Swedish Meatball Sauce

The Swedish meatball forms an integral part of the Swedish cuisine. In Sweden, the meatballs are called kottbular and are made by combining ground beef, pork, fried onions, breadcrumbs soaked in milk and broth. This mixture is seasoned with salt and allspice before cooking them by baking, frying or steaming. The traditional way of serving Swedish meatballs are by cooking it with sauce which forms the gravy of the dish. Hence, here we will take a look at a variety of Swedish meatball sauce recipes which will definitely tingle your taste buds. Read more on Swedish meatball gravy recipe.

Swedish Recipes for Meatball Sauces

Swedish Meatball Tomato Wine Sauce

Ingredients

• Ground beef, 1 cup
• Chopped onion, 4 ounces
• Round pork, 8 ounces
• Soft bread crumbs, cup
• Diced tomatoes, 1 can
• Olive oil, 3 teaspoons
• Regular parsley, 3 teaspoons
• Dry red wine or beef broth, cup
• Ground black pepper, teaspoon
• Onion, chopped, 4 ounces
• Salt, teaspoon
• Ground nutmeg, teaspoon
• Garlic, minced, 4 - 5 cloves
• Egg, beaten, 1
• Ground red pepper, teaspoon
• Cornstarch, 1 teaspoons
• Ground cumin, teaspoon

Preparation

In a large mixing bowl, take beaten eggs and mix it with parsley, 3 to 4 garlic cloves, nutmeg, black pepper, cumin, red pepper, bread crumbs and teaspoon salt. When these ingredients are well combined, add ground beef and pork and mix again. Make small shaped balls with this mixture and set aside. Grease a 15x10x1 inch baking pan with a nonstick cooking spray and place the meat balls in them. Bake the meatballs for fifteen minutes at 350 degrees F. Once the meatballs are fully cooked, remove them from the oven and place on paper towels for drying. While the meatballs are kept for drying, one can start the process of making the sauce. For this, take olive oil in a saucepan and heat it on a medium flame. When the oil becomes hot, put in 1 clove of garlic as well as onion and fry for a few minutes till the onions become transparent. Add cornstarch to the skillet, followed by the beef broth or red wine. Add the undrained tomatoes and sprinkle salt over the sauce. Cook the sauce until it begins to thicken, while stirring constantly. When the sauce becomes thick, add the baked meatballs and stir gently. Once this is done, take the skillet from the heat and place the meatball dish in a serving bowl. Garnish it with some parsley and serve hot. Read more on Swedish meatball recipe.

Easy Swedish Meatballs Sauce Recipe

Ingredients

• Beef stock, pint
• White flour, 3 teaspoons
• Cream, pint
• Water, 1 tablespoon
• Soy sauce, teaspoon
• Salt and white pepper, as per taste

Preparation

In a deep bottomed pan, take beef stock and bring it to boiling point. When it boils completely, put in the cream and stir. This should be followed by flour and a tablespoon of water. Sprinkle salt and white pepper to this mixture and let the sauce cook on a low heat till it becomes thick. When you get the desired consistency, pour the sauce over the cooked meatballs and serve. Read more on meatball recipe.

Swedish Meatball Red Sauce Recipe

Ingredients

• Packaged frozen meatballs, 16 ounce
• Pizza sauce, 14 ounce
• Apple jelly, 10 ounce
• Freshly ground black pepper, 1 teaspoon
• Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon
• 1 teaspoon salt

Preparation

Take pizza sauce in a skillet and add apple jelly to it. This should be followed by Italian seasoning, salt as well as pepper. Cook on a medium heat and bring the mixture to a low boil. When this is done, add the frozen meatballs in the saucepan and stir once gently. Cover the skillet with a lid and let the sauce simmer on a low to medium heat for twenty to twenty five minutes. Do not forget to stir occasionally. When the meatballs are fully cooked, transfer it into a bowl and serve. Know more about meatball appetizer recipes.

Sour Cream Mushroom Meatball Sauce

Ingredients

• Mushrooms with liquid, 4 ounces (1 can)
• Undiluted mushroom soup, low fat, 1 can
• Sour cream, low fat, 1 pint
• Cooked meatballs

Preparation

Take mushrooms with liquid in a saucepan and add undiluted mushroom soup to it. Pour sour cream into this mixture and allow it to cook on a medium to low temperature. Stir the sauce frequently until the liquid starts thickening. Once the sauce reaches the desired consistency, take off from the flame and put the meatballs into the sauce. Read more on meatball appetizers.

You may like to read more on:

• How to Make Quick and Easy Meatballs
• Swedish Meatball and Other Meatball Recipes
• Simple Meatball Recipe

These are a few sauce recipes that you can easily make at home. You can add these recipes to your everyday menu and serve them with noodles as well as rice.

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Tips for Using a Charcoal Grill

The summer has arrived and kids have their school vacations. It's the right time for grilling and enjoying a barbecue in the backyard with your family members. These days, many people prefer natural gas and propane-fueled barbecues. Although a charcoal grill seems to be outdated, its importance still remains unbeatable. You can cook a variety of your favorite summertime food recipes, right from a simple meat to smoked meat recipes. Grilled foods are very tasty and have an excellent flavor. The reason is cooking on the charcoal grill offers a natural taste to food.

Using a Charcoal Grill: Essential Tips

Charcoal grills come in a large variety, ranging from classic, old-fashioned charcoal grills to the modern, expensive grills. There is a very convenient type of charcoal grill called portable charcoal grill, which is useful for events like tailgating or picnic. Larger, stationary grills are also available, which can be used in poolside or backyard barbecues.

You can roast, grill or smoke fish or meat. Cooking on the charcoal grill can be done either by direct cooking or indirect cooking method. For the direct cooking, the bottom of the grill is completely covered with enough charcoal briquettes. They are heaped together and then ignited. When coals become white, they are spread over the grill's bottom. The cooking grill or grate is placed on the top and then you can start with cooking. The direct cooking method can be used to cook foods like hamburgers, thin steaks or baked potatoes at a high temperature.

In the indirect cooking method, you should place equal amounts of charcoal briquettes on each side of the bottom of the grill. Then, briquettes are burnt to a whitish color. Following this, you can keep the cooking grill on the top and start cooking. You can cook a variety of foods, including spare ribs, lobster tail, chicken, thicker steaks and a meatloaf. You need to place the grill cover on the top of the grill, so that heat is properly held inside the grill.

Here are some helpful tips on using a charcoal grill that will help make you grilling experience truly enjoyable.

• Before you start with the grilling, make sure to read and understand all the instructions given in the brochure about how to use the grill.
• You should know the optimum temperature and cooking time for each type of food. For example, fish should be cooked over medium heat, while pork and chicken on medium to high heat. You can cook steaks in a hot barbecue. Vegetables should be covered by aluminum foil with spices and a bit of butter and cooked over medium heat. Thin steaks and hamburgers take five minutes for well-done. It takes about an hour to make baked potatoes and about 30 minutes to prepare sweet corn.
• You should lightly oil the cooking grill before starting cooking, so that food does not stick to the grill. Or, you may use a piece of aluminum foil to cover the cooking grill. After your cooking is over, remove the foil.
• Always store charcoal briquettes in a dry place and avoid storing them in the wet area. Moist briquettes are very difficult to burn.
• You can use a chimney starter or electric starter to light the charcoal fire. Let the briquettes burn to white color, before you start cooking.
  
• After every use, make sure to empty the accumulated ash in the bottom of the grill and allow it to cool down completely.
• Another important criteria for selecting a charcoal grill is that it should be easy to douse any flare-ups during the process of cooking. It's better to choose the model that is provided with the facility of water storage in the base where the charcoal is placed. This type of charcoal grill makes it easy to douse hot coals.
• While extinguishing the charcoal grill, close the lid of the grill. Due to lack of oxygen, fire will be smothered. When charcoal has cooled down, transfer it into a metal container using a long tongues. You can immerse charcoal in water to extinguish burning coal.

With these tips for using a charcoal grill, I am sure you will enjoy cooking on the grill and prepare a number of sumptuous barbecue recipes. Have a wonderful summer time with some crunchy snacks like barbecue chicken or hotdogs and your favorite cold drinks with the pleasurable company of your close ones.

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How to Cook BBQ Ribs

Although there are numerous ways of cooking BBQ ribs, in my opinion and I'm sure a lot of you will agree, the best and only way to get tasty, juicy barbeque ribs is over a grill. To get that "melt-in-your mouth" tender meat, follow the instructions mentioned in this article. Now, before we begin, let me just make this clear that the recipes are for beef BBQ ribs and pork BBQ ribs. It's not so confusing because the methods on how to cook BBQ ribs is the same. Also, in addition to the marinades mentioned in each recipe, there are couple more marinades you can try when you're grilling/parboiling/baking your baby back ribs.

Cook Barbeque Ribs

• Prepare the ribs one day prior to making them.
• Peel off the white membrane that's on the ribs.
• Keep the ribs in a deep plate and cover them in your favorite BBQ marinade. The recipes of these marinades are given below.
• Keep the ribs in the refrigerator and bring them out at the time of baking/grilling/boiling it.
• While baking the ribs in the oven, always place the ribs over some cookie sheets.

BBQ Ribs in the Oven

Cooking BBQ ribs in the oven is no easy task, as you are eliminating the main aspect of preparing it: barbeque. But getting the same juicy taste of the baby back ribs is possible.

Marinade 1

• 2 tablespoons orange juice
• 2 tablespoons soft brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons tomato ketchup
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon orange peel, grated
• cup soy sauce
• Salt and pepper, for taste
• Small bunch scallions, thinly sliced

Marinade 2

• 1 cup soy sauce
• 1 cup brown sugar
• teaspoon cayenne
• cup white vinegar
• cup water
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger
• 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes

Ingredients

• 2 lbs baby back ribs
• cup fresh cilantro, chopped
• Barbeque sauce (your choice)
• Salt and pepper, for taste

Preparation

Follow the steps mentioned in the above section and marinate the ribs in a plastic Ziploc bag overnight. The next morning, take the ribs out, loosely wrap them in some foil, and preheat the oven at 350F. Place the ribs over the baking pan still wrapped in the foil and bake it for about an hour. Turn the ribs once when they are cooking in the oven and baste with the leftover marinade. Once the ribs are cooked, drizzle some marinade (optional), barbeque sauce, salt and pepper, and freshly cut cilantro. Serve hot!

BBQ Ribs in a Crock Pot

Love to get that tender tasting meat in mouth? Then, here's a recipe to cook the ribs in a crock pot that might just make you go... yummy.

Marinade 1

• cup soy sauce
• cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons roasted sesame seeds
• 6 cloves garlic, minced
• teaspoon ginger, grated
• 3 scallions, chopped
• 3 tablespoons sherry
• 2 tablespoons sesame oil

Marinade 2

• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• cup white vinegar
• cup lemon juice
• 3 tablespoons honey
• cup olive oil
• 4 cloves garlic crushed
• 1 teaspoon cayenne

Ingredients

• 6 lbs of pork spareribs
• Salt and pepper, for taste

Preparation

Peel off the white membrane that's on the ribs and place them in the crock pot. Mix the marinade together and pour it over the ribs. Add a cup of water and slow cook the ribs on low heat for about 6 to 8 hours. Once the pork spareribs are ready, pull the meat with the help of a fork. Serve with some salads, crackers, by itself, or make it into a sandwich.

The spareribs have more fat and flavor than baby back ribs. You might have noticed in barbeque competitions where cooks normally choose spareribs over back ribs. When you have perfectly learned how to cook BBQ ribs, the meat will definitely come out moist, tender, and juicy. The marinade is an essential part as it gives the desired flavors and helps add moisture to the ribs.

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How to Cook Rack of Lamb

Ever seen that juicy-looking, tender piece of meat, covered with paper crowns on the tables of the stinking rich? That is the famous rack of lamb. The recipe is made using the most tender parts of the lamb. Needless to say, that cooking this rack is going to take a hack at your pockets. But hey, if it's a special day, with a special person, why cut back? It is 'the thing' for the anniversary you were planning! This type of cooking may be a bit rich and moderately difficult to make, but is also very delicious and rewarding. And that's not counting the love and appreciation your loved one will bequeath upon you!

Rack of Lamb Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 lamb racks
• 4 tbsp olive oil
• Rosemary
• 2 tbsp Dijon mustards
• 2 tbsp fresh parsley - chopped
• c. unseasoned bread crumbs
• 1 tsp chopped dried garlic
• Salt and pepper

Instructions

1. Clean out the rack and trim the fat around it. The fat is quite useless and will hinder that perfect taste of the rack of lamb. Crank the oven up to 450 degrees and let it heat before sticking the meat in. While that's happening, take a big bowl and mix the bread crumbs, garlic, salt, pepper and rosemary. Add salt and pepper to taste. It is always advisable to use powdered pepper instead of pepper corns as they mix with the other ingredients easily. Add 2 tbsp olive oil to it. Mix the ingredients.
2. Now comes the slightly tricky part. Take another 2 tbsp of olive oil and pan fry the rack on an oven-proof skillet on a high flame. The skillet should be oven-proof as you can use the same skillet in the oven later. This part especially requires diligence because you have to ensure that the rack is evenly browned and not burnt. And since you are doing it on a high flame, keep a close watch on the lamb. It will take about 1 - 2 minutes for the rack to get the right color.
3. Take the lamb off the skillet. Drain the excess oil off the rack using some tissues. Let it cool for some time and dab some mustard on its surface. Once cooled, cover the rack with the bread crumbs-and-spices mixture. Roll the rack in the mixture and make sure that a thick coat of the mixture spreads evenly across the surface of the rack.
4. Now to cook! Before placing it in the oven, cover the bone of the rack with some aluminum foil to ensure that it does not get burnt. In stuff like this, it is all about presentation! Use the skillet again. Place the lamb in the center of the preheated oven to ensure that the rack is cooked evenly from all sides. Make sure that it is placed bone-side-down. Cooking it will take about 20 minutes if the rack is rare, or 25 minutes if medium rare. Check for 'doneness' with a meat thermometer every 10 - 12 minutes or so to ensure that rack is going according to plan.
5. Once ready, take the rack out and let it cool. After the lamb has sufficiently cooled, carve it.

And your lamb rack is ready! Enjoy your special meal!

The rack of lamb recipe can be rated as moderately difficult. The parts where you have to 'watch it' are the pan frying and the oven roasting. Chances of your perfect rack going sour are quite high here. The rest of the procedure is really as simple as it sounds!

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How to Butcher a Pig

It may seem revolting to some to think about the idea of butchering a pig themselves but it is actually a way of life for some people and a hobby for others. The thrill of hunting for your own meal and then having it prepared from scratch literally, is where all the excitement lies. Pig meat is succulent and tender when cooked well, and has an abundant content of juiciness and flavor. The meat can be carved out in such a manner where you can eat the pork meat without the fat, or keep the fat layer intact for that added buttery feel and taste.

How to Butcher a Pig at Home

Before you get down to butchering your pig, make sure you have all your essential items in place. Once it has been stripped of its hair and skinned until you only have the meat in front of you, the butchering stage commences. To remove small tough hair around the pig, use a blow torch to eliminate it completely.

Things You'll Need for Butchering
Make a checklist of the things you'll need and have a small area a little off to one side of the kitchen for all your butchering needs. Avoid using the same countertop for both meats and other foods since this can be quite unhygienic. Things you'll need at your butcher's station are, good range of butcher knives, work goggles, gloves, apron and plastic sheets. The most important thing to own is a reliable butcher block table. It will serve as a great platform to place your meats and have them slaughtered the right way using a trusty countertop.

Getting Prepped
Before you lay the pig atop a butcher block table, make sure you first place the plastic sheets above this to avoid staining the countertop with the pig's drippings and other fluids. Apron and gloves including the goggles must be on before you cut up the pig to avoid being drenched in its unmentionables or getting bits of bone flinging towards your face. The first step is to make an incision along the middle of the pig as it lies down on its back on the butcher block table. All abdominal cavity organs must be removed and discarded before continuing on.

Removing of the Head
The next step is to detach the pig's head from the body by aiming for its neck using powerful blows to break it away from the top. Once the head comes off cut up the rest of the pig along its backbone, careful to work your way along its spine using strong strikes to separate the meat from the bone. The three parts that need separating are the shoulders, ribs and loin where you need to constantly stab through the meat to make it easier to cut up the connecting meat chunks into parts.

Carving Away Fat
To remove the fat you'd first have to lay out all your chunks and carefully trim away this layer using a sharp butcher's knife to do the job. Be careful not to rip the meat away from the fat but to gently carve it away in small portions to have neat chunks left intact from the pig.

Once you have all your pork portions separated and ready for either consumption or distribution, you'll find it easier to butcher pigs or any other animal once you know where to begin and end. Always remember to use a sanitized area to do your slaughter work and to immediately clean up the area with a disinfectant once you finish what you started. It would be advisable to separate the butchering area from your actual kitchen space so as to avoid any messiness and uncalled-for smells. If you're using rubber gloves, make sure you wash these thoroughly with a disinfectant as well, and hang them out to dry completely. Even your apron should be soaked and washed separately using a strong detergent, and the plastic sheets need to be discarded if they aren't reusable.

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Christmas Side Dishes

One of the most anticipated feasts of the year is a Christmas dinner. The sheer number of tasty dishes that are prepared are enough to make everyone in the family happy and content. The main course usually includes a roasted turkey or a glazed ham. However, you need some good Christmas side dishes to complete the meal. So what are some good side dishes for Christmas? Bread sauce, mashed potatoes, braised greens and oven roasted potatoes are some traditional side dishes. However this season, you can experiment a bit and give a new twist to the old classics. For a memorable Christmas dinner, we present to you some innovative but tasty recipes for Christmas side dishes.

Best Side Dishes for Christmas
Here we present to you a selection of some of the best side dishes for Christmas that are easy to prepare. You can prepare some of these recipes a day in advance so that you can be completely worry free on Christmas eve.

Baby Carrots with Tarragon Sauce

Ingredients

• 20 baby carrots, peeled and trimmed
• 3 tablespoons fresh tarragon, minced
• 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
• 3 tablespoons butter
• cup water
• 1 tablespoons honey
• teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• teaspoon sea salt

Method

In a pan melt the butter until it is a bit frothy and add the peeled and trimmed baby carrots. Cook them over a medium heat for 5 minutes, until the carrots are a bit caramelized. Now add the white wine vinegar, minced tarragon, honey and water. Cover with a lid and let it simmer for 10 - 12 minutes. Once the liquid is reduced and the carrots are cooked, add salt and pepper. Stir to combine. When the sauce is of a pourable consistency, remove from heat and serve it on a platter.

Lemon Garlic Green Beans

Ingredients

• 1 pounds fresh green beans, trimmed
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 3 red onions, sliced
• cup chopped fresh basil
• teaspoon pepper
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 teaspoons salt
• Zest of 1 lime

Method

In a large saucepan, bring some water up to a boil and add a teaspoon of salt in it. Now add the trimmed green beans and cook them with a covered lid for 4 - 5 minutes. Take care not to overcook the beans, otherwise they will turn mushy. Drain beans from water and plunge them immediately in ice-cold water to stop the cooking process.

Next heat the olive oil in medium-sized skillet and then add the sliced red onions. When they turn golden brown in color, add the green beans along with minced garlic, salt, pepper, lemon juice, lime zest and chopped fresh basil. Cook until the beans are cooked through. To serve, arrange beans on a platter and add a sprinkling of chopped basil leaves. This is one of the best side dishes for chicken.

Butternut Squash Gratin

Ingredients

• 2 pounds butternut squash
• 16 cups fresh spinach
• 1 cup finely shredded Parmesan cheese
• 1 cup light cream
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• cup crme fraiche
• teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch

Method

Peel the butternut squash and cut them into inch slices. Grease a baking dish with oil and arrange the slices of butternut squash into a single layer. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and bake it in a moderately hot oven for 18 - 20 minutes.

In a large saucepan, cook the spinach in boiling water until they have wilted. Drain the spinach and allow it to cool slightly. Chop the spinach and keep it aside. In another saucepan, heat the light cream and add the cornstarch to it. Stir in the chopped spinach and cook until the spinach is well coated with the cream mixture. Pour this over the baked butternut squash. Arrange another layer of sliced butternut squash over the spinach mixture and chill the gratin for 6 - 8 hours in the refrigerator.

In a bowl, mix the grated Parmesan cheese with crme fraiche and pour it over the butternut squash in the baking tray. Add a bit of salt and pepper and bake in the oven for 15 - 20 minutes, until the top of the gratin is browned. Serve hot.

Brussels Sprouts with Pancetta and Almonds

Ingredients

• 1 pound Brussels sprouts, halved
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 8 pancetta slices
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 cup flaked almonds
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tablespoons flat-leaf parsley, chopped

Method

Boil some water in a flat-bottomed pan and add the Brussels sprouts to it. blanch the Brussels sprouts for 2 - 3 minutes until they are soft but still has a bit of "bite". Once the Brussels sprouts are ready, transfer them to a bowl which has cold water. Drain them and keep them aside.

In a medium-sized frying pan, add the butter and oil. When the butter melts, add the pancetta slices and fry them over medium heat until they turn golden and crispy. Next, add the minced garlic and flaked almonds to the pan and cook them for a minute. Finally add the Brussels sprouts into the pan and toss them until they are cooked through. Transfer the Brussels sprouts to a serving platter and garnish with a generous sprinkling of chopped parsley.

These were some recipes for side dishes for Christmas that you can make this holiday season. These recipes are not too hard and you can prepare some of them two to three days ahead. Christmas dinner menu is incomplete without these mouth-watering side dishes.

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How to Cook Chicken on a Grill

Chicken is cooked using various methods, like baking, frying, brining, poaching, sauting and grilling. All these cooking methods enhance the taste of the chicken and reduces the risk of bacterial contamination. Many people relate grilling directly to picnics, which is partly true. Grilling is the favorite 'summer task' of many people, who are just crazy about cooking and relishing new recipes every time. When the chicken is cooked on grill, it provides many rewards that includes low fats, less time and also the natural flavor. Grilling also becomes a mean of social gathering when you organize a 'barbecue outing'. All this is correct, but what about those who don't know how to cook chicken on a grill? You need not worry, as I am here with the simple procedure of grilling the chicken.

Cook Chicken on a Grill

• Get rid of the giblets from the cavity and wash the chicken thoroughly with cold water. Dry the chicken with the help of a paper napkin.
• Season the chicken inside out with some pepper and freshly minced basil or any of the herbs like, rosemary, thyme and cilantro.
• For the charcoal grill, create a hot coal bed on one side and make sure you keep the chicken for grilling near the coals and not on the coals. When you are using the gas grill, cook the chicken on only one burner of your grill.
• Clean the grill grate with the help of a wire brush. As the grate will be hot, use tongs to hold the cleaning towel.
• Keep the covered chicken by positioning it breast side down, on the less heated side of the grill and cook it for about 25-30 minutes. Now turn the chicken around by cooking the other side for 30 more minutes.
• To see if the chicken is cooked fully, make a small cut in the thickest part of the meat, if clear juice runs down, then you have successfully learned how to cook chicken on a grill.

It is important to add salt to the grilled chicken recipe, just before serving. Always make it a point to clean the grill, when you are done using it.

Tips for Grilling Chicken

Chicken is one of the most popular choice of grilled food. Grilled chicken served in any form can prove a great feast for the taste buds. It may be skinless whole chicken or any part of a chicken, it is suggested to trim out the excessive fats this will prevent the dripping of fats directly on the fire. All this will help in cooking the chicken perfectly; without the chances of it being overcooked. The unavoidable difficulty that comes across while grilling the chicken is, maintaining the perfect moisture in the chicken. Many times, the chicken just dries off in the process of grilling which kills the taste part. To avoid this:

• Marinade the chicken a few hours before grilling; with a thick marinade sauce or a faint coat of regular cooking oil, will do just do fine.
• Put the chicken breast in an aluminum foil bag and then put it on the grill, this method helps keeping the moisture intact.
• Use correct utensils when grilling chicken, like a long handled tong and a metal spatula, which will help you in turning the chicken.
• If possible, use boneless chicken with the skin removed. If you are grilling the chicken pieces with their skin on, then cook the skin side first and then the other side of the meat.

Cooking chicken on a grill, is an art that is mastered one step at a time, the more you practice the more efficient you will get and we don't mind practicing for such a 'noble' cause. Do we? All you have to do is keep on improving your grilling skills! Buen provecho!!

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Food Presentation Techniques

A delicious dish excites your taste buds instantly, when it is presented in a classy way. You may be keen observer of the way, a chef garnishes the dish in your favorite recipe show on the television. But, when it is your turn, you may find yourself unable to master the food presentation techniques! Well, this takes time, but you should keep experimenting to learn the best way to plate and garnish food.

Plating and Garnishing Food

Elegant Tableware

Using plates that are perfect for the food served is a must. Use plates that will keep enough empty space after the food is served. Remember, fully occupied dish will look really messy and unattractive. Too small a dish can look overused and too large a dish may look empty. So, balance the portion size and plate size. Make sure that you opt for elegant tableware according to the occasion and food served. You can try tableware, especially the plates that are square shaped, instead of the common round shape.

Try to have plates that are of a color in contrast to the food recipe served. Decent glassware and beautiful crockery is a must to complement the entire food presentation. You must also learn how to set a table properly to serve food in the right way. Have the necessary hot plates to serve hot food. Pay particular attention to the proper table setting and table decorations. Spread the best table cloth or table runner and table mats.

Garnishing Food

Garnishing is one of the best, easiest and most popular technique. The first rule you must remember while using garnishes is that all garnishes have to be fresh. Never try to use the prepared garnishes or store them for later use. Next rule is that use a contrasting garnish. Like, if you have a dish that has a dark gravy, opt for white colored garnish. For something that is light colored, you need to have a dark or contrasting colored garnish over it. Well, it's not just about colors, a garnish must have complementary flavor element which will enhance the taste of the food along with the appearance.

A good idea is to use one of the ingredient used in the dish as the garnish, like chopped dry fruits and nuts, this will also give a hint of the flavor. For garnishing soup recipes, drizzles of sour cream or crumbled bacon can be used. For starters and side dishes, you can opt for chopped herbs or chopped nuts. You can also use onion or cabbage, cut creatively for garnishing a dish. Dusting powdered sugar, berries and chocolate shavings is a perfect food garnishing idea for the desserts. Laying citrus peels on the borders of the dishes is a lovely way to decorate a big dish.

Serve Artistically

Now, you might wonder how to do this! Well, it just means that you need to serve each dish artistically. Starting from the number of pieces of the recipe added to the dish to the way you place each food item needs to be considered. Never place even number of pieces, always have 3, 5 or 7 pieces and so on... Also, never just pick up and place them in the dish or platter. Be creative, try to form some shape while you place them, overlap or fan them out.

While you use any liquid to garnish then don't just pour it, again be artistic! Use horizontal or diagonal strokes. When you use vegetables or fruits that are cut into pieces for garnishing, arrange them one over another considering the size. Don't forget to match the colors. Use colors that look best and place each piece to match the one besides, above or below it. Cut pieces in distinct shapes to make them more attractive.

If these techniques are used properly, these can definitely spice up your dish. Remember, do not overdo the decorations. These are for enhancing the dish and should not completely, take away the focus off the main food. So try and experiment using various ingredients to come up with some unique ways to plate or garnish food so as to leave your mark on them.

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Chicken Drumstick Recipes

Chicken drumsticks are a lip-smacking snack that goes well with cocktails and can be served with the main course of the meal as well! In case you are tired of preparing the drumsticks in the same old way, here are some toothsome chicken drumstick recipes for you. Try these recipes at one of your cocktail parties and rest assured that the guests would love it!

Brazilian Chicken Drumstick Recipe

Well the Brazilian style drumsticks are simply to-die-for! Popularly known as Coxa Crme, it is a popular Brazilian meal made by deep-frying the drumsticks after dipping them in batter! Crunchy on the outside, soft and juicy on the inside with a hint of mild seasoning.

Ingredients:

• Chicken Broth - 1 cup
• Boiled Chicken Thighs - 6
• Chopped onions -1 tablespoon
• Chopped Parsley - 3 tablespoons
• Cream of milk - 1 cup
• Butter - 50 gm
• Wheat Flour -2 cup
• Salt to taste
• Egg yolks - 3
• Egg white -1
• Oil for frying

Preparation:

• Mix the wheat flour with the chicken broth, cream and butter to make the covering for the drumstick.
• Add parsley, chopped onions and egg yolks and mix thoroughly.
• Allow cooked pieces of thighs to cool down.
• Coat every drumstick in the batter (leaving the end of the bone out).
• Deep-fry immediately until the drumstick looks golden brown.
• After deep-frying, try to absorb the excess oil using a paper napkin and serve hot!
• Garnish with onion rings, lettuce leaves and tomato slices.

Oriental Orange Honey Chicken Drumsticks

If you are looking for a drumstick recipe which does not involve oil and deep-frying, but still scores full marks in terms of taste - this is the recipe for you. This oriental style recipe with the tangy orange glaze and the sweetness of honey mixed with the goodness of soy sauce and sprinkle of salt and pepper is simply fabulous! A must-try for all oriental food lovers...

Ingredients:

• Chicken drumsticks - 4
• Sea Salt
• Peppercorns
• Orange marmalade - 2 tablespoons
• Honey - 2 tablespoons
• Soy Sauce - 1 tablespoon

Preparation:

• First, you need to preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Mix peppercorns and sea salt in a wok and heat it briefly for a few seconds.
• Powder the peppercorn and salt mixture and make a fine powder.
• Apply the salt and pepper powder to the drumsticks thoroughly.
• Put drumsticks in a baking dish and bake for 20 minutes.
• While the chicken is baking, combine the marmalade, honey, and soy sauce.
• Now brush the chicken with orange-honey sauce and bake again for 10 minutes more.
• Brush again and bake until drumsticks have a golden brown glaze.
• Garnish with slices of tangy orange and orange leaves.

Spicy Indian Chicken Drumsticks

If you are looking for a spicy drumstick recipe using chicken, with rich spices and fragrant herbs that would titillate the taste buds and leave the guests asking for more - this is the recipe for you! This recipe combines hot chilies, garlic and ginger with a tang of lemon and a pinch of sugar and salt to create a mesmerizing concoction of mouth-watering tastes!

Ingredients:

• All-purpose flour - 2 tablespoons
• Chicken drumsticks - 4
• Ginger paste - 1 teaspoon
• Garlic paste - 1 teaspoon
• Cinnamon powder - 1 teaspoon
• Cumin powder - 1 teaspoon
• Coriander powder - 1 teaspoon
• Lemon Juice - 1 teaspoon
• Red chilly paste - 1 teaspoon
• Pinch of sugar
• Oil for frying
• Salt to taste

Preparation:

• Mix the salt, cumin powder, cinnamon, and coriander powder.
• Now apply this powder to the drumsticks and keep aside.
• Now keep the drumsticks aside and make the covering batter.
• Mix the ginger-garlic pastes, chilly paste and the lemon juice and add the flour in this mixture.
• Allow the chicken drumsticks to marinate for at least 30-45 minutes.
• Now take the chicken pieces and cover them in this batter.
• Deep-fry and drain out the excess oil.
• Garnish with fresh mint leaves and onion slices!

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What to Eat for Dinner

Quick Dinner Ideas



Pasta

Pasta is known for its simplicity and can be prepared in minutes! All you need to do for a simple classic pasta is boil the pasta, add some tomato sauce, dried herbs (optional), some cheese and your filling meal is ready! To bring up the nutritional quotient, you can add in some stir-fried vegetables, Italian sausage, shredded chicken, etc. into the pasta. If you are bored of having the usual spaghetti, try preparing a frittata, which is also easy and a different way of eating spaghetti.Tacos

The next time you go grocery shopping, make sure you pick up some packs of taco shells. Tacos are yummy and come in handy when you don't have the time to prepare something elaborate. Tacos can be filled with a simple salad filling, stir-fried vegetables, or if you have some leftover pork/chicken barbecue, nothing like it. Look around the kitchen and stuff the taco with whatever you find. You will be surprised to find how lovely the results are!Stir Fry

Stir frys are so simple to prepare, yet form a delicious meal. All you need is some soy sauce, cornstarch, seasoning, and meat of your choice. Stir them up in a wok and have your lovely stir fry for dinner, over a bed of rice or noodles. These are great ways of feeding vegetables to kids. If the kids dislike a particular vegetable, grate them or slice them really small, so they can't identify them in the stir fry. For a delicious stir fry, all you need is some creativity!"Cornicious"

Stocking your freezer with frozen corn will come in handy when you need to prepare something quick and soothing to the palate. Corn can be prepared in so many different ways. Just boil them and toss them into salads, or prepare a lovely creamy corn soup, etc. They also make great side dishes that require zero washing and chopping time. For a more sumptuous dinner, go for the lovely, creamy corn dunked in cheesy white sauce, sprinkled with paprika.Stuffed Omelets

Eggs are not just easy breakfast items, but can also make filling dinner items, that are very easy to prepare. Leftovers are the best to prepare stuffed omelets. Take out the previous day's shrimp/chicken salad or stir fry, and toss it into a bowl of beaten eggs. Pour this mixture into a hot skillet, and sprinkle cheese, oregano, and chilly flakes. Stuff the omelet with whatever you like, such as bacon, shredded chicken, salmon bits, zucchini, mushrooms, tofu, cottage cheese, etc.Potato Dauphinoise

Potato dauphinoise is an easy dish to prepare, but, involves about 40-45 minutes of baking time. However, since the preparation procedure is extremely simple, you can give it a shot. To prepare this dish all one needs is potatoes, milk, double cream, garlic, and seasonings. However, since this dish is being had for dinner, adding fillers like smoked fish, pancetta, eggs, ham, peas, artichoke, carrots, etc. will make it more filling. You can have a nice salad on the side. Risotto

If you're looking for a quick, but comforting dinner idea, then risotto is the perfect dish! Always keep arborio, carnaroli or any other Italian risotto in your kitchen cupboard. To prepare a simple risotto you need risotto rice, chicken broth (any broth), dry white wine, cheese, and seasonings. Since the broth has to be added a ladle at a time, it will take 25-30 minutes to prepare the risotto. For a more appealing and filling risotto, add mushrooms, chicken, sausage, shrimp, peas, pumpkin, etc. Stuffed Chicken Breasts

Chicken breasts are great when you want to have some speedy cooking done, because they only take about 10-15 minutes to cook. Moreover, chicken breasts are versatile and can be stuffed with almost anything to prepare a delightful meal, teamed with steamed vegetables, pasta, herb-roasted potatoes, or garlic bread. Stuff the chicken breasts with whatever you have at home, such as mushrooms, spinach, leeks, corn, cottage cheese, macaroni, bacon, ham, etc.
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Tempting Dinner Ideas



Barbecue Ribs

Barbecue ribs were, are, and will always be a hit on the dinner table. Who wouldn't want more of the lovely, juicy, tender meat that slides off the bone. There are various ways to prepare barbecue ribs, some involve slow cooking, while others are quick, grilled ribs. You can decide which one you want. Team them up with lovely sides such as potato dauphinoise, grilled asparagus/artichokes, cauliflower in white sauce, vegetable stir fry, etc. Preparing barbecue ribs may seem intimidating at first, however, all it requires is some practice to prepare the perfect barbecue ribs.Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Who doesn't love to bite into the overflowing pulled pork sandwich, whose tender meat just melts in your mouth. Pulled pork sandwiches take time to cook, however, the outcome is great and worth the effort. To prepare the pulled pork filling, the pork shoulder needs to be rubbed with a spice mixture and marinated overnight. It is then placed in a pan and slow cooked in the oven for 4-5 hours. Once it has been cooked, it is shredded into small bits with the help of two forks. The pulled pork is ready to be filled into the sandwich! These are great for outdoor dinners.Lasagna

Lasagna is a superb dish for dinner parties. It may be time-consuming to prepare, however, it's a delicious as well as filling dish. Although the standard lasagna contains ground beef, you can substitute the beef with any meat you like, such as chicken, turkey, ham, bacon, etc. You can even use different kinds of meat in one lasagna. A seafood lasagna with crab and lobster meat would also be an interesting dinner option. For parties you can prepare petite lasagnas, made in muffin trays. They not only look great, but also reduce the hassle of serving the lasagna.Stuffed Pasta Shells

Who can resist stuffed pasta shells! Stuffed jumbo pasta shells are a hit among kids, and is sure to get everybody at the dinner table oohing with delight. You can stuff them with anything right from ham, bacon, Italian sausage, ground beef, tuna, spinach, ricotta, cottage cheese, mushrooms, grated vegetables, etc. Top the shells with mozzarella cheese and bake away. Stuffing so many pasta shells is definitely time-consuming and tedious, however, when you see the eyes around the dinner table lighting up, the result is definitely worth the effort!Chili Corn Chip Casserole

The superfast way to prepare a mouth-watering meal is by preparing a chili corn chip casserole for dinner. All you need is a bag of corn chips, ground beef or hamburger meat, cheese, can of chili, red sauce, red beans, corn, and olives. You can layer it however you want, with corn chips in between as well as on the top, or corn chips only on the top. It's a dish that the family is sure to enjoy! If you have leftovers from the previous night's barbeque, nothing like it. This dish transforms leftovers!Tater Tot Casserole

The popular tater tot casserole is a comforting and filling meal at the end of an exhaustive day. This casserole is easy to prepare, especially if you are having guests on a short notice and want something easy but filling. All this dish requires is tater tots, ground beef, cream of mushroom soup, cream of chicken soup, milk, sour cream, and lots of grated cheese. For a different version of tater tot casserole, you can try adding a layer of bacon, vegetables, ground turkey, mushrooms, etc.
Spanish Paella

If you're on the look out for something special for tonight's dinner, the Spanish paella is the perfect dish. There are different types of paella that can be prepared. There's the seafood version which comprises shrimp, clams, lobster, rice, and saffron. The other version is prepared from chicken/ pork/vegetables, rice, and saffron. This rice dish requires a bit of skill and practice. It's all about getting the right flavors into the rice. The authentic paella is made in a large pan and cooked over an outdoor fire, however, there's the stove top version as well.Steak

Succulent steaks make great dinners, especially when you are celebrating something. There are so many different ways to prepare steak, that there isn't room for boredom. Combining the steak with different sauces like brandied mushroom sauce, mustard cream sauce, red wine mustard sauce, pepper sauce, herb butter sauce, etc. will take the steak to a completely different level of sumptuousness. Interesting side dishes like Mac n cheese, shirataki noodles, vegetable stir fry, herb-roasted potatoes, corn on the cob, etc. will balance out the meal and also accentuate its flavors.
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Vegetarian Dinner Ideas



Stuffed Bell Peppers

You can stuff bell peppers with anything you want, right from potatoes, scrambled tofu, cottage cheese, bread crumbs, etc. For a heavier stuffing, you can stuff them with rice, quinoa, or even spiced soya granules. Top the stuffed bell peppers with some ketchup and a slice of mozzarella before baking. Fill it with whatever you find in the kitchen. You can serve it with some salad or salsa. Since stuffed bell peppers look so good, they are great options when you are entertaining guests. Top the stuffed peppers with their lids, for a classic presentation.Deep-fried Tofu

Deep-fried tofu has a lovely crispy and chewy texture, which is simply perfect for stir frys, soups, noodles, etc. For deep-fried tofu, you need cornstarch, tofu, baking soda, flour, seasonings of choice and some oil. The best thing about deep-fried tofu is that you can freeze them, and use them whenever need be! Deep-fried tofu sandwiches are also great for parties. Just cut two slices of tofu, fill them with a filling of choice like beetroot and potato mash, etc. and dip the sandwich in egg before frying it. Serve with sweet and sour sauce.Vegetarian Moussaka

The main ingredient in a vegetarian moussaka is eggplant, however, other vegetables like carrots, zucchini, bell peppers, potatoes, etc. are also used. Kidney beans and chickpeas are also interesting ingredients that can be added to this dish. The eggplants can be grilled, baked, fried or even steamed before adding them into the moussaka. This moussaka is very easy to prepare, however, requires patience to layer different ingredients. Once the layering is done, white sauce is poured into the baking dish and parmesan cheese is sprinkled over it. Then the whole dish is baked.
Vegetarian Burgers

To prepare yummy vegetarian burgers all you need is a vegetarian cutlet to go in the burger. There are so many different kinds of vegetarian cutlets you can prepare, right from potato cutlets, cottage cheese cutlets, black bean cutlets, chickpea cutlets, lentil cutlets, etc. If you can mash it, you can very well prepare a cutlet with it. Just make sure you add the right seasonings to bring out their flavor. Quinoa fritters are also yummy and can be placed in vegetarian burgers. Another interesting idea would be to place whole portobello mushrooms that have been grilled, on the bun.Cauliflower in White Sauce

Also known as cauliflower bake or cauliflower cheese, this dish is a really simple and delicious dinner item. For the white sauce, you need some butter, flour, and milk. All you have to do is pour the white sauce over the cauliflower trees, sprinkle some cheese, and bake the dish for about 30 minutes. Your delicious cauliflower bake is ready. Have it with garlic bread or as it is. You can also add other vegetables like mushrooms, peas, potatoes, etc. to make the dish more filling.
Casseroles

Casseroles are great for large families, because they can be easily prepared in bulk. You can add anything into it, right from corn, mushroom, beans, vegetables, tofu, etc. to even noodles, quinoa or couscous. Adding soy chunks is also a nice idea. Also add flavorings of your choice. This dish that can be made and frozen, so that you don't need to fret about the weekday meals. For fussy kids, this is a delicious way to get them to eat different vegetables.Cannelloni

Cannelloni can be stuffed with anything right from ricotta, cheese, scrambled tofu in combination with veggies like spinach, zucchini, capsicum, eggplant, corn, peas, etc. to prepare something utterly delectable. Once the cannelloni has been baked in the oven, pour some lovely white or red sauce over them. They are sure to win hearts around the dinner table. This is a lovely dish if you have loads of vegetables and don't know how to use them all in a dish. If you can't get hold of cannelloni shells, take lasagna sheets, fill them with stuffing and roll them. However, this is a more tedious job and requires you to work swiftly.Pot Pies

What's a better comfort dish than a lovely pot pie on a cold, Friday night. It's a dish that you don't have to worry too much about. The vegetables you have at the moment can be the ingredients of the dish. If you have some mushrooms and baby corn in hand, nothing like it! To save time, store-bought puff pastry is great, however, you can prepare your own puff pastry from scratch as well. To prepare the pie all you to do is saut the vegetables in a pan, add flour, cream and vegetable broth to the vegetable mixture. Pour this mixture into ramekins or one large pot and bake them away for about half an hour or so.
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Healthy Dinner Ideas


Pita Bread & Hummus

The popular Mediterranean dish;pita bread and hummus is also another healthy dinner option to try out. Made from chickpeas and sesame seeds, hummus is a healthy and refreshing dip, that is had with pita bread. Pita bread is usually prepared from white flour, however, if you want you can prepare the whole wheat version. Sticks of carrots or celery are good on the side.Guacamole

Who said guacamole can only be enjoyed with tortilla chips! Guacamole goes really well in sandwiches as well. Just top a slice of whole wheat bread with some freshly prepared guacamole, sliced tomatoes, shredded chicken or smoked salmon. Enjoy your healthy creation! Or have it as a dip for grilled or raw vegetable platter. Guacamole also makes a great pita bread filling. Banana Oatmeal Bread

Made with wheat, oats, and bananas, this banana oatmeal bread is a lovely change from the regular dinner items. It's healthy, filling, and also really easy to make. You can also prepare other kinds of oatmeal bread, depending on your tastes and preferences. Serve it plain or with lovely cinnamon apple topping, some fruit preserve, or a small amount of cream cheese.Grilled Meat

Grilling is a healthier cooking technique, as compared to frying. Grill lean beef, turkey, chicken, or even fish and enjoy it along with healthy side dishes like grilled vegetables, salads, baked beans, etc. Pineapple salsa, mango mint salsa, etc. are also interesting side dishes. Try different marinades for different flavors. You can also have grilled meat along with guacamole and pita bread.Panini

Try panini, if you're bored of the regular sandwich! Although it's just a grilled sandwich, the name is sure to be welcomed by your fussy kids. For a panini, you will need whole wheat bread, cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, onions, red bell pepper, pesto (optional) and some grilled meat/eggplants.
Broiled Hamburgers

If you really want to have hamburgers, then have them broiled. Broiling is a healthier and faster cooking technique, and can be carried out in the oven as well as the pan. Broiling doesn't call for additional butter or oil, instead cooks the hamburger patty in its own fat.Quinoa

Quinoa is a grain loaded with protein, iron, and fiber. Since quinoa contains twice the amount of fiber other grains contain, it's a great way to add fiber to your diet. Quinoa is extremely easy to prepare. It goes well with salads, soups, vegetables, poultry, seafood, and meat. If you are confused about quinoa, simply treat it like rice. Eat it with anything you would normally eat rice with. Quinoa is gluten-free, and can be safely consumed by people allergic to gluten.Shirataki noodles

Since noodles is made from refined flour, it is not exactly healthy, even if you add lots of vegetables into it. Instead of the conventional noodles, try having Shirataki noodles to satisfy your noodle cravings. These are low-carb, Japanese noodles that are made from a kind of yam, and are extremely healthy. They are slightly on the bland side, however, taste good in stir frys, salads and soups. These noodles are ready-to-eat and do not require cooking!

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