air tight containers away from sunlight and moisture.

Handling

Now that you have some chili peppers in the house, it's time to enjoy them. But there are a few things to remember first. All chili peppers will cause irritation to the skin, eyes, and nose. You may want to wear gloves while handling chili peppers. However, at the very least be sure to wash your hands and utensils after working with chili peppers, and never touch your face, eyes, or lips before washing your hands.

The substance that gives chilies their heat (capsaicin) is mostly in the seeds and membranes inside the chilies. For this reason, many cooks prefer to remove at least some of the seeds and membrane before adding to their recipe. Again, use caution when handling the peppers and wash your hands afterward.

When you chop or grate your chili pepper to use in a dish, be sure to taste test often. It's better to add a little, taste, then add some more. It's pretty hard to take the chili peppers out of the dish once they are in there.

Enjoying

You've made it this far without burning your eyes, so now it's time to dig in. Chili peppers don't just add heat to a dish, they add a depth of warmth and spice that can really provide a tasty kick. Here are a few suggestions for using your stash of chili peppers.

Chop up chili peppers in a hot skillet with fresh vegetables and saute to create more interest in the same old vegetable dish. Make your family's favorite cornbread recipe but this time add chili peppers and serve as a savory complement to soup. Mix dried, grated chili peppers and fresh, chopped chili peppers into yogurt or sour cream and serve as a dip with homemade tortilla chips or fresh vegetables for a change from your usual Ranch style dip. Instead of sweet pickle relish, stir chopped jalapenos into egg salad or tuna salad for a flavor boost.

The next time you make scrambled eggs, add chopped chili peppers along with celery and onion for a real morning eye opener. And speaking of eye openers, skip the store bought Bloody Mary mix. Instead, use regular tomato juice and spice it up your way with your own dried chilies and serve with a banana pepper garnish.

There are many ways to enjoy chili peppers once you get over the fear of choosing, preparing, and using them. The next time you are standing in the grocery store pondering which chili peppers to buy, I suggest you try one of each. What do you have to lose but a bland meal or two!

Brown Rice Spanish Skillet Recipe

1 Tbsp cooking oil
2 cups uncooked brown rice
1 large sweet onion, diced fine
1 medium green bell pepper, diced fine
4 cups vegetable broth (or chicken broth)
1 can (15 oz) diced tomatoes-green chili blend
1/2 tsp kosher salt
3 Tbsp chipotle pepper (optional or other pepper)

Put the oil in a large heavy skillet over medium heat; add the brown rice, onion, and bell pepper and saute, stirring, until the vegetables soften.

Add the remaining ingredients, stir, reduce heat to low, cover the skillet loosely, and simmer for 25 to 30 minutes or until the rice is tender.

Stir, taste, and season more if needed.

Serve hot or room temperature as a side dish with grilled meat, fish, or poultry, or as a light lunch.

You may add beans or shredded meat to this dish for a full meal in one skillet.

A Brief History Of Authentic Mexican Foods

If your knowledge of Mexican cuisine is limited to a menu board at the local fast food place, you may be surprised to learn how ancient this food really is. Dating back at least 9000 years, Mexican food is quite literally as old as the hills themselves. Let's take a little culinary walk through history.

The Maya are indigenous people of Mexico. A Mayan diet would include a wide variety of fruits and vegetables which could be harvested from the forests, waterways, and fields. Squash and root vegetables such as sweet potatoes would provide much of the dietary needs of these hunter-gatherers.

For protein, the Mayan people would rely on beans but would also do what was necessary to get the nutrition they needed to survive. This would include whatever they could easily catch, even insects. Many of us may turn our nose up at eating insects, but in ancient times, and even still in some parts of the world, insects provide a good amount of protein and are actually quite tasty when cooked right.

Maize, or corn, was another staple of the ancient Mexican people, and remains true even today. As agriculture flourished in the rich fields of the Mexican landscape, corn became one of the most abundant crops available. Since corn was so plentiful, it only made sense to use it in as many ways as possible.

Corn was boiled, mashed, and dried to form flour, which was used most often to form tortillas and other breads. The corn husks were used wet as a vehicle for wrapping ingredients for roasting, baking, or boiling. The cobs, silk, stalks, and roots were also used dry to build fires for cooking. As you can see, every bit of the plant was usable, making corn a very valuable resource.

As the Mayan civilization matured, so did their agricultural practices. It was soon discovered that crops did best when planted together and rotated, each providing the soil with different nutrients. This meant that no one plant could totally exhaust the soil by taking without giving.

This is a planting practice that has come around again after centuries of being forgotten, and is recommended in modern times by the most advanced thinkers. If you could take a peek back in time to a planted field in ancient Mexico, you would see corn, beans, squash, and chilies all planted together, guided by a very sophisticated calendar developed by these indigenous people. You would also find this simple variety of nutritious foods mixed together in the dishes served.

Once the Spanish conquest of Mexico occurred, the seas opened up trade routes to India and Spain, as well as other nations anxious to find treasure on Mexican soil. Some of the foods we think of as traditionally Mexican were actually introduced by this trade.

Olives, wine, rice, and spices found their way into Mexican cuisine by way of Spain and India. Pigs, cows, sheep, goats, and even chickens became commonplace in Mexico only because the Spaniards brought them over. Even standards such as cilantro, cinnamon, and black pepper found their way into Mexico from the outside world. It's these blends of cultures that make up what we think of as authentic Mexican food.

Today, it is difficult to find an 'authentic Mexican dish' which has not been influenced by another culture. Many of the dishes we think of as 'Mexican food' would not have been seen on a Mayan table. Beef and cheese, for instance, are quite common in Mexican restaurant entrees today, but would not be recognized in ancient Mexico.

So when you pick out a recipe tonight to create an authentic Mexican meal, you'll want to skip the salsa and queso. If you want to delve into the ancient cuisine of the indigenous Mexican people, fry up a batch of grasshoppers with a bean, corn, and squash medley on the side. Or, you may want to stick to your favorite chili con carne recipe and call it close enough!

Black Bean And Corn Quinoa Salad Recipe

2 cans (15 oz ea) black beans, rinsed and drained well
4 cups fresh or frozen corn kernels
1 pint grape or cherry tomatoes, quartered
2 cups cooked quinoa
1 small red onion, finely diced
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 ripe avocado, pitted, peeled, and diced
1 Tbsp olive oil
2 lemons, juiced
kosher salt to taste

In a large glass or plastic bowl, toss together the first 7 ingredients. In a separate small bowl, whisk together the olive oil and lemon juice, then add to the salad bowl and toss to coat well. Sprinkle with salt, toss, taste, and adjust seasoning as needed.

Serve immediately.

Will serve 4 to 6.

Agriculture And Ancient Mexico

How Modern Agriculture Grew Out Of Ancient Mexico

The country of Mexico is a gigantic land mass surrounded by water - the Pacific Ocean, the Sea of Cortes, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean Sea. In the interior you'll find the Sierra Madre mountain range, desserts, rain forests, marsh lands, rivers, and lakes galore. With this geographical diversity, it comes as no surprise to find such a splendid array of natural resources.

The Mayan and Aztec cultures of Mexico influenced the development of ancient civilizations using these resources. But, you don't have to look to the past to see how these cultures still form the basis for much of our modern thinking.

Mayans created the calendar using mathematical formulas, predicting and tracking moon cycles and the stars, while aiding in planning crop plantings. The Aztec people gave us what we know today as the marketplace and built a great city incorporating aqueducts for both fresh water supply for people and crops, as well as sanitation, again for people and crops. Given the resources this huge land had to offer, these indigenous peoples built not only a culture, but what we still use today in modern agricultural practices.

Cultivating crops was a natural response to the creation of an advanced civilization. You had to have enough food to feed the large population that grew out of these cities. During ancient times, agricultural practices were developed to get the most use from the land. Let's take a look at how these practices came to be.

The Aztecs

Clearing trees from forests, then drying and burning them to form fertile fields to plant crops was done by the Aztecs. Man-made islands were built in the wetlands to create more farmland using a method we call 'dredging' today. These ancient farmers would dig up mud and plants from the bottom of lakes and ponds to create piles of earth atop the water. These islands or 'chinampas' were cultivated to grow crops for the growing cities.

The Mayans

Planting complementary crops is another modern agricultural practice we can trace back to ancient times. The Mayan diet relied on what we know as the "three sisters" - corn, beans, and squash. But, it isn't just that they taste good together and grew abundantly, they support each other in several ways.

 By planting these three crops together in a shared space, the Mayan provided a tall structure, the corn stalks, for the beans to climb, while the squash spread over the ground holding in moisture and keeping down the weeds. Planting these three crops together also ensured the soil would not become depleted of nutrients. Each crop took different nutrients from the soil and gave other nutrients back.

Do these agricultural techniques sound familiar? They should! These are the methods that are used today to find new land to cultivate and to increase the sustainability of the land that is found. The Mayans taught us to plant according to the moon, and to plant complementary crops. The Aztec taught us to create fertile land where there was no land at all, and to move water where it was needed and to use sanitation to your, and your crop's, advantage.

Isn't it amazing how we find the most advanced technology in the most ancient places? Remember that the next time you have fresh food on your table. Say a special thanks to the first people of Mexico!

Beef Hominy Stew Recipe

2 lbs beef stew meat
1 Tbsp cooking oil
1 large sweet onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, crushed
1/4 tsp kosher salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
6 cups water
1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
2 Tbsp tomato paste
1 can (28 oz) hominy

Get out a large pot, add the oil, and when hot, add the beef and cook quickly just until beef browns well.

Add the onion, garlic, salt and pepper; stir and cook for 30 seconds, then add cilantro and water; stir.

Turn the heat down to low, cover the pot, and allow to simmer very slowly for about 15 minutes, or until the meat is very tender.

Add the tomatoes and tomato paste, cover the pot again, and allow to simmer very slowly for about 15 minutes.

Add the hominy, cover pot loosely, and allow to simmer slowly for another 15 minutes, stirring often.

Serve hot in bowls.

Will serve 4 to 6.

Mexican Crusine And American Culture

The Americanization Of The Mexican Diet – The Good And Bad

The United States is seeing a steadily increasing population of people of Mexican descent. Some of these people move from Mexico into America to settle in the cities, while others find work in the agriculture regions. Regardless of where these individuals and families settle, they bring with them a long history and diverse culture.

When it comes to food, habits die hard. This is true for any immigrant to America. Even though a person's dietary needs come with them when they cross the border into America, the availability of food along with group acceptance play a part in the inevitable change in eating habits. Some of this change can be good, but some may not be so healthy. Let's take a look at a few ways eating practices can be influenced, both for good and maybe not so good.

The traditional Mexican diet is actually a blend of cultures - indigenous Mayan, Spaniards, French, and Indian.  Before modern shipping methods came into play, slow trade routes and geography played a large part in what the Mexican people ate. Now, along with Central America and South America, we can see how North America has added to the dietary influence.

Many years ago, a typical meal in Mexico would include lots of complex carbs such as corn, rice, beans, and whole grain breads. Proteins would be provided with plenty of fish and other seafood, along with poultry, pork, eggs, and, again, beans. We also can't forget chilies which helped flavor and form the basis of many of these common dishes.

Vegetables also traditionally dominate the diet in Mexico. You'll find squash, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, and avocados on the table at almost every meal. In America, we love our butter, cheese, and sour cream, and often find it difficult to keep from topping our vegetables with a generous portion. The Mexican-American family has learned to enjoy this habit, as well.

Mango, papaya, and melon are eaten fresh in Mexico or may be mixed with water to make refreshing beverages. However, these Mexican fruit drinks made from real fruit gave way to soft-drinks as part of the cultural influence in America. Coffee is a traditional drink in Mexico and is often flavored with real chocolate, fruit, or even nuts, then thickened with corn flour. In Mexico, the coffee may be laced with crema, which is very rich in fat, whereas in America we often add skim milk to our coffee. The Mexican-American, in this case, could save some calories by following this particular habit.

Mexican people grow up eating more meals per day, with lunch being the largest meal of the day. Mexican-Americans fall into the traditional American habit of eating three meals a day which sometimes works against their health. Eating a lighter lunch - American style - is believed to be one of the reasons dieticians are seeing an increase in obesity in the Mexican-American population. When heavier meals are eaten in the evening, what was traditionally the lightest meal of the day, there is no chance of working off the calories before bedtime.

Following guidelines for healthier eating in America can backfire. The introduction of big green salads to the Mexican-American diet is one example. Fatty salad dressings came along with the salads. Eating more vegetables is a good idea, but cooked vegetables, which were not commonly eaten in Mexico, brought about the inclusion of melted butter and creamy cheese sauces. Figuring out how to eliminate the unhealthy part from these healthy dishes was, and still is, a part of redesigning the American diet for not just Mexican-Americans, but all Americans.

Opportunities in America have always drawn immigrants to her borders. But, assimilating into a different culture has its challenges - a changing diet is indeed one of those challenges.

As Mexican people move north into America, certain eating habits are bound to change. Some eating habits could use a bit of Americanization, and some American eating habits could use a bit of old fashioned

Mexican cooking. Sorting this out is the most important thing you can do when setting the table in your home so you can enjoy all the good, healthy foods that both Mexico and America have to offer!

Ancho Chili And Chicken Soup Recipe

2 medium ancho chilies, chopped
1 cup hot water
2 ribs celery, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
2 large carrots, chopped
1 cup diced winter squash
1 cup shredded cooked chicken
5 cups chicken broth
1 tsp Mexican oregano

Put ancho chilies in a skillet over medium-high heat and saute, stirring, until fragrant and lightly toasted - about 30 to 40 SECONDS. Remove from heat and pour the hot water into the skillet and set aside to soak.

Meanwhile, in a large soup pot, put the remaining ingredients, bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, lightly cover pot and simmer gently for 20 minutes.

Get out a blender and pour the ancho chilies and water from skillet in the blender and puree until smooth.

When soup is done simmering, pour the ancho chili puree into the soup, stir, taste and season as needed. Let simmer for just a few minutes more, then serve hot.

May serve with a dollop of guacamole or sour cream on top.

Will serve 2 to 4.

Basic Kitchen Tips You Can Use Today

Excellent food is many things. You can improve your cooking skills using these basic kitchen tips.

Spices should be stored in a dark and cool place. Common kitchen conditions, such as heat, light, and humidity, will destroy the flavor of herbs and spices. As a general rule, most of your ground herbs and spices will stay fresh for about a year if stored correctly. Spices that have not been ground may still be worth using for three years or a little more. If spices are stored properly there is a better chance that they will stay fresher for a longer period of time

Prep work can be done way ahead of time. Save time by doing the prep work before you begin cooking the meal. That way, when you're ready to cook, it takes some of the stress out of it, especially if you have a deadline to meet. Preparing some of the ingredients ahead of time can reduce the amount of stress you feel when it is time to prepare the meal.

Preparation is key when cooking for family or friends. Review your recipes, and be certain the ingredients are readily available in your kitchen. Put everything you need to cook the dish out the night before. Make sure you have all the cooking equipment and ingredients required. This will help to alleviate your anxiety and maximize your potential.

If you are working on creating more home-cooked meals, try the library for cookbooks that offer a variety of easy recipes that will be fun to prepare. Try some recipes and be patient as you develop your skills.

Getting thin strips of meat is a lot easier if you partially freeze the meat first. When you are making stir fry Asian dishes, this technique for thinly sliced meat is ideal. Partially frozen meat is easier to slice as the cold temperature prevents the meat fibers from stretching and tearing. Allow the meat to thaw prior to cooking though, so that it can cook evenly.

Food is the source of life, having incredible power over us. Apply the basic kitchen tips you have learned from this article and impress the people you want to impress!

So You Think You Can Cook? Try These Tasty Tips!

Good food has a reputation for being many things. By using the following tips, you can learn to make delicious meals effortlessly.

Prepare in advance as much as possible. Try to have the prep work completed before cooking; this is important. When you have a schedule as to how long you plan to be cooking, things can get a little stressful in the kitchen. You can save yourself a lot of stress by doing as much preparation ahead of time as you can.

Try going to a library or buying a cook book if you are wanting to cook different foods. Be patient, and try several recipes. Like any skill, cooking can take practice.

A pie crust should be baked a little bit longer than you would think. It will help if you achieve a darker, more delicious golden caramel color, rather than stopping when the crust is still pale. The crust changes to the caramel color only after the sugar has had time to caramelize. This will give the crust the sweet flavor you want.

Your spices should be stored in a place that is cool and dark. If they are stored in an area that they are exposed to light, heat and humidity, their shelf life is shortened. Keeping your spices in darkened, cool areas will lend extra longevity and flavor. Your food will be even more delicious if your spices are fresher.

For crispier French fries, you should chill the peeled potatoes in water for 30 minutes or more before frying them. A cold water soak helps the potatoes stand up to the rigors of deep fat frying.

Texture and taste don't have to suffer when you are trying to lighten up your mashed potatoes. Cauliflower makes for a great substitute to help drop the fat and calorie content. The bland cauliflower taste will make it so that you do not notice much difference in the taste, while accentuating the taste of some of the other ingredients. When they're mashed, cauliflowers have the same appearance and consistency as potatoes, too. Adding a little cauliflower can take calories out of your favorite mashed potato recipes and add in a little vegetable goodness, too.

The quality of vegetables improves when cooked. Using slow cooking methods can rob vegetable of their taste and nutritional value. Using these techniques will mean putting healthier food on the table. When you know how to cook vegetables in the least amount of time possible, you will enjoy better tasting and nutritious vegetables.

Fresh ingredients are always preferable to dried or frozen ones in all of your recipes. Fresh ingredients will give your dish extra flavor, and can turn out to be less expensive over time.

Add some chicken broth to your pan when cooking vegetables. Chicken broth is a great way to add flavor to your vegetables while keeping them from sticking to your pan. Broth can be found at nearly any grocery store, and is very inexpensive.

Food is one of life's basic needs, as well as one of its most powerful forces. Apply this knowledge you have just learned to impress your family and friends.

These Tips Shows You How To Find Success With Cooking

While many people would like to pursue a career as a chef, the time and training required to achieve this dream can seem monumental. One benefit of cooking is the possibility of breaking the task down into smaller steps, and if you utilize the information provided here, you will become a proficient chef before you know it.

All of the prep work can be done ahead of time. Be prepared in advance to make your cooking go smoothly. Cooking can get stressful when you're working to deadline. Get everything prepared at least a day ahead of time.

Pie crusts and tart crusts should be cook a bit past the point that you think they should be cooked. They should be a light golden brown instead of pale in color. This is because the golden color lets you know that the sugar from the crust has caramelized, which give it that sweet, yet crisp taste.

As you season meat, you should try a cooking a little piece first. Certain foods require very careful seasonings, especially dishes like meatballs, meatloaf and burgers. Do not try and cook the whole piece of meat right after adding seasoning. Try making a little patty and cooking it first. You can then cook the entire piece, or change the seasoning as needed.

The longer the cooking process, the more nutrients that you lose from most vegetables. If you are not serving the vegetables in their raw state, consider steaming, sautéing or even roasting your vegetables to protect their vitamin and nutrient content.

Do you feel like you're wasting money when you throw away a piece of moldy fruit? Is it safe to save a portion of fruit by cutting around the mold? A half rotten fruit cannot be saved. Mold grows deep into the fruit, and by eating it you will risk illness.

Apples are a popular ingredient during fall and winter, but unless they are stored properly, they spoil quickly. To avoid rotting, store apples in open-mesh bags or baskets in a cool basement or in the produce drawer of your refrigerator. However, you will still need to keep a watchful eye on your apples. Even properly stored apples can spoil. They're a fickle fruit.

When cooking vegetables, cook them as quickly as possible to keep their nutritional value. Vegetables that have been slow-cooked are not as nutritional or tasty as vegetables that are cooked in other ways. These cooking techniques make the vegetables more healthy overall. The less time you take to cook them, the better your vegetables will be.

When you use fresh ingredients, your cooking will be considerably better than if you used canned, dried or frozen ingredients. You will save plenty of money by buying fresh vegetables and other ingredients, and your food will also taste more flavorful.

Whether you seek to cook dinner for the family or to create something special for a date, being able to cook terrific meals is a stellar quality to have. Every culture in the world shares family meals. By using the tips here, you can start training to be a great chef. You'll be the true life of the party!

Cook Like A Pro In No Time With These Tips

You can get bored easily in your kitchen. You can make it more exciting by approaching cooking as your new hobby. Eventually, you start to spend more time in the kitchen, excited to try your next creation while sharing it with others who are just as eager to try it. Here are some tips to get you started.

When baking crust for pie or tarts, leave them in the oven to bake a little longer than you planned. Pastry crust should be baked to a golden caramel color rather than a pale blond shade. When the crust is a golden color then you know the sugar has caramelized and you will have a sweet and crispy result.

If you want to slice meat into thin strips, freeze it partially before bringing it to the cutting board. This works well for Asian dishes, like Chinese or Thai. If the meat is partially frozen, its texture is maintained nicely, even when sliced into thin strips. Make sure to let the meat thaw before you cook it, frozen ice and hot oil do mix well together.

Certain methods of preparing vegetables, such as boiling, can reduce their nutrients, due to the length of cooking time. For nutrient preservation, saute, blanch or steam your vegetables or simply enjoy them raw.

Regardless of the recipe, you can always bet that a fresh ingredient is better than its dried or frozen counterpart. Use fresh ingredients as often as you can; they offer more flavor and tend to be less expensive as well.

If you make sauce, freeze it into ice cubs to use later on. When you need sauce for another meal, you already have individual portions, ready to grab and reheat in a pan. Freezing the sauce in this manner will keep it fresh and ready to be reheated.

Soy products and beans are a wonderful place to get protein if you need to add some to your diet. These can be found at most grocery stores these days. A delicious alternative to meat is tofu pan fried with your favorite seasonings. Beans boiled with herbs is a flavorful source of protein.

Know how much cooking oil to use. Measure how much oil you use to make your dish less rich in fat. Do not simply pour the oil directly in the pan. This way, you know exactly how much fat you are adding to your dish.

Whenever you are cooking a recipe that calls for garlic, seek out the freshest possible garlic available. A good rule of thumb is that fresh garlic will have a sweet taste to it. You will want to look for the following characteristics; firm skin, and no bruises or shriveling.

Use the ideas from this article to help inspire you to come up with some unique cooking recipes. Make meals that your family can relax, enjoy, and savor. The process of cooking can contribute largely to your overall health and nutrition as well as your lifestyle. Make your kitchen the warm and inviting center of your home.

Tandoori Chicken Casserole Recipe

1 cup long grain brown rice
2 cups water or broth
1/2 cup plain yogurt
1 package (1 oz) tandoori chicken seasoning mix
4 pieces boneless skinless chicken (your choice)

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Lightly oil a 9x9 inch casserole dish.

Put the rice, water, yogurt, and seasoning in a large bowl and stir to combine.

Pour the rice mixture into the casserole.

Set the coated chicken on top of the rice, push the chicken down a little and spoon some of the liquid over the top of chicken.

Cover tightly and bake in preheated oven for 1 hour or until chicken is cooked thoroughly and rice is tender.

Will serve 4.

Would You Like To Cook Better? Then These Tips Are For You

If you are trying to achieve a wonderful eating experience, there are countless cuisines and techniques to help you reach your goal. Some are easy and some are quite complex. No matter what kind of cook you are, the helpful tips and solid advice in the article below will help you be a better cook.

When you cook veggies, try using some chicken broth! Add extra flavor to your vegetables and keep them from sticking by using chicken broth instead of water. Chicken broth can be found at almost all local grocery stores at a very cheap price.

Tofu and beans are excellent sources of protein. Both can be purchased at just about any grocery store. Tofu can be fried in a pan with just a few seasonings. It is a tasty and healthy meat alternative. You can boil the beans with a bit of herbs to give the protein more flavor.

When cooking with pumpkins, you will need to place the pumpkin upright then slice it in half right down the middle. Place each half on a baking sheet. Sprinkle a small amount of water on the baking sheets, and then bake the pumpkin at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for around an hour.

Allow the food to sit for a little while before serving. It is a new idea to many, but allowing your food to rest can be quite beneficial. We are inclined to serve meat and other foods as soon as they are cooked. However, you will miss out on great food if you do. Therefore, it is always best to allow the juices to redistribute by allowing for a cool down period.

Sprinkle salt liberally into the boiling water that is used to cook pasta. This helps to add flavor to the pasta while it is boiling. Pasta that has been salted after cooking may not retain the flavors used in the seasoning and sauce.

Before chopping fresh herbs sprinkle some salt on the cutting board. This should add flavor to the herb as well as keep them in place. Do not add more salt as you are cutting the herbs. Applying salt to the board will allow the herbs to stick better and give the meat a bit more flavor.

When you saute food, try to avoid filling the pan with oil. Too much liquid in the pan will result in steamed, soggy food and not the crispy texture you were trying to achieve by sauteing. Make sure you do this at a low temperature as well.

You can properly heat up tortillas in a couple of ways. The first way you can heat tortillas is in the oven. You need to have an oven that is heated to 350 degrees. Place the tortillas on a rack until they are as crispy as you want them to be. Another way is to use your gas stove top, placing the tortilla directly on the grill above the flame. Cooking the tortillas in these manners will help to make it tastier and fresher.

Many a fine meal has been ruined by over-complicating the recipes or methods. Establishing a simple cooking method will result in tasty, healthy and quick meals. This article can help you to make your next meal your best meal.

Sweet n Sour Chicken Apple Rice Casserole Recipe

1 1/2 cup water
1/2 cup long grain brown rice
6 small chicken thighs, boneless skinless
2 large apples, cored and diced
1 package (2 oz) dry sweet and sour sauce mix

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Lightly oil a casserole dish.

Pour the water into the casserole, add the rice, and stir gently.

Lay the chicken thighs over the top of the rice.

Evenly distribute the diced apple pieces over the chicken.

Sprinkle the dry sweet sour sauce mix the top evenly.

Cover tightly and bake in preheated oven for 1 hour or until the chicken is cooked through and the rice is tender.

Will serve 4 to 6.

Use These Vital Cooking Skills At Home

Cooking is a vital skill that requires time to learn, regardless of whether you have a large family, or if it's just you. Knowing how to create meals provides many benefits to many areas of your life, including socially, financially and nutritionally. The following article is going to provide you with the ABCs of cooking.

Cut meat thinly across the grain when you are stir-frying. There's a trick to this, and it can take a little time. When the meat feels firm, pull it from the freezer and cut across the grain at a 45 degree angle.

Sharp knives will make cooking so much more efficient. Dull knives make it harder to cut and are more dangerous to use. You're less likely to cut yourself chopping up a vegetable with the clean, fast strokes of a sharp knife, than when you are forcing and wiggling a dull knife.

Boiling your vegetables can drain the vitamins and nutrients out of your vegetables and leave them in the water that you’ll drain from the vegetables after boiling. For nutrient preservation, saute, blanch or steam your vegetables or simply enjoy them raw.

Stick to recipes you are comfortable with when you are cooking for important company. Avoid the temptation to try a new dish or ingredient. By doing so, you eliminate much of the stress of preparing the meal.

They will act like a sponge and just soak up a lot of that water. The right way to clean the mushrooms would be by hand, using a clean, wet cloth.

This way, you'll have fresh fruit to use for cooking all year long. Additionally, you'll have access to fruits that aren't currently in season.

If you want to cook a roast but don't have enough time, you should keep the bone in. The bone will retain the heat and make the meat cook faster from the inside. When done cooking, carve the bone out of the roast and serve.

It is vital for cooks to have their supplies organized when cooking. If you refuse to organize your cooking supplies, you'll take longer to find the utensils you need. Store similar items together in the same place. For instance, parsley and basil are both spices and should be in the exact same cabinet.

Some ingredients can leave a rather strong odor on your cutting board. Mark your ends on the cutting board using indelible ink so that you can remember one side from the other.

When unpacking your groceries, place any unripened fruits in perforated bags. As a fruit ripens, it produces ethylene gas. By placing them in a plastic bag with holes, air will circulate in the bag, making sure that ethylene gas is retained, and the fruit keeps its great taste.

So you can see how very useful it can be to acquire the skills necessary to prepare meals for your family or yourself. Your life can be greatly enhanced through cooking, no matter what style of food is your preference. Everyone likes to go out once in a while, but for the most part, you'll love eating more when you cook your favorite foods yourself.

Spicy Tomato Chicken Cheddar Casserole Recipe

4 chicken breast halves
1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes with green chilies
2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
2 cups slightly crushed spicy corn chips, divided

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Lightly oil a casserole dish.

Put chicken in casserole, salt and pepper to taste.

Pour diced tomatoes over the top, moving chicken around slightly so some liquid goes underneath.

Top with the shredded cheese, then sprinkle on 1 cup of the corn chips.

Cover and bake for 50 minutes in preheated oven or until chicken is cooked thoroughly.

Remove and sprinkle remaining corn chips on top, then continue baking - uncovered - for 10 minutes more or until chips on top get hot and crunchy.

Will serve 4.

Read These Tips On How To Be A Successful Cook

Do you ever wonder how people make such fabulous meals? Your cooking abilities will improve by reading this article.

If you can, do all the preparing of the meal's ingredients in advance. The wise cook prepares as much as possible before starting to cook. Setting a time limit can add stress to your cooking experience. You can save yourself a lot of stress by doing as much preparation ahead of time as you can.

Your spices should be stored in a cool place that is free of light. Spices will last longer when they are not exposed to warm temperatures and moist air. Your spices will have a longer shelf life and retain their good taste if stored in a dark, cool spot. Keeping your spices fresh can improve the taste of every recipe you prepare.

It's very important to have good, sharp knives for cooking. Blunt knives are frustrating to use and they can also be very hazardous. If you have to work on forcing a dull knife to go through something, you're much more likely to accidentally cut yourself in the process than with the one quick, clean cut of a sharpened knife.

Quickly cooking vegetables allows them to retain much of their nutritional value. With slower cook times, the overall value of the vegetables is decreased, mainly taste and nutrition. These quick cooking techniques will produce generally, healthier vegetable sides. Learning to give them just a quick steam is the best way to cook them.

It is not always easy to remember the proper grilling times for all meats. Use a good meat thermometer (a digital one is more accurate) so that you can ensure the inside is cooked correctly. If you have thick meat, more than a inch and a half, close the grill to make cooking time shorter.

Always make sure that your flour, sugar and baking additives are stored in airtight containers. Store spices, seasonings and ingredients in airtight containers to avoid exposure to light, heat and humidity. You can purchase them at many places, and they are well worth the money.

To prepare a pumpkin for baking, you should first prop up the pumpkin so that it is upright. Next, use a large knife to bisect it evenly. Lay the cut halves on individual baking pans. Make sure you sprinkle some water on the sheets. Bake the pumpkin for an hour.

Never forget to measure oil when you are using it for cooking. Pouring straight from a bottle does not give you an accurate idea of how much fat you are using, which can result in overindulgence. This will allow you to closely monitor the exact amount of oil that you are using.

When serving salad to guests, you should never put salad dressing directly on it. You should have it to the side so that each person can use as much or as little as they want. This will allow your guests to control how much dressing they want to put on their salad. Give them a choice of salad dressings.

Be sure to follow the advice in this article. In no time, everyone will be wondering what your secrets are!

Spicy Chicken And Kale Penne Casserole Recipe

1 box (8 oz) penne pasta, uncooked
1 jar (26 oz) spicy marinara sauce
6 cups chopped kale
4 to 6 pieces chicken (your choice)
4 cups water or broth

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Lightly oil a shallow casserole dish.

Pour the penne pasta into casserole, top with 1/2 the marinara sauce.

Evenly distribute the kale over the top and push it down into the pasta slightly.

Lay the chicken on top of the kale, then pour the water or broth evenly into the casserole dish.

Top the chicken with remaining marinara sauce evenly.

Cover tightly and bake in preheated oven for 1 hour or until chicken is cooked thoroughly and pasta is tender.

Will serve 4 to 6.

Enhance Your Cooking Abilities Quickly And Effeciently

The ability to be a great cook is simpler that you ever imagined. It's encouraged to experiment while cooking, and find your own unique flavors to display. These helpful hints can expand your knowledge of cooking and help you to experiment with ease. Use this information to enhance your cooking abilities quickly and efficiently.

Cut your meat as thin as you can if you are using it in a stir-fry. This can require some time and some effort. Take the meat out of the freezer once it firms up (not frozen) then cut at an angle of 45 degrees across the grainy part of the meat.

There is a great trick to thicken up your sauce so it isn't wasted. Put some corn starch into water and mix it in your sauce. Thicken your sauce by stirring the mixture into the simmering liquid. For sauce that is too thick, add liquid until your sauce is at the desired consistency.

Sharp knives are imperative when being used in the kitchen. Dull knives can be dangerous and they also make cutting things hard. Cutting vegetables with dulled blades can be difficult, and can result in the knife slipping, and cutting you instead.

If you are cooking for an important event, it is a good idea to make a meal that you have made before. New recipes can be difficult to make and can create unnecessary stress. Doing this will take some of the stress out of cooking.

Always store baking supplies such as baking mixes, flour, and sugar in airtight containers. This is a good way to keep your food fresh and protect it from bacteria and bugs. These containers can be purchased at many retail locations and are a great investment for the money,

A great source of protein for your diet can be found in beans and tofu. Both of these protein-rich foods are available at most grocery stores. Try frying tofu and adding seasoning to replace meat. You can boil the beans with a bit of herbs to give the protein more flavor.

A lot of herbs and vegetables give off an odor that tends to stay in your cutting board, no matter how much you scrub it. Separate the halves by using indelible ink on the cutting board so you know what belongs on each side.

When preparing a meal, make sure you have clean cooking utensils. Any residual food matter missed during washing can spoil the dish you intend to cook. This could allow bacteria to easily spread.

Fresh herbs in a meal are delicious. Bunch them together and then use a pair of scissors to snip them. This practice does not get herbs wet like chopping would, and makes them generally fluffier and lighter.

Start implementing some of these tips, and you'll see a noticeable improvement in your cooking skills. Try each idea more than once, until you get the hang of things. Even if you do not enjoy the results, you are still practicing and acquiring new skills. In a few days, you'll be a better chef if you are serious about using these tips.

Southwestern Chicken Rice Casserole Recipe

3 cups cooked diced chicken
3 cups cooked rice
1 can (10 oz) Rotel diced tomatoes and green chilies
2 cans (11 oz ea) Southwestern style corn

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Lightly oil a casserole dish.

Mix all the ingredients together in casserole dish.

Cover tightly and bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes or until bubbly hot.

Will serve 4 to 6.

Simple Tips Anyone Can Follow When It Comes To Cooking

It's not a talent that can be acquired overnight, though! It does not matter why you are cooking, but it's great to know what you are doing when you do. Here are a few hints that will set you in the right culinary direction in your own home kitchen.

Overdo it a little when you bake a pie crust. They should be a light golden brown instead of pale in color. This color means that the sugar has caramelized within the pie crust and will have a crunchy and sweet flavor.

Doing all of the things you need to in order to prepare a meal is a vital part of the cooking process. Make sure you have everything you need to make your food. Assemble utensils and other needed equipment before you start to cook. With a good plan and everything in place, you will feel far less anxious.

A great tip to follow if you use oil to cook is to put it on the sides of the pan while cooking, so it's already heated by the time it reaches the food. This will help keep the foods flavor locked in and make for a tasty meal.

You can also use this seasoning on foods other than meat. You can sprinkle it on scrambled eggs or on roasted nuts and seeds for a snack. People will notice a different flavor than usual in your dish, and wonder what it is.

Try lowering the amount of oil you cook with if you are trying to lose weight and eat healthier. Oil and butter is mostly fat. A nonstick spray for cooking provides many of the same results as oil; however, it does not add extra calories.

If you want to cook a pumpkin, cut it vertically in half. Put the halves down on the baking sheets. Sprinkle the baking sheet with water, and bake the pumpkin for an hour at 350 degrees.

Replace the standby liquids of milk and water in recipes to mix things up. Use chicken broth, beef, or juice in places where you would normally use water. Try to use buttermilk, yogurt, or sour cream in place of milk. Try making your recipes stand out and more nutritious by interchanging your liquids.

Know how much cooking oil to use. To have a lower amount of fat added to your cooking, make sure you measure your cooking oil carefully instead of just pouring right from the bottle to the pan. Doing this will make you aware of exactly how much cooking oil you're using.

Place salad dressing off to the side of a salad, instead of on top of it, when serving salad to guests. Some people like to put more salad dressing on their salads than other people do; let your guests put their own salad dressing on. It is important to provide your guests with a plethora of dressings.

Now, are you ready to practice what was discussed in this article? Use the many tips provided above as your guide to cooking delightful food! Regardless of why you have decided to improve your cooking skills, you will definitely savor a meal that you prepared by yourself. Obviously it takes time and practice to master cooking. But, the end result is worth your hard work!

Chicken Au Gratin Potato Casserole Recipe

1 box (4.9 oz size) au gratin potatoes
1 1/4 cups boiling water
1/4 cup milk
1 Tbsp butter, melted
1/4 cup finely diced onion
2 cups shredded cooked chicken
smoked paprika

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Lightly oil a shallow casserole dish.

In a large bowl, mix together the first 4 ingredients, then turn into the casserole dish.

Sprinkle the diced onion over evenly.

Arrange the shredded chicken evenly over the top, then sprinkle with smoked paprika.

Shake dish to help settle the chicken into the mixture a little.

Cover tightly and bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes, then uncover and continue baking for 10 more minutes.

Remove and let sit for 5 minutes before serving.

Will serve 4 to 6.

Need Help With Cooking? Read This Article For Advice!

Making the same meals every day can be oppressively boring. It's time for you to learn more about cooking to spice up your life! You can then turn this craft into not only a way to feed your hungry family a nutritious meal, but also an enjoyable hobby that will provide you with an unending supply of new tricks and techniques. Below is some cooking advice to get you started.

If you want to slice meat into thin strips, freeze it partially before bringing it to the cutting board. Thin strips of meat are ideal for meals that are originally ethnically Asian. The meat holds a tighter form when the it is partially frozen making the strips clean cut with out any stretching of the meat. Then allow the slices to thaw so they'll cook evenly.

To make your French fries crisper, try leaving the raw potatoes in some cold water for half an hour before you fry them. Vegetables fibers can breakdown under high heat conditions. Soaking reinforces these fibers to produce better results.

It is possible to lower the fat and calorie content of mashed potatoes without impacting the taste or texture by replacing some of the potato content with cauliflower. You will not even taste the cauliflower in with the potatoes, because it is so bland. Additionally, cauliflower has the same texture and color as mashed potatoes, so it makes it an easy, healthy addition to your dish.

Vegetables are just better all-around the faster they are cooked. If you cook your vegetables for a long period of time, they might not be as nutritious. As an added benefit, these techniques tend to produce healthier vegetables in general. You should only cook them just as long as it takes for them to be done.

Garlic is just one of many tasty ingredients whose flavor has a downside; it transfers to your hands. To remove the lingering odor after working with these ingredients, thoroughly rub your hands on something made from stainless steel, such as the inside of your sink or the handle of a butter knife. This will cleanse your hands and prevent the smells from transferring to the food you handle next.

Grilling is not an exact science, but you may have encountered some confusion the last time you hit the barbecue. Try using a digital meat thermometer to judge when your meat is cooked thoroughly. If you are grilling a thicker piece of meat (over 1.5 inches), close your grill while cooking to save some time.

A useful tip when making chicken stock is to think big! Make a giant pot and store what you don't use in your freezer. That tasty chicken stock is very versatile and can be perfect for your next stew, casserole or soup. After the liquid has cooled you can store it in heavy-duty freezer bags.

By using style in your cooking and applying this advice, you can begin an incredible new activity. Cooking is a fun way to educate yourself and your family about the foods that you eat. You may even learn something new about yourself through cooking. As you learn more about cooking, you will begin to enjoy it and have better tasting meals.

Chicken Cacciatore Casserole Recipe

4 chicken pieces, your choice, uncooked
2 cans (15 oz) Italian style diced tomatoes
2 jars (6 oz) sliced mushrooms, drained
1 pkg dry Italian seasoning mix
Cooked rice optional

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly oil a casserole dish.

Arrange the chicken pieces in the casserole dish.

Pour the cans of diced tomatoes over, spread to distribute, then add the sliced mushrooms on top.

Sprinkle the dry Italian seasoning mix over evenly.

Cover tightly and bake in preheated oven for 1 hour (more or less depending on your choice of chicken pieces), until chicken is cooked thoroughly.

May serve as is or over hot cooked rice. This will be nice and saucy as chicken cacciatore should be.

Will serve 2 to 4.

Become A Great Chef With These Culinary Skills

Becoming a great chef is easier than you might think. It is okay to find your strengths through experimentation while cooking. This information will allow you to become a better cook and give you new things a try. Use the following advice and you can greatly improve your skills in the kitchen.

Don't add the dressing until right before serving. Having everything prepared before you begin cooking is important. If you are cooking a complex dish, take some of the stress out of it by having your needed ingredients lined up and ready. By doing all of your preparation in advance, you avoid the stress and just enjoy your meal.

Always bake pie and tart crusts for longer than the recipe specifies for best results. The crust should turn a golden color, not simple blonde. This is because the golden color lets you know that the sugar from the crust has caramelized, which give it that sweet, yet crisp taste.

Consider freezing your meat a bit so that it will be easier to slice. This technique is suited for meats used in many Asian dishes. When the meat is frozen slightly, cutting it is easier because the fibers in the muscle do not tear or stretch when slicing. Make sure that you let the meat thaw before cooking, so the meat is cooked evenly.

Have you ever felt sorry for throwing away moldy fruits? Do you think it is accepted practice to salvage the fruit by removing the rotting parts? Beware! Once a fruit goes rotten, there is no way to safely rescue a part of it. The mold and spoilage that you can see is only part of the problem with marginal-looking fruit; even the parts that appear pristine can be unsafe to eat.

These spices are able to be used on many things in the kitchen, not just meats. Seasoned salt on pumpkin seeds you roast in the oven makes a tasty snack, and it's quite good on scrambled eggs. Everyone will start to wonder about your secret ingredient and what it might be!

Mushrooms will soak up a large amount of water. Wipe them off with a damp cloth to clean them.

When it's time to cook your meat, has it ever been an issue trying to decide how long to grill it for? It is recommended that you use a reliable meat thermometer to ensure proper cooking inside the meat; a digital thermometer would give you very accurate readings. If the meat is thick, such as more than 1.5 inches, try closing the grill's lid to cut down on grilling time.

If burgers get stuck to the grill, it will be difficult to flip them without mangling them in the process. If, however, you brush the grill with oil, this will help prevent sticking.

Take advantage of these handy tips to improve your skills in the kitchen. Try each tip you've learned, even if it is only one time. Figure out the ideas that work best for you. Come up with a few tricks of your own. You can quickly improve your culinary skill by utilizing these suggestions.

Savory Apricot Chicken Rice Casserole Recipe

1 cup quick cook rice (Uncle Ben's Converted)
2 cups broth or water
4 cups raw chicken, diced bite size
1 small pkg French onion soup mix
1 cup apricot preserves

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Lightly oil a casserole dish.

Put the rice and broth in casserole dish and stir to combine.

Put the chicken in the casserole dish, sprinkle with the French onion soup mix evenly.

Spoon the apricot preserves over the top and spread slightly.

Cover the casserole and bake in preheated oven for 45 to 50 minutes or until chicken is cooked and rice is tender.

Will serve 2 to 4.

The Best No-Nonsense Cooking Tips

Everyone knows how to eat, but not everyone knows how to cook. The advice in this piece offers some great ways to prepare delicious food at home. Do not allow yourself to be intimidated by the idea of preparing a fine meal with a variety of ingredients. Once you become more comfortable and confident in the kitchen, you may find that you love to cook. Take advantage of the tips contained in this article and don't be afraid of making a mess every so often. As long as you are learning, it's okay.

If you are just starting out with cooking, consider doing your research at your local library. There are plenty of cookbooks with simple recipes available. Try a few recipes, and be patient with yourself as you are mastering this new skill.

Before eating there is cooking, and before cooking there is preparation. This is a vital step to master if you want to produce impressive meals. Always have all ingredients before starting to cook. Plan your meal a day in advance to make sure you have everything you need. With the right groundwork, you can enter your kitchen confidently and get right to work whipping up a fantastic meal.

Slice meat thinly on the bias for stir-fry dishes. This can take time and be tricky. When the meat is partially frozen, slice it diagonally across the grain at a 45 degree angle.

It is a good practice to place cut potatoes in a bath of cold water for about half and hour, before frying in order to get crispy fries. Soaking the sliced potatoes in cold water strengthens the potato fibers so they will not break down so much when you fry them in the hot oil.

Replacing some of your mashed potatoes with equal amounts of cauliflower is a healthy alternative, reducing fat and calories. Cauliflower does not have a strong taste and will be virtually undetectable when mixed with the potatoes and other ingredients. Additionally, cauliflower has the same texture and color as mashed potatoes, so it makes it an easy, healthy addition to your dish.

Garlic is just one of many tasty ingredients whose flavor has a downside; it transfers to your hands. After touching garlic or another strong-smelling ingredient, stop and rub your hands on your stainless steel faucet. Doing this will remove the scent from your hands, and keep it from spreading to the next food you touch.

Dry ingredients and mixes should be stored in airtight containers. Not only will these containers make sure your foods aren't contaminated by bugs, the lack of air will keep your goods fresher for longer. The containers can be bought anywhere and can be an invaluable investment.

There is no need to be afraid of cooking. Making your own home-cooked meals can be healthier, more nutritious and cost-effective, as well. It is also lots of fun! Use the tips provided in the article when you are purchasing, preparing and eating your foods. Good luck with your home cooking adventure!

Peachy Chicken And Brown Rice Casserole

1 cup long grain brown rice
2 cups water
4 small chicken breast halves
1 (14 oz) can peach halves in own juice
1 Tbsp honey
kosher salt to taste

Preheat your oven to 325 degrees. Lightly oil a medium casserole dish.

Put rice and water in casserole dish, stirring gently too combine.

Put chicken breasts on top of rice, then arrange peach halves, cut side up, around and between the chicken.

Drizzle honey evenly over the peaches, then sprinkle chicken breasts to taste with salt.

Cover and bake in preheated oven for 1 hour or until chicken is thoroughly cooked and no longer pink and rice is tender.

Serves 2 to 4.

Impress Your Guests With These Amazing Cooking Tips

To many people, cooking a meal is just another thing on their to-do list. Something that should be enjoyed is cooking. It can also become your gateway to a healthier life. The best cooks are always expanding their knowledge and skill set, and this article is going provide you with some advice which could help you to improve your own cooking.

If you want to start cooking more, go to the bookstore or library and get a cookbook of simple and basic recipes that appeal to you. Try some recipes and be patient as you develop your skills.

Store your spices in a cool, dark place. When they are stored in the sun, they lose shelf life because of exposure. Keep spices fresh by storing them away from light and humidity. Better tasting meals are the result of the ingredients you use, including the freshest spices possible.

Here is a way to save your sauce and use it in your recipes. In a small bowl, combine two tablespoons of water and 3 teaspoons of corn starch. In order to create a thicker sauce, add the mixture to the sauce, while it is cooking on low heat. Be sure to gradually stir in the solution, and frequently stir the sauce so that it does not become too thick.

Fresh ingredients are much better to use in all of your cooking than those that are frozen or dried. Use fresh ingredients whenever possible, as they make the food more flavorful, and they may cost less over the long run.

They'll just simply work as a sponge and soak up the majority of the water. Try using a clean, wet cloth and wiping them off instead.

Garlic is a delicious ingredient that has a place in many recipes, but it has no place on your hands. Stainless steel can remove the bad odor that comes from garlic and other smelly items. This will clean your hand and keep the odor from transferring to other foods you are handling.

If you cooked with a sauce, save the leftover sauce in an ice cube tray that you can freeze. This makes it easy to prepare a quick meal by reheating the sauce using a saute pan. Freezing the sauce into cubes in the trays is safe and convenient!

When making your own chicken stock, prepare more than you need up front. Plan on preparing a large pot of stock in order to freeze it for storing. Homemade chicken stock adds great flavor to everything from soups to casseroles. To preserve your stock for future use, just simply make sure that it is stored in heavy duty freezer bags and frozen solid. This way the stock should keep for several months or so.

As stated earlier, the best cooks are always open to learning new things about the culinary arts. The best part of cooking is learning about new techniques and methods to use. In addition, it provides you with the pleasure of teaching others the wonderful things you have learned. The ability to cook well is a skill, but it is also a treasure that is meant for sharing.

Chicken Mac n Cheese Casserole Recipe

1 package (8 oz) elbow macaroni, uncooked
1 lb American cheese, cut up
2 cups diced cooked chicken
1 can cream of celery soup (or any cream of soup you have)
2 cups milk
salt and pepper to taste

Put all ingredients in a glass casserole, stir to combine, then cover the casserole tightly with plastic food wrap and refrigerate overnight.

Remove casserole from refrigerator about 45 minutes before you are ready to bake it and let it sit out.

Preheat your oven to 325 degrees.

Remove the plastic food wrap from casserole and replace it with aluminum foil.

Bake covered in preheated oven for 1 hour.

Remove and let sit for 5 minutes, then uncover and serve.

Will serve 2 to 4.

Great Cooking Techniques You Can Use Today

Many people view cooking as a hassle. This article gives you some great cooking  techniques that you can try today.

Get your ingredients squared away ahead of time. It is essential to have all prep work finished before it's time to begin cooking. Trying to prepare a meal without handling the preparation beforehand can get stressful, especially if you need to finish your cooking in a set amount of time. Prep work helps take the stress out of meal planning and preparing.

If you are first embarking on a quest to prepare more of your own food, head to the nearest library or bookstore and find a cookbook with simple, basic recipes that you will enjoy preparing. Be as patient as you can be when you are learning how to cook.

A good cooking tip when you use oil is to put it on the sides of the pan so it gets real hot by the time it hits the food. Hot oil adds more flavor to the food, giving you the tastiest results when you're finished.

Did you ever feel guilty for tossing moldy fruits in the garbage? Is it alright to cut out the rotten part and save them? You can't save a piece of fruit that has begun to rot. The mold may have grown deeper than can be seen, and eating it may make you quite ill.

Are you planning to use freshly picked basil in a recipe? Place some basil in a clean glass. Then cover the stems of the basil with water. It will remain fresh for a good amount of time just sitting on the kitchen counter! You can even promote the growth of roots if you replace the water from time to time. You can cut the basil every once in a while in order to spur further growth, thereby making basil available for even longer.

Burgers will often stick to a grill. Once they are stuck it can be very difficult to get them off of the grill and have them still maintain their shape. Try brushing the grill using vegetable oil prior to cooking so you can avoid sticking.

When buying ingredients for recipes make sure you read the labels. Some cooking supplies will contain unhealthy ingredients. Select ingredients that have little salt or sugar in order to make the healthiest meals possible.

When you will be cooking a pumpkin, stand it up and then slice it down the middle. You then want to get two baking sheets and put the halves on their cut side down. Lightly sprinkle a bit of water over the pans, then bake the pumpkin for about one hour in an oven heated to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

If you do not have time to cook for your family, prepare things in advance. Try chopping all your onions and veggies, making up a sauce or putting the meat in a marinade before going to bed at night. This alleviates stress at suppertime since you have already done part of the work.

As the article shows, there are many ways to make cooking less of a drag and more interesting. Applying the tips is going to help you be creative with a daily task that could be seen as boring or bothersome.

Easy Chicken Pot Pie Casserole Recipe

1 1/2 lbs uncooked chicken, diced small
1 bag (16 oz) mixed vegetables, thawed and drained   
2 cans (10 oz ea) cream of chicken soup   
2 cups biscuit mix (Bisquick)   
1 1/2 cups milk   
1/2 cup butter, melted   

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Lightly oil a shallow casserole dish, 9x13 or 10x10.

Put the chicken, vegetables, and soup in a big bowl and stir to combine, then turn it out into the casserole dish, spreading evenly.

In a separate bowl, stir together the biscuit mix, milk, and melted butter just until combine, then spoon it over the casserole, spreading to cover.

Bake uncovered in preheated oven for 1 hour or until chicken is cooked thoroughly and the biscuit topping is golden brown.

Remove and let sit for 5 minutes before serving.

Will serve 6 to 8.

Layered Chicken Enchilada Casserole Recipe

1 jar (26 oz) good salsa, divided
6 small corn tortillas
3 cups cooked shredded chicken
1 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Lightly oil a shallow casserole dish.

Build layers:

1/3 salsa, 2 tortillas, 1 cup chicken, 1/2 cup cheese.

1/3 salsa, 2 tortillas, 1 cup chicken, 1/2 cup cheese.

1/3 salsa, 2 tortillas, 1 cup chicken, 1/2 cup cheese.

Cover and bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes, then uncover and bake an additional 10 minutes or until top starts to brown slightly.

Remove and let stand for 5 minutes before serving.

Will serve 2 to 4.

Kung Pao Chicken Casserole Recipe

6 skinless/boneless chicken thighs, diced small
3 cups cooked rice
1 bag (16 oz) frozen mixed stir fry vegetables
1 package (1 oz) Kung Pao chicken seasoning mix
1 cup water or chicken broth

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Lightly oil a shallow casserole dish.

Put chicken pieces in casserole, cover with rice, and top with frozen vegetables.

Mix in a separate bowl the seasoning mix and water, then pour evenly over all.

Cover tightly and bake in preheated oven for 1 hour or until chicken is cooked thoroughly.

Sprinkle cashews on top before serving if you like.

Will serve 4 to 6.

How To Prepare Filling And Healthy Meals For Any Day Of The Week

Everyone is not considered a great cook, even fantastic chefs have room to grow. The duration of our lives will consist of many trials and errors when it comes to cooking. The tips in this article will give you a good start to your cooking education. The tips in this article are sure to improve your cooking ability.

If you can, do all the preparing of the meal's ingredients in advance. Do not start cooking until the prep work is done. Setting a time limit can add stress to your cooking experience. By doing all of your preparation in advance, you avoid the stress and just enjoy your meal.

Feel confident when serving meals to a new guest or on a special occasion, by sticking to recipes that you have already mastered. Don't attempt a dish that is new or very far out of your experience level. You will feel less stressed while cooking if you follow this tip.

Complete many steps when cooking something ahead of time. Try looking at recipes and see what can be done in advance without spoiling. You can make a lot of your preparations a day or more in advance. Prepping before you cook can make even advanced recipes fun and accessible.

Always measure your oil when you are cooking. To have a lower amount of fat added to your cooking, make sure you measure your cooking oil carefully instead of just pouring right from the bottle to the pan. That way, you will know precisely how much oil is going into the dish you are preparing.

Keep the bone in the roast if you want it to cook faster. This will allow your meat to cook faster as the bone will warm up the inside quicker. When done cooking, carve the bone out of the roast and serve.

Any time you are faced with a large amount of leftover turkey, don't be tempted to throw it in the garbage. Instead, cut it up, place it into a an airtight container, and put it in the freezer. The turkey will stay fresh for quite a few weeks if you follow these tips. It is a great way to ensure you can have sandwiches for weeks to come.

Get your cooking utensils squeaky clean before starting a new dish. Any leftover food residue can ruin the food you are preparing. This could spread harmful bacteria into your food, and could be detrimental to your health.

Macaroni and cheese should be cooked with careful attention to the instructions. The mac and cheese never fails to turn out wonderfully when you do it right. Then the smooth cheese sauce melts evenly over the noodles. A simple serving dish and spoon are all you need to serve dinner. You can add more flavor to your dish with pepper, a spoonful of mustard, or additional cheese.

Developing your culinary skills is an exciting process. Anytime you learn a new skill, there is a lot of excitement, and cooking is no different! Other useful hints and techniques are available in cookbooks, magazines and websites to help you continue improving your cooking abilities. Cooking is a journey that should never end.

Develop Your Cooking Skills With These Tips

It will take some time and effort to develop this skill, however. No matter what reason you have for learning to cook, it will always come in handy. Here are some suggestions on how to get started cooking.

Being organized is a key step when planning to prepare a meal for family or friends. First, check that you have everything you need to get started. Along with the ingredients, you need to make sure you have the correct utensils for cooking the next day. Having everything ready will take some of the stress off and increase the chances of your success.

If you want your food to come out as good as it can when you are cooking with oil you should be sure to add the oil to the side of the pan so it is hot once it reaches the food. This will give more flavor to what you are cooking.

You can always save the sauce that you put so much effort into. In a small bowl, combine two tablespoons of water and 3 teaspoons of corn starch. Add this mix to your sauce to thicken it. Make sure you combine them gradually and consistently so as to prevent the sauce from thickening too much.

Apples are a popular ingredient during fall and winter, but unless they are stored properly, they spoil quickly. Apples tend to rot in warm dry air, so tie them up loosely in plastic bags and store in a refrigerator or cool basement. Check your apples regularly. If one apple starts rotting, the whole bag will be spoiled.

You can reduce the fat and calorie content of regular mashed potatoes by substituting part of the potatoes with mashed cauliflower. This won't affect the taste but it adds a handful of nutrition. Cauliflower has a kind of bland taste that mixes well with potatoes and the other ingredients in them. Your mashed potato dish will also look the same if you add cauliflower, allowing it to retain its color and texture while taking the calories out of your potatoes.

Garlic is amazing, but comes at the cost of smelly hands. Try rubbing your hands on stainless steel when they smell from an odoriferous cooking ingredient This will remove the scent from your hands and stop it from transferring.

Keep track of what goes into the ingredients for your recipes. There are many common supplies in cooking that contain unhealthy ingredients that are hidden. You need to make sure what you are purchasing is not high in sugar or sodium, as they are known to cause terrible health problems when consuming too much.

You are now ready to begin cooking using the tips and techniques discussed above. By using the tips from the above article, you have all the tools necessary to start cooking amazing food! You will truly enjoy serving a dish to your family that you prepared yourself. It is a reality that skills are necessary to be a great cook. But, the taste of any home-cooked dish definitely makes it worth all the effort.

Italian Chicken Stuffed Zucchini Casserole Recipe

4 medium zucchini, washed
1 lb ground chicken
1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
1 Tbsp Italian seasoning blend
Parmesan cheese, optional

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Lightly oil a 9x13 casserole dish.

Cut the zucchini in half lengthwise, then take a spoon and gently scrape out the seeds and any stringy pulp, but be sure to leave enough of the zucchini intact. Salt the insides, then turn upside down on a paper towel covered rack to sweat and drain.

Brown the ground chicken in a skillet with a little oil until the pink color is gone, then stir in the tomato sauce and seasoning; remove from heat.

Turn the zucchini cut side up and arrange in casserole dish.

Spoon the chicken mixture into the hollowed out zucchini.

Cover and bake in preheated oven for 45 to 60 minutes or until the zucchini is tender.

You may want to sprinkle Parmesan cheese over the top before serving.

Will serve 2 to 4.

Helpful Advice To Follow When Cooking Dinner At Home

Learning to cook is all about jumping in and getting going. Some people might have a knack for cooking, while most people could use some instructions. You can always learn how to cook. There a few things you need to know before beginning your journey in cooking. There are tips below that can help you start.

Being organized is a key step when planning to prepare a meal for family or friends. This will allow you to make sure that all the necessary ingredients are accounted for. Plan out your cooking the day before. Make sure all the necessary utensils are clean and ready to use.
 If you have everything ready, you won't be as worried about preparing the meal, and it's more likely to turn out well.

However, there is a way that your efforts can be saved and the sauce still used. You need to mix 2 tablespoons filled with water and 1 tablespoon filled with corn starch in a bowl. Stir this mixture into the sauce while it's simmering and this will make it more thick. Be sure to gradually stir in the solution, and frequently stir the sauce so that it does not become too thick.

Cooking vegetables for a long time robs them of the critical nutrients that make them a healthy choice. Opt for quicker cooking methods instead. You can steam or saute your vegetables or eat them raw.

Cooking vegetables quickly improves their overall quality. If you slow cook your vegetables, they will lose their nutritional value. Vegetables cooked in these ways make healthier side dishes and ingredients in recipes. So in summary, cook your vegetables for the shortest amount of time possible.

If you choose the wooden versions of cooking skewers, it is a good idea to immerse them in water, and leave them there for about half an hour before using them. This helps them avoid burning when you cook. Double up on the skewers per kebab to ensure that nothing falls off of them.

Soy products and beans are a wonderful place to get protein if you need to add some to your diet. You can buy both items at almost any grocery store, and they will fit into any budget. Tofu can be seasoned and pan-fried, and then served in lieu of a meat dish. Beans may be boiled with herbs for a delicious protein source.

Rather than using water or milk in a specific recipe, try a different liquid to add a new flavor. For instance, you can use broth, stock, juice or a bit of wine to replace the water in a recipe. As an alternative to milk, try using thinned sour cream, yogurt, soy milk or buttermilk. You can increase the nutritional and wow factors of any dish, simply by trying different substitutions for liquids that recipes call for.

You only need to be able to read and follow instructions to become an effective cook. Cooking is not as difficult as you may think it is. Utilize the tips in this article, and see firsthand how much your cooking skills can improve.

Golden Mushroom Chicken And Rice Casserole Recipe

1 cup long grain brown rice, uncooked   
2 cans (10 oz ea) golden mushroom condensed soup
1 cup water   
1 pkt French onion soup mix
6 to 8 small boneless skinless chicken thighs

Preheat your oven to 325 degrees. Lightly oil a casserole dish.

Put all the ingredients, except chicken, in a bowl and stir to mix well.

Dump this mixture into casserole dish then lay the chicken pieces on top, shaking to settle the chicken into the rice mixture slightly. Salt and pepper the chicken if desired.

Cover tightly and bake in preheated oven for 1 1/2 hours or until the chicken is cooked thoroughly and the rice is tender.

Remove from oven and let sit for 10 minutes before uncovering to serve.

Will serve 6 to 8.

Even A Novice Can Learn To Cook If They Want To With These Cooking Tips

Are you a lover of all kinds of food? Do you have a ravenous sweet tooth? How about savory ethnic food? Have you ever wished you could cook exotic dishes? Start cooking and put a stop to all that wondering. If you want to make your own wonderful meals, the suggestions that follow may help you.

Store herbs and spices in an area that is cool and dark. If they get exposed to any light, humidity or heat, their flavor will begin to weaken. As a general rule, most of your ground herbs and spices will stay fresh for about a year if stored correctly. Whole spices can stay fresh for up to five years. When stored properly, they will stay fresher longer.

When you are cooking a stir-fry, ensure the meat is sliced to be very thin, and cut it on the bias. This may take some time and effort. Cut your meat as it is still a little frozen and cut it at a forty five degree angle, with the bias.

Always keep a set of sharp knives in your kitchen. Dull knives not only make it difficult to cut foods with, but dull knives are considered dangerous to use also. Forcing dull knives through foods can result in personal injury, whereas a sharp knife will quickly and easily cut right through.

Certain methods of preparing vegetables, such as boiling, can reduce their nutrients, due to the length of cooking time. To maintain their healthy reputation, prepare them quicker by steaming or sauteing, and you could always enjoy them naturally in their raw state.

Its potential applications go way beyond meat. A little on seeds or eggs can liven it up. Everyone at the table will be asking for your recipe!

When you use fresh ingredients, your cooking will be considerably better than if you used canned, dried or frozen ingredients. Fresh ingredients are often inexpensive, and can help bring a lot of flavor out of your dish.

If you cooked with a sauce, save the leftover sauce in an ice cube tray that you can freeze. This way, the next time you want some sauce, all you need to do is saute it in a pan. And don't worry, your sauce will still taste great even after freezing.

If you're cooking pumpkins, cut them in half by positioning them upright and slicing down the middles. Once the pumpkin is cut, place it on a dampened baking sheet with the skin facing up. Sprinkle the baking sheet with water, and bake the pumpkin for an hour at 350 degrees.

This allows the fruits to stay fresh throughout the year. Plus, you will be able to have fruits that are not available at certain times of the year.

If you apply the tips you have just read, you will be able to cook much better meals. Be bold; experiment with new flavors and spices. It is possible for you to even find a favorite food during the process. Unleash your inner chef by following both the tips above, and your own taste buds.

French Dressed Cranberry Chicken Casserole Recipe

6 chicken breast halves
1 bottle (16 oz) French salad dressing
1 can (14 oz) cranberry sauce, whole berry style
1 pack (2 oz) French onion soup mix
cooked rice for serving, optional

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Lightly oil a glass 9x13 baking dish.

Lay the chicken breast halves in the baking dish.

In a separate bowl, stir together the remaining ingredients.

Spoon the mixture over the chicken, then lift the chicken slightly so some of the mixture flows underneath.

Cover baking dish with aluminum foil and bake in preheated oven for 1 hour or until chicken is no longer pink inside and is tender.

You may serve this dish over rice or as is.

Will serve 6.

Creative Cooking Tips To Enhance Everyday Meals

Has there been a time where you were eating in a restaurant and were curious just how the food got prepared? Have you tried to duplicate your favorite restaurant's food at home? The tips contained in this article will help you improve your favorite dishes, as well as create new ones. Cooking is an enjoyable and calming hobby for all kinds of people.

You can start cooking simple meals out of a cookbook you can borrow from the library. That way you can try different meals that you can prepare and when you are done you can take it back. Experiment with several recipes, and give yourself the time in perfecting your cooking skills.

You must prep well if you want to cook a large, festive meal. Gather all the ingredients beforehand. Get everything set to cook the next day. Determine if you have you got the right utensils, etc. With a good plan and everything in place, you will feel far less anxious.

Spices should be kept somewhere cool and dark. By storing them in excessive light and heat, their shelf life will decrease. When spices are stored in an adequately dark and cool area, they tend to retain their taste and shelf life for greater periods of time. You'll taste the difference in your dishes.

Prolonged boiling of vegetables destroys many of the nutrients contained within them. For the most nutritious veggies, cook them quickly by steaming or sauteing, or just eat them raw.

Does pitching moldy fruit into a trash can upset you? Is it safe to save a portion of fruit by cutting around the mold? Saving half-rotten fruit in a healthy way is not possible. Discard them, as mold goes deeper than the eye can see and can make you quite ill.

Mushrooms soak up water that you don't want to be added to the recipe. You should use a clean, wet cloth and wipe the mushroom off by hand.

Garlic is a wonderful ingredient in recipes, but the smell is quite difficult to remove from your hands. An easy way to remove the smell is to rub your hands on a stainless steel surface like your sink. This serves to both clean your hands thoroughly and prevent the odors from seeping into any other food you are going to handle.

If you are serious about losing weight and getting healthy, you need to cut back on cooking oils. Oil or butter add more fat than necessary to your dishes. You can use a cooking spray rather than butter or oil to cook your foods just as easily, and the important bonus is that it is healthier for you.

Sauteing vegetables in chicken broth is very healthy. The chicken broth will cut down on the fat in your vegetable dishes while enhancing their flavor. This method produces healthy and tasty vegetables.

You are on the road now to home-cooking success. Use your imagination to make some delicious meals when you are cooking and using new recipes. The world is your oyster in regards to what you can cook from now on!

Apple And Chicken Rice Casserole Recipe

1 cup long grain brown rice
2 cups water or broth
1 lb. skinless chicken, cut into thin strips
1 cup unsweetened applesauce
2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Lightly oil a casserole dish.

Put the rice and water in the casserole, slightly stir together.

Lay the chicken over the top, arranging evenly.

In a bowl, stir together the applesauce and apple cider vinegar, then spoon evenly over the chicken.

Cover and bake in preheated oven for 40 to 50 minutes or until chicken is cooked thoroughly and rice is tender.

Serves 2 to 4.

Simple Cooking Tips You Can Use To Create Great Meals At Home

Understanding how to cook can be an invaluable skill. Eating home cooked meals can be delicious while also saving you money over restaurant meals.

Keep spices tucked away in cool, dry and dark areas. Storing spices in lighted areas or warm areas can reduce their length of freshness. Try to find a cool, dark cupboard if you want to increase the flavor and lifespan of your favorite spices. Better tasting meals are the result of the ingredients you use, including the freshest spices possible.

Cooking vegetables quickly improves their overall quality. When you cook veggies slowly, they lose many nutrients. These methods usually create healthier vegetables. Discovering how to quickly cook veggies in a safe manner is an important step in preparing more nutritious vegetables.

Whatever you may be cooking, using fresh foods is always better than canned, dried, or frozen. The more fresh ingredients you use in your cooking, the better your dishes will be. Fresh ingredients have more flavor, and are less costly than frozen and canned ingredients.

Much like a sponge, the mushrooms will absorb the water. Get a wet cloth instead, and wipe off each mushroom by hand.

Freeze sauces by pouring leftovers into ice cube trays. You will then have it readily available for when you need to make a quick and easy meal. All that needs to be done is to warm it up in a pan. The sauce is still good after it is frozen.

Use vegetable or chicken stock to saute vegetables. The chicken broth will make the vegetables taste a lot better, and you will be able to avoid using other oils that may add fat and calories. This is a tasty way to cook your veggies.

When you are making any kind of food that requires seasoning, put a little seasoning on every few minutes instead of adding it all in the beginning. Then the foods absorb the seasonings rather than being caked with them.

When cooking with garlic, use the freshest bulbs you can find. The general rule is that the fresher garlic is, the sweeter it will taste. You will know if garlic is fresh if it is not bruised, soft or shriveled and has firm skin.

If a particular wine's flavor is unknown to you, then you shouldn't use it as an ingredient in your food. If you mix random wines into your food, you may find that the wine you have chosen spoils the dish. Look for wines that are specifically used for cooking.

If you're overwhelmed with dinner prep for the family, try to do some food prep the night prior. Cut up vegetables and onions, put the meat in the marinade, or make the sauce before going to bed at night. When you decide to cook the following day you'll have less to do and become less stressed, this lets you focus on your main cooking tasks.

This article will show you how simple it is to cook food at home. As your skills improve, you will see how simple it is to prepare healthy and delicious meals, while also saving money. If you cook for your family, your new-found skills can even improve all of their lifestyles. Follow the advice from this article in order to prepare wonderful and tasteful meals.