Welcome to Michael's Article Collection

What Espresso Machine Should I Buy?

What is Espresso?An espresso machine is used to make traditional italian coffee which is known as espresso. Measurements of espresso are commonly referred to as “pulling” a shot. This term comes from espresso machines with long handles that need to be pulled in order to 'produce a shot'What Machine Should I Buy?There are many types of espresso machines available, which vary in quality. The real. . .

The History Of Jelly Beans

Jelly beans have some pretty interesting facts buried in their history. These are a favorite confection that have been around for quite some time, just over a hundreds years or so. While info about the exact time and place that jelly beans first came on the market is not available we do know that they began to emerge in the early 20th century. They were sold at stores as a penny candy and they . . .

Best Casserole Recipe: Southwestern Rice Casserole

Here’s a tasty variation of Mexican rice, and best of all it’s simple and quick to make.3 cups cooked white rice1 cup frozen bell pepper stir-fry1 (14.5 oz.) can diced peeled tomatoes with chili or salsa seasonings, undrained1 (8 oz.) can tomato sauceDirectionsPreheat oven to 350 degrees.In ungreased 1 ½-quart casserole combine all ingredients; mix well. Bake 35-40 minutes.About The Author©. . .

Best Casserole Recipe: Bacon Cheeseburger Pizza

This bacon cheeseburger pie recipe is the perfect easy casserole for those Saturday nights when you want to whip up a fun meal.Filling1 pound lean ground beef1 medium onion, quartered, sliced1 medium bell pepper, cut into bite-sized strips6 slices bacon, crisply cooked, crumbled1 (14.5 oz.) can chunky pizza sauce2 to 3 Italian plum tomatoes, chopped4 oz. (6 thin slices) cheddar cheeseTopping2 e. . .

Who Doesn't Love Easter Candy?

There are only two types of candy that matter in today’s societyThere are only two kinds of candy that people rave about these days and that is Halloween candy and Easter candy. Easter candy is one of the most popular and sought after types of candy in all the world and adults and children alike stock up each year on all of their favorites. I myself have a penchant for crème filled Easter eggs . . .

20 Delicious Casserole Ideas for Any Occasion

Making a casserole is one of the quickest and easiest ways to serve a delicious dinner. If you’re wondering what to make for lunch, dinner, or a potluck, try one of these great casserole recipe ideas.Tuna Noodle Casserole – with tuna, egg noodles, onions, cream of mushroom soup, and cheddar cheese.Green Bean Casserole – with green beans, cream of mushroom soup, and fried onions.Breakfast Casser. . .

Americas First Celebrity Bartender

The cocktail is practically an American institution. One of the very first Bartenders to popularise the cocktail was Jerry Thomas, Americas original "Celebrity Bartender". Thomas wrote what is widely considered as one of the first books to contain cocktail recipes, "The Bartenders Guide".When I first came across this little volume (last published in 1887) in a dusty old book shop I was blown aw. . .

Sherry - Spanish Sunshine in a Bottle! (part 3 Terms and ...

L A G A RThe lagar, in which the grapes are trodden and pressed, is a rectangular wooden trough, 12 feet square and about 2 feet deep, with a 6-foot iron screw in the centre; its floor rests upon four legs about 3 feet high: it has a lip, with a funnel attached to it, through which the sweet grape-juice flows straight into tubs and then into casks, where it ferments away from grape stalks and s. . .

The Chefs Mindset

Have you ever wondered what the difference between a great chef and an ordinary chef is? How can one produce food recipes that are remembered and another produce food that is quickly forgotten? Disregarding all the jokes about never trusting a skinny chef I can only say that the 80/20 rule applies in this profession the same as in other professions. It is a fact of life that 20% of lawyers, doc. . .

25 Top Gas Grills Compared

All too often consumers seeking a high end stainless steel gas grill are won over by a manufacturer's reputation, the look of the grill or other factors such as recommendations from friends or family. Now, this is a fairly large investment, as appliances go, and consulting an expert in the field could help in making an informed decision. A reliable gas grill specialist can help you evaluate the. . .

History of Coffee: Part II – Spread of Coffee to Europe

It was not until 1615, that Europe was formally introduced to coffee. Venetian traders, who had strong trade links with the Levant (historical term referring to a large area of the Middle East incorporating the countries of: Israel, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria), started to import coffee into Italy. Once in Europe, the consumption of coffee soon spread. However, the introduction of coffee into . . .

The Most Nutritious And Tasty Diet Foods

When considering what to include in a weight loss diet, there are two factors that you should always consider early. The first is whether or not your chosen diet will be sufficiently nutritious to keep you healthy. The second is if the diet will be tasty enough to maintain your interest, rather than for you to opt out through boredom.It is possible to address both of these concerns at the same . . .

Make Grilling A Healthy Experience

Without a doubt there is something very relaxing and pleasurable about cooking and eating grilled food. There are countless ways you can turn your grilling not only into a flavorful and enjoyable way to cook, but there are also many healthy and tasty alternatives. Like anything else in life, what you put on your grill is a choice. Grilling healthy first means that you have decided to eat health. . .

Why Do You Need To Eat Tomatoes?

Do you eat tomatoes? Of course you have known that tomatoes are now eaten easily around the world. You can find tomatoes everywhere as part of fruits and vegetables. Some experts said that tomato is known as a source of power of nutrition, as it contains a large number of vitamins and minerals that can support our body’s health. Tomatoes have been first cultivated in Peru, and then brought to M. . .

Make Homemade Pizza

Making pizza from scratch, at home, isn't really as hard as you might think---and once you learn just a few secrets about how to make a great pizza crust, you might never want to "order in" again!First, there is the matter of a recipe for pizza dough. Most of them call for very similar ingredients, basically water, yeast, oil, and flour. Some have a little more oil, some use less oil and add an. . .

Prepare A Romantic Dinner At Home For Valentine's Day

Remember those pre-child days when you would go out to a fancy restaurant or spend the weekend at a romantic get-away to celebrate Valentine’s Day? That may not be an option this year, but you can still enjoy a romantic dinner with your spouse. Here are a few ideas on how you can easily create a romantic Valentine’s Day dinner at home.Creating The Menu This is the perfect time for some “Grown-u. . .

Best Casserole Recipe: Popover Pizza Casserole

A popover recipe that involves pizza? Can’t get better than that. Don’t be surprised if unexpected company pops over to help you enjoy this tasty casserole.1 pound ground beef1 (14 or 15 oz.) jar or can pizza sauce2 eggs1 cup milk1 tablespoon vegetable oil1 cup all purpose flour½ teaspoon salt2 cups shredded cheddar cheese2 medium green onions, chopped (optional)DirectionsPreheat oven to 425 de. . .

Cigars and Torpedos? I Love My Job

I must first start off by saying to everyone in the whole wide world through this lovely digital medium that I love my job!!! Not everyone can say that, but to taste cigars everyday is sheer bliss. The cigar on the plate today is another one from the Oliva Family in Nicaragua:The Flor de Oliva Maduro Torpedo 6 x 52This beautiful looking cigar comes with a Nicaraguan Maduro wrapper and an all Ni. . .

How To Select A Single Serve Coffee Maker

An increasing number of us nowadays are wondering how to select a single serve coffee maker that will suit us best at home. These kinds of coffeemaker are designed to produce – as you might expect – a single cup of coffee at a time and they are becoming increasingly popular amongst all kinds of coffee drinkers. In the past we’ve been a bit limited in our choices of coffee maker – we’ve often, f. . .

How to Select and Care for Crystal Barware

Shopping for the right crystal barware doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Crystal for the bar comes in many different shapes and sizes, and each has a particular purpose. Knowing which pieces are right for your needs, and knowing how to care for your crystal properly, will help you acquire and maintain the perfect set of barware. Just follow these simple steps. Before you buy:1. Select a varie. . .

Boiled Collar Of Bacon With Creamy Mustard Sauce

Almost everyone I know likes his bacon smoked (no pun intended!) but trust the Irish to formulate a smashing recipe where the savoury potency of bacon and healthful tastiness of choice veggies memorably collide. What you end up with is a rich, flavoursome Belfast gravy that drips invitingly off succulent cuts of bacon...Boiled Collar Of Bacon With Creamy Mustard Sauce 1 Kg Unsmoked bacon1 Md On. . .

Indian Food as Part of a Weight Loss Regime

Most people think that you can’t possibly eat Indian food, if you’re on a slimming diet. That’s a fair statement if you always eat Indian food in restaurants, because many traditional Indian recipes involve either deep frying or the use of ghee (clarified butter). However, if you cook Indian food at home, it can easily form part of a weight loss regime, just the same as any other food. You j. . .

Bouillabaisse Is Not Just Any Fish Soup

The other night, I made clam chowder for my son who was visiting and my husband drank a little, only out of courtesy since he hates fish soups. His face--as he drank it--brought back the memory of Bouillabaisse. During the late seventies, with our two children we stayed in a seaside village in southern France for a couple of days where a sandy beach with small eateries full of tourists cupped t. . .

Simple Gourmet Coffee

There are a number of countries that produce coffee and new regions are converting their crops to the mighty bean as our demand for different tasting coffee increases. We are also adding more exotic flavourings to our coffee. It comes as no surprise that the number of coffee shops and stores that sell coffee beans and all the associated paraphernalia to be able to make our own perfect coffee at. . .

Brewing A Perfect Cup Of Coffee

Brewing a great cup of coffee depends on a number of things such as the quality of the coffee bean, the quality of the water being used, the type of brewing being done, and the grind of the coffee. Now quality of bean and water is something you can easily take care. Just use good quality beans and pure water. However the relationship between the grind of the coffee and the type of brewing being. . .

A Guide to Espresso Machines

Early in the nineteen hundreds, an Italian manufacturer was looking for ways to brew coffee faster. He figured that by adding pressure to the brewing process, the process would speed up. His name was Luigi Bezzera, and he invented a fast brewing coffee machine. His process turned out much better than he expected because it produced not only a fast process, but a better tasting, full bodied, str. . .

Baked Oatmeal Supreme

Made with oatmeal, raisins, walnuts and milk, Baked Oatmeal Supreme is a heart-healthy -- and delicious! -- way to start your day (makes an excellent in between meals snack, too).2 cups dry oatmeal (I like to use old-fashioned oatmeal)1/4 to 1/2 cup brown sugar (1/2 cup makes it very sweet)1 1/2 cups milk2 eggs1 teaspoon baking powder1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon salt1/2 teaspoon cinnamon1/2 cup walnuts . . .

Buffalo Meat - A Cut Above The Rest

For many people, nothing could be more stressful than being a meat lover and be prescribed a low-calorie diet. Meat and low calories are self-contradictory, that’s the common perception. Persons who are trying to find a low-calorie meat that could replace the kind they are used to eating would do well to consider buffalo meat.There are many Western-themed restaurants that offer buffalo (also . . .

The Best Picks For Home Coffee Makers

Coffee in the morning. Coffee at the office. Coffee in the afternoon or after dinner. Coffee consumption is a ritual of enormous proportion and that has feed the need for the ever faster and more efficient way to make the coffee.Coffee makers have evolved like everything else in the world of technology. A simple filter over a pot of steamy water is ancient history. The coffee makers we find tod. . .

The 12 Super Foods That Better Your Health

There are 12 foods that, if eaten on a regular basis, do wonders for your health. Do you know what they are?If you're reading this than you already have some knowledge of how important good nutrition is. I'm a big advocate of "you are what you eat." Meaning, what you put in your body largely determines what you look like on the outside. And if you make a serious effort to improve your eating ha. . .

Extra Nutty Nut 'n Raisin Bread (Easy Recipe!)

This nut bread goes great with a cup of coffee or tea or a glass of milk. The canola oil, walnuts, sunflower seeds and flaxseed make it a heart-healthy choice. Plus -- it's an easy recipe!1/2 cup canola oil1 1/2 cups sugar3 eggs1 1/2 cups of milk with 1/4 cup of lemon juice1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla4 cups flour1 teaspoon baking powder1 teaspoon baking soda1/4 teaspoon salt1 cup walnuts1/4 cup sunf. . .

3 Easy to Cook Chicken Recipes for a Lovely Treat

We all love spicy chicken; except if you are allergic or you just can't love spicy food. Being a chicken lover myself, I have collected 3 hot n' spicy recipes for you to try out in your chicken today or anytime you would like to treat yourself for a deelicious meal; they make good family specials as well! Although they have similar names, they are very different. Perhaps their origins differ.Ho. . .

What You Should Know About Low Carb Diets!

What is a Low Carb Diet? You'll do away with bad carbs and bad fats, and start eating good fats and good carbs. What you need to understand is that you are not really on a diet, but changing the way you eat. Eating the wrong foods consistently throws your body out of balance. Most of us tend to overdue it eating processed carbs. What do I mean by processed carbs? Basically, there are two. . .

Healthy Breakfast Foods

It is always surrounded by silly excuse of lack of time. And still no one denies that fact that "breakfast" is the most important meal of the day.Why such a hullabaloo about this early morning meal? Well, for starters, this meal comes after a break of 8 - 10 hours; hence your blood sugar level will be low. Since your body has gone with out food for such a long time, it needs nourishment to kick. . .

Olive Oil – What’s the Difference? Questions and Answers

‘Olive oil’, ‘Virgin’, ‘Extra Virgin’, ‘Light’, ‘Pure’ - Is there a difference? If so, does it matter? Which is better? Are all olive oils ‘extra virgin’? What is ‘extra virgin olive oil’? Are all products sold as ‘olive oil’ essentially the same thing? Here are some answers in plain English:What is ‘Olive Oil’ A. Olive oil is olive juice, plain and simple. What is ‘Virgin?’A. Virgin means mec. . .

Olympic Breakfast Heroes

At the 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Torino, Italy, the physical endurance and dexterity of the world's greatest athletes will be on display. The television coverage will show many emotional vignettes about what it takes to reach the Olympics, but they'll fail to mention one of the most important ingredients of athletic excellence. Steroids? No way! Our Olympic heroes take a daily dose of health. . .

Can Pizza Actually Be Healthy For You?

This article may come as a surprise to you, especially if you follow a healthy and nutritious diet...It's about pizza, the weakness of many people including me. I love pizza- always have. I make sure I eat it in moderation, but it's still one of my favorite foods.Now there’s good news for pizza lovers.According to Men's Health magazine, research concludes that pizza can be good for you. It’s im. . .

Restaurants: How to Get the Best Food and Service in Your...

I have been a waitress for many years, working in all different kinds of places. If there is one thing I’ve learned, it is that working with the public is never dull. You really have to like people and enjoy talking to them if you’re going to make it in any profession that deals directly with the public. I have found that 99 percent of the people you come in contact with are just as nice as co. . .

How to Choose or Grow the Perfect Tomato

The best part of summer is a fresh, sun-warmed red juicy vine ripened tomato. Depending on where you live this can be a long or short season.So how do you pick a tomato in your local store? One important trait is its smell. If it looks like a tomato and smells like a tomato, it is a good tomato to pick. Choose a tomato with no bruises or cracks. Always try to support your local growers in your . . .

Safe Food Storage - Refrigeration

Storing FoodYour Refrigerator:It is many years since schools stopped teaching cooking and domestic science and the result is that few people in the below 35 age bracket are familiar with risks presented by refrigerators. This article is aimed at covering a few basic rules that will help us store food in a safe and hygienic manner.The average refrigerator operates between 35F (2C) and 44F (7C), . . .

Cappuccino Machines With An Italian Touch

Cappuccino began in Italy where it is still a delight of the morning routine. The Italians can tell a tourist from a native though because only a tourist will order a cappuccino after noon. It is considered a morning beverage in Italy, but in other regions of the world it is served throughout the day.The Steps to Making a Cup of CappuccinoCappuccino is a tricky drink to master. It is divided in. . .

The Best Ways To Keep Coffee Hot

Keeping our brew fresh and hot is a big deal for some of us coffee drinkers. There is nothing worse than a tepid mouthful of stale coffee. How you keep your coffee hot depends a little on where you are and what you're doing. What happens to coffee as we keep it warm? Are there things I should never do to keep my coffee warm? Knowing a little more about coffee will help you understand how to kee. . .

Market Your Cookbook

Divine recipes, luscious photographs – this is your first cookbookand you look forward to those big royalty checks. So what's yourmarketing plan for this book? What are you doing to increase sales?New writers often think the publisher arranges for all publicity.Not true. As the writer, you have most at stake so it will benefityou most to take a proactive stance when it comes to promoting andsel. . .

History of Coffee: Part III - Colonisation of Coffee

By the 17th Century, with the popularity of coffee ever increasing in Europe, the interest of the then World Superpowers - Britain, France, Netherlands, Portugal and Spain - also grew. Up until this point, coffee imported into Europe had come from the Arabian Peninsula, over which none of these nations had any control. The Europeans had sample coffee and liked it, and now they wanted to start. . .

Indian Snack Food

Indian children love the Khomcha-Wallah. He wanders the streets, the busier the better, basket of goodies on his head and a cane stool under his arm. When he encounters a likely crowd he sets down his basket on the stool and starts to trade. The basket will contain the half-prepared ingredients of what is known in northern India as chaat - savoury snacks from traditional Hindu cuisine - whic. . .

Breadmaker Recipes

When bread makers first came out years back people felt that all you could use them for was plain white bread. Well that is not even close to being true any more. There are now dozens of fantastic recipes available for all kinds of bread. What you will find is that the ingredients you use in a bread machine will be a little different than if you were baking bread normally. The results are just . . .

Design Tips for a Great Kids Birthday Cake

These days, you can probably buy just about any style of child’s birthday cake already made. But there is nothing like the sense of satisfaction from making that special cake just for your child – after all, they have each birthday only once! There’s also the benefit of being able to control what ingredients are actually used in making the cake. Apart from producing a healthier cake, you can al. . .

Holidays Are Just Right For Chocolates

There are many different holidays that are wonderful for giving and receiving chocolates as gifts. And this is especially true if you have children in the family. Seeing their little faces light up when they bite into a chocolate candy bar or smores treat is absolutely priceless. And if you are lucky enough to be the recipient of the gift, it will be your tastebuds that thank you. Creamy dark o. . .

Learning About Food Allergies

Food allergies affect approximately 4 million Americans with symptoms that can include difficulty breathing, an outbreak of hives, asthma, vomiting, and even death. Oftentimes food allergies are confused with an inability to tolerate certain foods. Food intolerance usually brings about an entirely different set of symptoms including a bloated feeling, gas, or other similar type of discomfort. F. . .

Beer Bellies A Myth?

Beer bellies, for some beer drinkers, are a prideful symbol of their greatest passion: drinking beer. They proudly display their rounded protuberances as testimony to their excessive consumption of their chosen ambrosia. Are beer bellies caused by an excessive intake of beer? Not according to some scientists, who claim that beer bellies are a myth and not caused by foamy goodness at all.Typical. . .