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I love chicken marsala.

But, I never order it in a restaurant. That is because, however good the restaurant is, I know their chicken marsala will disappoint me.

The reason is simple. Mary, my wife of more than thirty years, makes the best chicken marsala on earth. I’m not kidding.

Try her recipe and I bet nobody in your family will eat chicken Marsala in a restaurant either. Here’s how to make it.

Flatten boneless chicken breasts with a kitchen mallet and cut each breast into 5-6 pieces.

Dredge the chicken in flour. Starting with a stick of butter, saute the chicken, and mushroom slices. After a few minutes of cooking, add between 1/2 and 3/4 of a cup of Marsala wine. Cook until the butter/marsala mixture thickens a bit and the chicken approaches a golden brown color.

Serve the chicken on boiled rice, spooning the remaining butter/marsala mixture over it.

Get ready for a treat.

Popularity: 6% [?]

Technorati Tags: Cooking, Food, recipe, Recipes

These handy kitchen gadgets can help anyone who spends time in their kitchen. Sure, you can make do with the bare minimum of some old pots and pans and a couple worn out knives and utensils. But why would you want to when there is such a variety of fun, time saving devices out there to use! These are the ones I would want in my kitchen.

Bread Makers: Whoever invented this wonderful device should get a trophy or an award. We use our bread maker all the time to get fresh, homemade bread without all of the hard work. If you love fresh bread at home, consider a bread maker.

Automatic Coffee Maker: This goes well with the bread maker. Add coffee grounds and water, set the clock and have coffee waiting for you when you stumble out of bed in the morning. Rise and shine!

Kitchen Knives with Block: For safe storage of your knives, you need a knife block. This way you won’t reach into a drawer and stab yourself, and they are easier to get at too. A high quality set will last a lot longer and stay sharper.

Plastic Food Containers: With a set of containers for food storage, saving leftovers is much easier. Many have lids with vents, for use in microwaves. Another way to use them is to freeze food for future use. They look better than old margarine and yogurt containers, too.

Immersion Blender: These hand held gadgets can be placed in large drinking glasses, pots, or mixing bowls. You can mix drinks, baking ingredients, gravies or even whip potatoes. They take up less space and are easier to clean than traditional blenders as well.

Toaster Oven: A quick way to toast sandwiches and smaller items, these little ovens don’t replace a regular kitchen oven. They make great garlic bread and work well for mini pizzas.

Sandwich Grill: If you make a lot of toasted sandwiches at home, this might be a great buy. If you don’t make grilled cheese, tuna melts or grilled paninis, then it might not be the best way to spend your money.

These are some of the kitchen gadgets I like to use myself. For the larger items, maybe you can borrow one to test drive it before you buy. That is what I did with the bread maker. Our food containers, coffee maker and hand blender see daily use, and the toaster oven and sandwich grill once or twice a week. All in all, a good investment for my family. Happy cooking!

Popularity: 8% [?]

Technorati Tags: bread maker, coffee maker, Cooking, Food, gadgets, home, kitchen, kitchen gadgets, kitchen knife set, kitchen tools

Amanda is a late-twenties Cajun, a busy professional woman and mother, who gives away jars of her spiced tea mix every winter; usually a few weeks before Christmas, when temperatures in Louisiana sometimes plunge into the 60’s.

For many, Amanda’s tea is more welcome than Santa. And, it does not take a chef, or even a good cook, to make.

You can begin with a cup of powdered instant tea mix. Amanda uses Nestea, but you can try other brands if you have a favorite.

Add two cups of Tang to the tea. If you wish, you can use a sugar free version to reduce calories and/or share the tea with diabetic friends.

Next, add two cups of sugar or a sugar free sweetener like Splenda or Equal.

For your final step…see how quick and easy this is…add a packet of lemonade powder and mix everything together. Store the final mixture in plastic or glass containers. Whenever you want a great drink, heat a cup of water and add the mixture to suit your taste. Most folks like about two teaspoons full.

Everyone will enjoy the wonderful tart taste and the bright orange color. And, everyone will want the recipe. Count on it.

Popularity: 10% [?]

Technorati Tags: Cooking, cooking and entertaining, drink recipes, food and drink, Recipes

KitchenAid makes many different mixers for a variety of different varieties of consumers. Some of the KitchenAid mixers that are in stores are designed for professional chefs. The KitchenAid Professional 600 mixer is one of the most popular types of mixers from the company. the Professional 600 includes a high-powered motor which enables you to make perfect mixes and can be used with a variety of attachments.

The KitchenAid Professional 600 mixer is designed around a strong engine. This motor uses 575 watts and powers a direct drive transmission. This quality design helps the mixer to plow through some of the most unforgiving substances for mixing, including bread dough. The KitchenAid Professional 600 also makes use of a ten-setting speed control for the highest level of versatility.

This mixer can work with a lot of flour as well. The Professional 600 mixer has a bowl that can hold fourteen cups of flour, defining it as one of the largest KitchenAid mixers available. It can handle a variety of products using the roomy six quart bowl, and it can mix an adequate amount of those products to come up with eight loaves of bread, thirteen dozen cookies or eight pounds of mashed potatoes.

Several capacities of bowls are compatible with this mixer also. In addition to the six quart bowl a three or five quart bowl will work with the mixer as well as other types of bowls.

One of the more ingenious options that come with this mixer is the PowerKnead Spiral Dough Hook. This incredibly useful innovation helps you to efficiently and completely mix large quantities of bread or cookie dough in a remarkably short time .

The machine comes with many useful features too. It comes with a pouring shield, a flat beater and a wire whip for additional versatility.

A variety of different attachments can be used for this mixer. Various tools may be fitted into the same place the other attachments go. These include a pasta maker, a can opener, a grain mill, a citrus juicer and a sausage stuffer just to name a few. These are products that are manufactured by KitchenAid specifically for its KitchenAid mixers, including the Professional 600.

There are also various colors that this appliance can come in. It can be found in silver, black, white, red, gray and orange. This makes it easy for the mixer to harmonize with other appliances and countertops in your kitchen.

The KitchenAid Professional 600 mixer is one of the most impressive KitchenAid mixers to see in action. This KitchenAid works with a high-powered motor to mix large amounts of different foods. The mixer can accomodate many unique accessories from KitchenAid too. These advantages work together to make the KitchenAid Professional 600 mixer one of the highest quality mixers available today.

Popularity: 10% [?]

Technorati Tags: appliances, Cooking, food mixer, home, kitchen, kitchenaid

Whether you normally cook for a crowd or just prefer to create sauces, gravies and even smoothies that can be saved, you should buy the Cuisinart 11-Cup food processor.  The Cuisinart 11-cup food processor works almost like every other brand of food processor, but boasts elements that have made Cuisinart special and one of the more highly respected manufacturers in food processors. As a matter of fact, Cuisinart food processors are so well associated with food processing that even off-brand  food processors are referred to as “cuisinarts.”  However, they do not perform as well and do not have the convienences and guarantees that you will find with the Cuisinart 11-cup food processor. 

There are many tasks that you could accomplish with the Cuisinart 11 Cups food processor.  Each of us realizes that vegetables are nutritious and ought to be incorporated into each meal. Because it utilizes multiple blades that are conveinent to take apart and wash, you can use the Cuisinart 11-cup food processor to prepare the vegetables for lunches and other meals quickly and convienently.  It is not just convenient, but it is a lot safer to use than a knife.  You shall not be required to drag out the chopping board and sharpen the knives as this kitchen helper can do it all. Because it can hold 11 cups in the cup, you can cut up as much as you like, and even freeze the extra chopped vegetables for later use.

The Cuisinart 11-cup food processor can be adapted for a host of different purposes.  If you are making spaghetti sauce, for example, you can include cooked andouille and not have to chop it by hand.  You may then combine all of the ingredients together. You could even add vegetables to the sauce. next, the sauce may then be cooked or, if it was previously cooked, it can be used.  The extra sauce may be kept in freezer containers for your next Italian meal.   

The Cuisinart 11-cup food processor has many uses.  You can not only chop vegetables, but fruits as well in the Cuisinart 11-cup food processor.  You may want to make a smoothie in this food processor by pureeing fruits and then adding in yogurt to make a tasty treat. Any leftover smoothies can be refrigerated for later. 

It is just as easy to process one vegetable as it is to chop up a bushel when you are employing this kind of food processor.  You could just get the whole job done at one time, freeze the left overs, and then save some steps later when you want to use them in other recipies. 

You could even use the Cuisinart 11-Cup food processor to mix a cake.  Throw in your ingredients and a special blade will mix the items from the bottom.  It works equally well for blending as for slicing. This is honestly one of a precious few kitchen appliances that you will have to own.   If you are ready to buy a kitchen machine that does everything you need quickly and is easy to clean, get the Cuisinart 11-cup food processor. 

Popularity: 10% [?]

Technorati Tags: appliances, Cooking, Food, food processor, kitchen

It’s highly advisable that you commence from the very beginning once you’ve decided to learn how to make clever cakes. What you may not know is that cake decorators are hired regularly the world over. Cake decorating is a great skill to have, and once you know the basics, you can let your imagination run wild. First and foremost, you must learn the very basics of cake decorating, otherwise you risk getting a bit frustrated.

Remember the fanciest cake isn’t clever if it doesn’t taste good or is a flop. What this means is that you begin with the cake itself. Whether you hand make your cake, make it from a mix, or purchase a premade cake to start with, your cake needs to be tasty and moist. As a result, you must be completely sure that a cake is indeed delicious before going ahead and decorating it.

Once you have your cake, it is clever to make sure it’s cool enough before you begin applying any icing at all. Many professionals will bake a cake the day before they begin icing it. The reason why the cake has to be cool, is so that the icing can stick to the cake, because a warm cake only causes the icing to drip.

An intelligent way to assure that the cake has both good taste and icing that sticks, is be turning the cake board upside down. Only add a lean layer of icing on top if you don’t want your cake to crumble. The flat bottom of your cake should now be at the top, and from now on, you can start the icing normally. Dip your metal icing tool into a cool glass of water and then use it to smooth the icing around the cake in perfect flatness.

Nevertheless, you should have enough icing for the cake so that you don’t run out. It’s vital that you have more than enough in your hands before even starting to make the cake. If you want add different colors to the icing, only do so after applying simple white icing first.

The only way you will develop a talent for making clever cakes is through practice. So if you have an important cake that you need to decorate, perhaps practicing on a sheet of wax paper can allow you to perfect your talent. The way your decorations will look like largely depends on your consistency with the icing. If you find that your decorations start crumbling, it’s most likely because your icing is too thin. If you find that it’s difficult to get the icing to reach the tip of the icing tube, then it’s most likely because your icing is too thick.

You’re going to make mistakes, you’re going to get frustrated, but practice and the ability to start simply is what the basics of clever cake decorating is all about. All skills take time to grow, so it’s important that you enjoy the learning process and have some fun during the process.

Popularity: 16% [?]

Technorati Tags: Cooking

From the regular drip coffee maker to the old fashioned coffee perker, and even the gourmet espresso machine, coffee makers and grinders are a common kitchen gadget. Many people around the world love a fresh cup of home brewed coffee, and they like to have it on hand for guests or in the morning to go with breakfast. There are many ways to brew a fresh coffee, some requiring more work than others.

The most commonly used coffee makers are the automatic drip variety, using pre ground coffee beans place in a paper filter. While these machines don’t produce gourmet quality coffee, they are an excellent way to easily brew consistent pots of coffee, and are very economical to purchase and operate.

Single serving coffee makers are now available, which take a small packet of coffee grounds like a tea bag. The main advantage to these are that a single cup of joe can be made quickly, and there are many flavors and varieties available. Houses needing several cups at once won’t find these machines as useful or economical.

Another popular tool for making small amounts of coffee is the coffee plunger, or French press. You place the coffee and hot water together, leaving it to brew for a few minutes, then push the plunger to the bottom to separate the grounds from the coffee. Since French presses don’t use paper filters that would remove the oils and sediment with the grounds, French pressed coffee can be stronger and thicker than drip-brewed coffee.

Purists might tell you that the only ‘real’ coffee is an espresso or cappuccino. These stronger coffees are made with coffee grounds that are finer and contain more sediment, which gives the stronger flavor. A special espresso machine is required, which may also have a milk steamer built into it. The espresso machine works by forcing hot water under high pressure through the grounds.

A coffee bean grinder might be more trouble than you want to go through at home, but it does give you the freshest coffee. For more course grounds, a steel bladed grinder is sufficient. For a finely ground bean a burr mill is the answer, but a bit more costly.

A lot of people like to use a coffee machine with a timer built in, to get their coffee ready first thing in the morning. You can also get one that has a built in grinder, and have the freshest possible coffee ready for you automatically. Now that’s a handy kitchen gadget!

Popularity: 29% [?]

Technorati Tags: coffee, coffee beans, coffee grinder, coffee maker, Cooking, drinks, food and drink, home, how to make coffee, kitchen, kitchen gadgets

Are you one of those people who think barbequeing is only for the Summer? If so, you’re missing out on some of the best grilling times of the year. Maybe you don’t wear white after Labor Day, but you better break out the grill and smoker because you can server up mouth watering food during the dead of winter.

Fall and Winter offer backyard grillers some of the most favorable weather to try out their favorite bbq recipes. Insects are at a minimum and the heat off the grill will not help cook your bones along with the hot Summer sun! It’s nice to be able to relax and cook the way you want without sweating all over the bbq.

Any food you grill during the Summer only gets better in the Fall and Winter. It’s also the perfect time to try your hand at grilling Wild Game. Many hunters have some meat in the freezer from Fall hunts plus there are a lot of grocers now carrying Wild Game. Keep in mind that most Wild Game has less fat than beef, chicken or pork so it will need special attention. Mainly, that you should cook it slower and be sure not to overcook it. It should have a warm pink center.

There are a few things you will need to keep in mind before heading out in the Winter to bbq. For starters, it will take longer for your grill or smoker to heat up. So plan accordingly.

Electric smokers and gas grills may require an insulative blanket. This is especially true for electric smokers. Cold winds can quickly sap all the heat from an electric smoker and cause the internal temperature to fall below safe levels. Most electric smoker dealers carry these special blankets. Make sure what ever you use to wrap your smoker or grill, that it’s fire proof. It can be easy to set anything else on fire so be careful.

You’ll also need to take into consideration where your grill and smoker are set up. Chances are you have some dead grass or other vegetation in the immediate area. This can go up like a Roman candle from the smallest of sparks, especially if there is a wind to help it out. Always keep these areas mowed and if in doubt, hose down the area around your grill and smoker.

So just because it’s a little cold outside doesn’t mean you have to put up the grill. Keep them out and use them on a regular basis and enjoy the tasty treats your bbq will serve up. Try cooking your Holiday meals out on the grill. Nothing says lovin’ like fresh smoked Ham or grilled Turkey for those Holiday dinners! It’s also an excellent time to get out and try your favorite baby back rib recipes.

Popularity: 34% [?]

Technorati Tags: barbeque, barbeque recipes, bbq, bbq recipes, bbq sauce recipes, grilling, holiday recipes, Recipes, smoking

The joyous holiday season can also bring the not so joyus puzzle of choosing presents for acquaintances and loved ones. In the case of close relatives, you know their hobbies and tastes, and this can help you to find perfect gifts. However, regarding acquaintances or friends with whom you are not very close, you have no clue about their personal tastes. As a result, the duty of gift shopping becomes more daunting. In a case where you choose to present cookware to someone, it is a good idea to research the appraisals of cookware prior to purchasing it.

If you have a small budget at the moment, your cookware options would be inclined towards stainless steel cookware as it is cheaper than cookware which contains other materials. There are thousands of product reviews for just as many varieties of stainless steel cookware. However, scrutiny of multiple reviews will indicate that the All-Clad Ltd. 10 piece cookware set is far better than other brands.

In advance of buying a stainless steel cookware set, you should realize the purpose of different product reviews. Some product entries and user reviews are for utensils for personal use. Others asses products for the purpose of gifting. You could buy bargain products for your own use, however, you can’t take the chanceof getting a bad reputation by giving extremely cheap stainless steel cookware.

The preferred course of action is to purchase cookware that achieves a balance between its features and its cost. One such great product is the All-Clad Ltd 10 piece cookware set. It may be purchased on the web as well as acquired from stores in your area.

Several considerations are highlighted in the product assesments of cookware. First and foremost is the sturdiness of the peices that are part of the cookware set. Once gifted, the All-Clad Ltd 10 piece cookware set will make itself an indispensable part of the kitchen of whoever receives it. Additionally, this cookware set will carry on being a main part of their kitchen as long as their kitchen exists!

Another trait highlighted in the product assesments of cookware is the effectiveness for special types of cooking. The All-Clad Ltd 10 piece cookware set can be used to cook recipes from Continental, Indian, Thai, Japanese, Italian, as well as Chinese cuisines.

Popularity: 51% [?]

Technorati Tags: all-clad, appliances, Cast Iron Cookware, Cooking, Cookware, kitchen, ltd

KitchenAid makes dozens of different mixers for many different varieties of consumers. Several of the KitchenAid mixers that are in stores are intended for professional users. The KitchenAid Professional 600 mixer is among the most widely used types of mixers from the company. This mixer is designed with a quality motor that helps to make top quality mixes and can be used with many different attachments.

The KitchenAid Professional 600 mixer is designed around a large, brawny engine. This motor works at 575 watts and features a direct drive transmission. That configuration enables the appliance to plow through some of the toughest substances for mixing, including bread dough. This mixer also makes use of a ten-setting speed control for the most flexibility.

This mixer is designed to work with a respectable amount of flour as well. The Professional 600 mixer has a bowl which can contain fourteen cups of flour, making it one of the largest KitchenAid mixers available. It can handle many different products using the roomy six quart bowl, and it can handle an adequate amount of those products to make eight loaves of bread, thirteen dozen cookies or eight pounds of mashed potatoes.

Various sizes of bowls can be used with this mixer also. In addition to a six quart bowl a three or five quart bowl will work with the mixer along with a few other sizes of bowls.

One of the more ingenious features of this mixer is the PowerKnead Spiral Dough Hook. This time-saving invention allows you to effectively and completely mix large quantities of bread or cookie dough in a relatively short time .

The mixer includes a large amount useful features as well. It comes with a pouring shield, a flat beater and a wire whip for increased versatility.

Many different attachments are available for this appliance. A range of tools may be fixed to the top of the mixer. These consist of a pasta maker, a can opener, a grain mill, a citrus juicer and a sausage stuffer among other things. These are products that are manufactured by KitchenAid exclusively for its KitchenAid mixers, including the Professional 600.

There are also quite a few colors that this mixer can come in. It can be found in silver, black, white, red, gray and orange. This means that this mixer can coordinate with other items and color schemes in any kitchen.

The KitchenAid Professional 600 mixer is one of the best KitchenAid mixers to use. This mixer works with a high-powered motor to mix large amounts of different foods. this appliance can accomodate an array of specialized accessories from KitchenAid too. These features work together to make the KitchenAid Professional 600 mixer one of the best mixers that you can buy.

Popularity: 60% [?]

Technorati Tags: appliances, Cooking, food mixer, kitchen, kitchenaid