Archive for April, 2008
Where To Find Ethnic Food Recipes
Most home cooks at some time or another find themselves getting interested in ethnic cuisine. The impetus might come from their heritage maybe grandma was a German immigrant or grandpa came from Vietnam. Or it could just be simple cook’s curiosity. All of us get tired of cooking the same old recipes over and over, and decide to move beyond, frequently into ethnic food recipes.
However, and this is especially important if you don’t already know anything about the particular cuisine you’re after, it can be hard to figure out if the recipes you’re cooking are authentic, or are even worth trying. You might pick an Asian recipe that sends you out hunting exotic ingredients for three days only to find that either the recipe was written poorly or the flavor is something you just can’t stomach.
Unless you want to sink a lot of money into cookbooks, your best source of recipe information is going to be the Internet. However, searching for Internet recipes can be fraught with peril. How do you know this recipe will work? Do you have any clue what it tastes like? Do you maybe have a picture of what the finished dish should look like?
This is where sites that allow user reviews of recipes are invaluable. We foodies are a verbose bunch, forever ready to share good recipes and tips and warn others away from the bad ones. On sites such as Allrecipes or Cooks.com, you’ll find ethnic food recipes with hundreds of reviews from users. Often, these reviews will include possible ingredient substitutions, problems inherent in the preparation and possible solutions and all sorts of other great information. It’s very similar to having a kitchen full of cooks ready to teach and advise you at all times.
While you might not want to trust just one or two reviews, you can feel fairly safe when you see certain ethnic food recipes have been cooked successfully by dozens of people. Pick the recipe, read the comments and forge ahead!
Andrew Krause is a Chef and Pastry Chef for over 30 years, at persent I own a Gourmet Bakery called The Cheese Confectioner.You can visit my site at http://www.andies.cashhosters2.com
NOTE: You are welcome to reprint this article online as long as it remains complete and unaltered (including the about the author info at the end).
Tag: food recipesEntertaining The Simple Truth
When you hear the word “entertaining,” do you break out in a cold sweat? The thought of entertaining can be scary, but in reality it doesn’t have to be. How you approach entertaining can make all the difference.
First of all, forget any ideas you may have that entertaining needs to be expensive and flashy.
The first rule of entertaining is to be yourself and entertain within your budget and abilities. Remember, you are supposed to have fun too! If you spend your time and energy worrying that you are not good enough and do not match up to others, you will feel your stress levels rise and spend far more than you can afford in a desire to impress.
The simple gesture of opening up your home and extending hospitality to friends, family and acquaintances is more appreciated than you will ever realise, and the more you do it, the easier it will become.
Here are some simple guidelines to bear in mind when entertaining:
- Keep it as simple as possible
- Use what you have available and are comfortable with. You don’t need to buy a new dinner service, or crystal glasses!
- Keep to your budget. If this means a potluck party or a simple dessert party, then that is fine.
- Think creatively. You can create any ambience you wish without breaking the bank or exhausting yourself. Your guests will be more appreciative of original ideas than over-spending.
- Be realistic about your skills. Don’t try to serve something complicated just to impress.
- Stick to a menu you are comfortable with and never make a recipe you haven’t prepared before. You do not want to be wrestling with an unfamiliar recipe when you could be enjoying your guests’ company.
- Plan menus that allow you the freedom to be with your guests. Prepare as much as possible beforehand - recipes that can be refrigerated or frozen, and reheated simply.
- Stay relaxed and enjoy yourself, and your guests will too.
And, in case you missed the most important point… Keep It Simple!
Lisa Hartwell is the creator and compiler of the Entertaining Tonight website and newsletter - the Simple Answer to All your Entertaining and Party Needs.
Tag: holidays entertaining party food recipes appetizersChicken Wings with Oyster Sauce
Chicken wings with oyster sauce
Servings: 3-4
Ingredients:
- 12 chicken wings
- Tags: Chinese cooking, Chinese cooking recipe, Chinese food recipe, chinese recipe