Hot Tomale!

Archive for November, 2008

Chinese cooking night is a wonderful tradition that my family has created over the years and one that we have all come to love! On this special night once a month, my aunts, grandmas, parents and even my two brothers and their families clear their hectic schedules and gather around the family kitchen to whip up a savory and delicious meal straight from the Orient. Why Chinese food, you ask? Of all the different cuisines we have tried throughout the years, Chinese recipes are easy to follow, the food is delicious and Chinese cooking sauces have become our favorite. Their adaptability and variety of flavorful spices is loved by the whole family.

One thing we learned very early on is that Chinese food and Chinese cooking are greatly complimented by the key ingredients of the sauces. You can see this very easily in the American Chinese food cooking trends. It is mainly a mixture of vegetables enhanced with Chinese sauces. These cooking sauces are used as garnishes and in preparing many types of delicious authentic recipes. Most of our favorite Chinese dishes, like noodles and fried rice are made with a variety of spices and sauces making them very popular and savory meals.

 
Ingredients
 
* 2 small sized cauliflowers (whole)
* 6 cup(s) water
* 1 teaspoon(s) each of turmeric, hot spice mix (garam masala) and red chilli powders
* 2 green chilli(es)
* 1 tablespoon(s) each of ginger, garlic finely chopped
* 1 teaspoon(s) cumin seeds
2  teaspoon(s) coriander seeds
* 1″ piece cinnamon broken
* 4 green cardamoms 
* 2 tablespoon(s) cashewnuts
* 2 large onion(s) finely sliced
* 4 tablespoon(s) milk
* 1 cup(s) tomato puree
* 1 cup(s) water
* 2 tablespoon(s) grated paneer / cottage cheese (optional)
* 4 tablespoon(s) oil
salt to taste
fresh cream (optional) and finely chopped coriander leaves for garnishing 
 
In a pan roast together cumin seeds, coriander seeds, cinnamon, cardamoms and cashew nuts till they are aromatic. Fry the sliced onions on medium level till brown. Allow to cool. Grind together browned onions, roasted spices, green chilies and chopped ginger-garlic with a little water.
 
In a pan bring to boil the water along with some salt. Place the cleaned cauliflowers in hot water for about 10 minute(s). Remove from water, wash well and wipe dry. Heat half the oil in a heavy-bottomed pan till hot. Add the cauliflowers (flower side in oil). Cover and cook while stirring occasionally on medium level till the cauliflowers are browned lightly and cooked. Remove fried cauliflowers from the pan and keep aside.
 
Add the remaining oil, heat it till hot and fry the paste on medium level till the oil separates. Add the turmeric powder, hot spice mix (gram macula), red chili powder and fry for a few seconds. Add the tomato puree, water and sprinkle salt to taste. Mix well. Reduce the flame and add the milk slowly whilst stirring to get thick gravy. Stuff a little of this gravy in between the cauliflower florets and stems. Add some water to the remaining gravy to get a desired consistency. Add some of the chopped fresh coriander, grated paneer / cottage cheese (optional) and simmer for about 5 minutes.
 
Pour the Cauliflower in Indian Gravy into a bowl. Now place the stuffed cauliflowers in the same pan and pour the gravy over it evenly. Cover tightly and keep on low flame for about 5 minutes or till it is heated through fully. Alternatively arrange the cauliflowers topped with gravy on a serving plate and heat through in a preheated oven. For more details http://www.indomunch.com

Written by jaffar our expert of the day.

When it comes to preparing meals for your family, you may find that it is fun to get the kids involved. Sometimes, there are meals you will want to get the kids help with, and sometimes, you will want to be happy just letting them lick the proverbial spoon as you prepare the favorite dish. There are many reasons why allowing children to help in the kitchen is a good, healthy habit. One way you can get the little ones interested in what you are doing is to make some delicious, fun, and easy Mexican food.

Mexican pizza is a delicious favorite in my household. Everyone has a favorite way of preparing this delicious dish because it is just that popular. Take a look at this suggestion for a Mexican pizza! Please, feel free to alter to taste.

Ingredients Needed

> ½ cup corn meal

> ¼ cup canola oil, sunflower oil, or other vegetable oil

> 12 corn tortillas

> 2, 12 ounce cans of tomato sauce

> 2, 15 ounce cans of beans, Mexican style

> Fresh vegetables

> 4 cups of Mexican blended cheese or Monterey Jack cheese

When acid reflux becomes a regular part of life, the sufferer is commonly advised to change his or her diet. Try to avoid citrus, Try to avoid acids. See if changes make it better. So you try. You experiment. And all the time, you’re wishing there were acid reflux cure recipes.

You finally go looking for such, and you find that there are cookbooks that focus on eating to avoid acid reflux. The trouble is that neither you nor your doctor can say for sure that your current diet is the problem. You hate to put out money for an acid reflux cookbook only to learn that your acid reflux stems from another cause. You’d like to find someone that inserts one little word in the phrase acid reflux cure recipes.

Acid reflux FREE cure recipes!

If you could just find acid reflux free cure recipes, you would try them. If it turned out that they did help, you wouldn’t mind investing in one or two good acid reflux recipe cookbooks.

The author can’t take space here to give you a collection of acid reflux free cure recipes, but let me contribute to your search.

How to learn a language without going back to school.

NEW ITINERARIES CULTURAL ASSOCIATION is an Association of over twenty qualified teachers living in Tuscany who offer Italian Language and Culture Homestays to foreign students wishing to gain a better academic and working knowledge of the language.

As a guest, you will live in the home as one of the family and have daily tuition from one of the hosts who is a qualified and experienced teacher.

Since 1971, university students, opera singers, professionals and senior citizens participate in our homestay programs, using our individually-planned, tutor-to-student method.

WHAT WE TEACH

Italian grammar, with practical, everyday conversation based on the student’s personal interests and goals. Tutor and guest student plan lessons on basic, intermediate or advanced Italian linked to the history of art, music, history, commerce, literature and cooking.

WHERE THE TEACHING HOST FAMILIES LIVE

Accommodation is in comfortable homes of excellent quality, in or near Florence and the Chianti Wine Area.

WHY SHOULD I STUDY ITALIAN?

Enjoy the advantage of natural assimilation of the Italian language. Italian is a melodious and charming language. Enchanting to listen to, and a delight to speak.

Because my nephew loves these chicken gumbo recipes, I usually cook with these recipes. If you want to try to cook them, just go ahead. I’m sure you’ll love as well.

Chicken gumbo recipe #1

Ingredients:

1 chicken

4 slices bacon

1 dozen pods of okra

3 ears corn

1 onion

3 qts water

6 large tomates

2 Irish potatoes

Step by step:

Cut chicken into serving pieces

Fry four slices of bacon in pan. Lift out bacon, reserving the grease.

Dredge chicken with flour and saute in bacon grease.

Pour one quart of boiling water over chicken and cook until it falls from the bone.

While chicken is cooking, place vegetables in a pot with two quarts of water and cook until done.

When chicken is done, cut finely and add, along with liquid, to the vegetables.

Cook until thickened, season as desired and serve.

Chicken gumbo recipe #2

Ingredients:

2 5-ounce cans chunk white chicken

1 cup chopped green peppers

1 cup chopped onion

Although s’mores probably came into being not long after the commercial marshmallow was developed in the 1880s, the first published recipe appears in the 1940 Girl Scout Handbook. Today, it has been adapted into many interesting variations.

Good Old S’mores

* Hershey’s chocolate bar

* marshmallows

* graham crackers

Place half of a Hershey’s® Milk Chocolate bar onto a graham cracker half. Carefully toast a marshmallow over a grill or campfire. After the marshmallow is toasted a nice golden brown, place it on top of the chocolate bar half. Sandwich it with a second cracker half and gently press it together. Enjoy! Comment: Use Nestle’ crunch chocolate bar for nut lovers.

Melty S’mores

* Hershey’s chocolate bar

* marshmallows

* graham crackers

* aluminum foil

Sandwich marshmallow and chocolate between 2 graham crackers. Wrap in tinfoil. Place on top of fire and let it melt together nicely.

Cookie S’mores

* 1 package Keebler Fudge Stripes cookies

* 1 package large marshmallows