Welcome to Michael's Article Collection

Cheese Making Through the Ages

The many different types of cheeses available mean there is something to suit every taste. It is generally believed that cheese was first made in the Middle East. Legend has it that a nomadic Arab made cheese by accident when a saddlebag filled with milk fermented due to the hot sun and the galloping movement of his horse. Early cheeses were not the solid products we eat today. They were simple. . .

Regional Indian Cookery - The Punjab

The Punjab is situated in eastern India and is divided by the Indian/Pakistani border. It is very fertile because of the rivers that cross here and as a consequence, agriculture is central to the economy. Wheat accounts for a large proportion of the crops, along with corn, mustard greens, sugar cane and rice. Buffalo milk which is 3% higher in fat than cows milk, is also important to the Pun. . .

Brew Pubs Today: The Revival Of A Proud American Tradition

Remember the one-on-every corner dimly lit brew pub or tavern, beer-soaked carpeting and Joe the Bartender, a long row of customers with their glasses of watery mass-produced beer, all staring at a flickering television? Versions of these drinking establishments certainly still exist but their heyday as the gathering place of choice is over. In fact this rather depressing era was only a hiatus . . .

Bartending Pro Tips Part 2:

This article is a continuation of Bartending Pro Tips Part 1: How to Make Money and Have Fun With a Career In Bartending8. If there is trouble or violence try, at all costs, to avoid coming out from behind the bar. Raise your voice and attempt to take control verbally, while you are dialing 911. Many bars do not provide security. A personal friend of mine came out from behind the bar and hit. . .

Some Facts About Whiskey or Whisky

When discussing whisky the first thing that needs to be know is that there are two legitimate spellings. The Scotts and Canadians spell whisky without the “e”, while the Irish and Americans spell it with an “e” as in whiskey. This should be the first indication that the world of whisky is a very complicated one and has many regional differences in taste and production. This is part of what make. . .

Restuarants that Deliver in New York and Los Angeles

What is the easiest way to order in food? Many people cannot find a menu and waste time looking for it while others waste money calling 411. At the end, it often becomes a tedious task to place an order.What makes OrderInFood.com unlike other services is that its visitors can view actual color menus of restaurants that deliver; and can also dial a local number to quickly search for the nearest . . .

Fragrant Hammelsuppe

Did you know that zesty mutton soup is a well-loved culinary concoction in both European and Asian cultures? All over the globe, be it in the East or West, cooking maestros have long latched on to the potent taste punch that a simple bowl of mutton soup packs. The unmistakably rich muttony flavour then that permeates throughout the broth is pure dynamite when masterfully mingled with egg, cream. . .

Value Of Soup

1. SOUP is a liquid food that is prepared by boiling meat or vegetables,or both, in water and then seasoning and sometimes thickening the liquidthat is produced. It is usually served as the first course of a dinner,but it is often included in a light meal, such as luncheon. While somepersons regard the making of soup as difficult, nothing is easier whenone knows just what is required and how to. . .

Alcoholic Drinks And Its Effect on Your Weight Loss Program

Did you know that the alcoholic drinks and cocktails that's being offered to you contain an incredible number of calories? If you are not careful, the party drinks can be an absolute killer for your weight loss plans during this holiday season."I'll just have a little..."If you are not careful, this little phrase can be an absolute killer for your weight loss plans during this holiday season.An. . .

What Fruits To Add To A Fruit Basket

If you want to give a unique gift that is guarantee to be used an enjoyed by the recipient, consider a fruit basket. Fruit baskets are fabulous ways to provide your friend, family member, neighbor, co-worker, or client with a delicious—and healthy—treat that looks like a million bucks, but is actually budget friendly. When looking a fruit basket, you can either choose to purchase one pre-made o. . .

Accra Banana Peanut Cake

No matter how many cakes you may have chomped down in your lifetime, I'm pretty sure you've never before chanced upon this dainty West African goody. Forget the nondescript junk you can pick up at any time in cake shops, because this classified Ghanaian dessert blueprint will get you dancing to the Gold Coast beat in no time! Now who says you can't have your cake and eat it at the same time?Acc. . .

Traditional Swahili Wedding Recipe : Chicken Biriani/Biri...

Biriani is traditional Swahili wedding food. It is usually cooked overnight before the wedding day, so that is ready to be served at lunchtime.Ingredients needed (serves 6-8 people)For the stew:Half a raw papayaA glass of fermented, sour milk (Maziwa Mala)6 big tomatoes6 big onions5 cloves of garlicA stem of ginger (or approx. 100 grams)100 grams dried cumin seeds2 small tins of tomato pasteSal. . .

History of the Cafetiere

Cafetieres are probably the most commonly used method of brewing coffee. Many coffee lovers swear on the fact that the cafetiere is the best method, as it preserves the delicate flavours in the oils, giving a smooth, rich bodied coffee. The exact history and origin of the cafetiere is not clear. Both the French and the Italians lay claims to its invention. What is known is that the first ca. . .

Poker and Cigars - Together Forever?

At one time those who sat at a poker table considered cigars and poker as part of the same package. They freely puffed on their cigars as they rolled their hands over their piles of poker chips. Men skilled at the game of Texas Hold’em were usually equally skilled at the art of lighting and maintaining a smoking cigar. The cigar enthusiasts at BuyDominicanCigars.com mourn the day in age when th. . .

Varieties Of Gourmet Olives

The history of olives and olive oil can be traced back to at the least biblical times. When the waters of the great flood subsided and Noah sent forth a dove it was an olive leaf she returned carrying in her mouth. It is known that as long as 6000 years ago olive oil was used as fuel in lamps. Maybe it was this olive oil that created such a beautiful Genie for Major Anthony Nelson to rescue in . . .

Coffee Pods and Espresso Machines

There's nothing like the perfect espresso. Finely ground, dark roasted coffee, pressed and percolated into a strong, rich coffee drink that delights the senses and perks up your day. In Italy, ordering a coffee means that you're ordering an espresso. The Italians stop in their local bar once, twice, even three times a day for the perfect cup of espresso. But here in America, it's not as easy to. . .

Onions, Fabulous, Superb Perfection

Onions are absolutely one of the most delicious and flexible commoditiesyou use in the kitchen. From savory steaming soups to satisfyinghomemade salsa, onions play an important part in our daily cooking.Flavorful appetizers from onion dips to salad dressing, main coursecasseroles, even the onion focaccia bread accompaniment for dinner.Buying onions is a simple task. Look for dry, papery skins w. . .

Mexican Pork Stew Topped With Corn Bread

This magnificently elaborate pork stew recipe fuses the diversity of irresistably piquant Mexican flavours with a tempting assortment of fresh natural ingredients!Mexican Pork Stew With Corn Bread Topping1 each Red Bell Pepper -- Small1 each Yellow Bell Pepper -- Small1 pound Pork; Boneless Loin -- *1/2 pound Chorizo Sausage -- Bulk1 cup Onion; Chopped -- 1 Large2 each Cloves Garlic -- Finely C. . .

Coffee Brewing Methods: Is your coffee brewer just a drip?

For most of us, brewing up our morning cup of coffee is more than just a necessity, it is a matter of convenience. Each night, millions of us coffee lovers pile heaping tablespoons of our favorite gourmet coffees into those paper filters, fill the tank of our coffee makers with water and set the timer so that our coffee is ready and waiting first thing in the morning.But why would anyone spen. . .

Delicious Vintage Chocolate Recipes For All Seasons

Whether it’s a party, a quiet day in the house or just cruising downtown with friends, there’s always an occasion (or excuse) to gratuitously munch on chocolate.Everyone loves chocolates, especially the types made from those secret vintage recipes. Listed below are a few of such.CHOCOLATE JELLY WITH CRYSTALLIZED GREEN GAGESDissolve in a quart of water three tablespoonfuls of grated chocolate an. . .

The Secrets Of Making A Perfect Roasted Duck Salad

ROAST DUCK 5 lb Duckling,excess fat removed1 T Soy Sauce1/2 t Salt1/2 t Peppercorns,Szechwan, Coarsely Ground2 T Honey2 T Vinegar,Chinese, riceDRESSING 1 t Mustard,drySaltPepper,white, ground2 t Sugar1/2 t Garlic,finely chopped1 1/2 T Soy Sauce1/3 c Stock,chicken1/3 c Vinegar,Chinese, rice1/3 c Oil,vegetableOil,vegetable (for deep fat frying)3 1/2 oz Mai fun,(rice sticks)2 c Lettuce,iceberg, sh. . .

14 Easy Cooking Tips for Meat and Poultry Slow Cooker Rec...

The first Christmas we spent with my in-laws in their new country home, my mother-in-law wisely gave me a slow cooker. Her thoughtful gift helped Dan and I enjoy the most convenient of all cooking methods, even with our long work days and commute.I'll always treasure the memories of delicious aromas wafting through the front door as we stepped into the house after a long day at work and a nerve. . .

Tips For Buying A Great Espresso Maker

Most people who love specialty coffee drinks eventually purchase an espresso maker. With a good one, you can make all your favourite drinks in the comfort of your own kitchen and try out a new recipe or two. Since this is a large investment, you should spend some time learning about these machines before you buy. Learn about the features available and then read some reviews to find the best mac. . .

The Top 4 Reasons Why You Should Learn How To Cook Frenc...

Food should be the most important thing in our lives. Without it we cannot survive yet we neglect it almost every day of our lives. Are you sick of eating junk ? If the answer's yes then do something about it.1. Take care of your familyMake no mistake if you want your family to be healthy you need to give them the best food available. The best food available is NOT hamburgers or pizza or any of. . .

Is This The Year To Simplify Christmas Dinner?

Are you hosting Christmas dinner this year? What do you think about making this the year you simplify it?We know perfectly well that every year there's too much food on the table. We eat too much, we work too hard, and most years we get ourselves too tired to really enjoy everything.What about making as much as possible ahead?What about (gasp!) even cooking the turkey and making the gravy the d. . .

Fruit Basket Checklist: Are You In The Know?

How many of these mistakes are you making?1) You buy items on impulse and nothing else.2) You don't comparison shop before spending your hard earned money.3) You like spend more money and get less than you really should.Well, I was like you too until I discovered a little thing called the internet. The internet makes comparison shopping much easier than it was just 10 years ago. Finding that a . . .

Not Your Orthodox Way Of Learning About Wine…

Nowadays young people who have the foresight to actually plan a career in wine can choose from a plethora of study programmes that focus on different academic aspects of wine. Not so long ago, however, there was hardly any professional wine education available. It is thanks to unorthodox devotees like Alan Robb Hickinbotham, for example, that there are now professional wine courses around as or. . .

Easy Chocolate Chip Cookies

"There are two kinds of people in the world: those who love chocolate, and communists." - Leslie Moak MurrayI can't help but love that quote. When I was a kid, my grandpa always called any store bought cookies that somehow made it into the house "Commie cookies." For him, it was Grandma's homemade cookies or none at all.There's just something special about homemade cookies, especially chocolate. . .

Bartending Pro Tips Part 1:

In a bar, you will find an interesting and diverse community of people who will seek out fine bartending, not only for the relaxation and camaraderie, but also for a familiar and comfortable environment where they are recognized and accepted. For many people, in this competitive and aggressive world, a bar may be a sole source of sustenance for those basic things that are so essential to us al. . .

Unique Gifts - Send Food Gifts For Something Delicious An...

Whether it's the Christmas holiday season or the middle of summer, the necessity of having to shop for a birthday or anniversary present is inevitable. While it's always a thrill to find just the right gift for a friend or associate, sometimes issues such as lack of time or the difficulty of trying to find a unique gift: how many ties can you buy your brother in law, make the buying experience. . .

Quick Guide to Wedding Catering: Part Two

So you’ve tasted the offerings of the caterer and you’ve selected your main menu options. What about drinks?What’s on tapMuch like selecting the menu options, you will need to factor in what kinds of drinks everyone would like to drink. The easiest way to take care of this is to offer a full service bar. In this way, guests can have mixed drinks of all varieties or they can stick to wine and. . .

How To Make Sausage and Cornbread Cabbage Rolls

Here is a simple method to make fantastic Sausages and cabbage rolls! Try it when you have time… Ingredient:4 ea Large Cabbage Leaves 1/2 lb Bulk Pork Sausage 1 ea Large Beaten Egg 1/4 c Water 1 c Apple Chopped (1 Med) 1/3 c Apple Juice Or Cider 1/3 c Cornbread Stuffing Mix 1 ts Cornstarch 2 tb Apple Juice Or Cider 1/2 ts Instant Beef Bouillon Method:. . .

Oriental Chicken Wings

This exciting Chinese chicken dish masterfully blends the flavoursome tastes and spices of the exotic Orient. Try it today; you won't be sorry!1 1/2 pounds chicken wings -- disjointed 1 medium egg 1/2 cup soy sauce 2 tablespoons garlic powder 1/4 teaspoon ginger powder 1 medium onion -- finely diced 2 cups finely crushed corn flakes Mix together egg, soy sauce, garlic powder and ginger powder. . . .

Crispy Buffalo Wings

These tempting fried buffalo wings will get even KFC lovers drooling! The high protein content's an added bonus; just don't get carried away and eat too many of them if you're watching your diet.5 pounds Chicken wings -- deep fried 1/2 gallon Hot pepper sauce 1 cup Cornstarch Deep fry wings till they're over done. Put in pan and cover with your favorite hot sauce. Tightly wrap in foil and bake . . .

The New Cuisine: African Food Today

Today, African food is the most diverse cuisine on the planet, a true "melting pot" of foods and flavors. Africa's history is rich and so is its cuisine. With influences from so many other countries, Dutch, English, Asian, and Indian, Africa's new cuisine is the newest global food trend. The Mediterranean has a place in African foods with its influence of olive oil, olives, and pasta. Rich Afri. . .

Sweet Gourmet: Baking Chocolate Guide

Several types of chocolate may be used when baking cookies, pies, cakes, bars, and other sweet treats. The amount of cocoa butter and sugar can affect the texture and taste of chocolate—from bitter to very sweet. Below is a quick guide to the most popular kinds of chocolate used in baked goods.= UNSWEETENED CHOCOLATE – Unsweetened chocolate contains nothing but pure chocolate and cocoa butter. . . .

Ten Vital Reasons To Use Real Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Extra virgin olive oil is very special and unique. This is something that people along the Mediterranean, as well as gourmets everywhere, have known for a long time. Thomas Jefferson is even said to have considered the olive tree as ‘surely the richest gift of Heaven’. Well, recent studies show that President Jefferson might just have been right. Here are 10 reasons why real extra virgin olive . . .

How to Cook Turkey on Natural Gas Grills

The holidays bring with them thoughts of carving and serving delicious turkey dinners to your family and friends. Tradition has its fans, but perhaps this year you'd like to try a twist to your turkey recipe. If you have a gas grill and enjoy the smoky flavor of grilled meats, why not try grilling your turkey this year? It's not only possible, it is rather simple. And it delivers a delicious fl. . .

Health Benefits for Chai Drinkers

What is Chai Tea?“Chai” actually means “tea” in Hindi, so calling “chai” “chai tea” is actually rather redundant. However, marketers in the western world thought that “chai tea” would help them sell the “new” product to the western market. Chai is actually centuries old, with its origins in India. Generally, it is a milky, spiced tea made with black tea, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, cloves, p. . .

The Secret to Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies

Why is that whenever you see a recipe with the finished cookies pictured and then try to duplicate those cookies they never come out "just right"? It's like the fast food commercials that tempt you with a big juicy hamburger perfectly sitting on a fresh bun and when you actually purchase the burger, what you get is a shriveled piece of meat stuck between two flattened pieces of bun!Do you want. . .

Walnut Bars

1/2 cup butter1 cup shortening1 1/2 cups powdered sugar3 cups flour3 eggs1 1/2 cups brown sugar3 tablespoons flour1/2 teaspoon baking powder1/2 teaspoon salt1 teaspoon vanilla1 1/2 cups chopped walnutsCream butter and shortening together. Mix in powdered sugar. Use a fork to work in the flour. Mixture will be crumbly.Press into an ungreased 9x13 inch pan. Bake at 325 degrees for 25 to 30 minute. . .

Nutrition Facts

Facts about nutrition are becoming important to a greater number of people and that is terrific news for your health. There is an old saying that states: “You are what you eat.” – This holds true today just as it did centuries ago; even if it was originally coined when the majority of people received insufficient food. Today it refers more to the worldwide trend of over-eating.Fortunately packa. . .

Hoodia Gordonii - One Reason To Take It

When Hoodia was discovered the very first animal trials to test it was with Rats. The rats that were fed with Hoodia stopped eating completely. Rats are well know as animals that will eat anything and everything. Can you believe that an animal who loves to eat anything simply switched off its desire to eat, even when foods that rats love were placed in front of them. When the first clinical hum. . .

Mother Was Right

Eat Your Fruits and Vegetables. It is almost impossible to get too much of these foods. They are full of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and phytonutrients, as well as high in complex carbohydrates. And fruits and vegetables are an important source of fiber, as well. Even the much maligned potato, eaten baked with the skin on, is full of vitamins C and B6, potassium, and nearly 5 grams of fibe. . .

Cream Cheese Mincemeat Pie

• bottom pie crust for a 9 or 10 inch pie plate• 3 cups mincemeat• 8 ounces of cream cheese (softened)• 1/2 cup sugar• 1 egg• 1 tablespoon lemon juiceMake the pie crust and line the pie plate with the crust (I know this seems obvious, but one time when I happened to listen to Oprah -- I have listened to the show about 3 times in my life -- there was a chef who was talking about cooking somethin. . .

Five Simply Delicious Holiday Appetizers

Holiday parties are wonderful but the vast array of rich and tempting foods can become a bit overwhelming. I have some recipes for this time of year that, while delicious, are not quite as rich as the standard fare. When asked to contribute a dish, I usually make one of these recipes. This way, I know there will be an alternative if I start to indulge too heartily in richer selections. Here are. . .

Monthly Gardening Reminders

As you work on perfecting your homemade wine, it is important to spend a little time each month tending to your garden. Here I have broken down by month some of the things that you will want to do to ensure a bountiful harvest that you can use when making your own wine at home. January Little can be done this month, and much will depend on how much has been done in previous months. If the weath. . .

Top 3 Reasons Why You Need Cookie Recipes

When it is time to bake cookies, we usually think that it is complicated, that it takes a lot of time. In one word : that it is not worthwhile !We will show you hereunder that it is simply not true. Baking cookies is easy, fast and, most important, fun.Come and join all our readers who decided to give it a try and now, just cannot stop trying to find new recipes, new ways of preparing delicious. . .

Family Meals - Better for Children, Easier for You

Another day, another dinner to prepare. Are you having a difficult time finding easy to prepare meals that can satisfy your growing family? You want to give your family the best, but time is in short supply and preparing a healthy meal has become a chore. Too often take out or frozen dinners have to do. Is there a way to combine healthy eating with convenience? Yes! New methods of cooking and e. . .

Baby Shower Cakes - How to Buy or Make Wonderful Baby Cak...

How can you have a complete baby shower without baby shower cakes?A baby cake is more than a moist, yummy confection to eat. You can use it as a wonderful baby shower centerpiece to make a special party setting that every guest can share and enjoy.Also turn the baby shower cake baking into a funny baby shower game if you want to make a special and memorable moment that the mom-to-be can cherish. . .