Joy of Cooking Recipes

Joy of Cooking recipes are still some of the most popular throughout the whole of America. The book "Joy of Cooking" was first released way back in 1931 by Irma Rombauer and since then it has been updated many times. It is one of the most talked about cookbooks because its recipes are easy to make and simple to follow. It has many sections which other cookbooks just don't deal with.

The Joy of Cooking book made a massive change about 13 years ago. It was the first time that they allowed recipes in there that were from other chefs and cooks. This didn't go down very well with the regular purchasers of the book. They said it had now become less friendly and some of the most popular recipes had been removed completely.

So taking this on board, the creator released another version very recently, which reverts back to her own unique style. This was to celebrate a whole 75 years since the book was first introduced and all the favourite sections were brought back too. Joy of Cooking recipes can be followed quite easily yet again in this new version, which brought satisfaction to many people.

You can grab a copy of the book from your local book store or shop online at places such as Amazon or even buy a copy from EBay if someone wants to sell their own copy. Joy of Cooking really brings good old fashioned home cooked recipes to you in a very easy to follow manner. That is why it has become so popular and will continue to do so in the future.

St. Patrick's Day Fun

Have a little "green" fun with the following activities your children are sure to enjoy.

Make Irish Toast - Simply get a piece of sliced bread and paint
shamrocks on it using a new, clean small tipped paintbrush and water mixed with green food coloring. Then pop it in the toaster and serve when lightly browned.

Make Shamrock Pancakes - Use a heart cookie cutter and cut 3 hearts out of the cooked pancake and form in a shamrock shape.

Make construction paper shamrocks - Cut 3 heart shapes out and arrange them in the shamrock shape and glue on construction paper. It is said that St Patrick used the three-leafed shamrock to explain the concept of the Trinity; which refers to the combination of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. This is said to be one reason for the strong association with St. Patrick's day and name.

Wear Green - This goes for parent and child.

Make Leprechaun Traps -give the children boxes, string, ribbons, tape, glue, sticks, wood and other craft materials to help them make a leprechaun trap have children set the traps before going to bed, then while they are sleeping you can leave gold wrapped chocolate coins or something else special in each childs trap.

Don't Flip Out - 5 Tips For Marketing Your Sunday Pancake Breakfast

The Sunday pancake breakfast is something of a tradition in many towns and cities across America. Churches, nonprofits, Boy Scouts, soccer leagues and a variety of other organizations look to this cooking event as a source of fund raising.

The marketing of a successful pancake breakfast requires some practical wisdom on how to make sure that you have properly prepared yourself for how things will unfold.

Your pancake breakfast will go off successfully. Five tips are provided.

Tip 1. Set The Guest List Well in Advance

The larger the size of your pancake breakfast event, the more crucial it will be to set the guest list well in advance. Most events have an attrition rate of somewhere between 10 and 30%. That means if you have 20 confirmed guests, expect that somewhere between 14 to 18 will actually show up.

Thus if you want 20 to show up, you'll probably need to have about 25 confirmed guests. Reaching your target on the number of confirmed guests means you'll need to invite more than that number. In many cases it will require far more than that number. 50% is a good approximate rule of thumb: so to get 25 to confirm will probably require inviting 50.

Tip 2: Delegate some of the Planning Responsibilities

Even if you could do it all yourself, you really don't want to! Most pancake breakfast events cater to medium to larger sized groups. Anything from ten to one hundred would be typical. This means that you will definitely need help in marketing the event and and the preparation for it.

Getting the right help from the right people means learning how to delegate. You want someone to handle the invitations, someone to book the venue (or at least be willing to host if it will be at someone's house), and several people to take responsibility for following up with guests to see if they really are going to show up.

Tip 3: Carefully Prepare the Agenda for What Happens after the Event

Most organizers who organize a pancake breakfast are not doing it for their love of pancakes. Most attendees who come to this sort of event are not doing it because of their love of pancakes either! The time-honored tradition is that this event serves some larger purpose.

In some cases it may be fund raising, in other cases volunteer generation or team building. Whatever the purpose, make sure that you carefully plan the block of time that will naturally arise as people wind down having their breakfast. Figure on a 10-30 minute window of time where you will have everyone's attention before folks start to trickle out.

If you have a fundraising pitch, you want it to be tightly focused and concise. If you are trying to recruit volunteers, have informational literature ready to distribute. Use that brief window of time for maximum advantage.

Tip 4: Secure the Ingredients the Night Before

In the area of event planning, it is good to remember that what can go wrong will in fact probably go wrong. Trying to buy the ingredients for morning before the breakfast is almost certainly a recipe for disaster! If you have successfully delegated (Tip 1), you'll have someone on hand to buy the ingredients the night before and to deliver those ingredients to the venue.

That way the morning of the event, the stress factor can drop appreciably. You should still plan on getting to that venue well in advance of when the guests are starting to arrive. There will always be at least one guest who will show up considerably early and so you would be well advised to be prepared.

Tip 5: Arrange a Conference Call with Your Team Members

A successful pancake breakfast operation requires teamwork. Particularly in the case of the larger event, you will almost definitely have a handful of people helping you pull everything together. It may be difficult to get everyone to meet in person and that is where teleconferencing comes in.

Holding a conference call with your pancake breakfast planning members is a great solution. These days there are a number of services that offer free conference calling and that means you can hold the phone conference for negligible expense.

When everyone calls in to the conference, use that opportunity to reiterate the roles and responsibilities that you have already delegated and to confirm the plan for the night before and morning of the event.

A well-planned pancake breakfast requires a lot of work. The suggestions outlined above in terms of delegation, advance planning and making intelligent use of collaboration tools like free conferencing can go a long way to ensuring a successful event.

5 Easy Tips to Picking Healthy Bread

It's common to hear people say among themselves, "Should I eat Multi-grain or whole grain? Does the bread have enough fibre in it? Should it be thin-sliced/low-carb?" Then again when we make decisions upon getting bread products such as muffins, pancakes, wraps, bagels, and a whole bunch of other choices - our heads often end up in a whirlpool as we don't know exactly what should we be buying!

Well, now let me share with you these wonderful tips for making a great choice then. The key is to keep your eyes pinned to the labels' nutritional facts/ingredients. This guide is absolutely simple, and it will surely help you navigate to make the healthiest choice.

#1 Let's identify the Types of Flour

Whole wheat flour is the no.1 ranker in bread as it is made off complete grain, including the germ and the bran. That means, you would receive naturally from the grain all the healthy benefits!

Enriched wheat flour is flour that has been artificially enriched with certain nutrients that are lost in the procession of bread-forming, this often includes minerals like niacin, vitamin D, iron, calcium etc. You can say that despite adding back some of these nutrients; the bread still does not contain germ nor bran and isn't as good as compared to the whole wheat flour!

Wheat flour looks and sounds similar to Whole wheat but does not contain the germ or the bran and therefore it is not entirely nutritious as whole wheat flour.

#2 Look out for the 'Words' on Labels

Often you see many types of words and ingredients listed on the labels - that keeps you confused as you don't know exactly what to look out for to have yourself make the best choice whilst seeking the healthier option. Therefore, look out for breads that have the word "Whole" on the label. Bread with words like "Whole grain, whole wheat, stone-ground whole wheat" are kings upon making choices. These are the products that provide you the entire health benefits - as well as entire germ and bran.

#3 Read out the Ingredients List in Hierarchical Order

When you look onto a list of ingredients on a bread package, make sure you read it from top to bottom. This is because the first ingredient mentioned is always the largest amount which then descends by weight down the list until the last few ingredients. So now you know if the word "Whole wheat" appears far at the bottom on the list - it probably means that it contains very little content of that, however if it appears FIRST on the list - it has got to be rich and full of that ingredient. Pick those types of bread!

#4 Avoid bread Ingredient-marketing Gimmicks!

Sometimes you pick bread and on their package captions you read "made with whole grains" - noticed carefully the words used and you would be able to see that most of the time these breads do not always contain whole wheat. For example, "Made with Whole Grains Gardenia White Bread" uses enriched wheat flour, and not whole wheat flour! Whole wheat only appears 4th on the list of ingredients after water. Would you prefer bread with more water than true good old wheat? I guess not.

#5 Serving Size

This is one portion that's many-a-time often unlooked! You have to check that out. Let's say if you were to reduce your calorie intake, choose bread with thinner slices as they weigh less. You have to decide the serving size depending on your personal goals and perspective towards what you want to get!

For example, if you pick Brand "A" bread which has a serving size of 38 grams and 100 calories per slice vs Brand "B" bread with a serving size of 27 grams and 70 calories per slice - in a loaf, you're actually cutting yourself down on 400+ calories!

I hope this article has added value in your search for making the right bread choices. Enjoy!

Sweet Treats For Diabetics

Choosing recipes can be difficult when you are a diabetic. We have compiled a few of our favorite sweet treat recipes for people with Diabetes. Hopefully you will see one that you can enjoy.

Mini Pancakes with Strawberry Sauce:

To create this recipe, you will need a cup of non-fat milk, a single egg-white, one teaspoon of vanilla, one cup of all purpose flour, one and a half teaspoons of baking powder, a pinch of salt, a pinch of cinnamon, a teaspoon of olive oil, and half a cup of low fat yogurt. To make the strawberry sauce, you will need a pint of frozen, unsweetened strawberries, half a cup of water, a tablespoon of granulated sugar, and two teaspoons of cornstarch.

The first step to making this recipe is to bring the strawberries, sugar, water and cornstarch to a boil in a sauce pan over medium to high heat. You only need to cook the sauce until it has thickened, which takes about a minute. Next, you will want to beat the milk, vanilla and egg white in a bowl. Add the flour, salt, cinnamon and baking powder and beat the entire mixture until it is well blended. You only need a small nonstick skillet, which you should heat until water sizzles freely within it. Brush the skillet with oil to keep the pancakes from sticking. Pour two tablespoons of battle into the skillet for each individual pancake, and cook for a minute before flipping over for thirty seconds. Once the pancakes are cooked, spoon the strawberry sauce over the pancakes and garnish them with the yogurt.

The Diabetic Exchange per Pancake: 1 Starch, ½ Milk, 1 Fruit/Vegetable.

Creamy Peach Omelets:

To create this recipe, you will need an 8-ounce package of low calorie cream cheese which has already been softened, eight eggs, a pinch of salt, two packets of artificial sweetener, a quarter cup of heavy cream, two tablespoons of diet margarine, and half a cup of peaches mixed with two packets of sweetener into a blender.

The first step to making this recipe is to combine everything except for the peaches and margarine into a bowl. Beat the ingredients until they are smooth, and then pour the egg mixture into melted margarine. Cook the mixture over low heat in an omelet pan, until the eggs have begun to set. Loosen the eggs with a spatula, then tilt the pan allowing the egg to spread to the sides of the pan. When the omelet's center is firm, spoon the peaches into the center and carefully fold the edges of the omelet into the center.

Buckwheat- Not For Pancakes- For Pillows!

A few years ago, when Americans began to hear about buckwheat pillows, they seemed to be a new fad. This was not, in fact, the case.

And no, this buckweat isn't really for breakfast. lol. More on that later.

Asian cultures have known of the benefits of sleeping on buckwheat pillows for hundreds of years.

In the 1980s that western culture began to realize that these benefits were real, inexpensive and helped provide a great night's sleep as well as to benefit them in other ways.

What are these buckwheat pillows made of? One may mistakenly think of buckwheat as a grain but it's really a fruit- and related to a rhubarb family. The product used as filling for these pillows of buckwheat is actually the hulls or husks that protect the kernels.

The hulls are roasted which removes the dust from the fields and husking process before being placed into pillow slips. This means that the buckwheat filling used in these pillows is natural, renewable, and quite inexpensive while providing exceptional support for the human body.

The husks from buckwheat do not pack down as many pillow fillings do, allowing air circulation through the pillow during sleep to regulate the temperature naturally.

In fact, under body weight the buckwheat husks grip one another meaning that you experience stable, passive support and weight distribution.

What this all means to you is that you will experience firm but comfortable support from buckwheat filled pillows.

It also means that your pillow filled with buckwheat will last a long, long time because there are no fibers to pack down and become worn.

In fact, the husks inside the pillow will polish themselves over years of use and retain 93% of this volume after years of use.

A pillow filled with buckwheat can last as long as ten years where an ordinary bed pillow needs to be replaced each two to three years!

These pillows filled with husks from buckwheat are not only effective in holding the head and neck in the right position for sleeping, they can be chilled in the freezer for applying cold therapy to painful areas and heated in the microwave for applying heat therapy for muscle strains and other pains.

Rather then use a heating pad that can cause burns or burns from prolonged cold, the pillow filled with buckwheat will hold the heat or cold long enough to be effective but the temperature will naturally adjust to room temperature before any harm to your skin can occur.

People who are concerned with using natural products will love these pillows because of the natural buckwheat husks that replace the fibers which may not be natural inside traditional pillows. Those who have allergies will love the fact that the filling in these pillows is 99% dust free. Very few people may experience allergies to buckwheat, because it's a rather rare allergy.

Some health care professionals have found that pillows filled with buckwheat help those suffering from migraine headaches, back injuries, neck problems and many other painful health problems relieve or reduce the patient's pain level significantly.

Pillows can be found made specifically in the right size and shape for use covering the eyes, supporting the neck, shoulder as well as for use a regular bed pillows.

Caring for a buckwheat filled pillow is so simple and easy!

Just place the uncovered pillow slip in the sunshine for a few hours. Most pillows have removable covers which can be laundered or fit into your standard pillow case which, of course, can be removed for washing.

Let's look at a few of the pillows filled with buckwheat that are available:

Makura (Japanese for pillow) Miracle Pillows are available that are sized to fit your standard pillow cases. These pillows often are labels "cervical pillows" because the ideal pillow supports the cervical vertebrae of the neck properly. The 26 X 20 inch dimensions are perfect for a standard bed pillow. If you prepare a smaller, more compact pillow, or perhaps want a travel pillow you can take with you, you'll want to consider the 21 X 14 inch size. Each pillow filled with buckwheat comes with its own zippered pillow liner and its own pillow case. For smaller pillows, extra pillow cases can be ordered.

Some buckwheat filled pillows, often called rejuvenator pillows, have four snaps in that form a square in the center portion of the pillow. These snaps can be closed or opened to provide exactly the configuration that feels best for you. One snap, two snaps, three or all four can be left opened or closed, creating your very own "custom" pillow configuration.

The Horseshoe U-Shaped Pillow is another buckwheat filled product that many people enjoy for travel, relaxing or even for sleep. This U-shaped pillow supports the neck and head while in a sitting position. Even riding in the car as a passenger for long distances can be made more comfortable with this U-shaped design. These pillows often are seen with fuzzy covers that are removable for cleaning.

The comfort roll style buckwheat filled pillow is often used by Shiatsu massage professionals for the perfect support provided to the neck. These pillows are round and long, like a bedroll to fit underneath the neck. Perfect for lower back support or under knees, these pillows look like boudoir pillows and come in many different coverings.

The wrist pillow is a design used to support the wrist when typing on a computer. These long, thin pillows keep the wrist in the right position to help prevent carpal tunnel syndrome when used regularly.

No matter which pillow filled with buckwheat is right for you; you'll soon learn you can't live without them. They are so comfortable and last so long, you'll want to buy at least one in each shape and size!

You may be able to find these pillows at your local retailers, but you'll really get the best selection and prices when you shop for them online, where competition makes you the winner!

Chinese Food - Peking Duck Recipe

Peking Duck is one of the most famous Chinese foods originating from the ancient royal courts. For centuries, the best Chinese chefs trained extensively in order to make sure that they could present this delicacy properly to the Emperor. In fact, their very lives depended on it. Today, no chef will lose his life for messing up his Peking Duck recipe but his self-esteem will be sorely dented. However, with attention to detail, a modern day Peking Duck can be a feast fit for royalty. Here's just one of the many up to date Peking Duck recipes:

Ingredients

1 3.5 - 4 lb duck (fresh or frozen)
2 pints water
3 tbsp dark soy sauce
3 tbsp honey
5 fl oz rice wine (you can use dry sherry)
1 lemon

To serve:

8 - 12 Chinese Pancakes
4 - 6 tbsp hoisin sauce
16 - 24 spring onions (cut into thin slivers lengthwise or into brushes)

In China, ducks are specially raised on a diet of soybeans, maize, sorghum and barley for just six weeks, when they are ready for cooking.

Normally, the preparation of Peking Duck is rather time consuming and complex. The duck must be cleaned and plucked thoroughly, then air should be piped in to separate the skin from the flesh which let the skin roast to a lovely crispness. While the duck dries a sugar solution is brushed over the duck and it is then roasted in a wood fired oven. However, with our modern life styles being what they are, this Peking Duck recipe is rather less complicated.

Rinse and dry the duck thoroughly, blotting with kitchen paper.

Mix the water, dark soy sauce, honey and rice wine together and combine with the lemon cut into thick slices and bring to the boil then simmer for about 20 minutes. Ladle the mixture over the duck several times, ensuring that the skin is thoroughly coated. Hang the duck up to dry somewhere cool and well ventilated with a roasting tin beneath it to catch any drips. When the duck is properly dry the skin will feel like paper.

Roast the duck on a rack over a roasting tin in which you have water to a depth of about two inches (this stops the

fat splashing), in a pre-heated oven 475ºF, 240ºC, Gas 9 for 15 minutes. Turn the oven temperature down to 350ºF, 180ºC, Gas 4 and continue cooking for 1 hour, 10 minutes.

Let the duck rest for about fifteen minutes before serving. You can carve the meat and skin into pieces using a knife or cleaver or you can shred it with a spoon and fork.

Serve the duck with warmed Chinese pancakes, spring onions and hoisin sauce.

Each diner takes a pancake, spreads on a little hoisin sauce then tops that with some meat and crispy skin followed by a spring onion brush or some strips of spring onion. The pancake and contents are then rolled up into a tube and eaten either with one's fingers or with chopsticks.

Even this simple version of the classic Peking Duck makes a very special dinner party dish, fit for an Emperor.