Haribo Sugar Free Candy Has the Best Taste

April 30, 2009 · Filed Under Desserts · Comment 

Finding good, quality candy is hard these days. Sure, there’s no shortage of chocolate, fruity candy, and twizzlers at every single grocery and department store, but candy’s still not the same as it used to be. It all seems the same, and it’s hard to find a true variety, especially for those of us who live in small towns. Fortunately, the internet has made it possible to order superb candy from all around the world! Haribo, for instance, is one very famous company that makes some of the best candy in the world.

Originally, this company was based in Germany, where it produced candy on a massive scale, and was often equated to other candy makers like Lifesavers and Hershey’s. Finally, when its gummi candies were introduced in Baltimore in the 1980’s, Haribo changed the US candy industry forever. Although in the early days, the candy was still presented in German packaging, with the exception of containing English translations, a special, laydown bag was eventually developed for the US supermarkets.

Thanks to products such as Haribo sugar free gummi bears, foam, and licorice, millions of Americans fell in love with sweet, chewy candy. This German-based candy company is the top, gourmet candy maker in the world. Despite some fierce competition in the German and American markets both, it has still stood the test of time and will only continuing doing so. It brought candy such as gummi bears to America, which is now one of the most massively produced candies.

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Why Do Most People Cook Ribs the Wrong Way?

April 30, 2009 · Filed Under Main Course · Comment 

So your grandma’s ribs are excellent, you say. You uncle can cook a pretty mean smoked ribs dinner as well. That bbq ribs restaurant downtown is to die for. Ha! Grandma cooks them in the oven (strike one). Uncle Larry cooks them on his propane grill (strike two). That restaurant downtown uses liquid smoke to flavor their ribs (strike three). Let’s get real people… those are NOT smoked spare ribs. Those are bludgeoned ribs, boiled ribs, oven ribs, etc. Now, you are probably thinking that you know how to cook ribs the correct way. Let’s talk about how you are wrong and I am right for a minute.

Rib Rule # 1: Smoked ribs have to be SMOKED !
This is not complicated, gang. If you want true smoked rib taste then you have to use actual smoke. Smoke is generally achieved by burning wood. So, soak those wood pieces in a nice spicy brine and let’s get to the smoking part.

Rib Rule # 2: The 3-2-1 Method is Bogus
This is just a ridiculous method to use unless you are twelve years old, in which case you should not be around fire. Furthermore, get a job. The main problem with the 3-2-1 method is that it does not take into account the amount of spare ribs that you will be smoking nor does it account for the type of smoker, which is instrumental in determining how long you should smoke the meat, based on how far the meat is positioned from the heat source. And C, it lacks the hands on approach and TLC that goes into winning real BBQ competitions.

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What Makes a Good Fish Fry?

April 29, 2009 · Filed Under Main Course · Comment 

In some parts of the US, a Friday night fish fry is what’s expected of restaurants. This has to do with a Catholic influence from way back (no meat on Fridays), but there has been an unintended, but delicious result.

You see, now the restaurants compete for who has the best fish fry. The result is some amazing fish to be eaten. Cod is of course, the old standby when it comes to a fish fry, but there are better.

For example, if you’ve ever tried fried Walleye . . . you know what I’m talking about. For those who don’t like the fish taste, this is your fish. It’s got no fishy taste at all.

Many others swear by Blue Gill. Fried Blue Gill will give you small fillets, but they are firm and tasty.

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What’s For Dinner? 30-Minute Menus For 2009 – 15th Edition

April 29, 2009 · Filed Under Main Course · Comment 

Are you ready for Easter? It is here along with Spring. You will find the menus this week fit the changing season with a lighter selection of foods. I have included two vegetarian menus this week to help lighten the waist line and budget. If you prefer, you can add meat to both the Grilled Pizza and Ravioli Mediterranean – but don’t feel like you have to because they are delicious as-is!

We have family visiting so I will prepare a family celebration for Easter dinner. It will be a snap to pull together because I am using fully cooked ham for the main course. The appetizer will be the Italian Buffet ‘Party in a Bag’: wedge of Parmesan cheese; Tuscan olive cheese ball; prosciutto; fruit tray of figs, apricots, melon with asparagus spears; red pepper and Romano bruschetta topping; artichoke pesto; Asiago cheese crackers, and gourmet olives. This will complement the ham nicely. The great part of the whole meal is that I will spend little preparing it and a lot of time visiting with my family!

You will find that I use several cooking methods, mix and match, to get dinner on the table quickly! (The ingredients in parenthesis show some of my quick-prep steps.) You can always substitute your favorite made-from-scratch recipes when you have more time.

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Simple Ingredients Help Turn Alaskan Black Cod Into a Gourmet Meal

April 28, 2009 · Filed Under Main Course · Comment 

For a fresh, healthy, and tasty alternative to over-processed fast food and frozen dinners, try sampling some of the varied produce from Alaska, starting with seafood. Wild fish, of course, is an obvious choice for a state blessed with 34,000 miles of coastline on three different seas. Several renowned whitefish varieties come from the chilliest of all the state’s waters, including the rich and savory class of black cod. Matured as free-range fish in their natural habitat, black cod are chock-full of essential omega-3s and luckily devoid of saturated fat. As for the taste, black cod, like all Alaskan seafood, is rich in flavor and of tender texture.

The best feature, though, is for those who are interested in learning how to cook black cod. Preparation is surprisingly simple and versatile, making this fish an excellent choice for a quick and healthy meal. Broil, grill, bake, or smoke the fish to bring out the distinct flavors and colors, or, in a rush, rub the black cod with lemon, salt, and pepper, and pop it in the microwave. Impress your guests with your knowledge of how to cook black cod by mixing up a simple ginger-lime sauce of garlic, chiles, sugar, ginger, and lime juice, to serve alongside your stovetop-cooked fish. More adventurous kitchen-goers might give poached it a try, accenting the lean, fresh fish fillets with a sautéed sauce of olive oil, onion, red pepper, garlic, white wine, and saffron, all served over couscous.

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Make Your Own Gourmet Burgers at Home

April 28, 2009 · Filed Under Main Course · Comment 

Hamburgers are really making a name for themselves. What once was a lowly sandwich pressed inside a bun and smothered with ketchup has achieved gourmet status. At many “family” restaurants like Ruby Tuesday’s, Applebee’s, Fuddruckers and Red Robin, hamburgers now cost upwards of $10. The difference? A nice bun and designer toppings.

Grocery stores are getting into the gourmet hamburger business, too. Safeway, Whole Foods and Sunflower Markets now all sell premium hamburgers out of the meat case. At about $4.99 per pound, they are a delicious but expensive meal, too.

The good news is that you can easily make your own gourmet hamburgers with flavor combinations that your family and friends will love. With a bulk package of ground beef, some beautiful rolls from the bakery and a little imagination, you can create your own gourmet burgers for a fraction of the cost and be a grilling hero.

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Four Fast Meals For Your Family

April 27, 2009 · Filed Under Main Course · Comment 

Need to get dinner on the table fast? Don’t stop for fast food – it’s expensive and full of fat and calories. We have four easy meals that you can have on the table in 30 minutes or less. Plus, these meals are good for you and taste great. Call the family and set the table. It’s time to eat!

1.French Omelets – Take a cue from the French and have eggs for dinner. Using the blender, whip up 2 eggs and 1 tablespoon of water per person. Melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a 10-inch skillet. Pour in the eggs and using a spatula, gently lift the edges to allow the uncooked egg to reach the skillet. When nearly done, top your omelet with cheese, cooked ham, asparagus, tomatoes, onions, green pepper or any other topping you like. Cover for a minute to melt the cheese. Fold the omelet and slide onto a plate. Serve with a green salad, crusty bread and a glass of wine.

2.Chili Shrimp on Rice with Steamed Vegetables – Fast, easy and oh, so good. Put rice on to cook. Put frozen vegetables into a steaming basket and let simmer over medium heat. When the rice is nearly done, heat a skillet over medium high heat. Meanwhile, mince 2 cloves of garlic. Add 2 tablespoons of butter to the skillet and let melt. Add shrimp (quarter pound per person) and garlic and toss to combine. Add 1 tablespoon of chili powder. The shrimp will cook quickly, when they turn pink they are done. Remove from heat and serve over a bed of steamed rice, with steamed vegetables.

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Learning to Love Frozen Seafood, and Why Fresher Isn’t Always Better

April 27, 2009 · Filed Under Main Course · Comment 

As people are growing more health and environmentally conscious, seafood is becoming more and more popular. You’ve probably heard all about the health benefits of eating oily fish such as wild caught Alaskan salmon. These types of fish are filled with the omega 3 fatty acids DHA and EPA which have been proven to prevent all sorts of cardiovascular diseases and ailments, and play a major role in brain development. Seafood is good for the body and it really tastes good too. Some people complain, however, that they don’t have time to do seafood. They can’t go shopping for fresh seafood at the fish market every day. But this is where these people are mistaken. Not many people know that premium fresh-frozen seafood is just as good as fresh seafood if not better, and it’s really convenient.

The truth of the matter is, that seafood isn’t really fresh unless it comes straight from the sea. There are varying degrees of freshness in the seafood industry. In fact due to marketing, many people are led to believe that fresh is one and the same with high quality. Fresh does refer to a product that has never been previously frozen.

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Fatty Goodness – Fat’s Not Always Unhealthy

April 26, 2009 · Filed Under Food & Drinks · Comment 

Fatty acids are created when fats break down, providing the body with energy for the majority of our cells. They come in all forms, found mainly in oils and the fat in certain foods like avocados. This “good fat” helps transport oxygen throughout the body in the bloodstream. Answering the question, “what are fatty acids?”, means a laundry list of seemingly magical effects that these acids have. Along with oxygen distribution, fatty acids also help in cell membrane development, function, and strength which help our minds work better in terms of memory and overall operations.

These acids are also highly beneficial to the functioning of our organs and body tissue. They help combat the buildup of cholesterol in the arteries and make the heart work more efficiently. The helpful effects of fatty acids can even be seen in the improved appearance of your skin and hair as well as in promoting weight loss by aiding the body in processing cholesterol. There are different types of out there, each type depending on what foods you consume. Fish and other seafood are rich in the hugely popular Omega-3 chemicals. The different categories and qualifications of makes answering the question, “what are fatty acids?” a bit more complicated.

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Deep Fry Turkey Instructions

April 26, 2009 · Filed Under Food & Drinks · Comment 

Just a little time ago, turkeys were more like associated with traditional celebrations and solemn events true masterpiece of national art of cookery and accepted as an entree without risk of loss.

But for some time past, the very fast method of deep frying turkey, originated in the south of USA, went nationwide, rapidly gaining in popularity. Although, this process is fairly expensive, taking into consideration the cost of the oil and special equipment, the delight of having unforgettable holiday feast with your family or throwing a block party with a couple of friends, sure is worth it. Besides, not only, it takes to cook a turkey in far less time than baked in a stove, but also unlike all dried out turkeys, which come out of stove, turkey coming out of a fryer is very moist and juicy, with delicious dark, crispy skin.

Once you learn how to deep fry a turkey, you will see that it is pretty easy. But it may be utterly dangerous as well, unless you read the instructions that come with your turkey fryer carefully and follow the deep fry turkey instructions below:

Deep Fry Turkey Instructions

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