Learn how to Make your Own Homemade Barbecue Sauce

September 4, 2009 at 4:54 pm · Filed under Sauces & Marinades ·Tagged , , , , , ,

Making your own is really quite easy and is definitely recommended if you like to barbecue on a regular basis.  Let’s face it, not only is store bought bbq sauce expensive, but it is usually loaded with artificial preservatives and flavors and good old high fructose corn syrup. Stop wasting your money and jeopardizing your health and make your own homemade barbecue sauce from scratch.  I spent some time on YouTube the other day and found five excellent videos that teach you about the art of making your own homemade bbq sauce.  After you watch the following videos, you will never buy another store bought barbeque sauce again….

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Delicious Moist Carrot Cake Recipe

August 31, 2009 at 10:05 pm · Filed under Baking Recipes ·Tagged , , , ,

Learn how to make the worlds best carrot cake with this free video recipe from YouTube.  This recipe creates a moist and delicious carrot cake and also includes instructions for creating an awesome cream cheese frosting to top the cake….

Follow this link to watch the best carrot cake recipe video.

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The Perfect Grilled Burgers

August 24, 2009 at 11:57 pm · Filed under Grilling Recipes & Tips ·Tagged , , , , , ,

Want to make the most delicious and for dinner tonight?  Then read on…. It really isn’t difficult to grill the perfect burger.  It’s all about the ingredients and technique.  The problem that most people run into when grilling burgers is they tend to over think things and put far too much work into something that is actually quite easy.  It is best to keep things pure and simple.

The following recipe and instructions will serve 4 people.

Ingredients

1 1/2 pounds ground chuck
Kosher Salt and Fresh Ground Black Pepper
Canola oil
4 hamburger buns

Step 1 – Choose The Beef

The very first step is to choose the right kind of ground beef.  As indicated in the ingredients above, I recommend ground chuck.  I have tried a variety of different ground meats and the one that I find produces the tastiest burgers is good old ground chuck with a ratio of 80/20 (80 % lean, 20 % fat).

I know that isn’t the healthiest ratio you can use, but it sure is the tastiest.  You are welcome to go for the 93 % lean, but I warn you….you will have a very dry and tasteless burger.  The leaner burgers also tend to fall apart easier in my experience.

Step 2 – Shape the Burgers

Divide the ground chuck into 4 equal portions (about 6 to 7 ounces) and gently shape them into patties roughly 1/2 inch thick or so.  Now using your thumb, push down into the center of the burger forming a well.  Why the well you ask?  Ever notice when you cook burgers, they sometimes swell up and lose their form?  Usually when this happens, the first instinct is to push down on the burger with a spatula and their goes all that juicy flavor!  The well in the center of the burger, will prevent this from happening….

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Southwest Chicken Salad Recipe

July 14, 2009 at 4:43 pm · Filed under Chicken Recipes, Grilling Recipes & Tips, Healthy Recipes ·Tagged , , , , , ,

Southwestern Chicken Salad

Looking for a delicious and healthy summer recipe? You are going to love this. My inspiration for making this salad came after eating a very similar dish at a popular restaurant that I frequently visit. Actually, this is something my Wife and I like to do every once in a while. After we eat a dish that we are particularly fond of, we like to go home and try and re-create the recipe without knowing the ingredients. Try it… It’s a fun way to see just how sensitive those taste buds really are….

FARMERS MARKET

I am fortunate enough to have a wonderful farmers market not too far from my home. There is just something special about shopping for produce in a farmers market. The variety and quality of the produce found in my local farmers market is far superior to the boring old supermarket. I know I am getting as close to organic as possible when I shop there, so if you have one near you, I highly recommend you visit and see what they have to offer. Usually the folks there are very helpful and knowledgeable about their products so don’t be afraid to ask questions.

INGREDIENTS

Here are the ingredients you will need to make this wonderful :

– 1 Pound of Chicken Cutlets Grilled and Cut Into Strips – I like to use the thin sliced chicken as it cooks really fast and is easy to cut into strips.

– Southwestern Spice Rub:

2 tablespoons chili powder

2 tablespoons paprika

1 tablespoon garlic powder

1 tablespoon salt

2 teaspoons ground cumin

1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

1 teaspoon black pepper

1 teaspoon dried oregano

– 8 Ounces of Mixed Salad Greens – I like to use a mix of Baby Romaine, Radicchio and Tango. If you can’t find fresh greens, I recommend buying a bag of Fresh Express brand mixed salad greens. I have sampled a handful of salad brands and Fresh Express is by far the best in my opinion. The vegetable are always fresh, crisp and delicious. Everything is pre-washed and there are no preservatives.

2 Ripe Avocados Cut Into Small Chunks – It is very important that you choose ripened avocados. When looking for ripe avocados, do not choose them based on color. The best way to determine if they are ripe is by the squeeze test. Ripe avocados will have a firm flesh but will give slightly when squeezed. Unripened avocados are hard and will not give. You should be able to tell the difference. It may take a bit of practice though. If you are unsure, ask for help. A ripe avocado should slice like butter.

1 Large Green Bell Pepper Cut Into Squares

2 Ears of Roasted Corn (Instructions Below)

Half of a Red Onion Sliced

A Healthy Bunch of Fresh Cilantro Chopped

1/2 Cup of Shredded Cheddar Cheese

Ranch Dressing

Step 1 – Soak the Corn, husks and all, in cold water for 30 minutes.

Step 2 – While corn is soaking, prepare the chicken cutlets. Lightly coat the chicken with olive oil and sprinkle some southwestern spice rub on both sides. Rub the spices into the chicken. Refrigerate and allow the chicken to marinate while the corn is soaking.

Step 3 – After corn is done soaking, preheat the oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit. Place corn directly on oven rack and roast for approximately 30 minutes or until the corn is relatively soft. Remove from oven and let the corn cool.

Step 4 – Preheat indoor or outdoor grill. Get the grill nice and hot. Grill chicken cutlets for about 2 minutes on each side, or until done. Remove from grill and allow to cool.

Step 5 – While the chicken and corn is cooling, add the remaining ingredients into a large bowl.

Step 6 – Remove corn from cob. Hold corn upright over a cutting board. Using a knife, gently cut the corn from the cob in a downward motion. Be careful!

Step 7 – Slice the chicken into thin strips.

Step 8 – Add the corn and chicken to the bowl with the rest of the ingredients.

Step 9 – Add the ranch dressing and toss the salad. The amount of ranch dressing you add is really up to you. It depends on your personal preference. I like to add about 1/4 cup.

Your done! Serve and enjoy!

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Learn How to Cook the Perfect Chicken Legs on the Grill

June 14, 2009 at 2:09 am · Filed under Chicken Recipes, Cooking Recipes, Cooking Tips, Grilling Recipes & Tips ·Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , ,

is not only a delicious summer meal, but it is also quite economical as legs are one of the cheapest parts of the chicken. Just because they are cheap, does not mean they have to lack in flavor. Actually, the dark meat of poultry has more flavor as it contains more fat.

One of the biggest problems grilling enthusiasts face however is knowing how long they should cook chicken legs on the grill.

It really isn’t possible to give an exact answer to this question as it really depends on the type of grill you are using, the grilling method and how big the chicken legs are.

It really is an excellent idea to invest in a good quality cooking thermometer. I personally own a voice alert electronic thermometer. It really is a fantastic little cooking gadget and I would be lost without it. It is extremely accurate and eliminates all guessing, and guessing is not an option when cooking meat, especially chicken.

CHICKEN GRILLING METHODS

Boil the Chicken Legs First

The goal with this method is to cook the meat all the way through before it goes on the grill. This greatly reduces the risk of any food born illnesses and also cuts down the grilling time significantly. The downside to this method is a serious lack of flavor. Since you will be cooking the meat on the grill for a much shorter period of time, the meat will not have a chance to pick up that delicious grilled flavor.

MARINATE THEN GRILL

Marinating your chicken legs first is always a good idea. Not only does it give your food a fantastic flavor, but it also keeps the meat moist during the cooking process. For the best results, marinate the chicken over night. Below is an excellent marinade that I use often and it is quite versatile. It works well with seafood like shrimp and scallops as well.

Citrus Herb Marinade

Ingredients:

4 Chicken Legs

1/4 Cup of Extra Virgin Olive Oil

2 1/2 Tablespoons of Fresh Lemon Juice

1 1/2 Tablespoons Fresh Orange Juice

1/3 Cup of Freshly Chopped Parsley

1/3 Cup Freshly Chopped Cilantro

2 Cloves of Garlic Minced

1 Teaspoon of Salt

1/4 Teaspoon of Freshly Cracked Black Pepper

Directions:

In a large bowl, mix together all ingredients except the chicken legs. Add chicken to the bowl with the marinade and toss to coat. Refrigerate for several hours, over night if possible….

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How to Cook the Perfect Meatloaf

June 8, 2009 at 11:50 pm · Filed under Beef Recipes, Cooking Tips ·Tagged , , , , , , ,

So you are planning to make meatloaf for dinner tonight?

There is a question that I have received several times from ambitious home cooks:

What is the Cooking Time for Meatloaf? or How long do you cook meatloaf in the oven?

So I decided to dedicate an entire post that includes instructions along with delicious recipe that will answer the above question.  I have also included a few videos that covers a few other methods for cooking meatloaf.

This is a very common question, but it really does depend on how many pounds your meatloaf is and the temperature at which you are cooking it.

Meatloaf, when prepared the right way, is a delicious dish. It should be firm, but juicy and should not break apart when you slice it.

In this post, I will provide you with a wonderful recipe and instructions for cooking the best meatloaf you will ever sink your teeth into.

Meatloaf is usually cooked two different ways: either in a bread pan or on a cookie sheet.

The bread will give you a juicer meatloaf and is much easier to prepare as the meat takes the shape of the bread pan.

The cookie sheet method will not be as juicy and you will have to put a little more effort into shaping the meatloaf and get your hands dirty.

I like to cook my meatloaf Italian Style. This is the way my Grandmother made it and she passed her recipe on to my Mother, and my Mother passed it on to me. It is by far the best meatloaf recipe in my opinion. It is much more flavorful then your basic meatloaf recipe.

SIMPLE ITALIAN STYLE MEATLOAF RECIPE

Ingredients:

1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef
2 eggs
1 7 ounce jar roasted red peppers chopped
1 onion chopped
2 cloves of garlic chopped
1 cup of bread crumbs
1 teaspoon of salt
1/2 teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup grated Parmesan Cheese
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
2 cups of prepared tomato sauce
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.

2. Heat a medium sized saute pan over medium heat and add 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Add your onion and garlic and saute until soft. Remove and set it aside on a plate to cool.

3. Grab yourself a large mixing bowl.

4. Add the cooled onions and garlic along with the the rest of your ingredients, except the tomato sauce, and combine. Mix together well with your hands and form into a loaf and add it to an oiled oven safe tray. Top the loaf with 1 cup of the prepared tomato sauce. Make certain that you spread the tomato sauce evenly over the top of the loaf.

5. Bake for about 1 hour or when the internal temperature of the meatloaf reaches 160 degrees F. Remove from the oven and let it sit for about 5 minutes. Slice it up and serve.

Heat the remaining tomato sauce if desired and use for dipping….

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Cooking Tip – What is the Best way to Cook Frozen Raw Shrimp?

May 26, 2009 at 8:09 pm · Filed under Fish and Seafood Recipes, Grilling Recipes & Tips ·Tagged , , , , , , , ,

Shrimp is without a doubt one of the most popular forms of seafood in the US and abroad. When compared to other types of shellfish, like lobster for instance, it is more affordable, and can be just as delicious if prepared correctly. It is an extremely versatile shellfish and with a bit of experience, is very easy to cook.

As the title of this post suggests, many people are asking: What is the best way to cook frozen shrimp? The reason why this is such a popular question is because this shellfish freezes very well. Many of us, after we buy some, store it in the freezer for future use. In fact, most of the shrimp we purchase is frozen before we buy it from the store. Even the shrimp that is supposedly fresh, has more than likely been recently thawed. There is nothing wrong with this, as I said earlier, this shellfish freezes quite well.

Hopefully the shrimp you already have on hand is still in the shell. You should avoid, if possible, purchasing any that has been peeled. A lot of the flavor is in the shells, so if it has been pre-peeled, it would have lost a good deal of essential flavor. Besides, if you peel it yourself, you can save the shells and use them to make a delicious stock that can be used in lots of other recipes.

Of all the various methods for , grilling and broiling are by far my favorite methods as I believe they impart the best flavor and are rather simple to prepare. Below is a recipe and instructions for marinating and grilling shrimp.

ABOUT THAWING FROZEN SHRIMP

I highly recommend that you DO NOT use your microwave to defrost shrimp, or any meat for that matter. I know, from past experience, that the microwave can partially cook the meat during the thawing process and it also does something to the flavor and texture of the meat. I will usually take the shrimp out of the freezer a day or two before I plan on cooking, place it in a covered bowl, and defrost it in the refrigerator. If I am in a really hurry, I will place them in a colander and thaw under running cold water. Those are in my opinion, the best methods for .

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Different Ways To Cook Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast

May 21, 2009 at 9:16 pm · Filed under Chicken Recipes, Cooking Recipes, Cooking Tips ·Tagged , , , , , , , ,

is the most popular cut of poultry in the United States and with good reason: they are low in fat, quick and easy to prepare and extremely versatile. This wonderful cut of poultry can be grilled, sauteed, broiled, poached, fried and baked. There is a downside however to this cut of meat: they are rather low in fat. You may be asking: “What is wrong with that? That makes them healthy right?” Yes, they are a healthier way to eat, but because they are low in fat, they are also low in moisture and that makes them very susceptible to over cooking. Nothing is less appetizing than a dry and overcooked piece of meat.

There are two ways to make certain your chicken is not overcooked. The first way, and the most accurate in my opinion, is to use an instant read thermometer. I own a handy little electronic thermometer with a voice alert feature. It is extremely accurate and has never let me down. The other method for checking doneness is by pricking the meat with a fork. If the juices run clear, then it is done. I think the first option is much safer, but you can be the judge.

There are literally hundreds of combined recipes and methods for cooking chicken breast, far too many to cover in this article, so I will talk about two very popular methods.

One of the easiest and tastiest ways is to marinate and grill them.

Below is a great marinade recipe.:

GRILLED CHICKEN BREAST WITH CITRUS HERB MARINADE

INGREDIENTS:

4 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts

1/4 Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil

2 Tablespoons of Freshly Squeezed Lemon Juice

2 Tablespoons of Freshly Squeezed Orange Juice

1/3 Cup of Freshly Chopped Parsley

1/3 Cup of Freshly Chopped Basil

1 Clove of Garlic Minced

1 Teaspoon of Salt

1/4 Teaspoon of Freshly Cracked Black Pepper

DIRECTIONS:

Step 1: Mix together everything, accept the chicken breasts, in a large bowl.

Step 2: Add boneless skinless chicken breasts to the bowl, cover with plastic wrap and marinate in the refrigerator for several hours.

Step 3: Get you grill nice and hot and oil the grates to prevent the chicken from sticking.

Step 4: Grill chicken breasts about 4 minutes per side or until done.

Another fantastic way to cook chicken breasts is by baking them in foil in the oven. The foil helps keep the meat nice and moist while cooking. What you put inside the foil is only limited by your imagination, but to make things easier, I have included a great recipe below.

CHICKEN WITH SUN DRIED TOMATOES AND KALAMATA OLIVES

INGREDIENTS:

4 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts

10 – 15 Kalamata Olives Pitted and Chopped

8 – 10 Sun Dried Tomatoes Cut Into Thin Strips

4 Tablespoons of Extra Virgin Olive Oil

2 Tablespoons of Freshly Chopped Basil

2 Tablespoons of Freshly Chopped Parsley

Salt and Pepper to Taste

DIRECTIONS:

Step 1: Preheat Oven to 450 Degrees F

Step 2: In a bowl, combine the olives, tomatoes, basil, parsley, olive oil, salt and pepper.

Step 3: Cut 8 Squares of Aluminum Foil (Cut them large, about 18 inches square)

Step 4: Grab 2 squares of foil and place one on top of the other.

Step 5: Grease the foil with some olive oil

Step 6: Place a chicken breast in the center of the foil and spoon some of the tomato and olive mixture on top

Step 7: Loosely fold the foil over the chicken forming a tent and seal tightly

Step 8: Repeat this process for the remaining chicken breasts

Step 9 : Place the wrapped chicken breasts on a baking sheet and place in the pre-heated oven

Step 10: Bake for approximately 20 minutes or until done. To check for doneness, cut a small slit in the foil to allow the steam to escape and then carefully unfold the foil. Check for doneness with an instant read thermometer. The internal temperature should read 160 degrees F.

Step 11: Let the chicken breasts stand for about five minutes before serving.

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Recipe for Roasted Asparagus with Garlic

May 19, 2009 at 2:57 pm · Filed under Cooking Recipes, Vegetarian Recipes

Here is a very simple and delicious recipe for cooking fresh asparagus:

Recipe for Roasted Asparagus with Garlic

Ingredients

– 2 Pounds of Fresh Asparagus (washed and tough ends trimmed)

– 2 – 3 Tablespoons of Extra Virgin Olive Oil

– 1 Tablespoon of Freshly Minced Garlic

–  Salt and  Freshly Ground Pepper to Taste

–  1/2 Lemon Freshly Squeezed

Directions

– Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F.

–  Get yourself a large baking dish then coat and toss the asparagus with the extra virgin olive oil, minced garlic, salt and pepper.

– Bake the asparagus until it is slightly browned and tender. Should take about 8 – 10 minutes depending on the thickness of the spears.

– Remove from the oven and squeeze on some fresh lemon juice.  Adjust seasoning if necessarry.

Enjoy!

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How Long do you Cook Hamburgers on the Grill?

May 8, 2009 at 11:44 pm · Filed under Grilling Recipes & Tips ·Tagged , , , , ,

Cooking hamburgers on the grill is probably the tastiest method for making these yummy summer treats.  Of course many of us find ourselves asking the same question, time and time again:  How Long do you Cook Hamburgers on a Grill?

This is a fantastic question.  After all, an undercooked hamburger can make one very sick, so it pays to be safe and educate yourself.  The time it takes for your hamburgers to fully cook really depends on the thickness of your burger and how hot your grill is.   So the most accurate method for testing when your hamburgers are fully cooked, is by using an instant read thermometer.

Really folks, you need to invest in one of these.  Head over to your local home goods store and pick one up.  You will be very glad that you did.  They are not expensive and it will make grilling a whole lot easier and enjoyable….

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