Roasting Pan

4 03 2010

One of the most formidable ways of cooking in the modern world today with has taken a diversion of the conventional braising and boiling methods has been roasting. There are a number of ways that people around the world enjoy their favorite meals so as to enjoy the companionship of their friends and family. Roasting is one such may in which people cook of their favorite meals such as steaks, lamb and chicken preferably in a spitfire or barbecue. However, cooking in such a method would be incomplete without the use of a proper roasting pan. Opting for roasting pan can be quite a daunting task for a chef that may not know much about cooking. When many people opt for procuring a roasting pan, their first option would be to seek a non-stick one. What must be understood is that such launched at times are ideally not suitable for cooking food in a roasted manner since they are not able to withstand high temperatures. Roasting on any non-stick pan would render the food to get burnt and indigestible. It is therefore essential that buyers seek a good high durability and temperature withstanding swiss diamond roasting pan which would able to assist them in their cooking needs.



What You Need to Know Before You Temper Chocolates

26 02 2010

Ignorant of the steps involved in making chocolate candy, people may comment that it is an easy process. You may also think so since you have all the items needed for making chocolate candies like a cooking thermometer, a double boiler, a bowl, a spatula, cookie cutters or candy molds, and your dark, milk or white chocolate right in your own kitchen. But it could be a grueling process.

You melt the chocolate strips cut from the chocolate bar by heating them on a double boiler, constantly stirring the chocolate during this step to prevent the chocolate from burning. Afterward, the chocolate is air-dried on a cookie sheet followed by the step of making of candies of various shapes with the use of candy molds or a cutter. Fruit-filled candies can also be had if you robe fruits with the chocolate mush.

If these chocolate candies are for your relatives and friends, they need not be perfect but if the candies are intended for making profits, you should have perfectly-tempered candies for which a good calibrated thermometer is highly essential.

Since chocolate do not shine and aren’t velvety on its own, you need to temper. Tempering consists of heating, cooling and re-heating during which you preserve temperatures at accurate levels. If there variations, chocolates distemper and you cannot produce attractive chocolates without it.

Dark, semi-sweet and white chocolates do not have the same tempering temperatures. Tempering process becomes complicated because the fatty acids of the cocoa butter could form six types of crystalline forms and each are dominant at their own specific temperatures. This is a major hurdle for creating type V crystals, which are accountable for the fine qualities of that mark chocolates. Unfortunately, type IV crystals can form along with the type V crystals so you need to be careful with temperatures.

A tempering machine is the only resort if large quantities of chocolates need to be tempered because the task of maintaining accurate temperatures is done by a computer chip, freeing you from the hassles of tempering manually.

Chocolatiers should learn how to temper by hand because emergencies may suddenly arise when you’ll need to temper the old way. Since it is on a marble slab that you cool chocolate during tempering, tabliering is otherwise called marble-slab method. “Seeding” is so-named because you employ already-tempered chocolate pieces to serve as “seeds” in crystal bonding and replication.

If you fail in maintaining correct temperature ranges, you will be forced to repeat the tempering process till the chocolates are tempered right. Manual tempering is tough only because of this step.



Delicious Presents – the Popcorn Factory

4 02 2010

Try and imagine, for a moment, what 1 billion pounds of unpopped kernels would look like – and when you take into account that that’s a single year’s domestic retail sales alone, it will swiftly become evident precisely how many of your friends and acquaintances love the taste. So if you want some, order from the biggest in the market – selling a million or more pounds per year to lovers of gourmet popcorn balls.

Considering their three decades of experience, you can rely on them to supply your needs, whichever flavor you’re craving. To ensure quality they begin by choosing the best, tastiest kernels from America. If you’re using corn oil, that taste’s kept as the kernels pop, permitting other flavorings to be added. It’s packaged in eye pleasing cartons and sent out immediately. Their product with the widest reputation is easily the tins of popcorn provided in either two and a half or six gallon sizes. So if you have a business event that wants snacks providing – or just want to get you and your family enough to cater for movie night for a few weeks – you know what to order. Plain, naturally, and buttered – but they’re also offered flavored with banana cream pie or white chocolate raspberry. On the other hand if these are too big, they offer other options; most popularly the delightful smaller tins. Designed to say “congratulations”, to celebrate any special occasion, or to send a message, they’re tailor made to be presents. And there are further personalization options – an amusing picture, your name, even a personal message.

Plenty of popcorn lovers just want one variety and purchase a large order. However, samplers and assortment packages contain a smaller amount of several types so people can try everything. Of course, should you want a larger assortment, you have an alternative – the tower. Though they offer premade towers, you can also determine the contents of each box in a given stack.

You can order popcorn in effectively any flavor you’re likely to want from the Popcorn Factory. And their fun and decorative containers can really bring a smile to the receiver’s face. There’s no more effective way to spread a little cheer anywhere in America.



Football Game Lovers Rejoice! Points for Sunday Game Hosts

30 01 2010

A Super Bowl fete is not the time to fuss too much with ornaments – menu, cocktails, and of course the game will take precedent for this occasion. Still, it is still a theme celebration and what is a theme party sans themed decor? Just keep it effortless and make it festive. Other than cakes produced to look like a football field and football-shaped cookies, the sweets on most Super Bowl celebration tables never score big. Attempt this new sweets strategy with winning cupcakes that I fashioned themed for the game and different sporty functions! They are a guaranteed advance at your occasion!

Homespun salsa is the perfect appetiser for your Super Bowl feast. Mixed olives are super delicious to ready and perfect for invitees to nosh on ‘tween plays. Satisfy thirsty buffs at your occasion with these super bowl recipes for hot chicken wings and a savory blue cheese sauce. Blue cheese sauce supplies flavor to basic veggies and chicken wings. Relish these beefburgers with special sauce, lettuce and a cut beefsteak tomato on a roast sesame bun. Transform basic mayo into a classy dipping sauce with a few special fixings. Serve up cooked dumpling or potstickers to your football game lovin’ invitees. It is a healthier alternate to the usual fatty football menu, yet still good. Purchase a bamboo steamer at your local restaurant supply shop and steam away. Try serving them with this effortless sauce.

While whipping up these goodies, I found a few tips such as how much batter to pour into the baking cups and how to bake cupcakes that are nice and rounded at the top. Function not 1 but 3 baking paper cups in your cupcake pan per treat. The spare cups will help sustain the cupcake as it bakes, having it to puff a little higher and creating a nice rounded top side. Fulfil baking cups so the batter line is 1/2-inch down from the top rim. I don’t know about you, but I have trouble telling when a baking cup is 2/3 full as is the wording in many directions. Permit cupcakes to cool totally before decorating and ensure the kitchen has cooled down as well.



Everyone Adores Chocolate: Watch Your Loved Ones’ Eyes Light up with a Hamper by Fannie May

21 01 2010

Please hop over to our excellent webpage for chocolates instructions…

Fannie May had simple beginnings, however it has verified that terrific service, high quality, and a great selection are the recipe for results. This well-known chocolate shop first opened its doors in 1920 in Chicago, IL, and during 85 years in business it has become one of the most popular sweet shops in the United States. Fannie May’s ability to blend cocoa, sugar and other ingredients in just the right way made them such a favorite that they expanded to just under 48 shops in merely 15 years. During WWII food rationing, the doors of the chocolate shops were shut, because they refused to degrade the quality of any of their candy. A few of these original recipes are being produced and enjoyed all these years later. Naturally the chocolates look just as great as they taste. Don’t forget to opt for a beautiful gift box or tin when the chocolate is for a gift, just to give the gift a special touch. Have a box or tin sent for anniversaries or as a thank you, or ask for an enormous tower of delicacies for a friend, loved one, or even a co-worker. If you would like to request specific varieties that’s easily done, nonetheless a huge selection of premade gifts are available besides. Unlike most of its competition, Fannie May has a great network of franchises all over the United States and around the globe. This makes it simple for you to send these fantastic chocolates throughout the US and internationally without even leaving your computer. While there are a few delivery restrictions during the hotter weather, Fannie May has the network in place to deliver all sorts of their products internationally.

Special diets should not be an issue. Fannie May’s have sugar free chocolates and a lot more delicacies as well. If you are planning a special occasion like a wedding, individual gift packages and wedding favors are a specialty. You simply have to phone them up and tell them exactly what you need.

It’s easy to see the reason why Fannies May’s delicious chocolates are such a tremendous hit with chocolate devotees everywhere. The truth is, with varieties encompassing a vast spectrum such as white, milk and dark chocolate, truffles, and peppermint centers, your most difficult part is not to order their entire inventory in one fell swoop.



Detox with a Brown Rice Diet

18 12 2009

A brown rice detox is one of the easiest forms of body cleansing for the uninitiated because it supplies the body with nourishment, cleanses the body slowly (thereby provoking fewer detox side effects) and doesn’t imply fasting from food as a juice detox can.

Under the brown rice diet detox program, you only eat brown rice for five to seven days. You will not have the difficulty of being hungry or getting jitters or lightheadedness. It’s acceptable to spice up flavour your rice with Bragg’s Liquid Amino Acids, similar to soy sauce but healthier since it only contains natural sodium. A little miso paste with ginger powder and garlic powder will add diversity to your brown rice diet. Other herbs for flavouring are also suitable, but be moderate. For a little metabolism boost, add a pinch of cayenne pepper. You can also use a little brown rice syrup, agave nectar or pure maple syrup for a sweet dish. Only do this once a day, if at all.

In order to keep your blood sugar levels stable, eat five or six small servings of brown rice daily. For convenience, you can prepare one or two day’s worth of brown rice at a time.

Be sure to drink 3 to 4 quarts of water each day. This can include unsweetened herbal teas as well. Peppermint is a wonderful tea, red clover will help with cleansing and a laxative tea at night before bed will keep your colon moving.



Japanese Restaurant for Lunch and Dinner

17 09 2009

If you want to experience a culinary chef-d’oeuvre, a visit to Takumi is a must. This Melbourne Japanese restaurant is the best of its kind. Not only is the food of great quality, but the location and design of the restaurant creates a relaxing and pleasant ambience.

Takumi is the only Japanese restaurant in Melbourne that serves Wagyu beef. If you don’t know what Wagyu is, it is a top grade cut of beef. It is so tender and juicy, it can almost melt in your mouth. You can get this beef cooked in many ways. The Wagyu beef burger, grilled and marinated with Sukiyaki sauce is a favorite choice among lunchtime visitors. I highly recommend the Wagyu Yakiniku lunch set. The beef is served raw and is cooked on a tableside grill. Companioned by veggies and a complimentary glass of beer or wine. Not only does this taste delicious, but being able prepare it yourself adds an added touch of magic.

This Japanese restaurant may specialize in Wagyu beef, but that is not the only Japanese delicacy it has to offer. Regular lunch visitors also love the bento box. Takumi offers a few options on the main entree for the bento box. A favorite Japanese entree is Gyoza. These pan fried dumplings are exceedingly good and addictive. You cannot stop at one. If you love seafood, give the Unagi bento Box a try. Unagi is smoked grilled eel and is a very popular and delicious Japanese restaurant dish.

The decoration and color schema of the restaurant has a very zen feeling. It is relaxing and tantalising which makes you feel like you are right at home. The sleek and comfortable high back chairs and subtle ornaments have a sedating affect and lets you to feel like you are having a quiet meal at home, even though you are in the presence with other people.

Overall, Takumi is a marvelous Japanese restaurant. From their delicious menu offerings, to the many different Sake choices, this Melbourne Japanese restaurant is number one on my book.



Hints for a Special Celebration before the Big Game

21 08 2009

Warm-ups are important, whether it’s a pre-game prep for participants or a flavorful starter prior to the big meal. Serve tempting starters to your tailgating herd like Great Crab Fondue in a Bread Bowl or Hamburger Beer Dip. Go for pre-game glory with hot hors d’oeuvres for a fascinating Tailgate Fete!

A fun and successful tailgate celebration does not have to cost a great deal of money. Here, we’ve come up with five hints to keep your party on a budget while you root for your favored sports squad.

Specify everyone a dish, drink or other chore that way the price (and the work!) is sliced among the crew.

Make Your tailgating a Potluck!

To get it fun, plan a bill of fare inspired on the state of the squad you’re rooting for such as Texas barbeque or New York street food.

Be certain to program the whole menu well beforehand and create a big checklist to be certain all is taken care of.

Send a reminder a couple of days before so no one forgets to take their assignment!

Forget pricy ornaments with your team’s logo on it. Stock up on decor and celebration basics like table covers, nappies, plates and cups in good colours at the buck, craft or occasion shop rather.

Insure you purchase a griddle or cooking pan that is especially crafted for grill-top use. Otherwise, you will likely ruin the pan along with the breakfast… and no one likes a tailgate celebration without food.

Prepare as much of the treats as manageable before leaving the house. Slice Up the tomatoes, chop the spuds, cut crescent rolls in half, make the flapjack batter, and slice the fruit salad the evening before, stashing away everything in pockets or in big containers. Then, all you have to do in the morning is toss everything into a cooler and depart.



Making the Perfect Birthday Cake Your Kids Will Love

19 08 2008


Nobody knows better than the Celebrations team that the most important part of any kid’s birthday parties are the birthday cakes that it comes with. From the cream in between the cake layers to decorating the designs on with frosting, creating the perfect cake is necessary to make your kids happy.

Baking can be a long process, but with the right recipe, you can create everything from a theme cake to a colored frosting cake. Birthdays are a great way to test your baking style, and we have the tips you need for creating delicious desserts your kids will love.

Birthday Sand Pail Cake

A sand pail cake is a perfect and delicious complement for any nautical, beach or summer party. Learn how to make a the perfect cake for summer:

Sand Pail Cake

  1. Purchase small pails with shovels for each guest.
  2. Bake a yellow or white cake.
  3. Cut the cake into squares and fill each pail with two squares.
  4. Cover the cake with white frosting.
  5. Cover frosting with crumbled graham crackers for the sand effect.

Dump Truck Brownies

Have your kids dress up as a construction worker, or, better yet, Bob the Builder. Be sure to set out plenty of disposable tablecloths or newspapers and let the building fun begin!

Dump Truck Brownies

  1. Bake a sheet or two of brownies.
  2. Once the brownies have cooled down, let the kids use a plastic knife to cut them into small squares.
  3. Next, load the brownies into the back of a large toy dump truck.
  4. Frost the brownies and then cover with crumbled Oreos cookies for a dirt effect.
  5. Add gummy worms for texture and let the fun begin!

Courtesy of Celebrations expert Yelena Jenkins.



After lunch desserts and snacks . . .

30 06 2008

The highlight of South African living is the breakfast, desserts, snacks and drinks. Easy to please anyone. Breakfast varies between “mieliepap” and “beskuit”. “Mieliepap” is the same consistency as polenta and served with a teaspoon of sugar, butter and milk. A great creamy and healthy breakfast to see you through the morning hours. “Beskuit” is rusks, dough baked in the oven, broken apart and then places back in the oven to dry out. The perfect breakfast, specially for those living on farms, is home made rusks, dunked into your morning coffee. If you are more of a tea lover, try the great local herbal tea called “rooibos”

During the morning you can chew on some “biltong” which is salty dried meat or “drowors”, which is dried sausage. You can not watch any rugby or cricket match without this salty snack. By now it is time for more coffee served with banana, ginger of mealie bread, smeared with butter. Mealie bread is a sweet bread, baked with sweet corn. You will probably wonder why we have such an obsession with mealies? Well, mealies basically are Africa’s staple food. We use it to make breakfast, bread, crisps (or chips) and many more.

After you finish this, it is time for your main meal of the day. And then the BEST course arrives, the dessert. Most puddings are baked pies served with custard and ice cream or a special sauce. Malva pudding is one of the old time favourites, a great, sweet tasting spongy apricot dessert with a lovely sweet sauce. Cottage pudding is a type of cake pudding served with a special white wine sauce.

If you prefer a colder dessert, this is the place to be. Enjoy a fresh fruit salad with ice cream, made from local seasonal fruit. The most famous fruits are grapes, apples, naartjies (a type of tangerine), peaches, apricots, mangoes, melons and many more. There is nothing more refreshing than a fresh fruit salad. If you like ice cream, there are special treats in store for you as well. Try the watermelon or papaya flavoured ice cream in a cone or on its own.

As a special treat, why not try a Dom Pedro? This is ice cream with a little drop of milk and a shot of your favourite whiskey of liqueur. Try Amarula liqueur, made from the potent marula fruit or van der Hum liqueur, made from fresh naartjies. This is a treat you should not pass on.

Later the afternoon you can enjoy some “koeksisters”, a very sweet delicacy. Afrikaans “koeksisters” are twisted pastries, deep fried and then sweetened with a very sweet sauce. Another favourite of mine is “ystervarkies”, a sponge cake, dunked in a home made chocolate sauce, rolled in coconut! Doesn’t that just sound magnificent?

If you prefer something less sweet, try the “melktert” (milk tart). This is a milk-based tart, absolutely gorgeous if you eat it warm, just as it is made. If you want something savoury, try the “souttert” (savoury tart) consisting mostly of vienna sausages, cheese, onions, herbs and egg.

For the evening you can enjoy one the best known foods, “vetkoek”. This is a treat. You can enjoy “vetkoek” in three ways. Dunk it in your tea, butter with syrup and cheese or stuffed with curry mince. No matter which one you choose, you will not be disappointed. If you are looking for something smaller, try the “plaatkoekies” (almost like crumpets) served with marmite or syrup or maybe try some pancakes with cinnamon sugar?

During the day you will never go thirsty. If you like warm drinks, there are the many varieties of strong coffees, regular tea, “rooibos” tea, hot chocolate and my favourite, milo. This is a great drink filled with vitamins and minerals, made with warm or cold milk. If you prefer cold drinks, try the various ice teas and fruit juices. Guava, orange, grinadella, fruit cocktail, grape, peach, pear, apple, apricot and mango are only a few choices you have in fruit juices. Guava and mango must be two of the most loved choices.

If you are looking for a bottle of wine to accompany you meals, there are hundreds of local Cape wines to choose from. You will be spoilt for choice. Make sure you try as much as you can and enjoy the hospitality while you are visiting the rainbow country, South Africa.

These are only a few of our great traditional recipes. There are so many more to try, so start now and enjoy!

About the Author: Lizel Salter is a keen food lover and the author of Simply South African, a great traditional recipe book with all those great favourites. Read more about South Africa and look at the book by visiting www.recipesfromsouthafrica.com