Find The Old Fashioned Candy You Adore With Great Prices!

By Ava Drenning

There aren't too many individuals in the world who can resist candy. Perhaps it's the fact that sugar is a delight for the mouth and it gives you a temporary rush, or maybe it makes us think about those days of our childhood.

Today, the candy that is becoming particularly preferred is old fashioned candy that was well-liked dozens of years back. The sweet treats that were in their heyday back in the 60s, 70s, and 80s are now being rediscovered. Completely new generations of children have the possibility to taste some of the best treats ever made.

When these old fashioned candy treats were first made, they were sold at candy shops, drugstores, and even dime stores. Lots of today's adults have fond memories of wandering through the eye-popping displays at the local candy shop, selecting every piece of candy with care, and then leaving with a bag full of superb treats. Back then, it was possible to buy a giant bag of candy for not a lot of money. A visit to the candy shop was like heaven!

Today, the old fashioned candy that adults remember with such fondness can be enjoyed by modern era kids. While these delightful treats are occasionally sold at candy stores today, the simplest method to get them is to do an internet search. The web has given us the opportunity to buy the same treats that were made years ago, and most of the great favorites are not so tough to find. The Net also offers a technique to get back to the penny candy like costs. When these candies are bought in quantities, the price is quite reasonable or perhaps extraordinarily cheap.

No matter which type of old fashioned candy is your favorite, it'll probably be available reasonably and quickly on the internet.

Candy cigarettes, whirly pops, Clark bars, Necco wafers, candy buttons, or traditional style candy sticks...they are all yours with some clicks of your computer mouse! These candies are a good way to reach back into your past to find the child version of you. The youngsters in your life today will also love tasting these sweet treats for the very first time and you'll adore tasting them again yourself.

About the Author:

If you are searching for old fashioned candy, for a special event or holiday, please check out the old fashioned candy source where you will discover your old favorites at great prices.

Buying And Using Your Smoothie Maker

By Abby Cardin

The smoothie maker is the answer to delicious drinks with nutritional benefits. In the hot summer, you would like to down that great, cool ice cream float, but you know that it is probably not on your list of in between meals snacks. If you don't have one of these great little smoothie makers, here is a brief buying guide.

This blender-like appliance is somewhat different from the ordinary blender. For one thing, the wattage power is higher so that it is possible for the ice to be crushed more efficiently from a cube into the blended drink. The power of the machine and its shape pulls the ingredients down toward the blades so the blending and crushing take place all at once.

Look for glass or plastic containers. If the children will be using the appliance, it is wiser to get the plastic container for safety sake. The plastic washes very well and is lighter in weight. The glass container is heavier and if broken would cost much more to replace.

The shape of the smoothie machine is wider at the top and funnels down towards the blades. At the bottom is a spout for dispensing the liquid. Usually the pieces of the machine come apart for easy cleaning. The blades are sharp, but it is the power of the motor that really does the crushing work. You should take care when cleaning any blades.

On the side of the container you will find measurement markings. This makes smoothie making a cinch and even the kids can follow simple recipes. Almost every smoothie recipe uses fresh fruit, juices, milk or yogurt, and ice. For a really highly nutritious smoothie, protein powder can be added. The health benefits are great, but of course, remember the amount of calories in these power drinks before you just bulk up on smoothies.

Breakfast can be hassle free when you provide a smoothie for your preteen or teen. Skipping breakfast should not be an option, but the smoothie can be substituted for the bowl of cereal or scrambled eggs.

For your benefit, the smoothie maker changes your powdered diet drink into a luscious shake like treat. The maker takes up little space in a kitchen on the counter, but opens a completely new treat maker for the family. Choose wisely for your needs and then enjoy!

About the Author:

Smoothie Makers at Smoothie Makers and Smoothie Maker Buying Guide

Sushi Fish Rolls - A Connoisseur's Delight

By Kimikoshi Sumo

Sushi rolls are the most popular form of sushi. Japanese and American restaurants serve two types of sushi to their patrons.

Sushi rolls served with seaweed or nori outside are one variant. The second type is the one which has nori inside the sushi roll.

Presence of nori be it inside or outside changes dramatically the flavor and texture of sushi rolls.

Those who enjoy nori often prefer the style of sushi roll where the nori is on the outside of the roll. This style of sushi roll is called futomaki.

A sushi roll with the nori on the inside is called uramaki.

Futomaki rolls are often served by Japanese restaurants or sushi bars. Even grocery stores keep futomaki sushi rolls.

A typical futomaki sushi is vegetarian but has fish eggs as toppings. Generally futomaki is cut into pieces and then served. However, on certain Japanese festivals it is offered as a roll.

Since Japanese prefer to eat with their fingers, uramaki is not a preferred choice. Uramaki is sticky and difficult to eat with fingers or chopsticks. On top of that it falls apart under pressure. Moreover, a uramaki sushi roll is essentially non-vegetarian with fish eggs or sesame toppings.

Since most Americans do not fancy futomaki with its black coating, uramaki is the preferred form of sushi rolls.

Hosomaki stands out in the entire sushi rolls family. As with futomaki, hosomaki is served with seaweed on the outside of sushi rolls.

Hosomaki has four variants known as Kappamaki, Tekkamaki, Negitoromaki and Tsunamayomaki.

Kappamaki contains cucumber, as well as some other ingredients, and is used to cleanse the palate between raw fish dishes and other parts of the meal.

Tekkamaki is the tuna sushi roll, named after the red color of the fish meat.

Negitoromaki variety of sushi rolls has scallions and tuna in them.

The fourth variety of hosomaki, that is Tsunamayomaki, has canned tuna and mayonnaise in it. Such sushi rolls are easy to prepare at home and can be tried by any sushi enthusiast.

About the Author:

Kimikoshi Sumo is a Japanese food expert. Her sushi help website at http://www.hereishelp.com offers simple yet delicious sushi recipes. Kimi's cookbook about sushi "Introduction to Sushi" is jam packed with tips for making mouth watering sushi delicacies. Click here to get your own unique version of this article with free reprint rights.

Find A Sushi Bar Anywhere You Live

By Ingrid Preube

You must go to a sushi bar if you are a person who always enjoys unlike international meal. A sushi bar is not a regular restaurant; it is just like any other modern western bar or pub.

So you can arrange any party or social event in them and they can provide you good meal and space. While displaying unlike entertainment and sports channels on the television screen, sushi bar merge the western traditions with eastern themes.

However, it is vital to realize that there are many differences between a sushi bar in Japan and a sushi bar in the United States or Canada. A sushi bar in Japan is a fast meal style eatery, where sushi is moved along a conveyor and is selected by guests. The guests then pay for their sushi based off of the color or size of the plate they have selected.

In western settings a sushi bar is just another grill or a regular bar or a closer example might be sushi restaurants themselves. In United States or Canada few sushi bars tender previously prepared sushi feasts you just need to pick and pay.

If you are a regular customer of American sushi bars, you may get astonished by visiting sushi bars in Japan. Japanese bars are more conventional and unlike American sushi bars, their sushi is usually very unlike and adherent to conventional and non vegetarian sushi styles. For example; octopus, squid and other sea meal mostly accompanied the sushi which can be terrible for those who are not relaxed with seameal.

The major dissimilarity in sushi restaurant and sushi bar is seating arrangement and the way in which they work. Lots of people regard sushi bars inexpensive and faster than the sushi restaurants. That is why sushi bars usually preferred only for delivery or take out and their sushi dishes are inferior to the sushi dishes which are available at standard sushi restaurants.

Lots of condiments are available with sushi dishes at sushi bars and you can opt any of them according to your taste. Mostly, soy sauce, wasabi and pickled ginger are there at your disposal.

A conventional green tea called Ocha is usually taken with almost all the sushi %meal%s. Sake or Ocha has been served at American sushi restaurants. As the status of the restaurant gets higher you might have Sake alternatively. Japanese usually give preference to Mecha over Ocha, which is also a loaded green tea.

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Find more info on japanese sushi bar and how arrange sushi bar menu.

Wanted - Home Cooks Searching for the Best Stainless Roasting Pan for Creating Their Holiday Meal

By Bethany Boylan

Picture your jovial, smiling family sitting down to a delicious holiday meal. All of your hours of planning and preparation have been worth it. Now imagine your panic as you take a burnt turkey out of the oven. Choosing the best stainless roasting pan goes a long way to helping you to create a perfect holiday meal. A bad pan could result in unevenly cooked meat, a pan so heavy that the roast is dropped, and scorched gravy.

First, the size of the roasting pan matters. Ideally, your pan should fit in your oven and still leave 2 inches for air to circulate between it and the sides of the oven. In addition, you don't want a pan so large that the juices from your average roast will have too much room to spread and will burn.

The metal or alloy that your roasting pan is made of is also essential to consider. Things such as weight, sturdiness, and heat conductivity vary from pan to pan. The best heat conductor is aluminum, but it can react badly to acids in some foods. Stoneware is nice but it can be heavy and sometimes fragile. The best choice is a sturdy stainless steel roasting pan, layered in with aluminum and maybe copper. This gives you the best heat conductivity, low reactivity to acids in foods, and a good weight.

Your turkey roasting pan must also be able to stand up to high oven temperatures and the high direct heat of the stove top. You often will want to use your roaster on the stove top to sear the meat and also to make gravy after roasting. Some lightweight pans can buckle under high-heat conditions. The poorly made pans can also distribute heat unevenly and cause burning and scorching of your roast or gravy.

Did you ever consider the handles on a pan? Easy to forget about, but essential when you are removing that heavy, hot pan from the oven. The best handles are strongly riveted to the pan and stand straight up from the pan so oven space is not wasted. Cheaper handles stick straight out from the pan or even worse, fold down. Try getting your potholder-covered hand through that handle easily. In addition, you should choose a rectangular pan with rounded corners that facilitate easy cleaning. The height of the sides of your pan should be 2.5 to 3 inches, which is the happy medium to allow air to circulate, yet won't allow hot juices to spill easily.

Additional items you may look for to go with your pan are forks and a rack. Heavy forks are very much appreciated at that moment when the roast or turkey must be transferred out of the pan.

About the Author:

Want to find out more about stainless roasting pans, then visit Bethany Payne's page on how to choose the best turkey roasting pan for your needs.

Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony

By Habesha Abesha

The coffee ceremony in Ethiopia is an important part of their social life and cultural life. Whenever you are invited by an Ethiopian to his/her traditional coffee ceremony, it means you have been accepted as a friend and you have also earned their respect. It is an excellent example of their hospitality.

Most people who find themselves as guests in their house would never fail to notice, the coffee ceremony Ethiopians are quick to present to their guests or visitors.

Ethiopians are very adoring of their coffee and their coffee ceremony never fails to be an extra-ordinary event.

The extended Ethiopian coffee ceremony starts with the ceremonial equipments being arranged upon a bed of long scented grasses. After that, the coffee is roasted on a level roaster above a small charcoal furnace, the aromatic smell blending with the heady scent of incense that is also customarily burned during the Ethiopian coffee tradition.

Next, the woman who is in charge of the coffee ceremony carefully washes the handful of coffee beans on the heated furnace, then stirs and shakes the remains away. Once the coffee beans have turned black and shining and the aromatic oil is coaxed out of them, they are ground by a pestle and a long handled mortar.

The ground coffee is slowly stirred into the black clay coffee pot locally known as 'jebena', which is round at the bottom with a straw lid.

Due to the archaic method used by Ethiopians, the ground result can be called anything but even, so the coffee is strained through a fine sieve several times.

As the coffee gets ready to be served, the youngest individual is picked to announce the start of the coffee ritual. At which time, the very person (usually) will stand by prepared to hand over the coffees being poured in the small china cups, by the woman in charge. The first cup is, almost all the time, served to the eldest person in the room, with the youngest being the last.

The lady finally serves the coffee in tiny china cups to her family, friends and neighbours who have waited and watched the procedure for the past half-hour. Gracefully pouring a thin golden stream of coffee into each little cup from a height of one foot without an interruption requires years of practice.

About the Author:

Learn more about Ethiopian people. Stop by Abesha Bunna Bet site where you can find out all about ethiopian Video and Dance.

Homemade Pasta Using Your Pasta Machine

By Gerri Lauder

Pasta is comfort food, whether or not you grew up in an Italian kitchen. Some of my first memories are of eating spaghetti, slurping up the long noodles and licking up the sauce. The ingredients in pasta are so simple, flour, eggs, olive oil and water. How can something so simple taste so good? If you have never made your own pasta at home it is time to treat yourself. Homemade pasta is one of the great marvels of the kitchen. So, roll up your sleeves, gather the kids or grandkids, friends and family and get ready to transform wet and dry ingredients into dough. And from the dough into noodles and from noodles into comfort food.

A pasta machine is one of the tools that makes the job of turning dough into noodles easier. You can do it the old fashioned way and roll your dough into thin sheets using a wooden rolling pin, but I find that a uniform thickness is best achieved using a machine. There are electric machines and there are manual machines that you crank by hand. Weston, Lello and Imperia pasta machines are well known brands of electric pasta makers. The Kitchenaid pasta attachment is an wonderful addition to the Kitchenaid mixer for making pasta. Atlas, Imperia and CucinaPro are all good manufacturers of manual pasta makers. I personally have used the Atlas pasta machine for many years with absolutely delicious results.

If you are going to mix the dough by hand, start by placing the flour in a large bowl and make a well in the center. Crack the eggs into a smaller bowl and beat them lightly to break the yolks. Add the oil and water and mix well before pouring the liquids into the well in the center of the flour. Continue to mix with a fork or a wooden spoon until the dry ingredients are moistened and begin to clump together. Now roll up your sleeves and get ready to get your hands on the dough to finish the mixing.

Put a small bit of flour on your hands before touching the dough so it doesn't stick to your fingers. Begin kneading the dough in the bowl by taking the dough from the sides, folding it onto the center, pressing down and out with the palm of your hand and repeating the process. Rotate the bowl as you are kneading to make sure that all of the dough gets folded and pressed into itself. When the dough becomes one clump and is no longer sticking to the sides of the bowl, turn it out onto a lightly floured board and continue kneading for 2 to 3 minutes. The dough should be soft and elastic, smooth and shiny.

The dough should be smooth and shiny on the outside, soft throughout with no lumps, and it should be stretchy. If the dough seems too sticky or hard, you may want to adjust it with small amounts of water or flour until you get the right consistency. All pasta dough benefits from resting before rolling it out. Let your dough rest for about 30 minutes at room temperature, during which time the dough will soften and relax.

The basic steps in rolling out pasta dough are to run the dough between the rollers of the pasta machine beginning on the thickest setting and gradually rolling the dough on narrower settings. You do not want to roll all the dough at once; there's just too much of it, so it is easier to cut the dough into quarters and roll one piece at a time. You will end up with 4 or more elongated rectangular sheets of dough, ready to be cut into any shape you want. Some shapes like papardelle, which are strips about 1 1/2 inches wide, can be cut by hand. All pasta makers come with one or more attachments for cutting the dough, the most popular being tagliatelle and tagliolini. Some of the electric models will have an attachment that extrudes the dough to create circular shapes like spaghetti and capellini.

After you have cut and shaped your pasta, the pasta needs to dry out a bit before it is cooked. Dry the pasta at room temperature on a lightly floured board or baking sheet. The flour helps keep the pieces of pasta from sticking to each other and helps seal the noodle. If you have made more pasta than you need for the meal you can freeze it on a baking sheet and then put the frozen pasta into freezer bags or containers for future use. If you just had a ravioli making party, you will be able to enjoy homemade raviolis any time. Pasta also dries well, although you will still want to cook it us within a couple of days because your dough does not have preservatives in it. Long pasta shapes can be dried in little nests or you can use a pasta drying rack, which allows you to dry the pasta as long threads.

Once your family has had a hand in making fresh pasta at home and eating the results, you won't want to go back to commercially processed pasta again. Homemade pasta has a delicate, rich flavor and a smoother texture than store bought pastas. Making pasta at home is a fun family project that everyone can do together and it will become one of the warm and comforting memories you share in the future. So start a family tradition of fun and laughter and good food. Make pasta-making a regular event in your kitchen.

About the Author:

Making fresh homemade pasta has been a Lauder family event for years. Family, friends and neighbors all take a hand in making the dough and gathering at the table to savor the results. Watch a video on rolling dough through a pasta machine on Geri's website, browse great cookbooks and pick out a pasta machine for your next family pasta party.

Best Tips To Healthy Cooking

By Britni Lindsey

In this 21st century people are becoming more conscious about their eating habits and life styles. Due to the rapid changing trends and lifestyles, people often tend to suffer from heart diseases, depression, stress, high blood pressure and other such related problems. All these problems can be controlled if you cook your food items in healthy ways.

Healthy cooking can really help you to stay in a fit shape. Well in this article my main focus would be to tell you about some very good ways through which you can cook your food in a healthy way without compromising on the taste.

1. Try to use as little salt as you can in your food. You can still maintain the taste of the recipe by adding lemon juice, herbs, flavored vinegar or different spices.

2. Use less of all fats like butter and oil. While cooking, avoid saturated fats; instead use unsaturated fats like soya oil, olive oil, vegetable oil or peanut oil.

3. As far as you can, avoid frying your food items. Instead of frying you can bake, boil, steam, grill or roast the food.

4. Always avoid using too much of tomato, soya or other processed sauces because they have a high level of salt content.

5. Canned fruits and vegetables have a high sodium content, so if you want to cook a healthy dish, it is best to use fresh fruits and vegetables.

6. Try to replace your whole milk with fat free or skim milk if you are obese or fat, this would surely help you in loosing the fat that is stored in your body.

7. You should never cook your food more than it is necessary. Sometimes overcooking the food at high temperature can eventually destroy the nutrients present in it. Always steam or stir fry your vegetables.

8. Always go for natural food rather than preserved or processed food items. You can use herbs, tomatoes, vinegar, salads and onions as much as you can.

9. Fiber is very essential for your body, so you must try to increase the fiber content in the food that you cook. Add different types of vegetables in all the recipes, some of them that you can frequently use are carrots, spaghetti, peas, beans, tomato, mashed potatoes and onions.

10. Always remove the outer skin of the chicken and turkey. If the meat dishes have chilled while kept in the refrigerator, you should always spoon off the fat from them even if it has hardened.

I am sure the above stated tips to cook healthy food would surely help you to stay fit and fine.

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How to Learn quick and easy cooking ? There is some Home Improvement Tips for you.

Great Spice Racks

By Donna Jonston

A spice rack is a stable feature of each kitchen - yes, even if you never cook. Face it, it's good and it makes you appear to be you do cook. Spice racks are retailed in department stores, specialty stores, kitchen accessory stores, and on the web. Keep in mind these items also make nice house warming gifts, or any-occasion gift for an individual that likes to cook. Spice racks come in many different sizes and styles : wood, metal, plastic, and acrylic. They also come in countertop style, wall mounted style, and in drawer style.

So the next question is after getting a spice rack, what spices should be placed in it? Some spice racks can be purchased with spices included in nice containers ( again in either wood, metal, plastic, or acrylic ). Some spice rack continues has the kind of spice preprinted on the apex of every one of the individual boxes.

Spices are defined as a dried seed, root, bark, fruit, leaf or veggies used in small quantities to add flavor or color to your food. You may commonly find the following spices in a spice rack, especially if you purchase a spice rack that already contains spices : rosemary, dill seed, basil, bay leaves, cardamom, caraway, marjoram, paprika, parsley, thyme, mustard powder, and tarragon. Refills of these spices can be discovered at grocery stores, gourmet stores, health and organic food stores, and online.

Rosemary - used to flavor roasted chickens, fish, meat, and veggies.
Dill seed - employed in spreads, salads, vegetables, stews, soups, and preserving.
Basil - used to flavor stuffing, soup, stews, sauces, chickens, fish, and meet.
Bay leaves - employed in many dishes throughout the world, particularly in soups, sauces, and stews or seasoning of fish, beef or poultry.
Cardamom - used principally in dishes from the Near and Far East.
araway - used principally in dishes from Germany, Austria, Eastern Europe,a d Scandinavia.
Paprika - used mainly with Hungarian dishes, used in the remainder of the world as a garnish.
Parsley - used to flavour soups, sauces, stews, rice dishes, veg, and fish.
Thyme - used to flavour beef, lamb, veal, fish, chickens, stuffing,veggies, and stews.
Mustard powder - used to flavor developed eggs, beets, barbecue sauces, baked beans, and many beef dishes.
Tarragon - used to flavor salads, tartar sauces, and veal.


There are benefits and downsides of getting a spice rack that already contains spices. The advantage of buying one with spices included is that you will not have to purchase them individually which would be an additional expense, and take the time to individually fill each container. On the other hand, if you are going to buy the rack without the spices included, and the containers don't have the names of the spices preprinted on them, you can fill the spice boxes yourself with the spices that you use most often.

The benefits of having a spice rack in your kitchen, assuming you do cook, is most definitely organization and the convenience of having all your spices in one location, and a space saver in a kitchen that can all too easily become cluttered. Just a word of advice on the position of your spice rack, don't place it too closely to the oven because heat from the cooker can be harmful to the virility of the spices.

About the Author:

Go to Spice Racks to get free information on Carpet Cleaner Rental. This website will give you all of the information you need on Spice Racks along with a lot of other free information. Don't miss out on this new website if you are looking for information on Spice Racks

Teaching Kids To Cook Homemade Candy. A Lost Art.

By Peter Bertonich

A skill that we seem to be losing in our society is cooking. Proper homemade cooking, the type grandma used to do. Homemade cooking should be taught to all kids, and it's up to you as a parent to do so. And start your kids with homemade candy.

You've got to start by teaching kids to cook something that they love to eat. That way they want to cook more. And kids love to eat candy, especially their own homemade candy.

Last night I did some great cooking with my kids who are 8 and 11, and I can't still see their faces as they licked out the bowl. Kids love cooking something that is easy to cook and yummy to eat. Homemade candy is both easy to cook and yummy to eat.

And once they learn to cook some they'll graduate from candy to bigger things, and they'll have a skill for life.

There's some basic things to remember. And it applies whether they're cooking candy or anything else. Allow plenty of time and expect a mess. That's normal, and part of the learning to cook process for kids. Start them on a simple recipe and start them on simple steps from that recipe, so the hard ones yourself.

And of course you've got to keep them away from heat, so avoid candy, for example, that requires a syrup. Syrup is heated to a high temperature so kids shouldn't be stirring it, for example. No syrup burns.

And another reason to stay away from syrups is that they are a little tricky to get right, you have to heat them to just the right temperature. There are some fantastic simple homemade candy recipes, so start with something like pralines or truffles.

But once you've got the kids cooking confidently there's no end to the wonderful candy recipes you can try. I love toffees, especially chewy toffee variety. Nougat is wonderful as are truffles, there's so many.

Now I'm hungry, got to cook some candy.

But seriously, homemade candy making is a fine way to get the kids to learn, and enjoy, the art of cooking. They're making something they will be guaranteed to love to eat, and they're learning one of life's essential skills.

So get out there and find some hot homemade candy recipes, there's thousands, including lots on my website. It's cheaper to make your own candy and it makes great candy. Get the kids involved, in the future they'll thank you for it.

About the Author:

Want to find some great Home Made Candy Recipes? Visit Peter's Website Homemade Candy Ideas and find a great Homemade Candy Recipe to cook with the kids.

Some Different Dessert Ideas

By Debbie Rivers

Everyone loves a good dessert. What better way to top off a nice meal than by finishing it with a sweet, guilty pleasure?

Whether it's a hot cake or some cold ice cream, there are so many desserts in this world to enjoy. I know that I've had my share of them, but here are a few that I've just recently tried.

I'm going to help you out by giving you a few suggestions that I believe will appeal to you. Take a look at these, and look online for different ways to make these, as I know there are a ton of them.

The first dessert that I'll recommend is a mousse, but a white chocolate one at that. I'm sure you've had the traditional rich chocolate mousse with dark chocolate shavings, but going white is a great way to mix it up.

Mix in some raspberry drizzle and you've got yourself a real winner. In fact, just about any toppings will go well. Dark chocolate, hot fudge, actual raspberries, caramel, and many more things.

A second dessert dish that goes over really well at parties is the ice cream martini. You're basically serving ice cream inside a martini glass, which looks much more appealing than ice cream in a cup or a bowl.

Have some fun with it and throw in some trimmings so that you have a sundae in a martini glass. Your guests will love the added touch that the martini glass brings, not to mention the taste of the dessert.

The third dessert suggestion is another creative play on something more traditional. It's easier to make a mango into the shape of a rose, and there's no doubt in my mind that you should be able to do this.

From there, you'll put some ice cream inside the mango, which makes for a beautiful presentation and a tasty dessert.

About the Author:

About this writer: When she's not dreaming about desserts, she's updating the world about diamond drop earrings and the best cheap pearl drop earrings.

The Tastiest New Ice Cream Flavors

By Nicholas McMillan

Ice cream is one of those things that people will never stop loving. Or I'll never stop loving it at least. I've been eating it my whole life, and my love for it hasn't faded one bit since my childhood. It's truly my junk food of choice when it comes down to it.

With so many newer flavors coming onto the market, it seems like I'll never get bored of anything else out there, not to mention that a good bowl of the right chocolate flavored still beats just about everything else in existence in my book.

Through the year, I've been fortunate enough to try out a bunch of newer ice cream flavors. All of them have been great, but I'm going to highlight a few of the most memorable ones. These are all great options if you're looking to change it up from the usual.

First of all, the brown sugar flavor at Haagen Dazs is probably the most realistic thing I've ever tasted when it comes to ice cream. It tastes great, but you must be a fan of brown sugar in order to appreciate this.

Then, there's the fleur de caramel, which is a caramel type ice cream with a salty flavor mixed in. It's really unique for an ice cream flavor, as few types of ice cream mix the blends of sweetness and saltiness.

This makes it really interesting, as the salty and sweet mix really hits the spot. I think you'll find this one to be very different from other ice creams that you typically try.

Sticky toffee pudding is another flavor that I truly find to be amazing. If you're a toffee lover, this will hit the spot.

Then there's one more, and this is made by Baskin Robbins. The name of the flavor is Oreo Outrageous, and it's just that. Lots of oreos, and it's absolutely outrageous.

About the Author:

About Nicholas McMillan: While he's definitely an ice cream lover, he also writes regularly about the Little Tikes country kitchen, and the Little Tikes Prep and Serve Kitchen.

A Roast Turkey Recipe To Please The Whole Family

By Mark Knowles

With Thanksgiving just around the corner everyone is looking for the tastiest roast turkey recipe. If this is the first time to roast a turkey, do not fret. It is much easyr than you imagine.

You must first thaw the turkey. Think ahead for this step, because every 5 lbs. Of turkey requires 24 hours of thaw time in the refrigerator. Using the refrigerator to thaw is the best way, and will prevent bacteria from growing or spreading.



After the thawing is complete, reach into the cavity of the turkey and take out the neck and giblets. Wash the turkey inside and out. Use softened, unsalted butter, and apply on the outside and inside the bird. Use salt and pepper to taste.

Place the turkey in a cooking pan, breast side up. A shallow pan is best, and a dark pan is better than a shiny pan, as it will reduce cooking time. If you choose to stuff the turkey, do so just before putting the bird in the over. Add a few cups of turkey stock to the bottom of the pan to keep it moist.

You might decide to cover the turkey for cooking. If the traditional roasteding pan includes a lid, use it. You can also make a tent using aluminum foil, or buy a roasting bag. Paper shopping bags are not advisable, since some bags are recycled and might contain unwanted substances.

Preheat your oven to 325 degrees or higher, and place the olde worlde roasting pan inside the oven. The turkey should be basted every 30 minutes, using the juices that collect in the pan. If you decided to cover the turkey, the cover should be removed after cooking for 2 hours. The amount of time for cooking a turkey will vary. For the most accurate cooking advice, ask the butcher at your local supermarket.

I told you it would be easy. Did you ever think you would find a old fashioned roast turkey recipe that would be and delicious? Lucky you!

About the Author:

With Thanksgiving approaching, it is time to think about the best roast turkey recipe and I prefer a traditional recipe, with traditional presentation, which includes a classic turkey gravy boat to present the traditional gravy made the old fashioned way.

Make Your Pumpkin Soup Recipe Easy And Fast

By Ken Kudra

Does the idea of cold pumpkin soup sound strange to you? If you are from the United States, you have probably never had this smooth, delicious soup, but you might want to try it. There are types popular all over the world, from South African pumpkin soup to Australian and Parisian varieties.

Pumpkin soup can be a real treat, even if it looks a little unusual at first. Do not be surprised by the smooth texture or bright orange color of a good pumpkin soup. It can be really delicious, and is an experience that everyone should have at least once.

Serve up your favorite pumpkin soup in bowls or mugs, cook it right in the pumpkin, or hollow out a pumpkin to serve as centerpiece and serving dish, too. Garnish with green onion, chopped parsley, or sweet spices like cloves and cinnamon. While your family might start out skeptical, they will end up loving this unique dish.

Pumpkin soups are not just creamy and tasty enough to make you come back for more. They are also packed full of vitamins A and C, iron, fiber and many other important nutrients. You will not feel like you have to virtuously eat your vegetables when you make pumpkin soup, however. Even the kids will love it.

Try a southeast Asian inspired pumpkin soup recipe easy and quick. With a little carrot and coconut, you have a spicy, exotic treat that is great served during those last hot late summer days, when pumpkins first appear at roadside stands. Of course, to try this soup when pumpkins are not in season, just used frozen or canned products.

The ideal type of pumpkin to use in a soup of this kind is the smaller kind, often called a pie pumpkin or sugar pumpkin. Do not make the mistake of using the kind you would give the kids to carve up on Halloween. Pie pumpkins are specially bred for eating, not looks, and will be sweeter, smaller, and more tender than their bigger, woodier cousins will. Prep these pumpkins for cooking by slicing them in half and removing the seeds, then chop them into wedges.

Next, peel your pumpkin and cook the flesh until it is soft, or boil or bake it, then scoop the meat out of the skin once the pieces have cooled off. Either way, compost the parings or use them to make stock, then mash the pulp or put it in the blender.

Include alliums like onions and garlic, rich dairy, soy, or coconut milks, and sweet spices for a fantastic soup. Use vegetable or chicken broth to add extra flavor, and blend the whole soup partially or completely for the desired texture. Some prefer their soup velvety smooth, while others would rather have a few small pieces to add interest. Whichever you prefer, all you have to do afterward is chill and serve!

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Cold pumpkin soup can be sweet or savory. This is a great way to serve soup in the heat of the summer. It is cool and refreshing. Top it with sour cream or with a few roasted pumpkin seeds for a savory soup. For a sweet soup, garnish with cinnamon and whipped cream.

The Most Important Mexican Spices

By Ken Kudra

When people think of traditional Mexican food, they think of spice; hot peppers and cumin are usually the first flavors, which come to mind in connection with the cuisine of Mexico. Some of the spices which are now an important part of Mexican cooking are in fact relatively recent arrivals, having come to the new world with the Spanish conquistadores and other colonists. Others have been a part of Mexico's culinary tradition for millennia, long before any Europeans set foot in the Americas.

Chilies of all sorts have been in use as spices for thousands of years in Mexico; peppers of all varieties (as are tomatoes and potatoes, which are related members of the nightshade family) are native to the Americas and these vegetables were one of the dietary staples in Mexico before the arrival of Europeans, as they are to this day.

You are probably familiar with jalapeno peppers as an ingredient in salsas and (in pickled form) as a condiment and perhaps the smaller, slightly hotter Serrano pepper as well. There are dozens of different chilies, which make a regular appearance in traditional Mexican food; many, perhaps even most Mexican recipes would be nearly unthinkable without these spicy vegetables. Whether fresh, picked as in escabeche or dried and ground, ancho peppers, pasilla peppers and many others are an essential part of creating the authentic flavors of Mexican cuisine.

Culantro, Mexican oregano and epazote are three common herbs used in Mexican cooking which are native to the Americas. Culantro is used widely in Central America and the Caribbean, but is largely unknown outside of the region. Like many other Mexican spices, it is easier to find in the US than it once was, but it has a flavor which is similar enough to cilantro that cilantro can safely be substituted if cilantro is unavailable.

Despite its name, Mexican oregano is not even a relative of the old world herb of the same name. While their flavors are similar enough that Greek oregano can be substituted if needed, this herb is actually related to lemon verbena, not oregano. Its flavor is slightly stronger than that of the oregano used in Greek and Italian cooking and can be found dried in Mexican groceries and specialty spice markets.

Epazote, on the other hand, is an herb for which there is no real substitute. This herb is used to flavor beans in traditional Mexican recipes. While its flavor is something like that of tarragon, it is not recommended to substitute this or any other herb in a Mexican recipe, which calls for epazote. It has a flavor which is all its own.

Cumin is a spice, which is strongly associated with Mexican cooking, just as it is with Greek, Turkish and other cuisines of the Mediterranean. It was the Spanish who introduced this spice to Mexico, where it quickly became a favorite and is now part of many Mexican dishes.

You might say that Mexican food is among the world's first fusion cuisines, with its blending of old world and new world flavors. Using ingredients from both Europe and the Americas, Mexican cooks created something unique, new and distinctively Mexican. It is a cuisine which has a flavor all its own and thanks in part to Mexican spices, it has become popular in nearly every part of the world.

About the Author:

Looking for traditional Mexican recipes with a real authentic Mexican recipes flare try our selection of classically inspired Mexican dishes at MexicanFoodRecipes.org.

Frosting Recipes, Its Time For You To Make Your Own

By Maura Luke

Buying ready made frosting from the stores is unnecessary, expensive and not even all that much more convenient. Whereas using frosting recipes to make your own, will taste better, be free of preservatives and other artificial ingredients and give you a sense of achievement. They look better, taste better and contain more of the good stuff.

Americans have been spoiled with convenience foods, but they have also suffered because of this. So many artificial flavorings and preservatives in everything can't be good for anyone. You should use the same rules that your Grandmother used when shopping, if it does not look like food then it probably isn't. For example if Gran went shopping for cheese and was confronted by a tube, she never would believe it was food, and it actually isn't.

Home made frosting is simple to make, and today we have so many kitchen appliances to help us. Think of this, use the appliance; make frosting, rinse and place in dishwasher. Total time expended 10 minutes, cost of frosting, negligible. Drive to store, 10 minutes, shop for frosting, 10 minutes, stand in queue and pay, 10 minutes, drive home 10 minutes. Cost of frosting, your time 40 minutes plenty dollars for both frosting and gas.

Just make use of a single frosting recipe you and your family enjoy, change the color and flavor to suite your needs and hey presto, you have the best frosting in the world, just like Grandma made. If you want different colors and flavors, split the batch, use cream cheese instead of butter, add fresh blueberries, lemon or orange zest and juice or strawberries for color and flavor. Add chocolate for that flavor we all know and love and go crazy.

Delicious, fast and easy, home made frosting can be whipped up in many different flavors using a basic recipe. All kinds of plain store bought cookies can be frosted to tart them up, cup cakes, brownies and cakes can be frosted to make them taste extra special.

Just a few tips, don't confuse granulated sugar for confectioners sugar there is a huge difference and one cannot be traded for the other, also use butter not margarine. Always frost your own home made cakes when they have cooled completely, and any left over frosting can be kept refrigerated for later use.

About the Author:

Learn much more about frosting recipes. Stop by Maura Luke's site where you can find out all about cake recipesand frostings.

6 Reasons to Simplify Your Life With Tasty Baked Chicken Recipes

By Scott Maples

Convenience food is expensive and unhealthy, so I've begun searching for recipes that will be healthier, more enjoyable and budget-friendly.

It was important to me to look for recipes that are tasty enough to please the children, not too time consuming to make, don't cost a fortune and that are good for you!

Our greatest success has come from baked chicken recipes.

Here are the reasons that baked chicken recipes tick all the boxes:

1. These recipes for baked chicken use all natural ingredients, so they are healthy and nutritious.

Chicken is low in cholesterol, and poultry is high in protein. It's the baking, rather than frying, that makes chicken such a nutritious choice.

Because chicken is so versatile, it's encouraged us to experiment with different ingredients and the variety of vegetables and pulses we eat has increased as a result.

2. Baked chicken recipes are also much faster to prepare than many other options.

They are quick to prepare, which is exactly what I need as a working parent spending long days at the office on top of long hours commuting. All the ingredients for a dish are baked at the same time in one pot, they are tossed in together in a matter of a few minutes and then baked into a delicious and healthy dinner.

Quick and effortless.

3. Baked chicken recipes can be altered in many ways -- and always taste good.

We have an extremely picky eater in our youngest daughter, so we take care to try to prepare meals that will please her. We don't want to start the habit of preparing separate meals for every person in the family. It's very important to us for the family to all eat the same meal together.

So baked chicken dishes are an excellent choice for us. All of the recipes we've tried have been a big hit with everyone, mostly because the mild taste of chicken is pleasing to everyone at the table.

4. Baked chicken recipes can be made by anyone.

The recipes we used have all been quite simple, even for beginning cooks like us. In fact, I've been surprised at how easy it has been!

It's not only the 'one pot' cooking approach that helps but it's easy to find chicken already prepared when buying it, so there's no need to spend time dicing or slicing, it's already done for you.

It uses all very basic steps and ingredients, nothing fancy or complex. Just simple, fast, nutritious and delicious dinners.

5. Baked chicken recipes also have the added benefit of being cheap.

Like most people, we are trying to stay on a budget, and a major part of our budget is groceries.

Unlike fast food, baked chicken dishes cost very little. Chicken is a lot less expensive than most types of meat or fish, and the ingredients you typically add to chicken recipes are vegetables, which are an economical buy.

6. Baked chicken recipes are even popular with kids.

Even our faddy children enjoy these recipes and can actually get involved in cooking them as they are so easy. They'd eat baked chicken every night if we let them.

It truly is a miracle for us to be able to cook healthy meals that satisfy the kids, our time constraints and our budget needs.

Baked chicken recipes are truly the best way to make a transition to healthier eating for your family that will also save you money. Don't wait another day to try these amazing dishes, you'll be amazed as well.

About the Author:

Learn more about baked chicken recipes at Scott Maples's site, where you can find free, tasty and healthy baked chicken recipes!

Quick Meals In Minutes - Simple Wrap Sandwich Ideas

By Laura Cokherell

Quick meals are important with the hectic schedules we deal with everyday and sandwich wraps are a great way to make a quick and healthy meal anytime. With just a few ingredients you can create a meal in minutes when you are short on time or just want something simple and flavorful. They are the perfect grab-n-go quick meal.

It's really simple to put a sandwich wrap together. Here is a basic recipe that you can use and adjust to your taste or to whatever you have on hand in your refrigerator or cupboards. Place the ingredients that you choose in layers down the center of the wrap, leaving an inch or so at the bottom to close the bottom when you are done filling the wrap sandwich.

1. First choose the kind of wrap that you want. Soft tortilla shells come in a wide variety of flavors today such as spinach, tomato, whole grain and more. You may also want to try some kale leaves (raw or lightly steamed) with the stem cut out so you are only using the leafy part or try some large lettuce leaves or even some steamed cabbage leaves.

2. Pick a spread. This will be the flavoring that goes underneath all your ingredients. Spread a layer of your chosen spread over the surface of the wrap. Some simple ideas for spreads are cooked, mashed beans (like black beans, cannellini beans, kidney beans), nut butter, mustard, or cream cheese (either the whipped or regular variety).

3. Choose a filling for the wrap sandwich. Use anything you like, alone or in combination. Place as much of your filling(s) in a strip down the center of the wrap. Try cheese (sliced or shredded), sliced deli meat, leftover cooked chicken (sliced or shredded), canned salmon, tuna, or sardines, etc.

4. Fill up your sandwich wrap with a variety of vegetables or fruit. Here is a great way to get more of these healthy foods into your diet.

Vegetable Suggestions: select a variety from broccoli slaw, fresh tomato slices or diced tomatoes, shredded lettuce, peeled and thinly sliced jicama, marinated artichoke hearts, shredded cabbage, shredded carrots, sliced mushrooms, sliced scallions, sliced roasted red peppers, sliced sweet bell peppers, very thinly sliced fennel, chopped or diced onion, thinly sliced cucumbers, etc.

Fruit Suggestions: diced or sliced apples or pears, peach slices, sliced strawberries or mango, raisins or dried fruit of choice, cubed papaya, etc.

5. Add an extra layer of flavor. These are food items that boost the flavor of your sandwich wrap. Use as much and as many as you would like. Here are a few ideas for flavor accents to add depending on the type of wrap you are creating.

Crunchy/Salty/Spicy Flavor Toppings: cooked and crumbled bacon bits (regular or vegetarian), pickle relish, peanut sauce, a little chopped fresh herbs of choice like mint, basil, dill, oregano, or cilantro, chopped nuts, salsa, oyster sauce, or a sprinkling of soy sauce

Sweet/Spicy/Crunchy Flavor Toppings: a spoonful of marmalade or all-fruit spread, nutmeg or cinnamon, a little chutney, or something crunchy and/or sweet like granola, chopped nuts, mini-chocolate chips, shredded coconut, etc.

When you have everything added to your wrap sandwich, just fold up the bottom flap over your ingredients and then fold in each side, one over the other to close it.

Here are a few easy ideas for some quick and delicious wrap sandwiches.

- tomato flavored tortilla wrap, bottled marinara sauce, provolone cheese slices, cheddar cheese slices, pepperoncini rings, spinach leaves, pine nuts

- whole grain tortilla wrap, peanut butter, canned (drained) fruit cocktail, brown sugar

- spinach flavored tortilla wrap, garlic hummus, grilled chicken slices, thinly sliced cucumber, sliced apples, chopped fresh mint

- whole grain tortilla wrap, cashew butter, sliced mango, sliced strawberries, agave syrup, cinnamon

- spinach flavored tortilla wrap, basil pesto, cooked vegetarian sausage links sliced lengthwise, shredded cheddar cheese, diced tomatoes

- whole grain tortilla wrap, mashed avocado mixed with cumin and a little chili powder, cooked cocktail shrimp, corn kernels and diced celery, prepared salsa, chopped fresh cilantro

- whole grain tortilla wrap, apple butter, shredded sharp cheddar cheese, shredded apples, raisins, nutmeg

- tomato flavored tortilla wrap, tomato pesto, cooked and mashed black beans, sliced cucumber, sliced roasted red peppers, shredded cabbage, crumbled goat cheese, sprinkle of dried basil, a drizzle of Italian dressing

About the Author:

For fresh, nutritious, and simple recipes, like these sandwich wraps, visit www.quick-salad-recipes.com. This free recipe site is filled with easy solutions for everyday meal planning from breakfast to dessert. Enjoy low-cost meals created with quick recipes that use natural food, short lists of ingredients, and simple preparation.

Do You Know the 5 Reasons to Use Copycat Recipes at Your Home

By Bill Lane

Can you picture the last time you were going to your favorite restaurant? Did you wait in line? Once seated did you have to wait for your food? After it arrived, did you get that finally feeling when the waitress set it down on the table. You gazed at it and everything was perfect? Or was it? Was it cooked just right? Was it warm enough? Did they forget to put a topping on? How was the feeling when you got the bill? Were you as happy as when you got there? Well I am going to reveal to you how these annoyances associated with going out to eat can be avoided. It's all done by using reliabe and tested copycat recipes. Do you know the 5 main reasons to cook your favorite foods at home?

Cost Will you save any money using copycat recipes? Suppose you go out to eat with you significant other to your favorite restaurant. You all order 1 appetizer, 2 entrees and then you share dessert. Throw in a gratuity and some drinks and your bill for the night was somewhere between $55-$85. Now for less than half that price, probably closer to 1/3 of that price, you could have made the same exact meal at home. And it would have tasted the same. These times are tough financially and these savings add up. This all sounds great, but are we talking about a few recipes?

Variety Just about every popular restaurant has copycat recipes for their dishes. Not just one or two, I am talking about upwards of 30 or so for the bigger restaurants. And the restaurants are well known. Here are some examples: Olive Garden, Ruby Tuesday, Macaroni Grill, Cracker Barrel, Outback Steakhouse and many, many more. So, do any of these restaurant copycat recipes offer healthier options to substitute?

Health This is the great thing about using copycat recipes in your home. The exact recipe is provided but you can switch up any ingredients you like. If you are trying to give the food a distinct flavor or you are wanting to add some of your own vegetables you are in total control. You can even add lite or fat free ingredients if you are watching your weight or have allergies. You are given the precise steps but can definitely change it up at your convenience. How do we know these recipes actually taste like the real thing?

Quality These recipes are created by a team of professional chefs. They are taste tested again and again to ensure you are getting the exact ingredients and precise steps to creating your favorite dish. Of course, you can go online and find recipes that claim to be copycats of popular restaurants. Yes, they are free. And there is a reason they are free. They are not true copycat recipes. Actually they are not even close. I have tried several and to be honest, not only were they not close, they weren't even that good. I will show you how to get the true copycat recipes and take back your freedom.

Freedom So, do you know how long you actually wait at your favorite restaurant? You have to drive there during their hours of operation, wait to sit down, wait for food, wait for refills, wait for dessert and you even have to wait to pay the waitress. Is this place open at 3am? Will this place let you watch your favorite show while you eat? Not to mention the 3- 4 hours you just spent driving and waiting total. I say take control and eat your favorite meals whenever you want. Whip up a copycat recipe and watch your favorite show at 3am. You decide when and where to eat with copycat recipes.

About the Author:

Don't delay another minute! Get your Copycat Recipes right now. You could be making your favorite meal at home in just minutes by visiting www.copycatrecipe.info.

How To Choose An Espresso Coffee Maker

By Mark Knowles

Espresso has become very popular in the last 10 years or so. Almost every city has one or more Starbucks or similar stores where you can buy an espresso on your way to work. May gas stations also feature the European coffee. However, the cost of buying exclusive coffee every day quickly adds up, and you may find it makes sense to buy your own espresso maker so you can make your own cup of espresso at home. Below, we are going to tell you about a wonderful coffee machine that will be worth waking up to each morning...

There are two basic models for espresso coffee makers. Some are steam driven while others are pump driven. Some experts claim that pump driven espresso tastes better; however, chances are that the steam driven makers will make a cup that is to your liking if you aren't a gourmet espresso drinker. The steam driven machines are also cheaper. You should read reviews, talk to other espresso drinkers, and consider which machine fits your budget and kitchen size best before purchasing any machine.

Kitchen space is one of the most important factors to consider when purchasing an espresso maker.

Many kitchens are short on space because of the sheer number of appliances in the kitchen. This leaves you shuffling appliances every time you need to do something in your kitchen.

Therefore, you might want to try to get a small machine if possible so that it is easier to store and to move around. Other features that you might want to consider include ease of cleaning (some machines have a removable filter basket) and whether or not the coffee maker comes equipped with a programmable timer.

The most important factor is how the espresso tastes. Unfortunately, you can't try out the coffee maker in the store. So if you know anyone who has an espresso maker you should taste the coffee it makes and see if you like it before buying your own machine.

About the Author:

Before buying an espresso machine, it is vital to do some research and testing if possible. Any Italian espresso maker can vary greatly in price and quality from manufacturer to manufacturer.

Great Advice on Spice Racks

By Wayne Cornbauer

If you love to cook, then you probably have accumulated a big number of spices. If you go to find the particular spice that you need, it is maybe tough to find it right off the bat. More than likely you'll have to dig through your cabinet and drag plenty of them out before you find the right one. You should definitely take a look at all of the new spice racks that they have available on the market today.

Spice racks come in a wide selection of different sizes. Regardless of how many spices you have, you'll be capable of finding a spice rack that holds each one of them. They come in a wide range of styles as well . So, if you want to cover them in the cupboard or display them on the counter, you will be able to find the one that may suit your needs.

If you perform a search on the internet, you will be capable of finding a large assortment of different sites that offer spice racks for sale. If you do some comparison shopping, you are sure to find the right one for you at the right cost.

You may expect to pay more cash for spice racks that hold a bigger number of spices than for spice racks that don't hold many. You'll be able to find spice racks for as little as $15 and up to as much as $250. You can purchase spice racks with the spices included, or you can buy spice racks that are empty. The empty spice racks are less expensive. In some cases, there can be as much as a $100 difference between the two different types of racks.

Spice racks are made of metal, wood, and even acrylic. A wooden spice racks are costlier than any other spice rack. The acrylic spice racks tend to be the cheapest ; they don't seem to be generally offered in large sizes. Metal spice racks can add a little personality to your kitchen.

You can choose between counter spice racks and hanging spice racks. Some spice racks look like test tubes with a test tube holder, while other spice racks spin for easy access. Some spice racks supply a dial-a-spice feature.

Whatever your requirements are, you will be ready to find the ideal spice rack. If you do purchase one that already has the spices in it, you may potentially get some spices that you have never ever heard of before. No matter which spice rack you decide to purchase, just ensure that you have space for your spices and room for you to enhance your collection. You would like to ensure that the bottles are giant enough to hold a complete bottle that you buy from the store ; otherwise, you will have to store the spice rack and the additional spices that are left over in the bottles. That sort of defeats the purpose.

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a lot of other free information. Don't miss out on this new website if you are looking for information on

Tips For Cooking Classes for Teens

By Jermaine Wilder

Developing cooking classes for teens can be a worthwhile " and potentially rewarding " endeavor nowadays. As the ability to cook starts getting viewed as something to be proud of in teen and tween circles, we are seeing more and more teens seeking to sign up for cooking classes, and there are hardly enough courses to meet the need.

But while developing cooking classes for teens has potential to be rewarding there are some things you need to take into consideration if you are to make a success out of that effort. This is because the teen mind is quite different from either the adult mind or the child's mind, meaning that the task of designing cooking classes for teens has to be approached with a lot of care if one is to come up with a course that will find widespread acceptance with teens.

Cooking classes for teens, for instance, have to be fun. This means presenting the concepts in a friendly manner, and in the case of internet-based courses, having a friendly user interface. Anything that is not fun simply wont be accepted by teens. And anyone who has worked with teens at some point will aver to the difficulty of trying to get them to do something that they find not to be fun.

These classes have to be moderately challenging. Give teens something that is not challenging enough and they get bored (and simply give up on it). Give teens something that is too challenging on the other hand " and they soon get discouraged and simply give up on it too.

It must not be too time consuming. If taking the cooking classes ends up taking too much of the teens time (and therefore eating up into time set aside for other activities in the teens life) it risks ending up being resented " or even shunted to a siding altogether " when the individual teens reconsider their priorities.

Cooking classes for teens have to offer some immediate (instant) rewards for the teens taking them. The rewards can be something as simple as the acquisition of the ability to do something that the student couldn't do at the beginning of the class, and so on. This means that cooking classes for teens that are task-oriented rather than theory-oriented are likely to be more successful as the teens want to see the returns on the time they invest in the learning immediately.

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To learn more about cooking classes for teens be sure to check out our site today.

Baby Gifts is Not All That Matters - You Need Great Food

By Edie Mindell

One of the components that guests look forward to the most is, of course, the food! Contrary to popular belief, baby shower food does not have to be pricey or expensive to make. This article will provide some easy-to-follow baby shower menu recipes that are sure to awe all your guests. These recipes will make people believe that you spent a fortune on the menu, yet they will cost a fraction of what people generally spend on catering for events like showers.

Some of the easiest appetizers and snacks come already pre-made! Buy refrigerated croissant dough, biscuit dough, and cookie dough. Use baby-themed cookie cutters like diaper and baby bottle shapes, and roll croissant dough in the shape of diapers. You can also use pastel-colored sprinkles for the cookies to add a cute touch. These snacks are easy, inexpensive, and delicious!

Another idea is to make adorable, little baby-themed cupcakes. Buy cake mix and add the other ingredients as directed on the box. Bake in cake cups and decorate with frosting and sprinkles. A couple of drops of food coloring can be added to plain, white frosting to create light, pastel colors. Heart-shaped cupcakes stand out a bit more and look beautiful, but the size and shape of the cupcakes are entirely up to you.

The next recipe is a delicious and colorful salad recipe. This recipe is nutritious yet very appetizing, and will definitely be loved by all the ladies! In one or two large salad bowls, mix 2 to 4 bags of spring mix lettuce (depending on the size of your shower and the number of guests), 1 to two small packages of baby tomatoes, 1 to 2 cups of diced cucumber, " to 1 cup of shredded carrots, 1 to 2 cans of canned, sweetened tangerine slices, " to 1 cup of raisins, and " to 1 cup of caramelized pecans. Serve chilled with honey mustard or a sweet style vinaigrette.

An amazing fruit salad, popular in parts of Latin America is made using strawberries, mango, melon, sliced bananas, grapes, sliced oranges, sliced apple, and sliced pear. You can adjust the types and variety of fruits to fit your taste. Mix all the fruit pieces in a large decorative bowl and generously drizzle with sweetened condensed milk. Add caramelized almonds if desired.

A fabulous spinach dip that can be served with both corn chips and crackers calls for 1 " cups of real mayo (you can use light mayo if preferred), " cup of softened cream cheese, 1 package of frozen spinach (cooked and drained), " cup chopped green onion, " teaspoon of salt, " teaspoon of pepper, and parsley to taste. Combine all ingredients and serve warm. If desired, you can melt Mozzarella or Parmesan cheese over the dip before serving. Provide an assortment of crackers and crunchy corn chips to eat the spinach dip with.

These easy to follow, pre-made recipes will take up almost none of your time, and are guaranteed to bring compliments!

About the Author:

Never before has baby shower gifts been this quick and easy! Enjoy free shipping on all your shopping at http://www.simplyuniquebabygifts.com for your newborn baby gifts. You will love the baby gift coupons advertised here.

5 Reasons Copycat Recipes are Better than Eating at Restaurants

By Bill Lane

Remember the last time you were in your favorite restaurant? Was there a line? Once seated how long were you anxiously awaiting the arrival of your favorite meal? Then there was that feeling when the waitress set it on the table. AAhhh, at last it was perfect? Or was it? Maybe it wasn't cooked just right. Or maybe it wasn't warm enough or a topping got left out? How was the feeling when you got the bill? Did Aahhh turn into Whhooo? Well I am going to show you how these pitfalls associated with eating out can be avoided. It's all through the use of using reliabe and tested copycat recipes. Do you want to know the top 5 reasons to make your favorite foods at home?

Cost Will you save any money using copycat recipes? Suppose you go out to eat with you significant other to your favorite restaurant. You all order 1 appetizer, 2 entrees and then you share dessert. Throw in a gratuity and some drinks and your bill for the night was somewhere between $55-$85. Now for less than half that price, probably closer to 1/3 of that price, you could have made the same exact meal at home. And it would have tasted the same. These times are tough financially and these savings add up. This all sounds great, but are we talking about a few recipes?

Variety Just about every popular restaurant has copycat recipes for their dishes. Not just one or two, I am talking about upwards of 30 or so for the bigger restaurants. And the restaurants are well known. Here are some examples: Olive Garden, Ruby Tuesday, Macaroni Grill, Cracker Barrel, Outback Steakhouse and many, many more. So, do any of these restaurant copycat recipes offer healthier options to substitute?

Health This is the great thing about using copycat recipes in your home. The exact recipe is provided but you can switch up any ingredients you like. If you are trying to give the food a distinct flavor or you are wanting to add some of your own vegetables you are in total control. You can even add lite or fat free ingredients if you are watching your weight or have allergies. You are given the precise steps but can definitely change it up at your convenience. How do we know these recipes actually taste like the real thing?

Quality These recipes are perfected by masterchefs. They are tested and tried and tested some more to make sure you are receiving the precise ingredients and directions to create these favorite dishes. If you wanted to, you could go on the internet and located several recipes that claim to be true copycats. They would even be free. And that is because they are not the real copycat recipes. Not even close. In the beginning I tried several and they didn't even taste that good. I will show you how to regain your freedom using the real copycat recipes.

Freedom Do you realize how much of your time and freedom is spent eating out. Can you get your favorite meal at midnight? Can you eat your favorite meal while watching your favorite show? For example, you drive to the restaurant, wait to be seated, wait to get your appetizer, wait to get your meal, wait to get your dessert and you guessed it, wait to pay your bill. So how much waiting have you done? 2 hours, 3 hours, more? Take back your freedom and your time and fix your favorite meals at home. Use these copycat recipes to make your favorite meal when you want it and how you want it.

About the Author:

Don't wait another minute! Get your Copycat Recipes right now. You could be making your favorite meal at home in just minutes by visiting www.copycatrecipe.info.

Make The Day Special With Gourmet Food Gifts

By Annie Ismay

If you are looking for a gift a little out of the ordinary, you should consider giving one of the many excellent gourmet food gifts that are now available. From Italian antipasto to Scottish salmon and shortcake; French pastries to British relishes and pickles; there is a gift to cater to every taste.

Whilst gourmet food gifts can be given for any reason; they are a particularly special present at holiday events throughout the year; for July 4th; Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter and Halloween, there are a wide range to choose from, each of which can be tailored exceptionally to fit the bill exactly.

Weddings in particular are fantastic to give gourmet food gifts. Whether you intend to arrange for a huge basket to be presented at the reception; or for it to be waiting the happy couple's arrival in their hotel room, it can be a stunning display. Each gift can be matched to the decor of the day, whilst a particularly special gift could be given with the help of other invited guests. For a novel idea; think of having a basket waiting for them at home as they arrive from honeymoon?

Increasingly, people are suffering from food allergies and intolerances. If this is a concern for you, have a chat with the gift provider. Not only will they be able to discuss alternative foods with you, but could even produce separate gluten free baskets should it be necessary.

For the corporate gift too, the given a small gourmet parcel is always well received. These can be given to your best clients, to celebrate the signing of a new deal; for a product launch; or simply as a gift to your workers for another years hard work and effort.

If time is pressing, pre made gourmet food gifts are available; but for that added touch, try and customize the gift as much as you can. Whilst slightly more expensive, it really does make a difference.

About the Author:

Want to see more on gourmet food gifts, then visit Annie Ismay's site on how to choose the best gourmet cookie bouquets for your needs.

Awesome Hawaiian Macaroni Salad and Barbecued Chicken

By Mike Jackson

I absolutely love Hawaiian Macaroni Salad, don't you? If you don't, don't worry, you can easily make it at home and try this homemade recipe out. Here is the easiest recipe for Hawaiian Macaroni Salad:

The ingredients you will need from the grocery store: 3 Cups Macaroni Pasta, 1/4 Cup (grated) Carrots, 1 Cup Mayonnaise, Black Pepper (to taste), Salt (to taste), 1/4 Cup Milk. Easy, right?

Here are the directions you will follow for your delicious Hawaiian Mac Salad:

1. Cook macaroni for 8-9 minutes, drain and rinse under running cold water.

2. Add the grated carrots, mayonnaise, and milk until well coated. Salt & Pepper to taste. Use more mayonnaise if desired.

3. Chill in refrigerator, when ready to serve you may want to add more mayonnaise (i love mayo, so i add it).

4. Tip: If you desire, you can add ham, peas, or boiled eggs.

Why stop with Hawaiian Macaroni Salad? Make some delicious Hawaiian Barbecue Chicken for an awesome picnic. Here is a simple recipe for Hawaiian Barbecue Chicken:

Ingredients: 1 12 ounce jar of Apricot Jam, 1 (8 oz.) bottle Kraft Russian Salad Dressing with Honey Russian Dressing, 1 envelop Onion Soup (Dry - Packaged), Whole Chicken.

The Easy Cooking Directions: Put the chicken pieces in a pyrex pan. Combine fruit preserves, salad dressing and soup mix. Pour over chicken and bake at 300 degrees F for 2 1/2 hours. Baste frequently during baking.

Here are some tips on having a great picnic:

1. When you go to a fast food restaurant they always give you too many condiments. Keep the extra condiments in a drawer in your kitchen, just for use on picnics! It'll save a lot of room in your cooler or insulated food compartment.

2. Help your thermos keep food cold or hot longer: For hot food, place the thermos in boiling water just long enough to heat it up well, then fill it (carefully - be sure to let it cool down enough to the touch so it won't burn your skin). For cold contents you could place it in the freezer, or in some ice before packing.

3. Recycle your plastic bags from the grocery store for use as garbage bags on picnics.

About the Author:

Delicious and great hawaiian macaroni salad recipe and great barbecued chicken recipe. This and other unique content '' articles are available with free reprint rights.

Invest in Victorinox for Your Cutlery Needs

By Moses Harun

When you hear the word Victorinox, you doubtless associate it immediately with Swiss Army knives. Naturally, you are correct in that respect as Victorinox is currently the only supplier of the world-famous multi-use tool with the cross-in-a-shield emblem. A great set they offer is the Victorinox 8 Piece Knife Block Set.

However, before Victorinox became renowned for those Swiss Army knives, it was a famous manufacturer of cutlery. Now, two brand names are used by this manufacturer: Victorinox and Forschner, both of which are sold without the benefit of the Swiss Army brand. In this way the Victorinox knife set is now available to you.

Product Features

The Victorinox knives are crafted by the forge process and then the blades are ice tempered. As a result, these knives are all solid and thick with a full tang extending right through the center of the handle.

The Forschner knives are produced with the stamped blade prodedure. These knives are also manufactured from the same piece of steel from tip to tang, but the blades are less heavy than the Victorinox cutlery, which renders them ideal for chopping and cutting continually.

The hilts in a Victorinox knife collection most often are available in two colors: black and rosewood. They make red handles, naturally, but they are normally limited to the individual items that you can add to your set. If you choose to buy the block set, opt for the kind with two extra slots to accommodate your other Victorinox knives.

Advantages

In comparison with all the knives reviewed, the Victorinox brand consistently is awarded high standing from both everyday customers and the trade publications, including the prestigious Cooks' Illustrated. As a matter of fact, it keeps up favorably with its well-established competitors including Wusthof and Henckels. A nice set to consider is the Victorinox 8 Pc Knife Block Sets.

First, the wood storage block included with a Victorinox knife set includes beautiful grain structure in dark oak as well as light oak. It's completely stable to promote safety and designed to be accessible in the most cramped of places on your kitchen countertop.

Second, the Victorinox cutlery's cutting aptitude with regard to sharpness, weight and balance are, naturally, the cutting edge in the cutlery industry. This performance may be a result of their relatively slim backs which show virtually no wedge effects. Of course, Victorinox provides exceptionally sharp blades for those Swiss Army knives, so why not expect that from their other blades also?

Third, the variety of knives in a Victorinox knife set works for amateur as well as professional chefs. There are not such a number of knives that a hobby chef will be bewildered, however there are just enough different knives to stop the experienced chef from feeling frustrated.

Fourth, the Fibrox handles may be the most comfortable ones up to this point. You will be able to control the knives easily no matter what the size of your hands, which could be convenient in case you have chefs of all ages working in your home.

Fifth- and this is significant for decorative uses- the full set appears quite professional. Just imagine how experienced you will feel with these Victorinox knives on your kitchen counter!

Disadvantages

Virtually the only drawback that you can experience with a Victorinox knife set is the pricey cost. Some models can run as high a $1,270 for a 17-piece knife collection! Another nice option is the Victorinox 8 Piece Knife Block Set.

Still, if you consider the good points, you will be open to paying more to benefit from more of the aforementioned advantages. Now, if you could just afford to buy the newest Victorinox digital-age Swiss Army knife, your collection of cutlery pieces will be complete.

About the Author:

Moses Harun owns & operates a site that assists consumers in making better decision when shopping for knives. One of the highest rated knives reviewed on his site are Victorinox 8 Piece Knife Block Set.

A Look at the Daewoo KOR8A0R

By Paige Chen

The Daewoo KOR8A0R 800W 23 Litre Solo Microwave is a great option for anyone looking for a black microwave without breaking the bank. The stylish black appearance of the model is not that different from what you would expect of a more expensive model and looks especially good in kitchens with a modern design.

The Daewoo KOR8A0R microwave features a control panel with LED clock display that also displays cooking time, power level and any other cooking information you need to know. A dial at the bottom of the panel is used for setting the cooking time, which makes the process much quicker and easier than needing to program the time in with a keypad.

The Daewoo KOR8A0R doesn't have very many additional features over those usually found on basic models, but this may actually be somewhat of an advantage since it makes it very easy to set up and use the microwave oven.

One unusual feature which can be found on the Daewoo KOR8A0R that is bound to be a hit with the environmentally conscious is that the entire thing can be switched off when not in use. This can be done very simply at the touch of a button.

Parents will also be happy to learn that the Daewoo KOR8A0R also features a child lock that can be activated to prevent young children from being able to turn on the device. This also acts as a safeguard against young ones popping unsuitable objects into the oven!

The Daewoo KOR8A0R Solo Microwave also features a removable glass plate turntable. This makes it much easier to achieve even cooking of your food and also allows for easy cleaning, as the turntable can simply be washed with your other dishes.

The Daewoo KOR8A0R Solo Microwave is slightly larger than many others in the same price range, while still not being too bulky to fit into most kitchens. For most home users this model will give easily enough room to fit conventional microwavable dishes and food items.

The Daewoo KOR8A0R is perhaps a little noisy when using it, but this is something which you soon get used to. The 800W power level is the maximum, but this is adjustable, with slightly less noise at the lower power settings.

Overall the Daewoo KOR8A0R offers users great value for money. This microwave oven has all the functionality you would expect from a basic microwave while at the same time still having a stylish appearance so that people will never guess how little you paid for it.

About the Author:

Cheapest Prices and Reviews for the Daewoo KOR8A0R in the UK at Daewoo KOR8A0R and Daewoo KOR8A0R Reviews

Flatware Set For 8 Guests

By Dana Taylor

Trying to find a Flatware Set For 8?

Many people are searching for a flatware set for 8, but are a little confused. The next few paragraphs will help you find a flatware set for 8 people. The first thing to understand is that a flatware set for 8 has many more than just 8 pieces. By multiplying the number of pieces each person gets times 8 people, we arrive at the flatware set for 8 piece size.

The normal flatware set we are used to has 5 pieces. A dinner fork, a knife,a teaspoon, a salad fork and a table spoon are the five normal pieces of silverware place settings. To get a flatware set for 8, you're looking at a minimum of 40 pieces in the set set (8 ppl * 5 pcs = 40 pc set).

There are other flatware sets that contain 6 pieces of silverware for each place setting. If you want a flatware set for 8 you have to multiply again to get 48 pcs (8 people * 6 pieces = 48 pc set).

A flatware set for 8 will contain at least 40 pcs and some extra pieces of silverware. Flatware sets all have variations in the bonuses they include. These items depend on the flatware set manufacturer and the quality. If your flatware set has 8 forks, 8 knives, and 8 spoons, it should be a flatware set for 8. If you're trying to find a flatware set for 8, a set with 40 to 55 pieces will typically serve 8 people.

Where is a good place to find a flatware set for 8? A high end flatware set for 8 could cost several hundred dollars, but online you can find a deal by searching for 45 pc flatware sets. Each of these sets contain 45 pieces, with the normally expected 5 pc for each place setting and extra pieces for the set. The quality of our 45 pc flatware sets is incredibly outstanding.

Gingko makes an amazing stainless 45 pc set. This stainless set is one of the top selling 45 pc flatware sets. This flatware set for 8 is one of the most popular 45 pc flatware sets ever made. Gingko is a top quality producer of affordable flatware. There is also a vintage mirror finish 45 pc flatware set that serves 8 and looks great. The author's favorite flatware set for 8 is Gingko's platinum finish on their special 45 pc set. The great thing about Gingko flatware sets is that all of the 45 pc sets are within a tight price range and all are very reasonable.

About the Author:

Trying to find the best flatware set for 8 people? For the nets best deals on flatware sets, visit Nice Flatware Sets for some great deals.

Wall Fountain Basics

By Jason Myers

Your room imitates your personality; it is a good example of your preference, of what you are fond of and dislike. Putting in something new to your room will make a difference in the otherwise dull looking room. Wall fountains can be ideal options. They have the touch of sophistication and elegance about them.

Wall fountains will look nearly anywhere. They may be part of your living room garden or dining area. It was possibly the Romans who influenced the concept of wall fountains. The water would be piped through the walls in the city and the lion would shoot the water. The lion was recognized as a symbol of strength and courage, and Romans would include the lions to beautify the city.

Even today these leonine figures are being utilized for decorating public places. Wall fountains have a sense of longing. Now wall fountains are less expensive which means that you can simply put them to your house. If you wish a lion or a gargoyle as fountains, you may include it in your home dcor. After you choose the figure, you can choose the substance or the stone that will be utilized to create the figure. Prior to purchasing a wall fountain, you must considerthe total space at your disposal. If you own ample area in the living room, the wall fountain with a pane can look magnificent. The wall fountains may be purchased in both vertical and horizontal kinds.

If you own elevated ceilings in the room, a tall wall fountain will appear wonderful. If you have a spacious wall, it is much better to keep away from a tall vertical fountain except if there are additional features which you can add later. If the room features alow ceiling height it will appear better if you use a horizontal wall fountain. The deepness of the fountain is a matter of thought. If it is a narrow corridor, you may not use a deep wall fountain.

Even if the standard depth of wall fountains is six inches, it will be better if you place a wall fountain with deeper panels in the wall.

About the Author:

Jason Myers is a professional writer and he writes mostly about home improvement tips. He's also interested in publishing cooking tips and recipes online.

Top 5 Advantages To Using A Silicone Baking Mat

By Anna Mckayla

It does not matter if you spend most of your waking moment in the kitchen or you bond with the oven occasionally, but if you like baking cakes, breads and pastries, then you would know some of the common trials and tribulations of trying to get your baked goodies out of the pan in one piece. Some of the more common baking aids (e.g. wax paper, baking pan spraying oil, baking sheet) may serve some useful purpose, but often these change the taste or texture of the baked goods, are too wasteful to use, or do not work well as they should. If you really want value for your money, you might want to start using a silicone baking mat. A product like this is not only reusable, but very versatile as well. Assuredly so, a baking mat like this can and should replace most other baking aids in your kitchen. Here are other advantages to using the silicone baking mat.

1. It provides flexibility. With the silicone baking mat, you have a pliable as paper baking tool, that allows you to bend it to loosen your baked goods from the pan, but it's extreme strength means you needn't be concerned about it holding up over time. It's flexibility also allows you to place the mat in almost any pan you'd like to use.

2. The silicone baking mat is versatile. Along with being useful for lining all of your pans, the baking mat can be utilized to protect your counter when preparing foods that tend to make a mess such as chocolate spreads, carmelized suar mixes, and fondues.

3. Clean up is a breeze. All you really have to do is wipe it with a damp towel and set it to dry. You can also put this in the dishwasher if you want.

4. Silicone resists stains and odors because the material is non-porous and non-absorbent. Micro organisms and other bacteria do not survive and multiply on the surface of a silicone baking mat.

5. It resists heat. Silicone baking mats can be used in high temperatures without igniting in your oven. They will not catch fire while you are baking.

About the Author:

You need a perfect baking mat for perfect baking. Visit my Baking Mat blog for recommendations, videos, tips and tricks on baking and baking mats. Grab a totally unique version of this article from the Uber Article Directory