Top Five Kids Favourite Meals (and healthy alternatives)

How do you teach your kids to enjoy the flavor of food? It’s a mystery and we don’t have an answer. We do have some tasty and healthy alternatives to your kids Favourite Meals

Burgers

Do you look at your grill pan in horror after you’ve cooked a few frozen burgers? There’s enough fat in there to block billions of trillions of arteries (as Brian Cox would say.)

Get to the your butchers or supermarket and buy 500g of lean mince.

In a bowl, mix up:

500g mince
1 egg
a finely chopped onion
a slice of bread, broken into crumbs
you can also add mustard, worcester sauce, some salt and pepper or anything else that might add to the taste. Some people we know use marmite!

Bash it, mash it, mix it and stir it.  Use your hands (cleaned) to make 8 burgers and place them on a baking tray. Cook for 20 minutes at 200c and turn them halfway.




Chips

We all love chips. But they are oozing with fat. Chip shop chips are better than many but give yourself a scare by squeezing a chip and watching the fat ooze out.

Potato wedges are the easiest things in the world to make. Chop up your potatoes into wedges. Toss in a tiny bit of oil and stick them into a baking tray. You can add herbs and spices for a bit more flavour and then bake for about 40 minutes at about 200c. Keep an eye and take them out when they are done. You can turn them half way to help them cook evenly.

Chicken and chips

This is simples: replace the chips with potato wedges and grill some chicken breasts. Breasts are less fiddly than the breadcrumb covered, greasy bone-filled things that turn up in buckets from the high street. Animals eat from buckets, not humans.


Fish and Chips

There’s much more to fish than fingers or battered cod. Pause at your fish counter (or, if you’re very lucky, go to your fishmonger) and ask him what he has that would be good for grilling for kids. He’ll find you boneless pieces that will do the trick.

Let’s be honest, it’s going to get covered in ketchup so don’t go too wild, and keep it simple. He’ll tell you how to cook it perfectly too!

Chinese

This is another easy one. It helps if you have a wok but a frying pan will work.

The basics of a stir fry for kids are a bit of chicken, some veg, a handful of noodle and some soy sauce.

Start by frying the chicken, chuck in the vegetables and noodles for about three minutes and stir them up with a bit of soy sauce. Bingo! You have made a stir fry.

Supermarkets sell chow-mein sauce, hoi sin sauce and more. You can make all your favourites and you can do it with just a few drops of oil.

Remember:

Cook with your kids and they’ll be far more likely to eat the food. Plan an extra few minutes to let them chop and allow for a bit of mess as they learn to peel and stir.

Article Source: activedad

4 Best tips for choosing family restaurants

When we choose a restaurant for dinner, we take in some simple considerations: Location - how close is it to the house? Service – are severs attentive to your needs? Food quality – are the portions adequate and is the food good? Ambiance – was the room clean and visually appealing? Each of these factors will determine the quality of dining experience and if we, will return. Therefore, it is imperative that a first-time customer have the best dinning experience to assure their return. We need to understand that customers come in with an open mind; that they have never experienced this restaurant’s environment, service or food.

Good restaurants will take advantage of this every time. If you go to a four-star restaurant, the Matre De or host will ask if you have dined with them before? If you say no, they will politely explain house specialties, traditions, and special events that are going on that evening. This insures the customer will understand the dinning environment and be able to experience the ambiance.

As an entertainer, we can help a restaurant achieve this experience by providing an enjoyable atmosphere so customers will remember the fun they had and overlook the poor service or lukewarm meal. A comical magician rooming the lobby of a crowded restaurant can make customers forget that they have been waiting over an hour for a seat. Moms and dads can enjoy a nice peaceful dinner as the kids play with their new balloon animals. A family gathering will turn in to one big party as the clown interacts with aunts, uncles and cousins.

If your first experience at a restaurant is bad, the likelihood of you returning is slim. Most individuals are very critical of a restaurant on the first visit. So as an entertainer, we need to provide the customer with an exceptionally good time. If the parents enjoy the meal and the kids have fun, you can be positive the family will return. Kids can dictate which restaurant a parent visits. McDonald’s has learned that giving a toy in a kid’s meal the child will want to return to the restaurant. My neighbor’s child likes going to the Sunday pancake house because he receives a helium balloon every weekend. The parents like it because the food is good. Smart restaurant owners understand kids control the family dinning experience and provide special kids meals, coloring material or games at a table.

At family restaurant you first preferred the atmosphere, All you are seeking for the place where you can have your meal with a great deal.

A Guide to Fine Dining – Tips for Elegant Eating

Dining out with that special someone? Taking co-workers or prospective clients out to a fine dining restaurant? Make sure you mind your manners and make a good impression with these tips.

Keep your Reservations: Fine dining restaurants usually require reservations. To be sure they can accommodate you and your party makes a reservation well in advance. If the amount of people change or the your unable to attend dinner during your reservation time, make sure you call and let them know. It’s common curiosity to tell the restaurant that you no longer are going to be dining there and it’s a a must if you frequent the restaurant or want to make future reservations. Dress appropriately: call ahead to find out what dress requirements the restaurant has. Some finer dining establishments have very strict dress codes and may require you to wear certain attire to eat in the restaurant. Don’t cause embarrassment by showing up unprepared; this will only cause you, your guests, and the restaurant great inconvenience. Understanding the Menu: Often times at fine dining establishments, entrees can be in languages you’re unable to read let alone say. While it may seem embarrassing to have to ask what a menu item is, don’t assume you’re the only one who has done it. Asking your server will help you choose something you will enjoy and something that will be worth the money you put towards it. If you’ve asked a few questions and still aren’t sure what you want off the menu, ask your sever about the feature entr?e or the chef’s signature dish. Chances are the chef’s signature dish is going to be great, so as long as it’s something you think you can eat then try going with that. Mind Your Manners: Manners a must at a fine dining restaurant. Be sure to practice chivalry when women are present, this means getting up when they excuse themselves, or pulling out their chairs when they return to the table. It’s also important to practice when receiving your food. Place your napkin across your lap before you eat and when you do get your meal be polite and don’t just dig in. Even if you’re starving and haven’t had anything to eat in days, don’t dive into your meal the minute the server places it in front of you. It’s customary and polite to wait for everyone in your party to receive your food before their meal. Wine: Unless you’re a very experienced wine connoisseur, chances are the wine list at a fine dining restaurant can be a little daunting. If you’re not sure what wine to choose, ask your server for suggestions. Your server or another member of the restaurant staff should have a decent understanding of wine and should be able to guide you in the right direction. If the staff seems less than helpful, choose something that you are familiar with. It may be a good idea to read up on your wines before going dining out. This way you can have a few backup wines in mind. Tipping: A tip is an essential part of your dining experience and should act as a reflection of the service you have had. The average amount for a tip is between 15 and 20 percent of your total bill. If you had superb service and want to show your server you appreciate them give him or her little extra. If your service was less than subpar it’s okay to tip less, but unless your service was absolutely awful it’s generally not a good idea to not tip at all. Make sure you tip the server based on his or her service.

Article Source: kashish restaurant

Steak Diane Recipe

Ingredients:
Worcestershire sauce
pouring cream
one clove of garlic per steak
lots of fresh cracked black pepper
tablespoon butter
equivalent in a good vegetable oil

Directions:
1.At least an hour before, but up to four hours before - the longer you leave it the better- crush garlic all over your steaks, both sides and be liberal, and then grind pepper all over the steaks both sides. Wrap in cling wrap and leave at room temperature until ready to cook.

2.Melt butter and oil together in a solid frying pan over highest heat until butter has stopped bubbling and is starting to look a little brown..don't leave it at this stage..Then throw in steaks and cook them over the high heat,not turning until each side a bit blackened and the pan getting crusty..only takes two to three minutes a side.

3.Then turn down the heat to a nice simmer, add in the dash of worcestershire sauce (make it a good, generous dash) and an equal amount of cream. Scrape up the bits on the bottom, madly stirring until you have most of the black stuff on the pan bottom dissolved in your sauce. Then leave to simmer gently until the pink juices start to run from the meat..if you want it rare..or for ten minutes if you want it better done. Set aside for a moment while you cut up a nice ripe avocado to serve in the yummy sauce, which is also bitey with the pepper. Great with mashed potatoes and salads too.

Article Source: recipes epicurean

How to Make Puff Pastry

Puff pastry is delicious and is such a popular pastry, everyone loves it! Yet it is also the pastry most people are afraid to make at home. When you have made your puff pastry this way you will never want to buy it again! It is quite easy, needs a little time but if you make it ahead you will have the best and tastiest pastry you have ever tasted.

It can be used for desserts or savoury dishes, so is very versatile. Especially good for vol-au-vents cases!

To begin with make a small amount and see how much this will make for you. You can always increase your ingredients and make as much as you want.

Ingredients

• 8oz, 230g, plain all purpose flour

• 8oz, 230g, unsalted butter (slightly softened)

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

• 1/2 cup water, 4fl oz, 240ml

Method

• Sieve the flour and salt into a large baking bowl

• Add the water and mix to a dough.

• Leave to rest for about 15 minutes

• Roll the dough into a square about 8 inches and place the butter in the centre

• Now fold the edges of the pastry over the butter covering it completely.

• Leave to rest for ten minutes then roll into an oblong shape

• Fold in three then roll again

• Leave the pastry to rest again

• Repeat the above another three times and rest the dough in the refrigerator for ten minutes or until you need to use it. It will keep for a few days in the refrigerator or can be put in the freezer until you need it.

Note

Basically rolling the pastry will distribute the butter throughout it. The butter must be softened just enough to allow you to roll it in the dough. If taken out of the refrigerator for a short time before use it will be just right.


Article Source: Ezine Articles

Valentine's Day Recipes

Pamper your sweetheart with your own hand-baked Valentine cookie pops or make him/ her some delicate Valentine muffins or may be a sweet Sweetheart Cake can do the magic. You can cook up little surprises for the young ones too. Get them some yummy heart-shaped cookies or a couple of Rosey Posey cupcakes and you're all set to wallow in their unadulterated excitement. You can prepare sweet candy hugs for mom and dad, or you can make some chocolatey kisses for your gramps.

The idea behind Valentine's Day recipes and these delicacies is to sweeten up the senses of all those you hold close to your heart and make them feel on top of the world. And if you sit and think, you'll actually be surprised to see as to how much you can do to the Valentine's Day menu or how many recipe ideas strike you for the day. So prepare or get the best for your loved ones this Valentine's Day and tickle their sweet tooth with the top-notch Valentine's Day recipes that are rich in the X's and O's ! Listed below is a list of not-so-common, yet-so-yummy Valentine's Day recipes for you to romance up the day !




Valentine Raspberry Chocolate Fudge Red Velvet Cake

Ingredients

1 (18 1.4 ounce) box red velvet cake mix
1 (3.9 ounce) box instant chocolate fudge pudding and pie filling mix
1 1/4 cup water
1/2 cup cr me de cocoa or raspberry liqueur or brandy
1/2 cup vegetable oil
4 jumbo or extra-large eggs (at room temperature)
1 (12 ounce) jar seedless raspberry jam
Vanilla Buttercream Frosting, Old-fashioned 7-Minute
 Icing or Chocolate Fudge Frosting

Procedure 

Heat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a large bowl, combine cake mix, pudding mix, water, cr me de cocoa or raspberry liqueur or brandy and oil; add eggs and beat at medium speed of an electric mixer for 4 minutes, scraping down sides of bowl as necessary. Fold in pecans. Spoon into two wax paper-lined greased 9-inch wide heart-shaped layer pans or one greased and floured 10-inch Bundt or tube pan. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes (heart-shape layer pans) or 45 minutes (tube or Bundt pan) or until a cake tester inserted into the cake layers or cake comes out clean.

Let cake or cake layers cool for 10 minutes in pan(s), top side up for tube cake and upside down for Bundt cake. Turn out onto wire rack(s) to finish cooling.

For heart-shaped cake, arrange one layer on a cake serving plate. Evenly spread raspberry jam over cake layer. Top with second layer. Evenly spread top and sides with frosting of choice. For tube or Bundt, spread frosting of choice over top and sides of cake. Sprinkle decorative confectioners' red sugar over cake as desired. 

Passionate Pasta

Ingredients

6 oz fettuccini pasta

1 pound fresh shrimp, peeled and de-veined

1 tbsp chopped shallots

3 cups fresh mushrooms (chopped and sliced)

1 tbsp olive oil

1 tbsp Cajun seasoning

1 tbsp butter

3 cup chicken broth

1/2 cup sour cream

1 tbsp cornstarch

7 oz red bell peppers (roasted)

1 tbsp drained capers

Procedure

Marinate the shrimp with olive oil and Cajun seasoning and set aside for fifteen minutes. Boil the pasta in salt water. Then drain and keep aside. Next, in a separate pot, sauté the mushrooms and shallots in butter until tender. Remove. Now add the shrimps in the remaining butter and cook for a few minutes till the shrimps turn pink. Remove from the pan and add 2/3 cup of chicken broth into the pan. Wait till the broth reduces to about 1/4 cup. In a separate bowl, mix the sour cream and corn starch before adding it to the boiling broth. Cook for about a minute till the sauce gets thick. Now add the shrimps, mushroom mixture, roasted red peppers, and the capers. Heat thoroughly and season to taste. Pour it over the pasta. That's it ! Now savor the flavor of this Passionate Pasta in all the Valentine's Day hoopla

Oyster Delight

Ingredients

2 cups of fresh and large oysters

2 tbsp chopped parsley

10 slices of bacon

A pinch of paprika

Salt and pepper to taste

Procedure

Sprinkle the seasoning and parsley on the fresh oysters. Wrap the oysters in the bacon and button up with toothpicks. Place them in a shallow baking dish and bake in 450 degrees F for about ten-fifteen minutes till the bacon is crisp. This is one great Valentine's Day recipe idea that would neither take you long to make, nor would it take your guests to polish off. 

Brownie Love

 
Ingredients

4 bars of unsweetened chocolate

8 oz whipped cream

3/ 4 cup margarine

3 eggs

1 cup flour

2 cups sugar

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup chopped, assorted nuts

3 cups strawberries

Procedure

Melt the chocolate and margarine together. Keep stirring till the chocolate melts completely. Add the sugar and mix well. Now add the flour, eggs and nuts and mix till it forms a smooth paste. Bake it in a pre-heated oven of 350 degrees F for 35 minutes. After it cools, refrigerate for 30 minutes. Take out and cut into heart shapes with the help of a cookie-cutter. Spread the brownies on a plate, place the strawberries on them and top with the whipped cream to make the dish look as yummy as any other of the day. Have a bellyful fun on Valentine's Day with all.

So try these Valentine's Day recipes this February 14 along with your heart-shaped cakes. you'll have the perfect fill if you go for the oysters on Valentine's Day along with the Passionate Pasta ! Try the absolutely delicious brownies for dessert and wrap up a wonderful Valentine's Day dinner. But you can always keep adding to your menu and come up with more innovative Valentine's Day recipes. The day is all yours to enjoy with love, luck and laughter.

Article Source: Ezine Article

Top 10 Best Milkshake Recipes

Is there any drink more fun and refreshing than an ice cold milkshake? I don't think so. Milkshakes are a part of American food culture and have spread all over the world. Here's my list of the best milkshake recipe you can find anywhere.

Classic Vanilla Milkshake Made with vanilla ice cream and vanilla extract. The original plain milkshake is still a crowd pleasing favorite. Adding a maraschino cherry on top makes it a little more special.

Old Fashioned Chocolate Milkshake Made with chocolate or vanilla ice cream (depends on how intense you want the chocolate flavor), milk and chocolate syrup. This is always the second most favorite milkshake flavor. It's so easy to make and delicious to drink!

I Love Strawberries Milkshake Made with strawberry ice cream, milk, fresh strawberries and whipped cream. Yum! Makes me ravenous for one just thinking about it.

Purple Cow Milkshake Made with grape juice, banana and milk. Purple cows are cool (and very rare). This milkshake is a real treat for kids and kids at heart.

Chunky Monkey Milkshake Made with vanilla ice cream, chocolate chips, banana and instant coffee. This milkshake may cause you to spontaneously get up and do the chunky monkey dance.

Cherry Vanilla Milkshake Made with vanilla ice cream, maraschino cherries, milk and chocolate syrup. A chocolate covered cherry in your glass.

Shamrock Milkshake Made with vanilla ice cream, low fat milk, mint extract and green food coloring. Pretty simple milkshake that you can enjoy at home, even though a certain well-known burger place doesn't make them any more.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Milkshake Made with creamy peanut butter, milk and chocolate syrup. A nice alternative to a peanut butter sandwich.

Caramel Latte Milkshake Made with coffee ice cream, milk and caramel syrup. Just as good or better than any drink at your local coffee or donut shop, plus, you can make this at home anytime you're in the mood to treat yourself with something extra special.

Whoppers Malt Milkshake Made with vanilla ice cream, chocolate malt syrup and whipped topping. This is the easiest way to make a milkshake that has that old fashioned malt taste.

Article Source: article snatch