Monday 31 October 2011

Pizza Crust Recipe Number Two - The Quicker, Improved Gluten Free Recipe Your Friends Will Love

Now I know I've already posted an article with a recipe for Gluten Free pizza crust. With my other recipe you had to bake the pizza dough until it was ready, take it out, put on your ingredients, and then bake it some more. This is how high-end pizza restaurants make their pies, and really is a gourmet recipe sure to impress the whole family and friends.However not everyone has the time it takes to put together my other recipe. This one doesn't require yeast, and it's very quick to make. I was hesitant at first in giving this recipe, but when asking my neighbors which one they liked more they said it didn't matter to them.Here's a yeast-free, quick to make version of my Gluten Free Pizza Crust recipe.Ingredients:½ cup milk
1 teaspoon Gluten free baking powder
1 large egg
1 teaspoon salt
¼ cup potato flour
1/8 cup olive oil
1 tablespoon sugar
1 cup Gluten free flourDirections:So we'll begin by Pre-heating the oven to 350 degrees.
Grease up a pizza pan, (or cookie sheet) with some cooking spray.
Grab a medium-sized bowl, and add all your dry ingredients into it. Whisk it together well, you want to make sure there are no clumps of anything, especially your baking powder.
Get a large measuring cup, (I use only Glass) and whisk together your eggs, oil and milk. Make a note of exactly how much liquid there is, because you'll need one cup of total liquid. If you come up short then you can just add extra milk.
Slowly pour your wet ingredient mixture into your dry bowl. Use a wooden spoon to stir together until it's well mixed.
Set the dough in a pan, and work it with your hands so that everything spreads evenly onto the bottom. Grab a brush and brush your dough with olive oil. Throw on all the ingredients your heart desires.
Place onto the top rack of your oven, and leave until your dough is crispy golden in color, and cheese is melted. This usually takes around 30 minutes, sometimes less depending on the oven your using.

Fatty Liver Diet Recipes - Will I Have To Give Up The Foods I Love If I Have Fatty Liver Disease

Healthy fatty liver diet recipes do exist and the good news is you'll have plenty of variety to keep your taste buds from getting bored. The good thing about a diet plan for fatty liver is that it isn't much different from a highly nutritious, healthy diet for the average person.In most cases, you won't have to completely give up the foods you love. You'll just have to be more conscious about how much you're eating, paying special attention to the amount of fat you're consuming. More fat in your diet leads to more fat congestion in your liver. What you want is a nutritious, vitamin-rich and balanced diet where nothing is eaten in excess.In her ebook, "The Fatty Liver Diet Guide", veteran liver nurse, Dorothy Spencer, offers up over 30 fatty liver friendly diet recipes. These range from simple appetizers like salmon spread to main courses such as Caribbean shrimp 'n peas. Even mouth-watering dessert recipes are included. Dorothy states, "The goal of this cookbook section is not to present you with gourmet dishes, but with healthful meals that fit within the dietary needs of a fatty liver patient."So as you can see, there are plenty of fantastic foods you can enjoy while you work on reducing fat in your liver. However, as you create your daily meals, there are some important considerations you should keep in mind in regards to the foods you eat.Your main goal will be to reduce excess fat consumption. Most medical professionals agree fat should make up no more than 30% of your overall daily caloric intake. This means if you're consuming 1500 calories per day, then no more than 450 of those calories should come from fat.9 calories is equivalent to 1 gram of fat, so to put it in easier to measure terms, you shouldn't consume more than 50 grams of fat for a 1500 calorie diet. A 1200 to 1500 calorie diet will help you lose weight while reducing fat in the liver.Here are some additional tips to keep in mind:Go for brown rice and whole grains instead of white rice or white bread.
Opt for pasta instead of egg noodles.
If you don't want to give up sweets, then opt for pies over cakes. Try to avoid things like doughnuts, cookies, and other high-fat sweets.
Focus on foods high in complex carbohydrates and avoid foods rich in simple carbohydrates like candy.
Substitute 2% and whole milk with 1% or skim milk.
Go for saturated fats over unsaturated fats, but consume all fats sparingly.
Avoid high fat salad dressings and other condiments. Seek out low-fat and non-fat alternatives.
Choose lean white meats (chicken, turkey, fish) over dark meats (pork, beef). Cut all excess fat off meats before cooking or eating and try to avoid meats from high fat areas such as ribs and wings.
Include foods high in fiber and eat plenty of vegetables and fruits.
Avoid alcohol consumption and drink soda, high sugar fruit juices, and energy drinks sparingly.

Creamy Artichoke Scrambled Eggs

Several different minerals and vitamins are needed by your body in order for it to perform successfully and perform well 24 hours a day. Biotin, sometimes referred to as vitamin b7, is certainly simply no different. Biotin benefits are specifically important in performing and assisting a variety of metabolic functions of the body. It is actually the agent responsible for supporting the operation of cell respiration whereby cells metabolize food stored in your body and transform it to energy.Beyond working on metabolic functions, biotin is additionally important in promoting cellular renewal and regrowth and also in the synthesis of essential fatty acids in the body. Fortunate are all of us, biotin is easily and extremely accessible in foods all of us indulge in. Dairy foods possess very good amounts of biotin benefits, most notably eggs.The greatest availability of biotin inside foods can be found in chicken eggs. A single egg gives you about 13-25 micrograms of biotin which will be a sufficient amount for a kid and as well as adolescent male or female within a single 24-hour period. The yolk is considered the component of the egg that contains the most biotin portions. Right here is one particular exceptional recipe you can savor during your morning meal, lunch, and also dinner time.Egg is not exclusively consumed during breakfast time, although it is encouraged that it's taken at the beginning of your day because of its great offer of energy. You just need somewhere around thirty minutes of prep time and you are in position to appreciate all of the biotin rewards in conjunction with a beneficial, pleasurable plate.INGREDIENTS FOR MAX B VITAMIN BENEFITS

8 pieces of canned artichoke bottoms, rinsed
4 teaspoons of extra virgin olive oil, divided into two sections
3 leaves of oregano, chopped, to have garnish (you can easily, of course, go with dried and merely sprinkle it over the course later)
1/3 cup pancetta, chopped (you can easily select to make use of mushrooms if you would like for only a all-vegetable feast)
2 tablespoons of mayo, ideally reduced-fat
2 tablespoons of plain yogurt, when possible non-fat
2 teaspoons of freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 tsp water
6 whole, large chicken eggs (the bit with the greatest biotin pros)
2 tablespoons cream cheese, if possible reduced-fat
¼ teaspoon of salt
COOKING YOUR DISH

Pre-heat the oven to start with to 425 degrees F
In a pretty big bowl, dump artichoke bottoms, extra virgin olive oil and oregano with one another making sure that all the artichoke bottoms are really completely coated with extra virgin olive oil plus spread together with oregano.
Position the soaked artichoke bottoms top-side straight down on to a large baking pan.
Spread out the pancetta (possibly mushroom) on the back-side of each of our artichoke bottoms and bake up until the artichokes are only beginning to go more or less brown plus the pancetta crispy. It usually takes 12-14 minutes to do this.
When waiting for artichokes to begin with lightly browning, whisk mayonnaise, low fat yogurt, freshly squeezed lemon juice together with water in a different bowl up until thoroughly mixed and smooth in texture.
Beat eggs in still another bowl.
Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil in a nice non-stick pan over medium heat and heat the eggs whilst folding and stirring on a regular basis. Cook approximately 2 minutes then lift off from heat.
Fold in your cream cheese, just one teaspoon of oregano and salt.
In order to serve, top all of the baked artichoke bottoms using a portion of scrambled eggs, pancetta and top together with lemon sauce. Garnish with more oregano if desirable.

Sunday 30 October 2011

Low Cholesterol Pizza Recipes You're Kidding!

That is the reaction for most people. But as soon as you try these simple low cholesterol pizza recipes, you'll know it's true.Personally I love pizza. I can't live without the smell of freshly baked, cheesy tasting pizza with bunch of veggies or other stuff.Every time I watch movie at home, I have to bake a pizza. Otherwise I do not enjoy myself watching the movie. Which is about once a week.I think that having pizza once a week is not a bad thing. If you do not overeat of course. And if you know how to cook low fat low cholesterol pizza, you have nothing to be ashamed for.Ok, let's stop talking, put on some chefs uniform and presto; you have just become healthy pizza chef.Healthy Pizza Recipe Preparation:When trying to prepare healthy pizza, start with a fat-free pizza dough or crust. I love to prepare pizza out of pita bread. For all pizza, use substitution like fat-free cheese, fat free tomato sauce, crushed red pepper or garlic (which has cholesterol lowering properties).Just be creative. Follow the samples of low cholesterol pizza recipes below and let your imagination create something great.Here are samples of my favorite pizza recipesBreakfast Pizza You can just scramble some egg whites and put it on the top of your pitta bread or fat-free pizza crust. If you can find whole-wheat one, you are better off.Top it with:-smoked turkey "bacon"-grated fat-free cheddar cheese-diced green onionsBake or broil your pizza until cheese melts. Cool down for a 5 minutes and enjoy.Vegetable PizzaStart with a whole-wheat crust. Top it with these:-fat free mozzarella cheese, shredded-sliced mushrooms-diced red and greed peppers-diced onionsAgain bake it as an example above. Until cheese is melted.Hummus Pizza On top of your crust spread fat free hummus and top with:-diced tomatoes-chopped parsley-ground cuminBake or broil until heated through. About 10 minutes on 350 degrees F.Like I said before, experiment with these samples and you can create your own low cholesterol low fat pizza.Hope you will get a lot of good ideas on how to make great tasting, yet healthier pizza.And remember, you can use pita bread, all vegetables on your pizza. You can also cut skinless chicken breasts on stripes, grill it using something like George Freeman Grill and add that on top of your pizza.Use your imagination!

Home Made Pizza Recipe

Do your family like fast food but you don't want them eating junk? I have a 20 month old son who typically loves the food I won't let him eat. I discovered recently that he adores pizza but of course I certainly didn't want him eating those frozen ones you get as you really don't know what is in them but I always thought pizza was so difficult to make. I was talking to my sister-in-law about it and she gave me this recipe for home made pizza and I was a bit nervous but said I would give it a try to see what it was like.Boy was I pleasantly surprised. Firstly at how easy it was and secondly about how much tastier it was. Even my husband (who likes his pizza) said he wouldn't buy any more pizza and wanted the home made one in future. I like that fact that you can pick your own toppings and can put plenty of them on and not be trying to spread bits around the pizza. My son raves about them now and is always shouting for pizza.The recipe below makes two generous sized pizzas but I roll them over very very thin so if you like thicker bases maybe you should increase the quantities. The first time I made it I thought I hadn't nearly enough dough but there really is quite an amount when you roll it out. Don't be put off by the fact you have to leave it for an hour. I usually make the dough around lunchtime when I put my son down for his sleep and then take it out of the hot press that evening when I am ready to roll it out. Also the mixture was too wet so I just kept adding bits of flour until it was about right and it didn't affect it in any way. So here's the recipe, I have no idea where my sister-in-law got the recipe but it's a really nice one.Ingredients:8oz strong plan white flour1 tsp (level) salt1 1/2 tsp yeast3 - 4 fluid oz hand hot water1/4 tsp sugar1 egg1 tsp olive oilTomato puree or passata and cheese followed by whatever toppings you requireMethod:Put water in basin and whisk in sugar and yeast. Leave for 15 minutes until a frothy head forms. Sift the flour and salt together and pour into yeast along with the egg (which should be beaten beforehand). Mix to a dough, you may need to add some more water (or in my case a little more flour). You should end up with a soft pliable dough.Knead for 10 minutes. Put into a bowl and put the tsp of olive oil on your hands and put all around the dough. Put back in the bowl and cover with cling film. Put in a hot place for 1 hour. When you are ready to roll out the dough remove it from where it has been and knead for a further 5 minutes before rolling out.Simply add your toppings and cook in a hot oven (about 220 Celsius) for 15 - 20 minutes. I also like to add some herbs on top for a little extra flavour but this is entirely up to you, just experiment and have fun.

Cake Books - Recipes and Ideas For Wedding Cakes

Are you a cake decorator looking for inspiration? Do you want to know how to make your own wedding cake? Are you a bride who would like to check out the latest trends and get new ideas that will wow your guests? How about a baker searching for great cake recipes and techniques?My advice to you is to start with the old standby Wilton books which are are a great resource. The basics are covered on how to make a wedding cake and what cake decorating supplies you will need to make them with. Plus there are lots of photos of wedding cakes and all occasion cakes to look at for ideas.An all time favorite cake book for inspiration is a book called Cakewalk by Margaret Braun. Her cake ideas are unconventional and artistic. Her book is so beautiful that you can use it as a coffee table book. A book that should be in every bakers library is The Bakers Manual by the late Joseph Amendola who was a beloved teacher at the Culinary Institute of America since the 1950's. I have an old beat up copy of the manual from the 70's and refer to it often. There is a new updated version on the market now, maybe It's time I get one. The book is written for the student as well as professionals.Three of the best books for recipes and ideas for wedding cakes in my opinion are The Cake Bible by Rose Levy Berenbaum, A Piece of Cake by Susan Purdy and The Simple Art Of Perfect Baking by Flo Braker. Each book has fantastic recipes and ideas for cakes. From how to bake the cakes, construction and boxing them for delivery and mailing as well.Now if you are a complete foodie or know someone that is then Larouusse Gastronomique is the perfect gift to give yourself or someone else. It will answer every question you have ever had about anything cooking or baking related, including historical facts. The world's Greatest Cookery Encyclopedia is chock full of information and so heavy you could use it as a form of weight training every time you go to pick it up.

The best recipes for wedding cakes are cakes that are firm yet moist. If you wanted to use a less firm cake I do have tips for you.
Always work with a very cold or frozen cake when putting a tiered cake together
Use a filling that will firm up when cooled such as a buttercream or a mousse that contains butter.
Avoid creamy and slippery wet fillings or frostings or you may end up with a cake wreck on your hands.
If you would like to learn more about cake books, recipes and get cake decorating ideas then visit my wedding cake website. You will find complete reviews of all of the cake books in my collection and can leave a review of your own there as well and check out what other people are saying about their favorite baking books.

Saturday 29 October 2011

Homemade Vegan Pizza Recipe VS Italian Pizza

Since we are in Italy, and since pizza is one of Phil and my favorite meals, we decided to go on a 2-day pizza-tasting extravaganza. In a lunch-dinner-lunch marathon, we enjoyed two Italian pizzas and a homemade vegan pizza recipe. It may be super delicious, but that doesn't mean healthy vegan recipes can't include pizza.Our first tasting was at Borgo Antico, in the Piazza Santo Spirito. It was fantastic. We ordered the classic marinara pizza, which is just tomato sauce with garlic and drizzled with herb-infused olive oil. No cheese, so we didn't even have to look like crazies ordering pizza without cheese!Our next experiment was homemade pizza using a focaccia picked up at the local grocery store. Focaccia is usually made with milk powder, but they had two versions - one without dairy. I piled a mound of vegetables on top since we do love vegetables.I delved into a possible side-career in silent film since there were lots of people in the common room/kitchen and I was feeling a little self-conscious talking to myself on camera. The only downside of a mound of vegetables atop focaccia is that it is fairly challenging to fit into your mouth without making a substantial mess. However, the upside of a mound of vegetables atop focaccia is that it is amazing.Our third tasting was a pizza at a take-out pizzeria, the cheapest one I could find, just to see how it stacks up. We got a vegetarian pizza without cheese (and they didn't even give me a funny look!), that was made fresh while we waited. It was put, piping hot, into a box that we took across the street to eat overlooking the river.They were all great, but Phil and I both liked mine the best, probably because it was loaded with veggies.Prep time: 15 min. Cooking time: 30 min.
Time from start to eating: 45 min.
Makes 2-3 servings.Homemade Vegan Pizza Recipe Ingredients
1 focaccia bread (if you can't find one made without milk powder, try making your own or use whole wheat pitas)
1-2 Tbsp tomato sauce (optional)
4 small tomatoes, sliced
1 Tbsp Italian Herb Mix
1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
1 zucchini, sliced
1/2 eggplant, quartered and thinly sliced
1 Tbsp olive oil (3 tsp)
salt
Homemade Vegan Pizza Recipe Directions1. The key to making a pizza without cheese is that you have to prepare the vegetables as you would to roast them, since they don't have the protective cover of the cheese layer. Do this by rubbing a bit of oil (for protection from the heat) and then a bit of salt (to help them soften) on the vegetables before laying them on your pizza.2. If you like, spread a small amount of tomato sauce onto the focaccia bread. Lay the tomato slices to cover, and sprinkle the herbs and a bit of salt on them.3. Toss the onion with a teaspoon of oil, then with a pinch of salt, and lay them on top of the tomatoes.4. Next, toss the zucchini with another teaspoon of oil, then with a pinch of salt, and lay them on top of the onion.5. Toss the eggplant with the last teaspoon on oil, then with a pinch of salt, and lay them on top of the zucchini. Slicing the eggplant slightly thinner than the zucchini will help them cook in the same amount of time. Put the pizza in the oven at about 350 degrees F, for about 20 minutes or until the vegetables are soft.6. Serve with a simple green salad on the side, and plenty of napkins. I hope you enjoy this homemade vegan pizza recipe, the latest of my healthy vegan recipes.

How to Make a Delicious Healthy Pizza Recipe

There are lots of types of pizza. You can have a thin, crispy crust or a thick, bread crust. There are various pizza sauces, including traditional tomato sauce, spicy sauce or even a parsley infused creamy white sauce. Pizza toppings vary enormously. Pepperoni pizza is the most popular pizza variety but this is only one type.Some people like to stick with a theme when making pizza recipes. They like to use various types of meat for a meat feast pizza, white and green ingredients only for a "white pizza recipe" or the most colorful ingredients they can find for a grilled vegetable pizza. Other people enjoy mixing and matching their pizza toppings or using up anything in the refrigerator that needs to be used up.Tips for a Nutritious PizzaIf you want to make a healthy pizza, there are a few things you can do. Choose a thin pizza crust rather than a calorific deep dish one. Use a tomato sauce rather than a cream sauce and choose your pizza toppings with care.Vegetables are great for topping your homemade pizza recipes because they are colorful, flavorful and they suit any meat, poultry or fish toppings. You can add raw vegetables, grilled vegetables or thawed vegetables to your pizza.Use reduced fat cheese instead of full fat cheese as a healthier topping for your pizza recipes. Goat's cheese and reduced fat mozzarella are a good combination. Hard cheeses like parmesan are also good, firstly because the strong flavor means you will not need to use much and secondly because hard cheeses are lower in fat than soft cheeses.How to Roast Bell PeppersRoasted bell pepper is one of the tastiest toppings you can use on a healthy pizza recipe. Roasting your own peppers is very easy and you can roast red, yellow, orange or green bell peppers. Roasting them makes them succulent, juicy and bursting with flavor.There are various ways to roast a bell pepper. The easiest way is to put a bell pepper over the burner of a gas stove or on your grill. Turn the pepper using tongs and keep cooking it until the skin is black and charred.Alternatively you can broil a bell pepper. Rub vegetable oil all over it first, and then put it on a baking sheet. Use tongs to turn it when the top starts to go black. You can either broil a whole bell pepper or slice it into wedges and broil those. Another method is to cook the bell pepper wedges or strips in a skillet in olive oil. When they are tender, they are done.The easiest way to get the skin off a roasted bell pepper is to put it in a bowl and cover it with plastic wrap. This traps the steam. Leave the bell pepper for twenty minutes then you should find the skin comes off easily. Pull the stem out before you take off the skin. Roasted peppers make a delicious topping for homemade pizza recipes.

Friday 28 October 2011

Heart Healthy Pizza Recipe That Actually Reduces Cholesterol

Everybody loves Pizza worldwide right? The delicious savory smell of the cheese and the tomatoes and all the other toppings and herbs. If you're not already heading off towards the direction of the refrigerator, stick around and listen up for a moment. The problem is that most Pizzas have a relatively high saturated fat content - and that's bad news if you are trying to look after your heart health, or you are battling against high blood LDL Cholesterol levels.The British Heart Foundation recommends a total daily fat intake of 95 grams for men and 70 grams for women. If you eat a half of a typical stuffed crust 14 inch pepperoni Pizza you will consume approximately 75 grams of fat. So you could regularly way exceed your daily fat limit with the additional dietary fat intake from other foods during the rest of the day. If you have been told to avoid cheese you may despair as you suffer that craving for your favourite food - Pizza!What if there was a type of Pizza that was not only friendly to your heart health, but actually REDUCED your Cholesterol level, the more you ate (within reason). Sounds too good to be true? Well the good news for pizza lovers everywhere is that it is now possible. Unbelievable - a heart healthy Pizza packed with healthy ingredients that is kind to your heart and health.A new type of Cholesterol lowering cheese.The breakthrough came with the introduction of a new type of cheese, which has all the flavour of a mature cheddar, but can be used as a topping for Pizza or Lasagna. In the United Kingdom this product is known as miniCol. This is a healthy alternative to 'normal' cheese and is perfectly safe to eat or cook with, for people with concerns about cholesterol levels.The difference between traditional cheddar and miniCol is that miniCol is made from milk, which has had virtually all of its dairy fat removed and replaced with wheatgerm oil, which is high in polyunsaturated fat and plant sterols. Most plants contain Sterols which are natural substances found as component parts of certain vegetable oils. Plant sterols are effective in lowering cholesterol by blocking the absorption of cholesterol from the diet, and also by stopping the re-absorption of cholesterol produced by the liver. Studies have shown that miniCol is proven to be capable of reducing blood cholesterol levels.You can find out motre information about miniCol here: http://www.emmi-minicol.ch/news/Pizza Margherita Recipe (enhanced)This recipe is for a basic 14 inch Pizza Margherita, but you can easily add further healthy toppings such as tuna, chicken or extra lean beef (raw meat to be marinated and precooked). Because you make it yourself you know and control what goes into it. The manufacturers recommended daily amount of miniCol Cheese is 65 grams per person, so the recipe contains 130 grams - enough for 2 servings.You have two choices for the base - you can either make your own using one of the excellent home bread making machines now available, or buy a pre-made pizza base from the grocery store.Pizza IngredientsDough (enough for 2 Pizzas)
Water - 1 cup




Strong Bread Making Flour - 3 Cups




Dried Milk Powder - 2 Tablespoons




Sugar - 2 Teaspoons




Low Sodium Salt Substitute - 1 Teaspoon




Yeast - 2 ½ Teaspoons
All you need to do to make the dough is to throw all these ingredients into the breadmaker and hit the 'pizza dough' button. An hour or so later you will have a ball of dough ready to roll into a pizza base.Rest of Pizza
Tomato Paste Tube




4 cloves of garlic - finely chopped




1 Teaspoon of Ground Black Pepper




Mixed Herbs - 2 Tablespoons




1 Onion - chopped




2 tomatoes- sliced




1 onion - sliced




1 Green Capsicum - sliced




Olive Oil




130 grams of 'miniCol' cheese - grated
Assembling and cooking the Pizza
Cut the dough ball into 2 halves. You can freeze one half for another time.




Spread some flour onto the worktop and coat the dough




Use a rolling pin and roll out the dough to the size of the Pizza cooking tray




Spread a small amount of Olive Oil onto the pizza baking tray and rub around with some kitchen towel (this will stop the base from sticking)




Place the pizza base onto the baking tray




Spread Tomato paste from the tube evenly around the pizza base




Sprinkle the freshly chopped garlic evenly into the tomato paste




Assemble the tomato, onion and capsicum slices evenly around the pizza base




Sprinkle the black pepper over the ingredients




Spread the grated cheese over the top of the ingredients




Sprinkle the mixed herbs onto the top of the cheese - done
The completed Pizza should be baked in the oven at 200 degrees for approx. 10 minutes and served with fresh salad and a glass of red wine.

Baking Up Fun

Baking - a number of people understand what it is, but it is losing favor as our lives get more and more fast-paced and geared towards convenience. We simply cannot spend the necessary time baking in our own homes. Despite the reduced popularity in baking simple goods like cakes and bread, baking specialty items such as cookies and muffins has illustrated an upsurge of popularity due to a more advanced and wider selection of bakeware.Beyond the simple practicality of consuming food in order to live, we generally mark rites of passage and milestones with special foods. Heading the top of the specific food list has got to be the "humble" cake. Think about it: how would you like it if your big birthday, wedding, or anniversary did not feature a yummy cake or other baked delicacies?Baking is the tradition of preparing and cooking many different foods. On the one hand, we have cakes, pastries, and biscuits that are applied to celebrate milestones or just as a simple gift/treat. On the other hand, we have simple baked goods like bread and pasta dishes. There can be no doubting that baked foods are essential and, while baking each day is a luxury many of us cannot afford time-wise, maybe by baking our own goods every now and again we can better treasure those basic meals and social occasions by more directly contributing to them.Baking is the technique for extended cooking of food by convection in an oven, on hot ashes, or on hot stones. It covers a huge number of different dishes. All the cuisines across the globe have a signature bread, dessert, or pastry, so the options can be overwhelming. What if our early attempts are not treasured or prove too hard to complete successfully? Is there something that might be a sure-fire hit and will be a simple introduction to baking? Well, you will be pleased to know that there is a treat that fits the bill here nicely.If you live anywhere near a metro area, the probabilities are good that there will be a bakeshop around that specializes in cup cakes. Yes, they are currently a favourite. While the hope here is that you will bake your own cupcakes every now and again, these bakehouses are great places to get inspiration in terms of decorating and recipes. Nothing like a ready-made excuse: when you are leisurely enjoying their goods you can say it is all being done in the name of research!
Portion control is also a big factor in the popularity of cup cakes. A slice of cake can end up being fairly huge, but when we eat a cupcake we have a much better idea as to how great our indulgence was. With many of us trying to eat better or watching our physiques, cup cakes make it much easier to monitor the snackage.Fondant, buttercream frosting, sprinkles, chocolate shavings... the list of confections applied to decorate cup cakes can be very, very long. The standard frosting is simple enough and no one is going to penalise you if you use a ready-made icing on your homemade cup cakes. The important thing is that you took the initiative and baked something, which is a claim not everyone can make. Put a few coloured sprinkles on that first batch of cup cakes and you're done and dusted. You can get serious the next time you give it a go.In addition to basic inscriptions, borders, stars, and rosettes, other such effects can be easily achieved with the piping bag (also named a pastry bag). You simply cannot create the appealing uniformity or tidiness of professional baked goods with a knife or spatula. Filling cupcakes or embellishing them with a basic rosette is downright standard with a piping bag: simply insert the desired tip, fill the bag with icing and squeeze in the right direction! After you have got the piping bag mastered, and it will not take too long, you will pretty much own cupcakes. You might look around for some different recipes and experiment with flavours and fillings, but you will be ready for new recipes.After you have mastered the cup cake, it is not too much of a stretch to make a full sized cake. The ingredients are the same and similar decorating methods are applied. If you found the presentation element to be the most satisfying, then you will want to explore three dimensional cakes or cakes in the round. By that we're talking about cake as sculpture. Detailed examples here include birthday cake trains hauling cars of lollies or a village of holiday cake cottages. Several producers, such as Wilton and Nordic Ware, sell three dimensional cake pans in the shape of castles, trains and more. Cakes made with such pans become genuine centerpieces at the event or party and they are going to be remembered.
After such practice, one thing is certain. You are now a much more accomplished baker.

America's Secret Recipes Review

America's Secret Recipes is your key to great restaurant food in your own kitchen. This book is filled with hundreds of recipes that you would immediately recognize from several of the top restaurants around the United States. You could create a meal from a different restaurant every night of the week, or mix and match your favorites from different locations to create a custom dining experience using the top recipes.1. Time Saving Recipes.The recipes in America's Secret Recipes can help you avoid all of the trial and error of trying to create a restaurant dish that you love. This book outlines the recipes exactly, down to the smallest detail. You can simply open the book and begin to cook your favorite meals. Each recipe title tells you where it was made famous, so there is no guessing about what you should expect.2. Step by Step Instructions.America's Secret Recipes is easy enough to use that anyone who can read can make the recipes. The recipes are incredibly detailed, and they have specific instructions on how to put the ingredients together just like the professional chefs do. You will have all of the guidance you need to create these famous dishes in your own kitchen, without the frustration of a vague or sketchy recipe. Each ingredient list is exactly like the ingredient list that the restaurant would use, and you will be able to find all of the ingredients at any local grocery store.3. The Tastes You Love Without the Price Tag.When you cook from America's Secret Recipes, you will have complete control of the cost of the meal. You can purchase the ingredients you prefer, and you don't have to pay the overhead at an expensive restaurant. This cookbook makes it possible to eat the restaurant food you love every night of the week, because it will cost so much less to prepare than it does to buy when you are dining out. Your friends and family will recognize their favorite restaurant foods because this guide gives you all of the tools you need to recreate any popular dish.

Thursday 27 October 2011

Cupcake Recipes - From Baking to Frosting

Any cake recipe can be converted to a cupcake one. Consider cupcakes as mini cakes of whatever type of cake you are found of and using that cake's recipes, create delicious mini cakes. With a box of cake mix, the whole process is made a lot easier. One box will make between 24 and 30 cupcakes baked in a regular size cupcake pan. But mixing the ingredients is where the real fun of making cakes is, so let's equip you with what you will need.The Basics
21/4 cups flour
3 tsp baking powder
11/3 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 cup milk
½ cup shortening
Food coloringDepending on the recipe you are using, there will be additions to these ingredients. For instance, you can have ¼ cup cocoa for chocolate flavored cupcakes. Other flavorings you can add to your cake mixture include nutmegs, ground ginger, lime, shredded coconut, mashed bananas, cinnamon, raisins and almonds among others. There is no limit to what you can use in your cupcake mixture, just as long as the flavors blend into each other well. Simply adapt the different cake recipes you like and turn them into cupcake recipes.You will also need a cupcake pan, cupcake pan liners, mixer, large bowl and an oven.Begin by preheating the oven. Add flour, baking powder, salt and sugar, milk, vanilla and shortening into the large bowl and beat for a minute. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating thoroughly after each addition. Mix thoroughly for around 3 minutes or until a smooth consistency is achieved.Line the pan with the cupcake liners then fill 2/3 of them with the mixture. An ice-cream scoop will help you get precise amounts of mixture in the pan. For regular-size pans, use a scoop that measures 1/3 so you only put two. As they rise, they will occupy the remaining space to form a mound. Place the pan in the oven and let it bake for around 23 minutes. If you need to make more but do not have another cupcake pan, store the mixture in the refrigerator as the first batch of cupcakes cooks. When ready, remove, cool the pan for about 15 minutes then add the remaining mixture. On average, a pan makes 12 cupcakes at a time.Allow the cupcakes time to cool completely before you can frost them. In the meantime, work on the cupcake frosting recipes you are going to use. There are four basic types of frosting: butter cream, chocolate butter cream, dark chocolate ganache and lemon cream cheese frosting. For butter cream frosting, you will need to mix150g soft butter and 12g confectioner's sugar. Add 1 tsp vanilla and 2 tsp hot water or milk to make a creamy mix. To make chocolate butter frosting, substitute the vanilla with 2 tsp cocoa.To make chocolate ganache, you need 1 ounce bittersweet chocolate, ½ cup heavy cream, 3 tbsp butter and 3 tbsp brandy (optional). Melt the first 3 ingredients and mix them all together. Pour in the brandy if using. Allow mixture to cool before spreading generously over your cupcakes. Lemon cheese frosting will give a distinct taste to your cupcakes. For this, sift 30g softened butter, 80g softened cream cheese, 1½ cup confectioner's sugar and 1 tsp grated lemon rind. Mix the ingredients and beat them till they are creamy, then spread them on the cupcakes. Use either a frosting/pastry spatula or pastry bag to evenly spread either type of frosting over the cupcakes.

Fruit Pizza Recipe Ideas Fresh Fruit Pizza With Orange Sauce Recipe

Do you enjoy the many fruit pizza recipe ideas you can find today? Dessert pizza is delicious and making them can be a lot of fun for you, your family and your friends. For instance, you might like learning how to make this easy fresh fruit pizza with orange sauce.Recipe for Fresh Fruit Pizza with Orange SauceWhat You Need
1 package sugar cookie dough
1 package softened cream cheese 8 ounce
1 large container whipped topping
1 pint fresh strawberries
2 sliced kiwis
3 large sliced bananas
1 can sliced drained peaches 16 ounce
1 can drained pineapple chunks 8 ounce
¼ teaspoon salt
1 Tablespoon cornstarch
½ cup sugar
½ cup orange juice
2 Tablespoons lemon juice
¼ cup waterHow to Make ItAbout 20 minutes before preparation time you will need to lay the sugar cookie dough and the cream cheese out onto the counter to soften to room temperature.Prepare a pizza pan or baking sheet by lightly coating it with cooking spray and then set aside until needed.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.Press the cookie dough onto the prepared pizza pan or baking sheet while forming a rim around the edges by gently pinching up the sides as you work around the pizza crust on the pan.Place in the preheated oven to bake for about 10 minutes or until the crust is a light golden brown in color. Remove from oven and allow the crust to completely cool to the touch.Using a medium size mixing bowl and an electric mixer you will add the cream cheese and then blend until it is smooth and fluffy. Add the whipped topping and blend well together. Spread this mixture evenly over the completely cooled pizza crust.Slice all but one of the strawberries in halve. You will use this one whole strawberry at the center of the pizza and then begin arranging the other fruits on the crust in a decorative pattern.Add the whole strawberry and then begin arranging the kiwis and sliced bananas around it and working outward. Arrange the sliced peaches and the pineapple chunks. Add the remaining strawberries halves last, while arranging them with the pointed ends facing the inside of the dessert pizza. Place in the refrigerator to chill.To make the orange sauce, you will add the salt, cornstarch and sugar to a small saucepan over a medium heat. Gradually stir in the orange juice and the lemon juice. Mix well and then add the water. Keep stirring while boiling until the mixture becomes thickened. Continue boiling and stirring for about 1 more minute and then remove from heat.Allow the orange sauce to completely become cool and then spoon the orange sauce over the pizza toppings. Place the fresh fruit pizza in the refrigerator to chill overnight or for at least 3 to 4 hours before cutting and serving.

Paleo Diet Recipes Modern Recipes From Ancient Man

If you are trying to follow the Paleo diet, you may be going through a transition period. Any time we pick up a new habit-no matter how healthy-we go through a period of trying to adjust to the new behaviors and practices. What can make this period even more challenging is a lack of Paleo diet recipes to follow. In fact, a lack of Paleo diet recipes makes it even more difficult to experience success because you will be less likely to stick with the new lifestyle.Paleo recipes can make the difference between each and every meal time being an exercise in frustration, where you keep asking yourself, 'What am I going to make to eat?' while your stomach gnaws at your backbone for sustenance and meal times being an easy, pleasing experience. If you have Paleo recipes at your disposal, then you can create a menu for yourself and know what you are going to make for lunch, dinner, and breakfast each day. Tasty recipes will help you to begin to see the benefits of the Paleo diet and that success will inspire you to push through the difficult period of adjustment and stick with the program.The Paleo diet has many names-the Caveman Diet, the Hunter-Gather Diet-but all those names are synonyms for the same thing, which is a shift in lifestyle that works. When you make the transition to the Paleo diet, you will see an increase in your stamina and your performance. All of the drops in energy, endurance, and performance that you have written off to aging will disappear. You will perform as you never have. Our modern diets are packed with foods that are really no good for us. We eat antinutrients that do little more than make us vulnerable to disease and illness. We feel sluggish and poor because we are not giving our bodies fuel. We are putting toxins into our bodies. Those toxins cause our bodies to run inefficiently. Our bodies are machines and when we improperly fuel our tanks, out bodies respond by running poorly.If you want to enjoy optimal health, then you have to make changes. You have to rid your diet of the antinutrients and fake food you've been eating as a part of the modern diet and begin eating the foods that your body craves. Our bodies crave the foods on the Paleo diet because these are the foods that we were designed to eat. Our bodies will hum like the well-oiled machines they are meant to be. And your body will reward you with its performance, which will be beyond your imagination. If you want to function in ways you never have before, then you will make the shift to the Paleo diet. In order to do that well, you need to arm yourself with resources that make Paleo diet recipes at your disposal. Having a wealth of recipes from which to choose will make changing your lifestyle so much easier. When you see the success of the new lifestyle, you will want to eat this way all the time.

Mexican Chicken Pizza Recipe - How to Make a Pizza at Home With a Perfect Blend of Ingredients

The ingredients in this Mexican Chicken Pizza are a perfect mixing of flavors. Feel free to add or subtract ingredients depending on what you like best, but this is a great recipe to work from. Fun and easy to make. You can use a large cookie sheet or a couple medium pizza pans to cook on.Mexican Chicken PizzaIngredients:
Frozen Bread Dough (White or Wheat) or Store Bought Pizza crust
A Little Vegetable Oil
Cornmeal

Refried Beans, cooked and thinned with water.
BBQ Sauce, your favorite flavor from the grocery store.
Jack Cheese (or any combo of Jack, Mozzarella, & Cheddar), shredded
Chicken, cooked and shredded
Red Bell Pepper, chopped
Red Onion, chopped
Black Olives, sliced
Jalapeno Pepper, sliced thin, seeds removed (optional)
Cilentro, chopped
Salsa
Directions:Pizza Crust: Defrost one loaf of the frozen bread dough according to directions. It seems to work best defrosting it slowly so it gets large and fluffy before you roll it out using a rolling pin. Put flour on your cutting board so the dough doesn't stick.If it is easier to purchase a premade pizza crust in your grocery store that will also work.Grease your cookie sheet or two medium pizza pans using any kind of vegetable oil. One of my secrets to a good homemade pizza is putting some cornmeal on the pizza pan after you oil it. The cornmeal kind of acts like little ball bearings, keeping the dough from sticking to the pan, plus it adds a great flavor to any pizza.Sauce: This will be your refried beans and BBQ sauce. Cook and crush your beans adding some water to make a thinner paste. Spread on the crust so it is a thin layer. Drizzle with your favorite BBQ sauce. A great mix!Toppings: Spread shredded cheese on pizza to cover. Top with chicken, red bell pepper, red onion, black olives, and jalapeno pepper. Add a little more cheese on top.Bake: 400° for about 15 minutes. Check it occasionally making sure it doesn't overcook. Cheese will be starting to bubble in center.After baking, sprinkle the pizza with cilentro and your favorite homemade tomato salsa to add a wonderful fresh flavor.Some pizzerias will add chopped tomatoes on top for a delectable finishing touch to their pizza, but in this case an authentic mexican salsa will finish your Mexican Chicken Pizza perfectly.

Pasta Recipes - Soup

Pasta Recipes are well known for their versatility all over the world. Soup is also one of easiest and well known dish available, combining many flavors from different ingredients, such as; meats, chicken, fish, stock, fruit, vegetables and cream. Our selected Pasta Soup Recipes are simple and easy to prepare - no fuss! These warm, wintery, tasty Pasta Recipes for Soup will satisfy the largest appetite.Chicken & Vermicelli Pasta Soup RecipeChicken Vermicelli Pasta Soup is quick and easy to prepare. You may vary the ingredients using leftovers - no waste! Other ingredients such as shallots, prawns, ham, mushrooms or any other ingredient you desire may be added, to create your own individual taste.Basic Ingredients: 4 eggs, 40ml fresh coriander, 1.5 litres chicken stock, 125g dried vermicelli, 150g cooked sliced chicken.Method: Whisk eggs together and stir through chopped coriander. Heat a non-stick frying pan. Swirl 3 tablespoons of egg mixture into frying pan until cooked - remove from heat. Repeat this procedure until mixture is finished. Roll each egg pancake up and slice into shreds. Boil stock and add vermicelli pasta. Cook for 10-15 minutes until pasta is tender. Add sliced chicken, pinch of salt and cracked black pepper to season. Heat for approximately 5 minutes.Chinese Vegetable & Vermicelli Pasta/Noodle Soup RecipeThis beautiful Chinese Vegetable Vermicelli Pasta Soup is easy and quick to prepare. This recipe can also include additional ingredients to your hearts desire.Basic Ingredients: 1.2 litres chicken stock, 2 garlic cloves, 2cm ginger - peeled and cut into fine matchsticks, 30ml soy sauce, 12ml cider vinegar, 80g button mushrooms, 3 chopped shallots, 60g vermicelli pasta noodles, 175g bok choy leaves, coriander.Method: In a large saucepan, bring stock to boil and add garlic cloves, ginger, soy sauce and cider vinegar. Turn heat down, cover and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove garlic cloves - discard. Add shallots, button mushrooms and bring stock back to the boil. Once boiling, uncover and reduce heat. Simmer for 8 minutes. Add vermicelli pasta noodles and chopped bok choy leaves. Simmer until tender and add coriander leaves.Cauliflower, Parmesan & Farfelle Pasta Soup Recipe Cauliflower, Pamesan & Farfelle Soup is mild and silky smooth. A great dinner-party starter with fresh crusty bread.Ingredients: 1 cauliflower, 1.3 litres chicken or vegetable stock, 175g farfalle, 160ml cream, nutmeg, cracked black pepper, 70ml fresh grated parmesan, Italian parsley.Method: Wash and clean cauliflower, remove stalk and cut into florets. Boil stock, then add the cauliflower. Continue to simmer in pot for 10-15 minutes until cauliflower is tender. Remove, drain and place into a blender - blend until smooth. Next, add Farfelle Pasta to boiling stock for 10-15 minutes and cook until soft. When pasta is cooked, drain and set stock aside. Add stock to cauliflower mixture and add cream, nutmeg and black pepper. Continue to blend until smooth and silky. Before serving, add Farfelle Pasta, grated parmesan cheese and reheat. Garnish with Italian parsley.

My 10 Favorite Uses for Baking Soda

About 5 years ago, when I first became interested in removing toxic chemicals from my home & replacing them with natural alternatives, I bought this little book about baking soda that I'd read about in a magazine.It was called "Baking Soda: Over 500 Fabulous, Fun, & Frugal Uses You've Probably Never Thought Of."I found it intriguing that baking soda could be useful for so many things... and wondered if it would really be effective.After reading the book, though, and trying out several of the tips with great success, I quickly became hooked-and now baking soda is one of the most popular go-to products in my household when it comes to health & beauty, cooking AND cleaning.Not only is it a safer alternative to commercial cleaning products, it's incredibly versatile, unbelievably cheap and better for our environment.Here are my 10 favorite uses for baking soda:1. SKIN EXFOLIATOR. I use baking soda for exfoliating my skin (both face and body) and it works *incredibly* well. Not to mention at less than $2/lb, it's much cheaper than any store-bought exfoliator. Just pour a little of your cleanser into the palm of your hand and sprinkle in some baking soda. Rub your palms together to combine the two, then once you've achieved the right consistency, gently massage into your skin. After 20-30 seconds of massaging, rinse clean.2. DIAPER RASH & INSECT BITES. Although my twin toddlers have yet to have a serious bout of diaper rash (knock on wood), I sometimes add a few teaspoons to their bathwater if I notice any irritation on their buttocks or around their legs from diapers that were fastened a little too tightly. I also do this often for insect bites. Baking soda takes the sting out of insect bites and is thought to also stimulate the healing process.3. TOOTHPASTE. I always sprinkle a little baking soda on top of my toothpaste. (Just make sure that you brush GENTLY.) Although I'm a huge coffee-enthusiast, I have very, very white teeth-which I attribute in part to baking soda. I've been adding it to my toothpaste for almost 5 years now and haven't experienced any damage; however, I *highly* encourage you to do your own research before trying this for yourself. Some people definitely have softer enamel than others, so this might not be an option.4. NATURAL MOUTHWASH. It even works as a great mouthwash. When my twins were born, they had to stay in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) for 6 weeks. It was a very stressful and tiring time and I drank a ton of coffee just to stay awake and (somewhat) alert. To combat the resulting bad breath, I rinsed my mouth with a baking soda/water solution (1 teaspoon per 2 ounces) several times a day. It works!5. POTS. When I have trouble removing stuck-on foods from pots, I boil some water in the pot and add about two tablespoons of baking soda. It loosens up the food and makes cleaning much, much easier. (This can also be used on pans.)6. BATHROOM. I used to use cleaners like Comet and Soft Scrub. Not only is baking soda MUCH cheaper, it does the same jobs just as well. Just mix a little dish soap with some baking soda and water and you have a fantastic cleaner for tubs, toilets and sinks.7. DIAPER CAN. I sprinkle it into my twin toddlers' diaper can to neutralize some of the odors dirty diapers can leave. You can also sprinkle baking soda in stinky shoes... or any other place that harbors bad odors.8. CARPET. I have two toddlers and two dogs, so my carpets are very familiar with baking soda. To neutralize odors, simply sprinkle baking soda on your carpets at least 30 minutes prior to vacuuming.9. SOUR STOMACH. I add a pinch or two to about 4 ounces of water if I get a sour stomach. It works almost instantly. HIGHLY recommended.10. FOODS & BEVERAGES. I sprinkle it in soak water to make our beans more digestible. I also sometimes add it to tomato sauces and coffee to neutralize some of the acidity.These are just 10 great uses of many-and there are a lot of other uses that I plan to use in the near future. For instance, sprinkling baking soda on the soil around tomato plants is supposed to make your homegrown tomatoes taste sweeter.Hmm... Definitely worth a try.