Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Taking Gourmet Cooking Classes
Impressive Gourmet Foods
Joining a creative cooking school will teach you the necessary skills you need to prepare gourmet foods. There are many different gourmet foods you can learn to cook, such as gourmet meats, seafood, coffee, chocolate, and more.
Hard to Find Meats
Gourmet meats are especially popular finer gourmet foods and this includes ribs, pork chops, and smoked turkey, just to name a few of the many you can choose from. Gourmet meats can be implemented into meals all throughout the day, and there are various cuts of gourmet meats, which differ in terms of their tenderness and flavor.
If you do live in an area that has a great supply of gourmet meats make friends with the in house butcher. Tell him what type of event you are planning and how many people will be attending. He will be able to furnish you with all the information about the type of meat and its cost that you can serve to your guests that is sure to impress. Locating Gourmet Coffee
Finding that perfect cup of gourmet coffee amongst the myriad of brands available can be a tedious task. The flavor is contingent upon many factors. They type of bean and where it is grown, the way it is shipped and packaged, how fine the grind and finally brewing method.
Starting or finishing a meal of finer gourmet foods with a cup of gourmet coffee is adamant. If you have spent the time and extra money on the main course you will also want to serve the most flavorful cup of java. Starting with a flavored coffee and ending with a cappuccino or espresso is recommended.
Finally the Chocolate
Of course no talk of finer gourmet foods would be complete without discussing gourmet chocolate. Everyone loves chocolate, and in fact there are very few foods in history that are as highly prized as chocolate.
Gifts of gourmet chocolate truffles, fudge, dipped fruits etc., are all highly prized by the recipient. They can be found online and shipped directly to your friend or loved one.
Joining a creative cooking school will teach you the necessary skills you need to prepare gourmet foods. There are many different gourmet foods you can learn to cook, such as gourmet meats, seafood, coffee, chocolate, and more.
Hard to Find Meats
Gourmet meats are especially popular finer gourmet foods and this includes ribs, pork chops, and smoked turkey, just to name a few of the many you can choose from. Gourmet meats can be implemented into meals all throughout the day, and there are various cuts of gourmet meats, which differ in terms of their tenderness and flavor.
If you do live in an area that has a great supply of gourmet meats make friends with the in house butcher. Tell him what type of event you are planning and how many people will be attending. He will be able to furnish you with all the information about the type of meat and its cost that you can serve to your guests that is sure to impress. Locating Gourmet Coffee
Finding that perfect cup of gourmet coffee amongst the myriad of brands available can be a tedious task. The flavor is contingent upon many factors. They type of bean and where it is grown, the way it is shipped and packaged, how fine the grind and finally brewing method.
Starting or finishing a meal of finer gourmet foods with a cup of gourmet coffee is adamant. If you have spent the time and extra money on the main course you will also want to serve the most flavorful cup of java. Starting with a flavored coffee and ending with a cappuccino or espresso is recommended.
Finally the Chocolate
Of course no talk of finer gourmet foods would be complete without discussing gourmet chocolate. Everyone loves chocolate, and in fact there are very few foods in history that are as highly prized as chocolate.
Gifts of gourmet chocolate truffles, fudge, dipped fruits etc., are all highly prized by the recipient. They can be found online and shipped directly to your friend or loved one.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Cooking With The Power of the Sun
Many people understand the concept of passive solar for heating a home. Fewer realize it can be used in to cook food and sterilize water.
A solar oven is pretty much what it sounds like. It is used to cook food and sterilize water. Most people do not even know they exist, but they are an effective way to cook from both an economic and efficiency point of view.
The basic idea with a solar cooking is to create a box like structure that the sun heats up dramatically. If you have sat in a car in rush hour during the summer, you know the sun can generate a lot of heat. Instead of cooking you in a car, a solar oven focuses on food.
So, how do we cook with it? The box structure is created with dark paneling and then covered with a clear glass or plastic top after pots and food or water has been inserted. The structure is sealed. Much like a car, the sunlight beats through the clear top and heats the interior of the box. As the heat rises, it cooks the items inside. Yes, it produces more than enough heat to do the job. It really is as simple as that.
There are three general types of solar ovens. A solar box works as described in the previous paragraph. A panel oven uses reflective surfaces to focus the sun on a pot to create heat and cook the material inside. A parabolic version is designed to focus the sunlight into the bottom of a concave area upon which sits pots. There are variations of these three forms, but all solar cooking designs are derived from these basic forms.
A solar oven is pretty much what it sounds like. It is used to cook food and sterilize water. Most people do not even know they exist, but they are an effective way to cook from both an economic and efficiency point of view.
The basic idea with a solar cooking is to create a box like structure that the sun heats up dramatically. If you have sat in a car in rush hour during the summer, you know the sun can generate a lot of heat. Instead of cooking you in a car, a solar oven focuses on food.
So, how do we cook with it? The box structure is created with dark paneling and then covered with a clear glass or plastic top after pots and food or water has been inserted. The structure is sealed. Much like a car, the sunlight beats through the clear top and heats the interior of the box. As the heat rises, it cooks the items inside. Yes, it produces more than enough heat to do the job. It really is as simple as that.
There are three general types of solar ovens. A solar box works as described in the previous paragraph. A panel oven uses reflective surfaces to focus the sun on a pot to create heat and cook the material inside. A parabolic version is designed to focus the sunlight into the bottom of a concave area upon which sits pots. There are variations of these three forms, but all solar cooking designs are derived from these basic forms.
Crockpot Cooking Saves Time
Crockpot cooking is a convenient way of preparing meals for today's busy families. Meals are simple to prepare, healthy, and the food cooks to perfection all day long. All you have to do is put your food in the crockpot, put the lid on it, turn on the switch to "high" or "low" and you will come home to a ready to eat dinner. This is so much better than any drive-through-window meal!
Crockpot recipes provide nutritious meals with ingredients that are practical and economical as well as wholesome and good. Crockpots, also called slow cookers, are very versatile. They are great for preparing most vegetables and meats, perfect for potluck events, and great for keeping food warm when entertaining.
Basic Crockpot Tips
Cut all meat and vegetables the same size to ensure even cooking. Place vegetables on the bottom of the slow cooker as they tend to take longer to cook. Don't be tempted to lift the lid and peek at the food as it cooks. Every time you lift the lid, this allows steam to escape, reducing the temperature inside the crockpot by several degrees.
Most crockpot recipes cook an average of seven to nine hours on the low setting. Never put frozen food in the crockpot. Always thaw food overnight in the refrigerator or use the microwave to thaw food before adding it to the crockpot.
Crockpot recipes provide nutritious meals with ingredients that are practical and economical as well as wholesome and good. Crockpots, also called slow cookers, are very versatile. They are great for preparing most vegetables and meats, perfect for potluck events, and great for keeping food warm when entertaining.
Basic Crockpot Tips
Cut all meat and vegetables the same size to ensure even cooking. Place vegetables on the bottom of the slow cooker as they tend to take longer to cook. Don't be tempted to lift the lid and peek at the food as it cooks. Every time you lift the lid, this allows steam to escape, reducing the temperature inside the crockpot by several degrees.
Most crockpot recipes cook an average of seven to nine hours on the low setting. Never put frozen food in the crockpot. Always thaw food overnight in the refrigerator or use the microwave to thaw food before adding it to the crockpot.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Friday, April 3, 2009
Prime Rib Cooking - Eat it Red and Eat Right!
In order to produce the perfect prime rib, you need to know some basics about the cut and how prime rib cooking times affect the entire outcome.
When choosing the cut of prime rib to cook, make sure the meat is a color of deep red and the fat caps should be perfectly creamy and white. The prime rib should not only smell fresh but, there should be no excess liquids within the package.
If you plan on using your prime rib immediately, make sure you have properly sanitized your knives, countertops, and cutting boards with hot soapy water.
Prime rib cooking times depend entirely on the method you plan to use to prepare the rib. If you are planning on roasting the prime rib the cooking temperature and time are as follows:
ROASTING
Prime rib cooking times can be calculated by internal temperatures. The following cooking times are based on a rib roast that weighs approximately 4 to 6 lbs.
• Rare requires an internal temperature of 125 degrees: Cooking time calculates to roughly 1 hour.
• Medium rare requires an internal temperature of 135 degrees: Approximately 1 1/2 hours
• Medium has an internal temperature of 145 degrees: Roughly 1 hour and 45 minutes
• Medium Well has an internal temperature of 155 degrees: Generally 2 hours
• Well has an internal temperature of 165 degrees: Roughly 2 1/2 hours.
Cooking at higher temperatures and at faster rates in a conventional oven tends to dry out the cut and make the meat rubbery.
Ultimately, it's better to take you your time so you can produce the perfect outcome, free from waste and burnt, overcooked edges.
BROIL or GRILL
Broiling and Grilling Prime Rib can be quite an adventure if you don't test the waters beforehand. Make sure you test the coals or gas burning grill by placing your hand semi close and if you pull your hand away within 3 seconds, it's ready to go.
The greatest tip for Prime Rib cooking times using this method is to cut your roasting times in half. Direct heat from these sources is going to speed up the cooking process so keep a good eye on the situation and have a biotherm or a thermometer handy.
PAN FRYING
Pan frying uses oils or butters or none at all to create friction which will also speed up the process. It's quite possible to achieve a med rare steak within 2 minutes on each side in a frying pan.
NUTRITION(3 ounce serving)
Calories 360
Fat 29g
Saturated fat 12g
Potassium 240mg
Protein 13g
Sodium 55mg
Iron 10%
In accordance with Prime Rib cooking times, it's in your best interest to consume this delicately and flavorful cut of meat on the rare side. Why you ask? The longer you cook Prime Rib, the more minerals you are disposing of. Since beef contains high-quality proteins with most of your daily required amino acids, it's in your best interest to consume it at least once a week.
When choosing the cut of prime rib to cook, make sure the meat is a color of deep red and the fat caps should be perfectly creamy and white. The prime rib should not only smell fresh but, there should be no excess liquids within the package.
If you plan on using your prime rib immediately, make sure you have properly sanitized your knives, countertops, and cutting boards with hot soapy water.
Prime rib cooking times depend entirely on the method you plan to use to prepare the rib. If you are planning on roasting the prime rib the cooking temperature and time are as follows:
ROASTING
Prime rib cooking times can be calculated by internal temperatures. The following cooking times are based on a rib roast that weighs approximately 4 to 6 lbs.
• Rare requires an internal temperature of 125 degrees: Cooking time calculates to roughly 1 hour.
• Medium rare requires an internal temperature of 135 degrees: Approximately 1 1/2 hours
• Medium has an internal temperature of 145 degrees: Roughly 1 hour and 45 minutes
• Medium Well has an internal temperature of 155 degrees: Generally 2 hours
• Well has an internal temperature of 165 degrees: Roughly 2 1/2 hours.
Cooking at higher temperatures and at faster rates in a conventional oven tends to dry out the cut and make the meat rubbery.
Ultimately, it's better to take you your time so you can produce the perfect outcome, free from waste and burnt, overcooked edges.
BROIL or GRILL
Broiling and Grilling Prime Rib can be quite an adventure if you don't test the waters beforehand. Make sure you test the coals or gas burning grill by placing your hand semi close and if you pull your hand away within 3 seconds, it's ready to go.
The greatest tip for Prime Rib cooking times using this method is to cut your roasting times in half. Direct heat from these sources is going to speed up the cooking process so keep a good eye on the situation and have a biotherm or a thermometer handy.
PAN FRYING
Pan frying uses oils or butters or none at all to create friction which will also speed up the process. It's quite possible to achieve a med rare steak within 2 minutes on each side in a frying pan.
NUTRITION(3 ounce serving)
Calories 360
Fat 29g
Saturated fat 12g
Potassium 240mg
Protein 13g
Sodium 55mg
Iron 10%
In accordance with Prime Rib cooking times, it's in your best interest to consume this delicately and flavorful cut of meat on the rare side. Why you ask? The longer you cook Prime Rib, the more minerals you are disposing of. Since beef contains high-quality proteins with most of your daily required amino acids, it's in your best interest to consume it at least once a week.
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