The Professional Chef |

Chicken can be cooked in different ways- it can be grilled, steamed, fried and even barbecued. Any method you choose to cook your chicken can still result in tender juicy meat if you follow certain procedures.

One of the most useful kitchen gadget you can when cooking any meat is the meat thermometer. It allows you to determine the temperature of your meat accurately and that is the key to successful cooking.

For starters, I do recommend that you season the chicken before you begin. Brining is an easy way to add flavor to your chicken. You can varied the amount of salt and sugar to your liking. All you need to do is to soak the chicken in this salt and sugar solution before you begin cooking for about an hour and you should be set to go. All you need to do after this is to ensure that you washed off the brine and dry the meat before you cook.

Here are some ways you can choose to cook your chicken.

Microwave
Cooking a chicken in a microwave can very convenient but you should be mindful that it can result in uneven cooking.

For this method, place your chicken (should be boneless) in a microwave-safe dish. Add about 3/4 cup of buttermilk over the chicken. Add in your herbs and spices before you cook the meat on high temperature for about 10 minutes. Remove the meat from the buttermilk once it is cooked and your chicken should be ready to serve.

Sauteing

This is a fast and easy way. By ensuring that your meat is thin, you should be able to cook your meat in less than 5 minutes.

Pressure cooker

For this method, choose to add your thawed chicken to the cooker together with your herbs and spices. Add about 1/2 cup of water and you can cook it on high. Your meat should be ready in about 12-15 minutes.

Whichever method you choose, do check your meat before you serve them. The above methods should allow you to dish out a variety of mouth-watering chicken dishes from now on.

What barbecue is complete without burgers? Burgers are a staple feature of any backyard cookout. They’re easy to make and cook, inexpensive and can be eaten with a near-infinite variety of accompaniments. Plus, they’re tasty when you make them the right way!

The first step to grilling good burgers is to start with good burger patties. You should use freshly ground beef that contains about 20% fat for flavor. You can tell that the meat is good if it’s a bright pink color and doesn’t have any dark spots or an unpleasant smell. When forming the patty, don’t over mix the chilled meat; this can make the patty tough, and when that happens, not even the best tips for grilling burgers can help you then!

One of the key grilling burgers tips I’ve learnt is to first grill my burger patties over a high heat. This helps to seal the surface of the patty completely and keep all those tasty juices inside where they belong. The juices from the meat tell you when the patty has been cooked through. When the meat is still raw, the juices are pink, and when it’s fully cooked, the juices run clear.

Once you’ve got your burgers on the grill and sealed them, one important thing to remember when grilling burgers is to flip them just once with a spatula. Absolutely do not press down on the burgers while they’re cooking! It won’t make them cook any faster and doing so squeezes out all the juices you sealed in earlier. The result is a dry, tough burger patty that is no different from beef jerky in texture.

Cooking a good burger isn’t rocket science, but it sure is easy to get it wrong too. All good things come to those who wait, so patience is the key to grilling a tasty burger. Your guests will thank you for it!

These bisquick recipes cookies are quick, easy and delicious. Just check these out and I’m sure you’ll be amazingly surprised.

So here we go for some bisquick recipes cookies:

>> Bisquick Cookies
1 egg 1 instant pudding/small package 1/4 c oil 3/4 c bisquick

Combine all ingredients. Roll into balls and place on cookie sheet.
Flatten slightly. Bake at 375 degrees for 7-8 minutes.

>> Bisquick Sausage
1 lb cheddar cheese 1 lb breakfast sausage 3 c bisquick mix

Combine sausage, bisquick and grated cheese and mix very well. Form into 1 to 2 inch size balls. Place on un greased baking sheet and bake at 300 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes or until lightly browned. May be made ahead and frozen.

>> Bisquick Butterscotch Brownies
1 1/2 cups chopped pecans 1 box brown sugar 1 can coconut 1 stick butter- room temperature 1 teaspoon vanilla 2 cups bisquick® baking mix 4 large eggs

Mix all ingredients and bake in 9×13 baking pan. Bake on preheated 350f oven for 45 minutes. Cool on rack, cut while warm.

>> Strawberry Shortcake (Bisquick)
2 Pt strawberries — sliced 2/3 c sugar 2 1/3 c bisquick 3 tb sugar 3 tb margarine or butter — melted 1/2 c milk 3/4 c whipping (heavy) cream

Sprinkle strawberries with 2/3 c. Sugar; let stand 1
hr.

Preheat oven to 425 f.

Mix bisquick, 3 tb. Sugar, margarine and milk until
soft dough forms. Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls into
6 mounds on ungreased cookie sheet. Sprinkle with
sugar. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown.

Beat whipping cream in chilled bowl until stiff.
Split shortcakes; spoon strawberries between halves
and over tops. Top with whipped cream.

High altitude: heat oven to 450 f. Decrease the 3 tb.
Sugar in shortcakes to 1 tb.

That’s it for today! If you want more bisquick recipes cookies, be sure to visit us today at:

I was once one of those people that always used recipes. I was afraid to venture away from those wonderful cards and comforting pieces of paper with amounts, ingredients, and instructions. I thought I needed to be told exactly how to make something; I wouldn’t increase, decrease, or substitute anything.

After awhile, I became tired of the confinement from those 4×6 cards. I began venturing into a new world – a world without recipes. I started by substituting ingredients, one vegetable for another. Then I started adding spices. Now, I view myself as a full-blown “cook”; I have no problem making dinner without a recipe. Gaining this culinary freedom can be done step by step.

Start by viewing cooking as two things – a hobby and a science experiment. Like with any hobby, the first few times you complete a project it may not turn out exactly how you expected, but you keep trying until it does. In science, you create a hypothesis, test the hypothesis by doing the experiment, and then observe what happens and come to a conclusion. If your conclusion leads you to another hypothesis, you try it again.

Cooking should be viewed the same way. Throw the ingredients together, taste the result, and decide how it is. Like a hobby, if it doesn’t work the first time, try again. I often make meals and critique afterwards, asking myself, “What flavors are missing? Is the consistency right? What things would I add or remove next time to make it taste better?”

Granted, if you always use recipes venturing into the unknown world of cooking without them can be intimidating. Below I’ve listed a few suggestions for ‘baby steps’ toward cooking on your own.


- Substitute, add, or remove vegetables (and eventually other ingredients as well). This is one of the easiest things to do. If you don’t like onions and the recipe calls for them, take them out. If the recipe calls for corn and you like peas, try substituting. If what you’re making might be tastier with some broccoli, throw it in.

- Know what you like. This may seem simple, but know what you like. If you’re constantly coming across a flavor that appeals to you, be able to figure out what that flavor is. One of the best tricks I have learned is the ability to taste something and tell what spices are in it. To do this, see the next tip.

- Use your nose. As humans we often neglect our sense of smell, which can be so helpful when cooking. Often if the dish I’m preparing ‘needs something’, I open my spice cupboard and start sniffing. The smells of spices go together, so trust your sense of smell and you’ll come across what you need.

- Know your spices. In science, you often gather information and conduct research. Do the same with your spices – know which spices often go together and what types of cuisine use which spices.

- Get creative. Much like other hobbies, creativity is the key. Don’t be afraid to get creative in your cooking either. My sister-n-law roasts squash with cinnamon and chili powder. I wouldn’t have thought to put those two spices together, but the outcome was delicious.

- Trust yourself. The more you do this, the better you’ll get. In the meantime, have some frozen pizzas and sandwich makings on hand just in case.

Be confident! Cooking without recipes or even using recipes as guidelines rather than strict instructions can open you up to a wonderful world of culinary freedom. You will soon find that you can create tastier meals step by step.

This is an easy recipe for homemade spaghetti sauce with meatballs. While the cooking time is long, this can be mostly unsupervised, just give it an occasional stir. If you desire, you can use the crock pot or the pressure cooker for this recipe, those instructions are included at the end.

You can add other herbs to suit your liking. I’ve known cooks to add parsley, bay leaves, oregano, marjoram, or take the easy way out and use 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning mix instead of the thyme. Experiment until you find the mix your family prefers.

Italian Homemade Spaghetti Sauce Recipe

3/4 pound ground beef

1/4 pound ground pork sausage meat

3/4 cup dry bread crumbs – I like Italian style seasoned

2 small eggs

1 clove garlic, or 1 teaspoon minced garlic, or 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

12 ounces tomato paste

1 large can of tomatoes or 2 regular cans

1 cup water

1 medium onion, sliced

1 green pepper, diced

1 tablespoon sugar

1 4 ounce can mushrooms

1/2 teaspoon thyme or other herbs as desired

2 tablespoons olive oil

Mix the meats, bread crumbs, salt, pepper, garlic salt, and eggs. Form into meatballs the about 1-1 1/2 inches in diameter. Brown in the olive oil in a large pot or dutch oven (if cooking sauce on the stovetop). When meatballs are brown, remove from the pan and add the onion and green pepper. Saute for a few minutes. Return the meat balls to the pot and add the remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and simmer for 3 hours on the stovetop stirring occasionally. You’re going to want to cover this, tomato sauces tend to spit occasionally. You can simmer on low in the crock pot all day until you are ready to serve, or you can also pressure cook this for 20 minutes at low pressure (5lbs.) When using either of these methods, follow the instructions completely until the cooking step. When using the crock pot, I reduce the water to about 1/2 cup or until the thickness you desire.

Sure Hollywood is the hub of everything entertainment and glamour, but you will also find some of the most tasty and elegant dining experiences in the Southern California urban sprawl known as the City of Angels. Celebrities who make millions per picture are not worried about forking over lots of dough for the best eats, evident by their visits to some of the best and priciest spots to dine in the Southland. There are a handful of restaurants in Hollywood, Beverly Hills and surrounding areas that are known to draw famous faces on a daily basis. Most such restaurants pride themselves on protecting the privacy of the stars; some even seat them in special sections.

Perhaps the best spot to catch a glimpse of someone you’ve seen on the big screen is Spago’s Beverly Hills. The restaurant was originally known as Bistro Garden and was a favorite of former first lady Nancy Reagan. But in 1997, famed international chef and television personality Wolfgang Puck bought the spot and gave it a name synonymous with his restaurant in Hollywood. Puck’s Spago’s Beverly Hills is located at North. Canon Drive. Stars known to frequent the restaurant include Tom Hanks, President Bill Clinton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Billy Crystal, Elton John, Lou Diamond Phillips, Sandra Bullock, Robin Williams and Sharon Stone.

The former president was actually at the restaurant just months after its grand opening in November 1997. His presence was part of a Rock the Vote effort and was attended by a long list of other celebrities, such as Kevin Spacey, Graham Nash and Michael Bolton. About a year later in 1998, Sir Elton John moved his star-studded post Oscar party to the restaurant, where celebrities in attendance paid $1,000 per plate for a charity dinner that benefitted AIDS research. Big names on hand that night were Alec Baldwin, Kim Basinger, Jon Bon Jovi and Faye Dunaway. During normal business hours, the cost of dining at Spago’s Beverly Hills starts at about $70 for two.

The Ivy on Robertson Boulevard has long been one of Los Angeles’ top celebrity hangout spots. Not only has the restaurant drawn the biggest names for decades, but it also periodically serves as a Hollywood set; some of the biggest movie directors have shot scenes on the restaurant’s large patio. Just two examples are ‘The Bodyguard’ starring Kevin Costner and Whitney Houston and ‘Get Shorty,’ which featured Danny DeVito and John Travolta.

The Ivy is not exactly known for tasty eats, but more for the Hollywood glamour it attracts. The spot is a favorite hangout for stars and paparazzi looking to get photos of the latest blockbuster stars. In September 2003, stars Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez appeared at the Ivy not long after announcing the postponement of their wedding. Insiders believed the two went there to sideline gossip that they’d spilt up. Other stars seen there around the same time include Steve Martin, Jack Nicholson, Demi Moore, even Michael Jackson, and more celebrities.

The bread culture is popular in the West mostly in United States and European countries like Italy, France and Germany. To the bread eating household dwellers, they may find it quicker to just pick their favorite loaf from bread shops or supermarkets. But those who want to sample their own flat bread recipes at home can certainly do so. In that way, they will likely gain a self-rewarding experience of serving bread that they bake themselves.

The food business is not complete with bread not placed on the menu. Bread is part of the appetizing dishes, or they could be main course for others who are on a sandwich diet. There are numerous flat bread recipes one can try out such as chapattis, caramelized apple pecan flatbread, basic pizza dough, corn tortilla, flour tortilla, deep dish pizza crust, herbed foccacia bread, homemade pitas, tomato and cheese filled foccacia, pizza dough, pan pizza crust, walnut cheese snaps, caramel whole wheat pita bread and caramel apple flatbread.

Let’s take for instance the last flat bread recipe and learn how to prepare it at your own home kitchen. The ingredients you will need for your Caramel Apple Flatbread are 2 and ¼ cups of all-purpose flour, ½ cup of Quaker oats, 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar, 1 and ¼ ounce package of quick rising yeast, ½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon, ½ teaspoon of salt, ¾ cup of water, 1 tablespoon of veggie oil, 1 egg white and 1 cup unpeeled chopped apple. For your topping, you will require ¾ cup of Quaker oats, 2/3 cup of firmly packaged brown sugar, ½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon, ¾ cup of reduced-fat sour cream and ¼ cup of chopped pecans or walnuts.

First step in doing your flat bread recipe of Caramel Apple Flatbread is to make your bread first by combining your yeast, flour, oats, sugar and salt in a food processor bowl processor. It’s important that you mix them well as you put the machine on and off. Heat oil and water, then mix it with the flour mixture along with egg white. Wait until dough starts to resemble a ball. Work the dough until smooth so that you can press apples on to them. Place the dough on a smooth surface that’s filled with some flour and start shaping them rectangular. Leave them for 45 minutes in the 400-degree set oven so that they can enlarge but make sure you cover them with plastic.

In flat bread recipes like Caramel Apple, you can do the topping by blending together ingredients like cinnamon, brown sugar and oats. Scatter this mixture equally on top of the dough and pour some pecans afterwards. Bake the topped dough for 18 minutes or more until you notice they turn light golden brown on the sides. After which, your Caramel Apple flatbread is good as served.

If you love chili as much as I do, then you are always willing to get more chili flavors. “Southern chili Georgia style”, “to the moon” chili and “weeknight chili” are 3 great chili recipes which are easy to prepare as well.

Below are the 3 chili recipes for you to try out:

1. “Southern Chili Georgia Style”

Yield: 1 Servings

Ingredients:

- 3 lb chuck,cut in chunks
- 3 t oil
- 1 1/2 c beef broth
- 1 1/2 c chicken broth
- 4 1/2 T ca chile powder
- 4 T gebhardt chili powder
- 1/2 T nm hot chile powder
- 1/2 T chimayo chile powder
- 1/2 T pasilla powder
- 3 1/2 T cumin
- 1 T granulated garlic
- 4 t onion powder
- 1/2 T brown sugar
- 1 t tabasco
- 8 oz tomato sauce
- 1/2 c green chiles, Canned 1 chopped

Directions:

- Brown meat and add to chili pot along with broths, tomato sauce, and
green chili’s.
- Add 2/3 of the spices. Cook for 2 hr.
- Add remaining spices.
- Cook 1 hr or until meat is tender.
- Add salt to taste.

2. “To The Moon” Chili

Yield: 6 Servings

Ingredients:

- 1 lb beef,Ground
- 1 pk chili-o seasoning mix
- 1/2 c water
- 1 cn (14-1/2oz) whole tomatoes – cut up
- 1 cn (16oz) kidney beans, drained
- 1 T cayenne pepper sauce
- 1 red pepper, chopped, – optional
- 1 green onion,chopped, – optional
- 1 cheddar cheese, Shredded – optional

Directions:

- In a Dutch oven brown ground beef; drain.
- Stir in seasoning mix, water, tomatoes, beans and cayenne pepper sauce.
- Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer, cover, 10 minutes.
- Garnish with chopped red pepper, green onion and cheese, if desired.

3. “Weeknight Chili”

Yield: 4 Servings

Ingredients:

- 1 lb beef (or turkey (i mix) – Ground
- 1 it 1/2 & 1/2)
- 1 green bell pepper,chopped
- 1 cn (15 oz) red kidney beans
- 1 undrained
- 1 cn (8oz) tomato sauce
- 1 t white vinegar
- 2 T chili powder
- 2 T onion,Minced
- 1/4 t garlic salt
- 1 t sugar

Directions:

- In a 3 quart saucepan over medium-high heat, cook ground beef and bell pepper 6 minutes or until meat is no longer pink, stirring frequently. Drain excess fat.

- Stir in remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. If desired, top with chopped onion, shredded cheese or sour cream.

With holiday expenses running higher each year it’s good to know that printable Christmas party games can help to make an occasion festive without breaking the bank. Holiday printer paper might help to make the games even more decorative or just red and green sheets can be used. If special holiday paper is purchased it could also be used for invitations and craft projects. White paper is often easier to read and may actually be the best choice considering the graphics. Quiet games like word searches and word scrambles can help to amuse children when adult supervision is distracted to other areas of concern.

These word games can be found for free on the web. All that is needed is a simple search of the net and some very good party websites will pop up with free printable puzzles. A website called, www.PartySuppliesHut.com has 600 word puzzles pre-made and available to print out. There happen to be at least three easy to find Christmas word puzzles on this site. However it may be found that creating one’s own puzzles themed after the Christmas holidays is a better idea.

The holidays can be very exciting but with the allure of the season’s many joys comes the very likely possibility that youngsters will become over stimulated. When this happens there are many adverse consequences in terms of negative behavior. With the use of quiet activities this negative behavior can potentially be curbed and harmony can return to the home. This very affordable option can also give adults and children an opportunity to interact on a level that may be more suitable than other activities.

One of the most fun ways to network with other people who enjoy a similar hobby is to attend a convention. Scrapbooking is no exception. Every year, venues across the country hold state, national, and international conventions for scrapbookers from beginners to experts. Going to a convention can be a great way to immerse yourself in your hobby along with others who also feel passionate about the art of scrapbooking—it truly is a scrapbooker’s heaven.

A huge part of any convention is the showroom. Here, you’ll find products that are old standbys as well as stuff new on the market. Grab a bag and be prepared to purchase some supplies and tools. If you’re on a budget, go freebie hunting—many booths offer idea sheets or samples of their newest products at no cost. You also get to see these new products being demonstrated by representatives of the company. Beware—this people have been trained extensively on how to use a product, so they may be making it easier than it looks. If it’s not too crowded, don’t be shy. Ask to try the tool to see if it really is easy and effective to use.

You can also talk to companies who sponsor scrapbooking parties. There are many opportunities to become a hostess for a party, and depending on how far you are from home, you may be able to book a party during the convention. If not, they will be able to give you a phone number or website to find a local representative. You can also get information on how to start a scrapbooking business of your own. Much like Avon or Pampered Chef, scrapbooking companies train individuals to teach classes at parties, and if you have free time and want to make some extra money, this might be a good idea for you.

Another part of any large convention is classes. Here, the experts show you tricks for creating perfect pages and demonstrate new techniques or products. Sign up for classes or arrive early, because seating is often limited and classes fill fast. Some classes are taught in workshop-style. For a small fee, you receive all the supplies you need to follow along with the instructor and create a page of your own.

Scrapbooking conventions are most useful for networking purposes. You will meet many people from all walks of life who are interested in scrapbooking. By meeting some people who live in your area, you can create local clubs or discuss other scrapbooking-related issues in the community. These are good people to invite to your scrapbooking parties where the hostess can earn free products for every person invited to the party. Keep these people in mind for carpooling to more conventions in the future or for advice about new products or layout design. By attending conventions, you can make lifelong friends while learning new skills and seeing cutting-edge products being demonstrated.