Apple Cake

Apple cake brings out the best in apples in cake variety. It functions beyond the established apple pie and takes apples into a more charmed dessert or afternoon bite. The apples, sliced or chopped up, may be mixed into the batter or used as a topping like an upside down cake. In other instances, the apples are turned into applesauce and merged into the batter to make the cake moist and full of apple flavor. Get apple cake recipe videos online here.

The standard apple cake recipe spotlights the remarkable combination of cinnamon and apple. Ground cinnamon adds a subtle hint of spice to the apple cake just as it does to apple pies. To make an apple cake, you would need a baking apple that must be peeled, cored and then cut. It is tossed with a bit of flour and sugar so that it bonds to the batter when supplied later.

The cake batter is then gathered, starting with mixing the dry elements first (flour, sugar, baking powder and salt) before the liquid ingredients are added (eggs, oil, melted unsalted butter, orange juice and vanilla extract). Unlike the more delicate chiffon and angel cakes, the apple cake has the less delicate crumbs and the more flavorful batter of a pound cake.

To bake the apple cake batter, it must be poured in a cake pan or a tube pan (a Bundt cake pan would also look appealing when you unmold the cake later) but only halfway. Arrange the apple slices on top of this batter before you pour the last remaining cake batter on the slices. Finally, finish off with the last of the apple slice mixture. Cool the apple cake onto a wire rack.

Give the apple cake some crackle by adding chopped up walnuts into the cake batter or arrange some toasted pecans on the bottom of the cake pan before pouring the batter. When you serve the apple cake, the nuts on top will look appetizing and provide a contrast texture to the apples.

Experiment with other flavors and ingredients that would go nicely with your apple cake. For one, cranberries, caramel, sour cream, buttermilk, yogurt, cornmeal and even ginger will give you exciting flavors for your apple cake. As topping, make a cream cheese frosting, brown sugar glaze and streusel topping, or a great quality vanilla bean ice cream for your apple cake.

Honey Sweetness

It is said that honey was obtained in the graves of ancient Egypt, admitting as food source for the spirits of the Pharaohs in the afterlife.  The logic behind this is that honey does not spoil.  This special characteristic is due to the naturally occurring antibiotic produced by the bees that end up in the honey.  This antibiotic forbids bacterial growth, which causes spoiling.  Its high sugar concentration also keeps other organisms to prosper in it.  Going back to the jars of honey discovered in the Egyptian tombs, it was discovered to be still eatable despite being untouched for centuries.

Aside from this unique trivia, this sweet syrup produced by bees has a lot of profits in the body.  The sugar grants the body vitality needed for the day.  It’s a natural upper and energy booster minus the palpitation.  It also beefs up the resistance system and helps fight cancer since honey features anti-carcinogenic and anti-tumor holdings.  Due to its antimicrobial attributes, honey also aids combat sore throat in soothing the inflammation and honey’s natural sobering agent is an amazing remedy for a hangover.  A jar of this amazing stuff should unquestionably be held in the kitchen.  If some beauty brands have honey-infused merchandises like soaps and facial creams, this is due to the fact that honey is great also for the skin, promoting tissue growth, anti-ageing, and moisturizing.  It is also a natural antiseptic and a natural exfoliant.

Honey is a natural sweetener and may be used to dulcify tea, smoothies, and juices.  It may be spread on toast in the morning as the perfect energy booster especially if you’re feeling a little groggy.  There are also recipes that call for it as a sweetener rather of table sugar, such as salads, muffins, breads, and doughnuts.  Even mixing honey with warm water is an excellent drink that even children would enjoy. You can get ideas from online recipes videos on what you can do with honey.  It’s also very hearty for the body as well.

This miracle in a jar is a natural food that can be used not only to up the sugariness factor in breads, pastries, beverages, and dessert, it also has health benefits for the body by boosting vigor and help combat diseases like the common coughing and sore throat and also in the long run, with its anti-tumor properties, fight cancer as well.  This sweet material does indeed have a lot of great purposes, and it’s no wonder why some homes have made it a basic in their kitchen cupboards.  There are also yummy recipe videos from smoothies to biscuits, and sometimes savory main dishes, stir fries, and stews that maximize this sweet stuff also.

Stews

Next to soup, stew is a comfort dish in the cold of wintertime and rainy days. Best helped steaming hot in a bowl, the stew is a long, slow simmered dish that nurtures both soul and stomach. Mothers and grandmothers make it as a main dish for lunch or dinner, their stews sometimes never requiring a written recipe for it’s filed away in their culinary memories and developed out of elements on hand. A pot of stew simmering away and enwrapping the kitchen with its savory, meaty vapors gets the home a gratifying place to come home to.

Apart from beef, chicken and fish may also be used in making stews. Stew cooking videos online on the site include beef stew with peas, catfish stew, chicken peanut butter stew, classic lamb stew, pork stew with squash and Mexican chicken stew recipe videos.

A stew is “a dish of meat and veggies prepared easy in liquid in a closed dish or pan,” as specified by the Oxford English Dictionary. Cooks since the early times have been making several varieties of stew. In “A History of Stew” in the Food Reference web site, various recipes had been published in old cookbooks—from the Roman Apicius’ cooking book to the French chef Taillevent and Herodotus. The creating of cooking pots comforted the preparing of stews.

To the French, the stew is called ragout came from the word
ragoûter, which means "to revive the taste,” as described by its Wikipedia entry. Stews vary according to the meat used and its accompanying components. Examples listed by the Food Reference website include the paprika-inflected Hungarian goulash, the coq au vin, beef stroganoff, and Boeuf Bourguignonne, the stew that chef and author Julia Child generalized in her book and show.

The constituents of stew involve the meat, veggies and cooking liquid. Some of the meat cuts utilized in stewing includes round steak, chuck, chuck roast, bottom round roast, top round, pot roast and those labelled “stew meat.” You can buy the meats already pre-cut into blocks or you can do the slicing yourself.

Stewing is also suitable for the least tender cuts of meat that become tender and juicy with the slow moist heat method. Usually, stew formulas call for dredging the meat in flour and browning it in a frying pan before it’s prepared in the pot with the vegetables, spices, and the cooking liquid of choice—water, wine, stock or broth.

Learning about Side Dishes

A side order is the understudy to the entree, which is the star of the meal. It is “a dish served as supplemental to the main one,” as specified by the Oxford English Dictionary. Even if it’s a secondary dish, an auxiliary, a side kick, side dishes fulfill a substantial role on the dining table. Think meat and potatoes—the meat is consumed with a side of mashed potatoes, to supplement the heartiness of the meat. Without something for the meat to partner with, it grows quite dull.

A side order is usually to be consumed as a partner of the main course, always by its side, so to speak. So that means the side order must go rather well with the main course either as a corresponding meal or a contrasting character. Take vegetables, for example. Since main courses are usually meat, poultry and seafood, vegetables are a ideal match in so many means. First Of All, it cuts the fullness that these meats usually give. It also adds the crunch of carrots and the wither of leaves. Finally, vegetable side orders lend something nutritious aside from the protein of the meat.

In one dish repasts, a side dish helps break from the monotony. Imagine taking southern fried chicken without a side of biscuits or mashed potatoes and gravy.  To counter too much spice, for example, a side order can help refresh the palate. Having side orders somewhat finishes the whole eating feel.

Further, if the main course is a bit meager, the side dish can help extend the meal. After all, most side orders take as very few elements as it can. Its preparation should also not be too refined and instead be as casual as blanching an asparagus and dousing it with a truffle puree. (The more fanciful preparations and ingredients are normally held for the main course). Or it can be gentler, like a bowl of Indian aloo matar or a plate of cooked tomatoes. You can learn a lot of side dishes from recipe videos online.

Perhaps the most noticeable entremets come out during Thanksgiving holidays. For it is the time for roast turkey, it needs traditional complements by its side. A flurry of fixed stuffings, corn and carrots, mashed potato, candied yams, sweet corn on the cob, sautéed button mushrooms with garlic butter—all these make your roast turkey even more special during your Thanksgiving meal.

There are times though when the entremets can become the main course. This is normally done when there are several small plates of side orders eaten together. And in concert indeed, these side dishes shine.

Roast

For a serve that drips with flavor, consider roasting or cooking roast. This is a cooking method wherein the food (usually meat) is open to dry heat in the oven or over a fire. It is also done by surrounding the food with hot embers, grit, or stones, as specified in the Merriam Webster dictionary. You can watch recipe videos for roasting meat online.

What is Cooking Roast?
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) urges roasting when preparing meats that are tender. “To roast, meat is set on a stand in a shallow, uncovered pan and is cooked by the indirect dry heat of an oven. To hold the meat tender and minimise shrinkage due to the evaporation of moisture, a fairly low oven temperature of 325 °F should be practiced.”

Since the meat is seared during roasting, the flavor is elevated especially when a crusty brown surface is made and the juices respond to the procedure known as Maillard reaction or as caramelization (as per Wikipedia). This does not mean a lovelier flavor in meats, but more of that rich, savory flavors given off by cooked meat.

Roasting is also befitting for large cuts of meats (hence, whole turkeys, whole chicken, whole duck, pork tenderloin, rump roast, rib roast and others). It is essential, however, to observe safety especially in maintaining the appropriate internal cooking temperature of the meats. That’s also the grounds why most of the stuffing for chicken and turkey is prepared or just served on the side.

According to the USDA site, they “do not advocate cooking meat and poultry at oven temperatures lower than 325 °F because these foods could remain in the "Danger Zone" (temperatures of 40° to 140 °F) too long. Bacteria which may be present on these foods breed speedily at these temperatures.”

Tools for Roasting
In preparing roast, the household cook requires an oven, a roasting pan, a roasting fork, and a meat thermometer. Usually, the heavy roasting pan is high sided, with a roasting rack suited in the center which carries the meat and allows the drippage to fall into the pan below. The roasting pan should be large enough to hold the meat and its supports of veggies and sauces. Otherwise, the food cooks slowly or unequally when the pan is packed or the pan dries up quickly because it’s too big for the meat.  The roasting pan does not have a lid because once the pan is covered and not exposed to the dry heat, the food is steamed more than roasted.

How to Roast Meat and Other Foods
Place the biggest bit of food (usually meat, poultry, or fish) in the centre of the roasting pan. Add the vegetables, wine, chicken stock or barbecue sauce. Put the roasting pan in a preheated oven and cook the food until tender and done.  Measure the internal temperature of the meat using a meat thermometer that can be put into the flesh of the meat. Obviate drying up the meats by overcooking.

Vegan Treats

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Drinks to Wellness

A beverage pertains to any edible liquid that functions as a recreation and for meal time ingestion. Of all the drinks accessible to man, water is the most important. Whether it is served at room temperature, hot, or cold, water helps sustain us as much as it assists in digestion and eating. Present, aside from filtered table water, water as a beverage when dining out is accessible in bottled form and varied types, like mineral water, sparkling water, and the like.

Alcoholic drinks are also thought as a drink. These alcoholic beverages include red wine, white wine, rosé, champagne and sparkling wines, beer, ale, gin, brandy, whisky, fruit liqueurs, and other liquors. The process of making alcoholic drinks is an age old tradition in different countries. Each has its main elements—grapes for the wine, barley and others for the beer and peculiar spirits.

They are idyllic for drinking as much as they are perfect also in cookery and baking. You’ll see wines in sauces and stews, beer in barbecues and battered fish, brandy and whiskey in pecan pies, and fruit liqueurs in cakes and cupcakes. Learn to cook with wine with recipe videos online.

Other types of drinks include soda or soft drinks, which range from cola to sarsaparilla to popular brand names. Most often, sodas have superseded water as the main beverage of choice in every repast, most particularly when dining in fast food restaurants. If not sodas, there are also iced teas (the craze now is healthier iced teas made from green or white tea leaves). Canned or bottled fruit juices are also accessible for these meals or for breakfast. For breakfast, it is better to beverage fresh squeeze orange juice than the one from concentrates.

Milk is also a type of beverage, most especially commended for growing children and women who are at risk from osteoporosis. Its calcium and protein substance make it an idealistic drink like water. You can have fun with milk by making it into milk shakes and smoothies. If you’re lactose intolerant, beverage milk or dairy replacements like soymilk, rice milk, nut milks, and even milk form hemp. These are most oftentimes accessible in health food shops.

Coffee, tea, and hot chocolate are hot drinks that are drank for breakfast, afternoon breaks, and evening. Remarkable affair drinks like eggnogs (served during the Christmas season) indicate the holiday spirit in a glass.

Chicken Soup

Chicken Soup Cooking Video

Veggie Sandwich

Going vegetarian and thinking that it would mean the end of eating that fancy club?  Well technically, although there would be no meat now in the sandwiches, there are ways to still eat this very convenient meal even without the presence of deli cuts, chicken breast flakes, or canned tuna.  All it takes is a bit of research, a little creativity, and sometimes a bit of inspiration.

Bruschetta and other open-faced sandwiches may be a good place to start.  These may be served as cocktails or appetizers in a party.  Mushrooms sautéed in garlic are the usual choices for this type of meal, although in some cases, tomatoes, basil, and probably some cheese are included.  Carefully packed, they may also be a take-out lunch.  More often than not, it’s better to have open-faced sandwiches to be eaten right away than taking them for packed lunch. 

Protein sources for vegetable sandwiches are easy.  For one thing, there are mushrooms, which may be sautéed with onions and garlic before adding them in to the mix.  Portobello mushrooms have been great burger substitutes, and sometimes, they are made into open-faced sandwiches as well.  Beans in burritos and soft tacos also are great protein sources from plants with the same texture as meat.  Vegetable-based meat substitutes for burger patties are also available in health food stores, vegan stores, and groceries.  They are cooked the same way as meat burgers are cooked – pan fried or grilled.  Grill one veggie pattie, place it on a burger bun, top this with Monterey Jack Cheese, tomatoes, a few jalapeno peppers and lettuce leaves and you have your own spicy burger.  Fries on the side or veggie sticks and it’s an instant lunch.

Vegetables can also be roasted or grilled before placing them on ciabatta bread drizzled with garlic oil.  Cheese can then be grated on it (if you are pure vegan, then use a vegan cheese substitute).   Olives and mushrooms may be added too before toasting this or eaten as is.  To bring this sandwich to work, just wrap it in foil and place in your lunch bag and go.  The olives and cooked mushrooms give this dish an extra “meaty” texture and the roasted vegetables are not only a rainbow inside two pieces of bread, they are also a medley of different tastes and textures upon biting into the sandwich.

Vegetable sandwich recipes are still available, for those wanting to go vegetarian.  All it takes is a bit of inspiration and creativity to come up with several tasty and healthy concoctions.  Get ideas for sandwiches from video recipes online.

Meat Farandoles

Meat farandoles video recipe

Healthy Raw Food Snacks

When it comes to mid-day snacking, most of us have the first instinct to go to the nearby convenience store for a bag of chips or pop some microwave popcorn.  There have been attempts to go healthy but during snack time, we find ourselves craving for sinful treats after a rather light lunch meal.  Thankfully, we can still be healthy during our midday snacking and give our body the right food it needs.

A good and healthy diet encourages eating a rainbow of colors, meaning at least 5-6 servings of fruits and vegetables a day, at any color.  We normally eat them cooked or included in stews, but really, they can be enjoyed raw and as they are (although prepared for ease of eating, like peeled and sliced), just as how our ancestors used to eat them during prehistoric times.  Raw vegans attest that raw (or live or uncooked) food is packed with energy, vitamins, minerals, and everything healthy.  For those who are trying to lose weight, consuming raw fruits and vegetables are the way to go, because you do not gain weight, and in fact, lose weight as the body does not need to neutralize or detoxify the toxins in the body brought about by junk food or processed food.

Adding a bit of raw food during snack time or dessert is a great way to get started eating healthy.  If you are not yet convinced of going full raw vegan, then take some principles from this diet during snack time.  A banana or apple is the easiest thing to pack whenever you’re hungry.  An apple can be washed and eaten during snack.  A banana is easier because all you have to do is peel and go (don’t forget to dispose the peel properly to avoid any accidents).  Grapes, strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries may be eaten as dessert or snacks.  They are loaded with antioxidants for the body to help fight diseases.  For those who want something a bit saltier, slice up carrots, turnips, bell peppers (all three colors), and celery for an attractive veggie platter.  You may also serve them with salsa or dip of your choice for a bit more of a treat.  Fruits and vegetables blended together may also be a refreshing smoothie during a hot summer day or a refreshing drink post-workout.

Taking some principles of raw food diet may help us detoxify our bodies and start a healthy lifestyle by taking in what’s nutritious during the time we need to snack.  And what’s good is that they’re packed with the right things our body needs there’s no guilty or heavy and bloated feeling unlike consuming an entire bag of potato chips. 

Get ideas from video recipes now.
Read about gourmet coffee.

Thirst Quenchers

One of the great principles to a hearty life is to keep hydrated.  The eight tall glasses of water works, genuinely.  So it’s best to observe that habit and start it while young.  drinks, whether it be a cold glass of iced water to supercharge vigor or a cup of hot tea give the body the nutrition it demands, whether it be a cool rush during the hot summer day or the warmness of a steaming hot chocolate during winter.

During summer, we’re mostly outside, and when we’re out in the sun employing in our sports actions, we tend to get dehydrated.  Refreshing drinks are often the most received thing when we go indoors.  Fruit juices are available either already bottled or in tetra packs.  Some are instant powders ready-mixed with water for an instant refreshing beverage.  To get the most nutritious value, although it can be wearing, it’s better to use juices that are fresh, expressed from fruit or veggie and sweetened with cocoa sugar and honey.  There are formulas available to make several mixtures, depending on what the body needs, or merely the modality for the day.

Smoothies are denser since they use a combining of fruit juice and a blend of fruit and its flesh.  Sometimes, veges may be supplied to the mix to make a flavorsome green smoothie, meaning a smoothie made from a mixture of fruits and vegetables.  Not only is this sound, but this gets a lot of the benefits of the raw food diet in the body.  Although the opinion of juicing veggies makes you gag, with the right combination of ingredients, and adding a bit of spice such as cinnamon or cayenne pepper, it can be stimulating and flavorful.  Also, that supplemental spice gives the beverage a bit of a kick.

Warm drinks like coffee and tea serve different aims.  Both clean the roof of the mouth after a meal.  Coffee is usually the morning or afternoon pick-me-upper and may be served as it is or with cream, sugar, or milk.  There are also speciality coffees like cappuccino or mochas, which combine coffee with syrup, milk, and other condiments for a new form of beverage.  This also may be served iced in some eateries.  Tea has a lot of health benefits in the body.  The caffeine-free versions may be taken at dinner time, too, as a tranquilizing drink to help sleep.  Of course, steeping tea bags in hot water, letting it cool and contributing ice and some sweetenings produces a very popular beverage – iced tea.

Beverages hydrate, energize, and cool the body.  These should not be skipped and with a lot of alternatives and formulas available, these, along with good ol’ clean and potable water are very essential not only in mealtimes, but also during the day. Watch beverage recipe videos here.
Learn how to make chocolate ganache here,

Crab Cakes

Crab Cake Cooking Video

Gourmet Chicken

Get complete gourmet chicken recipe videos here.