Raw veganism

01319840319_tatertotcasserolecloseup.jpgMotivations

In addition to the ethics of eating meat, dairy, eggs and honey, a raw vegan may be motivated by:

Health reasons

Raw vegans believe that cooking foods destroys the complex balance of micronutrients. They also believe that, in the cooking process, dangerous chemicals are produced by the heat interaction with fat, protein, and carbohydrates.

Environmental reasons

Some raw vegans are concerned about deforestation and sustainability, believing the use of wood or fossil fuels for cooking is harmful to the environment.

Spiritual and/or philosophical reasons

Most dedicated followers of a raw vegan diet place importance on spiritual gain. Ruthann Russo states, “The raw food movement looks at the way food, living, treatment of the earth, our treatment of each other, and our quest for physical, spiritual, and mental health all fit together.

Other considerations

Like all people, raw vegans must ensure that their intake of vitamin B12 is adequate, since it is produced by bacteria and does not occur reliably in plant foods.

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Raw Food Weight Loss: A Blueprint For Success

The raw vegan diet is rapidly gaining popularity. Some people choose this way of eating for its health benefits. Others choose it due to concerns over the environment and animal welfare. Whatever their reasons for changing their eating habits, people tend to find themselves becoming noticeably slimmer after only a few weeks of consuming raw vegan food. Homemade Vegan Sausage Secrets Revealed

Isa Chandra Moskowitz has made a liar out of me. Not long ago, I wrote that Moskowitz’ “Veganomicon” was the last cookbook you needed to buy, and now she comes out with “Vegan Brunch”. Blame it on her vegan Italian Feast Sausage recipe. Raw Food Diet Weight Loss

Raw food diet weight loss is a great way to help get you started on looking and feeling better today. If you are looking for new ways to eat healthy and take off some unwanted weight then we have a few tips designed especially for you. These are the tips that the weight loss people don’t want you to know about. Whats Cool About Coconuts

A switch to a raw, vegan, natural foods lifestyle requires a little creativity and a lot of getting used to. It may feel at first as if we are giving up more than we are gaining. When I became a ”ra…Vitamin B12 deficiency can have serious consequences such as anemia and neurodegenerative disease. The Vegan Society and Vegan Outreach, among others, recommend that vegans either consistently eat foods fortified with B12 or take a B12 supplement. Tempeh, seaweed, spirulina, organic produce, soil, and intestinal bacteria have not been shown to be reliable sources of B12 for the dietary needs of vegans. Vitamin B12 can be found in Nutritional Yeast. Nutritional Yeast is a reliable source of B-complex vitamins and Cyanocobalamin (B12).
Two tablespoons can provide 133% of a raw vegan’s daily needs of B12.

References

^ Au naturel: the raw food revolution – raw food diet by Lori Tobias (Nov, 2002) Better Nutrition – BNET

^ “What every vegan should know about vitamin B12″. Vegan Society. http://www.vegansociety.com/html/food/nutrition/b12/. Retrieved 2007-02-22. “Vitamin B12, whether in supplements, fortified foods, or animal products, comes from micro-organisms.” 

^ Jack Norris, RD (2003-04-18). “Staying a Healthy Vegan”. Vegan Outreach. http://www.veganoutreach.org/health/stayinghealthy.html#vitamind. Retrieved 2007-02-22. “There are no reliable, unfortified plant sources of vitamin B12; therefore fortified foods and/or supplements are necessary for the optimal health of vegans.” 

^ “Vitamin B12 Information Sheet”. Vegetarian Society. http://www.vegsoc.org/info/b12.html. Retrieved 2007-02-22. “any B12 present in plant foods is likely to be unavailable to humans and so these foods should not be relied upon as safe sources.” 

^ “Vitamin B12 (cobalamin)”. Merck Manual Home Edition. http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec12/ch154/ch154h.html. Retrieved 2006-10-30. 

^ “Healthy choices on a vegan diet”. Vegan Society. http://www.vegansociety.com/html/food/nutrition/. Retrieved 2007-02-14. 

^ Reed Mangels, Ph.D., R.D.. “Vitamin B12 in the Vegan Diet”. Vegetarian Resource Group. http://www.vrg.org/nutrition/b12.htm. Retrieved 2007-02-22. 

^ “Don’t Vegetarians Have Trouble Getting Enough Vitamin B12?”. Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. http://www.pcrm.org/health/veginfo/b12.html. Retrieved 2007-02-22. 

^ “What every vegan should know about vitamin B12″. Vegan Society. http://www.vegansociety.com/html/food/nutrition/b12/. Retrieved 2007-02-22. “Vitamin B12, whether in supplements, fortified foods, or animal products, comes from micro-organisms.” 

^ Jack Norris, RD. “Vegan Health: B12 in Tempeh, Seaweeds, Organic Produce, and Other Plant Foods”. veganhealth.org. Vegan Outreach. http://www.veganhealth.org/b12/plant. Retrieved 2007-02-22. 

^ Jack Norris, RD. “Vegan Health: Are Intestinal Bacteria a Reliable Source of B12?”. veganhealth.org. Vegan Outreach. http://www.veganhealth.org/b12/int. Retrieved 2007-02-22. 

^ Nutritional Yeast Food Nutritional Facts http://www.bulkfoods.com/nutritional_yeast.htm Retrieved 2010-02-06

See also

Fruitarianism

Veganism

Raw foodism

External links

Tim VanOrden’s Raw Veganism project

Raw Veganism Info for Travelers

Raw Food Vegan Diet May Produce Light but Healthy Bones

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Vegetarianism

Diets

Sattvic diet  Veganism  Raw veganism  Fruitarianism

Semi-vegetarianism

Flexitarianism  Pescetarianism  Pollotarianism

Animal byproducts

Lacto-ovo-vegetarianism  Ovo-vegetarianism  Lacto-vegetarianism

Basic topics

History of vegetarianism  Vegetarianism by country  List of vegetarians  Environmental vegetarianism  Economic vegetarianism  Ethics of eating meat

Vegetarianism and religion

Buddhism  Catharism  Christianity  Hinduism  Jainism  Jewish vegetarianism  Sikhism  Tolstoyanism

Food and drink

Cheese analogue  Meat analogue  Plant milk  Vegan cuisine  Vegan organic gardening  Vegan wine  Vegetarian nutrition  Vegetarian cuisine  Veggie burger

Organizations

and events

American Vegetarian Party  Christian Vegetarian Association  European Vegetarian Union  Food for Life  International Vegetarian Union  Massachusetts Animal Rights Coalition  Boston Vegetarian Society  PETA  Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine  Toronto Vegetarian Association  Vegan Society  Vegetarian Network Victoria  Vegetarian Society  Veggies  World Vegan Day  World Vegetarian Day

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Categories: Vegetarianism | Veganism | Intentional living | Nutrition | Diets | Food stubs

Cooking Dvds- Best Technique to Learn Cooking

f_01319840195_2008sept1002.jpgGlobalization and modernization had forced the human beings to live their life in rampage. Nowadays, such a situation has arrived that people has become oblivious and unable to fulfill their own requirement. Energy is needed for sustenance of life and it is biological need of the body. Energy is produced from combustion of food. That is the ultimate approach and beginning of every endorsement of work is food. Release of energy is evolving from food that has to be prepared time to time. Evidently, that means cooking of food is essential for every person to spend the life leisurely and relevantly.

Cooking is the unavoidable necessity of every human; it is not only a need but also a hobby, an interest, an art and priority of every household activity. The need of cooking is indictable and inexorable. So, people who don’t know cooking, they are tolerating problems. But now there is no need to worry. Cooking DVDs are the solution of this unprecedented problem which is required to be confronted. This online facility provided by various DVDs companies is very useful and helpful. Cooking DVD is easiest way to learn cooking for every individual. Cooking DVDs are easily available, affordable and act as a escalator for your knowledge about cooking. Other than English, cooking DVDs are available online in different languages also. Cooking DVDs are the simplest technique to learn cooking without combating and disturbing others. Users can get cooking DVDs very easily without high commitment of money. Now, cooking DVDs is one of the inescapable needs that facilitate delicious recipes instantly. Bring the modern, improved and informative cooking DVDs in your home and take the advantages accordingly. The good point of cooking DVDs is that they represent their items sequentially and in step by step procedure which proves to be advantageous for beholders. Cooking DVDs only advances your way of serving without any disadvantages. You can know a lot of dishes by seeking cooking DVDs in your home. Bring the cooking DVDs and start your self prepared restaurants.

In cooking DVDs, you will get every type of recipes from vegetarian to non- vegetarian dishes. Apart from cooking DVDs you can also find cookbooks online to try out. But cooking books are not that much understandable as cooking DVDs. In cooking DVDs you can here and also see when and what ingredients are put upped in the dishes while cooking. So, you can pull up a chair and know how to cook anything with the best cooking DVD techniques. Cooking video contains many topics and lessons of cooking. For beginners, cooking DVDs are the very best option available to learn cooking without anybodies help. Such cooking DVDs contain recipes right from the great chefs.

Home Cooking With Different Recipes-Better Than Fast Food

21319840330_cajunveggiericecloseup.jpgFast food like pizzas, burgers, and soft drinks may satisfy the stomach, but these are not healthy if consumed on a regular and daily basis, instead of wholesome home cooked food. Eating home cooked food is not only healthy, but cooking at home can also be fun as well, and anyone can prepare a variety of dishes with the hundreds of Recipes available for free on thousands of websites. There is no need to buy expensive cookbooks and recipe books. The multi-cuisine, multi cultural, multi-country, multi-ethnic, Veg recipes and meat-based recipes are easy and fun to cook and many people readily try them out. Many of these vegetarian recipes, especially from India and countries in the East, are easy to cook, but there are also hundreds of recipes available for meat and egg dishes, soups, appetizers, main course dishes, desserts, and chocolates.

In fact there are Home Cooking Recipes available for special days and holidays too, like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and for Diwali in India. With these Easy Recipes, you can prepare desserts, snacks, main dishes, drinks, soups, and chocolates, and surprise your family and friends with your cooking skills. Even if you are not an expert cook, you can still prepare mouth-watering dishes by following the step-by-step guidance provided in the recipes. These Free Recipes also provide a full list of ingredients along with spices and herbs that you will require to cook up a delicious meal.

Although meat and eggs are a mainstay of western cooking, vegetarianism and veganism is quickly catching on and many people have now totally turned to veg and vegan dishes. Although western home cooking does not have many recipes for cooking with vegetables or cooking exclusive veg dishes, the east has hundreds of veg recipes and vegan recipes for cooking delectable veg and vegan dishes at home. A vegetarian or vegan in western countries like the USA, UK, and even Europe can find Free and Easy Recipes for many veg and vegan dishes on hundreds of websites. You can prepare a variety of vegetable soups, appetizers, salads, main course dishes, desserts, chocolates, cakes and pastries, and enjoy a healthier life.

Many people are turning to vegetarianism and veganism by choice, but millions of others swear by meat and eggs, and prefer vegetables and veg dishes as a side item, instead of the main course. For people who prefer meat and egg dishes, there are hundreds of Free Recipes available for different meat cooked in different styles and with a hundred different herbs. Some of the eastern recipes for meat dishes are more difficult to cook and time consuming as the meat has to be marinated for hours with herbs and spices, before being cooked. But many others are Easy Recipes and can be cooked quickly. Whether you prefer vegetarian, vegan, or meat and eggs in your meals, home cooking recipes are easy to find and cook. Please do visit our site for hundreds of Veg Recipes for Home Cooking – for appetizers, salads, soups, main course dishes, chili recipes, desserts, Cookie Recipes, Chocolate recipes and an extensive cooking guide.

Mexican Cooking Recipes

11319842129_healthycookingandrecipes.jpgMexican Cooking Recipes

Among the world’s great cuisines, Mexico dishes stand out in their diversity. Rooted in a history of ancient Indian civilizations, inspired by the Spanish Conquistadores of the sixteenth century, and influenced by European tastes in the later revolutionary years, it is dynamic and adaptable but remarkably complete as it combines different culture. I ll share these four Mexican cooking recipes and show you where to download over 25000 recipes from around the world

CHICKEN TORTILLA CASSEROLE

Corn tortillas
1/2  cup           Milk
1/2  pound         Cheddar cheese — shredded
1      can           Green chili salsa
1      can           Cream of mushroom soup
1      can           Cream of chicken soup
Chicken breasts; cooked — cut up

Cut or tear the tortillas in 1/2″ squares. Put half of them on the bottom of a baking dish and cover with 1/2 of the cheese. Mix salsa, both soups and chicken together. Add half of this mixture to the baking dish. Repeat the layers and top with cheese. Cover and put in the frige for 24 hours. Bake at 350~F for 45 min. Uncover for the last 15 minutes to brown.

CHICKEN WITH AVOCADO SALSA – Mexican Cooking Recipes

1      pound         Boneless chicken breast — halves

Chili powder — salt and pepper

Ripe avocado
1      tablespoon    Fresh lime juice
1/2  cup           Chunky salsa
Tomato — chopped
Green onions with — tops,thinly sliced
Heated corn tortillas or — lettuce leaves

Arrange chicken around the edges of a 9″ pie plate or baking dish.
Sprinkle with chili powder, salt and pepper. Cover with vented plastic
wrap.
Rotating dish midway through cooking, microwave on high 5 to 6 minutes;
set aside. Peel, seed and chop avocado. Combine with lime juice in a small bowl. Add salsa, tomato and green onions; toss gently. Slice cooked chicken, lengthwise, into 1 to 2″ strips and arrange on tortillas, making 4 servings. Top with salsa. Microwave on 50 % (medium) 2 minutes or until heated.

Makes 4 servings.

Chilaquiles (A Casserole Of Tortillas In Chili)

1/2  pound         Queso fresco, crumbled — or

mild cheddar — grated
1-1/3 cups)

Stale tortillas — cut into

or            triangles

1      cup           Thin sour cream
Chorizos — crumbled and

1      medium        Onion — thinly sliced into

Limes — cut into wedges

Ready: A flameproof dish at 3 Inches deep and about 10 inches across

The Sauce
Heat the griddle and toast the chilies lightly on both sides.  Be
careful– they burn very quickly.  When they are cool enough to handle,
remove the seeds and veins.  Cover the chiles with hot water to cover and leave them to soak for about 20 minutes, then transfer with a slotted spoon to the blender jar.  Add the rest of the ingredients and blend to a smooth sauce.

The Chilaquiles:

In small frying pan add 2 Tbsp. peanut or safflower oil, 1/2 cup chicken broth.  Heat the oil and cook the sauce until it darkens in color and is well seasoned–about 3 minutes.  Add the broth and let the sauce cook over a high flame for a few minutes longer.  Set aside.

Heat the oil and fry the tortilla strips until they are a pale gold, but not too crisp.  Remove and drain on the toweling.

Cover the bottom of the dish with one third of the tortilla pieces. Cover them with a layer of one third of the cheese and a layer of one third of the sauce. Repeat the layers twice more.

Add the 3 to 3-1/2 cups chicken broth and bring to a boil.  Lower the
flame and continue cooking the chilaquiles at a brisk simmer, until most of the broth has been absorbed — about 15 mintues.  Add the epazote a minute or so before the chilaquiles have finished cooking. (2 large sprigs.)

Pour the sour cream around the edge of the dish, then garnish with the
chorizos and the onion rings.  Serve in small deep bowls with lime wedges on the side.

Chile con Queso – Mexican Cooking Recipes

1      cup           Cheese — Shredded *
4      ounces        Green Chiles — **
1/4  cup           Half & Half
2      tablespoons   Onion — Finely Chopped
2      teaspoons     Cumin — Ground
1/2  teaspoon

Use either Cheddar or Montery Jack Cheese (4 oz) ** Use 1 4-oz can of
chopped green chiles, drained.
Heat all ingredients over low heat, stirring constantly, until the cheese is melted.
Serve warm with tortilla chips. Makes 1 1/4 cups dip.

Yummy Vegetarian Crock Pot Recipes, Jamaican Style!

01319841691_22209rosemaryyeastrolls4.jpgVegetarian crock pot recipes bring back the art of cooking and eating food. The modern generation hardly has time to feel the taste of food in their mouths. Most people gobble down their meals. While eating, they do not even think about the food that’s going inside their stomachs. Their minds are occupied with the next client meeting or presentation.
How many of you finish your newspapers or catch up with your favorite show on television while eating?
The crock pot comes with a promise to restore the magic of culinary. You only need to try some vegetarian crock pot recipes. You cannot help but fall in love with slow cooking! Moreover, you cannot help but eat your meal with concentration, without doing anything else.
Jamaican Slow Cooker Kidney Bean Stew
This is one of the vegetarian slow cooker recipes that blend the richness of tomato, sweet potato, red kidney beans, garlic, curry spice, and coconut milk to create a fabulous stew dish for supper.
YOU NEED: 1 tomato (drained and diced) and sweet potato, 2 cups sliced carrots, 3 chopped scallions, 2 cans (16 ounces) of kidney beans dark red (drained), 1 cup coconut milk without sugar, 2 cups vegetable broth without salt, 2 minced garlic cloves, 1 tablespoon olive oil (extra virgin), 2 teaspoon curry powder, 1/4 teaspoon each of red pepper flakes and ground allspice, 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme, and black pepper (freshly ground) and salt to taste.
DO THIS: Take a 4-quart cooker, and set it at high.

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The Three Easiest Vegetarian Crock Pot Recipes!

Vegetarian crock pot recipes are catching up at tremendous speed with the busy and health-conscious crowd. Thanks to animal rights activists, people are trying to ditch their “carnivorous” habit and switch to a pure vegetarian diet. 2 Yummy Vegetarian Slow Cooker Recipes, Plus Hot Tips

Here are a few lip-smacking vegetarian slow cooker recipes that not only save your time, but also serve your entire family for a lovely family dinner. Crock Pots And Slow Cookers

Slow cookers are called Crock Pots, because the Crock Pot became such a common household item. The Crock Pot got its name in 1971, and when other household brands started selling the slow cooker, everyone associated them with the Crock Pot name, and so the name stuck. Get The Best Crock Pot For Your Needs: What Features To Look For Before You Buy

If you’re considering purchasing a crock pot slow cooker, it’s important to get the best crock pot for your needs for maximum flexibility and enjoyment. The following are some essential features that I highly recommend that can be found in the best crock pots.Put oil in it. When it heats, add minced garlic cloves. Cover the cooker. Then, add scallions, carrots, tomatoes, and sweet potatoes.
Stir. Add thyme, curry powder, allspice, red pepper flakes, pepper, and salt. Then add kidney beans. Pour the coconut milk and vegetable broth. Set the cooker at low now. Cover the lid. Let it cook for 6-8 hours.
This is one of the vegetarian crock pot recipes that come in handy when you’re in a 9-to-5 job. When you return, you get a simmering stew ready to appease your hunger in the most soothing way. Serve this kidney bean stew with hot rice, or artisan bread, or with freshly cut salad.
Tip
In order to cut down on the calorie count of this meal, use 1/2 cup coconut milk instead of one whole cup. You can also substitute vegetable broth with water. However, the former enhances the taste of the dish. This stew dish is low in cholesterol and high in dietary fiber, Vitamin A, and manganese thanks to the carrots, kidney beans, garlic, sweet potatoes, and olive oil used in it.
The vegetarian crock pot retains almost all the nutrients of food, yet produces a spicy and savory dish. This cooking appliance is ideal for people struggling to become vegetarians. The heavenly flavor of vegetarian crock pot recipes can effectively make them forget meat. You can successfully switch to a complete vegetarian diet with food cooked in a slow cooker.
Get a crock pot today, and try the vegetarian crock pot recipes. Relish hot and healthy food every day. Don’t be surprised if people compliment you on your good health. Remember, you are what you eat!

Easy to Cook Vegetarian Recipes

11319840320_122.jpgVegetarian recipes are very yummy, healthy and are normally effortless in preparations, as they take less time in cooking. Various vegetarian recipes are available on this earth giving you ample of choices to select one and relish the recipe.
Various Crunchy, colourful and fresh, vegetarian appetizer recipes consume less time and are ideal for those who do not want to spend more time in the kitchen. Baked dishes also takes less time and are very easy to cook. Soups and various Italian and Chinese vegetarian dishes are also prepared very fast.  Various vegetarian recipes which are easy to cook are: Vegan Hummus, Mushroom Barley Soup, and various noodles, pasta, macaroni and pizza recipes.
The butter or cheeses can be used with various types of breads available as they are easier in making. Cheese can be used as a topping on the cookies or biscuits and you can relish these combinations together with sodas, plain water, tea, coffee or wine. Cheeses come in various types and forms; you can use them with other snacks available. Cheese can be cut in slices or can be grated as per the time and liking. You can stock cheeses and you can serve them plain or with something.

Various types of noodles, pastas or macaroni can be boiled quickly and can be mixed with various vegetarian ingredients. Ready made sauces can be poured on these and various sandwich spreads can also be mixed and can be served to your guests.
With potatoes also you can make a quick recipe such as it can be baked or boiled and different types of sauces or mayonnaise, or butter can be used as a topping. Mashed potatoes with butter can also be served or the potatoes can be put in the gravy already prepared and frozen. Chips, cookies, nachos can be served with various dips. Dips made from butter, mayonnaise, cheeses can be made in minutes.
Thus by using commonsense and easy ingredients you can do cooking in an uncomplicated manner and can save time and relish different recipes at the same time. Thus you can offer scrumptious, easy and quick recipes to your guests. There is no limit to easy vegetarian recipes. You can also search online and can make cooking hassle free. There are many varieties of the vegan recipes for all meals during a day, you can make according to your guest’s choice.
Cook delectable easy vegan breakfast recipes to start their day off on the right foot by doing some research!
Conclusion
Enhance your knowledge

Who Cooks From Scratch?

11319841734_dune-68.jpgThose babyboomers out here will remember the Pillsbury Bake-Off Cookbooks sold at the grocery check-out for 25 cents many, many, many years ago. Okay so I’m dating myself, but during those days women and men really baked from scratch. There was no prepared cookie dough, bread dough or cake mix. You had to know math, flavoring techniques and have strong arms since most recipes called for you to beat the batter 250-300 strokes with a wood spoon to form the cake batter.
Yes, for those “babybakers” out there the word Kitchen Aid® was non-existent; and there was no such thing as an electric mixer, we had plain old egg beaters, that again, ran by good old fashioned muscle power. As I think back on those days I can now appreciate the knowledge I gained from having to do things from “scratch.” When you bake from scratch you learn about the texture of a product, the smell, taste, color, knowing when it is wrong and when you have hit pay dirt.
I do not use boxed mixes, or bread machines, I am a purist and I admire and cultivate to other purist(birds of a feather).
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Make A Home From Scratch

For newlyweds, to look for a house is a major priority. To be living in together for the first time needs you to adjust and all. To look for a new house and turn it into a home is the first step in making a family. When you have made a decision on which house you want to be turned into your new home, the next thing to do is to organize the home and make it more livable. Making Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies From Scratch

Many people love chocolate chip cookies, as they are simple and delicious. Luckily they are quick and easy to make too. Below are some steps to follow to make good chocolate chip cookis. How to Make Fried Rice Completely From Scratch

Making fried rice from scratch is not difficult; in fact it’s pretty simple. This is one of the most favorite dishes by many Indonesian people, they use it also as a breakfast because it’s so easy to make and you don’t need much ingredients and preparation. You can make this dish from the remaining rice that you had cooked the day before. In fact it’s better to use old rice than new because new rice is sticky while old rice is really fine to stir it, so it makes old rice very suitable to make fried rice. How to Build a Shed From Scratch With Ease

Discover how easy it can be to build a shed from scratch with these crucial hints and tips. Save yourself the hassle and heartache and ensure your shed looks great and lasts.It’s easy to toss ingredients in a bread machine and dump out dough. I know the bread will bake up beautifully and taste divine, but there is something about getting your hands in that dough and making the bread from scratch, plus if the machine ever breaks down, I can still produce wonderful bread for my family and friends. I am not knocking folks with bread machines, use what you like. I am of that generation that just appreciated the work that goes into using physical labor, hands, sweat to produce a delicious product. One of the students in my micro business class said it best, “There’s something about going to sleep at night knowing you have produced with your own hands a product that not only fed the hungry, but also “your” soul, you just seem to sleep better at night.”
Well it’s time for the 44th Annual Pillsbury Bake-Off and another person will win one million dollars for creating some sweet or savory concoction from preservative laden pre-prepared doughs and mixes.
What does this tell us? We are continuing to dumb down American cooks and bakers. Why can’t we go back to the days when people made these delicious baked goods from scratch? What’s wrong with scratch cooking? Don’t give me the excuse about saving time either, because I know all the garbage (preservatives) put in these prepared mixes has to affect our health.
Scratch cooks and bakers around the world need to rise up, take note and protest! This is an abomination, right? Alright, I got that off my chest, back to my kitchen…today I working on a new brownie infused with Butterscotch Liqueur …from scratch…I might add.

Some Basic Tips of Crock-pot Cooking

f_21319840080_laxdtfood2.jpgCrock-pot cooking can offer some very tasty meals and desserts however some basic rules should be followed when using a crock-pot to cook with. For more help visit to: www.classic-dessert-collection.com. You should be careful not to over stir their food while it’s cooking in a crock pot. Taking the lid off during cooking causes vast amounts of heat to escape, therefore the food should only be stirred if it is clearly stated in the recipe.

Some elements can only be added at the end of the cooking time. When using milk and sour cream be sure to wait until the last fifteen minutes of cooking time before adding these ingredients. Unless the recipe states otherwise, seafood only needs to be included during the last hour of cooking time.

Pasta and rice cook requirements are quite different for crock-pot cooking. For the best results with pasta, cook in boiling water until just tender, and then add the pasta to the main dish during the last thirty minutes of cooking time. You should also try to use long grain converted rice for the best results. If the rice does not appear cooked completely through, you can add another 1-1.5 cups of liquid per cup of rice. Always boil beans before adding them to the crock-pot for cooking.

Frozen foods can be used in crock-pot cooking. For more help visit to: www.cooking-chinese-style.com. When cooking frozen means you should use at least one cup of warm liquid along with the meat. When preparing these types of meals you should all for and additional four to six hours on low temperature or two hours on high.

Contrary to popular belief, cooking raw meat in the crock-pot is very safe. During the cooking process, the meat’s internal temperature reaches approximately 170 degrees in beef and 190 degrees in poultry. Two important things to remember however is to always cook the meat for its complete time recommended in the recipe recommend time. Secondly, do not remove the lid on the slow cooker. There is no requirement to brown meat beforehand unless the you prefer the look and taste of browned meat.

When cooking in a crock-pot the best flavors will come from whole herbs and spices. Crushed herbs and spices rapidly lose their flavor during the long cooking time, but whole spices keep their flavor during the entire cooking time because they take longer to let go of their flavor.

Crock-pots can be used to make desserts and baked goods as well. You should be sure not to over beat breads and cakes; and should always follow the recommended recipe guidelines. Never add water to the crock-pot unless it specifically says to do so. Always allow cakes and breads to sit and cool for five to seven minutes before taking them out of the pan.

Vegetables like potatoes and carrots should be cut no larger than 1″ thick, and put in the bottom of the pot, since they require more time to cook. Crock-pot cooking can be delicious for both meals and desserts when some basic guidelines are followed.

Cooking Tips for Microwaves

21319841562_crockpot-overflowingmaybe.jpgMicrowave ovens are one of the most common appliances in today’s kitchens. In fact, you would be hard pressed to walk into any kitchen and not find a microwave lurking in the background. The convenience and ease of use that a microwave brings to the cooking world has made it one of the most trusted and used appliances in the modern era.

But these wonderful machines aren’t just for popping a bag of popcorn or heating some water up for a cup of tea. There are plenty of things you can do to help make healthy and delicious meals fast and simple.

Older microwaves had a difficult time cooking things all the way through. Even though a microwave cooks from the inside out, the original versions did not have the rotating plate that you set food on like the newer models today. This meant you had to physically turn your food every few minutes to get an even cooking temperature.

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Tips for Microwave Cooking

Microwave ovens are useful appliances in a household’s kitchen. They are commonly used for reheating stored foods, defrosting food items and even cooking prepared meals. Microwave Cooking – Tips For Using, Cooking, and Cleaning Your Microwave

The microwave oven has certainly made life easier, especially for households like mine where both parents work outside the home. We want our meal times to be fast and easy, while remaining healthy and affordable. Our microwave oven is one of the appliances that help us spend less time in the kitchen. Starter Microwave Cooking Tips

Cooking can be quite a lengthy and tiring ordeal and the best way to create things in a straightforward fashion is always to decide on a micro wave An introduction to Microwaves

Microwave ovens or microwaves are appliances that using the a style of dielectric heating for cooking or heating foodNow, you don’t have to worry about turning your food as often and you can cook more of a variety of foods that you may not have thought possible before.

Steaming vegetables has become very popular over the last few years and doing this in a microwave is much faster and less of a hassle than steaming on the stove. The one thing you should remember is to make sure that the vegetables are all cut approximately the same in size and thickness. Then, you need to arrange larger pieces around the outside edge and the smaller pieces on the inside. You should also use a fork or knife to pierce veggies like potatoes that have skins to keep them from cracking open from the pressure building up inside.

With dishes that will require stirring, you should place a smaller bowl inside a larger bowl (both microwave safe, of course) and pour the liquid you are cooking in the larger bowl.
Having this smaller open space will allow the food to basically stir itself, in a way, as it is cooking. Make sure you cover your food as well to avoid spills and splatters from making your microwave a mess.

When it comes time to clean, you can get rid of offending smells by placing a cup of water with a slice of lemon in it on high for two minutes. The citrus will take out any offending smells and help clean your microwave.

The Real Secrets for Cooking Perfect Steak that Chefs won’t tell You

f_11319840194_img-0003.jpgCooking perfect steak might mean different things to different people, but by using the same – very simple procedure, everyone can achieve their own personal definition of perfection right on their BBQ grill. The process begins with choosing and preparing a whole beef tenderloin and ends with knowing exactly when that steak has finished cooking to the doneness that you want it to be. And all of this happens without disrupting the steak’s beauty with knife gashing and checking that center for “pinkness.” Intrigued? Give me 10 minutes and I’ll give you my formula for cooking perfect steak on your outdoor grill tonight!
It All Starts BEFORE Cooking Tenderloin!

For most carnivores, the beginning of the process towards steak nirvana is when you actually start cooking tenderloin. Unfortunately, this approach leaves out one of my best secrets for cooking perfect steak: start with the whole tenderloin. There are so many advantages to buying a whole tenderloin and breaking it down yourself. You can definitely save some money learning how to do this, and it is a lot easier than you think. When you buy the whole tenderloin, the first thing you have to do before cooking tenderloin is to remove the “chain”. The chain is the side muscle; it contains a lot of the fat and is great for use later in stews, chilis or even my favorite treat: Tenderloin Philly Cheesesteak. But that’s a whole other way for cooking tenderloin and beyond the scope of this article! Once you’ve removed the chain, you must remove the thick top end of the tenderloin – “the head”. This, too can be set aside and used later. What you are left with is a long tenderloin from which to cut your steaks. The most important thing to remember is to try to cut the steaks of consistent size by weight. Consistent size equals consistent cooking, which equals reliable cooking! Use a scale and aim for a consistent size somewhere between 3 and 5 oz per steak, depending on who you’re cooking for.

Do you Really Know How to Grill Beef?

If you believe most people, grilling takes no skill at all. It’s so much easier than cooking and anyone can do this with little advance planning or common knowledge. Right? This is actually one of my favorite cooking myths! Knowing correctly how to grill beef (or anything else) is essential to outdoor cooking success. Grilling is direct source conductive heat. Cooking is to grilling as driving is to flying a rocket ship. Everything happens quickly and intensely with grilling and that includes mistakes. So, let’s begin with the simple process:
First, get the grill as hot as possible. Keep the lid down while heating the grill, but open when cooking. This is another common grilling mistake. If you close the lid while cooking, the method you are applying is similar to that of oven cooking. Why bother doing it outside on the grill?
Brush the steak with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. You can use any other kind of seasoning or rub here, but I find that the true steak flavor comes from a good cut of meat and you don’t need anything else. You might have a different opinion so season as you see fit.
Place the steak on the hot grill “show side” down – meaning the side you’d want to display on the plate goes down on the grill first.
Now observe for signs of done-ness. When the steak is 75% done on one side, flip it over and cook the rest of the way.
Knowing how to grill beef is a simple process, but most people still go into it blindly. By following the steps, you will always be working towards cooking the perfect steak, rather than just cooking a steak until it has reached a safe to eat temperature and texture. The fine line of difference between acceptable and perfection make all of the difference, and with perfection so reliably reachable, why not aim high?
How Long Should the Meat Cook? Until It’s Done!

If you want to know how long to cook anything, the answer is always the same. We cook our food until it’s done. So how do we determine how long to let the meat cook so that it’s “done”? Now that is a better question! When we cook anything, there are some consistent and reliable things that happen. The first cooking sign we look for is coagulation of proteins, which happens at 165 degrees. The sides of your steak will turn grayish brown, as it stiffens and shrinks a bit. This is how you observe this coagulation of proteins in your steak. Next, at 320 degrees, sugars carmelize forming grill marks and imparting a nice steak smell. To get those cool cross-hatch grill marks, pick the steak up, rotate it a bit and drop it back down on the grill while it is still cooking on the first side. At 50-75% done, (what the French term as “a point”), you flip the steak to the other side to complete cooking. The only way to determine if your steak is cooked the way you like it is with a thermometer. You will insert a thermometer – and ONLY a thermometer – into your steak and cook until the steak has reached your desired final temperature: 125-135 degrees is rare; 145-150 is medium and 160-165 is well done.  If you gash the steak to examine the middle, you’ve released some of the moistness, which is almost always NOT what you are tryng to do. Also, remember to let the steak rest for 5-10 minutes before serving so that the juices have redistributed in advance and will not run off on the serving plate.
Just by understanding these simple facts about grilling, cooking perfect steak is almost a guaranteed result. Go ahead and get your own whole tenderloin today and get ready for some great outdoor eating!