Sonic Supper!

Archive for November, 2009

Dinner for Two

There are some fantastic recipes for two online that will give you great ideas for that dinner for two. One thing to keep in mind however is that when cooking for two, it is sometimes best if two are doing the cooking. This gives cooking an opportunity to become a communication event rather than a chore.

Despite the fact that there are many resources and recipes available to those that are cooking for two there are also equal occasions to take traditional recipes that are designed to feed four and make them an opportunity to stretch your food dollars even further. By cooking traditional meals for four and feeding a portion you have managed to cook two meals for the time investment of one. It?s a good deal for many, particularly those that do not relish the idea of cooking at all, much less of cooking for two.

Young couples and older couples alike often find that it is easier and almost as inexpensive to hit the fast food or other casual dining establishments than it is to prepare a nice healthy meal for two at home. The one thing they often forget is that cooking for two can be an interesting way to bring a little romance into the evening when done right of course.

It’s disputed as to where the best coffee in the world is grown, but many believe that the best premium gourmet coffee is grown in South America because in order to create the best coffee beans are needed for the process as well as the clearest water, etc.

In 2005 Brazil was the leader in production of coffee beans, and the soils here allow for some of the best conditions to grow coffee. It’s also disputed that some of the best coffee is grown in Columbia, and in the 1990’s a particular coffee company bearing the namesake became extremely popular from using Columbian coffee beans. The gourmet quality of coffee also comes from the way in which coffee is prepared, stored and roasted.

Storage is a key factor in determining premium gourmet coffee, is how it is stored. Most coffee is stored in an air tight container, and not allowing this air to enter preserves the essential oils. Also the beans need to be stored in a cool place, but not frozen. Freezing beans can damage them and make their taste poor.

A Twist to Coffee Drinking

Nowadays, coffee beverages already have a number of variants dedicated to differences in taste, aroma and texture that most coffee drinkers are already used to seeing new names on menus in coffee houses. A lot of flavors indicate more traditional tastes while others are experimental and more intense to the senses. But what if one wants a change of coffee flavor while brewing a pot at home? Would it take another brewing period to change the flavor according to one’s specifications? This is where flavored coffee syrups come into the picture. They give a new whole character into every cup that would certainly entice those who are looking for another way of preparing their choice of drink.
These flavored coffee syrups come from a variety of sources may they be from nuts, berries, and other fruits that can add that extra “something” to every cup.

Flavored Choices

Some prefer their flavored coffee syrups added in generous amounts, while others want them just a teensy bit for a little twist of flavor in their palates. These are the usual types preferred:

THANK GOODNESS FOR CROCK POT COOKING - IT SAVED THE DAY!

Am I ever grateful for crock pot cooking because I had an experience the other day which highlighted the benefits of cooking in a crock pot and fortunately it turned out extremely well!

I had invited my daughter and family over for dinner and planned on putting a crock pot on with lamb chops at about 10.30am. Well, I got busy at this computer and before I knew it 1pm loomed and the meat was still in the fridge and I had to go out! I quickly popped the chops into the crock pot, some water and that was it. Put it on high and took off out the door. (I NEVER start a lamb crock pot without putting in onions, bay leaves, peppercorns and carrots at the beginning.) No time for that this day, but at least it was in and cooking!

When I got back later at least the meat was cooked but no flavourings had been added, so hence a pretty bland meal. At about 5.45pm I thought ‘I had better fix this’ so I took out the chops, poured the juice into a pan, added honey/soy sauce, beef stock, salt and pepper, then thickened it. I thought about this mix then poured in a little balsamic vinegar.

With the holidays quickly coming upon us, many people are still seeking out different ways to book their last minute vacations. We have all found ourselves so overwhelmed with planning out a vacation that sometimes we find it difficult when it comes to choosing what features we want our all inclusive vacations to feature.

Some people tend to travel home for holidays, while others simply do not know where to choose to go for their special holiday event. There are a lot of websites that boast that they can teach you how to choose your holiday’s final destination spot. However, in the end the vacation spot that you select will be based on your own discretion.

This is one of the many reasons why I simply adore Club Med. I have always had problems choosing the right family vacation for my family and I, however with the help of this innovative sight I was able to do so.

They feature many interesting ideas for travel based on the amount of individuals that you coming in your party. For instance, my vacation was simply a vacation for my newlywed husband and I. I wasn’t sure what type of vacation venue would be appropriate until I visited the Club med vacations ideas.

If you have spent the bucks to buy the Prime Rib you will definitely want to make the best Prime Rib Roast and will like to hone your skills to get the best out of your ingredients and time. The praise and comments will also be worth the trouble if you manage to get a good meal together. We have compiled a list of simple tips that could be used to cook a good prime rib roast.

Prime rib is one of the best cut meats we can buy and is mostly served during some festival season such as season and New Year. Many eating establishments prefer to use prime rib for their meals as this is the best quality of meat, so naturally it will cost a bit more than the normal meat, and so one mistake and a whole lot of time and money is wasted.

As the name suggests the meat comes from the rib section of the stock and the word ‘prime’ goes on to describe the quality of the meat, however, the butcher will give his own monetary meaning to the cut. Whatever, the name suggests, this part of the meat stock is rich with connective tissue and nutrients and so is the best meat to cook.

How to make Great Lunches Simply

How many of us put cooking at the top of our priority list? In fact, far too people have made learning to cook a priority in their lives. This means that we often exist on convenience foods and boxed mixes rather than taking the effort to prepare healthy meals for our families and our own personal enjoyment.

The same holds true for lunches when we often resort to a can of soup or box of macaroni and cheese or some other such product rather than putting our creative efforts into making a quick and easy yet delicious lunch. You will see many ideas in this article and the hope is that these ideas will not only get you off to a great start for ending the lunch rut we all seem to find ourselves in at some time or another but also to try new things on your own.

This is a great tasting homemade chocolate pudding that is also low in fat. You can adjust this recipe to suit your own taste.

3/4 cup sugar

1/3 cup baking cocoa

1/4 cup cornstarch

1/8 teaspoon salt

3 cups fat free milk

1 (5 oz.) can evaporated milk

1 oz. German sweet chocolate, grated

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 cup whipped topping

Directions

In a large, heavy saucepan, combine the sugar, cocoa, cornstarch and salt. Gradually stir in the fat free milk and evaporated milk. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Cook and stir for 2 minutes or until pudding is thickened.

Remove from heat. Stir in the grated chocolate and vanilla. Spoon pudding into dessert dishes. Serve warm or cold with a dollop of whipped topping.

=> Chocolate Pudding Recipe: Quick and Easy Chocolate Pudding Recipe

This is a rich and delicious pudding that you make in your microwave. Tastes better than the instant pudding you buy in a box. For an extra treat, you can fold in bananas, or, fold in whipped cream to create a yummy chocolate mousse.

1/2 cup white sugar

Oh, you have to love pork! For so many delicious foods to come from one place is remarkable. Pork is one of the easiest foods to prepare, as there is much you can do with it. From barbecue sandwiches to roasts to sausage, pork provides so much variety that making it is not the hard part; it’s the deciding what to make next that will present the problem! Cooking pork in the Crock Pot will render some of the tenderest meat found anywhere and you’ll want to serve it again and again. If you’re in a bind for what to do next with pork, here are a few simple pork recipes for the Crock Pot.

The first suggestion to come to mind has to do with how wonderful pork and apples go together, as though they were made for each other from the beginning. If making something in the slow cooker with pork, whether it’s pork chops, a roast or ham, how about using apple juice combined with a small amount of corn starch to pour over it? Make sure to add some chopped apple for some extra flavor. To really dress things up a bit, toss in some fresh cranberries, honey, cloves and nutmeg for an aromatic fall meal.

A lot of flavorsome Italian food recipes are available which you can easily prepare and serves to your guests. Why pay for a restaurant meal when you can make things really easily at home? These simple recipes are easy to prepare and lovely to serve. Try some of those listed below.

Chicken Marsala

One of the most popular Italian recipes made with wine is chicken Marsala. Based on Marsala wine, mixed with sherry wine, this is an exclusive and elegant recipe and is apposite for the most sophisticated events or official parties. It is easy to prepare, low fat by using skinless boneless chicken breasts and very little oil. It also contains fresh herbs, usually oregano. In this dish chicken is generally served on a bed of steamed rice along with steamed vegetables. A fantastic way to eat low fat food.

Shrimp Scampi

This recipe is also an excellent Italian dish usually loved by the local Italians. It is good with garlic and butter. Serve it with crusty bread to make it more attractive to the diners.

Spaghetti and Meatballs