Archive for the ‘Food’ Category

We all enjoy BBQ parties – the camaraderie, the weather (if it’s done outdoors) and of course the food! I especially like grilled food because it is so easy to cook that you can pass the responsibility to your husband. And the fact you can cook everything on a BBQ grill – meat, pork, chicken, corn, veggies (kebabs!), hotdogs, seafood, the list is endless.

It’s no surprise then that there are families who would invest on lynx grills, the best grills in the market according to reviews. Having a BBQ grill saves time on last minute dinners, entertains guests easily at home and not to mention, gives a great feast.

Some take into consideration cost, functionality, ease of cleaning and taste when buying a grill.

Cost:
Most families take this as the top most consideration when buying grills. Gas grills cost more than electric and charcoal grills. Many families buy charcoal grills as it is the cheapest, but charcoal won’t save you money in the long run. Charcoal is more expensive than fuel. You will spend much more money on charcoal than you will on gas down the road when you are having a BBQ. Electric grills are not that expensive and most families with a small space in their house use this.

Taste:
There are people who say grilled food taste differently depending on how and where it is grilled. A charcoal grill or pellet grill should be your selection if taste/flavor is at the top or your list. It is even said that choosing a certain type of wood to smoke or a certain type of charcoal that will give you the flavor you are looking for. Ever read "smoked" ribs or salmon when dining out in restaurants? Consider a gas grill though when you need quick cooking.

Additional Features:
Gas grills like fire magic grills can have side burners, rotisserie kits, and multiple burners which allow you more cooking space and the ability to cook other types of food at the same time.

Happy grilling!

Christmas time in our family always means two things: family + good food = great times and a fond memories. Never did one Christmas go by without me remembering all the great food, cooked with love by my aunts and grandmothers, we have shared with one another. In fact, it has been a tradition for us to eat certain recipes at certain food gatherings, like my Mom’s pasta during Christmas dinner, my aunt’s special kaldereta and the special ham we buy at a store centuries old (They opened when my grandmother was just 6 years old!).

Healthy Recipes are included in our menu this year. Let’s face it, most of my aunts and uncles are not getting any younger. We are not getting younger. This year, we have another generation in our family – the great grandkids who are my kids and my niece and nephew. We need to be conscious of our health. Low fat and sugar free are on most my list since we are diabetics.

Christmas Recipes are hard to come by, most of what we originally serve have only been passed on by word of mouth. I should take the initiative to write it down sometime. However, things are going to be easy for us with 1001Recipe.com. I love how varied their recipes are and how everything is categorized! It makes finding certain dishes super easy.

Take for example a Fruitcake Recipe I was looking for. I want the fresh fruit kind with no wine since my kids eat it and I found one in less than five minutes.

Main Ingredients:
Dried fruits: 1.5 cup, chopped (cranberry, mango and pear)
Orange juice: 1/2 cup
All purpose flour: 1 cup
Butter: 1 stick at room temperature (1/2 cup or 1/4 lb)
Brown sugar: 1/2 cup
Eggs: 3
Walnuts: 1/2 cup, chopped
Baking soda: 1/4 tsp
Salt: 1/4 tsp
Ground cinnamon: 1/2 tsp
Ground ginger: 1/2 tsp
Apricot jam: 3 tbsp
Directions:
1. One day ahead of time, soak the cranberries, pears and mango in the orange juice and cover tightly, refrigerated.
2. On the day of preparation, preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
3. In a mixing bowl, cream butter with brown sugar.
4. Add eggs one at a time and beat until smooth.
5. Stir in the fruit pieces and walnuts. Mix the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger and salt and add to creamed mixture.
6. Pour this into a round pan and bake for 40 minutes or until golden.
7. To decorate the cake, combine apricot jam with 1 tbsp water in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir until melted and thoroughly mixed. Strain through a fine mesh strainer and brush it over the cake.