Welcome to Michael's Article Collection

Cube Steak Recipes

Are you searching for some new and exciting cube steak recipes? Well, first let’s look at why cube steak is so popular. Cube steak or minute steak, as some people may call it, comes from the butcher tenderizing round steak before packaging. This is done by using a butcher’s tenderizer. It does not take long to cook this time of steak hence came the name minute steak.There are many different cub. . .

A Coffee Roaster For All Occasions

Coffee roasters and those who roast, brew and serve the ultimate cup of coffee are now esteemed professionals within the social fabric of our community at large. A good coffee roaster is a little like a celebrity chef these days, complete with loyal followings, highly descriptive reviews and the ability to command premium prices for their products and services. As coffee continues to grow in el. . .

Gourmet Foods For Every Occasion

Enjoying fine food is definitely one of the pleasures of life. There is so much fast food and bland tasting dishes today because of the lack of time to really prepare food right, that when you do get to enjoy gourmet fine food, it's a special treat.So what makes any food or drink qualify to be called "gourmet"?Well, in general it means that a particular food or drink is considered above average. . .

Grilled Albacore Tuna Steak Recipes

Grilled albacore tuna steak recipes add flair to your dinner table. Asians have a way of spicing up any fish dish with their own wasabi powder. This is a Japanese horseradish and many chefs today use this spice to bring a very unique flavor to tuna steak. Here is just once example of grilled albacore tuna steak recipes that use the spice above. You will need to have the following ingredients to. . .

You Know You're Craving Sweets Too Much...

You know that you’re craving sweets a bit too much when....You buy bags of miniatures of your favorite candy bar because you’re convinced that since they’re smaller you won’t be eating quite as much sugar.You don’t count stuff like mints or chewing gum as sweets when you’re dieting, thus allowing yourself to continue enjoying healthy quantities of them.You go to the fair and eat one corn dog an. . .

An Eight Hot Dog Nirvana...

One of the most enjoyable things about our culture is our fascination with records. Just about everyone can tell you that Henry Aaron hit 755 home runs, or that Wilt Chamberlain once scored 100 points in a pro basketball game. We all love records, but sometimes the fascination with them can be carried to extremes.This is where I need to fess up. I love following record setting performances, and. . .

A Description Of The New And Exciting Types Of Peppercorn...

New and exciting varieties of peppercorns are becoming available to chefs everywhere. Pre-ground pepper out of the tin no longer provides the complex flavors and versatility that great cooks everywhere are looking for. A small collection of different types of peppercorns provides fine cooks with just the right pepper flavors and colors to create perfect culinary creations. Peppercorns crusts, r. . .

Why Culinary Education

If you are thinking about a career in culinary arts then studying in a culinary school is a must. You may be a great cook but you will never become expert learning culinary arts yourself. Farther taking up a job as a chef in a good restaurant demands a professional qualification, which comes only after attending a regular culinary school.There are many myth surrounding culinary arts. For exampl. . .

Cut the Take Out

A long hard day at work. You get home and need dinner. Nothing in the fridge, nothing in the cupboard. Take-out again. The wallet just won’t comply much longer.Re-wind.A long hard day at work (sorry can’t help with that one). You get home and mmmm, what is that aroma? Dinner! Smells delicious, your mouth is watering. And no you didn’t go to the wrong home and no you are not dreaming. You arrang. . .

"Fruit Baskets" the most Unique Incredible Edible Gift Of...

Fruity Fresh Fruit Baskets Or Fruit gift baskets is the oldest traditional gift which still today is considered unique and one of the most overwhelming edible gifts of all . Fruit baskets usually contain organic seasonal fruit combinations and are very often mixed with flowers , wines, gourmet foods ,NUTS and chocolates . In Ancient times fruit gift baskets were given to kings on special event. . .

Flavored Coffee Syrup Adds A New Dimension To Beans

Flavored coffee syrup is a popular addition to any coffee beverage and a welcome change for any regular coffee drinker. Whether you are looking to satisfy a sweet tooth or just want something different, flavored coffee syrups put a great kick into any drink. If you own a coffee business, these syrups are another great way to attract customers, allowing them to customize their own drinks so they. . .

Wrapping Up the Cigar Boom

At age 98, the infamous cigar aficionado George Burns said, "If I had taken my doctor's advice and quit smoking when he advised me to, I wouldn't have lived to go to his funeral." While it's tempting for us to use Mr. Burns as the poster-child for the anti-anti-smoking movement which is gaining little ground against anti-smoking legislation in the United States, we would be hard-pressed to answ. . .

Best Recipes: Spicy Vegetable Smoothie

Looking for a vegetable smoothie with some kick to it? Well, you can’t go wrong with this recipe for Spicy Vegetable Smoothie. It has a very savory taste and you’ll really appreciate the various flavors that go into making this one healthy drink that has a lot of pep!Why have the same old boring vegetable smoothie when you can have this? Be aware that it does contain scallions so you may want t. . .

How to Make Restaurant Quality Coffee At Home

Have you ever wondered how restaurants get their coffee to taste so good?First of all, restaurants are in the business of pampering you so they devote much more time to the perfection of a good cup of coffee. Sometimes I'll remember a restaurant just because of their excellent coffee. So what are their secrets and how can you duplicate this recipe at home? It may surprise you to find out that t. . .

Food and Feng Shui

Feng shui has a great impact on the food we eat. Feng shui, the food we eat and ourselves are interrelated and influence each other. Chi and our life balance are highly influenced by food, starting on how it was harvested and produced, going through how we cook it and the environment and mood in which we eat it.Chi or positive energy flows in food as well as in everything else, and its quality . . .

No Bake Cookies Are Easy to Make and Fun to Eat

Got an urge for a homemade cookie snack but don’t feel like mixing up a bunch of ingredients and baking? No problem. Whip up a batch of no bake cookies to satisfy your hunger craving.No bake cookies are easy to make and involve only a few simple ingredients. Fresh ingredients like milk, butter, sugar, peanut butter, uncooked oatmeal (rolled oats), cocoa, marshmallows, chocolate chips, raisi. . .

What about Juan Valdez?

Juan Valdez is a most popular figure in the advertising world and the symbol of the Columbian 'cafetelero' since 1959.Juan Valdez is a fictious character created in 1959 to represent the National Federation of Coffee Growers of Columbia (founded 1926).His appearance is one of the steadiest in the advertising world, including allmost mythical moustace, sombrero, poncho and a mule-companion calle. . .

A Note To Food Manufacturers...

Food manufacturing in the US has always been about convenience, product availability, taste and price. The more society ventured away from the family garden and kitchen, the more food manufacturers developed a market or niche for their products at home in the cupboards. Processed foods no longer are limited to flour and sugar on the country store shelf, but have evolved to include the variety o. . .

Coffee and Health

Coffee and health used to be a controversed theme in the seventies. Nowadays, moderate coffee consumption is rather exonerated from its supposed negative long term effects upon health.My mother used to be one of those persons who teaches her offspring, in its early ages, that coffee is not bad. It is bad bad bad! In consequence, I managed to keep away from coffee. At least untill the difficult . . .

Portrait of a Barista

The barista is the Italian word for the skilled person who prepares coffee (ultimately espresso) in a coffee house.What would you want your barista to be like?This is not a trick question. The more I think of it, the more I believe it, that the world of coffee making must be laying on the shoulders of a barista.I believe that because the coffee I am beeing served in a coffee house, I expect it . . .

Holiday Candy Canes Are Festive and Fun

Candy canes are everyone’s favorite holiday treat. Just think about how versatile they are. Not only do candy canes look great hanging from Christmas trees, but their versatility makes them perfect for all kinds of decorative uses.Candy canes can be crushed or used whole in holiday arts and crafts projects. How about adding candy canes to your homemade holiday gift baskets?Peppermint candy cane. . .

The Best Cup of Drip Coffee Possible

With a “good” cup of coffee costing almost as much as a good sandwich these days, more and more people are taking to making their coffee at home from an “old fashioned” drip coffee machine. With the influence of Starbucks and the others out there, people are demanding a better cup of coffee all of the time. This article should help you make the best cup of drip coffee possible. Coffee from a ca. . .

Losing Weight During the Holiday Season

By now, I am assuming your schedule is pretty hectic in preparation for the Holiday Festivities. So its only inevitable that I ask of you to take a few moments to ponder on how you will handle the vast amounts of food involved with this holiday season. And to remind you not to forget about your personal health, goals and the purpose behind them. As a gift I would like to share with you a few tr. . .

Hosting a Wine Tasting Party

As your love and knowledge of wine grows, it is inevitable that you will want to share your revelations with friends and family. Hosting a wine tasting party is a great way to do this.When planning a wine tasting party, some obvious questions about parameters arise. How many people should you invite? What types and how many wines should you pour?It is my opinion that an informal gathering shoul. . .

4000 Year Old Secrets of Green Tea

The Chinese have known about the medicinal benefits of green tea for over 4,000 years. But recent studies are just starting to unlock these ancient secrets of green tea. Today, a great deal of research is being carried out about green tea health benefits and the findings are very exciting. Here are just a few medical conditions that drinking green tea is reputed to be helpful with: Cancer Rheu. . .

Make Your Own Gourmet Gift Baskets

Everyone loves to receive a gift basket. Corporate gift baskets are often given by businesses to their customers as a token of their appreciation. However, most gift baskets are person to person expressions of love and friendship.You can find a great selection of online gift baskets from the very expensive to the cheap. Or, you can come up with your own unique gift basket idea and surprise a ch. . .

The Harmony between Wine and Food

Wine is a social drink which should be enjoyed in the company of friends and .. food. The right combination between food and wine is a source of ultimate bliss for every connoisseur. Both wine and food can benefit from the right pairing. The right wine can accentuate unexpected gastronomical aspects of food and vice versa, wine can shine in a new light when accompanied by the right dish. In ord. . .

Tempranillo’s Role As A New Varietal Wine In Australia

Tempranillo is the premium red wine grape variety from the Rioja region in Spain. It is now challenging Sangiovese as the up and coming star of the red varietal wine scene in Australia.New plantings throughout Australian wine regions over the past five years are just coming into bearing. In fact on a percentage basis Tempranillo is growing in popularity more rapidly than any other variety.What . . .

Herbs: Growing Your Own

The first thing you need to do when deciding to create your own Herb Garden is to decide on the size of the plot of land you want to use. This will depend on what herbs and how much you want to grow. Unless you are an experienced gardener or a herb fanatic don’t make your plot too big at first. Remember, you can always add to it later. You can create a raised bed to grow your herbs in and alway. . .

Functional Foods Are Becoming More Popular

Established in 1989 by Stephen DeFelice, "Foundation for Innovation in Medicine" defined "Nutraceutical", as a food, dietary suppplement, or medical food that has a medical or health benefit, including the prevention and treatment of disease. Today, it is hard to separate the definition of Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods. In 2002, the Nutraceutical or Functional Food industry had evolved in. . .

Hybrid Sweeteners in Todays Health Market

What is the advantage of these new half sugar and half synthetic baking sugars that are on the market? These drink products made with ½ the sugar carbs and ½ synthetic sweeteners and foods marketed and eaten by our kids, does it really give the consumer that much more of an advantage? There was a national news story on NBC Nightly News with Tom Brocaw (11.08.04) on the waters in Colorado not. . .

Frugal and Easy Thanksgiving Recipes

Here it is - that time of year when everyone's thoughts turn to food! I'm thankful that at our house, we have plenty of food, but sometimes I am not so grateful that I am the one who usually gets to cook it! So I am always on the lookout for simple, tasty recipes that are also easy on the budget. Here are a few of my family's favorites:Corn-Rice Casserole 1 1/2 cups minute rice (uncooked) 2 c. . .

Functional Foods: What They Are And How They Work

In the brain, a typical protein can live for approximately ten days. The thoughts, feelings and memories of a human being are made up of what was in the stomach only a few days before. As you can see, in choosing one's diet, you actually can determine who and what you are going to become.About 2500 years ago, Hippocrates said, "Let food by thy medicine and medicine by thy food."Functional Foods. . .

How to Make Beer

Making beer is easy, inexpensive, and most of all, fun. With the rise in popularity of homebrewing, there are a wide variety of top quality ingredients available. You can literally make hundreds of styles of beer that will taste great and impress your friends. Getting started making beer will only cost you a small amount of money, depending on your level of interest. Most beer making kits range. . .

Bottled Water Is Better Than Tap Water?

Is bottled water better than tap water? Nov. 6, 2004 If you think bottled water is safer than tap water, you need to read the following. A Dutch study presented at a recent meeting of the American Society for Microbiology in Washington, DC. found that 40% of bottled water is contaminated with bacteria and or fungi. Chemical or biological contamination of bottled water has been already found for. . .

How to Host Thanksgiving Dinner and Enjoy it Anyway

You've been nominated; or perhaps your family has issued a decree; or perhaps it's simply your turn. No matter what the reason, you're hosting Thanksgiving dinner this year. This need not be a burden. In fact is can be a pleasure, given the right planning and organization.I've found that the key to an almost effortless-looking dinner is thinking backward. Start your Thanksgiving planning by vis. . .

Enjoy Healthy Eating!

Can you enjoy healthy eating? Some people seem to think that healthy eating is some kind of punishment. On the contrary, it's a pleasure! There are so many delicious dishes that can be made with less fat and sugar. It's a new world to discover. When I go out for dinner or cook in my own kitchen I often choose a vegetarian meal. There are lots of different ingredients to choose from and th. . .

Make Your Own Sweets With a Candy Mold!

Candy molds make candy making easy! With only a few basic tools, you can make candy that looks professional and exquisite, as if they came from any of the finest specialty shops.For chocolate lovers, you can find a chocolate candy mold of practically any design. You can make chocolate hearts, chocolate eggs even chocolate Christmas trees! Holidays and special occasions are only the beginning. . . .

A Cotton Candy Machine Is The Most Popular Piece Of Conce...

A cotton candy machine is welcome at any festive occasion! Cotton candy is a favorite treat of young and old alike. If you are looking for concession equipment for a special event, you’ll want to give the cotton candy maker top priority. A real crowd pleaser, there’s always a line of people wanting cotton candy. Your guests will be delighted!The cotton candy machine is a hot item for a fund-. . .

Have Diabetes, But Enjoy Quality Food? Try Diabetic Recipes!

Having diabetes certainly limits some of the food you can eat, but with the right diabetic recipes you can still enjoy fine food. Sometimes, it is hard to know what foods are safe for you to eat. For your safety, you and your dietitian should work together to design a meal plan that's right for you and includes foods that you enjoy. A diabetes diet meal plan is a guide that tells you how much a. . .

Shake Things Up With Fun Milkshakes

Milkshakes have been around since the old days of drugstore soda fountains. Now days we tend to drink milkshakes mainly when we go out for a bite to eat at a fast food restaurant.Milkshakes are healthy (they contain calcium) and delicious. The most common milkshake flavors are: strawberry, vanilla and chocolate.But you don’t have to wait for your next fast food trip to enjoy a frothy, cold milk. . .

Tantalizing Turkey

You too can make a spectacular turkey dinner! TT has what you need to help you at every step. You even get carving directions with graphics, guidance about the best way to thaw, stuff and roast your turkey, recipes and more. See what's inside. Get answers to your most pressing turkey questions about how leftover turkey can be stored properly and what do you need to do to a turkey just before ro. . .

Smooth Refreshing Smoothies

More people today are discovering the healthy benefits of drinking a delicious, refreshing smoothie for breakfast, lunch or dinner.Instead of soda pop at your next meal or diet cola, consider whipping up a smoothie made with fresh fruit, yogurt, skim milk or juice.Smoothies will give you a real energy boost and are healthier for you than cola or soda.Online you will find recipes for popular smo. . .

The Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookie Experience

Just about everyone loves freshly baked chocolate chip cookies. Many of us have fond memories from our childhoods of the aroma of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies filling up the house. Our eager little eyes anxiously awaiting their arrival from oven to countertop.Chocolate chip cookies are the ultimate comfort food. There’s just something about them that makes us feel warm and fuzzy. The ch. . .

Best Recipes: Pineapple Delight Smoothie

Do you have a passion for pineapples? Then this is your fruit drink. Enjoy a cool, refreshing Pineapple Delight Smoothie. It’s easy to make and will taste so good when you put it into a tall frosty glass.All you need is some sliced pineapple, bananas, milk and honey. Now doesn’t that sound dreamy? This is a great way to enjoy a sweet, tropical fruit drink whenever you’re in the mood for pineapp. . .

Best Recipes: Root Beer Float Milkshake

Make this cool, frosty Root Beer Float Milkshake for a real walk down memory lane. Did you enjoy root beer float as a kid? Maybe you drank them in high school when you went out to eat with your friends at the local burger hang out?Maybe you’ve never even had a root beer float but you’ve heard about them and want to try one. Well, here’s a great recipe on how to make a classic root beer float th. . .

Best Recipes: Strawberry Orange Smoothie

Looking for a tasty fruit smoothie? Make this Strawberry Orange Smoothie in just a few minutes. It’s delicious and really good for you too. If you like strawberries and orange juice then this is a great fruit smoothie to have for breakfast or lunch.Strawberries and orange juice are healthy and very nutritious so you’ll be getting a health boost when you drink this wonderful smoothie. Just add a. . .

Best Recipes: Pina Colada Smoothie

Congratulations. You’ve found the recipe for a great Pina Colada Smoothie. If you love pineapple, bananas, and coconut, then you’ll love the taste of this tropical island inspired smoothie.One sip and you’ll be transported to a beautiful tropical island where the sand is plenty and the water is warm. A Pina Colada Smoothie is perfect for those times when you need to relax and enjoy a cool, bree. . .

Best Recipes: Orange Fruity Smoothie

Orange smoothies are really delicious and this fruit-filled recipe for Orange Fruity Smoothie is one of the reasons why. You’ve gotta love a drink that has wonderful fruits like banana, peach, raspberries and mixes them with nutritious orange juice.Fruit smoothies are good for you and you will make this Orange Fruity Smoothie again and again. Orange Fruity Smoothie 1 medium banana, peeled and c. . .

Best Recipes: Orange Julius Smoothie

Are you craving an Orange Julius Smoothie? Here’s how to make this popular creamy smoothie drink. If you’ve had an Orange Julius Smoothie at the mall or from a smoothie vendor, then you know how delicious they are.But who wants to get up and go out to a crowded mall just to get your hands (and taste buds) on this wonderful orange inspired drink? Now you can make an Orange Julius Smoothie at hom. . .