Saturday, October 15, 2011

Fun Dessert Recipes - Even Low Fat Ones

Yes when you are thinking of fun dessert recipes, even low fat dessert recipes can fit the bill. As all of us are becoming more health conscious, low fat eating is becoming more and more popular. The good news is that you can even get very tasty fun dessert recipes that are low fat dessert recipes. Have a look at this tasty one.

Completely spoil your family with this, one of my very tasty fun dessert recipes, that is totally healthy as well! This is as close as you will come to perfect in a real world where almost every thing we eat is loaded with unhealthy additives and more.

Delicious Easy Gooseberry Cheese Cooler

Ingredients:

4 cups fresh or frozen gooseberries
1 small orange
1 tbsp clear honey
1 cup half-fat cottage cheese

Method:

Top and tail gooseberries and place them in a pan.
Finely grate the rind of the orange and squeeze out the juice; add both to the pan.
Cover and cook gently, stirring occasionally, until the fruit is tender.
Remove from the heat and stir in the honey.
Purée the gooseberries with their juice in a blender or food processor until almost smooth
Cool
Press the cottage cheese through a sieve until smooth.
Stir half the cooled gooseberry purée into the cheese.
Spoon the cheese mixture into 4 serving glasses.
Top each with gooseberry purée.
A very important note here is that it must be fresh good berries. If you cannot find fresh gooseberries you can rather substitute any other kind of fresh fruit. It will be perfectly tasty with any available fresh fruit. Canned gooseberries are normally canned in a heavy syrup and you can think what that will do to the dish! No more healthy!

Try this fun dessert recipe, your family will not even realize it is healthy! This one will show you that even low fat dessert recipes can be very, very tasty.




Good news! Even ice cream can qualify for healthy Fun Dessert Recipes. Have a look at my blog Fun Dessert Recipes and at my Hubpage Low Fat Homemade Ice Cream Recipes, you will simply love them. Go there now and have a look.

Recommend : cuisinart chef's classic stainless steel 10 piece circulon 2 10 piece cookware set

Friday, October 14, 2011

Crockpot Chicken Recipes With Veggies

While experimenting with slow cooker recipes you will notice that even though the recipes have a lot of variety there are still some common features. One of the most noticeable features is that crockpot recipes always have some type of liquid. That stops food from drying out. International crockpot recipes usually call for broth or wine, although some list water as an additive. Crockpots have a very clever design that results in their delicious, efficient way to cook things. The liquid heats up and evaporates, and when the steam hits the lid on the pot, it is sent back down as liquid, adding flavor and moisture to the ingredients.

Most people regard crockpot meals as those that are cooked in one pot, so never hesitate to add the vegetables, seasoning, meat, and rice or pasta that is called for in the recipe. Everything included in the ingredients goes well together. This is true for crockpot chicken recipes and dessert recipes and appetizer recipes. There will seldom be other appliances needed for the cooking, and you will love the easy cleanup.

A crockpot is also referred to as a slow cooker, because of the time used to complete the meal. The pot is made of fired clay which is usually glazed. It is set inside a metal housing with a heating element offering choices of cooking temperatures. It is hard to believe the crockpot has been around for over thirty years. Busy families and the occasional cook are thankful for this handy way to cook delicious meals and provide literally thousands of fantastic meals and desserts.

LOW and HIGH are the most common heat settings available on crockpots, although some offer other options including WARM. The glass lid makes the recipe work, as it prevents water vapor from escaping. As hard as it is for habits to change, be certain the family understands the lid is not to be lifted so they can get a better whiff of the fragrant aroma. Lifting the lid drops the temperature inside the pot, requiring additional cooking time of perhaps twenty or thirty minutes.

Veggies And Chicken Recipes

Crockpot appetizers, soups, and stews are delicious food items to make. You will find out that many chicken crockpot recipes list vegetables as ingredients, particularly celery and onion. Even crockpot appetizer recipes include veggies and chicken, offering healthy ingredients in a tasty snack. If you have yet to try a crockpot dessert recipe, this is a good time to browse through different recipes and see what is available. The slow cooker produces a healthy meal, as well as delectable desserts. Regardless of the food type you are looking for, traditional or international, you will be thrilled to see the plentiful variety of recipes.

Avoid using frozen foods in the crockpot. They take a long time to heat up, encouraging bacteria, and may not be warm enough to eat when the rest of the meal is ready. Another helpful tip is to defrost all frozen ingredients you will be using in the crockpot. That eliminates excess moisture and allows the food to reach 140 degrees F faster, keeping the recommended cooking time within range.




A lot of authentic crockpot recipes begin with basic foundations that are changed as chefs develop exciting new tastes and selections. If you enjoy a variety of foods and flavors, you might like to see other quick and easy crockpot chicken recipes which combine meat, vegetables and other quality ingredients for amazing results.

The Best Crockpot Recipes Start With Our Recipes - BestCrockpotRecipes.net

Friends Link : all clad cop r chef 8 inch fry pan

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Vanilla Fudge Recipes - Easy Vanilla Fudge

This quick and simple recipe is made with sweetened condensed milk.

3 cups white sugar

1/2 cup corn syrup

1 1/4 cup condensed milk

1/4 pound butter

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

In a saucepan or double boiler, combine the white sugar, white syrup, condensed milk and butter. Cook over medium heat until fudge reaches the firm ball stage on a candy thermometer. Remove from heat and beat in the vanilla extract.

Turn the fudge out onto a prepared sheet of buttered wax paper. Let cool. Cut into squares.

=> Fancy Vanilla Fudge

This is a deliciously mouthwatering homemade vanilla fudge recipe made with, white chocolate candy bar, marshmallow crème and pecans.

2 1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup butter

5 oz. can evaporated milk

2 cups marshmallow crème

8 oz. white chocolate candy bar

3/4 cup chopped pecans

1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions

Line a 9x13-inch pan with foil, let the foil extend over the sides of the pan. Butter foil thoroughly.

In a large saucepan, combine the sugar, butter and the milk. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Continue to boil for 5 minutes over medium heat, stirring constantly. Remove pan from heat.

Add in the marshmallow crème, white chocolate bar, pecans and vanilla. Stir mixture until smooth. Pour into prepared pan. Let cool to room temperature. Refrigerate until firm.

=> Walnut Vanilla Fudge

Here's a great homemade vanilla fudge with crunchy black walnuts.

1 package vanilla bits

2 cups sugar

5 oz. evaporated milk

1/4 cup butter

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 cup black walnuts

7 oz. marshmallow crème

Directions

Grease a 9x9x2-inch pan.

In a heavy saucepan, combine the sugar, milk and butter. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until the mixture comes to a boil. Continue boiling and stirring for another 5 minutes. Remove from heat.

Add in the vanilla bits, vanilla, walnuts and marshmallow crème, stirring until well blended. Pour fudge mixture into the prepared pan. Let cool. Cut into squares.

=> Cherry Vanilla Fudge

A rich, creamy and colorful fudge that's perfect for any occasion.

2 cups granulated sugar

1/2 cup dairy sour cream

1/3 cup light corn syrup

2 tablespoons butter

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons vanilla

1/2 cup Maraschino cherries, quartered

1 cup walnuts, coarsely chopped

Directions

Butter an 8-1/2 x 4-1/2-inch loaf pan.

In a microwaveable bowl, combine the sugar, sour cream, corn syrup, butter and salt. Microwave on high heat for 5 minutes. Stir well until the sugar is dissolved.

Microwave on high heat for another 6 minutes, or until the mixture reaches 236 degrees on a candy thermometer. Let stand for 15 minutes (do not stir).

Add in the vanilla and beat the mixture about 6 minutes (until it starts losing its gloss).

Stir in the cherries and walnuts. Pour into prepared pan. Let cool. Cut into squares.




Quick information on topics important to your health, well-being and happiness - [http://www.1MinuteSolutions.com]

Recommend : cuisinart chefs classic 17 piece cookware set calphalon unison nonstick 10 piece cookware set anolon professional 12 piece nonstick cookware set

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

How to Make Strawberry Meringue Cookies Including Diabetic Instructions

These little Strawberry Meringue Cookies are great as a light dessert. They would also make great additions to your homemade Easter baskets or on the buffet or dining table as part of your Easter meal. Whether you choose to serve these meringues by themselves or sandwiched together with strawberry jam, they are sure to disappear quickly.

STRAWBERRY MERINGUE KISSES

3 large egg whites
1/4 tsp cream of tartar
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp almond extract
1/4 tsp liquid red food coloring
3 tbsp strawberry jam

Position oven racks to divide oven in thirds. Heat to 225 degrees.

Line 2 baking sheets with nonstick foil; set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, with mixer on medium speed, beat egg whites until soft peaks form when beaters are lifted. Turn speed to high and gradually add sugar; beat about 8 minutes until stiff, white, glossy peaks form and the mixture no longer feels grainy. Beat in almond extract and food coloring until thoroughly blended.

Spoon mixture into a large ziptop bag, snip 1/2-inch off 1 corner and pipe 72 small mounds, each about 1-inch across) 1-inch apart on baking sheets. Bake at 225 degrees for 1 hour and 45 minutes or until meringues feel firm. Turn off oven; leave meringues in oven at least 1 hour up to overnight until they are dry and crisp through. Peel off foil.

Before serving put 1/4 tsp of the jam on the bottom of 1 meringue and sandwich with another. Repeat with remaining meringues and jam.

To serve put the kisses on a serving plate and arrange around fresh strawberries, if desired.

For diabetics use 1/4 cup sugar and 1/2 cup Splenda granular instead of the 3/4 cup sugar. Also use all-fruit or sugar-free strawberry jam.

NOTE: The meringues may be stored airtight at room temperature up to a month. Do not sandwich with jam until shortly before serving. Kisses are also good individually with out the jam.

Enjoy!




For more of Linda's dessert recipes visit her blog at http://ladybugssweettreats.blogspot.com
For her diabetic dessert recipes visit her at http://diabeticenjoyingfood.squarespace.com

Related : lodge logic pre seasoned 9 quart dutch oven all clad copper core 3 quart saute with lid farberware cookware set 10 piece

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Cheesecake - Holiday Cheesecake Recipes

In the Jewish religion there is a holiday called Shavuot. One of the customs or traditions associated with this holiday is eating dairy foods such as cheesecake. I'd like to share a few very simple cheesecake recipes with you.

This first recipe is a basic cheesecake:

16 ounces of cream cheese, softened
8 ounces of sour cream
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
8 ounces of Cool Whip
1 graham cracker crust (ready made)

Mix together the cream cheese, sour cream, sugar and vanilla. After it's mixed well, add in the Cool Whip. Pour into pie crusts and chill. If you like fruit on top, you can add cherry pie filling for a wonderful flavor.

We happen to love pumpkin in my house. We always look forward to winter as we know pumpkin pie and pumpkin bread will soon be in our kitchen. This is a simple pumpkin cheesecake recipe using canned pumpkin:

1 graham cracker crust (ready made)
1 egg yolk (to brush the pie crust)
16 ounces of cream cheese, softened
2 eggs
3 /4 cup sugar
1 can of pumpkin
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ginger

Brush the pie crust with the egg yolk. Bake at 350 degrees for 5 minutes. Mix together the cream cheese, sugar and eggs. Your filling should be smooth and without lumps. We use an electric mixer to do this. Add in the pumpkin, cinnamon and ginger. Mix well. Pour pumpkin mixture into the pie crust and bake about 45 minutes. Middle should be set. Allow to cool and then refrigerate for several hours. Cut and serve.

We also love lemon. This is one of the simplest lemon cheesecake recipes I've ever seen:

1 graham cracker crust (ready made)
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 package instant lemon pudding
2 cups milk

Mix the cream cheese with 1/2 cup of the milk. Your mixture should be creamy. Add in the remaining milk and the pudding. Mix about one minute with an electric mixer. Pour into crust and refrigerate several hours.

And finally, what would Shavuot be without chocolate cheesecake?

1 graham cracker crust (ready made)
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 package instant chocolate pudding
1 1/2 cups milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Chocolate chips

In a blender, mix together the cream cheese, pudding, milk and vanilla. Pour filling into pie crust. Generously sprinkle chocolate chips on top of the pie. Chill several hours and serve.

Shavuot truly is known as the "cheesecake holiday." I hope you enjoy these easy to make recipes.




Audreys mom always entertained when she was growing up. Audrey learned to prepare for large groups and has often entertained 15-30 people in her home at a time. You can find more great recipes at http://www.recipe-barn.com.

Visit : t fal 10 piece cookware le creuset enameled cast iron 9 skillet

Saturday, October 8, 2011

Tips for Making Layer Jello Recipes

Layer jello recipes are one of the more popular desserts you will find, especially during the holidays. These recipes are nice, because they do offer a series of delicious flavor combinations that will have your taste buds popping with the different flavor combinations. Of course, if you have never made them before, you might not be sure how to make them. This process is a bit more complicated than throwing a number of different hot mixtures in the same pan. We will look at some tips that even the more advanced professional might find helpful.

To begin with, you might not be sure how to create the layered effect. This is easily done with the use of the fridge and some extra time. Begin by creating your first flavor that will be going into your layer jello recipes and use half a cup of hot water. Then mix it well, follow it with a half a cup of chilled water. This will help your jello to start becoming solid faster. Place it in the bottom of a slightly greased pan. Then allow it to chill for an hour or until firm.

The grease will help to prevent the jello from forming to imperfections in the pan. It will also help to block the flavor of the metallic pans that people often use. Of course, you will want to choose an unflavored grease if you are going to go this route. Otherwise, you just exchange out some of the different flavors in this case.

When you are ready to place your next layer down, be sure you do not pour it over the cool jello at a temperature above warm. If you do, the lower layer of jello will begin to blend with the mixture that you just placed over it and it might not set the way you would like it to.

While you are creating your layer jello recipes, you might also consider making some fun adjustments. One of the most common is using chilled lemon lime soda in place of the chilled water. This adds a spark to the mix and can give your guests one of the most unique flavor variations that will certainly have them talking for some time to come.

Remember that the overall goal in this recipe is to create a decent number of layers. Many people will go for 7 -9 and create a full rainbow that will dazzle the eyes as well as the palate. Be sure you get creative and do not be afraid to experiment. With this delicious dish, there really is no wrong flavor combination and instead, you might find that your own creation is better than any you have tried before in the past.




With a number of delicious jello recipes, including several perfect layer jello recipes, our website is the best place to get a new idea for dessert and pick up some new tricks that you can use along the way as well.

JelloRecipes.net - We Don't Make the Products We Just Make Great Desserts with Them!

See Also : all clad masterchef 2 7 piece cookware set

Friday, October 7, 2011

French Dessert Creams - Are You Confused?

If you are interested in French cooking or if you are traveling in France, you may find yourself confused by the proliferation of crèmes in French desserts. You will find crème anglaise, crème patissière, crème brulé, crème frangipane, and crème fraiche to name just a few.

Here's a short list to help you tell those different crèmes apart so so that you will know what you are getting when you order dessert.

Crème anglaise - This translates literally as English cream. It is made by heating milk, adding it to beaten eggs, and than reheating the whole mixture until it thickens. It is frequently flavored with vanilla although other flavorings are possible. The result is a a fairly liquid dessert cream that is served cold, usually as an accompaniment to other things. A classic use of crème anglaise is in the confection of Ile Flottante (Floating Island) where you'll find islands of meringue floating on crème anglaise.

Crème Brulé - Arguably the most delicious of all French desserts, crème brulé is a symphony of contrasts. The cold, smooth, sweet crème, which is similar to a custard, sits under a crackling, hot, almost bitter caramelized topping.

Crème Caramel - The crème portion of this desert is very similar to a crème brulé. Here, however, the caramel is cold and liquid. If the caramel is on top of the custard, it is also known as a crème renversée.

Crème Patissière - This translates as pastry cream. You will find it used in all sorts of fashions in French desserts: as a layer in a cake, on the bottom of a fruit tart, or as the filling in puff pastry. Crème patissière is made in a fashion similar to crème anglaise, but flour or corn starch is added to the crème, so the result is considerably stiffer. This is basically what we call custard in English.

Creme d'Amandes - This is made from butter, powdered almonds, sugar, eggs and flour. It can be flavored with rum. It is used as a filling in various French desserts, notably a Pithiviers, which is a puff pastry pie.

Crème Frangipane - This is a mixture of crème d'amandes and crème patissière. It is used to fill various cakes and tarts, most famously the Galette des Rois, which is a cake eaten on and around Epiphany in France. Note the distinction between a pithiviers and a galette des rois.

Crème Fraiche - This is considerably different from the other crèmes I have mentioned, as it is a specific milk product used as an ingredient in many French desserts as well as other French recipes. Crème fraiche is obtained by skimming off the cream that naturally forms on the top of milk. It has a wonderful feel in the mouth and a taste that you might describe as nutty.

Crème Glacé - You know this as ice cream. The French make the distinction between glace, which is ice cream made from milk, and crème glacé which is ice cream made from cream.

Ready for dessert? I know I am! You can find simple French dessert recipes on my website if you want to get started.




Are you interested in learning more about French food and culture? You'll find lots of easy French recipes and fun food facts at http://www.easy-french-food.com I've been living and cooking in France for the past 17 years and would love to share with you my love of simple good food. Don't forget to enjoy your food today. A bientôt!

Related : kitchenaid gourmet essentials 2 quart tea kettle kitchenaid 12 inch cast iron grill pan

Thursday, October 6, 2011

5 Simple Healthy Fruit Dessert Recipes

You will be happy to know that not all desserts are going to do a lot of damage to your body. In fact it is not a bad thing to come back for seconds without feeling guilty. Using fruits in desserts is a great idea because not only do the natural sugars add to the sweetening of the dish, but they provide antioxidants necessary to combat fatal diseases such as cancer and diabetes that are not welcome in our lives. We especially love easy healthy desserts recipes. Life is complicated enough as it is without having to worry about how to make the dessert.

Here are 5 simple healthy dessert recipes that you will probably enjoy and are good for you at the same time

Strawberries with Balsamic

Using balsamic with the sweetness of the strawberries makes for an excellent combination. Topping them with a meringue and a little sweetened yoghurt will be an even bigger treat. Just use natural sugar when you are making the meringues.

Caramelized Bananas

This is a really simple dessert. All you have to do is slice the banana in half. Add a small square of margerine to a pan and leave the banana in the pan for 1 minute on either side with a drizzle of honey.

Berry Frozen Yoghurt

This is a simple thing to do. Just mix everything together the night before and freeze it. The next day you have a fabulous dessert.

Lemon Granita

This is an old Italian favourite. Just add lemon, natural sugar and water together and place it in the freezer. Every hour take it out and then break the ice crystals up with a fork until they are fully formed. You can use different fruits here.

Baked Apple

People like having an apple baked in the oven for breakfast and others as a dessert. It tastes great stuffed with cinnamon, brown sugar and raisins.

Healthy Dessert Recipes




Thanks To : cuisinart multiclad unlimited 4 quart saucepan all clad cop r chef 8 inch fry pan

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Tasty American Dessert Recipes

Everyone has heard of good ole' American apple pie, pecan pie, and key lime pie, but those desserts are just the scraping of the surface when it comes to the terrific desserts that the American culture has to offer. The desserts in this article are also traditional American favorites, but they rarely get the attention they deserve. So, if you are looking for easy recipes that will satisfy your sweet tooth and leave your tummy purring, I definitely recommend the following. Enjoy!

Mississippi Mud Pie

Ingredients:
1 cup flour
1/4 lb butter (melted)
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 cup finely chopped walnuts
1 tbsp grated coconut
1 (8 oz.) pkg cream cheese
1 cup sugar
1 (9 oz) container whipped cream
1 (6 oz) pkg chocolate pudding

Directions:
In a large bowl, mix together the flour, butter, brown sugar, walnuts, and coconut. When it is well mixed, press it into a 9-inch baking pan. Bake for 15 minutes at 350 degrees F. Remove the crust from the oven and set aside. Next, mix together the cream cheese and sugar. It's best if you can use a hand mixer for this, as you want it to be nice and fluffy. Fold in one cup of the whipped cream. When the crust has cooled, spread the cream cheese mixture over the crust. Prepare the pudding according to the directions specified on the package. Spread the pudding over the cream cheese mixture, then top with the remaining whipped cream. This looks fabulous when decorated with chocolate shavings or maraschino cherries. Allow this to refrigerate overnight before serving.

Red Velvet Cake

Ingredients:
2 oz red food coloring
1/2 cup shortening
2 eggs
2 1/4 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla
3 tbsp Nes-Quik chocolate powder
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup buttermilk
1/4 tsp salt
1 tbsp vinegar

Directions:
Mix together the food coloring and the Nes-Quik chocolage powder, then let it stand for a bit. In a separate bowl, mix together the shortening, eggs, sugar, and food coloring mixture. Beat the buttermilk and add in some sugar; when this is well blended, mix it into the shortening mixture. Add in the vanilla, flour, and salt and beat well. Mix in the baking soda and vinegar. When the mixture is thoroughly combined, pour it into two well grease 8-inch baking dishes. Bake at 375 degrees F for about half an hour. Allow them to cool before frosting with your favorite brand or recipe for cream cheese frosting.

Peach Cobbler

Ingredients:
1 stick of butter (melted)
1 cup + 3 tbsp sugar (divided)
1 cup flour
2 tsp baking powder
¼ tsp salt
1 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
4 ripe peaches (peeled, pitted, and sliced)
1/2 tsp cinnamon

Directions:
Pour the melted butter into an 8-inch baking dish. In a mixing bowl, mix together one cup of sugar, baking powder, flour, and salt. Mix this together well. Add in the milk and vanilla and give it a good stir. Pour the batter over the butter in the baking dish, then toss the peaches in a bowl with three tablespoons of sugar and the cinnamon. Arrange the peach slices so they sit evenly on top of the batter, then bake at 375 degrees F for about half an hour. Serve hot with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.




If you're looking for recipes, take a look at the Platinum Recipes Collection.
The Platinum Recipes Collection is the Internet's Most Comprehensive Recipes Collection.

Recommend : anolon professional 12 piece nonstick cookware set

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Berry Recipes - The Perfect Breakfast, Snack Or Dessert Recipes

These simple and fresh berry recipes are perfect for a light and easy breakfast meal, quick snack, or a flavorful dessert to finish off a meal any time. Made with just a few simple ingredients, these healthy fruit recipes can be assembled in minutes and can be used whenever you want something quick, fresh and healthy to make with delicious seasonal produce.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Strawberries and Bananas with Cinnamon Yogurt
Serves 1

1 cup strawberries - cut into chunks
1/2 banana - cut into small chunks
1 cup low-fat plain Greek-style yogurt
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tbsp chopped pecans

- In a bowl, stir the yogurt and cinnamon together. Add the fruit and nuts and combine well.

To Serve: Serve in prepared puff pastry shells and drizzle with a little warm chocolate sauce for a quick and easy dessert.

_____________________________________________

Blueberries with Creamy Goat Cheese
Serves 2

2 cups blueberries
1 cup cantaloupe - cut into cubes
1/2 cup chayote squash - diced
1/4 cup crumbled goat cheese
1 tsp lemon zest
Mixed salad greens

- In a bowl, combine the fruit, squash, cheese, and lemon zest. Toss well.

To Serve: Serve fruit recipe over mixed salad greens along with warm bread sticks or whole-grain rolls.

_____________________________________________

Creamy Berry Dessert
Serves 2

1 cup blackberries
1 cup raspberries
1 cup vanilla yogurt
1 tbsp fresh mint - minced
2 peaches - pit removed and cut in half
honey - as desired

- Place the berries in a bowl and drizzle with some honey and toss gently to combine.

- In a smaller bowl combine the yogurt and the fresh mint and mix well.

To Serve: Place the peach halves on serving plates. Then scoop the berries over the peach halves, reserving a few for garnish. Then top the berries with the yogurt mixture, garnish each serving with the reserved berries and drizzle a little honey over the top.

____________________________________________

Raspberry Pear Parfait
Serves 2

1 cup raspberries
1 cup pears - cut into chunks
3/4 cup - ricotta cheese
1/2 tsp - vanilla extract
1/4 tsp - ground cinnamon
1/2 cup cinnamon graham crackers - broken
1 tbsp - sliced almonds

- In a small bowl, stir the ricotta, vanilla extract, and cinnamon until well combined.

To Serve: Take 2 tall glasses (parfait, wine or whatever you may have) and layer ingredients. Place some raspberries and pear chunks in the bottom of the glasses, then some ricotta mixture then some of the broken graham crackers. Keep layering in this manner until ingredients are all used. Top each parfait with the sliced almonds and enjoy.

Ingredient Exchange: Instead of vanilla extract, try lemon extract or almond extract.




Laura Cockerell is a food and health enthusiast who has enjoyed cooking from an early age. Her website at http://www.quick-salad-recipes.com, which includes more berry recipes, offers easy solutions to healthy meal preparation by providing a large selection of simple, quick, and budget friendly recipes that include delicious salads along with a wide variety of healthy and flavorful meal recipes that require a minimum of ingredients, time, effort, and clean-up for the time-pressed world we live in.

See Also : cuisinart chef's classic stainless steel 10 piece

Monday, October 3, 2011

Homemade Sugarless Candy Recipes

Candy making can be a very interesting, innovative and fun filled task to perform. If you are an experienced cook and have been trying a lot of recipes in your kitchen or you are just new in the world of cooking, you are in need of paying attention to some really important tips and techniques, when you are going to make candies at home. Sugarless candies are also becoming too popular. People who have diabetes, they cannot eat sugar and those who are on diet, even they say no to sugar. For all such people, sugar free candies are the right options.

Eating a candy is something, which everybody likes to do. Kids eat their favorite candies in order to do snacking all through the day. It is the same case with some of those adults, who have sweet tooth. If you cannot eat sweet candies because of any of the reasons, then there is nothing to feel that you would not be able to eat a candy ever in your life. Candies free of sugar can do nothing wrong to your health and figure. You can get your hands on these candies without worrying at all. Here you will learn to make sugar free candies. Read the instructions given in the following points carefully and learn how to make candies free of sugar.

You need to have 1 ½ cup sugar free syrup, 1 cup of Maltitol, 1/4 tsp candy flavor oil, food color, saucepan, candy thermometer, plastic wrappers of different colors and candy molds.
Mix the sugar syrup and malttitol in a small sized saucepan and heat it on medium flame.
Put the candy thermometer in the pan and bring the temperature of this mixture till 300 degree Fahrenheit.
Keep one thing in your mind that the thermometer should not touch the bottom of your sauce pan.
Once the mixture of sugarless candy is heated till the required temperature, you are supposed to take the pan off the flame.
Now add few drops of flavor and color of your choice in the mixture and mix it well.
Make sure that you add both these ingredients right after the syrup stops to boil.
Pour this mixture in candy molds.
Put the moulds in your refrigerator and keep it there for at least 2 hours.
Take out the candies from the refrigerator and wrap each one of them in colorful wrappers.
In order to make sure that the sugar free candy pieces, which you have made stays fresh for longer; put them in an airtight jar.

This recipe shows that it is not difficult to make candies without sugar.




For More Information on Grapes and grape vine growing at home, check out Homemade Candy Recipes

Recommend : simply calphalon nonstick 14 piece set

Sunday, October 2, 2011

Sweet and Healthy Low Calorie Desert Recipes

Many of us are fond of eating sweets. Actually, it's the delicious way of enjoying traditional treats. Obviously, when talking about sweets, desserts are usual things that come up in our mind. Generally, deserts contain high amount of sugar and fats. No matter how healthy your lifestyle is, time will come that you will look for something sweet to eat. On the other hand, there are low calorie dessert recipes that you can try.

For many individuals who want to keep their selves healthy and slim, there are two options. The first one is to stop eating deserts. Yes, it's easy to say but it's quite tricky to do especially for dessert lovers. And the second option is to have low calorie dessert recipes. This can be a good idea. But then, it is important to consider your budget first before deciding. Here are some of the deserts that you can opt to prepare.

Single serving low calorie recipes:

·         Baked Apples - From the saying" an apple a day keeps the doctor away"; apples are rich in vitamins and doesn't contain calories. This delicious treat is ideal for the whole family. The recipe is actually very simple. Just core and slice apples into two. Mix it with cinnamon, granola trapping and natural sugar. Place the mixture in a small bowl. Bake for about 10-15 minutes until softened.

·         Frozen banana bites - bananas are not just for banana splits. It could become a healthy desert by mixing several ingredients. All you need is a single banana, 1.5 tbsp of white chocolate and 15 chocolate chips. No baking. Just cover the cookie sheet with a wax paper as it will be place in the freezer sooner. Cut the banana in half and arrange it on the plate or a sheet. After that, you can place 1 chocolate chip on each half. For the meantime, dissolve the white chocolate and wait for about 15-20 seconds until it's totally melted. Place it on the freezer and wait for about 20-25 minutes before serving.

Multiple serving Low calorie recipes:

Chocolate Cream with Strawberries

Ingredients:

·         150 grams strawberries (12 pieces)

·         1 tsp gelatin

·         1 tsp vanilla essence

·         1 tsp castor sugar

·         300 gram soft tofu

·         2 egg whites

·         2 tbsp pure cocoa

Preparation:

Melt the gelatin by adding cool liquid on it. Then, Mix the cocoa with 60ml hot water until it melts. Add the steam tofu with the vanilla essence and the cocoa mixture. Place it in a medium-size bowl together with the gelatin. Beat the egg whites until it starts getting dense. Add sugar and beat until it looks glossy. Mix the chocolate cream and let it cool down before serving.

Poached Apples In Grape And Mango Syrup

Ingredients:

·         5 - 10 firm apples

·         4 cloves

·         500g white grapes (20 to 30 pieces)

·         1 tbsp honey

·         1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

·         250 g low-fat yogurt

·         1/2 l mango juice

·         1/2 l white grape juice

Preparation:

Place the mango juice and white grape juice with the cloves. Make sure that the pot is large enough for the apples. Peel the apples then put them in a pot. Boil for at least 35 to 40 minutes until the apples soften. Remove the pot from the stove and let the apples cool down. Add the syrup and reduce the heat for at least 40-50 minutes. Meanwhile, mix the cinnamon, honey and yogurt in a small bowl. Put the apples on a small plate together with the yogurt mixture. Arrange the grapes side by side in the plate. Pour the syrup to the place. Let it cool down before serving.

There's nothing wrong to be tempt with sweet deserts. As long as you rely on low calorie desert recipes, you can enjoy delicious deserts and maintain healthy diet at the same time. The only technique to reduce the amount of sugar and fat products is to mix it with fruits as much as possible.




Diet plays a vital role in becoming a healthy person. There's nothing wrong with eating sweets. As long as you have healthy recipes, there's nothing to worry. For more information about healthy diets, visit my site

Tags : cuisinart multiclad pro stainless steel 12 piece kitchenaid 12 inch cast iron grill pan

Saturday, October 1, 2011

Restaurant Food Supplies

If your restaurant is equipped with all necessary restaurant food supplies, you can run your business successfully. Catering to the varied tastes of your regular customers and organizing special dinners, luncheons, parties and buffets depends on quality supplies.

Essential Restaurant Food Supplies

Restaurant food supplies are readymade foods that a restaurant needs. These are foods that your busy restaurant may not have the time to make, but are necessary for the preparation of certain dishes. They could also include ready-to-eat foodstuff. A restaurant food supply list could have items that range from ethnic and regional specialties to organic and gluten-free products. Some of the products that could feature in the list are:

• Cooking sauces
• Drinks
• Ice cream mix
• Gelatin dessert
• Pudding
• Nuts
• Cake and brownie mixes
• Cheese
• Chips and crackers
• Salad dressings
• Sushi items
• Spices
• Wasabi powder
Food coloring
Food thickeners
• Fillings for pies and pastry
• Cake mix
• Sprinkles
• Starch and sugar

Special Supplies to Delight Your Customers

If you want your customers to enjoy delightful breakfast, be sure to include breakfast supplies such as cereals, frosted mini wheat, Chex, and Cherios in your food menu lists. Sandwich cookies, oatmeal cookies, chocolate cookies, cinnamon cookies and Chinese fortune cookies can feature as dessert or in kids' menus.

Rice is a common dish in Asian, Thai, Japanese and Chinese restaurant menus. Therefore, eateries usually stock different varieties of rice such as sweet rice, long grain rice, polished yellow kokuhu rice, medium-grain rice, Thai jasmine rice, brown rice and sushi rice.

Pep up Your Dishes

Most restaurant dishes taste good because of the gravy and sauce on the meat and vegetables. The wide variety of such products available in the market include brown gravy, turkey gravy, beef gravy, chicken gravy and biscuit gravy from top brands such as Campbells, Ach Food, and Continental Mills.

Pasta and Noodles

Pasta is a favorite food and is now appreciated by people of different cultures. Therefore, stocking different kinds of pasta food products makes your food service more impressive. Having an adequate supply of different kinds of noodles is important if your customers are passionate about Chinese or Thai cuisine.

Benefit from Affordable Rates

Equipping your settings with all the necessary restaurant food supplies is easy if you depend on an established supplier. Most reliable online restaurant supply stores supply products at wholesale prices and also offer attractive discounts for bulk restaurant supply purchases.Catering to the varied tastes of your customers and organizing special dinners, luncheons, parties and buffets depends on the availability of quality restaurant food supplies




Round Eye Supply has been engaged in restaurant food supplies and restaurant supplies that every restaurant and food business need for over the last 50 years.

Visit : staub 9.5 inch saute pan le creuset 9 piece cookware set

Friday, September 30, 2011

Famous Russian Desserts

If you like to learn about famous international desserts and make your own, it might interest you to know a bit about famous Russian desserts. In Russia, desserts are usually served at breakfast or eaten after an entree at dinner.

Pancakes, or blinis, are very popular. You might have tried these with smoked salmon or caviar but in Russia these little buckwheat pancakes are often served with honey, jelly or sour cream. Oladi are like blinis but thicker and more filling. Tvorog is Russian cottage cheese and this is served with berry jam or honey.

Pastries are very popular in Russia, especially apple pastries. Syrniki are made with fried cottage cheese and served with jelly, sweet dressings or honey. Russian teacakes are little cookie which are rolled in powdered sugar.

How to Adapt Russian Dessert Recipes

You might like to make your own Russian desserts to surprise your family but perhaps you want to tweak the recipes a little. If you enjoy making jello recipes, what about combining it with Russian recipes?

For example, Russians love to eat fruit pastries and you can make your own pastries using jello to hold the fruit topping in place and to add flavor. Try making a strawberry pastry with fresh strawberries in a layer of strawberry jello.

You can also pour jello over Russian cakes to add flavor and texture. Another way to adapt classic Russian recipes is to change what they are served with. Honey is a popular accompaniment to Russian desserts but you can try maple syrup or your favorite ice cream syrup.

Recipe for Authentic Russian Fruit Cake

This delicious recipe is perfect for fruit cake fans. There are various types of fruit cake. Perhaps you enjoy fruit cakes with plenty of nuts and a touch of whiskey or fruit cakes with lots of cherries. This Russian fruit cake contains various fruits and nuts and sherry for flavor. This is an easy fruit cake recipe but you do need to let the fruit stand in the sherry overnight so start this cake recipe a day before you want to bake it.

What you will need:


1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup plus 3 tablespoons sherry
3/4 cup chopped dried apricots
1 beaten egg
1/2 cup all purpose flour
3/4 cup chopped raisins
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 cup chopped candied fruits
1/2 cup sourdough starter
1/3 cup butter
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons sliced almonds
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon

How to make it:

Stir the fruits into 1/2 cup of the sherry and let them stand overnight. Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F. Cream together the butter, spices and sugars until the mixture is light and fluffy. Beat in the egg, then add the sourdough starter and stir the mixture. Add the almonds and fruit mixture. Sift the salt, baking soda and flour into the sourdough mixture and combine well.

Cover a cake pan with wax paper, and then grease it well with oil. Transfer the cake batter into the cake pan and bake for 30 minutes or until done. Let the cake cool on a wire rack, and then remove the wax paper. Sprinkle the rest of the sherry over the cake.




Russian dessert recipes are full of flavor and fun to make. You can adapt classic Russian recipes with modern ingredients like jello. Sometimes you might want to make international desserts for the family and other times make something easy like a chocolate mousse instead, for variety.

We Don't Make the Products We Just Make Great Desserts with Them!

Recommend : kitchenaid gourmet essentials 12 piece

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Secret Restaurant Dessert Recipes Are A Sweet Find

Did you know that some of the hardest restaurant recipes to obtain are those for desserts? It's true.

The big chain restaurants spend time and money creating special "signature" dessert treats. In many cases they invest more in coming up with a new twist on a gooey double-fudge ice cream cake than they do in figuring out more ways to dress up their hamburgers. It just makes economic sense.

Loyal patrons of a given restaurant may really like the hamburgers, or the pasta, but it's those sinful desserts that often draw them back, meal after meal. Truly, a magnificent dessert can be the most addictive item on the menu.

That's why, as I've discovered through my own research, getting a recipe for a restaurant's top dessert item can be extremely difficult. But remember, it is just a recipe, after all--a list of ingredients plus instructions on how to put them together.

As I've written previously, the most direct way to obtain recipes for a restaurant's menu offerings--even desserts--is to ask. Often, though, you'll be politely rejected. Or, the manager might just vaguely tell you something like, "Well, it's just some vanilla ice cream and a little hot fudge and some nuts and a cherry," while leaving out important details: Whose vanilla ice cream? How is the fudge heated? Etc. Often there will be some secret ingredient that he will conveniently neglect to mention at all.

I'm grateful therefore to the many unsung heroes of the Internet who have done the detective work to discover the exact recipes used to create some of the most mouth-watering restaurant desserts in America--and who have shared them with the world.

If your favorite restaurant serves up an especially tempting dessert that you're just dying to get the recipe for, chances are you can find it on the Web. You just need to put your best search skills to work and be persistent. Someone out there has it--and has either posted it for free on some chat board or has put it into an inexpensive e-book along with other so-called top-secret recipes.

This is the information age, after all. And really, what more crucial information is there to us foodies than the knowledge to duplicate our favorite sinful desserts right in our own kitchens?




Sarah Sandori is the food and entertaining columnist for the Solid Gold Info Writers Consortium. Have you ever wanted to be able to exactly duplicate a favorite dish from a favorite restaurant? Check out Sarah's article where she reveals her source for the most mouth-watering secret restaurant recipes in America: http://www.solid-gold.info/most-wanted-recipes.html

Related : kitchenaid 12 piece cookware set all clad cop r chef 8 inch fry pan anolon advanced 12 inch 5 quart covered saute pan

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Recipes For Halloween and Autumn - Swamp Dip, Chocolately Holiday Bark, Cranberry Apple Cobbler

Getting ready for a Halloween or Autumn Theme Party can be a lot of work so when choosing recipes, look for ones that are:

Simple to make
Have few ingredients
Hold up well over time
Pleasing to look at and of course,
Taste great!

We polled our family and friends and here are a few of our favorite Halloween Dishes and Autumn Recipes:

Hot Halloween Appetizer - Swamp Dip (aka Creamy Feta Spinach Dip)

1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter
1 cup onion, chopped
1 small red bell pepper, chopped
1 tablespoon garlic, finely chopped
2 tablespoons flour
1/2 cup chicken broth
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup feta cheese
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/4 cup plain yogurt
1-10 oz. package spinach leaves, stems removed, cut into thin strips
1/8 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
Salt and pepper
Dippers including crackers, bread chunks and assorted vegetable sticks

Melt butter in 10-inch skillet and add onion, red pepper and garlic. Cook over medium heat until softened. Stir in flour and continue cooking 1 minute.

Whisk in broth and whipping cream. Continue stirring until mixture is thickened.

Add cheese, seasoning, yogurt, spinach and hot pepper sauce and stir until spinach wilts and mixture is heated through. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

This Halloween appetizer is best served warm with dippers.

Easy Halloween Dessert - Chocolately Holiday Bark

The best thing about this Chocolatey Holiday Bark recipe is that you can customize it for every holiday or theme party. For Halloween, use white chocolate and candy corn. For a Football party, milk chocolate and candy the color of your favorite team. The possibilities are endless.

Ingredients

16 chocolate sandwich cookies, chopped
1-1/2 cups broken small pretzels
1/3 cup raisins
1-1/2 pounds chocolate, broken into squares
2 cups candy (M & M's, candy corn...)
Sprinkles

Start by spreading the cookies, pretzels and raisins evenly onto a lightly greased small baking sheet.

Melt chocolate in a bowl set over a pan of simmering water, or in the microwave, stirring frequently until melted. Remove from the heat while there are still a few chunks, and stir until smooth. Watch carefully as chocolate can burn easily.

Drizzle chocolate with a spoon over the goodies in the pan, spreading the top flat to coat evenly. Top with candy and sprinkles. Let cool until firm. Break into pieces and store in an airtight container.

You can usually find sandwich cookies the color of the holiday (orange for Halloween, red for Christmas...). Coordinate the cookies, chocolate, candy and sprinkles to match the holiday or theme of your party.

Most Requested Autumn Dessert - Spiced Cranberry Apple Cobbler

This Autumn Recipe is the perfect dessert for a cool Fall night.

Ingredients

4 cups cranberries
6 Granny Smith apples, peeled and sliced thin
2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups plus 1 tablespoon flour, divided
4 tablespoons butter, cut into bits
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup shortening (I use butter flavored)
1-1/2 cups sour cream
2 teaspoons sugar

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Combine cranberries, apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, ground cloves and 1 tablespoon flour in 3-quart baking dish. Mix evenly and dot top with butter bits

Stir together remaining 2 cups flour, baking powder and salt in medium bowl. Cut shortening in using pastry blender or 2 knives until crumbly. Add sour cream and blend well (dough will be sticky).

Drop dough by spoonfuls on top of fruit mixture. Sprinkle with sugar and bake for 20 to 30 minutes on middle rack until top is golden.

Spiced Cranberry Apple cobbler is outstanding served with Cinnamon Vanilla Ice Cream. It is hard to find in stores so you can make your own. Add a teaspoon of cinnamon to a pint of softened vanilla ice cream and re-freeze. When ready to serve, put a big scoop on top on each bowl of warm cobbler.




Sandee Lembke from http://www.theme-party-queen.com
Great party ideas for the busy entertainer. Whether you are looking for savory appetizer and tempting dessert recipes or tips on how to set up a serve-yourself cocktail bar, Theme Party Queen has it. All things party related can be found here.

Related : presto 8 quart pressure cooker stansport cast iron 6 piece cookware set

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Cake Recipes - What Are the Best Cake Recipes in the World?

This text will continue the topic of cakes and cake recipes. In my last two articles I have written about the best cake recipes in Poland. This time I will give you some examples of the best cake recipes from the world. As always I will be writing about cakes that are cheap, tasty and easy to prepare. So read this text to the end and I'm sure that you will like the information included in it.

The first cake that I would like to present comes from Germany. It's chocolate cake that is very tasty. A lot of people adore this cake. The German chocolate cake recipe includes cocoa, hot water, butter or margarine, sugar, eggs, flour, soda, buttermilk or clabber. It's very special, because it tastes like chocolate, but you don't add chocolate to it. You can also add some additions like caramel and other things. As you can see the ingredients are also very cheap and the cake is also very easy to prepare.

The next cake is very popular in the world (especially in Europe). It's French cake. There are lots of French cake recipes. There are lots of opinions that French cake is difficult to prepare. In fact it only takes a lot of time to prepare because you have to wait for 12 hours, but the process is very easy. I think that French cake is a good dessert. Here you can find ingredients that are included in all French cake recipes. These ingredients are cold water, salt, butter and flour. They are also very cheap. In my opinion you should try to prepare this cake. I recommend it.

The next cake recipe that I would like to describe comes from Spain. It's called very simple - Spanish cake. It's very cheap cake and you can prepare it very fast. It's worth it, because its taste is fantastic. You can prepare Spanish cake by using such ingredients as eggs, flour, sugar, baking powder and vinegar. You also have to make a special flock (some kind of cream). You don't need expensive ingredients for flock. You need milk, butter, eggs, tidbits, nuts, chocolate, coffee and spirit. The cake is tasty and there are many different Spanish cake recipes, so you can use other ingredients than these presented in this article.

That's all I wanted to write about the best cake recipes in the world. I hope these facts were interesting for you. I hope you are going to try cakes that I described in this text. Maybe you will look for recipes for other cakes from the world. I hope you have enjoyed this article. Please be very patient and very soon I will write more culinary articles. I hope that you are going to read them. I believe that they will be very interesting for you and they will give you some important culinary information.




View thousands of recipes. Sign up and gain access to your special cookbook collection, cooking tips and recipes. Free Recipes Toolbar for healthy recipes, cake recipes, chicken recipes, easy recipes, food recipes and other recipes.

Friends Link : all clad copper core 14 piece cookware set cuisinart chefs classic 17 piece cookware set

Monday, September 26, 2011

Dessert Recipes - With Vegetables Please

In our effort to get healthier, eat better, and watch our waistline, we often take drastic measures like cutting all sweets out of our diet. And those diets rarely last because we feel deprived. So rather than going completely drastic, here is a question I ask you to consider: Why not try small changes that you can live with? So instead of cutting all sweets out of your diet, why not replace the typical sweets you eat with a dessert that is healthier and that you can feel good about? And what tastier way to help you get that daily intake of veggies than through dessert? Here are a couple of recipes to help you in your urge to get healthy but not feel deprived.

Zucchini Crisp

5 cups sliced zucchini, peeled and seeded

1/3 cup sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 cup lemon juice

3/4 cup water

Combine all of the above ingredients in a large saucepan. Cook the mixture until it starts to boil. Then boil the mixture for 15 to 20 minutes. Put the mixture in an 8- or 9-inch square pan.

Topping:

6 tablespoons butter, softened

1 cup flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon baking powder

In a small bowl, combine the flour, salt, brown sugar, and baking powder. Mix well. Cut the flour into the mixture and combine until it is crumbly. Sprinkle the topping evenly over the zucchini mixture. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 40 to 45 minutes.

Avocado Pie

1 (3-ounce) package lime or lemon-lime jello

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 can (8-ounce) crushed pineapple

1 medium avocado

1 cup boiling water

2 tablespoons lime juice

1 package (3-ounce) cream cheese

1 cup whipped cream

9-inch graham cracker pie crust

In a large bowl, put the jello, salt, and boiling water. Stir the mixture until the jello is dissolved. Drain the pineapple juice into a measuring cup. Add the lime juice to it. Add enough cold water to make the mixture equal 3/4 cup. Add this mixture to the jello mixture. Put the jello mixture in the refrigerator until it is very thick. While that is cooling, peel and half the avocado. Cut up half of the avocado into small pieces. In a small bowl, mash the other half of the avocado until it is smooth. Add the cream cheese to the mashed avocado and mix until well blended. Add the cream cheese mixture, avocado pieces, pineapple, and whipped cream to the jello mixture. Mix well and put into the pie crust. Refrigerate until the mixture is firm.




With a passion for baking and story telling, Jill Seader shares baking recipes and stories at YourBakingStory.com. Come enjoy the stories and recipes or get some recipe scrapbooking supplies to create your own baking story. Happy Baking!

My Links : breville sk500xl ikon cordless 1.7 liter stainless

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Dutch Recipes and Cuisine

Dutch cuisine is very much influenced by the agricultural produce of the Netherlands and the country's history as a seafaring nation. Fish and seafood (including cod, eel, herring, mackerel, mussels, oysters, plaice, salmon, sardines, soleidae, shrimp, trout and tuna) are all eaten in the Netherlands. Popular meats include beef, chicken and pork.

The colonial past of the Netherlands has also had an influence on the country's cuisine. The Dutch were involved in the Dutch East Indies (Dutch: Nederlands-Indië) - present day Indonesia - for approximately 250 years, and Indonesian cuisine has left a lasting mark on the Dutch palate. Indonesian dishes such as Nasi Goreng (spicy rice with chicken or pork) have become Dutch dishes too!

Here are some other popular Dutch dishes:

- Balkenbrij - A liverwurst sausage loaf (Dutch: Leverworst) made from pork, but containing enough pork liver to have a distinctive liver-taste. The loaf is cut into slices about ½ inch (1 centimeter) thick which are then fried.

- Boerenkoolstamppot - A stew made with potato and kale. It is served with gravy and rookwurst (Dutch spicy sausage).

- Hete bliksem - Boiled potatoes and green apples, with stroop (syrup) or diced speck (juniper-flavored dry-cured ham).

- Hutspot - A traditional stew made using boiled and mashed potatoes with carrots and onions.

- Stamppot rauwe andijvie - Raw endive (a variant of chicory) mashed into potatoes, and served with diced and fried speck (juniper-flavored dry-cured ham).

- Zuurkoolstamppot - Sauerkraut (pickled cabbage) with mashed potatoes. served with sausage or bacon, and sometimes flavored with curry powder, raisins or pineapple.

Popular Dutch desserts include:

- Appeltaart - Apple pie. In the Netherlands, apple pies usually contain cinnamon, lemon and raisins, and have a lattice-style topping and icing.

- Oliebollen - The Dutch version of donuts made by deep-frying dough, allowing it to cool and rise, and covering with powdered sugar. They are eaten at fairs, and during the Christmas period, especially around New Year.

- Spekkoek - A very rich and spicy Dutch-Indonesian pastry made from many layers of pastry.

- Stroopwafel - Two round waffle-like wafers with a caramel filling between them.




By S. Tanna. Originally published at http://www.recipesmaniac.com/cook_dutch.php - visit this site for more information, photographs and cook books.

Discover more about recipes and cooking at http://www.recipesmaniac.com/

Recommend : kitchenaid gourmet distinctions 16 1 2 inch

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Homemade Chocolate Recipes

Homemade chocolate recipes provide the chocolate lovers not only with a vast variety of choices for delicious, mouthwatering dessert but also with flexibility to substitute some of the ingredients so they will have an enjoyable eating experience while having a healthy dessert.

Chocolate... healthy?

It's not a secret that chocolate eating is associated with a feeling of guilt - guilt of blowing out weight loss diet or eating unhealthy food.

Well, I have good news. The main ingredient of pure (dark) chocolate, cocoa, actually contains lots of vitamins and minerals.

I don't think I need to convince anybody to eat chocolate but in case you think it is unhealthy addition to your diet here are some details:

- Among other vitamins and minerals cocoa contains B group vitamins, vitamin E and magnesium. Just do a quick search on the Internet to see the major benefits of these nutrients.

- A research in the United States showed that cocoa contains more anti-oxidants than green tea and red wine!

- Cocoa contains L-Tryptophan that improves the mood and hence can help combat cravings for unhealthy food.

- Cocoa butter is widely used as a cosmetics base in natural and "not-so-natural' cosmetics industries because of nourishment it provides for the skin.

In order to see the weight loss benefits of chocolate you need to eat a small piece of dark chocolate daily, no more than 200 g per week.

Unfortunately many ready-made chocolate products are very low on cocoa so they actually do not provide any of the benefits mentioned above. They also contain lots of sugar and need to be avoided if you care about your health and healthy weight.

You need to choose chocolate products that contain over 65% of cocoa in order to see the health benefits of cocoa.

Why to make your own chocolate desserts at home?

1) As I already mentioned, homemade chocolate recipes provide you with flexibility to choose your own ingredients and replace some of "not so healthy" ones with healthier alternatives.
Here is a list of ingredients for one recipe, for example:

Chocolate Ice-Cream

2 ½ quarts of cream
1 ½ pint of milk
1 quart thin cream,
2 cupfuls of sugar,
2 ounces of plain chocolate bar,
2 eggs,
2 heaping tablespoonfuls of flour

To make this dessert healthier use dark chocolate, for example, substitute some of the cream with milk, reduce sugar and add vanilla to improve taste. I never tried it with whole wheat flour but this might work too! Imagine the title "Whole-wheat ice-cream for weight loss and health"!

2) You can make your favorite dessert without any preservatives, colorings or other artificial elements added.

3) You can use your creativity and make exquisite desserts for the entire family that will bring your whole family together to enjoy food prepared with love and care.

4) Making chocolate desserts at home will also fill your house with homey, "cozy" aroma that will make the place you live a real Home.




Homemade Chocolate Recipes page provides lots of information on chocolate including recipes. If you are a real chocolate lover visit http://www.homemadechocolaterecipes.com for over 100 delicious, mouthwatering recipes.

Leanne enjoys researching and writing about different topics that can help others solve problems.

Visit : lodge logic pre seasoned 15 inch cast iron skillet calphalon contemporary nonstick all clad masterchef 2 10 piece cookware set

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Maca & Cacao Superfood Milkshake

Healthy desserts can be very hard to find and they inevitably lack in taste. Everyone gets those cravings for something sweet, but it can be hard to find something that can satisfy your sweet tooth and also be nutritious. I know your thinking to yourself "how can a milkshake be healthy?" Finally here is one great recipe for those that love milkshakes, but want a healthier version that offers a lot more nutrients. Raw and organic cacao contains extremely high quantities of iron, zinc, copper, serotonin, tryptophan, and vitamin C. Cacao also has more antioxidant flavonoids than any food tested so far, including blueberries, red wine, and black and green teas. Maca root is also another power player in this milkshake. Maca Powder offers great energizing effects and helps with overall emotional well-being. This amazing root contains amino acids, vitamins, minerals, sterols, fatty acids, and glucosinates. What a great way to get all these nutrients but in a tasty form! So get those blenders out and get ready to enjoy a dessert that you won't end up regretting.

To start you will need to get the following list of ingredients:

2 Brazil nuts
1 cup almond milk
1/4 cup dates
2 Tbsp organic cacao nibs
2 Tbsp organic cacao powder
1 Tsp maca powder

Blend on high until dates and nuts are liquefied. Add 1 cup of ice (or more) and blend again until frosty.

What a simple way to get in your nutrients without sacrificing taste!

To your health!




Your health is directly related to what you put into your body. Not all supplements are created equal. View our choice for the best Organic Cacao here.

Maca is a key ingredient to this recipe. Organic Maca Powder came out on top, check it out.

To Your Health!

See Also : le creuset enameled cast iron 9 quart round french lodge logic pre seasoned 9 quart dutch oven all clad copper core 10 fry pan

Monday, September 19, 2011

Great Banana Cake Recipes

Here are two great banana cakes. Both are made from scratch. They are both very moist and delicious.

Hummingbird Cake



3 cups flour
2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
3 eggs, beaten
1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 8 oz. can crushed pineapple
2 cups chopped nuts
2 cups chopped ripe bananas

Put the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Add eggs, oil and stir until moist. Do not beat. Add vanilla, pineapple, nuts and bananas. Pour into 4 well greased 9 inch pans. Bake 25 - 30 minutes at 350 degrees. Frost this cake with cream cheese frosting. The recipe is below.

Cream Cheese Frosting



1 8 oz. package cream cheese
1 stick butter or margarine
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 box powdered sugar

Mix cream cheese, butter and vanilla together until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar. Frost and serve.

This is a very popular cake at my office.

Next is a big family favorite.

Tropical Banana Cake



2 1/2 cup sifted cake flour
1 2/3 cups sugar
1 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon soda
1 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup shortening
1 1/4 cup mashed bananas
2 large eggs
2/3 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla

Sift together into a large bowl flour, sugar, baking powder, soda and salt. Add shortening, bananas and 1/3 cup buttermilk. Stir to dampen flour. Beat with electric mixer 2 minutes. Add remaining buttermilk, eggs and vanilla. Beat 2 minutes. Pour into 2 paper-lined 9-inch pans. Bake 30 to 35 minutes in a 350 degree oven. Now while our cake is cooling, we move on to the frosting.

Lemon-Banana Frosting



2/3 cup butter or margarine
4 cups powdered sugar
6 tablespoon mashed banana
2 tablespoon lemon juice

Cream butter and sugar. Add banana and lemon juice. Blend until smooth and frost your cake. Do not serve this cake right after you have finished frosting. It will be too sweet. This cake needs to be refrigerated for at least 24 hours before serving. Then, it is fabulous and ready for company!




I have been baking for my family and friends for over 40 years. For more great cake recipes and other dessert recipes, please visit My Sweetie's Favorite Dessert Recipes at http://www.favorite-dessert-recipes.com.

Visit : kitchenaid gourmet essentials 2 quart tea kettle

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Korean Dessert - Soo Jeung Ga

Here's a sweet little dessert from Korea that's enough for the good ole USA's sweet tooth.
If you're a little health conscious, like so many Americans are becoming, you can whip up this little beauty without any refined, white sugars.

With so many American's facing health problems due to obesity, such as diabetes and sleep apnea we have to be more conscious about what we eat and what we consider healthy to eat. There was a time in America when Mom's homemade apple pies and cakes were a treat you got to eat once in a while or if you're lucky once a week on Sunday. Now mass produced candies and cakes are available almost everywhere you go. Some Americans are in a quagmire stuffing themselves with donuts, Twinkies, and Ring Dings for breakfast, lunch and dinner then washing it all down with a Dr. Pepper.

If you're reasonable with your diet, willing to try new things, and like sweets then this recipe is definitely for you: the American taste bud adventurer.

Soo Jeung Ga

2 quarts water

1/2 cup fresh ginger, sliced thin

3 cinnamon sticks

1 1/2 cups raw cane sugar

1 cup dried persimmons, sliced

1/2 cup pine nuts

In a pot, combine the water, ginger, and cinnamon and let simmer for 1/2 hour. Remove from heat and strain the liquid. Stir in the sugar and persimmons. Cool and let sit in the refrigerator overnight. Serve well chilled with one or two small ice cubes and a teaspoon of pine nuts floating in each cup.




Charles May is a Structural Engineer who loves Korean food. For more recipes visit his blog at [http://koreanrecipesandcooking.blogspot.com]

Visit : anolon professional 12 piece nonstick cookware set kitchenaid gourmet distinctions 16 1 2 inch

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Spanish Christmas Recipes - Starter And Dessert

Two traditional Spanish Christmas recipes:

Starter

ALMOND SOUP

Normally served as a dessert in Castille all through the year. At Christmas, however, it is served as a first course for Christmas dinner with saffron. This spice has found it's perfect growing conditions in Spain, especially in La Mancha, where each autumn the saffron flowers are picked and in a traditional, process completely carried out by hand, the stigmas are toasted to produce the finest saffron in the world, known as Calidad Mancha.

1.25 litres (2 1/4pt) milk

75 g (3 oz) sugar

150 g (6 oz) powdered almonds or almond paste

2 tbsp fine fresh bread crumbs

2 cloves of garlic

Coarse salt

A few threads of saffron

A few sprigs of parsley

White peppercorns

200 ml (7 floz) olive oil

Garnish

12 small, very thin slices of bread, fried in olive oil

50 g (2 oz) toasted chopped almonds

Bring the milk to a boil.

In a mortar, mix together the coarse salt, saffron, pepper, garlic and parsley.

Mix the powdered almonds, sugar and the mixture from the mortar into the boiling milk.

Lower the heat and let cook gently for 8 to 10 minutes. Serve garnished with the slices of fried bread and the toasted chopped almonds.

Dessert

TOURON ICE CREAM

(ice cream made with two nougats) with chocolate sauce

Touron is a nougat of Arabic origin made with almonds and honey or sugar, without which it would just not be Christmas in Spain. There are innumerable variations - chocolate, coconut, praline, etc. - but the oldest and most authentic recipes are those for soft (Jijona) touron, made with ground almonds, or hard (Alicante) touron, made with whole almonds, or served as an ice cream, accompanied by chocolate sauce. The sauce is made not with butter but with olive oil, as it used to be made when cocoa was first brought to Spain from the Americas.

150 g (6 oz sugar)

4 tbsp water

6 egg yolks

150 g (6 oz) soft Jijona nougat

2 tbsp Malaga wine

200 ml (7 floz) liquid crème fraîche

3 egg whites

75 g (3 oz) hard Alicante nougat

Sauce

200 g (7 oz) dark chocolate

2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

1/2 tbsp water

Roughly break up the Alicante nougat.

Butter a 500 ml (1 pt) soufflé dish.

Place a paper collar around the edge of the soufflé dish, letting it extend 5 cm (2") above the rim. Place in the freezer.

Prepare a light syrup with the water and sugar.

Beat the egg yolks and the warm syrup together in a blender.

Break up the Jijona nougat into the two tablespoons of wine. Beat the crème fraîche. Beat the egg whites to stiff peaks.

Carefully fold together, in the same order, all of the mixtures.

Sprinkle the soufflé mould with some of the Alicante nougat.

Pour in the prepared cream mixture.

Leave in the freezer for several hours, or overnight for best results.

After removing the mixture from the freezer, remove the paper, sprinkle with the remaining Alicante nougat and serve with the warm chocolate sauce.

To make the warm chocolate sauce

Place the chocolate and water in a bowl or double boiler and melt over a pan of simmering water.

Gradually mix in the oil, whisking constantly.

Enjoy!

For more Spanish recipes, click the link:




Traditional Spanish Christmas recipes

For more information about living in Spain plus thousands of properties for sale throughout Spain visit www.spanish-property-today.com

Related : kitchenaid 12 piece cookware set

Friday, September 16, 2011

Cupcake Frosting Recipes

Cupcakes and cakes are actually made from the same ingredients. If you have a favorite frosting recipe that tastes great on a cake, rest assured it will taste just as great on a cupcake.

Most frostings are Buttercream Frosting, unless it's on a cake from a bakery in one of the major grocery store chains. Buttercream Frosting is one of the easiest to make and as it's a base-type frosting it goes with almost any type of cupcake flavor.

Buttercream Frosting Recipe

Ingredients:

1/2 cup solid vegetable shortening or lard
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
milk - added a tablespoon or two at a time until desired consistency is met

Makes: About 3 cups of icing

In large bowl, cream shortening/lard and butter with electric mixer, first on a low speed to blend then on a high speed to whip. Add vanilla while still blending. Add powdered sugar, slowly and one cup at a time, beating well on medium speed. It is important to start on a lower speed and work your way up when using powdered or confectioner's sugar as it tends to go flying when immediately mixed on a high speed. Scrape sides and bottom of bowl often with a spatula. When all sugar has been mixed in, icing will seem dry. Add milk and beat at medium speed to blend, then at a high speed until fluffy. For best results, keep icing bowl in refrigerator when not in use. Refrigerated in an airtight container, this icing can be stored 2 weeks. If using stored frosting, be certain to mix again before use, as the shortening and butter will separate.

As Buttercream Frosting is a base frosting, a variety of additions and variations of this recipe are acceptable on all levels. The most basic change you can make is the color, simply by adding a food coloring. Another suggestion is to add melted baker's chocolate or unsweetened cocoa for a delicious chocolate frosting, though additional sugar or milk may be necessary if the consistency changes due to the addition.

Another popular frosting recipe is Cream Cheese Frosting, well-liked on Carrot Cake, Chocolate and Red Velvet cupcakes and cakes. Chocolate can be added to this recipe as well, to alter the flavor a bit and folding in some walnut crumbles will make this delicious frosting seem almost German in flavor.

Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients:

2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions:

Blend the cream cheese, butter and vanilla with a mixer until well combined and smooth. Slowly and a little at a time, add the powdered sugar, sifted after measuring, on a low speed until all sugar is added and there is no danger of flying out of the bowl when the mixer is on a high setting. Additional powdered sugar might be needed to achieve the desired consistency and sweetness level.

With these two basic recipes, the sky's the limit when it comes to icing cupcakes. A small amount of imagination and a desire to create are the only skills you need to make some tasty and attractive cupcakes, whether it's for a party or the family.




Lisa is an avid home cook who loves to share her favorite recipes with the rest of us. Find all her cupcake recipes at http://www.Cupcake-Creations.com. And be sure to try one of her delicious yet easy cupcake frosting recipes.

Visit : cuisinart multiclad unlimited 12 piece cookware anolon advanced 12 piece cookware set cuisinart chefs classic stainless 14 inch stir fry

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Try These Delicious Apple Recipes - Indiana Apple Pudding and Baked Apple Doughnut Fritters

Apples are one of our favorite fruits and there seems to be no end to the ways we use. Here are some recipes for different apple treats. With apple season coming on, we will have lots of apples to use. Try this Indiana Apple Pudding which is wonderful served warm. This is a perfect fall or winter dessert. For a completely different apple treat, try these Baked Apple Doughnut Fritters.

INDIANA APPLE PUDDING

2 cups diced apples
1 cup sugar
1 egg, well beaten
1 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup chopped nuts
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix together the apples and sugar; add egg. Sift together the baking soda, cinnamon, salt and flour; add to apple mixture and mix well. Stir in the vanilla and nuts. Pour mixture into an 8 x 8-inch baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.

SAUCE:

1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup butter or margarine
2 tbsp flour
1 cup water

Cook sauce until thick and pour over pudding as soon as it comes out of the oven. Serve warm with whipped cream or ice cream.

BAKED APPLE DOUGHNUT FRITTERS

1 1/2 cup sifted flour
1 3/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup shortening
1 egg, beaten
1/4 cup milk
1/2 cup grated apples
1/2 cup oleo, melted
1/3 cup sugar
1 tsp cinnamon

Sift together the flour, baking powder, salt, nutmeg, and 1/2 cup sugar. Cut in shortening until mixture is fine. Mix together the egg, milk, and apple. Add mixture, all at once, to the dry ingredients and mix together quickly. Fill greased muffin tins 2/3 full. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes. Mix together the 1/3 cup sugar and the cinnamon. Remove fritters from the pans immediately and roll in melted oleo then roll in the sugar cinnamon mixture. Delicious served warm.

Enjoy!




For more "sweets" recipes visit my blog at http://ladybugssweettreats.blogspot.com
For more of Linda's recipes and diabetic information go to http://diabeticenjoyingfood.squarespace.com

Thanks To : breville sk500xl ikon cordless 1.7 liter stainless circulon classic 14 piece cookware set

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Easy Crockpot Dessert Recipes

Most people are acquainted with crockpots for fixing dinner, but have you ever considered using your slow cooker to create delicious desserts? Yes, you read it correctly, crockpot dessert recipes. They're just as easy as making a nice pot of chicken soup, only sweeter!

Slow cookers are just the ticket for folks who want a great dessert but who are lacking in either the time or patience to see it through the old fashioned way.

There are a few tips to keep in mind when baking with a slow cooker. Use the baking insert that may have come with your cooker. If yours didn't come with one you can either purchase an insert or use a 2 pound coffee can or a metal mold of the right size.

Make sure to grease the insert or can and to raise the insert or can with either a baking rack made for crock pots or by crumbling up a piece of foil and putting it on the bottom of the pot so the insert is raised, allowing air to flow.

The following are a couple of wonderful and easy crockpot dessert recipes to try out:

Banana Bread

1-3/4 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup shortening
2/3 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs, well beaten
1-1/2 cups well mashed, over ripe bananas (2 or 3 bananas)
1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts

Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Using an electric mixer on low speed, mix the shortening in a small bowl, until creamy. Gradually add sugar. Slowly beat in eggs. Use a fork to mix in 1/3 of the flour mixture, 1/2 the bananas another 1/3 of the flour mixture, the remaining bananas, followed by the remaining flour mixture. Add the walnuts and put into a greased and floured baking insert or a 2 1/2-quart mold and cover. Place on a rack in the crockpot. Cover and prop open the lid just a bit with a wooden spoon so that steam may escape. Cook on high setting for 4 - 6 hours.

Easy Bread Pudding

2 eggs, slightly beaten
2 1/4 cups milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups 1-inch bread cubes
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup raisins

In a medium sized mixing bowl, combine eggs with milk, vanilla, cinnamon, salt, bread, sugar, and raisins. Pour into 1 1/2-quart baking dish. Put aluminum foil shaped into a ring to keep the dish off the bottom of the pot in bottom of slow cooker. Add 1/2 cup hot water and place baking dish on top of foil. Cover and cook on high for about 2 hours.




Find even more delicious easy crockpot dessert recipes at Family Crock Pot Recipes.

Visit : le creuset enameled cast iron 9 skillet t fal 10 piece cookware

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Mouth-Watering Thai Desserts

Thai cuisine is famous for its intriguing delicacy and spiciness. However, Thai desserts have been overlooked. The three Thai desserts famous outside of Thailand are mango with sticky rice, deep-fried bananas and coconut ice cream. There is a broad tradition of desserts in Thailand over the centuries which offers many ideas and choices.

Thai desserts have long been with the Thai people, certainly back to the Sukhothai period (1238-1350). Thais had long traded with China and India, which helped in exchanging cultures and traditions as well, including food. In the Ayuthaya period (1350-1767), Thais started trading with Western countries. The Portuguese were the first westerners to introduce the use of eggs and the oven. Thai desserts like Thong Yip (Pinched Gold), Thong Yod (Drop of Gold) and Foi Thong (Golden Threads) originate from Portugal, not Thailand as most people would guess, including Thais.

Thai desserts are renowned for intricacy and elaborateness, their organization, and the punctilious and patient care with which they are created. Characteristic of Thai desserts is not only a range of sweetness, but also other elements such as a good fragrance, achieved starting delicately and exquisitely from the ingredient preparation to the final product. There are many methods to make Thai desserts, varying from steaming, baking, boiling, or deep frying, to complex processes like cooking egg yolks in syrup. The main ingredients for most Thai desserts include coconut milk, sugar, flour, eggs, salt, food coloring and fragrance.

To make high quality Thai desserts, fresh coconut is a must. Back in the old days, only fresh coconut was used in making Thai desserts. And at present, to make coconut milk, finely grated coconut meat is still steeped in warm water, not hot water. It is then squeezed until dry. The white fluid from the first press is called "Hua Ka Ti". Warm water is then added again to make the second and third pressed coconut milk, which is called "Hang Ka Ti." Finely grated coconut meat is generally used about 3 times and then discarded. Freshly pressed coconut milk has a better taste and aroma than commercial coconut milk in a can. However, with a fast pace of life, or the focus more on other elements of life, it becomes more common for a family to use commercial coconut milk.

Sugar is one of the main ingredients in Thai desserts. The two common sugars used in Thai desserts are Coconut Palm Sugar and Palm Sugar. Coconut palm sugar is made from coconut palm, whereas palm sugar is made from the sap of the sugar palm or palmyra palm, called Taan in Thai. Palm sugar is often used interchangeably with coconut palm sugar but they are different in many ways. For instance, palm sugar is dryer and more solid than coconut palm sugar. It is also more expensive than coconut palm sugar. In some dessert recipes, coconut palm sugar is often replaced with palm sugar. The replacement may lend the same general look to the dessert but the dessert will be different in taste and aroma.

Thai desserts are well known for their intriguing light tones. Generally the colors used to attract people are made from natural flowers or plants. The following are examples of the most common color sources used in Thai desserts:


Pandanus leaf (Bai Toey): giving a dark green color;
Spathe of coconut or palmyra palm leaf (Kab Ma Prao or Bai Taan) : giving a black color;
Turmeric (Kha Min): giving a yellow color;
Flower of Chitoria Tematea Linn (Dok Un Chun): giving a blue color (adding lime juice will give a purple color);
Flower of Aeginetia Pedunculata (Dok Din): giving a black color (but the flower is actually a dark purple color);
Saffron (Yah Fa Rang): giving a yellow-orangish color;
Roselle (Kra Jiab): giving a dark red (maroon-like) color;
Lac (Krang): giving a red color;

Fragrance is another unique characteristic of Thai desserts. There are many ways of making good aromas with Thai desserts but the most common ones are using jasmine flowers (Dok Ma Li), rosa damascene (Dok Ku Laab Mon - roses family), cananga odorata flowers (Dok Kra Dang Nga) as well as fragrant incense candles (Tien Ob). Since the old days, Thais love using jasmine water in desserts because of its aroma. Thais would pick jasmine flowers around 6pm and gently rinse with water so that the flowers do not get bruised. The jasmine flowers (Dok Ma Li) are then soaked in water with a closed lid, and left until around 6am-7am the next morning. The resulting scented water is then used to make the dessert. Keeping the jasmine flowers for more than 12 hours will start to bruise the flowers and the water will not have a good aroma. Rosa damascene (Dok Ku Laab Mon) is used in a different way. Thais only use the pedals. Each pedal is torn into 2 or 3 pieces and then placed in a closed container that has a dessert in it for a certain period of time, usually overnight. For cananga odorata flowers (Dok Kra Dang Nga), Thais first burn them with a fragrant incense candle, and then place only the pedals in a closed container that holds the dessert. For some desserts, burning fragrant incense candles next to desserts in closed containers will be enough to give the desserts an intricate aroma.

What are the common desserts that Thais eat? Thais loves desserts (called Khanom in Thai). The well known dessert is Mango with Sticky Rice, but it is a seasonal dessert, around April to June. Deep-fried banana fritters (Gluay Tod in Thai) or bananas in coconut milk (Gluay Buat Chee) are also well known desserts in Thai restaurants in the U.S. In Thailand, there are all kinds of desserts, both non-seasonal and seasonal, from deep-fried to steamed. Some of the most common Thai desserts include the egg-yolk desserts; Thong Yip (Pinched Gold), Thong Yod (Drop of Gold) and Foi Thong (Golden Threads). Thong simply means Gold. The color of these three desserts is a yellow-like golden color from the egg yolk, and is used to signify prosperity and auspiciousness. These "three musketeers" desserts are often used in wedding ceremonies or commemoration of a new house as well.

Khanom Chan or layered dessert is another common dessert. The name of the dessert comes from the fact that it has 9 layers with color variations. The dessert uses only 2 colors: white and a light tone of a color like green or purple. White is used in every other layer. This dessert is also used in important ceremonies like weddings or the grand opening of a new business. Thais believe the number "nine" is an auspicious number which represents progress and advancement.

One of my favorite desserts is Luk Choob. Made from mung dal beans, this dessert is a collection of miniature replicas of fruits and vegetables. The fruits and vegetables are colorful and glossy, artistically carved, and styled with vegetable dyes and glazed in the gelatin-like agaragar. Bua Loy Benjarong is another interesting dessert. Bua Loy Benjarong is gluten balls in coconut milk, a dish that has been with Thailand for over 200 years. The little balls, the size of the tip of the pinky, are made from sticky rice flour mixed with natural colors. Benjarong refers to 5 natural colors: green (from pandanus leaf), purple (from taro and Chitoria Tematea Linn flower), yellow (from pumpkin), blue (from Chitoria Tematea Linn flower) and white (from jasmine water).

Additionally, tapioca and black beans in coconut milk (Sakoo Tao Dum), coconut custard in a hollowed pumpkin (Sangkhaya Fak Thong), grilled coconut cakes (Paeng Jee), mung dal beans and lotus seeds with coconut topping (Tao Suan Med Bua) are desserts, to name a few, that are common in Thailand.

Thai desserts have always been a part of Thai culture. They reflect caring, patience and an enjoyable way of life. Unfortunately, as time passes, some of the traditions and beliefs are being forgotten in Thai society, although most kinds of desserts still exist. Their tempting and satisfying tastes leave a lasting impression - which is in turn an integral part of why Thai desserts have not been lost with time.




Napatr Lindsley

Learn Authentic Thai Cooking at
http://thaicookinghouse.com/

Friends Link : all clad stainless steel 10 piece cookware set simply calphalon nonstick 10 piece set cuisinart multiclad unlimited 12 piece cookware