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Asian countries have a long and rich culinary tradition. Throughout the vast continent, it is possible to see all manner of ingredients and tastes. There is something unmistakably delicious about certain foods and flavors that capture the imagination of any cook. Dishes from Asian countries often satisfy the appetite without an uncomfortable feeling of fullness that one often finds in Western cuisine.
Every country in the continent has its own unique perspective on Asian cooking. Though the customs from different regions can seem quite different, their commonality is unmistakable. Those who would like to add some of this exquisite experience to their own dining can start by incorporating some of the most important ingredients from Asian cooking into their own kitchen.
Asian Staples
There are a few elements found repeatedly in Asian cooking that are essential to capturing the essence of the cuisine.
- Most dishes include rice, because it is the main crop of many Asian countries and is used in almost every capacity. Not only steamed rice, but rice paper and noodles can be included in a meal.
- Tofu is often used in vegetarian meals, because it is high in protein. It is used heavily in regions with a tradition of Buddhism.
- Sauces are important to flavor rice and stir-fry. Soy sauce, oyster sauce, black bean sauce, and fish sauces are easy to keep on hand.
- Tea is not only good for the body; it is the perfect accompaniment to Asian cuisine.
Japanese Cooking
The island nation of Japan has an illustrious tradition. Their cuisine is full of fish and other consumables from the sea. Japanese cooking utilizes noodles made of wheat and other materials much more than other Asian dishes.
In order to add some Japanese flavor to meal, try using soy sauce or wasabi. Also, Japanese dishes are characterized by their ordered appearance. Sauces, rice, and main courses are all served in their own individual bowls. This can be seen in popular Japanese foods like sushi and tempura.
The Tastes of China
Traditional Chinese food can be quite different than what is labeled as Chinese in the United States. Many recipes contain large amounts of vegetables like corn, bean sprouts, and shitake mushrooms. Peanuts are also found in many Chinese foods.
The most distinct part of Chinese dining is the serving style. Food should be pre-cut into small pieces. Every diner should get a rice bowl, but other foods should be communal so that the diners may pick what they wish to sample with their chopsticks.
Southeast Asian Dining
Though they are often grouped together, the Southeast Asian countries include Thailand, Burma, Malaysia, and Vietnam among others. These countries all have their own strong dishes and techniques to bring to the kitchen, but have many similarities.
Cooks who want to capture the flavor of this region should look to fish sauces, lemon grass, and spices like turmeric and garlic. These elements are used all over this region because of the high concentration of fishing communities. Most dishes are served with fresh herbs, vegetables and dipping sauces.
Indian Cuisine
Indian food and culture is very distinct from the rest of Asia. India’s long history and stint as a British colony has effected their culture in numerous ways. Many different regional cooking styles fall under the umbrella term of Indian, but they are all characterized by an expert use of spices. Most Indian food is vegetarian, but some dishes to employ chicken, lamb, and fish. In keeping with Hindu and Muslim practices, no beef or pork is used.
Those who wish to capture the intense flavors of Indian cuisine should stock their pantry with plenty of spices. Spices like coriander, cumin, garlic, ginger, fennel, turmeric, and various peppers are used in all kinds of dishes. The most iconic Indian dish is curry, a wet meat and sauce combination served with rice. There are hundreds of recipes for this type of meal, and one can even buy curry powder that contains most of the spices mentioned above.
Be Creative with Asian Flavors
Most Asian cooking is reliant on achieving a balance between different flavors. Though the food can be very rich, it is also meant to highlight and enhance subtle ingredients like rice and bean sprouts. The tenets of Asian dining give a chef so much to work with that creating a tasty meal should not be difficult.
Those that create Asian dishes regularly should look into investing into a rice cooker and wok. Also, it would be a good idea to keep plenty of fresh vegetables on hand just in case the urge to add some Asian flare to dinner strikes.There is no doubt that recent times have seen families tighten their purse strings when it comes to luxury items, and many manufacturers have struggled to maintain sales in this sector. One brand in the UK however, has seen sales grow 12% year on year despite the high ticket price for their top-end range cooking products.
Britannia Living, based in Blackpool, Lancashire, have been the leading range cooker specialist in the UK for over a decade. They offer a selection of contemporary, modern, traditional and classic cookers, and matching cooker hoods and splashbacks.
The range topping models from Britannia are the Sigma and the newer XG cookers. The Sigma is available in a choice of cream, gloss black or stainless steel. This model is a more modern style and should match any kitchen but for the more traditional.
It comes with flame failure devices for safety, meaning that the gas will cut out if the flame is blown out for any reason. The triple glazed doors means that the ovens can be touched even when cooking at high temperatures. Other feature include an electronic programmer, a storage drawer and both ovens are A rated for efficiency.
The newer XG range cooker includes a seperate grill compartment to offer solo grilling without having to use the main oven. This saves energy and makes it easier to clean when you just use the one smaller compartment. This also features flame failure device, stay clean oven liners, A-rated multifunction and a rotisserie. The XG range now includes a 110cm range cooker with Chef Top.
All have a 2 year parts and labour guarantee as standard. Combination toaster ovens are small electric ovens usually with a door on one side and a tray that slides out. Combination toasters are capable of performing most of electric ovens albeit on a smaller scale. Combo Toasters are toaster ovens infused with several cooking functions usually done by other appliances.
Piling up on the numerous kitchen appliances with different cooking functions can take up too much space. Save premium countertop space with the Hamilton Beach Black Toastation Toaster/Toaster Oven. An extra-wide slot on top function as the pop up toaster, it fits two slices of bread or two halves of a bagel. The oven is spacious enough to accommodate two large pizza slices or two 5-inch personal pizzas. Switching from toaster to oven toaster mode is easy. It only takes the slide of a lever to open or seal the toaster slot, trapping heat for a greater baking performance. The Toastation Toaster comes with a ready signal and an automatic toaster shut off for delicate jams and sauces. A temperature control selector is added for better temperature control. The shade selector is located in front with range of toast shades. The pushdown lever for the toaster is located conveniently at the side. The Toastation Toaster comes with stylish metallic accents and has a compact shape that fits just right on any countertop.
From the legendary boxer George Foreman's line of healthy cooking appliances comes the George Foreman 8 in 1 Toaster Oven/Broiler - GRV660. This combo oven toaster features a large and spacious interior able to accommodate six slices of toast or a whole pie. It has a healthy rotisserie roasting option; pork and chicken meats turn out crispy and evenly brown on the outside and tender, moist and flavorful inside. Grill bacon, sausages, burgers and hotdogs on the healthy grill because the fat drips away. Make pancakes and waffles on the versatile griddle while saving time and energy.
The George Foreman 8 in 1 Toaster Oven comes with a thirty minute timer with auto shut off for accurate cooking time. Cleaning this combo toaster oven is a breeze, a slide out crumb tray stores the crumbs and fat so they can be disposed of easily. Every unit of the George Foreman 8 in 1 Toaster Oven includes two reversible racks, rotisserie spit & holder, a baking pan and two bonus cookie sheets. A bun warmer on top of the unit is included.
With the fast-paced life we have today, only a few people have the luxury to whip up a complete breakfast everyday. Well, the Sunpentown 4-in-1 Breakfast Maker is here to give us that luxury back.
This combo oven toaster combines all the breakfast making necessities. This compact appliance is perfect for students and working people with a limited kitchen space. The coffee maker is capable of brewing up to 6 cups. You can fry bacon or egg in the non-stick frying pan. You can steam vegetables and fish in the steamer. The toaster is equipped with 15-minute timer for accurate cooking time, convenient switches and a heat resistant glass. Every unit of the Sunpentown 4 -in-1 Breakfast maker comes with a reusable coffee filter, a baking rack, baking tray and a steam rack.
There are numerous combinations of cooking functions in combo oven toasters. Buyers are now able to choose from a large variety of models according to their needs, available space and budgets. If you like authentic, delicious food then you might want to learn how to prepare Middle Eastern Recipes at home.
Why? Because the only way of experiencing high quality and tasty Middle Eastern food is by preparing it at home. Of course you can eat Middle Eastern food at restaurants or get it at grocery stores, but you will be missing the freshness and the unique taste of home cooking.
The special taste of Middle Eastern foods is what happens when ingredients like olive oil, garlic, eastern spices and fresh vegetables are combined together. Also, Middle Eastern foods contain nutritional properties that contribute to your health and well-being.
One of the main reasons that people from the Middle East are known for being in excellent physical condition is the traditional food they have been eating for generations. You can also enjoy preparing and eating high quality Middle Eastern food, but do be gentle and mindful while preparing this food, so that you receive the full benefits of Middle Eastern cooking.
Don’t be pressured for time when cooking this type of food - if you are, prepare something else. On the other hand, you don’t really need to spend hours on cooking – actually, most of the recipes take no more than 10-30 minutes to prepare.
While Middle Eastern cooking in basically simple and easy, it is in no way limited to only one style. There are a huge variety of Middle Eastern foods, including many different kinds of pickles, salads, dips, breads, soups, meats and much more. The Middle Eastern kitchen is a rich world of colors, tastes and shapes that attracts people from around the world
Middle Eastern cuisine is not only famous for its unique and authentic taste, it may also play a role as a bridge between Israelis and Arabs, who share common culinary experience. While Israelis and Arabs often find it hard to agree on the same point of view on political issues, they usually share positive feelings when sitting together around a table with falafel and pickles.
If you want to discover the secrets of the Middle Eastern kitchen, go to :
and get all the information you need for preparing top quality Middle Eastern food at home.
Has your child ever asked you to make a Or a for their next birthday?
When I first started baking and decorating my kids birthday cakes, the variety of decorating tools I could buy seemed endless. And there was so much advice out there on cake decorating! It was a whole new world to me. Still, I reined in my impulsive nature to buy everything I thought I needed, and purchased some basic tools.
It is these basics which have 'stood by me' in my quest for decorating those colourful creations and my kids ask for each year on their birthdays.
In addition to these ideas, I've added some helpful suggestions for decorating kids' novelty birthday cakes - some of which were given to me freely from others whilst a few goodies were borne from my own mistakes...
Cake Decorating Equipment:
You don't necessarily need elaborate equipment but you will need some basic supplies. You can purchase most of the following supplies at specialty baking shops or even your local supermarket. They are indispensable for baking and decorating any novelty birthday cake your child might dream up.
Rubber Spatulas:
It's good to have a set of assorted sizes that are made of flexible rubber. They're the best tool for scraping frosting from the sides of bowls.
Metal Spatulas:
Have at least one large and one small angled spatula for spreading and smoothing frosting. Avoid your cake crumbling by using a small metal spatula to gently ice the cake with a very thin layer of frosting before adding the 'real' layer. This process is called 'crumb coating'.
Piping Bags:
Reusable 8", 12" and 18" bags with plastic coating on the inside for easy cleaning. Clear plastic disposable zip-lock bags are great for small jobs.
Coupling Nozzles:
These nozzles are essential because they allow you to change your tips according to the design. They can also act as a very large round writing tip for piping figures.
Gel, Powder or Paste Food colouring:
These are preferable to liquid food colouring because they are more concentrated and will not thin down the frosting.
Tips:
1. Have all ingredients at room temperature.
2. Use an electric mixer when beating the cake mixture. You've more chance of eliminating bumps in the pre-cooked cake mixture.
3. Wire Cake Racks are essential for cooling and inverting cakes.
4. Trim baked cake so it sits flat. Use the smooth base as the top of the finished cake and decorate with icing.
5. To stop crumbling, bake the cake the day before you need to decorate it and put it in the freezer. Decorate while still cold.
6. Cake boards are quite cheap to pick up from cake decorating shops. Or you can cover a large piece of cardboard (cut from a box) with coloured foil.
7. Butter Cream Icing is great for decorating cakes. The only thing I have found with butter cream icing is that when you add colouring, a pastel colour is the only colour it will go to. This is because of the fat in the butter. If you want a darker colour, you have three options:
Use plain icing sugar and water then add colouring;
replace the butter in the butter cream icing recipe with vegetable shortening or;
add black coloured powder to your icing mixture - it will deepen the colour.
8. Cut strips of waxed paper to slip underneath the edges of your unfrosted birthday cake. When finished, you can pull them away and you won't smear the cake board.
Good luck with baking and decorating your next masterpiece - a unique birthday cake your kids will be proud of! You may be used to putting a knob of butter or lard into the frying pan before adding the streak bacon – this does not mean that you should. Instead of adding the saturated fat, try grilling without any added fat. Instead of streaky, try bacon and trim off any visible fat. You could even get rid of the bacon altogether. Knowing what the alternatives are is the key to enjoying your new low fat diet. You don’t have to forego everything you enjoy eating. Sitting down to a family meal together can be one of the most pleasurable parts of your day.
As a rule, avoid frying, as it is the least healthy way of cooking. Stir-frying is better as long as you use very little oil. Use a good quality wok and keep the temperature high, tossing the ingredients constantly so that they do not stick Try Prawn Stir-fry as follows:-
Preparation Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 8 minutes
INGREDIENTS:-
8 spring onions
1 green pepper
1 red pepper
2 tbsp groundnut or sunflower oil
2 garlic cloves, very finely chopped
1 tbsp grated fresh root ginger
200g/7 oz mange tout
450 g/1 lb raw prawns, thawed if frozen, peeled and divined
4 tbsp Chinese rice wine
STEPS:-
1)Using a sharp knife, trim the spring onions and finely chop. Deseed and slice the peppers.
2)Heat the groundnut oil in a preheated wok or heavy-based frying pan. Add the spring onions, garlic and peppers and stir-fry over a medium heat for 4 minutes
3)Add the mange touts and prawns and stir fry for 4 minutes, or until the prawns have changed the color. Stir in Chinese rice wine, then transfer to four large, warmed serving plates and serve.
NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION:-
Calories……………………..203
Protein………………………28g
Carbohydrates………………..5g
Sugars………………………...4g
Fat…………………………….8g
Saturates………………………1g
VARIATION:-
Substitute thinly sliced broccoli florets for the mange tout for an equally colorful and tasty dish. Replace the Chinese rice wine with dry sherry.
Also, let me share with you one of my personal favorites, The ‘Low Fat’ Coffee Ice Cream:
Preparation Time: 1 hour, plus
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Freezing: 6 hours
INGREDIENTS:-
25 g/1 oz plain chocolate
225g/8 oz ricotta cheese
5 tbsp low fat natural yogurt
85 g/3 oz caster sugar
175 ml/6 fl oz strong black coffee, cooled and chilled
½ tsp ground cinnamon
dash of vanilla essence
25 g/1 oz chocolate curls, to decorate
STEPS:-
1)Grate the chocolate and reserve. Place the ricotta cheese, yogurt and sugar in a blender or food processor and process until a smooth puree forms. Transfer to a large bowl and beat in the coffee, cinnamon, vanilla essence and grated chocolates.
2)Spoon the mixture into a freezer proof container and freeze for 1½ hours, or until slushy. Remove from the freezer, turn into a bowl and beat. Return to the container and freeze for 1½ hours.
3)Repeat the beating and freezing process twice more before serving in scoops, decorated with chocolate curls. Alternatively, leave in the freezer until 15 minutes before serving, and then transfer to the refrigerator to soften slightly before scooping.
NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION:-
Calories……………………..150
Protein…………………………6g
Carbohydrates………………..21g
Sugars………………………...21g
Fat……………………………...6g
Saturates………………………..4g
VARIATION:-
Omit the cinnamon and vanilla essence and substitute 40 g/1½ oz grated mint chocolate for the plain chocolate.
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