The Professional Chef |

Ted Goldberg asked:


If you’re grilling, skewer some fresh fruit and marinate them in grapefruit juice and honey, while you’re cooking and eating the rest of your meal. When you’re ready, pop the skewers on the grill for about five minutes, turning occasionally to prevent burning.

You’ll find pre-made angel food cake at most grocery stores. Some are now offering a sugar-free version. You can make easy no bake desserts at home, if you plan ahead, and no one will know that you didn’t slave in the kitchen all day.

All it takes is a store-bought angel food cake, a pint of sliced strawberries, a can of pineapple slices (not in syrup) and a container of light cool whip. Spread the thawed cool whip first, and then arrange the fruit slices on top…voila! You have a dessert that looks good and tastes good, too. It’s light and low in calories, as well. You can really use any kind of fruits that you like, except bananas. The slices will turn brown.

If you want bananas, try making popsicles out of them. Skewer a half banana. Roll it in honey, then in a plate of crushed nuts. Wrap them in plastic and pop them in the freezer. If you have kids, they’ll love making these themselves. The bananas make a tasty cool treat on a hot summer day.

If you want elegant no bake desserts, that are also sugar and flour free, why not let someone else do the work for you. How does chocolate truffle cake sound or, how about a crust-less cheesecake? I’m a good cook, but I can’t do either of them myself.

For parties and special occasions, I always serve two selections for the dessert menu. One is for those of us that are trying to watch our waist lines. The other is for those that are less concerned. I found that my guests liked the flourless sugar free cheesecake, just as much as the regular.

So, now, I just order two New York Style Cheesecakes, no sugar-added cheesecakes and top them with fresh strawberries. These are no bake desserts that don’t require much planning ahead, since I can order them on-line and they’ll be delivered to my door the next day.

With my family’s busy lifestyle, I simply don’t have much time to cook anymore. If you’re like me, you are commuting, working a full day, trying to get dinner done and on the table every night, while trying to entertain occasionally. We really need all of the help we can get.

Before Cheesecake Delivered.Com, trying to come up with easy no bake desserts was the best solution that I could come up with. Now, I just order dessert on line and forget about it.

dinjansamana asked:


Cooking school is valuable! Sometimes when it comes to cooking class and a cooking business, you are laying a base for a way of life and life path. Remember the Navy TV commercial, much more than a job, it’s an adventure? Definitely, that will be true for you also. If you set, your course to be the best you can in cooking you are also embarking on one of the greatest episodes of your career. Not only will you the skills and techniques you value in cooking school but also you will nurture great friends and beneficial contacts. enjoyment of cooking is a wonderful starting point but it will not be enough in itself. Training is important and cooking schools will grow your love of cooking into a coveted skill that will probably earn you abundance of money as well as respect and appreciation for your knowledge and skill in a kitchen. The knowing “how to” part of cooking is what separates the good from the best and will allow you to attain excellence on much higher levels.

You begin with the desire; you only need the “how to”. My Brother in Law from England likes cooking crepes. He is actually very determined about it and looks forward to cook them at family get-togethers. The only thing is, it is also the only thing he knows how to prepare. Although some people might consider him somewhat of an expert on crepes, his knowledge base and practical cooking experience doesn’t go beyond that. This is exactly why you should give it your all and take the opportunity of going to cooking school like you know you should. You will be glad you did and your family and friends or customers will reap the rewards along with you. Man, do I wish my Brother in law had enrolled in cooking school so we could have something at parties besides crepes even though he makes awesome crepes. Cooking schools give you the basics that you will need to grow in commercial kitchens as well as practical knowledge about how to run your own home kitchen.  you learn things like nutrition that is so important today with people exercising and desiring healthy meals. As you know, cooking school’s students are often hired by major hotels, resorts and health spas.

One of the most important aspects of being a cook for others is to be able to produce tasty but nutritious menus that will please anyone looking for health and long life. As you consider your future, cooking school will also help you with the foundation of food storage and safe food handling practices that will lay foundation for you to build on. You will also learn and become an expert on all of those fabulous herbs and spices. Knowing when you can substitute dried herbs for fresh ones and how to properly store fresh herbs to keep their flavor will put your sauces on everyone’s favorites list. Without a cooking school to lead us, how would we even know about high and low heat techniques, thickeners, pan searing, quick pan frying or cooking at high altitudes? It is the cooking techniques that you will receive and that you will gain from cooking school. You will also take away an arsenal of tools, knives, kitchen equipment and neat gadgets to make you’re cooking delicious. A cooking school will do that for you If you want something more than a prep job in a kitchen then don’t accept less. Invest yourself in the cooking you desire and get the confidence and skills to take your love of cooking to its top level. Set a life course and make it an adventure, be your best and let your talent shine. Reach for your dreams and enroll in cooking schools.

Arturo asked:


Eating a low fat diet can give you so many health benefits. You will enjoy increased energy, weight loss as well as a host of other health benefits. Many people think that eating low fat will mean a loss of taste. It all depends upon you and how much creativity and effort you want to put into your low fat cooking.

Low fat dessert can also be a part of a new and improved way of eating. You can find many recipes for low fat dessert if you are determined to find them. Many low fat dessert recipes can be created from existing recipes using low fat substitute ingredients. There are many delicious foods that can be consumed when you are on a low fat diet.

Low fat dessert will be something you look forward to eagerly when you discover new ways to make old favorites. Once you begin to eat a low fat diet, sticking to it will become easier over time and making a low fat dessert can help you stay the path.

You can find magazines that have so many menu suggestions for low fat meals and low fat dessert. You can also purchase a book, or do your research online concerning low fat dessert. There are so many tasty ways to make low fat living fun and easy.

Any health care professional will tell you that your diet has a lot to do with your health. You should incorporate a low fat diet along with eating real food and exercise. It will also help when you drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day.

Once you begin eating low fat dessert and other foods, you will be surprised at how much more pep and vigor you feel. Exercising will be a pleasure once you feel energetic. You will eliminate the heavy foods that were keeping you feeling tired and sluggish all the time. This is especially true for people who eat plenty of fast foods. This kind of high fat diet can surely end your life sooner than it should.

Daniel Jowssey asked:


More often than not, after stuffing myself with my favorite main meal, the last thing on my mind is dessert. No meal is complete without desserts. A dessert is a type of food that gives the finishing touch to at the end of the meal to make it perfect. The origin of the term is really interesting. The term “desserts” has been derived from Old French term “desservir” which means cleaning the table. Normally the desserts are sweet food. Some desserts like types of cheese have different flavors. The trend to have desserts at the end of the meal is comparatively new in the western culture. If we look back in time, we can see there was always a custom to have nuts and fruits at the end of the meal. It gradually turned into desserts. But sweet dish was comparatively new addition in the list. Common types of deserts are custards, fruits, pudding, biscuits, cookies, cakes, pastries, ice creams, gelatin desserts, pies, sherbets, soufflés, meringues, petits fours and trifles and many more.

Before the development of the sugar industry in the 19th century, sweet used to be out of reach for the middle class. It was a rare holiday delicacy. A sweet dish in the meal was a note of aristocracy at that time. After the sugar industry was mechanized, sugar became cheaper. And, as a result, it gradually took a permanent place in the full course meal. In some cuisine, dessert is not used as a separate part at the end of the meal. In those cuisines, sweet dishes are eaten during the meal. In some cultures the dessert is not at all a part of the meal. They are especially reserved for some special occasions. Desserts are often eaten as separate meal sometime after the meal. But obviously it is done when the setting has a casual tone. In American concept, any sweet dish that follows a meal can be a dessert. Be it milkshake or other drinks, there are many restaurants that are specialized in the domain of desserts.

Cooks Central was founded in early 2006. We wanted to build a community where fellow home-chefs can share and discuss all sorts of recipes. As opposed to traditional cookbooks or sites with published recipes, Cooks Central gives you a more diverse array of recipes.

We realized there were way too many sites that just published their own standard recipes, without any input from you. So, we built this site where our members run the show and decide what gets on here. To be more helpful, we added a review box, so now you can review any recipes that are here. Read reviews to see what others thought and if perhaps someone else came up with an even better way! We also have a glossary of cooking terms, a kitchen safety section, a measurement guide, a nutrition section, as well as a virtual recipe box, where you can add all of your favorite recipes!

We are currently in the process of building an interactive member forum, where members will be able to discuss anything from topics regarding food, to anything else under the sun! Our mission is to build an interactive community for our members where you can drop in at anytime, share information, get recipes, and chat about anything and everything!

Eugene Yeng Aik Ngin asked:


Sushi is a delicious, healthy and easy to prepare food. Deciding on and finding your ingredients, preparing the beautiful presentation, and enjoying your creation are all part of the fun of sushi. Finding a great sushi recipe is the first step in putting together a wonderful meal.

Sushi, traditionally, refers to rice, but it has developed to include the whole concept of the finger food. It commonly is a fish or vegetable, served with vinegar rice. A sushi recipe can be presented in several ways. Some common ways are wrapped in seaweed, served in a bowl, in bite size pieces or in a cone type wrap. Wide ranges of vegetables, seafood, and shellfish are used throughout a sushi recipe.

There are some common ingredients that you should always have on hand to prepare a good sushi recipe. These include seaweed, called nori, rice, and sushi vinegar. These are the base ingredients you will need to start with for any sushi recipe. Several sauces such as soy sauce, and wasabi; a spicy paste like substance, are commonly served with sushi to enhance the flavor. Common vegetables in a sushi recipe include carrots, cucumber, peppers, and avocado. Common seafood used in sushi recipes are crab, salmon, octopus, and shrimp. This is by no means an exhaustive list of what you can use in your sushi recipe. The sky is the limit. Get creative as you like with your sushi recipe.

Where can you find a good sushi recipe? There are several great places where you can find a good sushi recipe. A great place to start is the Internet. By doing a quick search through a search engine for sushi recipe, you can find some great websites that will provide you with a great sushi recipe. Often, they will provide you with detailed pictures and instructions that can help when preparing your sushi recipe. Also, try bookstores for their cookbook selections or local sushi restaurants to see if they will share their sushi recipe.

There are several pieces of kitchen equipment that can help you in preparing a sushi recipe. One of the most important pieces of equipment is a sharp knife. A sharp knife is essential in cutting and preparing the ingredients for your sushi recipe. It will allow you to cut your fish into thin slices, slice vegetables into attractive shapes and designs, and do all of these with ease. Another very helpful piece of equipment is a bamboo mat, traditionally called sushimaki sudare or makisu. This mat is what you use when you roll your sushi such as in a California roll. It is possible to roll with your hands, but the rice can be very sticky, so the mat can help eliminate a little frustration while preparing your sushi recipe. Other equipment such as rice cookers and sushi presses can also help make the preparation quicker, but they are not essential for preparing a good sushi recipe.

A final touch in the presentation of your sushi recipe is the plates and dishes you serve them on and the utensils that you use to eat them. Patterned china dishes, saucers, and cups are a beautiful touch. You can also use matching dispensers for items such as soy sauce. Often, chopsticks are used when eating sushi. Chopsticks come in all styles from wooded to metal and can complement your presentation beautifully. You can also eat sushi with your fingers, so make sure to have some nice matching napkins with the dishes.

It is easy to find the ingredients you need to complete your sushi recipe. Sushi recipes generally use basic ingredients that can be found easily. Many of the ingredients, if not all, can be purchased at most local grocery stores. If your grocery store does not carry what you need, try asking them to bring it in. Many companies will bring in supplies that are requested by their customers. For more complicated recipes that require special ingredients, many Asian specialty stores carry the more obscure ingredients on a regular basis. These stores can provide hard to find sushi recipe ingredients, often directly from Asian suppliers. A final option for finding your sushi recipe ingredients is online. There are countless websites that you can use to order everything from your good ingredients to equipment to finishing touches such as utensils.

Sushi is a wonderful food style. It’s fun to follow a sushi recipe and see your final result. Many people consider preparing a sushi recipe an art form. It can be an exciting addition to your family dinner or an impressive dinner party concept. With a great sushi recipe, you can make out standing delicacies. It can be a great bonding event; gather the family together and everyone can make their own sushi dish. Grab your sushi recipe, your ingredients, your equipment, and have some fun.

For more info, please visit http://www.thairecipe-sushirecipe.info

Paula Cherrist asked:


So you’ve just moved into your new Chicago condo and have a great patio, balcony or terrace just waiting to be used. As long as your building permits it, the summer tradition of barbecuing may be high on your list of things to do this summer. A lot of Chicago real estate, including some of the lofts listed here http://www.bestchicagocondos.com/lofts/index.html already have rooftop building space designated for grilling. Other units may have gas hook-ups already in place and waiting for you to install a gas grill. But some traditionalists and hard core barbeque fans will say that charcoal is the way to go.

With that in mind, along with the fact that many may be on a budget, shopping for a good and reasonably priced charcoal grill is a priority. You could easily spend a couple of hundred for a gourmet grill, but as long as the basic structural details are met and the materials used aren’t cheap, you can save your money for some great cuts of meat instead. For less than $100 you can buy a charcoal grill that you can use for more than one season on your condo balcony or back patio, provided to take care of it and don’t leave it uncovered in the weather.

There are a few basic styles of charcoal grill. Kettle grills are probably the most common and they actually do resemble a large kettle. Round in shape with normally three or four legs, they are the great for grilling almost any typical meal. The four legged ones often have wheels on two of the legs so that you can easily roll them to another spot. They also often have a small fold down wooden side rack that is handy for sitting plates of food or utensils.

There are also variations on the kettle grill often called portable grills. This style is smaller in size with a more round, flat shape, shorter legs and often no closeable lid or top. They are great for a quick burger or hot dog and are usually very inexpensive, although sometimes don’t last as long structurally.

There are rectangular shaped charcoal grills that look a lot like typical gas grills. These grills are often made from heavier metals, sometimes cast iron, and have more grilling surface and greater control over cooking temperature, etc.

With those basic styles in mind, here are a few specific charcoal grill examples with the average price that they are selling for in 2008.

The Weber One Touch Silver kettle grill is a really nice grill for both beginning grill chefs and experienced BBQ masters. The actually grill measures 22.5 inches and will hold about six steaks, a dozen hamburgers or two dozen hot dogs. As with all good kettle grills, the rounded shape reflects heat back inward fairly evenly for great cooking. This grill is made from steel and is porcelain covered to prevent rust and paint peeling. It has three legs with wheels, aluminum vents and ash tray plus nylon handles. The ashes sift into a tray that is easily pulled out and emptied. Prices on this grill run from about $65 to $100.

Another great Webber grill is the Go Anywhere Charcoal Grill. This smaller charcoal grill is constructed from steel and coated with porcelain and has three nylon handles. The grate is made from heavy duty plated steel and the legs pivot and lock to make carrying easy. You can fit a lot of food on the 160 square inches of grilling surface. The Go Anywhere is priced at about $45.

The Old Smokey Barbeque Grill comes in three sizes, but all are made with the same high standards. These grills have shorter legs so you can sit and grill if you get tired of standing and is deeper so that the charcoal fire isn’t as close to the meat. This allows meat to cook through without burning on the outside. The body of the Smokey grill is made from aluminized steel to help prevent rust.

The Small Smokey is great for someone to take on trips or for someone who is only grilling for two or three people. It is very inexpensive at about $35.

The Classic Smokey is a good size for cooking for four to six people. It measures about 27 inches tall with an 18 inch diameter. The Classic runs about $47 to $50.

And for a big appetite or crowd on your patio, the Jumbo Old Smokey can handle it. The Jumbo will cost you around $70.

There are dozens of other brands and models of charcoal grills, but these examples should give you an idea of what you need to get started on your grilling adventure. So slide open those balcony doors, step out onto the patio or porch and get all fired up.

Abhishek Agarwal asked:


You can organize a gret event for your family and friends by prepairing delicious and hot barbecued foods using free outdoor cooking grills. Grilling refers to the technique of cooking food in which intense heat is given to form a crust on the outer surface of the food. Outer surface seals the juices in the food and results in deliccious meals. You can make your menu scrumptious with some seasoning or basting during the preparation of food.

Before you start grilling your food it is important to ensure that the grill is clean. To cook appropriately you need to heat the free outdoor cooking grills first of all and then place seasoned foods on its metal rack so that it can receive appropriate amount of heat required to cook the food. Grilling only demands a little preparation and is not a difficult or time consuming process. One who had food cooked using grilling cannot forget the delicious tast of this food and the enjoyment of cooking. E.G. Kingsford is credited as the major force behind grilling tradition.

The two major types of free outdoor cooking grills are as follows:

1) Outdoor cooking gas grills: Outdoor cooking gas grills are widely used nowadays by most of the people as it does not involves use of charcoal. Liquid petroleum is used by these gas grills to grill the food. The heat is radiated to heating elements of the grill directly which helps in grilling the food. Different types of cooking gas grills are available with various sizes and shape to suit your requirements.

2) Outdoor cooking charcoal grills: It has a metal disc and comprises of hollow metal hemisphere that is surrounded by its three legs. The food to be cooked is placed in the upper grate while metal disc helps ash by holding the charcoal which is in the lower grate. Various types of grills are available to suit your requirements. You may choose from rectangular, round or square shape of different sizes are available widely. Grills with various features are available, some grills are loaded with lid while others are without lid. Some types of grills have venting while others do not support this feature.

Brazier grills are the most widely used outdoor cooking charcoal grills. These grills are not expensive and are easily available. Hibachi Grills is another subdivision of charcoal grills which was originated in China. Some other examples of charcoal grills are Ceramic Cooker andn Kettle Cooking grill.

Cooking grills are also available with freestanding grills which are convenient to move the cooking center from one place to another as per your needs. You can place your cooking center under a canopy during the rainy days. Fully equipped free outdoor cooking grills are also available that can work as a kitchen. Your grill can handle variety of menus with the combination of several features and capability that are available to you.

Therefore, whenever you are planning to purchase a cooking grill, it is advised to figure out your individual requirements. Outdoor cooking is prevalent in almost all parts of the world and selection of correct type of grilling equipment would ensure more comfort.

Jeffrey S. Dutt asked:


Mention the words “multi level marketing” and everyone will tell you, “pah, it’s nothing but a pyramid scheme!” But is that really true? Well, it’s is definitely the right reaction to have sometimes. Many, many multi level marketing opportunities are pyramid schemes. However, that doesn’t mean they all are, and there is ample evidence that this is the case. Brands like Pampered Chef, Avon and Mary Kay are all run in the multi level marketing format, and they are respected and successful businesses. So how do you spot the difference? Here are the things you should look for that will let you know that idea being pitched to you is not a viable business opportunity but rather a pyramid scheme that could cost you big time in the long run.

Listen carefully when you’re being pitched a multi level marketing opportunity. If you set aside all of the promises of wealth and the endless success stories from people “just like you,” you may find that many multi level marketing pitches are essentially pretty superficial and free of any real details. What exactly does the company sell? How exactly do they sell it? You may come to realize that what this company is focused on is recruiting people, getting them to pay a membership fee, and then getting them to recruit more people – and so on and so forth. When a company doesn’t have a real product that they are concerned with selling, you are definitely dealing with a pyramid scam.

The important thing here to note is that you shouldn’t be confused by the fact that the company does actually have a product. Most multi level marketing companies have something they profess to sell, from travel deals to nutritional supplements. But is that really their bread and butter? They may tell you it is, but take a closer look. Are the products you have to purchase to re-sell so highly priced that there is no way you could turn a profit on them? Is the line extremely limited? Does it seem like there really is a market for that good? Sometimes the “product” is just something they keep around to distract investigators who are trying to shut down pyramid scams.

What about the sales materials you are given and the sales training they provide to you. Are they teaching you about the product? Are they telling you to try to turn every customer into a representative like yourself? A good company will have an easy time finding reps because they sell products that are of good quality and people will naturally want to sell them themselves. A bad company will need to recruit right out of the gate will not really care what you think of the products or if you even buy them at all.

Last but not least, you may wonder what the harm actually is in a pyramid scam. Well, they’re destined to fail, they prey on those who can least afford to take part, and they’re illegal. All good reasons to protect yourself from getting involved.

Diep Tran asked:


The battle of the Network Marketing companies, all competing to rise to the top of the multi-level marketing business and sign the most important person in their business, you. In network marketing, companies rely of the training and the “passing of the torch” from one marketing associate to the other in order to gain more employees. More employees mean one thing to network marketing affiliates, more sales, more media coverage, and more promotion.

In marketing, nothing works as fast as word of mouth. How does this work? Say Suzie Q decided to be a stay at home mom but still needs some extra income. She wants to work from the home and still have the time she needs in order to help raise her family. Suzie Q might try a network marketing company such as Pampered Chef or Avon (These two have been around for quite some time and have a solid reputation) in order to set her own business hours and goals for her income. Suzie Q tries her company, works a couple or more hours per week and is seeing some money coming in. Suzie Q is ecstatic, she just can’t believe how much she’s earning and loving her new home-based business, so Suzie Q tells Jane, her best friend that’s working full-time but just needs some extra income for those odds and ends that she’s wanted to save up for. Jane signs on and tells her friend Sally who tells her friend Tammy. See how this works? And guess what? Suzie Q is making a percentage of everything all of those people are selling. And before you know it, because of Suzie Q, the entire town knows about Pampered Chef and many are buying and selling.

Many find this type of marketing brilliant and many do not. Why? Well, mainly because of the different companies. When the network-marketing craze began about 20 years ago, like with anything, some wonderful companies emerged and hot on their tails where the not so reputable companies with scam artists leading the way. Taking money for their services and promising riches and giving nothing in return. This hurt the network marketing market for a little while but they’re bouncing back with a vengeance.

Many wonderful companies have combated the negative image and have gotten positive returns. If you’re looking for a reputation Network Marketing Company to begin your home-based business, or if someone has approached you with an opportunity and you’re still leery, it’s best to check out the reputation of that company before signing. Check with the Direct Sales Association for company affiliation. It’s an organization that holds Network Marketing Companies to a higher standard. Contact the Better Business Bureau and ask questions about specific companies and most importantly go with your instinct. If something sounds too good to be true, chances are it is.

Jude Wright asked:


One of the first things that is always added to the “I can’t have” list when starting a diet is dessert. Such things as cheesecake, chocolate, ice cream, cupcakes and cookies have been forbidden. Of course, when you know you can’t have it, that’s when you want it the most!

So, when she does have a bite of that forbidden sweet, it usually becomes a binge eating session. On the other hand, if that food is allowed on her diet, it’s likely she won’t want is half as bad as if it is forbidden.

So instead of banning those precious desserts from your diet, determine which foods are particularly important to you. Work those foods into your diet and cut back on those that are not as important to you. If chocolate is your passion, pick a reasonable portion that you may have on certain days.

Having what you like most helps you to avoid binge eating. But eating small amounts of dessert on a regular basis can also cut down on unnecessary snacking. When you eat a dessert after your meal, your brain gets the signal that it needs to know that the meal is really over. Without that something sweet, you may not feel satisfied. And you’ll be searching through the refrigerator and pantry looking for something to snack on.

When you’re adding desserts into your fat fighting plan, you need to pay attention to the portion size and fat content. Here are a few ways to do that:

1. Ask yourself, “Do I have to have dessert every day? Does my body physically crave it? The answer is probably no. So, instead of having dessert every day, try to have it only four times a week. Then make your dessert days the same days that you exercise. You won’t feel as guilty about indulging.

2. Don’t eat fat you don’t need. Just because you want to eat something sweet, doesn’t mean it has to be the most fattening dessert available. Instead of eating cheesecake or chocolate chip cookies, have fig bars, sherbert, or ginger snaps.

3. Satisfy your craving for sweets with fruit. Make a dessert out of fruit by making a fruit shake. Add a puree of fruit to skim milk, cinnamon and vanilla. Blend it all in a blender until smooth. Sweet – but not fattening.

4. Take only three bites. On those days when you absolutely can’t do without the most fattening dessert on the planet, go ahead and indulge. But — only take three normal sized bites. Savor each bite. Chew it slowly and enjoy it. Sometimes that is all that is needed to take the edge off of your cravings.

So, you see, you can have dessert! Just be reasonable about it. Don’t totally bann those goodies from your diet. If you totally deprive yourself, you are more likely to go on a 2-gallon icecream binge later.