It’s quite natural in everyone’s life for a little bit of better, healthier eating. Choosing a healthy diet may begin with changing our eating habits when we eat out, but that is only one facet of a large endeavor. Healthier eating habits can also easily begin at home, simply by some of the ways that food is prepared. Healthy food does not ever have to mean that your meals will be boring, either because there are many healthy cooking techniques which will actually enhance the flavors while improving your health!

Our Healthy cooking can improve your overall health by reducing fat in the arteries which could lead to blockage. Reducing this fat will help keep arteries clean and will keep the blood flowing at a high rate. Reducing fat also helps to promote a lean body physique instead of a fat one. People who are lean will generally feel better, look better, and have more energy than people who are carrying excess pounds.

Never think about giving dessert up, simply by choosing to eat healthily! There are many wonderful things that you can do with fruit, such as mixing a bowl of berries and low fat or fat free vanilla yogurt for a sweet treat at your home. Another favorite involves sautéed bananas which are sprinkled with a little bit of vanilla extract and cinnamon. There are so many things that you can do with healthy, fresh fruit that you will not even have to think about sugar-packed treats like candies and ice cream to make your life healthy.

In today’s society there is a lot more emphasis placed on health than in many years past. People are well educated about what is, and what is not, good for their everyday health. Healthy recipes is one way to provide optimum health for you and those family and friends you love. Knowing what foods are good for you is only the first step. You must also know how to prepare those foods in the healthiest way possible.

One of the main differences between authentic Mexican and Mexican-American is that Mexican-American uses more ground beef and cheddar or yellow cheese than does authentic Mexican. In Mexico, boiled and shredded beef and other meats, as well as white asadero cheese is used. Another main difference between authentic Mexican and Mexican-American is the way enchiladas are prepared. In the US, tortillas are covered with enchilada sauce and filled with large quantities of ground beef and cheese, then placed in the oven for baking. In Mexico, tortillas are dipped in enchilada sauce then fried in oil and filled with a small amount of meat and cheese for a garnish.

Tex-Mex is often referred to as dishes using large amounts of beef and cheese along with a gravy style enchilada sauce. Puffy tacos are something you won’t find anywhere else in the US or Mexico and Texas style salsa is made with jalapeno chilies, whereas Mexican salsa is made with tomatoes, tomatillos and other types of chili.

New Mexico and Arizona also add their style of cooking to the broad term Mexican-American. New Mexican’s incorporated many of their dishes with the Pueblo Indians and the Spaniards. Treats like sopaipillas are unique to New Mexico. Sopaipillas are deep fried flour tortillas filled with honey or sometimes seasoned meat. New Mexico also uses its own style chili sauces made from chilies grown in their state. Arizona brought us popular Mexican-American dishes like burritos and chimichangas which were not found in other areas until recently.

It’s interesting to note that the most popular Mexican food in the US, such as tacos, enchiladas and tamales, are staples and regarded as a snack or light meal in Mexico. They are as hamburgers and hot dogs are to people in the US.

Low fat, Low Calorie Mexican Dishes

Fat and fatty recipes were introduced into Mexico when the Spaniards brought over oil and other fatty foods. Many authentic Mexican recipes use little cheese, small amounts of meat, if any, and many of their sauces are made from tomatillos and tomatoes. Mexicans are also famous for their seafood recipes, many of which are also low fat.  Many of the dishes you see in “Mexican” restaurants are variations of authentic Mexican cooking adjusted and adapted to meet a more American style of taste. So, if you happen to come across a truly authentic Mexican restaurant, you might be surprised at the size of the entrée and the fact that it doesn’t contain a large amount of meat or cheese.

Can’t wait to learn more about Mexican cooking? Visit Mommies Magazine for Mexican Cooking Techniques that you won’t want to miss.

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The word “dessert” comes from the old French word “desservir” which means to clear the table. Sometimes referred to as “afters” desserts are usually a sweet ending to a meal.

Included below are two popular dessert recipes. Give them a try and have a sweet ending to your meal.

Queensland Lamington

Originally devised as a method to use stale cake, Lamingtons are squares of butter or sponge cake dipped in melted chocolate, then rolled in coconut. This dessert recipe calls for store bought cake or cake that is already on hand.

Ingredients:

One butter or sponge cake cut into evenly sized pieces
500 grams icing or confectionery sugar
2/3 cup of cocoa
15 grams butter
1/2 cup milk
2 1/2 cups desiccated coconut

Icing Directions:

Into a medium bowl, sift the sugar and cocoa.
Melt butter in small pan.
Stir butter and milk into sugar and cocoa mixture.
Bring medium sized pan of water to boil on top of stovetop; reduce heat.
Place bowl on top of water, stir until chocolate is smooth and glossy.

To make Lamingtons:

Place squares of cake onto tines of a fork.
Dip each cake into icing mixture, holding over bowl so excess icing can drip off.
Toss chocolate covered cake squares into coconut.
Place on tray to set.

Pavlova

It is said in 1935, Herbert Sachse, chef at the Hotel Esplanade in Perth, created this popular dessert to honour the visit of Russian ballerina, Anna Pavlova.

Meringues can be tricky, so it is important to start with clean, dry utensils. If the meringue cracks, fill in cracks with extra whipping cream.

Ingredients:

6 egg whites brought to room temperature
pinch of salt
1 cup castor sugar
1 teaspoon white vinegar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 teaspoons cornstarch/corn flour
1/2 cup of whipping cream
1 cup sliced fresh fruit such as strawberries, kiwi fruit, and blueberries

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200 C).
Lightly grease an oven tray, then line with baking paper.
Using a metal medium sized bowl, beat egg whites and salt together on medium speed until soft peaks form.
With mixer still running, sprinkle castor sugar, one spoonful at a time, beating well to mix into egg whites. Continue until all sugar has been used and peaks are stiff and glossy.
Remove from mixer and add vinegar, vanilla, and cornstarch, using a spatula to gently fold into mixture.
Pile mixture into centre of baking sheet, forming a circle with a hollow centre.
Turn oven down to 250 degrees F (130 C) and bake without disturbing for 1 1/2 hours.
Slice fruit and sprinkle with lemon juice to prevent browning.
Whip cream gently until soft peaks form.
Turn oven off and crack door, leave Pavlova in until cool.
Remove from oven and gently transfer Pavlova to serving plate. Fill hollow centre with fruit and top with whipped cream.
Immediately serve.

If you’ve ever eaten at Boston Market, you know that Boston Market’s menu features wholesome, home-style entrees (rotisserie chicken, turkey and meatloaf), fresh vegetables and fruits, sandwiches, salads, soups, side dishes and desserts. You can easily prepare their best recipes at home — just as the Top Chef’s do.

In fact, as the financial crisis continues, here’s the best way to save money: we all have to eat, but here’s the way to save money and make your family come back for more — prepare “pro cook” meals at home!

Boston Market Corporation, based in Golden, Colo., is a leader in the fast-casual restaurant category, providing chef-inspired meals in a number of convenient ways. When still known as Boston Chicken, stores specialized in rotisserie chicken and a variety of side dishes, but in 1995 the chain expanded its menu to include turkey, meatloaf, ham, and sandwiches, and changed the name to Boston Market to reflect this. The chain later added roasted sirloin and made ham a seasonal offering.

In their own words, “Boston Market Corporation recognizes that in an increasingly fast-paced world, more and more people are pressed for time and looking for ways to make their lives easier. Many consumers want an alternative to cooking that allows them to slow down and spend more time with their family and loved ones. Boston Market restaurants offer fresh, delicious, home-style meals just like you would prepare and serve at home if you had the time–without the hassle of preparation and clean-up.”

–Boston Market Dill Potato Wedges–

7 or 8 new red potatoes

2 cloves garlic, minced fine

1/4 pound butter

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. black pepper

1/2 tsp. celery salt

2 tsp. dried dill weed

Wash potatoes well and boil until barely soft. Drain, and cut potatoes in wedges. Melt 1 stick of butter, in large frying pan (use only real butter) and saute garlic for about one minute.

Add potatoes and the rest of the seasonings. Pan-fry the potatoes until they are lightly brown.

–Boston Market Meatloaf–

1 cup tomato sauce

1 1/2 tablespoons barbecue sauce

1 tablespoon granulated sugar

1 1/2 pounds ground sirloin

6 tablespoons all-purpose flour

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon onion powder

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

dash garlic powder

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Mix together the tomato sauce, barbecue sauce and sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat. Heat the mixture until it begins to bubble, stirring often, then remove it from the heat.

In a large bowl, add all but 2 tablespoons of the tomato sauce to the meat. Mix the sauce into the meat, then add the remaining ingredients. Mix again.

Pack a loaf pan with the meat mixture, cover with foil, and bake for about 30 minutes. Remove foil and drain fat. Cut the meatloaf, while in the pan, into eight separate slices. Pour remaining sauce over the meatloaf.

Return to oven and cook for another 30 minutes, uncovered. Allow to cool slightly before serving…

–Boston Market’s Sweet Potato Casserole–

3 large sweet potatoes

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 stick butter, softened

1 tsp. vanilla extract

Crunch Topping:

1/3 cup melted butter

1/3 cup flour

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup chopped pecans

1 tblsp. cinnamon

Boil potatoes until tender. Take skin off when cooled and able to handle. Put in a large bowl and whip them until fluffy. Add all other ingredients.

Pour into a greased casserole and top with the crunch topping. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes.

–Boston Market Stuffing–

10 Ounce Can sliced carrots; undrained

4 Ounce Can sliced mushrooms; undrained

14 Ounce Can chicken broth

2 ribs celery; cut 4-5 pieces

1 Tbl. Rubbed sage

12 Tbl. Poultry seasoning

1 Tbl. Chicken bouillon powder

3 Tbl. Bottled liquid margarine or melted butter or margarine

3 English muffins; cut into 1/2″ cubes with crumbs

8 Ounce Bag unseasoned croutons

1 Tablespoon Dry parsley; minced

2 Tablespoon Dry minced onion

When you open the can of carrots, run the blade of a paring knife through them right in the can so that you’ve reduced them to tiny bits without mashing them. Empty it then into a Dutch oven. Add the mushrooms; set aside.

Empty the cam of broth into the blender and add the celery along with the sage, poultry seasoning, bouillon powder and margarine. Blend a few seconds on high speed, only until celery is finely minced.

Meanwhile, add the English muffin cubes, (crumbs too), croutons, parsley and onion to the Dutch oven. Pour blender mixture over and stir to combine with rubber bowl scraper until completely moist. Cover with a lid and bake at 350* about 45 minutes to an hour or until piping hot.

Refrigerate leftovers to use within a week. Freeze to use within 4 months.

–Boston Market Chicken–

1/4 cup canola oil

1 Tbl. honey

1 Tbl. lime juice

1/4 tsp. paprika

4 chicken breast halves, washed and patted dry

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a small bowl, combine canola oil, honey, lime juice, and paprika. Place chicken, skin side up, in a 7X11 inch baking dish. Apply mixture to chicken pieces in a single layer. Bake in oven for 35-40 minutes, basting every 8-10 minutes, until well browned and juices run clear when you cut into the thickest part of the chicken. Remove from oven.

Cover with foil for 15 minutes.

This softens the chicken and keeps it hot until served. Serves four…

Brian Alan Burhoe has cooked in Atlantic Coast restaurants for over 30 years, and holds provincial and national certificates in the culinary trade.  See more recipes and food-related articles and advice at A CULINARY MYSTERY TOUR: A Literary Chef http://www.brianalanburhoe.com

Bon Appetit!

Article By: www.MagicDietFoods.com

What is the Diet Chef? How does the Diet Chef Meal Plan work? The Founders of the Diet Chef meal plan provide specially prepared food hampers for both men and women. These meal plans for women contain a hamper of food consisting of 1,200 calories a day, the food hampers for men contain 1,500 calories a day. Diet Chef meals are prepared by chefs, sealed in a pouch, and delivered in the UK. Once your meal arrives, you simply pop it into a microwave.

The Pros

The Diet Chef program relies on a team of trained chefs to create delicious meals that are low calorie, tasty and designed to help you lose weight. If you stick to their program, and consume only the food contained in your hamper, you are most likely to lose weight on a diet of 1200 or 1500 calories per day.

If you can’t cook or don’t want to cook, you can rely on professional chefs to create your daily meals which are healthy.

The Cons

At this time of writing, the 35 Day Diet Chef 1200 Food Hamper costs £190.00 per month. This may sound like peanuts but when you multiply it by 12 months in a year, it soon adds up to £2,280.

In the long run, if you join the Diet Chef program you will become dependant on other people to provide your basic necessity of eating food. Furthermore, you have NO real way of knowing what ingredients are being used to cook your food. It’s a guessing and trust game!

The Diet Chef is based in Scotland, UK, a region which experienced the highest levels of snow fall in December 2010. Due to bad weather conditions, many companies were unable to deliver goods to customers. We can’t verify if the Diet Chef is one these companies, but the thought of starving because of delivery problems isn’t nice.

Conclusion

The Diet Chef program provides a good service to people who really need it. However, in the long run, nothing beats education! You are much better off educating yourself about the foods you put into your body and the benefits of different food types. Once you have this expert food knowledge, you can lose weight successfully by yourself and prepare your own delicious meals anytime without waiting on any one. Self-empowerment is the real key to permanent weight loss.

Get 50 Amazing Weight Loss Recipes Click Here!

1 cup butter or margarine, softened

1 (3-ounce) package cream cheese, softened

2 cups granulated sugar

3 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup all-purpose flour sifted

3/4 cup HERSHEY’S Cocoa

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup chopped walnuts

Heat oven to 325°F. Grease bottom of 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking pan.

You will cream the butter, cream cheese and sugar in large bowl until light and fluffy. Next you will beat in eggs and the vanilla extract into the sugar butter mix.

Now you will combine the sifted flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt gradually while stirring, and then add to butter mixture, and mix until well blended, and then you will fold in the walnuts. Now you will spread the batter into a pan that has been sprayed with a non stick spray or buttered pan.

Now you will bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or just until brownies begin to pull away from sides of pan. You will cool them completely in the pan while setting on a wire rack. If you do not have a wire rack it is okay. A wire rack just lets the air circulate underneath the pan to help it cool faster. You can make do with a couple of trivets if you need to.

BROWNIE FROSTING:

3 tablespoons of softened butter

3 tablespoons HERSHEY’S Cocoa

1 1/3 cups powdered sugar

3/4 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or extract, the paste will give a more intense flavor

2 tablespoons milk

1 tablespoon light corn syrup

Beat butter and cocoa in small bowl until blended, you will gradually add powdered sugar and vanilla, beating well. When blended you will add the frosting to the brownies and let the frosting set up a bit. You will then cut the brownies into squares. Enjoy!

Chef Shelley Pogue, a Cum Laude, Le Cordon Blue graduate and Executive Research and Development Chef, for Vertical Sales and Marketing, San Ramon, CA. Chef Pogue’s website is http://www.chefshelleypogue.com .

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shelley_Pogue

When it comes to cooking school and a career in cooking, you are developing a lifestyle and life path. Remember the US Navy slogan “it’s more than a job, it’s an adventure? Well that is true for you too. As you set, your course to be the best you can in cooking you are also embarking on one of the greatest adventures of your life. Not only will you learn the skills and techniques you need in cooking school but also you will develop life long friends and valuable resources. The love of cooking is a great starting line but it will not be enough by itself.

Training is important and cooking school can refine your love of cooking into a skill that will possibly earn you a lot of money as well as respect and appreciation for your knowledge and ability. The knowing “how to” aspect of cooking is what separates the good from the best and will allow you to achieve excellence on higher levels. You already have the desire; you just need the “how to”.

My Brother in Law is from England and loves to cook crepes. He is actually very passionate about it and loves to cook them at family gatherings. However, it is also the only thing he knows how to prepare. Although you might consider him an expert on crepes, his knowledge base and practical cooking experience doesn’t extend much further. This is exactly why you should go ahead and take the challenge of going to cooking school like you have been considering. You will be the better for it and your family and friends or customers will reap the benefits along with you. Boy I wish my Brother in law had gone to cooking school so we could have something at reunions besides crepes even though he makes awesome crepes.

Cooking schools give you the basics that you need to survive in commercial kitchens as well as practical knowledge about hoe to run your own home kitchen. You learn things like nutrition that is so important today with people exercising and being calorie conscience. As you know, cooking schools have their students after graduation being hired by major hotels, resorts and health spas. One of the most important aspects of that job is to be able to put together tasty but nutritious meals that will please the clientele looking for health and long life.

As you prepare for your future cooking school will also give you the foundation of food storage and safe food handling practices that will set the foundation for you to build on. You will also learn and become an expert on all of those fabulous herbs and spices. Knowing when you can substitute dried herbs for fresh ones and how to properly store fresh herbs to keep their flavor will put your sauces and marinades on everyone’s favorites list.

Without a cooking school to guide us, how would we learn about high and low heat techniques, thickeners, pan searing, quick pan frying or cooking at high altitudes? It is the cooking techniques that you need to learn and that you can gain from cooking school. You will also come away with an arsenal of tools, knives, kitchen equipment and neat gadgets to make cooking easier and better.

If you want more than just a job in a kitchen then don’t settle for less. Invest yourself in the things you love and get the training and skills to take your love of cooking to its next level. Set a life path and make it an adventure, be your best and let your talent shine. Reach for your dreams and investigate cooking school.

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If you have recently moved to Illinois from the West or Southwest of the country, chances are that the cold will come as quite a shock to you and it will take you some time to acclimate to the weather. It may even seem a bit miserable to you at first, if you are not used to being in such a cold climate and having to layer your clothing every time you step outside but with time, and a little bit of getting used to, you will learn to find the fun in the weather and begin to enjoy it. Until then, your satellite tv can help you get through your winter blues and bring you together with your friends and family on cold winter nights.

There is something about cold weather that doesn’t matter whether or not you are used to it, makes it miserable to go outside and takes the desire to do anything away. Rather than moping about and getting the winter blues, why not make the best of it and plan some indoor events that you and your friends can enjoy together? Check your satellite tv for the different movies that are playing and call a few of your friends over to come and enjoy the film with you. Pop some popcorn, make some hot cocoa and look up a warm apple cider recipe for an added treat. You can turn what would have been a miserable night in, into a fun night with friends and family.

If there is a particular series that you and your friends are enamored of, make a night of it and have everyone come over and watch the show via satellite tv at your house. You can alternate nights with your friends and have different people bring dinner or snacks on different nights. It could be a great excuse to get together and see each other as well as to sample the different restaurants and snack bars in your area. Look online and see if you can find some interesting winter cocktail recipes and experiment with making some spiked cocoa, a warm toddy or pear cider. Gathering around and watching a tv show together is a great way to spend a relaxed nigh in with friends and not have to worry about suffering from the cold.

You can also make a special night of it and order take out, get a bottle of wine form the liquor store and enjoy a romantic, relaxed night in with your loved one. Luckily, there’s enough on satellite tv that you will be sure to be able to compromise and find something that interests the both of you; or you could always let someone choose the first program and the other person choose the second. Either way, snuggling up in front of the tv while a fire crackles and you sip hot cocoa, is sure to be a wonderfully pleasant evening.

When it comes to cooking you have three different categories of people; those who love it, those who hate it, and those who prefer to pay someone else to do it for them! Americans spend more on fast food and take out than any other industrialized nation – and the scales are proof of this! Is cooking your passion? Do friends and family constantly brag on how tasty your dishes are? If so – the personal chef business may be the ideal start up for you!

For the amount that the average person wastes on fast food in a month, they could hire a personal chef to prepare weeks worth of nutritious delicious meals! If the personal chef industry is something that you’re seriously considering as a business start up, there are several things that you need to keep in mind:

1. Know your state and county laws: A personal chef will usually prepare meals at the clients location of choice, but there is a growing trend of personal chefs who prepare at their own location – and deliver meals. Generally speaking, each state has it’s own set of laws that are applied to food service businesses. Depending on the type of services provided, the business must meet certain criteria. Some states do not allow home based food service businesses (ones where you will prepare meals in your own home) while others require certification. These laws are referred to as Cottage Laws. Just call your state’s commerce department and inquire about their cottage laws or food service preparation business laws.

2. You are more than a chef!: As a personal chef you will do more than whip up tasty meals, you will often service as a family meal planner and grocery shopper! Diversify your recipe repertoire to accommodate a wide range of tastes and styles. You should also familiarize yourself with the best places to shop and save. You will want to cook with the best cuts of meats and most fresh vegetables, so make friends with butchers and farmers where possible.

3. Define your specialty: Although you will want to have a wide range of recipes in your menu offerings – it’s a good idea to define a specialty to attract a specific type of client. Perhaps authentic Italian is where you excel, or maybe you are an expert in preparing gluten free meals. Whatever your specialty, be sure to highlight that fact on your services brochure!

4. Don’t forget the special needs!: In order to be a success, you will want to familiarize yourself with the various special dietary needs. From diabetes to gluten free to vegan and beyond – the most sought after personal chefs know how to make the best meals for every diet need!

If you are going to introduce the family into the British breakfast culture, they will be happy to find that the breakfast of the English is done in a grand scale. With vegetables and fruit coupled with beans, blood pudding and meats this is a breakfast for the big eater.

Soups And Stews

A huge draw with those that reside in the United kingdom is a meal that consists of soups or stews. There are virtually entire cook books of recipes that are meant to make a soup or stew. With these food recipes from the United kingdom, you will not have to worry about a chilly belly, as the soups and stews are hot and filling. Many of the soups and stews are made with vegetable and a form of meat. This means that they will be both a healthy dose of vitamins and fiber and there will be a full level of protein as well. This is a meal that is both enjoyed during the lunch hours as much as it is enjoyed during the evening meal such as supper.

Food recipes from the UK can entertain many different types of functions. You can use the recipes to have or host a large and formal dinner party, or you can use the recipes to show people how the British enjoy tea time. whatever the reasoning, you will be appreciated for the effort that you put forward with the meal.

Seafood Eat Food

When it comes to food recipes that are from the united kingdom, you will quickly discover that many of the recipes today are based around seafood of one sort or another. From calamari to shrimp dishes, the seafood that is found in the United kingdom is both local and imported. This allows people to benefit from what the shores of England have to offer as well as shores of other countries. There are many websites today dedicated to introducing the English recipes to the rest of the world, finding recipes that are seafood based will allow you to use the best of what you find in the seafood sections of your local stores.

Food recipes from the UK will interest many different types of eaters today. You can find the finicky eaters that do not like heavy spices or over abundant flavors appreciating the English cuisine. You can also find people that love large scale and heavy dishes that will fill your belly appreciating the recipes that are available today.