Crazy about Croutons!

The fresh salad greens I’ve have been buying at the farmers market the last few weeks have been truly excellent but a girl can’t live on salad greens alone.  I like to mix things up a little by adding some very gourmet, buttery rich, fresh homemade herbed croutons into my salad.  The boxed croutons are in my opinion, better for making stuffing, they are almost styrofoam like – once you have made your own fresh croutons there will be no going back…I am warning you now, it’s a very slippery slope.  Now I must also stress here that the size of the crouton is critically important – using too many croutons or croutons that are too large can upset the balance of the salad and actually make it unpleasant to eat.  If you are using soft delicate designer greens you need to make sure your croutons a small, tiny even and are sprinkled over the salad right at the last minute so they stay nice and crunchy.  There is definitely an art to this whole crouton thing.

I think the best way to start is of course with really great bread and I happen to be partial to the Ciabatta from A Bread Affair right here in Langley http://www.abreadaffair.com/our_bread.html I like to heat up a generous mixture of butter and good quality olive oil in a large frying pan. Cut most of the crust off the bread and cut it into very small squares.  Once the butter is melted and the oil is hot – add 1 clove of finely minced fresh garlic and sauté for 1 minute.  Turn off the heat.  Add the bread cubes and toss them well in the garlic butter.  Toss in ¼ cup of finely grated parmesan cheese, ½ tablespoon of finely chopped oregano, ½ tablespoon of finely chopped flat leaf parsley, a few grinds of freshly cracked black pepper and a generous sprinkling of good salt.  Toss the croutons so that the herbs and cheese are well distributed.  Transfer your seasoned croutons to a sheet pan and spread them out evenly.  Bake them in a 350 degree oven for about 15 minutes stirring them occasionally until they are nice and toasty…keep an eye, these little gems go from toasty to toast in no time flat!  Cool the croutons and store them in a freezer bag or freeze the leftovers.  You will be looking for excuses to add these tasty little morsels to just about everything!

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About the Author:
Angie Quaale is the owner of Well Seasoned gourmet food store and cooking school in Langley, British Columbia, Canada. Well Sesaoned is been the destination location for all things gourmet. Angie travels the world sourcing the best gourmet foods and recipes and is an advocate of local farmers and food producers. Angies column, “Food for Thought” appears twice a month in the Langley Times. She’s also regularly featured in print articles, television and radio programs throughout Canada.
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Tags: bread, ciabatta, croutons, free recipes, how to, oregano

Tenderizing Red Meat for Cooking

Everyone loves a nice juicy steak, but the biggest problem with having one is that it might not be that tender or juicy at all unless you put some extra effort into it when you make it initially. Did you know that you actually need to tenderize your meat or it won’t taste that good at all? In fact it will be rather chewy, and no one wants to waste a lot of time chewing their food, and that’s why it is so important to use a steak tenderizer before you actually eat or serve any guests that you might happen to have.

When some think of tenderizing meat, they likely think of standing in the kitchen with a wooden mallet pounding the food, and this is exactly how it was done in the old days. It’s still being used now come to think of it. Big businesses however have come to terms with the fact that they require some large and somewhat bulky equipment in order to tenderize their meat properly and get it out to the public for consumption.

If by some chance you do not know what a meat tenderizer is, then you should probably recall the times that you’ve tried to eat steak and found that it was way too chewy to be considered edible by anyone. This is exactly the type of thing that you want to avoid when you are making any sort of steak. Whether it’s for you, or someone else, or for an entire family outing, you know that you want the best type of meat available, and that is only meat that can be created by a meat tenderizer.

If you own some sort of business that works in the business of meat, or steak in particular then it would be to your advantage to look into a steak tenderizer and devices for tenderizing beef. There are a lot of good companies out there, and one in particular is Tor Rey. This company designs and deploys many decent kitchen appliances for industrial kitchens that one would benefit from looking into.

One of Tor Rey’s best products is the MT-43 steak tenderizer that is capable of softening tough pieces of meat within a few minutes. This not only makes it softer, but it also makes the steak a lot more enjoyable to eat. This means that you don’t need to sit there with a hammer for hours on end trying to tenderize the meat before y sell it to the public.

Remember that for the best in the kitchen, always go to Tor-Ray, because no matter what you need to do, Tor-Rey has some way of making it incredibly easy. Cook with confidence knowing that Tor-Rey has your back in all things meat related.

Cooking is an art, and tenderizing steak is a huge part of that art. Make sure that you have all the tools you need to paint the perfect picture at the dinner table. When you have those tools, make sure you use them as much as possible to keep people coming back for more!

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About the Author:
Jim Musselman owns K & J Deli Cases, a food service equipment distribution company. Jim’s company sells commercial-freezers, deli cases, coolers and restaurant equipment worldwide through his distributorship. Please checkout our site at www.kjdelicases.com for more articles and our products we sell along with there pricing.
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Tags: meat, red meat, tenderizer

Tasty Baby Back Ribs in the Oven

When I lived in an apartment without having a grill I experimented till I discovered a good way for slow cooking baby back ribs in the oven. Excellent BBQ ribs have been one food I missed making for myself and good friends and could never come across truly great ones inside a restaurant. By excellent kinds I mean the variety where by the meat falls off the bone plus the sauce is an addition on the taste of the smoked meat, not the complete taste. The form of ribs that you take in at home. Unless it really is a real BBQ location, I’ve certainly not actually enjoyed eating ribs out. They are not the kind of food you consume in a restaurant, ribs are family and pals backyard food!

Hungry yet?

The critical point to slow cooking baby back ribs may be the word “slow”. Regardless of whether you do it on the grill or inside the oven you need to have low heat plus a good deal of time. That prolonged, gradual cooking is what provides the flavors a chance to sink on the meat and for that meat to produce that fall-off-the-bone tenderness. Keep in mind, there exists no “only” method to slow cooked ribs, no matter what your brother-in-law says.

With the fundamentals you are able to experiment with flavors which you like and try new ideas. Start having a rub of spices in to the meat. It is possible to make your own or buy a commercial rub. Rub a generous portion into both sides of the meat and lay them over a piece of aluminum foil, shiny side down. Make a packet from the ribs by folding up the ends of the foil. Let sit for no less than an hour, preferably overnight.

Preheat oven to 250.

Create a braising liquid. Here is an idea for some ingredients:

1 cup white wine
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon of honey
A couple chopped cloves of garlic.

The essentials are that there exists liquid and flavor. You’ll be able to use juice rather then white wine or soy sauce rather than Worcestershire, brown sugar as an alternative to honey. You are able to vary the quantity of the ingredients, additional garlic less honey. Get the idea? Heat the braising liquid in a microwave making use of high heat for 1 minute.

Pour braising fluid into each of the rib packets that you just manufactured. Position on a cookie sheet and cook inside the 250 degree oven for 2-1/2 to 3 hours.

Leave them alone and permit them to simmer in their very own juices. For your last touch you are going to drain the braising liquid into a saucepan and heat it till it is lowered by about 1/2 and thick enough to glaze onto the ribs. Glaze the ribs with the reduced sauce and position the ribs below the broiler. This last action of slow cooking baby back ribs in the oven is what provides them the caramelization.

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About the Author:
I don’t cook in BBQ competitions, but sure do enjoy grilling for my family and trying out new recipes. For more ideas and recipes for Competition BBQ recipes visit BARBECUECOOKBOOK.INFO
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Tags: baby back ribs, BBQ, cooking recipe, food, free, ribs

Healthy Breakfast Ideas

They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day and it is true. By skipping breakfast you are likely to become very hungry before lunchtime and end up grabbing something sugary for a boost to wake you up, this sugar rush quickly wears off leaving you feeling even more tired, irritable and unable to concentrate. People often think by skipping breakfast you will lose weight, this is incorrect as you are in fact more likely to eat more from skipping a meal. As your blood sugar dips you are more likely to snack before you have your lunch, so it really is not conducive to weight loss or maintaining a healthy weight. You might say you don’t have the time to eat breakfast in the morning but it does not have to be a chore and it does not have to be big or time consuming to prepare either, here are some examples of some easy, tasty and healthy breakfast ideas you could try:

A Healthy Breakfast Cereal

Spice up a boring breakfast cereal with dried or fresh fruit, you could use chopped up bananas, strawberries, apricots or even be more exotic and add things like mango or papaya to your breakfast cereal. Make sure you choose a low fat but high fibre and no added sugar or salt cereal such as Shredded Wheat or Weetabix, also be sure to use skimmed or semi skimmed milk. If this seems too time consuming try a muesli such as Alpen that already contain fruits. Try to have your Tea without sugar and Coffee without cream.

Egg and Soldiers

Eggs in moderation are actually very good for you. Eggs are a great source of protein and vitamins and if they are boiled or poached, very low in calories and if not fried in vegetable oil contain very little saturated fat. You should use wholemeal bread for the soldiers and instead of using butter why not try a vegetable spread or be totally different and try Marmite or Peanut butter instead. And instead of drinking Tea or Coffee why not choose Fresh Orange or Grapefruit Juice.

Mixed Fruit Salad

You may want to prepare this the night before if you do not have a lot of time in the mornings, but you can add any selection of fruits that you like together for a very healthy and refreshing breakfast. Eat with a slice of bread covered in honey or finish the salad off with some bio-yoghurt. And if you really can’t face anything to eat first thing in the morning, you can even put the leftover fruits into a blender to make a smoothie.

A Healthier Full English Breakfast

For those that do have a bit more time in the mornings or on the weekends, it is always good to indulge yourself from time to time and you can still enjoy that traditional fry up minus the extra fat. Ditch the deep fat fryer and use the grill instead! Use lean bacon, poach or boil eggs, opt for low sugar, low salt baked beans and a grilled tomato. Choose wholemeal bread instead of white and a glass of unsweetened fruit juice. And voil’! A fry up that is good for you.

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About the Author:
Welcome to Proactol Review, helping you lose weight fast!
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Tags: blender, losing weight, smoothie, weight loss, wholemeal

Finding The Right Knife Set For Your Home

We never know quite how it happens, but yet again, you’ve been roped into cooking for the entire family at yet another impromptu gathering.  And to top it all off, your knife set needs replacing.  Oh, what to do?  I find it’s extremely important to know not only what a specific kitchen knife is meant for, but also what materials it can be made from, and how to ensure it will live a healthy, long life in the comfort of your kitchen.

First and foremost, there are two ways in which kitchen knives are made.  The first being the forged knife made by pressing hot steel into a mold which is then either hammered into a specific shape or put through several or processed through several different machines.  Your second option being stamped knives which are made by stamping them from a single sheet of steel that is then sharpened and finished.  The finished products are in fact fairly different:  while forged knives are more expensive, they offer a much more well balanced blade whereas stamped knives are much thinner and typically prone to imbalance.

Your best option for peeling potatoes and cutting small vegetables is going to be the paring knife, which is no more than four inches long thus offering increased maneuverability on a small surface.  Utility knives generally offer a blade anywhere from four to seven inches in length which can also be serrated or smooth; these are mainly suited for fruits, vegetables, herbs and the like.  Now serrated knives in and of themselves usually have a five to ten inch blade and are best for cutting fresh bread however, I wouldn’t recommend them for much of anything else as they cannot be sharpened and need to be replaced regularly for that reason.  Boning knives are intended for pulling meat from the bone and for that reason, the blade is five to six inches in length and very thin in order to ensure that they are effective at their task.

Cleavers have up to a six-inch blade, which is also very wide, making it your best bet for cutting anything thick or crushing garlic cloves, for example.  Chef’s knives are available anywhere from six to 12 inches in length, but keep in mind, bigger isn’t necessarily better as you want it to balance in your hand.  Therefore, smaller hands are best when handling smaller blades, as these particular knives are best suited for ubiquitous tasks such as chopping, dicing, mincing, and slicing.  Carving knives are meant for slicing cooked meats, typically sold with a carving fork in order to hold down whatever it is you’re cutting.  Usually around eight inches in length they are available with either a pointed or rounded tip and both are equally effective.

There are also different types of materials used to create the handles for your kitchen knives; exotic woods, stainless steel, and porcelain, just to name a few.  They do however have their own pluses and minuses as well as care and keeping tips.  Wooden handled knives, for example cannot be immersed in water because that would cause the wood to swell, thus damaging them.  But it is also recommended that you rub mineral or lemon oils on the handles occasionally in order to maintain them.  Ceramic handled knives are best known for their durability, but my favorites are the stainless steel handled knives; these are the least likely of the bunch to gather rust.

In order to keep your kitchen knives like new, it’s best that they be stored in a wooden knife block.  This not only keeps them sharp, it also keeps your hands safe as keeping them loose in a drawer is more likely to result in cuts and scrapes.  It is also best that your knives only be used on surfaces such as wood and plastic, not metal because that will wear down the blade.  As always, keep your knives out of the dishwasher and hand wash them immediately after each use.  Now, you may think the goal here is to find the cheapest option available to you, when in fact you really do get what you pay for.  So, as with so many other decisions one has to make, it comes down to whether you want to make one larger purchase or several smaller ones as you find yourself in need of replacing them again and again.

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About the Author:
The perfect item for any kitchen is a multi-purpose knife set. You will find yourself reaching for a kitchen knife over and over while preparing your favorite meals. MyDiscountKitchen.com offers a variety of discount kitchen appliances and cookware essentials.
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Tags: knife sharpeners, knifes

Peel Tomatoes in 2 Easy Steps

In my efforts to help you understand how to cook healthy foods for yourself and your family, the most important thing to remember is that the most nutritious food comes from fresh produce. So go ahead, enjoy the summer harvest and the flavor of just-picked items, you might even want to enjoy the flavors of some unfamiliar fruits and vegetables.

Today, I want to share information about an item that you probably very familiar with and already understand the health benefits and eat it every summer. The tomato.

One of the best flavors of summer are fresh tomatoes. They are bright, clean, slightly acidic and can be used in just about any kitchen application. Most of us love a sliced tomato on sandwiches, or diced tomatoes into a cool summer salad or salsa.

However, if you have to cook a tomato, the skin becomes bothersome. The skin of a tomato does not break down under heat and needs to be removed unless you like little rolled quills of tomato skin stuck in your teeth after a meal.

First heat some water to simmer or a very slow boil. While your water is heating, core your tomato and on the opposite end, mark an “X” in the skin. Once your water is ready, drop in your tomato. You will not need to leave the tomato in very long as you’re not trying to cook it, rather to tease the skin off. When the skin on the tomato begins to split, remove it from the water and drop it into ice cold water. This change from intense heat to ice cold is called “shocking” and will cause the skin on the tomato to begin to roll up on the edges and separate from the tomato so you can easily pull the skin off using your fingers.

Once this is complete, you can cut the tomato in half and flick out the seeds inside the tomato. Once you remove the seeds and give your halves of tomato a good squeeze, you now have peeled, seeded tomatoes that you can use in any number of dishes. The French call this procedure “tomato concasse” (con-ka-say). It’s peeled and seeded tomato, and a procedure anyone can master in their own kitchen for sauces, jarring, or diced in any dish.

Nutritious food can be found all around us and in learning how to cook healthy dishes, open your mind to the idea of learning some new procedures that will enable you to enjoy your produce in fresh, new ways. Enjoy your healthy eating!

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About the Author:
Chef Todd Mohr is a classically trained chef, entrepreneur and educator. Chef Todd’s simple philosophy – burn your recipes and learn how to really cook – has helped many home cooks and professionals alike finally achieve success in the kitchen. Learn his #1 Secret for Free and discover how online cooking classes can really teach you to cook!
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Tags: fresh, how to peel, tomatoes, vitamins

10 vegetables you might never of heard of

Your mom is always right! You should eat vegetables and they are really important. There is no end to the vegetables that you should have in your diet, but few of them are more nutritious and have better health benefits than the rest. If you have decided to include veggies in your diet then let us discuss 10 vegetables you perhaps never heard of and that are really good for your health. These vegetables are considered the healthiest vegetables and they offer great nutritious value to your body.

Diet plays an important role to keep you healthy. Eating all types of fast food and food that relishes your taste buds may not good for your stomach and health. Hence along with tasty foods you should also include some vegetables in your diet routine which you perceive to be tasteless and boring. Most of us have the wrong concept that vegetables taste dull and they are waste. On the contrary vegetables are really tasty if you know how to take them and they are not waste for your body. There are millions across the globe who survive on veggie diet and their health conditions are far better than those who simply rely on non-vegetarian food and processed food. Ask any of your favorite models or some great fighter from WWE or UFC or MMA fighter about their diet and you will find them eating rich fiber diet and vegetables along with protein rich food.

Here is the list of 10 vegetables whose names are little typical but they offer great nutritious and health benefits to your body. Some of them are loaded with anti-aging properties and also nutrients which keep sickness at bay. Scientific studies revealed that these vegetables have some extra things in them. Here we go:

1. Asparagus: Asparagus is often considered one of the most nutritious green vegetable. It promotes healthy skin, contains high fiber and Vitamin B6. The vegetable is good food for pregnant women as it contains high amounts of folate keeps the heart and blood rate healthy. The vegetable is also low in sodium count and contains potassium that promotes healthy intestine.

2. Eggplant: The purple colored vegetable is one of the vegetables that protect your brain. They are low in calories and that is why they are popular among dieters. Studies found that the vegetable has adequate amount of potassium, fiber and copper in it that play positive effect on the cardiovascular health. The vegetable can be cooked in different styles to make it mouth watering and tasty. You can include taking eggplant twice a week in your diet chart.

3. Kale: Very few vegetables can match the values and benefits of Kale. This vegetable has multiple benefits on your body and like every other vegetable it also contains essential vitamins but contains low calories. Kale is known for its detoxifying ability. Studies have proved its ability to reduce the risk of cancer in people especially ovarian cancer in women. The Kale is also healthy for lungs. The best thing about kale is that it can easily be grown in home garden.

4. Broccoli: You perhaps heard the name of this vegetable, but there are many who don’t know what it is. This vegetable is known for its anti-oxidant potential and also to protect the body from ravishes of cancer. The broccoli can be used to garnish many dishes and can also be chewed raw with salads. The vegetable has high folic acid levels and hence prescribed by doctors to pregnant women as it would prevent birth defects. Moreover it is rich in vitamin C and calcium nutrients.

5. Spinach: Another popular green vegetable and favorite among vegetarians. The vegetable acts as medicine as it protects us from lot of illnesses like heart diseases, arthritis, osteoporosis and other such kind of old age diseases which are seen happening to middle aged people too. It contains 13 types of flavonoids and can be helpful in prevent serious cancers like prostate and ovarian cancers.

6. Sweet Potatoes: Yes, there is also a kind of potato called sweet potato. The sweet potato tastes really sweet and has anti-oxidant properties. It helps the body to get rid of free radicals that trigger ageing process and also may linked to some chronic diseases that include things like colon cancer, diabetes and to name a few. The sweet potato also lessens the effect of asthma, inflammatory diseases like arthritis and others. Rich in fiber, iron and calcium the potato can be used in a number of tasty and mouth watering recipes. You can also have such potatoes in your breakfast just boiling them and peeling off the skin. Take the sweet potato with honey another beneficial natural substance.

7. Collard Greens: This green vegetable is very popular among South Americans. You perhaps noticed their health and skin. They are much healthier and well built and have attractive skin than Americans. Perhaps the Collard Greens are the reason behind those features. The leafy green vegetable is packed with lots of nutrients. Collards have high levels of calcium, beta-carotene, Vitamin-E and other such useful nutrients. The high content of selenium in it too is useful. Besides, the useful Vitamin K and Vitamin A are also present in considerable amount in this vegetable.

8. Brussels sprouts: This green little vegetable is very much important for pregnant ladies. The veggie is rich in Vitamin B and folic acid that prevents any sort of disorder in the neural tube of the baby. The vegetable is also rich in potassium, fiber and omega-3 fatty acids. It is a good alternative to fish as many vegetarians don’t consider eating fish. You can make the dish delicious by stuffing them in between chicken breasts.

9. Squash: A very useful vegetable to prevent pain and inflammation on joints of your body. This is rich source of vitamin C, squash, beta-carotene and other nutrients like magnesium, potassium and fiber. The squash is helpful in treating conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and asthma.

10. Bell Peppers: The bell peppers come in variety of colors and whatever color you prefer you would be supplying your body metabolism rich nutrients like folic acid and lycopene. Both these nutrients are very much perfect for your hearth health. The vegetable is also effective in lowering the risks of colon, lung, bladder, pancreatic and other such cancers.

So, what is your view now on vegetables? Will you consider them taking regularly in your diet? I hope you will definitely do that. All the best!

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About the Author:
Alicia Carnegie is a contributor at Nice Vegetable & Healthy Living. See more article like this in Evoire Article Community
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Benefits of Eating Foods Raw

Everyone has experienced going on a long road trip and stopping at a fast food restaurant.  The smells of fried chicken, French fries, and hamburgers waft through the air.  One could hardly wait to get his share of a juicy chicken leg or hot fries.  But how nutritious or healthy is this kind of diet?  One cannot eat these foods raw, but nutritionists are advocating that we would be healthier and slimmer if we eat most of our foods in a raw state.

We can eat fruit, nuts, grains, and vegetables raw.  They taste good, and can be easily eaten. There is no need to add salt, sugar, spices or condiments that can irritate the digestive system or over stimulate other organs. Also, natural foods or raw foods also contain sun energy in the cellulose, which Is broken down when exposed to high temperatures if cooked. The heat of cooking depletes vitamins, damages proteins and fats, and destroys enzymes which benefit digestion.

Eating foods raw gives energy, helps in weight control, and reduces the risk of heart disease. Raw food contains fewer trans fats and saturated fats than cooked foods.  A raw food diet is low in sodium and high in potassium, magnesium, foliate, fiber and health promoting plant chemicals called phytochemicals. A study found that eating foods raw lowered plasma total cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations.

It is also believed that eating foods raw can protect the body from acute diseases, such as colds and flu, and can reverse or stop the advance of many chronic diseases, including heart disease and cancer.  Fruits, nuts, and vegetables are overflowing with life and can transmit their life benefits directly to you.  Above all, eating foods raw saves you money on food, pots and pans, appliances, doctor bills, drugs, and health insurance. So, try to eat most of your foods in their raw state.

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About the Author:
Audrey Hosten is the owner of http://www.cookwaresellar.com and she knows the importance of picking the right <a rel=”nofollow” target=”_blank” href=”http://www.cookwaresellar.com”>cookware</a> for all for cooking needs. If you have questions she will help you pick the right cookware for the right job
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Tags: fast food, health benefits, healthy, healthy eating, low fat, save money, vegetables, weight control

Kids Meals Made Easy

Getting the kids involved in meal making is a good way to get them to try new foods.  Begin with shopping for the meal.  Have the children decide what food they wish to prepare, and help them make up a shopping list.  Then, trek out to the grocery and purchase what items are required for their recipe.  When you get home, copy the recipe or print it out in large type so the kids can easily read the directions.  Emphasize to them the importance of following a recipe exactly and to add the ingredients in the exact order called for in the recipe.  This makes everything work out best, as most recipes are kitchen tested by experts.

Once you get home, have the children wash hands carefully, and then gather all the necessary ingredients they will need for their recipe.  Lay the ingredients out across the countertop in the sequence in which they are called for in the recipe.  This makes following directions a lot easier for the kids.  Help them choose the proper mixing bowl and spoon.  If a power mixer is required, they must have adult help or supervision so no one gets injured.  Get out measuring cups and spoons, and explain to them the markings on each and how they differ.

Next, have the children measure ingredients and mix up their recipe as directed.  If oven baking or stove top cooking is required, again it is necessary for an adult to be right there, either supervising or actually doing the heat related cooking.  Older kids can be taught how to use the stove and oven properly.

When the items are cooked or baked, help the children with hot items.  Show them how to use a hot pad or mitt to handle hot dishes or pans.  If something requires cooling, explain the importance of placing the hot dish somewhere safe for cooling, like on the stove top or on a hot pad.  Safety is always an issue with cooking.

There are some simple meals that kids can easily put together on their own.  Here are a few basics:

Use a baked potato for a base, open it up and cover with toppings for a simple meal.
Do the same thing but use rice or a tortilla for the base.  Top with meats, gravy, vegetables.
Make a salad a meal.  Put the salad on a plate and add toppings.
Sandwiches are simply made, but can also be creative.

Make a meal a game.  Have each child draw a card that is their part of the meal to prepare; i.e. appetizer, drink, entrée, vegetable, pasta, etc.

Kids love to cook.  They love to be able to learn new things about food and cooking.  Take advantage of their interest when they are young.  You will be surprised at their competence by age 12 if you start early.  Every child should be taught cooking and safe meal preparation as part of their total life skills.

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About the Author:
Linda Everett has been a professional copywriter for over four decades.  She has worked in media sales and writing at radio, tv stations and at advertising agencies, in addition to owning her own ad agency and running several websites.
View her website, http://www.textarticlesale.com, where stock articles are sold, and where clients may order custom copywriting.  Other websites currently active are: http://www.greenenergyfortoday.com, and http://www.grandmaslittleblackbook.com.
Most recently, Linda has been writing website articles for Textbroker.com.  She has successfully sold over 2600 articles in the past two years, and sells an eBook about writing for Textbroker on her websites.
Linda graduated from Michigan State University with a B.A. in Communication Arts, in 1972.
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Tags: cooking, cooking tips, kids meals

Saving and Buying Groceries

Buying Groceries. We all have to do it. Or if we are lucky, we have a “better half” that will take on the chore. Either way, it’s a fact of life. You can make it fun, or you you can rank it up there with a root canal. Your choice.

Most of us, regardless of where we live, are a comfortable driving distance from a large retail grocery chain. You know the names. This is where to start with your weekly staples. Too many trips to the local convenience store for mac and cheese can be hard on your health and your wallet.

Go in prepared. Don’t go in hungry and have your list! Keep a pad of paper on your frig and keep track all week of any items you may feel you will need to purchase during your next shopping trip. Be organized. Work in a grid pattern. Bouncing around the store can not only be frustrating but very time consuming. If you have to back track so be it, but keep it tight. Shop like you are on a mission. You are!

Make it fun and interesting. Shop for deals within reason. Make your brain work by doing in-store research. Learn about all the types of tuna and their prices. Turn into an educated shopper. If you are shopping with a partner, split up the list. One gets the big carriage, another the hand-held version. Saves time as well as making it fun, because one of you will no doubt throw a few surprises in your respective carts.

In a nutshell, we all have to shop. We all have to eat. Make it fun! Groceries shopping doesn’t have to be the most exciting thing you’ve ever done. But, if you follow these tips, it should at least be somewhat tolerable.

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About the Author:
Thomson vouchers, Dixons voucher codes, Dorothy Perkins vouchers
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Tags: cooking, save money