Archive for August, 2009

Cooking Tofu for Vegans

Sunday, August 30th, 2009


If you are cooking tofu for vegans, it is not difficult, but it is a matter of science just as any other cooking is a science. Including tofu in your diet is a good way to supplement your meals. It acts as a replacement for that which meat would normally provide, as far as essential vitamins and minerals go. Many of the non-meat products that you buy in the grocery store are actually made with tofu; that is how commonplace and important tofu is in many aspects of the Vegan diet.

Is cooking tofu imperative for Vegans? Probably not. Tofu is a soy bean product, and soy beans are packed with protein. Protein is the important part of meat that makes it so imperative in our diet, so replacing meat with tofu in your diet is a great way of keeping the protein and eliminating the dangerous animal fat. The problem with being a vegetarian lies in the dangers of not having enough protein in your diet, but tofu can help to eliminate this as a risk at all if you regularly include it in your diet as you would meat.

Many vegans out there choose not to include tofu in their diets, simply for reasons of taste. Not everybody is going to like everything and let us face it; tofu is not one of the tastiest foods out there, but it can be worked with. Cooking tofu is an art. Tofu can definitely ruin a meal, but not if it is prepared right.

It is often said that when you cook with tofu, it does not maintain a taste of its own, but it does tend to take the taste of the food it is prepared with. For example, if you were to include tofu in a Vegan tofu stir fry, it takes the taste of the noodles and soy sauce in the stir fry; if you include tofu in spaghetti, it would take the taste of the vegetables and/or the marinara sauce.

For Vegans, cooking tofu can be rather intimidating, but it doese not have to be. If you are considering become a Vegan, or just want to learn about cooking tofu for a Vegan you love, there are ways to learn. The internet is chock full of great recipes for tofu-cooking beginners, from the tofu spaghetti and stir-fry that was already discussed to great veggie burgers, hot dogs, and other things.

Cooking tofu for Vegans doese not have to be a chore, and with proper information and a bit of practice, you should not have to live with results that are less than pleasing for very long.
Kelvin Ho runs his own cooking site at http://www.pickupcooking.com. Looking for tofu information and recipes? Find them here at http://www.pickupcooking.com/tofu

Why Millions Of People Love And Enjoy The Refreshing Taste Of Premium Tea

Friday, August 28th, 2009


As one who grew up in the South I can say that we drank tea with nearly every meal and I still drink it at least two or three times day! Where I live one of our favorite grocery stores sells it by the gallon already made and I love it. Apparently I am far from being alone since eight out of ten households in the United States keep tea in the home and drink it regularly.

In the Far East tea gardens used to be very popular, especially in India, Taiwan, and China where they were known for the production of premium tea. The poor economic state in many of these locations has made many traditional growers of tea evolve to more advanced and efficient methods of growing and harvesting tea which has made the better tasting premium teas even tougher to find.

If you are like me and you enjoy the taste of a quality gourmet tea there is a diverse variety of teas available to sample which can sometimes make it difficult to narrow it down as to which one you may want to try first. With the choices such as chamomile tea, Chinese green tea, black tea, yerba mate, and many more too numerous to mention it is plain to see that one could drink a different tea at least weekly and never get through the list.

Although the practice of drinking tea goes back thousands of years to Ancient China when it was first drank for its health benefits many people today drink it for a variety of reasons. Some like the Chinese did and still do, drink it for its medicinal benefits while others such as we here in the U.S. and the Brits in the U.K. drink it more because we love the taste. Many of the people who just drink it because they love it are unaware of the great health benefits due to the large numbers of antioxidants. In addition to this, tea is also known to enhance the immune system and possible reduce the incidence of strokes and heart attacks. Add the fact that tea without the added sugar has no calories and is lower in caffeine than coffee and you have a nearly perfect beverage.

Traditionally tea has always been drank hot as the English do but many prefer to have their tea on ice, which is the way we tend to drink it here in the U.S. Among drinkers of iced tea, it seems that the flavorful Black Tea is very popular due to its stronger taste.
Gregg Hall is an author living with his beautiful wife and family in Navarre Beach, Florida. Find more about tea as well as premium tea at http://www.gourmetteasandgifts.com

Eat Better The No Cook Way Veggies

Tuesday, August 25th, 2009


Much of what we eat today has had all the beneficial vitamins taken from it. One can go on and on, through the whole gamut of dishes cooked with excessive heat, canned foods, toasted cereals, vitamin plied flour and milk, which have been robbed of all or almost all of the original vitality, cooked out desserts and candies.

These products are so ingeniously advertised that the public is convinced they are musts for their growing children. So strong has become the faith in these foods, that natural, raw food is seldom given a thought. In fact, it is often a matter of controversy among our most listened-to nutrition authorities.

The result has been a deplorable deterioration and progressive undermining of the health of American youth. The proof lies bare in a recent government publication which gives startling figures on the number of rejections of our youth for the armed forces. Considering that these “rejects” are our teen-agers, our most select age group, and that the percentage is higher today than it was either in World Wars I or II, there must be something radically wrong. Moreover, this is most typical of America - not other countries. It behooves us to look into it!

Below are some valuable recipes for vegetables which preserve all the vital vitamins and minerals. Prepare some today for the sake of your health.

Asparagus Saute

2 cups fresh asparagus
1 teaspoon grated onion or 1 garlic clove
2 tablespoons olive or peanut oil
Coarse salt and coarse black pepper, as desired

Vitamins A, B and C, as well as calcium, phosphorus, iron and other minerals are found here. These vitamins make the necessary co-enzymes that control the important enzyme-controlled reaction, that establishes good health. The eyes are aided by the large amount of Vitamin A here.

Break asparagus into pieces 2 inches long, place in saucepan with oil, season. Add garlic section or grated onion and warm quickly over low heat for about two minutes.

Keep turning pieces over and over in pan. Serve in a covered casserole.

Artichokes
4 whole artichokes, small
3 tablespoons olive oil 1 small onion, grated
1/2 cup water
Coarse salt and coarse black pepper, as desired

Chlorophyll plus innumerable vitamins and minerals make this a valuable as well as challenging vegetable. The natural sugar is recommended for quick energy.

Heat water, season, and place artichokes sprinkled with oil in pan containing water and onion. Sizzle for five minutes using very low heat. Remove from heat keeping cover on for another minute.

Lima Beans And Fresh Tomato Combine
2 cups lima beans, soaked 48 hours
4 fresh tomatoes
1 onion, chopped fine
1 teaspoon honey
4 slices raw lean bacon, minced
1 tablespoon chopped parsley
2 tablespoons olive, corn or peanut oil
Coarse salt and red crushed pepper, as desired

The combination of tomatoes with its high Vitamin C content converts this dish into a richer ABC and mineral reserve for the body.

Saute the beans in oil over slow heat, stirring constantly until warm. Add tomatoes, onion, bacon and parsley and continue to saute until all of the vegetables are warm. Add seasoning to taste, and serve in a covered casserole.

Chile
2 cups red beans
4 tablespoons coarse salt
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 onion, chopped
1 green pepper, diced
4 teaspoons chile powder

The important bean again. The chile and vegetables convert this into a high Vitamin C product. A dish to aid the vigorous working man.

Soak beans 48 hours in salt water, changing it 3 or 4 times. Sear quickly in oil over high flame (2-3 minutes until hot and firm), the celery, onion and green pepper. Add the chile powder, salt, and, if desired, 4 crushed tomatoes. In another pan, warm the beans in oil over slow heat, turning constantly until warm. Blend both mixtures together and serve in a covered casserole.

Enjoy these tasty vegetables prepared in such a healthy way!
Get The Shocking Truth Raw Food Diet Detox And What You Must Do To Eat Healthy! Click here for FREE online Ebook http://www.rawfooddietdetox.net/

The Italian Cooking Recipe Food, Fun And Family

Saturday, August 22nd, 2009


Can you imagine eating at the same Italian restaurant several times in a row? One of our favorite things to do after church is to eat out for lunch. For the last few weeks, we have been going to the same local Italian restaurant when we could have gone anywhere. Last week when my wife suggested it, I thought, again, we were just there, but it is always good. The chef had cast some sort of spell on us. Once again, it was incredible and we love it each time. Well, I started thinking about why someone would return to the same restaurant time after time. Of course, it was because the food was delicious, but why, I asked myself. What was it that the chef was doing that made us so look forward to his Italian cooking?

I came to some interesting conclusions that you can use in your kitchen and home to create that same love for your cooking. The food was fresh and the homegrown herbs were wonderful but it had to do with more than just the food. The restaurant presented a great atmosphere that was personal, relaxed and fun. Have you seen those Olive Garden commercials with the big families? You know, “when you’re here you’re family”. It was that kind of thing. The chef comes out and talks to you, they put on your favorite music and everyone is friendly and easy going. Italian cooking can be a great way to enjoy food and family.

Set the atmosphere in your kitchen and make the experience enjoyable for your family as you enjoy the cooking. Fix a couple of simple appetizers to enjoy casually around the table as dinner nears completion. Get the family involved in the kitchen or setting the table. Put on some music, sing and enjoy. Now, when it comes to Italian cooking you have to think fresh. Get the freshest ingredients, pastas, vegetables and herbs you can find or better yet make and grow some of your own.

Here are some useful tips and special techniques for Italian cooking. In many ways the basics of cooking pasta is one of the most important cooking techniques that makes Italian cooking great. Make sure that if you are following an Italian recipe that you follow the directions carefully. Always make sure you are cooking the pasta in enough water. You should plan to use about four quarts of water for eight ounces of pasta. Cover the pot and bring water to full boil before adding pasta. Leave the pot uncovered while you are cooking, and use a pasta fork to stir the pasta. You can start testing the pasta for doneness a few minutes before the recommended time to see how it is coming along. You should also be looking for only a speck of white left in the center of the pasta. You need to drain the pasta but do not rinse it. Then return your pasta to a warm pot or skillet with sauce in it. At this point, you can add salt to the water to add flavor to the pasta but if you will be paired your pasta with sauce it is not necessary.

Traditionally, in Italian cooking of meats you would usually use the stovetop. You want to brown meat in olive oil or butter with wine. Don’t forget you should loosen scrapings from pan and as alcohol evaporates, lower the heat on the pan and simmer meat until tender.

Here is a nice way that you can make your favorite meal a favorite for your family and friends too. Usually, Italian cooking comes in several courses. Present your family with each course and it will create a memorable and enjoyable experience. The first course is usually a soup, pasta, or risotto. The second course is a meat, like chicken or fish, with a vegetable and followed by a salad. The dessert course is usually a fruit, but you can really make it something special by offering a sweet treat.
Craig Chambers is a cooking enthusiast who enjoys the fun and flavors of Italian cooking and has extensive free information and recipes on his website www.cookingyourbest.com

9 Handy Cooking Tips And Ready To Use Substitutes

Thursday, August 20th, 2009


A cupboard or shelf of your kitchen will display a sad look when a well-stocked pantry runs out of ingredients during the time of emergency. Sometimes while making something substitute of the original ingredient becomes absolutely indispensable and cannot be overlooked. Hence here are some handy tips and ready to use substitutes which can become very useful for you at times and help you to come out safe from an otherwise compromising situation with an unexpected guest sitting in your living room.

1. An unexpected shortage of self rising flour can be managed by adding 1 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon salt to each cup of all purpose flour.

2. Bread crumbs replacing cracker crumbs and cracker crumbs replacing bread crumbs: 3/4 cup of cracker crumb is equivalent to one cup of bread crumb and one cup of dry bread crumb can be used as a substitute for 3/4 cup of cracker crumb.

3. One tablespoon of corn starch can be easily replaced by two tablespoon of all purpose flour.

4. When you need to add a dash of lime but really don’t have even a single slice of lemon in the kitchen, adding the same amount of vinegar will do the magic of bringing the tangy flavor to the dish.

5. You can use one cup of plain yogurt or use 3/4 cup of sour milk in place of sour cream.

6. If you need baking powder for your recipe and you see all dark due to its unavailability, you have a very good and handy alternative for it. Use 1/4 teaspoon baking soda and 5/8 teaspoon of cream of tartar. Another alternative is to use 1/4 teaspoon baking soda plus 1/2 cup buttermilk and reduce the liquid in the recipe by 1/2 cup.

7. Recipes that need butter and you are running short of it replace it with the equal amount of vegetable oil.

8. Buttermilk can be easily replaced with the same amount of plain yogurt or by adding one tablespoon of vinegar or lemon to one cup of regular milk.

9. You can win the same appraisal for your chocolate dishes even if you had no chocolates at all. Just mix 3 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder plus 1 tablespoon butter in place of one ounce of unsweetened chocolate. In case you need sweetened chocolate just add a tablespoon of sugar to the mix.

These handy cooking tips and ready to use substitutes would not just make your life easy in kitchen but at the same time uphold your reputation as a great chef amongst your family and friend.
Abhishek is a cooking enthusiast! Visit his website http://www.Cooking-Guru.com and download his FREE Cooking Report “Master Chef Secrets” and learn some amazing Cooking tips and tricks for FREE! Learn how to create the perfect meal on a shoe-string budget. And yes, you get to keep all the accolades! But hurry, only limited Free copies available! http://www.Cooking-Guru.com

How Cooling Water Devices Work

Monday, August 17th, 2009


What are water coolers? They are quite simply, a device for cooling and dispensing drinking water. However, different types of coolers have evolved depending on various factors such as where to position it, whether it is for domestic or commercial use, and the differing quality of water required amongst other things.

In the 20th century, when the Western world professes to have perfectly drinkable tap water the question is asked, where did the idea of water coolers come from? The whole idea started during the 1920’s and 1930’s in America when the skyscraper building began. It was difficult in those days to pipe water to the upper floors so the unit with a bottle on top was the viable alternative and the issues of delivery, storing and carrying bottles was not so important as it solved a problem. Today, it is still an option for some companies, depending on their requirements.

In the latter part of the 20th century, advanced filter technology saw the introduction of the plumbed in unit with a carbon filter installed. This meant that the system could be plumbed into the main water supply in commercial buildings, negating the need for carrying heavy bottles, the risk of running out after demanding usage, not to mention the storage, which in major cities can be calculated in square footage. The unit incorporates a carbon filter, which is useful in that it removes approximately 10% of contaminants from the drinking water, namely chlorine and fluoride.

Now there is more advanced technology available and at a competitive price. The latest technology for commercial and domestic use giving the best quality drinking water is using the reverse osmosis process. The water coolers have installed in the unit, a reverse osmosis membrane that works alongside the carbon filter and a sediment filter, removing approximately 96% of contaminants from the municipal water supply.

As with any of the options, there are advantages and disadvantages but generally, the choice would be made depending on costs, maintenance, options for the building where the unit is to be installed and general feeling towards quality of water. Plumbed in water coolers is now the more popular choice for businesses as they involve less maintenance, are more cost effective and require less administration and storage. Companies refurbishing their offices now include the installation of them in their plans. This shows that their placement in the business environment is as essential as the positioning of the desks and computer stations.

The image of the water cooler became synonymous in the 1980’s with ‘cool’ advertising and was used as a prop in many Hollywood films. It was supposed to signify aspiration and affluence in a successful environment. In the present day, its image is synonymous with purity, hydration and health with advertising cashing in on images of snowcapped mountains, rivers running through fjords, clear blue skies and images of the sea with crashing waves on deserted beaches.

With health and hydration regularly featuring in the news, the business of water coolers is a growing one and as the marketing gets more creative and people demand better quality water, the industry will continue to grow.
Anna Stenning is an expert on water coolers and plans to by her own cooling unit. For more on water filtration and cooling units visit http://www.pure-eau.co.uk/

Coffee Pod Machines and How to Choose Them

Saturday, August 15th, 2009


The tasting of coffee is such a maddening experience that the coffee lovers can be said to be the addicts of it. From time immemorial, coffee has been the favorite hot drink of the people the world over. No stone was unturned for extracting the coffee flavor to its fullest from the coffee beans. The forgotten pot with a snout, famously known as the kettle, brings down the memories of the past. The coffee was brewed in the kettle, and poured into separate mugs, the trapper at the bottom of the snout stopping the coarser coffee grains and a clothe percolator filtering the finer grounds. Evolution in the design of the coffee makers saw the later day inventions such as drip coffee makers where hot water drips down on the ground coffee placed in the filter and the coffee is made.

The problem with drip coffee makers is that the ground coffee has to be measured out and placed in the filter of the makers. Since the type of roast, grind size and the quantity matter in getting the best taste out of coffee, the users had to experience only one or two tastes. With the invention of coffee pods, the process of brewing coffee has taken a new turn in enjoying many flavors. Coffee pods are small pre-packed bags of measured quantity of ground coffee. The coffee pods are for instant brewing. They are available in different flavors such as roast, blends and quantities. They are clean to use. The new coffee pod machines are designed to take such coffee pods into them for brewing the finer coffee.

The working of coffee pod machines lies between that of drip machines and an espresso machine. Like the drip machine, water is heated in boiler compartment of the pod machine and passed through the coffee grounds. The hot water is passed on the ground coffee with certain pressure for quicker brewing like an espresso machine.

With so many choices, the selection of coffee pod machines is a difficult task. While choosing some points have to be looked at.

- The number of cups that can be brewed at a time.
- The types of coffee pods that can be used.
- The size of the water compartment for deciding the quantity of coffee.
- Warm up time of the machine.
- Bar pressure achieved so as not to get an espresso drink every time.
- Wattage and warranty period of the machine.
Jason Uvios writes about “Coffee Pod Machines and How to Choose Them” to visit:expresso pods,gourmet coffee and coffee pods imported.

Many Different Ways To Go About Taking Care Of Food

Thursday, August 13th, 2009


If you talk to fifty chefs you’ll get fifty different answers on packaging. Yes, it is addressed extensively in the training materials and during the seminars. Believe it or not, it is not really a big deal. You just look at the options and decide what’s best for you and your clients. It is really not a big deal at all, and you could get fifty or more different answers here. There are typically three different types of packagaing. Disposables, Rubbermaid type, and pyrex… usually people choose the ones they desire, and are charged accordingly.

Some people use vacuum seal bags… That is, other than using gladware/ziplock, rubbermaid, and pyrex. So what is my opinion about vacuum seal bags? I do take mine on occasion and people do not complain when I package things that way, especially with fish. As most chefs would tell it is up to the client when it come to the way they want their food sealed. Some like to have their food put in FoodSavers and others just like to have it put in containers or ziplock bags. It all depends on how must space you have in your ice box.

Using coolers is another way people like to keep some of the food preserved, but not many people like to use coolers because it is just too much hastle for them to carry around to all the jobs that they have to do. It is just there so if is to hot or if you have more then one stop they will always come in hand just like choosing the right kind of FoodSaver that you would like to us in your home or if the client asks for it. I only use a cooler on rare occasions. If it’s ninety degrees and I have forty minutes to drive, I’ll use one.

Otherwise all my groceries go into a Rubbermaid style box and I bring them into the house that way. I also learned that day that in order to get groceries from the grocery store to her car required coolers or thermal bags or it was all frozen before it got there. That might be a litle hard on the lettuce and eggs. It sure makes shopping for clients even more important a service to offer since there is risk involved.

The store I most commonly shop at for most things is 1 mile away from me if that. My closest client to that store is exactly seventeen miles, yet it takes me a minimum of third-five minutes to get her house. It gets very hot here in Houston area with high humidity (100* but “feels” like 120*). I don’t won’t foods at an unsafe temperature for a minimum of 30 minutes, then go into the clients home, & have it siiting out some more (nor having toput in fridge until I have to drag it out again). Also, what if your vehile breaks down or you have a flat. That food is sitting there much much longer.

Yeah, it’s easier to put foods into that collapsible cooler (can find at Sams or Costco relatively inexpensive at that), but sometimes, since I have three of them… I put other things in another one, because they also have wheels. Every minute that perishables are in the temperature danger zone is a chance for foodborne illness causing bacteria to grow and multiply. As well as a chance for the quality of the food to degrade.

I may well take that risk for my own food and family…but it’s my job as a professional to do everything I can to minimize that risk to my clients. And coolers for persishables are essential; I don’t care how cold it is outside. If it’s cold…I’ve got the heat on in the car and it’s a big station wagon…but again, if it’s in the cooler on ice I have complete control of the temperature the food is being kept at, during transport, during unloading at the clients, etc.

Plus, I can then save room in the fridge to cool things, rather than fill it up with my perishable items. I’m sorry, but transporting perishable goods at ambient temperatures is a sure way to get local health departments in interested in regulating our industry. The goal is to be as safe or safer than a caterer or foodservice operator and safer than a private individual.

And unless you’re carrying a thermometer in your car and checking the temp of groceries, believe me, health dept. regs do not have loopholes like “A caterer can leave meats in an unrefrigerated vehicle as long as the drive is less than 15 minutes”

You have to have standards. They should be higher than absolutely necessary. And you should live by them. I know that sounds pompous and hope you’ll forgive me, but I take food safety in this industry pretty seriously. When you think about it there are always many different way to being able to keep food save from all kinds of things that can get people sick. But most of us would prefer to have a foodsaver in the car or with us at all times just to make sure that the client has his/her chose on what they would like the food tranfered in.

I also find using a cooler helps keep me organized, in addition to keeping things out of the temperature danger zone. Once I’ve gone to the grocery store, I divide the groceries into rolling coolers. One for non-perishables (wihtout ice packs), one for veggies, fruit, dairy, etc., and one for meats. It’s just my way of adding one more layer of protection from cross-contamination. I also like the rolling style coolers that I got from Costco. I have a bunch and usually take three or four, which I find saves my back.

I put everything in them, including pots and pans.Some people like to have the dispole kind of canter of bags so that it would just be a whole lot easier for them to throw away if they don’t eat the food in a preferd time. They even like the kind of contaners that they can just give to people that way they don’t need to get it back.
Victor Epand is an expert author for http://www.VacuumFoodSealer.info/. Here you can find the best selection of FoodSaver Vacuum Food Sealers and accessories on the market. Preserve and store foods at home using this proven vacuum packing method. Search through our selection of vacuum food sealers here: http://www.vacuumfoodsealer.info/category/appliances.html.

Coffee Pod Machines and How to Choose Them

Monday, August 10th, 2009


The tasting of coffee is such a maddening experience that the coffee lovers can be said to be the addicts of it. From time immemorial, coffee has been the favorite hot drink of the people the world over. No stone was unturned for extracting the coffee flavor to its fullest from the coffee beans. The forgotten pot with a snout, famously known as the kettle, brings down the memories of the past. The coffee was brewed in the kettle, and poured into separate mugs, the trapper at the bottom of the snout stopping the coarser coffee grains and a clothe percolator filtering the finer grounds. Evolution in the design of the coffee makers saw the later day inventions such as drip coffee makers where hot water drips down on the ground coffee placed in the filter and the coffee is made.

The problem with drip coffee makers is that the ground coffee has to be measured out and placed in the filter of the makers. Since the type of roast, grind size and the quantity matter in getting the best taste out of coffee, the users had to experience only one or two tastes. With the invention of coffee pods, the process of brewing coffee has taken a new turn in enjoying many flavors. Coffee pods are small pre-packed bags of measured quantity of ground coffee. The coffee pods are for instant brewing. They are available in different flavors such as roast, blends and quantities. They are clean to use. The new coffee pod machines are designed to take such coffee pods into them for brewing the finer coffee.

The working of coffee pod machines lies between that of drip machines and an espresso machine. Like the drip machine, water is heated in boiler compartment of the pod machine and passed through the coffee grounds. The hot water is passed on the ground coffee with certain pressure for quicker brewing like an espresso machine.

With so many choices, the selection of coffee pod machines is a difficult task. While choosing some points have to be looked at.

- The number of cups that can be brewed at a time.
- The types of coffee pods that can be used.
- The size of the water compartment for deciding the quantity of coffee.
- Warm up time of the machine.
- Bar pressure achieved so as not to get an espresso drink every time.
- Wattage and warranty period of the machine.
Jason Uvios writes about “Coffee Pod Machines and How to Choose Them” to visit:expresso pods,gourmet coffee and coffee pods imported.

Down Home BarbecuesA Summertime Tradition

Saturday, August 8th, 2009


Nothing says summer like a good old down home barbecue. Just the thought of one brings back fond memories of smelling burgers on the grill, chasing after lightning bugs and a great fireworks display. What would summertime be without a bag of Kingsford charcoal and some potato salad? Barbecues give everyone a reason to invite their family members and neighbors over for a day of games and activities. Some of these activities include croquet, badminton, horseshoes and maybe a not so friendly game of tag football. Whatever activities are chosen for the day, it is guaranteed that memories will be made and shared for years to come!

To make your barbecue a successful one, you should include foods that are readily available in the summertime such as fresh fruit salads. Vegetable trays are also a perfect addition when enhanced by various dips for quick munching. To keep your cold foods from spoiling (especially salads that have mayonnaise as an ingredient), it is always a good idea to keep them under cover and place their container in ice.

When planning the menu for your barbecue, be sure to have the usual fare such as hot dogs and hamburgers but also add a “not so traditional” food item into the mix. One great idea is to have chicken shish kabobs which are incredibly easy to make by cutting boneless chicken breasts into cubes and skewering them with green peppers, red peppers, whole mushrooms and fresh cut onion chunks. Grill until the juice from the chicken runs clear and there is little to no pink in the middle. Remember that the hotter the grill and faster you cook the chicken, the juicier it will be.

Another great addition to your “not so traditional” menu is grilled peaches. (This one is actually a true barbecue staple for our family.) We simply pick the peaches off of our backyard peach tree and cut them in half. Cut the peaches in half and remove the pit. Then dunk the peaches in a mix of 1/4 cup Italian dressing and 4 tbsp of honey. Grill the peaches for approximately six minutes on each side and top with a little whipped cream.

Complete your summertime barbecue menu with a sumptuous strawberry shortcake or a customary gelatin mold filled with fresh melon. Most of all, whatever you do… relax and enjoy the lazy days of summer with your friends and family.
Della Franklin is a business owner, successful IT Systems Manager & Internet Marketer. She counts 10 years experience as a teacher as well as being a Certified Network Engineer, cook, wife & mother. See more about her at http://www.foodielooksatfood.com or http://www.dogwoodsquare.com