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Posts Tagged ‘Recipes’

One of the “tricks” I find most useful for hosting stress-free dinner parties is to make some of the recipes ahead. I find that too many last minute jobs can overwhelm me, so I plan ahead to eliminate as many as possible.

The more dishes you can prepare a day or some hours before guests ring your doorbell, the more you reduce your stress. Here are some reasons:

• You avoid a last minute crisis if preparation takes longer than you thought it would.

• If you like to cook, you’ll have the leisure to enjoy what you’re doing instead of feeling frantic about a deadline

• You have time to clean up after you cook.

• If there is a disaster, say you burn something, you have plenty of time to come up with an alternate plan.

• If you have prepared the dessert ahead, you don’t need to leave the table for a long stretch just when the conversation is getting really interesting.

Put your imagination to work for you! Try to imagine your way through the last minute jobs you will have to get dinner on the table, and reduce them to a minimum you feel comfortable with. It helps to think about what all those last minute jobs are: setting out the ice water pitcher, lighting the candles, putting items in serving dishes and getting the guests to the table.

By the way, many of these are jobs that your guests can do.
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We all know the effects (and after-effects) of beer. But lifting a glass of cool liquid to your mouth on a scorching hot day, have you ever stopped to consider the processes and ingredients involved in making it? Well maybe not but here is the answer anyway!

Simply, beer is a fermented combination of water, barley, yeast and hops. The major variation in any beer is the type of yeast used in the fermentation process.

Let’s look at the properties of this beverage.

Water is the main ingredient of beer. In the past, the purity of the water influenced the final result and was specific to the region of the earth from which it came. Today, water is filtered of these impurities, although pure water supplies are still ideally preferred by elite brewers.

Barley malt is an extremely important ingredient in beer as it is the main source of fermentable sugar. Many new breweries use barley malt extract, in either syrup or powder form, as this form ferments much quicker. It also contains many minerals and vitamins that help the yeast to grow.

Without yeast, beer would not exist. Yeast is a unique single cell organism that eats sugar and expels alcohol and carbon dioxide, two of the more recognizable ingredients of beer. Yeast comes in several variations, of which there are two major categories that determine the type of beer produced; Ale yeast and Lager yeast. If yeast alone were used the beer would be extremely sweet and therefore another ingredient needs to be added to reach the final product.
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Just in time for the cookout season, the country’s top grilling cities were revealed, naming the Show Me State’s St. Louis as number one.

“St. Louis is known for its great barbecue and rubs, and we’ve got the grills going to prove it,” said Earline Walker, owner of one of the city’s best barbecue restaurants. “That’s because we know nothing can bring family and friends together like a cookout with that great smoky, real barbecue flavor of charcoal-grilled foods.”

Memphis, Atlanta and Tampa were also named in the top ten list, which was compiled by Kingsford® Charcoal with Sure Fire Grooves™.
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There are some mornings when savoring the warm gooey goodness of a sticky bun provides an escape from routine. What better way to give this American classic fresh new flavors than adding the tropical tones of mangos and macadamia nuts.

The world’s most popular fruit, mangos’ naturally sweet and lively flavors make them incredibly versatile and complement everything from breakfast to lunch. Because of their year-round availability, mangos are perfect for any occasion.

Looking for an easy yet irresistible treat for your next brunch? Try these mouth watering Mango Macadamia Caramel Rolls.

Mango Macadamia

Caramel Rolls

11/4 cups brown sugar

3/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground allspice

1/2 cup softened butter, divided

1 large, ripe mango, peeled, pitted and chopped

1/2 cup chopped macadamia nuts

1 loaf frozen bread dough, thawed
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