Welcome to Michael's Article Collection

International Gourmet Deliveries Take the Hassle Out of G...

In our global economy, everyone from the businessperson to the neighbor who traveled abroad on holiday is facing the same dilemma: how to send gifts to business associates and new friends who live overseas. Increasingly, gift givers are choosing the convenience of international gourmet deliveries over the hassle of shipping gifts overseas through conventional methods.Utilizing the availability . . .

Christmas Recipes: Edible Gifts. No.4 of 8 – Chocolate Tr...

Christmas recipe makes: 2 dozen Calories per truffle: 65Preparation time: 30 – 60 minutesCooking time: 0 minutesSuitable for freezingChristmas recipe ingredients:Truffle Mixture:chocolate, bitter, plain or milk 225g (8 oz)double cream, 75 ml (3 fl oz)brandy, 75 ml (3 fl oz)or rum,orange liqueur, coffee liqueur, coconut liqueurRolled Truffles:cocoa powderchopped nutscoconut, dessicated or grat. . .

Merry Christmas Cheesecakes

Do you have a weakness for cheesecakes? There quite simply isn't a better time than Christmas to luxuriate in the irresistably sweet and satisfying creaminess of posh cheesecakes, for the cracking festive cheer is the perfect accompaniment to this luscious Yuletide treat. Merry Christmas folks! MERRY CHRISTMAS CHEESECAKES1 cup of flour1/2 cup of margarine1/2 cup of brown sugar, firmly packed1/2. . .

How to Teach Your Children to Cook

If you're ready to teach your children how to cook, here are some simple tips for teaching them the basics, and giving them skills that will last them a lifetime! First of all, think safety. Any child that has to stand on a stool or chair in order to reach the stove is too young to cook. Start younger children off by letting them help set and clear the table, gathering ingredients, and stirring. . .

Supporting Local Flavors

In the last 10 years Americans have seen a boom in local food markets and for good reason. While Americans continue to buy more fast food, they still expect perfect ingredients and they are finding them.So why are they turning to their local markets more and more? In a nutshell they want fresh, healthy produce with great flavor. There are numerous other benefits to buying local products and it . . .

Grill Your Steak The Right Way

No matter what you preference in a steak, maintaining good moisture should always be your goal. When searching for a good cut of beef, look for a cut with good consistent marbling. Fat equals flavor so very low fat content in meat will tend to dry it out and have much less flavor. You should not have to coat a great piece of meat with sauce just to get flavor, in fact you should avoid using a s. . .

Barbequed Ribs Kansas City Style

Kansas City ribs are serious business when it comes to BBQ. True to tradition, barbeque in Kansas City is dry rub-spiced, smoked with hickory and coated with a KC style sauce. For Kansas City sauce means a thick, rich and tangy tomato based sauce with molasses and sometimes a hint of vinegar. The meat is seared, slow cooked and mop basted with sauce until the meat is tender and a nice crust has. . .

Mouth Watering Memphis Style Pork Ribs

The Memphis Style pork rib is one of the most popular and mouth watering styles of rib preparation. One of the reasons for the popularity with the Memphis Style rib is its unique blend of barbeque tradition and flavorful seasonings.The only sauce applied to Memphis Style ribs is mop sauce used for basting during the cooking process. Barbeque sauce is never used during the cooking process but ra. . .

Quick Reference Guide for Buying, Storing and Serving Cheese

Cheese is more than just peeling back the wrapper on a slice of American cheese. There are proper buying, storage and serving procedures that will help maintain freshness and ensure enhanced flavor and texture. When buying cheese consider these three items. 1) Where to Shop - Choose a reliable source such as a specialty market or gourmet grocery store. - Find a cheese only market or a cheese re. . .

The Inn At Kristofer's In Sister Bay Wisconsin Offers A G...

Door County, Wisconsin is a popular destination for tens of thousands of travelers every year. Small villages with populations of less than 500 people swell to large crowds during the summer weekends as people head to Door County for some rest, relaxation, time on the water, and good food. The Inn at Kristofer’s, located on Bay Shore Drive in Sister Bay, Wisconsin, is a wonderful place to go fo. . .

Our Pleasant Meal At C&C Supper Club In Door County Wisco...

My husband, oldest son, and I had the pleasure of enjoying a meal at C&C Supper Club in Fish Creek, Wisconsin (in the heart of Door County) during a recent trip to Door County. The building houses a supper club for dining along with a bar with games and live entertainment on many weekends. We were very hungry when we arrived so we went directly to the dining room to eat. We were offered a table. . .

Mi Vida My Life

Do you appreciate the taste of great food, but worry about your health? Are you on a restrictive diet, such as a diabetes diet or a low carb program? If you are, then it may be very difficult to find great tasting fresh foods that answer your health needs while still satisfying the taste buds. Even with the recent explosion in low carb foods, it's rare to find one that actually tastes better th. . .

Perking Up for Caffeinated Treasure in the Caribbean

Possibly the world's most famous coffee-growing location is Colombia, but many countries in and around the Caribbean also produce this flavorful bean. Most coffee-growing islands in the Caribbean, however, do not produce quantities large enough to export on a wide scale, like the plantations in Central and South America, which serve markets all over the world. Growing HistoryCoffee was discover. . .

History of the Stove-top Espresso Maker

The story of the stove-top espresso maker begins in 1918, when Alfonso Bialetti returned to his native Italy from France, where he had worked in the aluminium industry, to start a small workshop manufacturing metal household goods. The actual idea for the stove-top espresso maker came from a simple washing machine. During the 1920s Alfonso Bialetti observed the local women of Crusinallo washi. . .

Choosing Mail Order Gourmet Meat Cuts

Buying meat is one of the finest delicacies left in gourmet food. There are so many cuts, tastes, and styles of preparation, filets, and seasoning to delight and tingle all senses. Saving money on gourmet meat can be easy, just follow the few basic rules that follow. When selecting a meat cut remember that the more taken to prepare this cut will mean that it is more expensive and this doesn’t . . .

It's Football Gift Basket Time of the Year

We’re reaching the NFL’s “run for the playoffs” time of year. Between mid December and the Super Bowl, the best games of the season are on TV Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Whether you gather at your home or a friend’s, a true football fan provides his guests snacks and treats. So grab a basket and let’s fill it with a selection any fan would love.First, let’s start with your favorite team and fi. . .

What In The World Is A Cheese Curd?

I’m a Wisconsin girl so I like to think that I know cheese. It is one of the products the state is well known for and is something I grew up eating quite often, especially during the holidays. That was because we used to receive a 5-pound block of cheese every year as a Christmas present. Five pounds of cheese was a lot of cheese to eat, even for a family like ours who loved cheese but since we. . .

Grilled Rainbow Trout With Apricot Salsa

Friend, if you've never had the pleasure of savouring cooked fish of the highest quality served with a complementary potpourri of the most luscious fruits, vegetables and spices, then this ingenious seafood recipe right here will no doubt exhilarate your senses!Grilled Rainbow Trout With Apricot SalsaYield: 4 Servings4 6-oz. rainbow trout fillets1 c fresh apricots, diced1 small avocado, diced (. . .

How to Grow Grapes for Excellent Wine

I think it quite safe to say that more has been written about the cultivation of grapes than has - or ever will be - written about any other fruit. This is not surpris¬ing, considering that the grape is probably the oldest of known fruits. Surprisingly, grapes do not need loads of manures and fertilizers; they grow well on quite poor soils and need little after-attention. The roots will search. . .

Grilled Club Sandwiches

Pretty much nothing can compare to the wholesome goodness and lovely warm savoury sensation of grilled sandwiches if what you're after is some simple yet tasty fare. This clever variation of the old dejeuner classic is also no slouch when it comes to nutritional content and quite simply hits the ball out out of the park where taste is concerned! Grilled Club SandwichesYield: 6 Servings1 long th. . .

Advice on Choosing Health Food And Healthy Foods And Read...

Health food doesn't need a definition, does it? We all know what health food is it's yogurt and granola, whole-grain cereal and organically grown vegetables and fruit. It's 100% natural, no preservatives or dyes, unadulterated, pure. When you put all that together, you should have healthy food, yet all too often, what's marketed as health food these days barely classifies as food, let alone hea. . .

Unique Wedding And Shower Candy Favors With Personalized ...

One of the hottest wedding and shower favor ideas these days is candy. Personalized candy wrappers with your name and wedding details offer an alternative to the traditional tulle and ribbon wedding candy, the ubiquitous Jordan almond. Whether you choose a bar of Belgian chocolate wrapped in embossed foil or a chocolate candy rose with a personalized ribbon and tag, personalized candy favors ar. . .

How to Satisfy Summer Time Fresh Tomato Cravings Today

Disappointment reigns heavily when it comes to out of season tomatoes. Yes, summer is over as the harsh freezing cold temperatures blanket the entire North American continent and we are missing, craving more than likely, the incredible taste of vine ripe tomatoes straight from the garden. Perfectly picked at their peek of freshness and aromatic fragrance.Sure you try the produce market at you . . .

The Best Mexican Food Across The Country, Chosen By Mexic...

“You can’t get good Mexican food anywhere north of Texas.”So averred my good buddy Tony when I suggested a Mexican meal on his recent visit. Now, I’m a good deal north of Texas, being in the Heart of Massachusetts, but that’s the kind of challenge that I can’t pass up. Three hours later, he was rubbing his stuffed belly as we left Tortilla Sam’s, voted Worchester’s Best Mexican Restaurant for t. . .

Guide To Bunn Coffee Makers

Are you one of those people who can’t get moving in the morning without that morning cup of coffee? If you are, you aren’t alone. Homes across the country are home to Bunn coffee makers, espresso or cappuccino makers to get people up and ready to face the day. Bunn is one of the best known names in home coffee machines and has a solid reputation for quality.Features of Coffee MakersThe company . . .

The Health Aspects Of Chocolate

Chocolate is relaxing. It’s calming. It soothes our nerves and makes us feel good. And we often think of it as a sinful indulgence. But it doesn’t have to be. If you choose your chocolate wisely, you can enjoy it without the guilty feelings we normally associate with it.What Are the Healthy Aspects of Chocolate?By eating small amounts of the right chocolate, you will enjoy the many health aspec. . .

Food And Wine Choice Advice From An Expert Wine Taster

Food and wine were meant to go together. In my big Italian family, no gathering was complete without plenty of both. Winter feasts were easy for the food and wine lovers among us – a hearty red table wine is the perfect foil for most southern Italian dishes. A pitcher of table wine drawn from the cask in the basement was the typical accompaniment to our everyday meals. Red, white or rose, Itali. . .

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Cooking with Culinary Lavender

Have you tried whole grains with culinary lavender? Whole grains are making a comeback, and their advantages in terms of health and environmental conservancy are well known. However, to many palates accustomed to refined flour, whole grains seem tasteless and heavy. By using our Culinary Lavender, you can create healthy, satisfying meals that taste - and smell - delicious. Adding Lavender L. . .

The Truth about BBQ Sauce

Barbecue sauces have a uniquely Southern and Western U.S. history. Most experts agree that the practice of adding sauce and spices to meat and fish began early in our history, with Native Americans teaching the art to early European settlers. The natives probably developed the process as part of an attempt to keep meats and fish from spoiling quickly. Salt played a major role in those early . . .

Seven Fun Things You Can Do with Popcorn

What type of popcorn lover are you? How do you cook it, stove top, microwave, air popped or camp fire roasted? How about toppings, naked, salted, drenched in butter, cheese laddened, covered in carmel, or coated in chocolate.Plain popcorn balls are great on their own. However, you can easily change them into something spectacular. You can cover a popcorn ball with white cake icing and red licor. . .

Riesling on the Rise

You've probably heard the saying that if you don't like Chardonnay, it's because you haven't found the right one. Tongue and cheek sentiment aside, it bears witness to the great variety of different wines that all masquerade under the single title of Chardonnay, some so disparate as to hardly be recognizable as coming from the same grape. Much of this is no doubt due to the staggering popular. . .

Why Australia For Fine Wines?

Australia, the land DownUnder, has become a major and exciting force in international wines. Australian wine is taking the world by storm, due to the quality of the grape stock combined with the skill and experience of its winemakers. This enables it to produce a superb and wide range of Australian wine styles. This island continent features wines as varied as its terrain. Most people know of A. . .

What Do I Do With All These Packets Of DIP Mix?

It seems that everyone uses dip mix but me. I’ve managed to accumulate quite the collection of dip mixes. (Ranch, jalapeno, Mexican, etc.)What can I do with these other than make DIP?Signed,Drowning in Dip Dear Drowning in Dip,I hear you! I find myself in the same situation. But, I ended up with my pantry over-flowing in dip and finally found some solutions. I hope they help you, too. All you n. . .

Extraordinary Tailgating Recipes, Adding Spice to the Game

One of the great recreational activities is an exciting and fun-filled tailgating party. It's more than just drinks at the back of an SUV or a truck; tailgating parties are a big hit at any sports event. This is where everyone gets together to celebrate the game, or maybe just for a get together where all of you can have fun, share stories and laughter.But aside from that, no party is complete . . .

Five "Health Foods" That May Be Making You Sick!

There are many of us who are dieting and trying to live a healthy lifestyle. We exercise and go out of our way to eat the best foods we can. Most of us already know that trans-fats, white sugar and white flour are not the best health choices, especially if we want to keep our weight down. Unfortunately some of the very foods that we think are healthy are ones that can cause a lot of trouble for. . .

Basic Cookware Explained

With all of the many types of cookware available, All-Clad, Calphalon, nonstick, stainless steel, uncoated or coated, cast iron, celebrity cookware and more, how can you choose the correct one for your needs? By examining the positives and negatives of each type of cookware your decision will become much easier to make.What is All-Clad stainless steel cookware and why is it the best top-of-the-. . .

What Is Organic Food And Should I Buy It?

Organic food is the food derived from animals and plants that have been grown and raised in accordance with the strict guidelines associated with government’s definition of the term, “organic.” In order to be certified as an organic food, food must be grown without the use of products such as manufactured fertilizers, synthetic or man-made pesticides, additives that control or modify growth, an. . .

Why You Should Consider Buying Organic Food

Besides the fact that organic food tastes better and it reduces the amount of cancer-causing chemicals that enter your body, there are plenty of other very good reasons why you should buy organic food. Here are just a few:Organic Meat Comes From Healthier AnimalsThe animal from which you got your meat is guaranteed to have been healthy throughout its life. Why? Part of the criteria governing or. . .

History of Coffee: Part V - Speciality Coffee

With the large multi-national coffee companies focused purely on coffee as a commodity rather then a drink to be savoured, it allowed a new sector to emerge in the coffee industry: Speciality Coffee. Speciality coffee was nothing new, rather the opposite; it stripped coffee making back down to the grass roots: pure arabica beans, roasted long enough for the coffee to fully develop all its char. . .

Want Healthier Diet?

Continuous research carried out about diets all indicate the importance of having a rational and in fact accurate daily eating plan in order to stay healthy and prevent serious diseases from affecting people's health severely.Diets, including various types, can be quickly and easily adjusted by means of some tips we are going to introduce in the following lines.Although there are not distinct i. . .

Only With Beer Can Chicken Taste Good

Only with beer can chicken taste good – a sentiment shared by passionate beer drinkers. Gourmet meals are enjoyed by many; when one thinks of the beverages served in a high class restaurant, wine comes to mind most frequently. A diner may choose a tasty liquer such as Drambuie or whiskey to enjoy with coffee after a fine meal. It brings to mind silk dresses, tuxedos, a night at the opera. Many . . .

Syrah and... the Sex Appeal?

It is a well established standard practice to apply all sorts of descriptors wine that go well beyond simply describing the taste, aroma, and texture. Indeed it has become somewhat of a tradition to characterize wines with such adjectives as bold, timid, dramatic, subdued, flagrant, and so on. So much so, in fact, that to the novice many adjectives may seem to say a little too much about a wi. . .

The Spirit of Coffee: Coffees of the World

Ever wonder where the coffee beans in your morning coffee come from? You probably know words like Arabica and Robusta in terms of taste, but did you know that these words can also tell us where those coffees were grown? Here is a look at three of the world’s best specialty coffees and the regions in which they originated. Read on to discover the rich history of these coffees.Yemen Arabian Mo. . .

Lean Healthy Recipes - Eat A Variety Of Veggies For A Hea...

The only way to keep up with the latest about lean healthy recipes is to constantly stay on the lookout for new information. If you read everything you find about lean healthy recipes, it won't take long for you to become an influential authority. The new food guidelines issued by the United States government recommend that all Americans eat between five and nine servings of fruits and vegetabl. . .

Grilling Secrets for the Perfectly Grilled Steak

There is nothing quite like a good, juicy steak cooked on a grill. But, many people don't know grilling secrets such as the best cuts to use, what size they should be, how long to cook the steaks, and marinades to use.Choosing the correct cut of meat is very important when grilling. Some of the best steaks for grilling are the premium cuts such as:- Filet Mignon The filet mignon is a stylish . . .

Be Healthier With Veggies

The new food guidelines issued by the United States government recommend that all Americans eat between five and nine servings of fruits and vegetables each and every day. When you first hear that number, it may seem like a lot, but it is actually much easier than you think to fit that many servings of fruits and vegetables into your daily diet. For one thing, the shelves of the grocery stores . . .

The Ideal Wine Cellar: Everything You Need to Get Started

So you've decided to take a large step, and move from wine lover to wine connoisseur. You are going to buy a wine cellar. This guide will give you all the information you need to make this purchase.Wine Bottle StorageThe ideal location for storing wine is a dark, draftless area that stays at a constant 50-60 degrees, with 60-70 percent humidity. The bottles should be kept on their sides to keep. . .

Dessert Parties

Dinner parties are a hot trend and a great way to get together with all of your friends. But do you and your friends have a serious sweet tooth? Do you get more enjoyment out of the desserts than dinner? Why not host an evening dessert party? A dessert party can actually be hosted any time of the day, but a late evening party is typically best.With desserts, the tiny touches really do compl. . .

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