Have you ever been at a restaurant and wondered how the food was made? Have you tried to recreate this dish in your own home? You can use these suggestions to cook your favorite meals, or make new ones. All kinds of people find cooking a form of relaxation and even a good time.
Keep a few pointers in mind if you plan to attempt cooking with skewers. Using metal skewer types will increase your chances of success when compared to wooden options.
It is essential that you are prepared before you start to cook a meal to serve to your loved ones. Make sure you have everything you need to make your food. Get everything set to cook the next day. Determine if you have you got the right utensils, etc. This process will reduce your stress level and help manifest a more positive outcome.
Lots of recipes for fresh basil? If you want to keep it fresh, first place it in a glass. The stems should be thoroughly covered in water. This will allow it to stay fresh for weeks! If you change the water occasionally, the basil will even grow roots in the water. Trim or cut the basil from time to time for additional growth. Now you can enjoy your fresh basil anytime!
To give your food vitality, prepare meals using fresh ingredients instead of frozen or dried ingredients whenever possible. You will save plenty of money by buying fresh vegetables and other ingredients, and your food will also taste more flavorful.
A lot of preparatory work can be done ahead of time in order to speed up time spent cooking. Check the recipe you're using to see if some preparation can be done without the partially prepared dish spoiling. It is often possible to prepare your ingredients as much as 24 hours ahead of time. This can make it even easier to cook complicated dishes and make them more enjoyable.
When you do this, the mushroom will become absorbent and soak up the water. A better option is to use a clean, damp cloth to hand-wipe each mushroom.
Have you had trouble trying to figure out exactly how long to grill your meats? Use a meat thermometer to tell when it is cooked properly. If the meat is any thicker than one and a half inches, you can reduce your grill time by closing the lid.
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. Place both halves cut side down on separate baking sheets. Sprinkle the baking sheets with a little water and allow the pumpkin to bake for an hour at 350 Fahrenheit.
You will have fresh fruits all year long. Another great benefit is that you will have certain fruits on their off season.
Try different liquids in recipes calling for water or milk to add some new flavors to your meals. Substitute plain water with juice, broth, or the water that you cooked your vegetables in. Instead of milk, try sour cream, yogurt or buttermilk. You can increase the nutritional and wow factors of any dish, simply by trying different substitutions for liquids that recipes call for.
Some ingredients can leave a rather strong odor on your cutting board. Mark one end, or side, of each cutting board so that you know which is which.
You have just read everything you need to know to become a great cook. Be creative and experiment with a wide variety of recipes and meals. Because there are so many different foods from so many different cultures, the possibilities are endless!
Showing posts with label cooking tips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cooking tips. Show all posts
Friday, January 23, 2015
Friday, January 16, 2015
What You Need To Know About Cooking Great Food In Your Kitchen
You will have to develop some level of skill however! Whatever the reason is for your desire to learn to cook, you will feel a great sense of accomplishment once you acquire this skill. Read some great tips on how to become a better cook.
Always store your spices in a cool and dark place. Exposure to excessive heat, humidity, or light will affect the flavor of dried seasoning. Ground herbs and spices will retain their flavor for about a year. Whole spices last longer, possibly as long as five years. When stored in the correct place, they will keep their freshness for longer.
Get your ingredients squared away ahead of time. It is quite important that the preparation is done well in advance of the cooking process. If you are cooking a complex dish, take some of the stress out of it by having your needed ingredients lined up and ready. Get everything prepared at least a day ahead of time.
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. Experiment with several recipes, and give yourself the time in perfecting your cooking skills.
Store your spices in a cool, dark place. Your spices will not last as long if they are exposed to light, heat or humidity. Your spices will have a longer shelf life and retain their good taste if stored in a dark, cool spot. Using fresh spices makes meals even more delicious.
In order to make it easier to slice meat into thin strips, you should first marginally freeze the meat. This technique is especially useful for the meat slicing styles typically used in Asian cuisine. When you freeze the meat, fibers stretch less making it cut easier. To keep your meat cooking evenly, make sure you let the slices thaw completely before you cook them.
During cooking, it's essential that you have sharp knives accessible. Dull knives don't get the job done, but in addition, are actually dangerous. Use a sharp knife and it will glide right through the items you wish to cut, without you having to put a great amount of force behind the blade.
They are known to soak up water like a sponge. Wipe the mushrooms off by hand with a cloth that is damp.
Although garlic is a great flavor booster that compliments a wide variety of foods, it can unfortunately stick to your hands. One tip is to utilize the stainless steel feature of your sink; swipe your hand across it when you've been handling garlic or other ingredients with strong odors. This removes the scent from your hands; it also prevents the odor from being transferred to other foods.
Be sure to soak your wooden skewers in water for at least 30 minutes before using. If you do this, the skewers won't burn on the grill. You can make sure that food stays on your skewers by skewing the food with parallel skewers.
By doing this, you will find that you will have fresh fruit for a much longer time. Another great benefit is that you will have certain fruits on their off season.
So, are you going to put that apron on and get into the kitchen to put these tips into practice? Use this advice to start you on your way to cooking like a pro. No matter the reasons why you want to cook, you should take great pleasure in creating a meal that you have made on your own. It is a reality that skills are necessary to be a great cook. The effort requires just makes the result all the more worth it.
Always store your spices in a cool and dark place. Exposure to excessive heat, humidity, or light will affect the flavor of dried seasoning. Ground herbs and spices will retain their flavor for about a year. Whole spices last longer, possibly as long as five years. When stored in the correct place, they will keep their freshness for longer.
Get your ingredients squared away ahead of time. It is quite important that the preparation is done well in advance of the cooking process. If you are cooking a complex dish, take some of the stress out of it by having your needed ingredients lined up and ready. Get everything prepared at least a day ahead of time.
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. Experiment with several recipes, and give yourself the time in perfecting your cooking skills.
Store your spices in a cool, dark place. Your spices will not last as long if they are exposed to light, heat or humidity. Your spices will have a longer shelf life and retain their good taste if stored in a dark, cool spot. Using fresh spices makes meals even more delicious.
In order to make it easier to slice meat into thin strips, you should first marginally freeze the meat. This technique is especially useful for the meat slicing styles typically used in Asian cuisine. When you freeze the meat, fibers stretch less making it cut easier. To keep your meat cooking evenly, make sure you let the slices thaw completely before you cook them.
During cooking, it's essential that you have sharp knives accessible. Dull knives don't get the job done, but in addition, are actually dangerous. Use a sharp knife and it will glide right through the items you wish to cut, without you having to put a great amount of force behind the blade.
They are known to soak up water like a sponge. Wipe the mushrooms off by hand with a cloth that is damp.
Although garlic is a great flavor booster that compliments a wide variety of foods, it can unfortunately stick to your hands. One tip is to utilize the stainless steel feature of your sink; swipe your hand across it when you've been handling garlic or other ingredients with strong odors. This removes the scent from your hands; it also prevents the odor from being transferred to other foods.
Be sure to soak your wooden skewers in water for at least 30 minutes before using. If you do this, the skewers won't burn on the grill. You can make sure that food stays on your skewers by skewing the food with parallel skewers.
By doing this, you will find that you will have fresh fruit for a much longer time. Another great benefit is that you will have certain fruits on their off season.
So, are you going to put that apron on and get into the kitchen to put these tips into practice? Use this advice to start you on your way to cooking like a pro. No matter the reasons why you want to cook, you should take great pleasure in creating a meal that you have made on your own. It is a reality that skills are necessary to be a great cook. The effort requires just makes the result all the more worth it.
Monday, January 5, 2015
No Too Good At Cooking? Follow These Simple Kitchen Tips
For most people, cooking is nothing more than a daily chore they have to take care of. However, cooking can be an enjoyable activity. It's also a good step toward a more healthy lifestyle. A good cook will always continue to learn new and innovative methods, and the following information will help you learn more about cooking as well.
When you decide to cook with skewers there are a few strategies to keep in mind. Regarding metal skewers, square or twisted varieties are preferable to round ones, as the round ones do not hold food items as well as the other two types.
Cool, dark and dry places are ideal for keeping herbs and spices. Warmth, humidity and light will make them stale and unflavorful. Herbs and spices that are ground usually remain flavorful for a year. Whole spices might retain their flavors for three to five years. When stored in the correct place, they will keep their freshness for longer.
It's very important to have good, sharp knives for cooking. A dull knife will not only make it more difficult to slice and chop your ingredients, but it will also be a hazard to use. The chance of accidentally cutting yourself while using a dull knife to cut steak is way higher than using a sharp knife to cut the same steak.
If you are having guests over for dinner, cook a meal you are confident making. You don't ever want to try new ingredients or recipes that you don't have experience with. This will ensure that your cooking experience is stress-free.
One way to make mashed potatoes retain their taste but contain a little less fat and calories is to replace some of them with equal amounts of cauliflower. Cauliflower blends perfectly with your potatoes without changing the taste of your mashed potatoes. 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.
Cook your vegetables quickly to preserve flavor. The longer you cook vegetables, the less flavor and nutrition they have. These quick cooking techniques will produce generally, healthier vegetable sides. Cooking vegetables as quickly as possible is key to preserving their nutrients.
When you are cooking, it is important to remember that a fresh ingredient is always better than a frozen or dried ingredient. Try to use as many fresh ingredients as you can, because they will bring out a lot more flavor in your dish, and they can be a lot less expensive in the long run as well.
As was stated at the beginning of the article, good cooks never stop learning. Cooking in enjoyable because you will be able to learn about new and fun foods, as well as great methods for preparing them. In addition, it provides you with the pleasure of teaching others the wonderful things you have learned. Cooking is not just a task to be mastered, but a gift that was meant to be shared with others.
When you decide to cook with skewers there are a few strategies to keep in mind. Regarding metal skewers, square or twisted varieties are preferable to round ones, as the round ones do not hold food items as well as the other two types.
Cool, dark and dry places are ideal for keeping herbs and spices. Warmth, humidity and light will make them stale and unflavorful. Herbs and spices that are ground usually remain flavorful for a year. Whole spices might retain their flavors for three to five years. When stored in the correct place, they will keep their freshness for longer.
It's very important to have good, sharp knives for cooking. A dull knife will not only make it more difficult to slice and chop your ingredients, but it will also be a hazard to use. The chance of accidentally cutting yourself while using a dull knife to cut steak is way higher than using a sharp knife to cut the same steak.
If you are having guests over for dinner, cook a meal you are confident making. You don't ever want to try new ingredients or recipes that you don't have experience with. This will ensure that your cooking experience is stress-free.
One way to make mashed potatoes retain their taste but contain a little less fat and calories is to replace some of them with equal amounts of cauliflower. Cauliflower blends perfectly with your potatoes without changing the taste of your mashed potatoes. 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.
Cook your vegetables quickly to preserve flavor. The longer you cook vegetables, the less flavor and nutrition they have. These quick cooking techniques will produce generally, healthier vegetable sides. Cooking vegetables as quickly as possible is key to preserving their nutrients.
When you are cooking, it is important to remember that a fresh ingredient is always better than a frozen or dried ingredient. Try to use as many fresh ingredients as you can, because they will bring out a lot more flavor in your dish, and they can be a lot less expensive in the long run as well.
As was stated at the beginning of the article, good cooks never stop learning. Cooking in enjoyable because you will be able to learn about new and fun foods, as well as great methods for preparing them. In addition, it provides you with the pleasure of teaching others the wonderful things you have learned. Cooking is not just a task to be mastered, but a gift that was meant to be shared with others.
Friday, January 2, 2015
Cook Up A Storm With These Handy Kitchen Tips
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 to pick up, while others require study and practice. Here, we will give you some handy kitchen tips to help you improve your cooking skills.
When you are making stir-fry dishes, make certain the meat is thinly sliced on the bias. However, this can take a lot of time while also being very tricky. Remove the meat when it is firm but before it freezes, and cut at an angle of 45 degrees against the grain.
A sharp knife is indispensable for efficient cooking. Dull knives make cutting very difficult, and this makes them much more dangerous than sharp knives. Use a sharp knife and it will glide right through the items you wish to cut, without you having to put a great amount of force behind the blade.
Long cooking processes, like boiling, can "zap" nutrients from foods, like vegetables. Use quick cooking methods instead to maintain their healthy quality. Examples of these methods are steaming, sauteing, or the best one is to eat them raw.
Store your apples correctly so you can use them to cook during the winter months. Air that is warm or dry will cause apples to spoil, so it is important to place them in a plastic bag, knotted loosely and keep them in a cool place. One rotten apple will spoil the bunch so keep a close eye on them while stored.
Cooking vegetables quickly improves their overall quality. Vegetables that have been slow-cooked are not as nutritional or tasty as vegetables that are cooked in other ways. Vegetables cooked in these ways make healthier side dishes and ingredients in recipes. The key to improving your vegetables is learning how you can cook them in the minimum amount of time.
Do you love to cook with fresh basil? Store the basil within a glass. The stems will then need to be covered with water. It will remain fresh for a good amount of time just sitting on the kitchen counter! If you occasionally change its water, it will sprout roots. Occasionally trim the basil in order to promote more growth so that you can have fresh basil for a while.
Always soak skewers in water for 30 minutes before loading them with food and cooking. This will help to prevent burning when they are cooking. You can keep food on the skewer when you use two parallel skewers instead of one.
Keep in mind that tofu and beans are excellent sources of protein when you want to add more protein to your diet. They are also easily located at almost every grocery store. Tofu can be seasoned and pan-fried, and then served in lieu of a meat dish. Likewise, beans cooked with herbs can also be a flavorful dish.
Over-complicating recipes is often the source of a ruined meal. You can make healthy, tasty meals without a lot of hassle, by sticking to what you understand clearly. You can use the tips that have been provided to improve your cooking skills and make improve every meal that you cook in the future.
When you are making stir-fry dishes, make certain the meat is thinly sliced on the bias. However, this can take a lot of time while also being very tricky. Remove the meat when it is firm but before it freezes, and cut at an angle of 45 degrees against the grain.
A sharp knife is indispensable for efficient cooking. Dull knives make cutting very difficult, and this makes them much more dangerous than sharp knives. Use a sharp knife and it will glide right through the items you wish to cut, without you having to put a great amount of force behind the blade.
Long cooking processes, like boiling, can "zap" nutrients from foods, like vegetables. Use quick cooking methods instead to maintain their healthy quality. Examples of these methods are steaming, sauteing, or the best one is to eat them raw.
Store your apples correctly so you can use them to cook during the winter months. Air that is warm or dry will cause apples to spoil, so it is important to place them in a plastic bag, knotted loosely and keep them in a cool place. One rotten apple will spoil the bunch so keep a close eye on them while stored.
Cooking vegetables quickly improves their overall quality. Vegetables that have been slow-cooked are not as nutritional or tasty as vegetables that are cooked in other ways. Vegetables cooked in these ways make healthier side dishes and ingredients in recipes. The key to improving your vegetables is learning how you can cook them in the minimum amount of time.
Do you love to cook with fresh basil? Store the basil within a glass. The stems will then need to be covered with water. It will remain fresh for a good amount of time just sitting on the kitchen counter! If you occasionally change its water, it will sprout roots. Occasionally trim the basil in order to promote more growth so that you can have fresh basil for a while.
Always soak skewers in water for 30 minutes before loading them with food and cooking. This will help to prevent burning when they are cooking. You can keep food on the skewer when you use two parallel skewers instead of one.
Keep in mind that tofu and beans are excellent sources of protein when you want to add more protein to your diet. They are also easily located at almost every grocery store. Tofu can be seasoned and pan-fried, and then served in lieu of a meat dish. Likewise, beans cooked with herbs can also be a flavorful dish.
Over-complicating recipes is often the source of a ruined meal. You can make healthy, tasty meals without a lot of hassle, by sticking to what you understand clearly. You can use the tips that have been provided to improve your cooking skills and make improve every meal that you cook in the future.
Thursday, January 1, 2015
All About Cooking: Tips And Tricks For The Home Chef
While we all need to eat, not all of us can cook food that is worth eating...yet. Make the most of your cooking efforts by trying the tips offered here. Do not allow yourself to be intimidated by the idea of preparing a fine meal with a variety of ingredients. Cooking can be a very good skill to have. Have fun cooking and don't stress if you go a bit overboard and make a mess occasionally.
Cooking vegetables for a long time in a boiling liquid will remove nutrients that are found in them. To keep them nutritious, try quickly cooking them, like sauteing or steaming. You can also enjoy them raw.
Be careful when using garlic because the flavor and aroma can be transferred to a variety of surfaces, including your hands. By rubbing your hands inside a stainless sink after handling pungent smelling foods. 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 have made sauce, put the leftovers into an ice cube tray and freeze. Then, at a later date, it is a simple process to reheat the cubes on your stove top in a pan. Nothing to worry about as the sauce will be fine even after it's been sitting in ice cube trays.
When cooking vegetables, try cooking them in chicken broth. Add extra flavor to your vegetables and keep them from sticking by using chicken broth instead of water. There is not a lot of expense when buying chicken broth, and most grocers carry it.
Using less fats, like extra virgin oil or butter, when you cook will help you to lose weight and keep your heart healthy. These include fatty substances like oils and butter. A smart alternative is to switch to a nonstick cooking spray, it gives similar results with less of the unhealthy ingredients.
Before cooking pumpkins, cut them up and place them on a baking sheet flesh side up. On different baking sheets, place a half face down on each one. Sprinkle the baking sheet with water, and bake the pumpkin for an hour at 350 degrees.
Always measure your cooking oils! To lower the amount of fat in your cooking, be sure to carefully measure the amount of oil that you use when you cook, instead of simply pouring from the bottle into a pan. If you know exactly how much oil you're using, you know exactly how much fat has been added.
If you want to cook a roast but don't have enough time, you should keep the bone in. It will cook faster because the bone will evenly distribute the heat inside your roaster. Once your roast is done, just cut the meat from the bone, then serve.
Cooking doesn't have to be scary. Home made food is cheaper and healthier than eating out, and making it can be fun. Use the tips we have given you and let them lead you to the grocer's, back to your kitchen and then to your happy family! Enjoy your cooking adventure!
Cooking vegetables for a long time in a boiling liquid will remove nutrients that are found in them. To keep them nutritious, try quickly cooking them, like sauteing or steaming. You can also enjoy them raw.
Be careful when using garlic because the flavor and aroma can be transferred to a variety of surfaces, including your hands. By rubbing your hands inside a stainless sink after handling pungent smelling foods. 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 have made sauce, put the leftovers into an ice cube tray and freeze. Then, at a later date, it is a simple process to reheat the cubes on your stove top in a pan. Nothing to worry about as the sauce will be fine even after it's been sitting in ice cube trays.
When cooking vegetables, try cooking them in chicken broth. Add extra flavor to your vegetables and keep them from sticking by using chicken broth instead of water. There is not a lot of expense when buying chicken broth, and most grocers carry it.
Using less fats, like extra virgin oil or butter, when you cook will help you to lose weight and keep your heart healthy. These include fatty substances like oils and butter. A smart alternative is to switch to a nonstick cooking spray, it gives similar results with less of the unhealthy ingredients.
Before cooking pumpkins, cut them up and place them on a baking sheet flesh side up. On different baking sheets, place a half face down on each one. Sprinkle the baking sheet with water, and bake the pumpkin for an hour at 350 degrees.
Always measure your cooking oils! To lower the amount of fat in your cooking, be sure to carefully measure the amount of oil that you use when you cook, instead of simply pouring from the bottle into a pan. If you know exactly how much oil you're using, you know exactly how much fat has been added.
If you want to cook a roast but don't have enough time, you should keep the bone in. It will cook faster because the bone will evenly distribute the heat inside your roaster. Once your roast is done, just cut the meat from the bone, then serve.
Cooking doesn't have to be scary. Home made food is cheaper and healthier than eating out, and making it can be fun. Use the tips we have given you and let them lead you to the grocer's, back to your kitchen and then to your happy family! Enjoy your cooking adventure!
Wednesday, December 24, 2014
How To Keep Your Good Intentions This Christmas Season
Christmas is often the holiday when we say we're going to focus on family, but our intentions keep getting lost. It's busy. It's hectic. There's not enough time to get it all done. Etc. Etc. Etc.
If this sounds like your family, it's time to take back the season and stick to your good intentions. It's not impossible. It's not even that hard. Let's take a look at several issues we struggle with during Christmas and see if there might be a solution or two.
This issue makes the top of the list because it often colors the rest of the celebration before we can even get our plans underway. Everything seems alright until the money starts to disappear. All our good intentions to stay focused on family and fun start to fade away when money gets tight.
There is only one solution - budget. Perhaps a budget seems like too much work, but it's the only way to keep the focus where it belongs. You will have to spend some time with paper, pencil, and some hard choices, but it will be worth it, trust me.
Create a budget that won't just postpone the pain. This means put a limit on ALL spending, including the credit cards. To avoid the January surprises, you may even want to pull together some envelopes with spending cash designated for gifts, food, drinks, decorations, donations, and whatever you need for your
Christmas celebration.
A budget specifically set for each individual item not only helps reign in spending, but it also helps eliminate that last minute spending spree because you forgot if you took care of X, Y, or Z. Plan your budget like you plan your Christmas dinner menu. Be precise in your budgeting and you will find it relieves a lot of stress, giving you time and energy to focus on what you wanted to - family and fun, remember?
No, you are not going to focus on losing weight during Christmas. Instead, you want to think about staying active every day and enjoying some play time with your family and friends.
Some of the stress you feel during the holidays is due to the fact that you are putting your health on a back-burner. You may be eating too much of the wrong foods and skipping exercise because you're too busy. Whatever the reason, you should never omit exercise from your daily routine, especially during the holidays!
Even if you can't make it to the gym or spend an hour on the treadmill, you can stay active. Several short walks a day will help clear the mind and get the blood pumping. You will burn a few calories, but most importantly you will lift your spirits. It's amazing what a little boost in those endorphins, the feel good hormones, will do for a person.
And, don't forget the family! If spending more time with your family is part of what Christmas is all about, then a little play goes a long way toward that goal, too. Exercise to feel good, but make exercise fun to include your kids. Before the day gets too busy, get outside and have a game of tag. Shoot some buckets. Get a game of field hockey going. Do somersaults. Rollerblade. Ride your bike. Snowshoe. Build a snowman. Whatever you can do to be active and have some laughs will get you well on the way to your goal of spending time enjoying your family this Christmas.
You've got your budget set and you have lots of ideas to stay active and healthy. But, there are going to be times spent inside, too. Of course, you'll be gathered around the table during some of the Christmas season enjoying delicious meals and sharing stories. This is all wonderful because your goal is to connect with your family, but how you spend your time is important.
One great way to make your moments together count even more is to plan activities that involve the whole family working together on projects. These can be simple crafts like creating handmade gifts or decorations to share, to larger scale projects like cooking and serving dinner at a community shelter or church.
If your family is musically inclined, you may want to join a caroling group, church choir, or band. Maybe you would like to help decorate the church. Your town may have a youth group that pitches in and decorates the store windows or city hall.
Give some thought to what you, your family, and your community needs and figure out a way to help get those needs met. Gift trees are popular to help get gifts for families who can't afford to buy gifts. Food drives are another easy to organize an event that your family could do. Plan a movie night at your local theater and ask attendees to bring a new toy to give to kids spending Christmas in a hospital or away from home. There are lots of ways you can do good deeds and find lots of entertainment for your family at the same time.
Having a happy holiday often means finding a balance between a busy schedule, tight budget, and family fun. You can do it all, but it takes planning, a few strategies, and lots of love. Merry Christmas!
If this sounds like your family, it's time to take back the season and stick to your good intentions. It's not impossible. It's not even that hard. Let's take a look at several issues we struggle with during Christmas and see if there might be a solution or two.
Expense
This issue makes the top of the list because it often colors the rest of the celebration before we can even get our plans underway. Everything seems alright until the money starts to disappear. All our good intentions to stay focused on family and fun start to fade away when money gets tight.
There is only one solution - budget. Perhaps a budget seems like too much work, but it's the only way to keep the focus where it belongs. You will have to spend some time with paper, pencil, and some hard choices, but it will be worth it, trust me.
Create a budget that won't just postpone the pain. This means put a limit on ALL spending, including the credit cards. To avoid the January surprises, you may even want to pull together some envelopes with spending cash designated for gifts, food, drinks, decorations, donations, and whatever you need for your
Christmas celebration.
A budget specifically set for each individual item not only helps reign in spending, but it also helps eliminate that last minute spending spree because you forgot if you took care of X, Y, or Z. Plan your budget like you plan your Christmas dinner menu. Be precise in your budgeting and you will find it relieves a lot of stress, giving you time and energy to focus on what you wanted to - family and fun, remember?
Exercise
No, you are not going to focus on losing weight during Christmas. Instead, you want to think about staying active every day and enjoying some play time with your family and friends.
Some of the stress you feel during the holidays is due to the fact that you are putting your health on a back-burner. You may be eating too much of the wrong foods and skipping exercise because you're too busy. Whatever the reason, you should never omit exercise from your daily routine, especially during the holidays!
Even if you can't make it to the gym or spend an hour on the treadmill, you can stay active. Several short walks a day will help clear the mind and get the blood pumping. You will burn a few calories, but most importantly you will lift your spirits. It's amazing what a little boost in those endorphins, the feel good hormones, will do for a person.
And, don't forget the family! If spending more time with your family is part of what Christmas is all about, then a little play goes a long way toward that goal, too. Exercise to feel good, but make exercise fun to include your kids. Before the day gets too busy, get outside and have a game of tag. Shoot some buckets. Get a game of field hockey going. Do somersaults. Rollerblade. Ride your bike. Snowshoe. Build a snowman. Whatever you can do to be active and have some laughs will get you well on the way to your goal of spending time enjoying your family this Christmas.
Entertainment
You've got your budget set and you have lots of ideas to stay active and healthy. But, there are going to be times spent inside, too. Of course, you'll be gathered around the table during some of the Christmas season enjoying delicious meals and sharing stories. This is all wonderful because your goal is to connect with your family, but how you spend your time is important.
One great way to make your moments together count even more is to plan activities that involve the whole family working together on projects. These can be simple crafts like creating handmade gifts or decorations to share, to larger scale projects like cooking and serving dinner at a community shelter or church.
If your family is musically inclined, you may want to join a caroling group, church choir, or band. Maybe you would like to help decorate the church. Your town may have a youth group that pitches in and decorates the store windows or city hall.
Give some thought to what you, your family, and your community needs and figure out a way to help get those needs met. Gift trees are popular to help get gifts for families who can't afford to buy gifts. Food drives are another easy to organize an event that your family could do. Plan a movie night at your local theater and ask attendees to bring a new toy to give to kids spending Christmas in a hospital or away from home. There are lots of ways you can do good deeds and find lots of entertainment for your family at the same time.
Having a happy holiday often means finding a balance between a busy schedule, tight budget, and family fun. You can do it all, but it takes planning, a few strategies, and lots of love. Merry Christmas!
Tuesday, December 23, 2014
Use These Tips For A Healthy Christmas Party
Get On Board With A Healthy Christmas Work Party
The annual Christmas Party notice is posted on the bulletin board. Your reaction is to cringe. Healthy eating was finally a habit! Your kitchen is stocked with all the foods your diet requires, and now THIS.
Take heart! There are ways you can enjoy a Christmas party and stay on track with your diet. Whether you are on a weight loss program, a heart health program, a diabetes program, or any other nutrition program, there are ways you can enjoy the party. Here are a few ideas to bring that holiday spirit back while staying on track with your diet.
Sign Up
This is probably the single most important way to keep the Christmas party healthy and fun at the same time. Yes, it's extra work for you, but avoiding the problem is even harder work. If you leave the planning to others, you may not have a choice of healthy foods on the table. When you see that sign-up sheet on the bulletin board, put your name down as soon as possible. If you're early in the planning stages, you may be able to direct the menu.
Bar Time
You will typically find a bar set up for a Christmas party. There may be soft drinks, wine, beer, or liquor for mixed drinks. Perhaps there is a punch bowl. If you are part of the planning committee, be sure to insist on plenty of water, juice, club soda, and sparkling water. Offer to make the punch using fresh juice and sparkling soda or water and skip the alcohol. If you are not on the committee, you will want to prepare yourself. Overindulging at the bar is often caused by thirst, so eliminate the thirst by filling your tummy with good fresh juice and water before and during the party. Alternate any sugary or alcohol drinks you have with large glasses of water.
Eat Ahead
Trying to stay on a diet is difficult enough, but if you're watching the clock tick at work, knowing that at a certain time there will be acres of food and drinks laid before you, it's even harder. That's why you want to plan to eat before you get to the party. Yes, it's fun to look forward to all that food, but your empty stomach will make decisions you won't find so fun in the long run. If your party starts after work, bring a good, big lunch with you that suits your dietary needs. If your party begins at mid-day, eat a hearty healthy breakfast and have a snack just before the party begins. You're not being a 'party pooper.' You're being smart.
Peruse Then Choose
When you walk into the party, stop and take a look around. Your senses may be overwhelmed at first, but if you slowly peruse the spread, you will begin to see what you need, and what you don't need. Walk along the tables, go up to the bar, and make a few mental notes. The trouble with an over-loaded plate usually occurs when you start at the beginning of the table and just start scooping up servings. If you don't know what's ahead, how can you choose what you want to eat? So, take a look around, then go back and selectively serve up a plate that suits you and your diet.
Divided Desserts
This is probably the easiest of all the strategies to stay on track with your diet. Most everyone at the party will get to the dessert table and let out a little sigh. They wish they could indulge, but can't. That's your cue to choose a 'dessert buddy' and divide one of those delicious treats between you. If you were vigilant with the other strategies, you have probably saved yourself some wiggle room for dessert. However, if sugar is forbidden, this table may be off limits. That takes us back to the first strategy - sign up. If you are part of the planning committee, make sure you propose an alternative for the usual sweet dessert.
The average Christmas party is full of dietary obstacles. Getting involved with the planning and taking a few steps to avoid the pitfalls will allow you to not only attend the party, but to enjoy it. Merry Christmas!
Monday, December 22, 2014
How To Choose A Healthier Holiday Season Banquet And Bar
During the last several months of the year, most of us have a reason or two to celebrate. The holidays can include religious observances, gift giving, programs, music, and perhaps dancing. But, at the center of these festivities usually lurks a table piled high with all sorts of indulgences - we're talking food and drink galore!
Yes, it's a party and you want to join in and enjoy everything. However, if you're like most people, you have limits. How can you have fun and stay on track with your healthy living? Let's take a look at a few ideas to keep you focused while partaking in the celebrations.
Don't let those delicious dishes hypnotize you. You're in charge here! You have your dietary limits clearly defined, so take a deep breath and ask yourself; "What food on this table really suits my healthy goals?"
Approach the holiday table slowly, with caution. Help yourself to small portions of those foods that are a part of your healthy diet. Enjoy. Give yourself time before choosing another morsel from another offering. Chew slowly and savor each tasty bite. Keep choosing foods that you know are nutritious.
After you've sampled the foods that are a healthy part of your diet, stop. Wait for these healthy foods to settle in and satisfy your appetite. If you're still hungry, go back for more foods that fit your diet. The idea is to fill your tummy with good, healthy foods before giving into temptation. If you have been practicing nutritious eating habits, you probably already have your body and digestive system trained to want good food. Giving your body the good food first may just satisfy your cravings.
But, we're only human. The delicious aromas of certain not-so-healthy foods may just keep calling your name. Even after you've eaten a fair share of healthy foods, you may succumb to those forbidden goodies. Go ahead and take one. Or, better yet, offer to cut one in half, or thirds, or quarters, and share with someone. Chances are pretty good that you'll find someone going through the same holiday dieting struggle. They will be happy to share.
When it comes time for dessert, there really isn't much you can do to escape the indulgence. You don't want to offend Grandma and not join in the praise when she serves up her family's secret recipe. But, you can limit yourself. Even Grandma understands the phrase; "I'll just have a sliver." You may end up having more than you wanted, but if you planned for this by watching what you ate during dinner, you should count this as a victory.
As you're strolling past the buffet filled with all those delicious appetizers, picking just those morsels that fit your healthy eating habits, someone hands you a glass of wine or a cocktail. Maybe you take another pass at the buffet and suddenly your glass is empty. But, the host is Johnny-On-The-Spot and before you know it, you have another drink in your hand.
The holidays are a time of rejoicing. Food and drink are two ways we celebrate. However, most of us want to keep our caloric intake, sugar intake, and alcohol intake to a minimum, for many reasons.
Just like the banquet, the bar offers opportunities to enjoy, but also to stay on track with our healthy diet. There are several ways to keep from overindulging at the bar.
Mingling with a drink in your hand is fun, but it is also a way to lose track of how many glasses you have had filled. While you're nibbling on hors d'oeuvres, your host is anxious to keep your glass filled. You may not even be aware of how often your glass is 'topped off' before it's too late. Instead of wine or a cocktail, mingle with a glass of sparkling water or club soda. Your host will be happy to keep your glass filled and you will not go over your limit.
If you drink wine, save it for the dinner table. Most sit down dinners will have wine specifically chosen to complement the meal. If you have already had all the wine you should drink before dinner, you miss out on the fun during dinner - or you overindulge. Either way, it's not worth ruining your meal, and your health.
If after-dinner drinks are offered, weigh the pros and cons. If you're having dessert, too, you may want to opt out and have plain coffee or tea. Remember; this is a balancing act. You know you will need to make choices before, during, and after dinner, so choose wisely.
At the end of the day, you can be happy if you tried to satisfy your appetite with healthy choices, and only gave in to a few delicious treats. After all, the holidays only come around once a year, leaving us plenty of time to get back on track. Enjoy a Happy Healthy Holiday Season!
Yes, it's a party and you want to join in and enjoy everything. However, if you're like most people, you have limits. How can you have fun and stay on track with your healthy living? Let's take a look at a few ideas to keep you focused while partaking in the celebrations.
The Banquet
Don't let those delicious dishes hypnotize you. You're in charge here! You have your dietary limits clearly defined, so take a deep breath and ask yourself; "What food on this table really suits my healthy goals?"
Approach the holiday table slowly, with caution. Help yourself to small portions of those foods that are a part of your healthy diet. Enjoy. Give yourself time before choosing another morsel from another offering. Chew slowly and savor each tasty bite. Keep choosing foods that you know are nutritious.
After you've sampled the foods that are a healthy part of your diet, stop. Wait for these healthy foods to settle in and satisfy your appetite. If you're still hungry, go back for more foods that fit your diet. The idea is to fill your tummy with good, healthy foods before giving into temptation. If you have been practicing nutritious eating habits, you probably already have your body and digestive system trained to want good food. Giving your body the good food first may just satisfy your cravings.
But, we're only human. The delicious aromas of certain not-so-healthy foods may just keep calling your name. Even after you've eaten a fair share of healthy foods, you may succumb to those forbidden goodies. Go ahead and take one. Or, better yet, offer to cut one in half, or thirds, or quarters, and share with someone. Chances are pretty good that you'll find someone going through the same holiday dieting struggle. They will be happy to share.
When it comes time for dessert, there really isn't much you can do to escape the indulgence. You don't want to offend Grandma and not join in the praise when she serves up her family's secret recipe. But, you can limit yourself. Even Grandma understands the phrase; "I'll just have a sliver." You may end up having more than you wanted, but if you planned for this by watching what you ate during dinner, you should count this as a victory.
The Bar
As you're strolling past the buffet filled with all those delicious appetizers, picking just those morsels that fit your healthy eating habits, someone hands you a glass of wine or a cocktail. Maybe you take another pass at the buffet and suddenly your glass is empty. But, the host is Johnny-On-The-Spot and before you know it, you have another drink in your hand.
The holidays are a time of rejoicing. Food and drink are two ways we celebrate. However, most of us want to keep our caloric intake, sugar intake, and alcohol intake to a minimum, for many reasons.
Just like the banquet, the bar offers opportunities to enjoy, but also to stay on track with our healthy diet. There are several ways to keep from overindulging at the bar.
Mingling with a drink in your hand is fun, but it is also a way to lose track of how many glasses you have had filled. While you're nibbling on hors d'oeuvres, your host is anxious to keep your glass filled. You may not even be aware of how often your glass is 'topped off' before it's too late. Instead of wine or a cocktail, mingle with a glass of sparkling water or club soda. Your host will be happy to keep your glass filled and you will not go over your limit.
If you drink wine, save it for the dinner table. Most sit down dinners will have wine specifically chosen to complement the meal. If you have already had all the wine you should drink before dinner, you miss out on the fun during dinner - or you overindulge. Either way, it's not worth ruining your meal, and your health.
If after-dinner drinks are offered, weigh the pros and cons. If you're having dessert, too, you may want to opt out and have plain coffee or tea. Remember; this is a balancing act. You know you will need to make choices before, during, and after dinner, so choose wisely.
At the end of the day, you can be happy if you tried to satisfy your appetite with healthy choices, and only gave in to a few delicious treats. After all, the holidays only come around once a year, leaving us plenty of time to get back on track. Enjoy a Happy Healthy Holiday Season!
Thursday, December 18, 2014
Tips For Honoring Hanukkah With Food Traditions
If you are unfamiliar with the food traditions of Hanukkah, you might be interested to know that the typical menu for this celebration isn't really all about keeping kids happy. Of course, it's true that stacks of crispy deep-fried potato latkes, sweet cream cheese rugelach, jam filled donuts, and cheese blintzes will tend to keep kids gathered around the menorah, but there is still more to the story.
There are reasons why certain dishes are on the table during Hanukkah. Foods served during this celebration are meant to remind us of the miracles of Hanukkah. Let's take a look at some simple explanations of the source of the traditions and a few ways meals were created to use these foods.
The miracle of the oil and the menorah are familiar to many of us. Hanukkah celebrates Jewish freedom over religious persecution. The eight days of celebration and the menorah honor the miracle of the olive oil. Upon returning to the temple after victory over Greek oppression, there was found only one small flask of olive oil to burn, which should have lasted one day. However, the oil lasted eight days, giving us the miracle of the menorah. This is why Hanukkah is celebrated for eight days and why olive oil is used at great liberty in foods during this holiday.
We also honor the memory of a young woman by the name of Yehudis, who devised a plan to kill a Greek general during the war. The story tells us she fed the general a great deal of cheese, followed by enough wine to make him fall into a deep sleep, at which time she bravely killed him. When word of his death reached the general's army, they fled. We remember this woman's bravery and celebrate the freedom gained by her act by serving many delicious cheese filled treats.
From these two basic foods used during the Hanukkah celebration come specific dishes that are staples within many Jewish communities. The traditional foods may vary slightly, but finding ways to incorporate olive oil and dairy products connects Jewish people around the world.
Pastries known as sufganiyot are very well known. They are quite absorbent, soaking in lots of the olive oil they are cooked in. They may be sweetened and filled with fruit jellies or honey, making them quite popular and a staple in many Jewish homes today.
Adding cheese to these pastries was a natural choice, celebrating two traditions at once. Cheese filled pastries were a standard Hanukkah treat throughout central Europe, while in Germany the pastries were more often filled with jellies and jams. The Indian version of this pastry combined sugar, honey, milk, and butter with the yeast and flour to create another nod to dairy.
Where olive oil was scarce, in the northern climates, goose or chicken fat was used for frying. Also in these colder climates, potatoes and apples were abundant, making potato latkes and apple fritters a staple during Hanukkah. Along with potatoes and apples, dairy products were plentiful in these colder regions. Out of these foods grew the tradition of serving sour cream and applesauce over the potato latkes. Jewish families would use what was available to best honor the teachings and the stories of the battle for religious freedom.
Deep fried latkes are served in practically every Jewish home during Hanukkah. Whether as a main dish or as crispy little appetizers, they are definitely a favorite dish for many. The tradition of serving latkes is based on the assumption they are fried in olive oil, symbolizing the miracle of the oil in the Temple.
Of course, olive oil, cheese, and any dairy product can be served in ways that are healthier. You don't need to drop potatoes into a vat of olive oil to honor the miracle. You can, instead, dress a fresh salad with pure pressed extra virgin olive oil. Perhaps, you can replace the sugary cream cheese filled pastries with a mixture of cream cheese with fresh fruit and serve as a spread. You can even still enjoy your pastries, just pan fry them quickly to limit the amount of olive oil they absorb.
Fill your Hanukkah buffet with all the traditional foods your family loves, but remember; the food is about honoring the memories and the miracles. A little bit of pure olive oil and fresh cheese is a lovely way to remember. Happy Hanukkah!
There are reasons why certain dishes are on the table during Hanukkah. Foods served during this celebration are meant to remind us of the miracles of Hanukkah. Let's take a look at some simple explanations of the source of the traditions and a few ways meals were created to use these foods.
Olive Oil
The miracle of the oil and the menorah are familiar to many of us. Hanukkah celebrates Jewish freedom over religious persecution. The eight days of celebration and the menorah honor the miracle of the olive oil. Upon returning to the temple after victory over Greek oppression, there was found only one small flask of olive oil to burn, which should have lasted one day. However, the oil lasted eight days, giving us the miracle of the menorah. This is why Hanukkah is celebrated for eight days and why olive oil is used at great liberty in foods during this holiday.
Cheese
We also honor the memory of a young woman by the name of Yehudis, who devised a plan to kill a Greek general during the war. The story tells us she fed the general a great deal of cheese, followed by enough wine to make him fall into a deep sleep, at which time she bravely killed him. When word of his death reached the general's army, they fled. We remember this woman's bravery and celebrate the freedom gained by her act by serving many delicious cheese filled treats.
From Olive Oil and Cheese To Food Traditions
From these two basic foods used during the Hanukkah celebration come specific dishes that are staples within many Jewish communities. The traditional foods may vary slightly, but finding ways to incorporate olive oil and dairy products connects Jewish people around the world.
Pastries known as sufganiyot are very well known. They are quite absorbent, soaking in lots of the olive oil they are cooked in. They may be sweetened and filled with fruit jellies or honey, making them quite popular and a staple in many Jewish homes today.
Adding cheese to these pastries was a natural choice, celebrating two traditions at once. Cheese filled pastries were a standard Hanukkah treat throughout central Europe, while in Germany the pastries were more often filled with jellies and jams. The Indian version of this pastry combined sugar, honey, milk, and butter with the yeast and flour to create another nod to dairy.
Where olive oil was scarce, in the northern climates, goose or chicken fat was used for frying. Also in these colder climates, potatoes and apples were abundant, making potato latkes and apple fritters a staple during Hanukkah. Along with potatoes and apples, dairy products were plentiful in these colder regions. Out of these foods grew the tradition of serving sour cream and applesauce over the potato latkes. Jewish families would use what was available to best honor the teachings and the stories of the battle for religious freedom.
Deep fried latkes are served in practically every Jewish home during Hanukkah. Whether as a main dish or as crispy little appetizers, they are definitely a favorite dish for many. The tradition of serving latkes is based on the assumption they are fried in olive oil, symbolizing the miracle of the oil in the Temple.
Of course, olive oil, cheese, and any dairy product can be served in ways that are healthier. You don't need to drop potatoes into a vat of olive oil to honor the miracle. You can, instead, dress a fresh salad with pure pressed extra virgin olive oil. Perhaps, you can replace the sugary cream cheese filled pastries with a mixture of cream cheese with fresh fruit and serve as a spread. You can even still enjoy your pastries, just pan fry them quickly to limit the amount of olive oil they absorb.
Fill your Hanukkah buffet with all the traditional foods your family loves, but remember; the food is about honoring the memories and the miracles. A little bit of pure olive oil and fresh cheese is a lovely way to remember. Happy Hanukkah!
Wednesday, December 17, 2014
Healthy Hannukkah Celebration With Olive Oil
Celebrate The Hanukkah Miracle And Good Health With Olive Oil
During Hanukkah we remember the miracle of the menorah, when one small flask of olive oil burned for eight days. One way we honor and celebrate this miracle is to use olive oil in many of the dishes we prepare.
Now we find out that olive oil is not only a delicious way to celebrate with food, but it's one of the healthiest oils we can use. Let's take a look at this special oil to learn more.
What is Olive Oil
Simply stated, olive oil is derived from olives. It can be consumed without any processing at all; just pressed from the olive. If you took a handful of olives and squeezed them, you would get olive oil. No other vegetable oil can claim that distinction. In its most natural form, olive oil is resplendent in flavor and nutrition.
Of course, refining the process has created many other varieties of olive oil. We have listed some general categories of olive oil, but each category will also contain other variations. Here are the basics you would find in a grocery store:
Extra Virgin - This oil is from the first pressing of the olives and is not processed or refined, and is probably unfiltered. You will notice a very 'olive' taste and a rich color.
Virgin - This olive oil would be from the second pressing and is most likely filtered, and may be somewhat processed.
Pure - You will find this oil to have less flavor and will be lighter in color since it has been through more filtering and refining. If you don't want an olive taste to your olive oil, this is probably what you would want to use.
Extra Light - This category encompasses a great deal of processing, refining, and blending. You will find most olive oil with this label to be a mix of highly processed olive oil and a vegetable oil. Some people like this variety for cooking.
Now that you know the varieties of olive oil, let's take a look at some of the health benefits. This may give you even more reason to celebrate Hanukkah with lots of olive oil.
Health Benefits of Olive Oil
All olive oil contains those desirable mono-unsaturated omega-9 fatty acids and are rich in antioxidants. However, if you want the greatest boost of antioxidants, choose extra virgin olive oil. This is the oil that is from the first pressing of the olives so it is loaded with the most concentrated amounts of phyto-nutrients, which are known for having anti-inflammatory properties.
Olive oil has been shown to help lower LDL cholesterol (the bad stuff) while raising HDL cholesterol (the good stuff). This benefit helps protect against heart disease by regulating cholesterol levels. In addition, further studies show the mono-unsaturated fatty acid of olive oil also helps lower blood pressure. Extra virgin olive oil provides high concentrations of vitamin E and beta-carotene, keeping the circulatory system healthy and pumping strong.
Although studies regarding the role of olive oil in reducing cancer are inconclusive, there are interesting data. Research has shown some effects of reducing risks in the development of cancers of the digestive tract, respiratory tract, and breasts when subjects use olive oil routinely in their diet. These regular olive oil eaters are compared to non-olive oil eaters and people who more often consume saturated fat and butter. There could be other risk factors involved so the results of the studies are still mixed, although promising.
Other benefits associated with consuming olive oil include naturally healing stomach ulcers, gastritis, and other digestive tract disorders. Still more studies are starting to uncover a possible connection between olive oil consumption and improved blood calcium levels. This could point to the eventual link between overall bone health and olive oil consumption.
Still more research has provoked interest in the link between cognitive health and the use of olive oil. In older adults, both visual and verbal responses improved after the subjects increased their olive oil intake aggressively throughout the day. Laboratory research is also being done which is showing increased cognitive activity when animals are fed olive oil. The ability to protect the brain during times of stress may be one of the most amazing benefits this delicious oil has to offer.
Which brings us back to Hanukkah and the tradition of olive oil. The health benefits of olive oil are so expansive, it's hard to believe that the use of olive oil during Hanukkah ever strayed so far from what most of us would consider healthy foods.
Now we have the wisdom to know better! We don't have to indulge in fat soaked donuts and latkes to celebrate the miracle of the oil. Instead, pay homage to the true miracle - the olive oil we revered through the ages is the same olive oil we know as one of the healthiest foods we can eat today. That gives us even more reason to celebrate. Happy Hanukkah!
Monday, December 15, 2014
How To Have A Happy And Healthy Hanukkah
Deep fried latkes and donuts have taken center stage in many Hanukkah celebrations. But, should they? Today, many people like to give at least a nod to healthier eating, even during the holidays.
And, strictly speaking, eating foods saturated in fat, even olive oil, is not paying close attention to the Torah. Remembering the miracle of the Menorah by using olive oil in our food is an important part of Hanukkah.
However, understanding the significance of the olive oil is crucial to preserving the true tradition of the miracle.
The flames of the Menorah, which God allowed to burn for eight days on one flask of oil, were fueled by pure pressed olive oil. The Torah tells us that the olives were pressed to release only the first, the purest drops of oil to be used in the Menorah. The remainder of the olives were crushed in the usual manner to produce large quantities of olive oil for cooking.
The Torah teaches us that we should avoid harmful behaviors, such as eating unhealthy foods. That's why it's a bit difficult to understand how eating piles of deep fried foods can possibly pay tribute to the miracle of the Menorah or faithfully celebrate Hanukkah. We know that olive oil is a healthy type of oil. But using large quantities of any oil, even olive oil, negates the health benefits.
It makes sense to honor the miracle of the Menorah by abstaining from unhealthy foods loaded with oil. Instead, use small amounts of pure-pressed, extra-virgin olive oil to make healthier dishes. For instance, create a beautiful salad with fresh greens, goat cheese, and a homemade salad dressing using extra-virgin olive oil. Or drizzle extra-virgin olive oil over fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced garden tomatoes, and fresh basil for a caprese salad that is delicious and healthy.
Even latkes can be made healthier. Honor the traditions of Hanukkah while enjoying a crispy potato latke by baking them instead of deep frying. A little bit of olive oil can go a long way in this type of healthy recipe. Even those filled donuts we love can be made over to more closely honor the true tradition of Hanukkah. You can tweak many of your old recipes to make the donuts smaller, oven bake them, and fill them with smashed fresh fruit and cream cheese instead of sugary jarred jelly.
Celebrating the miracle of the Menorah while avoiding excessive indulgence in oil-drenched food seems to make sense after all. The purest of all olive oil should be enjoyed and held in reverence during Hanukkah. Not only is tradition respected, but the true teachings and meanings of Hanukkah are upheld when we treat our body to a healthier celebration.
And, strictly speaking, eating foods saturated in fat, even olive oil, is not paying close attention to the Torah. Remembering the miracle of the Menorah by using olive oil in our food is an important part of Hanukkah.
However, understanding the significance of the olive oil is crucial to preserving the true tradition of the miracle.
Pure Pressed Olive Oil
The flames of the Menorah, which God allowed to burn for eight days on one flask of oil, were fueled by pure pressed olive oil. The Torah tells us that the olives were pressed to release only the first, the purest drops of oil to be used in the Menorah. The remainder of the olives were crushed in the usual manner to produce large quantities of olive oil for cooking.
Harmful Behaviors
The Torah teaches us that we should avoid harmful behaviors, such as eating unhealthy foods. That's why it's a bit difficult to understand how eating piles of deep fried foods can possibly pay tribute to the miracle of the Menorah or faithfully celebrate Hanukkah. We know that olive oil is a healthy type of oil. But using large quantities of any oil, even olive oil, negates the health benefits.
Healthier Traditions
It makes sense to honor the miracle of the Menorah by abstaining from unhealthy foods loaded with oil. Instead, use small amounts of pure-pressed, extra-virgin olive oil to make healthier dishes. For instance, create a beautiful salad with fresh greens, goat cheese, and a homemade salad dressing using extra-virgin olive oil. Or drizzle extra-virgin olive oil over fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced garden tomatoes, and fresh basil for a caprese salad that is delicious and healthy.
Even latkes can be made healthier. Honor the traditions of Hanukkah while enjoying a crispy potato latke by baking them instead of deep frying. A little bit of olive oil can go a long way in this type of healthy recipe. Even those filled donuts we love can be made over to more closely honor the true tradition of Hanukkah. You can tweak many of your old recipes to make the donuts smaller, oven bake them, and fill them with smashed fresh fruit and cream cheese instead of sugary jarred jelly.
Celebrating the miracle of the Menorah while avoiding excessive indulgence in oil-drenched food seems to make sense after all. The purest of all olive oil should be enjoyed and held in reverence during Hanukkah. Not only is tradition respected, but the true teachings and meanings of Hanukkah are upheld when we treat our body to a healthier celebration.
Sunday, December 7, 2014
Keeping Your Kids Happy And Healthy This Holiday Season
As the holiday season approaches, many of us think about our own need to stay healthy and active. We picture the parties, the cookies, the egg nog... and we give out a short sigh. There goes the diet.
But, we aren't the only ones with sweet treats piled high before us, tempting us to dig in and enjoy. Our kids are bombarded with goodies all season. Throughout Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, and Christmas, the volume of food we place on our tables is astounding.
We are celebrating, and food is certainly a big part of the festivities. While we adults can make some rational choices about our dietary intake, our kids don't have quite the same resolve. It's up to us to make healthy choices easier for them. Let's take a look at a few ideas for holiday fun without all the sweet temptations.
A kid playing hard has little time to think about anything else. If you get your kids away from the table, away from the kitchen, and away from the house, they will do what kids do - forget and focus on the here and now.
No matter where you live and what the climate is like, there are things to do outside during these holidays. Depending on the age of your kids, you may have to do some if not all of the work preparing, but it will be well worth it.
If you have leaves, rake them up and give the kids free reign to jump and play and scatter the leaves. Get out the sidewalk chalk and decorate for the season. If you have snow, build a fort or a snowman, or have a snowball fight. Your kids will forget that plate of cookies if they get to pelt Pop square on the back with a snowball, I guarantee it.
Take a walk through the neighborhood to see the decorations. Sing songs. Window shop. Sit on a park bench and watch the people. Take turns making up stories about who they are and where they're going. Feed the ducks. Take those little feet away from the sweets at home.
It can be difficult to keep your little ones' attention away from sweets when you're inside. The trick is to plan games that require some thought and even some action. The game Twister comes to mind for indoor action, but there are many games for all ages that are great for keeping kids busy.
Choose thoughtful games such as charades, drawing games, or word games. Games that make your kids think and give them some good belly-laughs are perfect for keeping their minds off the sweets. Treasure hunts are especially engaging and can be played by all ages, with a little help. Be sure to have the treasure a non-food related treat and something everyone will enjoy.
You can easily play I Spy games indoors, or hide-and-seek, or other easy games with a variety of ages. Card games are versatile, too. There are so many options, it's hard to choose sometimes. You could also ask your kids to create their own game.
Don't forget crafts. Get out the bin of odds and ends and let their imagination run wild. Or plan a specific craft to make a product to give as a gift to a relative or friend of the family. Of course, video games are fun and certainly an option for some families. But, remember, they must be engaging for the whole family and keep little fingers and minds busy.
Now, after a day of fun activities both outdoors and indoors, when it comes time to enjoy a sweet treat, your kids will enjoy it even more. Happy Holidays!
But, we aren't the only ones with sweet treats piled high before us, tempting us to dig in and enjoy. Our kids are bombarded with goodies all season. Throughout Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, and Christmas, the volume of food we place on our tables is astounding.
We are celebrating, and food is certainly a big part of the festivities. While we adults can make some rational choices about our dietary intake, our kids don't have quite the same resolve. It's up to us to make healthy choices easier for them. Let's take a look at a few ideas for holiday fun without all the sweet temptations.
Play Outside
A kid playing hard has little time to think about anything else. If you get your kids away from the table, away from the kitchen, and away from the house, they will do what kids do - forget and focus on the here and now.
No matter where you live and what the climate is like, there are things to do outside during these holidays. Depending on the age of your kids, you may have to do some if not all of the work preparing, but it will be well worth it.
If you have leaves, rake them up and give the kids free reign to jump and play and scatter the leaves. Get out the sidewalk chalk and decorate for the season. If you have snow, build a fort or a snowman, or have a snowball fight. Your kids will forget that plate of cookies if they get to pelt Pop square on the back with a snowball, I guarantee it.
Take a walk through the neighborhood to see the decorations. Sing songs. Window shop. Sit on a park bench and watch the people. Take turns making up stories about who they are and where they're going. Feed the ducks. Take those little feet away from the sweets at home.
Play Inside
It can be difficult to keep your little ones' attention away from sweets when you're inside. The trick is to plan games that require some thought and even some action. The game Twister comes to mind for indoor action, but there are many games for all ages that are great for keeping kids busy.
Choose thoughtful games such as charades, drawing games, or word games. Games that make your kids think and give them some good belly-laughs are perfect for keeping their minds off the sweets. Treasure hunts are especially engaging and can be played by all ages, with a little help. Be sure to have the treasure a non-food related treat and something everyone will enjoy.
You can easily play I Spy games indoors, or hide-and-seek, or other easy games with a variety of ages. Card games are versatile, too. There are so many options, it's hard to choose sometimes. You could also ask your kids to create their own game.
Don't forget crafts. Get out the bin of odds and ends and let their imagination run wild. Or plan a specific craft to make a product to give as a gift to a relative or friend of the family. Of course, video games are fun and certainly an option for some families. But, remember, they must be engaging for the whole family and keep little fingers and minds busy.
Now, after a day of fun activities both outdoors and indoors, when it comes time to enjoy a sweet treat, your kids will enjoy it even more. Happy Holidays!
Wednesday, November 26, 2014
A History Of Thanksgiving Celebrations
The Transformation Of Thanksgiving Traditions
American children spend their early school years learning about the first Thanksgiving meal shared by the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag. The settlers had reason to celebrate; it was their first real harvest, and they wanted to share it with the native people who helped make it possible.
The festival was a three day celebration which included hunting, harvesting, fishing, games, and lots of food to celebrate the fall harvest. Today, we look at our preparations for Thanksgiving as an arduous task. But imagine the work it took to put a meal on the table in November 1621!
During what Americans refer to as The First Thanksgiving, a feast of venison, duck, geese, corn, barley, and perhaps cranberries and nuts would have been served. Although wild turkey was hunted in those days, no mention is made of turkey in any documentation regarding this celebration. Perhaps this harvest meal didn't fall during the season most likely to provide turkey for the table. We do know that duck and geese were plentiful. Foods we think of as staples today, like squash and potatoes, hadn't made their way to New England in time for the first feast. As a matter of fact, many dishes we think of as traditional today wouldn't find their way to a Thanksgiving table until almost 200 years later.
The first Thanksgiving harvest celebration of 1621 didn't spark subsequent holidays each year. It wasn't until 1789 when President George Washington declared the first national Thanksgiving holiday that America had the excuse to feast again in this harvest tradition. However, this declaration also did not repeat each year. So, again, the Thanksgiving tradition was forgotten for a while.
Then in 1827, author Sara Josepha Hale started a campaign to establish a yearly national Thanksgiving holiday, inspired in part by a written diary of pilgrim life. This effort took almost thirty years to complete, in which time the author spent time promoting her campaign by publishing many of her favorite recipes, including pumpkin pie, turkey, and stuffing. Now you can see how the Thanksgiving table we know today got its start. Thank you, Miss Hale!
In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln declared the Thanksgiving holiday be celebrated each year on the final Thursday of November, and so it was, until 1939, during the Great Depression. In an effort to give retailers more time to make money during the holiday shopping season, President Franklin D. Roosevelt moved the Thanksgiving holiday up a week earlier. Americans were not happy with the idea of their beloved
Thanksgiving turning into a money-making enterprise, so the President bowed to the people and in 1941 he signed a bill setting Thanksgiving firmly, and forever, on the 4th Thursday in November each and every year.
As you can see, Thanksgiving was a tradition that took hundreds of years to become established.
Throughout those years, America changed. Today's table may not resemble the table set by the Pilgrims and Wampanoag in Plymouth that Autumn day. But the spirit of the holiday remains the same – being thankful for those around you who share the burden and the pleasure of reaching a common goal. Happy Thanksgiving!
Tuesday, November 25, 2014
How To Stay Focused And Have A Healthy Happy Thanksgiving
Compared to other holidays in America, it seems that our Thanksgiving has taken on a tradition of over-indulgence. The table is filled from sunup to sundown with food. Lots of food. And eating plates piled high with all sorts of goodies is not only not discouraged, it's encouraged!
This is a celebration of abundance! We are supposed to remember the First Thanksgiving, when the settlers and native tribes joined together to partake in the great gifts the autumn harvest had to offer. A joyous time with plenty to eat was something to celebrate, indeed.
Today, even when we have enough to eat every day, we still take this holiday to dig in and wallow in the abundance set in front of us on the Thanksgiving table. This can, and does, cause some dietary distress and overall health problems for many of us.
Therefore, this Thanksgiving, let's enjoy the feast without sacrificing our health. Here are few things we can do to stay focused while celebrating this holiday.
This is a good holiday to reconnect with family and friends. Talk to the people in your life and find out what they think about, how they feel, and what they've been doing. We all get so busy, it's these times when we get to slow down and take a friend or family member's hand and tell them we want to be a part of their life. And, maybe it's the time Aunt Gertrude finally shares her secret recipe with you for the perfect pumpkin pie!
What better way to reconnect with family and friends than by playing games? Whether it's a board game, card game, video game, or some kind of sports, the focus is on the fun. This makes it easy to talk, laugh, and share something about yourself. You can even use dinner time games as a way to have fun. Fill little cups with mints and ask each guest to share something they're thankful for for each mint in their cup. Little moments form memories, and these moments come naturally when gathered together just to have fun.
Yes, of course we still want to enjoy the feast. But instead of building a mountain of food on your plate, take small portions and focus on each dish. Pay homage to every morsel the cooks have put together to please their guests. Your hosts will be tickled to see you slowly nibbling on small portions of all the delicious dishes presented, and your diet will remain on track when you keep your portions under control.
The party is over. Tummies are full. It's time to get up and move. I know the desire to lay down and sleep is sometimes overwhelming, but the indigestion and regrets are not worth giving into the temptation. After dinner, gather up your group and take a walk around the block. Your full belly may not allow for a rousing game of volleyball, but certainly it will appreciate a good stretch of the legs. This post-dinner walk is not only good for the digestion, it lifts spirits and brings smiles to tired faces. And you don't feel like you sacrificed all your good exercising history with one big meal.
Just because a holiday is about abundance, doesn't mean we have to give in to over-indulging. Let's be thankful for the good things we have in our life and on our table, and celebrate by staying focused on those special things. Happy Thanksgiving!
This is a celebration of abundance! We are supposed to remember the First Thanksgiving, when the settlers and native tribes joined together to partake in the great gifts the autumn harvest had to offer. A joyous time with plenty to eat was something to celebrate, indeed.
Today, even when we have enough to eat every day, we still take this holiday to dig in and wallow in the abundance set in front of us on the Thanksgiving table. This can, and does, cause some dietary distress and overall health problems for many of us.
Therefore, this Thanksgiving, let's enjoy the feast without sacrificing our health. Here are few things we can do to stay focused while celebrating this holiday.
Focus on People
This is a good holiday to reconnect with family and friends. Talk to the people in your life and find out what they think about, how they feel, and what they've been doing. We all get so busy, it's these times when we get to slow down and take a friend or family member's hand and tell them we want to be a part of their life. And, maybe it's the time Aunt Gertrude finally shares her secret recipe with you for the perfect pumpkin pie!
Focus on Fun
What better way to reconnect with family and friends than by playing games? Whether it's a board game, card game, video game, or some kind of sports, the focus is on the fun. This makes it easy to talk, laugh, and share something about yourself. You can even use dinner time games as a way to have fun. Fill little cups with mints and ask each guest to share something they're thankful for for each mint in their cup. Little moments form memories, and these moments come naturally when gathered together just to have fun.
Focus on Food
Yes, of course we still want to enjoy the feast. But instead of building a mountain of food on your plate, take small portions and focus on each dish. Pay homage to every morsel the cooks have put together to please their guests. Your hosts will be tickled to see you slowly nibbling on small portions of all the delicious dishes presented, and your diet will remain on track when you keep your portions under control.
Focus on Fitness
The party is over. Tummies are full. It's time to get up and move. I know the desire to lay down and sleep is sometimes overwhelming, but the indigestion and regrets are not worth giving into the temptation. After dinner, gather up your group and take a walk around the block. Your full belly may not allow for a rousing game of volleyball, but certainly it will appreciate a good stretch of the legs. This post-dinner walk is not only good for the digestion, it lifts spirits and brings smiles to tired faces. And you don't feel like you sacrificed all your good exercising history with one big meal.
Just because a holiday is about abundance, doesn't mean we have to give in to over-indulging. Let's be thankful for the good things we have in our life and on our table, and celebrate by staying focused on those special things. Happy Thanksgiving!
Monday, November 24, 2014
DIshes From The First Thanksgiving Feast
Feasting At The First Thanksgiving Table
Picture you own Thanksgiving table, or take a look at an iconic American picture of this holiday feast. Chances are, in the center of the table sits a big turkey stuffed with all kinds of savory goodies. Then you'll find bowls of whipped potatoes, and sweet cranberry relish, alongside piping hot dishes of the ever popular green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole, and cheesy macaroni with golden buttery topping. Pumpkin pie is certain to be on the dessert menu.
This list is just a few dishes we think of when we imagine a Thanksgiving table in America. How many of these dishes actually reflect the original feast? Probably not that many. Let's take a look.
The Hunt
A big golden brown turkey stuffed with an abundance of bread dressing takes center stage at most American tables during the Thanksgiving feast. But, that twenty pound bird is really the product of modern times.
According to historical notes, a hunting trip was organized for the first harvest feast, which was a three day affair. The hunting group would have bagged whatever was plentiful, which was very likely a mix of duck and geese, along with other small wild fowl, with a few wild turkeys along the way. The birds would have been stuffed with onions and herbs, and not with any sort of bread-like stuffing.
With a table filled with wild game birds, you would think there would be no need for other meat. However, deer was plentiful and was actually given as a gift from the Wampanoag tribe to the Pilgrims for the feast. This venison would have most likely been roasted over an open fire pit, some served immediately while the the remaining meat slow simmered for stew to be served over the next few days.
Fresh Pickings
Because this three day celebration was held during the fall season, we know the foods harvested in this region's climate would have included onions, carrots, cabbage, beans, turnips, and even some late season corn.
The onions may have been used to flavor other dishes, but would also have been roasted and served as a side dish by themselves. Flavored with herbs, large pots of carrots, cabbage, and beans were also roasted on open fires.
Corn was not the super-sweet and tender variety we are familiar with today. Late season corn, in particular, would be a bit starchy. It would have been cut from the cob and thrown into a skillet to simmer, probably along with other vegetables. Some of the corn would have been dried and ground to make a coarse meal suitable for making bread.
Even though the settlers had learned to enjoy some tubers, like turnips, they never really caught on to potatoes, either russet or sweet. Introduced by Spanish explorers, the European settlers passed on potatoes for many years, making this one veggie that wasn't on the first Thanksgiving table.
Fresh fruits and berries would be plentiful at this time of year. Plums, gooseberries, raspberries, and cranberries were served in a variety of ways, none of which would be sweet. Since sugar was scare, the dishes made with fruits and berries would typically be tart. We would definitely not have the sort of cranberry relish we know today.
From The Waters
Along with game and fresh vegetables, fruits, and berries, the region also had an abundance of seafood. Mussels, oysters, fish, clams, and even lobster were part of the diet in the region, so it makes sense that these foods were part of any feast.
Large fish may have been stuffed with onion and other vegetables and herbs, then roasted over an open fire. During one of the three days, this may have actually been served as the main dish.
Pumpkin Pie
And, finally, we come to one of the dishes we all can agree has Thanksgiving stamped all over it - pumpkin pie. Although it is true that pumpkin was found on tables in this region during the time of the first Thanksgiving feast, it would not have been in the form of a pie.
The settlers did not have fully equipped kitchens or pantries such as we know today. They cooked in fire pits, not ovens. And the pantry didn't have butter or refined flour to produce a tender pie crust.
Instead, we have documentation that shows the settlers created a sweetened pumpkin dish by carving out the pumpkin and filling the insides with honey, milk, and even berries, then putting the top back on the pumpkin and roasting it whole in the fire pit. Once removed and cooled slightly, the creamy insides were scooped out and served warm. Aside from the crust, this sounds pretty close to what we have today for pumpkin pie.
The next time you picture a typical Thanksgiving dinner, try throwing in a few images of the First Thanksgiving and see how your table-scape changes. Happy Thanksgiving!
Sunday, November 16, 2014
Tips For Understanding The Methods Of Chinese Cooking
Learning about Chinese cuisine involves not only understanding the harmony of ingredients and flavors, it also requires some knowledge of the methods used in cooking the food. If you dig deeply, you will find several dozen specific techniques for cooking, but each falls under a simple category.
Let's take a look at the basic four categories and a few specifics under each method.
You will probably be familiar with oil cooking first, as you will likely try your hand at stir-frying when you begin cooking Chinese cuisine. But oil cooking also encompasses the methods of deep-frying, shallow-frying, and braising.
Stir-frying is done with only a little oil at a very high, fierce heat. Deep-frying uses more oil, heated at a medium to high heat. The food may be coated with dry ingredients or a wet batter, or may be left as is with no coating. Shallow-frying is done using medium to low heat. You'll often see whole fish fillets cooked in this method.
Braising is a little bit different from these other methods as the ingredients may be cooked separately first by stir-frying, then added back together and combined with a liquid and thickening agent to create a sauce. The dish is still cooked quickly and removed, not allowing the ingredients to stew.
Cooking with water also means cooking with other liquids. You'll be boiling, poaching, or simmering ingredients in water, broth, tomato juice, wine, etc., and in a wok, most likely.
Boiling is often done rapidly over high heat to create stock, cook soup, or to blanch vegetables. Poaching is done at a medium to low heat to cook fish, for instance. Often, broth or other liquid is used to poach foods in order to add more flavor.
Simmering is done at low heat and is used to stew foods and flavors together. A recipe may call for ingredients to be stir-fried first, then brought together in the wok and put over low heat, covered, and simmered until the ingredients are tender and soft. Gravy and sauces are usually produced this way.
This method is favored by many health conscious folks who want to avoid oils in their cooking. Steam is produced by rapidly boiling liquid, then the food is suspended in some fashion over the boiling liquid and allowed to steam until tender.
There are steamers you can use just for this purpose, or you can suspend a basket over the liquid in a wok. Steaming is used to cook food entirely, but may also be used to prepare food for cooking. Some vegetables in particular may benefit from steaming before they are stir-fried. Dense vegetables such as carrots will cook faster in the stir-fry method after they have been steamed.
Steaming is also a preferred method when cooking tougher cuts of meat. The meat becomes tender when steamed and is then ready to braise, fry, or add to soup.
Not all Chinese cooks had ovens available, so this method was often more like a barbecue over an open flame or in a fire pit. Meat would typically be seasoned or marinaded, then put into a heavy pot with a lid, and roasted. The pot was basically an oven. Roasting or baking could also be done in a tightly sealed pot submerged into a fire pit.
Smoking food was also accomplished with a fire pit, sometimes with a grill of some sort suspended over the fire. Depending on the flavor the cook wants to infuse the food with would determine what fuel was used to burn in the pit. Items like bamboo leaves, tea leaves, and bundles of herbs would be favorites to smoke and flavor the food.
Of course, this is just a snapshot of the techniques used to create Chinese cuisine. There are dozens more, but this list will get you started. Once you master these few, go ahead and explore the others and enjoy!
Let's take a look at the basic four categories and a few specifics under each method.
Oil
You will probably be familiar with oil cooking first, as you will likely try your hand at stir-frying when you begin cooking Chinese cuisine. But oil cooking also encompasses the methods of deep-frying, shallow-frying, and braising.
Stir-frying is done with only a little oil at a very high, fierce heat. Deep-frying uses more oil, heated at a medium to high heat. The food may be coated with dry ingredients or a wet batter, or may be left as is with no coating. Shallow-frying is done using medium to low heat. You'll often see whole fish fillets cooked in this method.
Braising is a little bit different from these other methods as the ingredients may be cooked separately first by stir-frying, then added back together and combined with a liquid and thickening agent to create a sauce. The dish is still cooked quickly and removed, not allowing the ingredients to stew.
Water
Cooking with water also means cooking with other liquids. You'll be boiling, poaching, or simmering ingredients in water, broth, tomato juice, wine, etc., and in a wok, most likely.
Boiling is often done rapidly over high heat to create stock, cook soup, or to blanch vegetables. Poaching is done at a medium to low heat to cook fish, for instance. Often, broth or other liquid is used to poach foods in order to add more flavor.
Simmering is done at low heat and is used to stew foods and flavors together. A recipe may call for ingredients to be stir-fried first, then brought together in the wok and put over low heat, covered, and simmered until the ingredients are tender and soft. Gravy and sauces are usually produced this way.
Steam
This method is favored by many health conscious folks who want to avoid oils in their cooking. Steam is produced by rapidly boiling liquid, then the food is suspended in some fashion over the boiling liquid and allowed to steam until tender.
There are steamers you can use just for this purpose, or you can suspend a basket over the liquid in a wok. Steaming is used to cook food entirely, but may also be used to prepare food for cooking. Some vegetables in particular may benefit from steaming before they are stir-fried. Dense vegetables such as carrots will cook faster in the stir-fry method after they have been steamed.
Steaming is also a preferred method when cooking tougher cuts of meat. The meat becomes tender when steamed and is then ready to braise, fry, or add to soup.
Fire
Not all Chinese cooks had ovens available, so this method was often more like a barbecue over an open flame or in a fire pit. Meat would typically be seasoned or marinaded, then put into a heavy pot with a lid, and roasted. The pot was basically an oven. Roasting or baking could also be done in a tightly sealed pot submerged into a fire pit.
Smoking food was also accomplished with a fire pit, sometimes with a grill of some sort suspended over the fire. Depending on the flavor the cook wants to infuse the food with would determine what fuel was used to burn in the pit. Items like bamboo leaves, tea leaves, and bundles of herbs would be favorites to smoke and flavor the food.
Of course, this is just a snapshot of the techniques used to create Chinese cuisine. There are dozens more, but this list will get you started. Once you master these few, go ahead and explore the others and enjoy!
Saturday, November 15, 2014
Tips For Understanding The Four Styles Of Chinese Cuisine
When you visit a Chinese restaurant for the first time, you may be confused, and even overwhelmed, by the wide variety of items on the menu. Not only are there a vast array of ingredients, but the flavors are all over the board. To put it simply, all Chinese food is not alike!
Of course, when you look at a map of China, you can see why this cuisine may vary so much. China is very large with an incredible landscape filled with every kind of topography you can imagine, from snow-capped mountains, to deserts, to fresh water, to salt water, and everything in between.
Because of the differences in climate and landscape across China, the cuisine naturally changes. There are countless regional differences, but for this discussion we will focus on the four styles, or schools, of Chinese cuisine. Each style, or category if you like, of cooking will have sub-categories that you may recognize. But, to keep things simpler, we'll stick with the four main categories. Let's take a look.
Yue - This cooking style is probably better known to most people as Cantonese cuisine. The cooking style comes from the Guangdong province in the south China region. Fresh ingredients which are skillfully cooked is the trademark of this style. Stir-frying is often the cooking method of choice as it maintains the integrity of the delicate seafood and vegetables. Over-cooking and over-seasoning would be considered bad manners by any Yue style cook.
Lu - Across the Shandong province in the north China region, you will find a hearty blend of ingredients including noodles, garlic, seafood, and soy sauce. A variety of soups, whether clear or creamy, often form an important part of the meal and have historical methods which are stringently followed in this school of Chinese cuisine. Fresh, tender ingredients highlight the Lu dishes.
Chuan - This familiar category of cuisine is well known by many as szechuan. Most people who have ordered from a Chinese menu have seen this style of cooking. Originating in the Sichuan province in the south-west region of China, this food is very spicy and richly seasoned. You'll find lots of chili peppers and garlic in these familiar dishes, along with the every popular szechuan peppercorns. The dishes are not only spicy, but they are often saucy and flavored with sesame paste or oil, ginger, and plenty of peanuts. The ingredients are cooked in a variety of ways, but always to maintain the integrity and texture of the food and the multiple flavor profiles present.
Su - This region of China, the Jiangsu, is greatly influenced by its major feature - the Yangtze River. For that reason, you would expect to see plenty of freshwater fish, shellfish, and duck on the menu, and you wouldn't be disappointed. Delicately prepared, the natural sweetness of the ingredients is maintained. Along with the foods harvested from the river, you will find dishes featuring rice, bamboo shoots, tea leaves, wild mushrooms, and plenty of local fruit. Color, texture, and shapes all play a part in preparing pleasing meals in the Su tradition.
Within each of these four categories of Chinese cuisine, you will find many other styles of cooking, each very specific to its own region. But, for the casual observer or eater of Chinese cuisine, knowing just these basic four will help you understand a menu better, or even dig into a recipe a home with more skill and enjoyment. Have fun getting to know this complicated, and delicious, cuisine!
Of course, when you look at a map of China, you can see why this cuisine may vary so much. China is very large with an incredible landscape filled with every kind of topography you can imagine, from snow-capped mountains, to deserts, to fresh water, to salt water, and everything in between.
Because of the differences in climate and landscape across China, the cuisine naturally changes. There are countless regional differences, but for this discussion we will focus on the four styles, or schools, of Chinese cuisine. Each style, or category if you like, of cooking will have sub-categories that you may recognize. But, to keep things simpler, we'll stick with the four main categories. Let's take a look.
Yue - This cooking style is probably better known to most people as Cantonese cuisine. The cooking style comes from the Guangdong province in the south China region. Fresh ingredients which are skillfully cooked is the trademark of this style. Stir-frying is often the cooking method of choice as it maintains the integrity of the delicate seafood and vegetables. Over-cooking and over-seasoning would be considered bad manners by any Yue style cook.
Lu - Across the Shandong province in the north China region, you will find a hearty blend of ingredients including noodles, garlic, seafood, and soy sauce. A variety of soups, whether clear or creamy, often form an important part of the meal and have historical methods which are stringently followed in this school of Chinese cuisine. Fresh, tender ingredients highlight the Lu dishes.
Chuan - This familiar category of cuisine is well known by many as szechuan. Most people who have ordered from a Chinese menu have seen this style of cooking. Originating in the Sichuan province in the south-west region of China, this food is very spicy and richly seasoned. You'll find lots of chili peppers and garlic in these familiar dishes, along with the every popular szechuan peppercorns. The dishes are not only spicy, but they are often saucy and flavored with sesame paste or oil, ginger, and plenty of peanuts. The ingredients are cooked in a variety of ways, but always to maintain the integrity and texture of the food and the multiple flavor profiles present.
Su - This region of China, the Jiangsu, is greatly influenced by its major feature - the Yangtze River. For that reason, you would expect to see plenty of freshwater fish, shellfish, and duck on the menu, and you wouldn't be disappointed. Delicately prepared, the natural sweetness of the ingredients is maintained. Along with the foods harvested from the river, you will find dishes featuring rice, bamboo shoots, tea leaves, wild mushrooms, and plenty of local fruit. Color, texture, and shapes all play a part in preparing pleasing meals in the Su tradition.
Within each of these four categories of Chinese cuisine, you will find many other styles of cooking, each very specific to its own region. But, for the casual observer or eater of Chinese cuisine, knowing just these basic four will help you understand a menu better, or even dig into a recipe a home with more skill and enjoyment. Have fun getting to know this complicated, and delicious, cuisine!
Friday, November 14, 2014
Enjoy Exploring The Flavors Of Chinese Cuisine
The Flavors Of Chinese Cuisine Simplified
Thousands of years ago, it was discovered by Chinese cooks and philosophers that a variety of ingredients, mixed together artfully, creates a harmonious meal. When multiple foods blend together, our taste buds are happy.
But, along with the main ingredients in a Chinese recipes, you'll notice a few pinches of this and a drizzle of that added to the dish. Don't let the dribs and drabs of these ingredients fool you - their importance is huge!
We're talking about the flavors we must incorporate in Chinese cooking if we want our meal to be a delicious success. Let's look at the basic 5 flavors we all know and what ingredients we might use to achieve that taste:
Salty
Of course you'll find this flavor in table salt, but also in products that are made with salt, such as soy sauce. Experiment with a variety of salts to find a flavor palate you really enjoy. You'll be amazed at the choices you'll find for an ingredient as simple as salt.
Sweet
Refined white sugar, brown sugar, molasses, honey, jams and jellies can be used to produce the sweet flavor in a dish. Raw sugar and sugar cane is a favorite of many cooks who want to produce the purest sweet flavor they can.
Sour
This is the flavor that makes your lips pucker. Sometimes confused with the bitter flavor, sour flavor has more of a mouth-watering effect. Rice vinegar is a good example, but tomato paste and plum sauce are also nice and sour when made properly.
Bitter
When you taste a bitter food, your mouth should have more of a drying sensation. Almond paste, citrus zest, and some herbs will give you this taste. This flavor isn't always understood and often cooks try to avoid it entirely. The next time you zest an orange, give it a taste before you add it to the recipe and see if you can pick out the bitter flavor. I think you will be pleasantly surprised.
Hot
This flavor can be confused with spicy. However, a spicy taste is usually a combination of flavors, not just heat. You'll get plenty of heat with chili peppers, Szechuan peppercorns, dry and prepared mustard, and even fresh ginger root. Again, think of the sensation of heat rising up into your sinuses and you'll get the picture.
Each of these flavors is enjoyable on its own, but the real taste treat comes when you combine them. Remember, the idea behind Chinese cuisine is the harmony of flavors. Some simple combinations that every Chinese cook knows how to make and use are:
Sweet and Sour - combine sugar and vinegar
Sweet and Salty - combine salt and soy sauce
Hot and Sour - combine chili sauce and vinegar
Salty and Hot - combine soy sauce and mustard
Once you learn these basic mixtures, you will be able to start blending even more flavors together to create a greater variety. That's the fun of Chinese cooking – there are not limits to the imagination and experimentation. Enjoy exploring these flavors... and more!
Thursday, November 13, 2014
Cook The Perfect Chinese Meal With This Equipment Guide
The Essential Chinese Cuisine Cooking Equipment Guide
Browse the aisles of your favorite kitchen store or search the internet, and you will find a vast array of cooking equipment to create delicious Chinese cuisine. Each item will appear to be essential in producing the perfect Chinese meal.
However, for thousands of years the Chinese have been turning out beautiful food without the use of more than a few utensils. Perhaps we should learn how to do the same. Let's take a look at the four really essential pieces of kitchen equipment in order to make authentic Chinese cuisine.
Knives
Sometimes you will hear the term "Chinese cleaver" used to describe the knife used for all the preparation work required in a Chinese recipe. A cleaver is typically a very hefty knife much like a butcher would wield. This is not what we need in Chinese cooking. But, when you go into a store to find the knife you need, this may be the term the clerk will use. But, let's see what you really need.
In reality, you will probably use several knives and they each must be versatile. If made properly, the knives will be light in weight and easy to handle, even the largest knife you choose.
If you are planning on chopping through a lot of bones, such as cutting apart chickens or ribs, you will need a large 'chopper' with a blade about 9 inches long and 4 inches wide, more or less to fit your hand. However, a smaller 'slicer' knife will work for most cooks who are mainly slicing meat and vegetables into uniform sizes for stir fry recipes.
Most cooks will prefer a knife in between a large chopper and a small slicer. There are many knives on the market now that are a shorter version of the large chopper, but still have a wider area than the slicer. With the front tip of this medium size knife the cook can easily slice small pieces of food, while with the wider back end of the knife the cook can cut through larger pieces of meat and even bones.
Picking the right knife is important for other reasons, as well. The knife you choose must do double, triple, or even quadruple duty when it comes to food preparation work. You will be using the flat side of your knife to smash garlic and other spices. Then you will be using your knife to scrape chopped foods off the cutting board to move over to the wok. You may even use the handle end of the knife to pound and blend spices.
As you can see, the knife you choose must be well thought out. Make sure it fits your hand perfectly, is well balanced and sturdy. Buy the best knife, or knives, your budget will allow, keep them clean and dry and well sharpened and you can't go wrong.
Cutting Board
Shopping for this kitchen essential can also make your head spin. There are so many options to consider, it's hard to know which is the best. Trial and error may be your best teacher, but there are a few items to consider before you get that far.
Wood is the traditional material for cutting boards or chopping blocks in a Chinese kitchen. You will find small, thin cutting boards that are suitable, but not very desirable. Instead, look for large boards, at least 16 to 20 inches wide to keep from having to chase pieces of food across the counter top. Choose a thick board, at least 3 inches thick, to keep from hitting your knuckles on the counter top as you chop your food.
Season new wood cutting boards by rubbing a good cooking oil into the wood, letting it soak in thoroughly, then rinsing the board off with hot water and drying it well. To wash the board, simply use the edge of your knife to scrape the surface, then run the board under hot water and let dry in a well ventilated area. Don't let your cutting board soak in water and don't wash it with harsh soap. If you feel you must scrub your board, dampen it with fresh water, sprinkle salt over the board, and wipe down with a clean cloth, then rinse well with hot water and dry thoroughly. Store the board standing on its edge, preferably on a rack so air circulates all around.
Having more than one cutting board is a good idea when it comes to keeping your cutting surfaces healthy. Cross-contamination is a serious issue, especially when dealing with raw poultry and other meats. Most cooks today prefer to have several cutting boards available for this reason; one for raw meat, one for vegetables, and one for cooked foods.
Plastic cutting boards have become more popular for this reason. You may want to keep two or three plastic boards handy for cutting just raw meat in order to eliminate this concern. Save your pretty wooden cutting boards for chopping herbs and vegetables if the idea of cross-contamination worries you.
Wok
Most often thought of as the stir-fry essential, a wok is really an all-purpose Chinese cooking utensil. The shape of the wok makes it perfect for many recipes, including, but not limited to, stir frying. A large skillet is not a substitute for a wok.
A good wok should be made of heavy material, have a slightly rounded bottom, and have high sloping sides. It should fit on a ring-shaped stand that sits on top of the burner on a stove and holds the wok upright but allows for some tipping of the wok by the cook. There are electric models available, but the basic stove-top variety works just as well, if not better in some opinions. You will also find single handled and double handled models, and a variety of sizes, as well. The lid serves many purposes, so make sure it fits well, has a high dome, and has a good handle on top.
The shape of the wok, the high sloping sides and slightly rounded bottom, is what makes the wok suitable for stir frying. The oil sits in the bottom, heating very hot, then as the food is fried it is pushed up the sides out of the hot bottom, and the next food is added to the bottom, again frying and sliding up out of the way.
A proper wok should be made of very sturdy metal which will withstand high heat making it equally suitable for deep frying. You only need to fill the bottom with oil, bring the temperature up and add the foods. Having the high sides of the wok makes the oil less likely to bubble over when the food is added as it might in a more shallow skillet. And, having more depth means the oil maintains the high heat better. Using the proper wok and a high heat oil makes the perfect combination for quickly deep frying foods.
The wok is also used for steaming, braising, and even smoking foods. You may even simmer soup in your wok. Many woks come with baskets and tools to set the wok up for these cooking methods. Make sure the domed lid fits well if you chose to use your wok for any of these cooking methods. The condensation on the inside of the lid should slide down the sides of the lid, and not directly on the top of the food, so check for a high dome shape on the lid when you buy your wok.
Stir and Scoop
When you purchase a wok set, you will most likely get some kind of a paddle or spatula and a scoop. The most versatile tool for stir frying will be a long handled wide scoop. This will have a heat-proof handle and be of fairly large size. You will use this tool most often for stir frying and for transferring the food out of the wok onto platters.
A slightly rounded spatula or shovel with a long heat-proof handle is useful especially when frying large pieces of meat or fish. You may also want to invest in a 'spider' which is just a large wire mesh scoop used to remove food from the wok while leaving the oil behind.
One, two, or three of these utensils will come in handy at some time when you are cooking with your wok, but if you only have one, you'll get along just fine. Whatever you choose, be sure it fits in your hand comfortably and it has a sturdy heat-proof handle.
These are the basic 4 items you will need when outfitting your kitchen to cook Chinese cuisine. You can start with one knife, one cutting board, a wok, and one stirrer, and cook up a great meal. Or, you can invest in several of each item if you wish. Where you start depends on you and your budget. The most delicious meals are often the simplest, so start small and enjoy the big flavors of Chinese cuisine!
Wednesday, November 12, 2014
For Successful Stir Frying Try These Simple Tips
One of the first, and some say best, methods you will learn for creating delicious Chinese cuisine is stir-frying. This term simply refers to frying foods quickly while stirring constantly.
Because you are frying the foods fast, the ingredients stay fresh, crisp, tender, and juicy, all at the same time, making this a great method for cooking. But, part of the success of stir-frying depends on preparation and know-how. Let's take a look at a few tips to get you started learning how to stir-fry the right way.
There is no doubt about it - a wok is an essential piece of cookware for successfully stir-frying foods. Of course, you will see recipes that say you can use a large skillet, and this is true. But, a standard skillet usually doesn't have the sloped sides to accommodate the cooking method needed for a stir-fry. If you have a very large skillet with high, sloped sides, however, you basically have a wok. So, semantics aside, what you need in order to stir-fry is a very large skillet with high, sloped sides, or what is better known as a wok.
There are electric woks and stove-top woks, the one you choose is totally up to you. You may find an electric wok is easier to control, but some find they like being able to turn the heat up when they want. An electric wok may cool down when it cycles on and off, so this is something you just want to be aware of.
You will also need a good stirring utensil, such as a wide paddle or spoon. Be absolutely sure it has a heat-proof handle as you will be in close proximity to a lot of hot surfaces. You'll want a slotted or mesh spoon of some sort, such as a 'spider' strainer, to grab the food out of the wok as needed. And don't forget having plenty of big platters to hold the food as you remove it from the wok.
No matter what you are stir-frying, you want the best possible ingredients. Because you are using quick hot frying, the integrity of the ingredients is important. Save your wilted broccoli for the slow-cooker and put your fatty pork roast in the oven. Lean proteins, fresh seafood, and crispy vegetables are best in the wok.
When preparing your ingredients for the wok, keep in mind the density. In other words, cut the ingredients up to cook at about the same rate based on how dense each ingredient is and how much cooking time each will take.
For instance, cut your broccoli into florettes, but make sure you cut your carrots and celery smaller, especially if you are cooking them together. Thinly slice the chicken or meat so it doesn't burn on the outside before it gets a chance to cook on the inside. Seafood can often be left in larger pieces as it cooks faster.
Learning this sizing trick may take a time or two, but once you learn the method, the cooking gets easier.
And last, but not least, is the oil. You will find some recipes for Chinese dishes that, remarkably, call for olive oil or sesame oil for frying. This is a definite no-no. Both oils burn at relatively low temperatures making them both unsuitable for frying. Choose a 'high heat' oil such as peanut oil for stir-frying. Check the smoke-point of any oil you choose before using it to make sure it can reach the high temperature required for stir-frying.
Stir-frying success requires good timing. In order to get all your ingredients together and cooked properly, you'll need some preparation time.
We talked about cutting up the proteins and vegetables to fry properly. Some ingredients by their nature are more delicate, and no matter how you cut them, they will fry up fast. So, you will need to put your ingredients in order of what gets added first, second, third, and so on. For instance, carrots and celery would be one of the first ingredients added, whereas spinach or green peas would definitely be added last.
After cutting up and arranging the ingredients, you will want to pre-mix any sauces you will be adding. Because stir-frying is fast, you don't have time to measure and mix cooking sauces in between stirring.
You will be cooking the ingredients just long enough to sear and seal in the juices. The produce should be crisp-tender and bright in color. The meat and seafood should be slightly browned on the outside while still juicy on the inside, but never raw. The quick cooking at a high temperature makes this possible. But, if you don't have your ingredients ready to go when you light that fire, the result will not be pleasing.
Do you feel like you could now tackle learning how to stir-fry? Go ahead! With these few simple tips, you are going to do just fine. Enjoy!
Because you are frying the foods fast, the ingredients stay fresh, crisp, tender, and juicy, all at the same time, making this a great method for cooking. But, part of the success of stir-frying depends on preparation and know-how. Let's take a look at a few tips to get you started learning how to stir-fry the right way.
Cookware
There is no doubt about it - a wok is an essential piece of cookware for successfully stir-frying foods. Of course, you will see recipes that say you can use a large skillet, and this is true. But, a standard skillet usually doesn't have the sloped sides to accommodate the cooking method needed for a stir-fry. If you have a very large skillet with high, sloped sides, however, you basically have a wok. So, semantics aside, what you need in order to stir-fry is a very large skillet with high, sloped sides, or what is better known as a wok.
There are electric woks and stove-top woks, the one you choose is totally up to you. You may find an electric wok is easier to control, but some find they like being able to turn the heat up when they want. An electric wok may cool down when it cycles on and off, so this is something you just want to be aware of.
You will also need a good stirring utensil, such as a wide paddle or spoon. Be absolutely sure it has a heat-proof handle as you will be in close proximity to a lot of hot surfaces. You'll want a slotted or mesh spoon of some sort, such as a 'spider' strainer, to grab the food out of the wok as needed. And don't forget having plenty of big platters to hold the food as you remove it from the wok.
Ingredients
No matter what you are stir-frying, you want the best possible ingredients. Because you are using quick hot frying, the integrity of the ingredients is important. Save your wilted broccoli for the slow-cooker and put your fatty pork roast in the oven. Lean proteins, fresh seafood, and crispy vegetables are best in the wok.
When preparing your ingredients for the wok, keep in mind the density. In other words, cut the ingredients up to cook at about the same rate based on how dense each ingredient is and how much cooking time each will take.
For instance, cut your broccoli into florettes, but make sure you cut your carrots and celery smaller, especially if you are cooking them together. Thinly slice the chicken or meat so it doesn't burn on the outside before it gets a chance to cook on the inside. Seafood can often be left in larger pieces as it cooks faster.
Learning this sizing trick may take a time or two, but once you learn the method, the cooking gets easier.
And last, but not least, is the oil. You will find some recipes for Chinese dishes that, remarkably, call for olive oil or sesame oil for frying. This is a definite no-no. Both oils burn at relatively low temperatures making them both unsuitable for frying. Choose a 'high heat' oil such as peanut oil for stir-frying. Check the smoke-point of any oil you choose before using it to make sure it can reach the high temperature required for stir-frying.
Timing
Stir-frying success requires good timing. In order to get all your ingredients together and cooked properly, you'll need some preparation time.
We talked about cutting up the proteins and vegetables to fry properly. Some ingredients by their nature are more delicate, and no matter how you cut them, they will fry up fast. So, you will need to put your ingredients in order of what gets added first, second, third, and so on. For instance, carrots and celery would be one of the first ingredients added, whereas spinach or green peas would definitely be added last.
After cutting up and arranging the ingredients, you will want to pre-mix any sauces you will be adding. Because stir-frying is fast, you don't have time to measure and mix cooking sauces in between stirring.
You will be cooking the ingredients just long enough to sear and seal in the juices. The produce should be crisp-tender and bright in color. The meat and seafood should be slightly browned on the outside while still juicy on the inside, but never raw. The quick cooking at a high temperature makes this possible. But, if you don't have your ingredients ready to go when you light that fire, the result will not be pleasing.
Do you feel like you could now tackle learning how to stir-fry? Go ahead! With these few simple tips, you are going to do just fine. Enjoy!
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