Welcome to Michael's Article Collection

How to Make a Delicious German Crumble Cake in 4 Simple S...

In high school, learning a new recipe (especially dessert recipes) was always my favorite part of a foreign language and culture class. One day during German in my sophomore year, I teamed up with two other classmates to make German Crumble Cake from a magazine. It was quite good, if I do say so myself. Seven years later, it continues to be one of my favorite desserts to bake. Handling this Ge. . .

Sicily's Great Eggplant-Tomato Stew

I ran into a friend yesterday, who tells me that he should be harvesting eggplants from his garden any day now. Of course, this got me thinking about Caponata, the famous Sicilian eggplant and tomato stew.This is a terrific 'contorno', vegetable course, and also a great topping for 'bruschetta', Tuscany’s grilled bread. Of course it's one of the quintessential Italian antipasti too. And w. . .

Spanish Food - The Tasty Tortilla

It certainly is a poor man or woman who cannot find a few eggs, a couple of potatoes and an onion in their store cupboard! The ever-practical Spaniard realized this and thus created their marvellous "tortilla" - an easy-to-make dish that could be savoured by rich and poor alike.Not only cheap to make the tortilla, or Spanish omelette, is immenseley adaptable: you can eat it hot or cold, depend. . .

Going Halfway Around the World: How to Make German Cookies

I absolutely loved experimenting with foreign recipes, especially dessert recipes, when I was in high school. One of my favorite ones to make is German Cookies. I first learned of it after I'd tried a recipe for German Crumble Cake. Today it's the second most common dessert I make. The cookies themselves aren't really sweet (unless I've been making them wrong all this time), but sweetness has n. . .

Gourmet Centerpieces

A Holiday Dinner Party or for that matter, any Dinner party, calls for some creative ideas for table centerpieces. An elegant centerpiece is as important a part of your dinner table, as the rest of the table decoration, serveware or even the food itself! Bring a creative twist to all your dinner parties this season, by displaying abundant and fabulous Gourmet Centerpieces instead of the usual f. . .

How to Make Gooey Grits Cake

I was intrigued when I came across this unusual dessert recipe. Now, ordinarily, I wouldn't think that a dessert containing grits, of all things, would be appealing. But there was a time when I thought rice was a funny choice, too, and I'm now a huge fan of rice pudding.So needless to say, I tried it and surprisingly it wasn't bad. In fact, it was sweet...maybe a little too sweet for some peopl. . .

How to Easily Make Sourdough French Toast Like Cracker Ba...

I got an idea one day when I was in a Cracker Barrel restaurant eating breakfast. They had sourdough French toast and it was the best French toast I'd had, so I wanted to re-create the recipe at home. I haven't gotten this down to a recipe with exact measurements, but I usually use: Pepperidge Farmhouse Sourdough bread slices about 1 to 1 1/2 or so cups of milk 1 or 2 egg whites (or the whole . . .

Save Time in the Kitchen. Cook Pasta the way Restaurant C...

Have you ever wondered how a restaurant can get a dish of pasta to your table in about four minutes when you know it takes ten minutes just to cook the pasta? Does the water on their stoves boil at a higher temperature than the water on yours? Do they know a trick that you don't? As a matter of fact, they do. They parboil, or partially pre-cook their pasta; so when an order comes in to the kitc. . .

Rare Varietals Cure Wine Boredom

The future of the Australian wine industry will be shaped by a group of innovative grapegrowers and winemakers who are busily experimenting with new varieties in new regions.The phenomenal success of the industry in producing quality wine at competitive prices does not need recounting here. But this success has led some critics to brand Australian wine as boring. Nothing could be further from. . .

Let's NOT Talk Turkey

The carving. The leftovers. The endless stuffing. Actually, you love the stuffing, cranberries and turkey trimmings. However, it's been seven years and you know your family will throw the turkey out the window if they have to eat the bird one more Christmas (and never mind the lectures about starving children in Ethiopia---or better yet, send them the turkey if you can get it through security.). . .

Little-known Tips for Easy Holiday Baking

Are you wondering if you have the time to bake homemade Christmas cookies this year? Every year at about this time we all start to get a little panicked that the holidays are coming up fast and we're not really ready yet. Here are a few little-known tips and tricks, for almost every type of cookie, to help you get the most out of the time you spend baking.Cutout CookiesDon't struggle with dough. . .

Hassle-Free Holiday Baking: 6 Easy Days to Perfect Christ...

Like many people, I love the idea of making a large assortment of Christmas cookies during the holidays, but I find it difficult to find the time to get it done. As a working mother, cookbook author and webmaster of Christmas-Cookies.com ( http://www.christmas-cookies.com ), I am a very busy woman, but baking Christmas cookies every year is a must. Over the past few years, out of frustration an. . .

A Cookie Assembly Line: Efficient Cookie Baking for Busy ...

As a busy working mother, I’m short on time, especially during the holidays, but baking Christmas cookies is a family tradition I’m unwilling to give up. Over the years, I’ve come up with many ways to make the process of baking a large variety of cookies go much smoother and take less time out of my busy life. You may want to start by checking out my 6-day program for hassle-free Christmas cook. . .

Christmas Cookie Decorating 101

Many bakers ask for tips and instructions on decorating cookies. Well that’s a tall order because there are as many ways to decorate cookies as there are cookies! Here are a few guidelines for novices and experienced bakers alike to help you generate your own ideas for cooking decorating. DECORATING COOKIES BEFORE BAKINGCookies can be decorated before baking with materials that withstand the he. . .

Use H-O-L-L-Y to Beat Christmas Cooking Stress

What does holly, that untidy traditional greenery you just have to festoon your house with every year, have to do with not tearing your hair out before it's even Thanksgiving? Plenty. You can use H-O-L-L-Y to help you get organized.1. H: HelpHow many times have you tried to do the perfect turkey all by yourself just so your mother-in-law would be impressed? Here's a reality check: (a) If you. . .

A Simple Technique to Remember Grocery Items

Whoops! I Forgot the ... at the Grocery Store!Have you ever left the grocery store and said, "Whoops, I forgot one recipe ingredient"? Or, "Whoops, I forgot to use my coupon"? Or even while in the store, "Whoops, I passed that aisle, and now I have to go back"?Here's a simple technique to help. Use an aisle-by-aisle grocery list. Include coupon reminders on your list.You could make an aisle-by-. . .

Health Benefits of Tea

Tea: It Does the Body GoodStudies that support the health benefits of tea drinking keep filling the headlines. There’s simply no denying that a daily spot of tea does the body good. Even though researchers can’t quite agree on every aspect, I’m sold on the fact that a few cups a day will do its best to protect me from heart disease, a stroke, cancer, and more. What Makes Tea Good for the Body?T. . .

Creating the Perfect Foam

Most places that serve cappuccinos in the United States have not trained their baristas in the art of properly frothing milk. The foam that they create is usually a dry, tasteless, large celled collection of bubbles that sit on top of the espresso like a meringue. With a little care, you can create steamed milk that is velvety smooth like the texture of wet shaving cream. The bubbles will be so. . .

3 Simple Tips For Making Perfect Coffee

Want to brew the perfect cup of coffee? Here are 3 simple tips that will make a difference in every single cup you drink.Tip #1Clean Coffee PotA clean pot is essential and can make a world of difference in the taste of your coffee. Old oils from previous batches of coffee and soap residue left on the pot makes coffee taste bad. Baking soda and water work well for cleaning coffee mugs and pots. . . .

Your Oven: Kitchen Ally or Public Enemy Number One?

As Thanksgiving approaches, newspapers, mega-stores, and food producers have recently begun their annual advertising assault to get your turkey dollars. Yet I suspect that huge numbers of people are living in dread and anxiety because they're uncertain about how their turkeys will turn out. Some will produce turkeys that are a long way from being fully cooked, while others will produce overcook. . .

South Beach Diet - US vs. World

Diets concern especially Americans as they do have a "national weight problem". So it would only be natural that dieting issues be so over proportioned in the US. Also, "miracle diet recipes" are very popular and make way rapidly into people's minds. This also happened with the South Beach Diet – the diet that will not only allow you get rid of a lot of weight rapidly without starving but will . . .

The Honeybush Miracle.

Perhaps a little eclipsed by the world-wide success of Rooibos, another natural South African health tea, Honeybush; is finally getting the attention it deserves. Honeybush tea ( botanical name: Cyclopia intermedia ) grows along mountain slopes in the Cedarberg and Langkloof area, and has a naturally sweet, almost honey-like taste. Its brewing colour is a pinky red. South Africa produces only 2. . .

Atkins Diet in UK

The most recent shocking news related to Atkins diet UK is while dieting Atkins, people don't feel the drive to eat more.British population is largely enjoying Atkins dietThough The United Kingdom doesn't have to tackle serious issues regarding overweight and obesity, there are enough British dieting. It is said that about two fifths of the British population are currently dieting in some form . . .

Cleaning and Storing your Dutch Oven

There are many opinions on cleaning a Dutch Oven. Not all Dutch Oven cooks believe you can use soap in your Dutch Oven. Some cooks suggest never to wash them, others wash them, but not with detergent. We have found that a well-seasoned oven will not be damaged by using a few drops of dishwashing soap if you have been cooking something really greasy. Just be sure to rinse several times to make s. . .

Use Up Those Leftovers!

Managing leftovers is a challenge we all face! Throwing food away is just like throwing money away. With a little time,organization and using a little ingenuity, leftovers can be dealt with efficiently. Be sure to refrigerate leftovers promptly and use them within one or two days or freeze. If you have any doubt about whether a food is still safe to eat, throw it out! Keep your leftovers in a s. . .

Are You Looking for a Breathtaking Chili?

Chili cooks always want to discover that award-winning chili recipe that will be breathtaking for their family and friends and maybe even impress a few chili contest judges. Wouldn't it be exciting to UNLEASH your chili and rock your family and friends' worlds, save money and have a great time preparing it? In my interviews with outstanding chili cooks, I have developed some breathtaking c. . .

Australian Wines

Australia’s wine industry has boomed in the past ten years. Employers have had to triple their staff numbers to cope with the demand for Aussie wine. Considering the lower average national population of Australia, compared to say the United States or even South Africa, 30,000 (2001) workers is pretty high.One of the main reasons for the demand on this skillful industry is that it has won an int. . .

Auto Loan Buying Tips

Have you ever felt like you bought an auto and financed it and don't really know if you got the right price or financing arrangements after it was all over? Well, don't feel alone. This is a common experience for many people who make auto purchases.Guidelines for negotiating the car price can be found elsewhere, but we want to share some helpful tips on getting that vehicle financed at the best. . .

How To Save Money On Groceries

Unlike a fixed monthly cost such as your mortgage or car payment, the amount you spend on groceries each month is somewhat flexible. While the common advice of clipping coupons and buying generic brands to save money while shopping is sound, by far the best way to truly keep your grocery shopping expenses under control is by understanding how grocery stores entice you to spend more than you rea. . .

Fall for Outdoor Entertaining This Autumn

Aaaah, autumn! It's the perfect time to entertain outdoors -- most of the bugs are gone, the sun isn't scorching even though it's warm enough to enjoy an afternoon or evening al fresco, and there's a bounty of good things to serve for an outdoor meal. Because the days are shorter in the autumn, outdoor entertaining in the fall calls for special attention to lighting and temperature. LightingThe. . .

How to Make a Seductive Chili

Dedicated Chili cooks always seem to be looking for an amazing recipe for a blow-you-out-of- the-water chili. Wouldn't it be exciting to UNLEASH your chili and rock your family and friends’ worlds, save money and have a great time preparing it? Searching the Internet, I found so many of you looking for new chili recipes. My husband, Coach, is a gourmet cook who has developed chili recipes that . . .

SIx Tips for Organizing Your Refrigerator

Have you taken a good look in your refrigerator, lately? Your mother-in-law’s Meatloaf Surprise started living up to it’s name two weeks ago. Month-old leftovers are now candidates for Junior’s next science project.Don’t let your food decay behind the Brita pitcher! Follow these tips to save you time, space, and wasted food: PurgeGrab your garbage can, position it next to your refrigerator and . . .

The History of Thai Food

Thai food is famous all over the world. Whether chilli-hot or comparatively bland, harmony and contrast are the guiding principles behind each dish. Thai cuisine is essentially a marriage of centuries-old Eastern and Western influences harmoniously combined into something uniquely Thai. Characteristics of Thai food depend on who cooks it, for whom it is cooked, for what occasion, and where it i. . .

Ancient Olympians Followed Atkins Diet

Atkins diet was unknown 35 years ago. Though it seems that ancient people - athletes particularly - followed a strict diet which is likewise Atkins basic.Strict diet and severe exercises for Ancient GreeksLong before dr Atkins finished his theory about ketosis and established his famous diet, ancient people had undertaken it, without any clue at all. Not only they were eating Atkins-style, but . . .

Tips For Choosing The Perfect Travel Mug

A good travel mug is a must when you need to take your coffee or tea with you on the road. There are many different types of mugs available, so here are a few tips to consider before you purchase one.Travel mugs are offered in both stainless steel and plastic with plastic being the least expensive. Even though stainless steel initially costs more, it will give you much better value for your m. . .

How to Make a Tantalizing White Lightening Chili

Chili cooks always want to discover that award-winning chili recipe that will be tantalizing for their family and friends and maybe even impress a few chili contest judges. Wouldn't it be exciting to UNLEASH your chili and rock your family and friends’ worlds, save money and have a great time preparing it? In my interviews with outstanding chili cooks, I have developed some tantalizing chi. . .

Australia is more than Jacobs Creek

The Jacobs Creek Brand of wines have taken the world by storm. And so they should. They are excellent Australian wines which are consistently good. They have clearly won the battle for everyday wines at their particular price range. But they are a made from classical French grape varieties, Chardonnay, Riesling, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon. As such they represent the successes of Australian w. . .

Coffee Drink Basics

When you enter a coffee house, you have a multitude of drink choices like latté, cappuccino, straight shot and caffé mocha just to name a few. Sometimes knowing what to order can be overwhelming unless you know what you are getting. After all, who wants to pay an outrageous amount of money for a mystery drink that you may not even like? So PerfectCoffees.Com has come to the rescue, and after yo. . .

Low Carb Recipes Actually Taste Great!

Many people are beginning diets that encourage low carb recipes these days. But, what are low carb recipes? What things can and cannot be made into a low carb recipe? Following your diets strict guidelines is important, but using the Internet as a tool will help you. For instance, you may do a search for quick recipes and come up with many low carb options. There are many different diets to cho. . .

Coffees of India

India produces two fine coffees, but even among coffee devotees – at least in America – they remain relatively unknown and un-drunk. That's too bad. They deserve to be extolled for the romance attached to them, if nothing else; happily, they also taste pretty good as well.According to legend, coffee was discovered in Ethiopia. The first big coffee craze, though, occurred in Arabia, where by the. . .

5-Minute Strawberry Jam

Nothing tastes better than fresh picked strawberries. For many people, making homemade jams and jellies conjures up memories of grandmother in the kitchen preparing bushels of fruit, stirring and straining, and sterilizing jars. Actually, nothing could be simpler. The key to making jam is small batches. Do not double the recipe. The jam will not set up. This strawberry jam keeps in the ref. . .

Easy-Cheesy Casserole

I have always loved mac-n-cheese, and this variation is one of my favorites! 1 pound of browned hamburger 1 1/2 cups of grated cheddar cheese 2 cups cooked macaroni (or egg noodles; I prefer to use egg noodles myself) Parmesan cheese to sprinkle on top 1 can cream of mushroom soupCombine hamburger and macaroni (or egg noodles) in a large baking dish. Add cream of mushroom soup and mix well. Sti. . .

Food Retailing or Food Entertainment?

Food retailing is going through a global revolution. On one side of the equation companies such as Walmart, Aldi and Liedl are gaining market share as local commodity food retailers. Where does this leave the independent food retailer and does he have a future? If you ask Pete Luckett of Halifax, Nova Scotia in Canada, the answer is a definite yes. As the food giants move the industry in one di. . .

Russian Appetizer Recipes for Russian brides in the US

Russian SaladDescription Wonderful salad will be a great appetizer with vodka and decorate your holiday table. It will take at most 10 minutes to make it. Method Combine grated cheese with chopped eggs and dress with mayonnaise. Ingredients 200 g grated cheese. 5 ea hard-boiled eggs. 100 g mayonnaise. greens Apple SaladDescription Unexpected combination, but really tasty. Refreshing light s. . .

Russian Beverages for Russian Brides in the US

Ancient Happy Cherry HoneyDescription Honey beverage was an obligatory drink of the nobility. Monastery honey beverages were known as the most famous. Many tzars sent their cooks to perfect honey cooking skills to monasteries. To improve the taste and colour, they could add fruit juices or berries. Diluted with juice, honey didn't contain any alcohol and was considered as the most splendid vita. . .

Russian Breakfasts for Russian Brides in the US

BlinyDescription Bliny is a Russian traditional dish. They are baked in a great quantity at Shrove (carnival) - last week before Lent. Bliny making was a real sacred mystery. People told fortunes on the dough, kept their recipes of Bliny in secret. The first Bliny were put on the window-sills for poor people and pilgrims. The foreigners were very surprised at how many Bliny Russians could eat. . . .

Candy, Chocolate And Gum All Treats To Tickle Your Fancy!

A delicious, mouth-watering piece of sweetened candy is a treat that tempts everyone. Whether it’s a spicy cinnamon candy a hard watermelon candy that just bursts with flavor as soon as it placed inside your mouth; candy is a treat that you enjoy and deserve.Soft candy, chewy candy, chocolate and fruit candy are all available today over the internet at great prices. Whether it’s chocolate, hard. . .

Spinach Salad with Mango and Papaya

This is a great summer salad, leaving you refreshed even on the hottest days. For those who like to have a little protein with there salad, both grilled chicken or shrimp go well with this dish. Don’t let the number of items scare you, this is a simple recipe and well worth the extra time. Great for the family or summer parties.Spinach SaladMakes 1 salad 4 oz. Spinach – cleaned and stem removed. . .

How to Make Homemade Ice Cream (Without an Ice Cream Maker!)

COLFAX, WISCONSIN — June is Dairy Month and what better way to celebrate than with homemade ice cream?When I was growing up on our small family dairy farm in west central Wisconsin 40 years ago, my dad would make homemade ice cream using cream and milk from our very own cows and a hand-cranked ice cream freezer. But you don't need an ice cream freezer to make your own homemade ice cream. You ca. . .

What Are Scoville Units?

To understand what a Scoville Unit is, one must understand what they measure. All hot peppers contain capsaicinoids, natural substances that produce a burning sensation in the mouth, causing the eyes to water and the nose to run, and even induce perspiration. The primary capsaicinoid, capsaicin, is so hot that a single drop diluted in 100,000 drops of water will produce a blistering of the tong. . .