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Great Culinary Ideas for Mother’s Day

April 25, 2009 By The Recipe Mom Leave a Comment

Showing your Mother love and appreciation is what Mother’s Day is all about. Presenting your Mother with a thoughtful gift is one way to do that. Does your Mother like to cook and enjoy her kitchen? Take a few of her ideas and make them a culinary reality.

Perhaps your Mother is a gourmet cook. Pick her up an item that she has been wanting. I’m sure Mom has told you about this item over and over. Maybe you don’t have any idea where to begin looking for this particular item? Rest assured that there are many options to be found for the cooking enthusiast. Just a few ideas are a new set of pots and pans, a gourmet knife, or even some new spices she would like to try. Many places like Pampered Chef and Taste of Home allow you to purchase gift certificates. This will let Mom choose exactly what she wants.

Maybe Mom doesn’t cook or she has wanted to try her hand at something new? Cooking lessons just might be the perfect gift for her. This would be something that you and Mom could do together. There are many types of cooking lessons, from learning the most basic to the more advanced. They even have classes on specific culinary techniques. Make sure to choose something your Mom will love. This will make your Mom happy this Mother’s Day.

Does your Mom love Italian, German or French food? Why not get her a cookbook with her favorite cuisine? A cookbook by her favorite chef would be another idea. Why not do an evening of Mother-daughter cooking? Gather the ingredients for your Mother’s favorite meal, and spend quality time together making the meal and memories.

A useful idea for any Mom would be a basket filled with kitchen gadgets. Think of the things that your Mom does in the kitchen that is routine. Is there a specific utensil that would save Mom some time when preparing a meal? Maybe there is a tool that she might only use a few times a year but she would love to have for those special recipes.

You can’t go wrong with Mom’s favorite dessert. After you have made her favorite dessert, deliver it in a nicely decorated box. If making yourself is not on the agenda there is always the local bakery. Have the bakery make her favorite confection and surprise her.

There is a key to finding the perfect Mother’s Day gift for the cooking enthusiast. Keep your eye on her when you are shopping together and listen when she speaks. Take this information and use it to create the perfect gift for your mother this year.

Filed Under: Mothers Day, Today's Kitchen Tagged With: Cooking, gifts, gourmet, mom, Mothers Day

What Keeps a Salad from Being Healthy?

February 18, 2009 By The Recipe Mom Leave a Comment

Image by gelcruz via Flickr

Almost everyone loves a salad. All that lettuce and those favored toppings, makes your mouth water just thinking about it doesn’t it? Yet many of us ask ourselves if the salads we’re eating really are as healthy as we think.

First you have the lettuce. Lettuce is healthy but doesn’t have much of a taste. Therefore we add all those wonderful extras to give our salad the taste we savor. Things such as vegetables, seeds and even fruit give us taste and still benefit the healthy factor of our salad.

So what makes a salad not so healthy? Ever take a close look at a salad bar? What a mouthwatering experience. Yet many of the items on the bar are not so healthy. No one would blame you for adding these delectable little treats. If you want to keep that salad a healthy part of your diet you need to look at some of those tasty items a little closer though.

Fruits and vegetables are a healthy part of a salad. Things such as bacon bits and croutons can be the downfall. Real bacon bits add fat to a salad. Eat them sparingly and you will be fine but add too many and those unhealthy calories will start to add up.

Dressings can also be unhealthy when it comes to a salad. When measuring salad dressing we look at a 2 tablespoon serving. Many of the full salad dressings when measured this way have as much as 11 grams of fat. This is a lot when you really think about it.

Unfortunately we love our salad dressing and the more there is the happier we are. So how do you cut back on those unwanted fat calories? Try using a fat free or low calorie salad dressing. Many of our favorite flavors now come in these healthier versions.

Yes many of the low calorie dressing just don’t taste the same as our high fat favorites. If you find yourself shying away from the dressings that are better for you because of the taste try this. Instead of covering that salad with the dressing, put it in a small cup. When you take a bite of your salad dip it into the dressing cup before eating it. This will help to control the amount of dressing you consume.

Remember, if you want a healthy salad you must pay attention to the ingredients you place in it. With a watchful eye and a little self control you can have a healthy salad that tastes great too.

Filed Under: Healthy Eating, Today's Kitchen Tagged With: Calorie, Cooking, Diet food, Fruit, Home, Lettuce, Salad, Vegetable

Homemade Chocolate Desserts for Valentine’s Day

February 13, 2009 By The Recipe Mom Leave a Comment

NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 13: Heart shaped chocolat...

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

Chocolate is one of our favorite treats. On Valentine’s Day, we are surrounded by chocolate. Instead of buying that box of chocolates, create some chocolate treats at home.

Chocolate is actually good for us. Let me rephrase that before you make a run on the store. Dark chocolate is actually full of good things like antioxidants that help to keep our bodies healthy. Consuming a little dark chocolate each day has a beneficial effect.

Remind your sweetie of that on Valentine’s Day. As long as you purchase dark chocolate, they don’t have to feel guilty about eating sweets. Use some dark chocolate to create homemade chocolate desserts to enjoy on Valentine’s Day.

A favorite chocolate dessert is lava cakes. Just like the name implies, once you cut into the cake, the gooey chocolate runs out of the center. Use a stencil to create a powdered sugar heart on top of each one.

When making chocolate desserts that call for melted chocolate it is important to do it right. We have all had those boo-boo’s in the kitchen with chocolate that we’d rather not mention. For instance, turning the burner on high will not melt the chocolate any faster—neither will adding water to the pan and swirling the chocolate around. All you’ll end up with is a very expensive mess.

Chocolate bricks are not cheap so use them sparingly and wisely. If you need to melt chocolate, do so in a non-stick saucepan. Chocolate melts best over low heat.

You don’t need to stir the chocolate for it to melt. Once the chocolate takes on a glassy appearance, it has melted. The chocolate can be removed from the heat and stirred into the recipe.

Even a hint of chocolate in the dessert can be tasted by us chocolate connoisseurs. If you are making a cake, add a bit of melted chocolate to turn it into a chocolate pound cake or a chocolate cheesecake.

For a sinful dessert create icing to top your chocolate creations. A chocolate cake, cupcake, or pie covered in chocolate icing or chocolate sauce makes it heavenly. Only those with a really sweet tooth can handle such a chocolate dessert. It is not for newbies.

There are tons of chocolate desserts you can create for Valentine’s Day to surprise your gal or guy. Try out some chocolate truffles or a chocolate trifle bowl dessert. Chocolate is also an aphrodisiac so watch out if you eat too much!

Filed Under: Meal Planning Tagged With: Chocolate, Chocolate truffle, Cooking, Desserts, Food, Home, Valentine, Valentine's Day

Valentine’s Day Dinner for Two

February 13, 2009 By The Recipe Mom Leave a Comment

No one takes the day off for Valentine’s Day, so dinner is usually the meal of choice for couples to share. This year, instead of eating out, use your extra cash to create a bistro like setting in your home. Serve up a romantic dinner for two this year that you put together.

The first thing to decide is how fancy you desire this dinner date to be. You can keep it simple and spend more time whipping up a generous dessert or vice versa. Knowing the special person in question like you do, the choice won’t be too hard.

Simple Dinner Ideas

For those of you, who feel the need for speed, go with a dish that is easy to prepare. Since there will be just the two of you, opt for Cornish hens instead of a big roasting chicken. They are so small that you can marinate these little beauties before baking them for a flavor that will infuse through the meat.

Maybe red meat is more to your liking. Find the best cuts of steak or a small roast to be the main dish. New York strip steaks or a T-bone will have everyone’s mouth watering. You don’t usually eat it every day because they are so expensive so treat yourself and your companion. Steaks don’t take long to cook either.

Any dish that can be prepared ahead of time and slipped in the oven on Valentine’s Day is considered a simple dinner. Fix a casserole meal with only a few ingredients. You can do wonders with chicken breasts, rice, and cream soup.

Fancier Fare

Some of you may use Valentine’s Day as the time to stretch your cooking repertoire. In that case, you want to tantalize your sweetie with a feast for the eyes and the palate. It will take some time to prepare such a meal but that’s okay since it’ll be for a special person.

For a welcome change, consider doing a multiple course dinner. Serve an appetizer, then a salad, and then the dinner meal. Follow with a decadent dessert and coffee or a cognac. He or she will be impressed with a presentation like that.

Set the Mood

While dinner is cooking, have some sort of snack to set the mood for the meal and the rest of the evening. A few strawberries with a glass of champagne aren’t a bad way to begin. The combination of sweet strawberries and sparkling champagne will tickle the tongue and relax you both.

Are you thinking of a romantic dinner this year? Stay home and prepare the meal yourself. Make it a night to remember.

Filed Under: Today's Kitchen Tagged With: Cooking, Day, Desserts, Holidays, Home, Main course, Valentine, Valentine's Day

Romantic Raspberry Rendezvous’

February 11, 2009 By The Recipe Mom Leave a Comment

Image via Wikipedia

What You Need:

1/2 tub Raspberry Ice Drink Mix
1 C cranberry juice, cold
1 C water, cold
2 C sparkling water
Frozen raspberries

How to Make It:

Place the drink mix powder into a small pitcher.
Pour the cranberry juice and water into the pitcher and whisk until the powder is completely dissolved and the ingredients are combined well.
Place the pitcher in the refrigerator at least 1 hour.
Just before serving stir in the sparkling water.
Place frozen raspberries in the bottom of 2 champagne glasses.
Pour the raspberry rendezvous over the top of the raspberries.

Serving Size: 2

Use this drink to start out your special night with that someone you love. Make a toast to each other, wrap arms and sip to the soft music and glowing candlelight and watch your night evolve.

Filed Under: Drinks and Smoothies, Uncategorized Tagged With: Beverages, Carbonated water, Cooking, Drink, Home, Raspberry, Refrigerator, Water

My Funny Valentine Chocolate Cups

January 21, 2009 By The Recipe Mom Leave a Comment

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

What You Need:

2 squares white baking chocolate
3 T milk, divided
2 T cream cheese, softened
2 squares semi sweet baking chocolate
2 Maraschino cherries

How to Make It:

Place the white chocolate squares into a microwave safe bowl.
Add 1 T of the milk.
Microwave on high for 1 1/2 minutes then stir until the chocolate has completely melted and the mixture is smooth.
Beat the 2 T of the cream cheese into the mixture with an electric mixer on low speed until smooth.
Place the 2 squares of semi sweet chocolate into a separate microwave bowl.
Add the remaining milk and microwave on high 1 1/2 minutes.
Remove and stir until the chocolate is smooth.
Spoon the mixture side by side into dessert bowls.
Place the bowls in the refrigerator for 15 minutes to chill through.
Garnish each bowl with a cherry.

Serving Size: 2

Comments:

Nothing says love like chocolate. End you romantic dinner with this special dessert and watch the sparks fly.

Filed Under: Desserts Tagged With: Chocolate, Cooking, Cream cheese, Desserts, White chocolate

Honey Mustard Turkey Breast Microwave Style

December 28, 2008 By The Recipe Mom Leave a Comment

Image via Wikipedia

What You Need:

1 (7 lb.) turkey breast, thawed
2 tbsp. unsalted butter
1/4 tsp. curry powder
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
2 tbsp. Dijon style mustard
1/2 C honey

How to Make It:

Place a plastic rack into a large deep sided microwavable dish.
Place the turkey, breast side down, on the rack.
Melt the butter in a microwavable safe bowl on high heat for 15 seconds.
Once melted completely add the curry, ginger, mustard and honey to the bowl.
Stir until all the ingredients are completely incorporated together.
Baste the turkey skin with the honey mustard mixture.
Cover the turkey with wax paper.
Microwave the turkey on high for 14 minutes.
Rotate the turkey 1/4 turn and baste again.
Continue cooking for 13 minutes.
Remove the turkey from the microwave.
Drain off any juice that has gathered in the dish.
Turn the turkey breast side up and baste with the honey mustard mixture.
Recover with wax paper.
Microwave on medium high temperature for 28 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 170 degrees.
Remove the turkey from the microwave and cover with aluminum foil.
Allow the turkey to set covered for 20 minutes before carving.

Serves 8

By covering the turkey with foil after removing it from the microwave you allow the turkey to continue cooking through and the heat to equalize making the turkey moist and juicy when carved.

Filed Under: Poultry, Uncategorized Tagged With: Butter, Cooking, Curry powder, Home, Honey, Mustard, Wax paper

There’s More than One Way to Skin a Turkey

November 23, 2008 By The Recipe Mom 1 Comment

Image via Wikipedia

The saying goes… “there’s more than one way to skin a cat.”, in our case we are talking turkey! This includes preparing the Thanksgiving turkey. We all know the familiar taste of a slow roasted turkey from the oven. Looking to change it up this year and deviate from the norm? Then read on for some alternatives that while are not the norm for turkey day, will still delight your taste buds.

What about BBQ Turkey? We put everything else on the grill, why not a turkey too? Grilling a turkey gives it a unique flavor and texture much like chicken that has been grilled to perfection for a family outing. The difference is that here we are grilling an entire turkey at once. Instead of putting the turkey on the grill slats, it is placed in a baking pan over the flames. This way, the turkey can be basted and seasoned prior to and during the cooking process. As the turkey nears doneness, add your favorite sauce to it for an extra kick.

Deep Fried Turkey – In recent years this has become a popular way to prepare the Thanksgiving turkey. I don’t know who thought of it, but let me tell you I’m glad they did. A deep fried turkey is delicious. Just remember to follow the fryer directions to avoid any serious injuries that will spoil your festivities.

Many people think there is not a pan big enough to fry an entire turkey and up until several years ago, they were right. Not that long ago we started to see turkey fryers everywhere. Using peanut oil in a large frying pot, once the oil reaches a certain temperature, a clean and dry turkey is slowly lowered into it. The turkey can be seasoned beforehand or injected with a marinade to seal in flavor. It takes at least an hour to cook a turkey thoroughly. Depending on your marinade on the outside, the skin will be crispy and dark, but don’t worry. That crunchy and tasty skin hides the most tender, perfectly cooked meat beneath.

Turducken – A tur-what-in?? It sounds like something that rises out of the graveyard on Halloween night. Actually it is a combination of various boneless fowl: turkey, duck, and chicken. They are all put together and layered with stuffing to create this newest addition to the Thanksgiving table. The turducken looks like a turkey on the outside, but all you have to do is cut into it to see that it is anything but. Those who have tried them, say that turduckens taste great. Me…. I’m going to stick with my turkey.

Smoked Turkey – If you want a turkey fresh off the coals, try a smoker to cook your turkey this year. The bird is cleaned and seasoned. It can then be injected with a marinade if the cook so chooses. Once the coals have burned hot and come to a temperature that is not so hot it will burn the outside skin, place the turkey on the smoker. It will take several hours for this turkey to cook, but placing a pan of water on the smoker will help hold in moisture and create a juicy yet well smoked turkey for everyone to enjoy.

How will you prepare your Thanksgiving Day feast this year? Why not step out of your comfort zone, and try something new. Go with one of the options above or better yet, create a combination of more than one or come up with an original idea of your own. You’re dinner guests are sure to be pleased with the results. You might even have more room in your oven for all the other dishes for a change.

Filed Under: Today's Kitchen Tagged With: Cooking, Deep frying, Frying, gadgets, Kitchen, Thanksgiving, Turkey, Turkey fryer

Just Like Grandma’s Roasted Turkey

November 21, 2008 By The Recipe Mom Leave a Comment

What You Need:

1 (12 lb.) whole turkey, thawed
6 tbsp. butter, divided
4 C warm water
3 tbsp. chicken bouillon
2 tbsp. onion powder
2 tbsp. parsley, chopped fine
2 tbsp. seasoning salt
1 tsp. pepper

How to Make It:

Prepare the turkey by removing the giblets and rinsing the turkey in cold water.
Use paper towels to dry the turkey well.
Separate the skin from the turkey meat on the breasts by inserting your finger and carefully lifting the skin up to make a pocket.
Place 3 tbsp of butter under the skin on each side.
Place the oven temperature on 350 degrees and allow the oven to preheat.
Place the turkey in a large roasting pan being sure the breast side is facing up.
Pour the water into a large mixing bow.
Sprinkle in the bouillon, onion powder and parsley being sure to mix well to combine.
Pour the mixture over the top of the turkey.
Sprinkle the turkey with the season salt and pepper.
Cover the turkey tightly with aluminum foil.
Bake 3 hours 30 minutes basting the turkey with the juices in the pan every 30 minutes.
Remove the aluminum foil and continue roasting for 45 minutes.
The turkey skin should be golden brown and the internal temperature of the breast meat should be 170 degrees when the turkey is done.
Remove from the oven and allow the turkey to stand 30 minutes before carving.

Serves 12

Placing the butter between the skin and the meat helps the meat to stay moist during roasting. It also helps with the browning of the skin when the turkey has not been basted with oil.

Filed Under: Poultry Tagged With: Chicken, Cooking, Home, Meat, Onion powder, Poultry, Turkey

Great Culinary Ideas for Mother’s Day

What Keeps a Salad from Being Healthy?

Homemade Chocolate Desserts for Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day Dinner for Two

Romantic Raspberry Rendezvous’

My Funny Valentine Chocolate Cups

Honey Mustard Turkey Breast Microwave Style

There’s More than One Way to Skin a Turkey

Just Like Grandma’s Roasted Turkey

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