How To Cook That Succulent And Juicy Turkey
by: Kathy Smith
The centerpiece of your Thanksgiving meal would be the roasted turkey &
it has been the king of your dinner table ever since Thanksgiving
traditions began in the US. There really are lots of great recipes out
there on how to roast turkey right but take note that the simpler the
roast turkey recipe is, the better. It's best to just have the basic
ingredients so that your turkey really will still taste like that of
turkey & not like the other ingredients that you're using.
The dressing still is considered the best accompaniment to your turkey
then it is followed a close 2nd by some mashed potatoes, deviled eggs &
the potato salad. With those dishes to accompany your turkey for sure
you'll have a really delicious dinner which is good but turkey should
still be left just the way it is, taste should still be that of turkey.
Most people usually wake up very early during Thanksgiving and they cook
their turkey within a couple of hours & then wonder why their turkey
turned out a bit tough. Actually turkey's best cooked overnight so that
you'll achieve that roasted turkey that is full of flavor & so lusciously
tender to the bite.
Cooking turkey overnight on your gas-fueled oven at low settings is
really best but it is also a bit risky. It makes me stay awake overnight
when roasting turkey inside the gas oven. I set its temp. at around 200
deg. F then at about 7AM, I just turn up temp. to around 350 deg. F and
let the cooking finish within 2 hrs.
You could try & cook your turkey on the day itself when you'll serve them
up using an electrically operated oven but you'll be sacrificing its
flavor & it won't be tender at all. Again, cooking your turkey overnight
still is one of the best things to do.
Although cooking electrically is less risky when doing overnight cooking,
it really is more expensive. Since you'll be doing the cooking for the
whole day, then temperatures will rise a bit in your kitchen. Using your
electric roaster is actually one great way of cooking your turkey. It is
not as expensive as using those gas ranges and it's safer compared to
those gas ovens. Also it creates lesser heat compared to the gas &
electrically operated oven.
Just place your turkey inside your roaster at around 11PM & cover turkey
using lots of margarine. Season with pepper and salt. Temperature should
then be set to around 200 deg. F. Then you could now go back to sleep
without worrying about anything.
If sometimes during the middle of the night you wake up, then baste your
turkey prior to going right back to sleep. Next morning when you're
waking up at 7AM, turn your temp. to around 350 deg. F. then baste turkey
for about 2-3 times during the last hours of cooking.
Your bird will cook after 3 hrs, and for sure the bird will really be
tender and "fall of the bones" tender. So use your roaster because it's
the ideal way of cooking your turkey & save you much money and will give
you that succulent and juicy Turkey for your centerpiece.
About The Author
Kathy is a food Lover! You can check out her very popular Thanksgiving
Recipes website where she shares some of her Thanksgiving Stuffing
Recipes and Thanksgiving Turkey Recipes on http://www.quickthanksgivingrecipes.com
The author invites you to visit: http://www.quickthanksgivingrecipes.com
A festive blog with lots of ideas on how to make a party great, or keep it from going south. Themes, recipes, do's and don'ts, and any other helpful information I've stumbled across and thought you readers might appreciate.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Great Suggestions For A Fun Thanksgiving Dinner
Great Suggestions For A Fun Thanksgiving Dinner
by: Mary Walsh
Searching for that great idea on what needs to be done on Thanksgiving
night? Thought about planning or hosting that Thanksgiving dinner and
planning to invite your family, friends, neighbors, maybe just about
everyone close to you. You may feel just a tiny bit overwhelmed on
thinking about what exactly should you be doing during Thanksgiving night.
Thanksgiving isn't just about food but rather it's the time spent with
people who are most important to you. You could allow them to enjoy
making some crafts together, maybe jump into some pile of autumn leaves,
watch that big game, or involve them in some games like Pictionary and
don't forget saying your poems and prayers for Thanksgiving, talking
about what made them feel great over the past few months because
Thanksgiving is supposed to be all about thanking the one above for the
blessings that you have received.
But of course aside from spending time with people close to your heart it
also means that juicy mouth watering turkey will be served altogether
with that perfect stuffing, or freshly made cranberry red sauce, or that
melt inside your mouth pumpkin-pie.
By tradition, celebrating Thanksgiving night usually involves the turkey,
pumpkin-pie, sweet potato dishes, freshly made cranberry red sauce then
some stuffing. But how about celebrating Thanksgiving nights with just a
twist, create favorite Thanksgiving recipes with something exciting and
unique but not deviating or going overboard on the traditionally plan set
of menu.
For starters try something different by serving your guests some
appetizers and some drinks. This usually isn't considered as one kind of
Thanksgiving tradition but you may start this tradition with just your
guests. Try serving crackers with cheese, then maybe create cheese balls
that looks alot like turkeys then offer them some hot drink of apple and
cinnamon cider and include some spike by putting liquor for those adults,
perhaps some wine for them to taste, and for your little guests create
some red-orange punch with bits of fruits.
You may stick to just your special turkey as your main food during
Thanksgiving meal; then try cranking it up by including some special
delectable spices, fresh lemon squeezed juices, orange flavors, some
liquor, walnuts and cranberries, or just about anything that you think
would simply compliment the turkey dish. Some fantastic turkey recipe
alternatives includes roasted ham with bits of pineapple, herb flavored
roasted chicken, or roasted beef draped with that delicious gravy sauce.
Twist your ordinary cranberry red sauce with something different by
mixing some fruits or including some berries like raspberries and other
fruits that goes perfectly well with you dish.
Create those starch recipes of your Thanksgiving night, by making that
sweet potato recipe with marshmallows on it with sugar (brown) and some
walnuts for extra flavor, some herbs, onions, spices, bits of bacon,
cheese altogether with just that gravy turkey, mashed tasty potatoes.
Include warm vegetables together with those dishes, like broccolis with
cheese melted in perfection or some medley of vegetables and herbs. Don't
just stick to those traditionally tossed green salads, shake them up some
more by including a blend of strawberries, cranberries, seeds, walnuts,
raisins, carrots that were shredded, onions or that delicious cheese
together with some sweet rich balsamic vinegar for your dressing.
Baking pumpkin-pie for your dessert isn't your only option. You may
choose from pie alternatives like apple-cinnamon pie with some spices, or
some rhubarb or strawberry pie, plain cheesecakes together with walnuts
and warmed caramel just drizzling at the top, cheesecakes with some
pumpkin on it, or those small pumpkin tarts or pies, carrot luscious cake
that is spiced together with creamed cheese, and then some muffins made
of carrots. Try including some variety, by turning your favorite recipes
into something extraordinary delectable delights for your future
Thanksgiving nights. Enjoy!
About The Author
Jaydon is a food fanatic! You can check out his very popular Thanksgiving
Recipes website where he shares some of his Thanksgiving Cooking Recipes
and Thanksgiving Day Recipes on http://www.quickthanksgivingrecipes.com
The author invites you to visit: http://www.greatappetizerecipes.com
by: Mary Walsh
Searching for that great idea on what needs to be done on Thanksgiving
night? Thought about planning or hosting that Thanksgiving dinner and
planning to invite your family, friends, neighbors, maybe just about
everyone close to you. You may feel just a tiny bit overwhelmed on
thinking about what exactly should you be doing during Thanksgiving night.
Thanksgiving isn't just about food but rather it's the time spent with
people who are most important to you. You could allow them to enjoy
making some crafts together, maybe jump into some pile of autumn leaves,
watch that big game, or involve them in some games like Pictionary and
don't forget saying your poems and prayers for Thanksgiving, talking
about what made them feel great over the past few months because
Thanksgiving is supposed to be all about thanking the one above for the
blessings that you have received.
But of course aside from spending time with people close to your heart it
also means that juicy mouth watering turkey will be served altogether
with that perfect stuffing, or freshly made cranberry red sauce, or that
melt inside your mouth pumpkin-pie.
By tradition, celebrating Thanksgiving night usually involves the turkey,
pumpkin-pie, sweet potato dishes, freshly made cranberry red sauce then
some stuffing. But how about celebrating Thanksgiving nights with just a
twist, create favorite Thanksgiving recipes with something exciting and
unique but not deviating or going overboard on the traditionally plan set
of menu.
For starters try something different by serving your guests some
appetizers and some drinks. This usually isn't considered as one kind of
Thanksgiving tradition but you may start this tradition with just your
guests. Try serving crackers with cheese, then maybe create cheese balls
that looks alot like turkeys then offer them some hot drink of apple and
cinnamon cider and include some spike by putting liquor for those adults,
perhaps some wine for them to taste, and for your little guests create
some red-orange punch with bits of fruits.
You may stick to just your special turkey as your main food during
Thanksgiving meal; then try cranking it up by including some special
delectable spices, fresh lemon squeezed juices, orange flavors, some
liquor, walnuts and cranberries, or just about anything that you think
would simply compliment the turkey dish. Some fantastic turkey recipe
alternatives includes roasted ham with bits of pineapple, herb flavored
roasted chicken, or roasted beef draped with that delicious gravy sauce.
Twist your ordinary cranberry red sauce with something different by
mixing some fruits or including some berries like raspberries and other
fruits that goes perfectly well with you dish.
Create those starch recipes of your Thanksgiving night, by making that
sweet potato recipe with marshmallows on it with sugar (brown) and some
walnuts for extra flavor, some herbs, onions, spices, bits of bacon,
cheese altogether with just that gravy turkey, mashed tasty potatoes.
Include warm vegetables together with those dishes, like broccolis with
cheese melted in perfection or some medley of vegetables and herbs. Don't
just stick to those traditionally tossed green salads, shake them up some
more by including a blend of strawberries, cranberries, seeds, walnuts,
raisins, carrots that were shredded, onions or that delicious cheese
together with some sweet rich balsamic vinegar for your dressing.
Baking pumpkin-pie for your dessert isn't your only option. You may
choose from pie alternatives like apple-cinnamon pie with some spices, or
some rhubarb or strawberry pie, plain cheesecakes together with walnuts
and warmed caramel just drizzling at the top, cheesecakes with some
pumpkin on it, or those small pumpkin tarts or pies, carrot luscious cake
that is spiced together with creamed cheese, and then some muffins made
of carrots. Try including some variety, by turning your favorite recipes
into something extraordinary delectable delights for your future
Thanksgiving nights. Enjoy!
About The Author
Jaydon is a food fanatic! You can check out his very popular Thanksgiving
Recipes website where he shares some of his Thanksgiving Cooking Recipes
and Thanksgiving Day Recipes on http://www.quickthanksgivingrecipes.com
The author invites you to visit: http://www.greatappetizerecipes.com
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Luau Party Planning-Bring the Tropical Islands Home
Luau Party Planning-Bring the Tropical Islands Home
by: James Craven
Luau party planning is an excellent idea to move forward with. If you
love the idea of flowers, bright colors, Hawaiian music, grass skirts,
tiki torches and luau or hula dancers you are in for the time of your
life. It's the ultimate tropical illusion set perfectly in your home or
yard and would make you the hit of the neighborhood. So go ahead and take
your planning to the next stage because this article is dedicated solely
on how to make your tropical island dreams a reality.
Party planning is best if taken one step at a time and luau party
planning is no different. Your first step should be in creating a
checklist to keep track of all the key factors, including: budget, venue,
guest list, food and decorations. Once you have created your checklist,
you must decide on a budget that is workable. You can keep the price tag
relatively cheap, if kept at home and your guest list is under 25. If you
plan on having a large party you might want to consider defraying some of
the cost by asking some of your guests to bring some of the party items,
i.e. food and drink.
A luau calls for a creative invitation. You may want to think about
having them professionally made, giving you the choice between some
already prepared invites. Or if you had something special in mind, have
them created per your imagination. You could also go online and have them
sent out via e-mail. There are some great services that provide excellent
choices for any type of party. If you decide to craft them yourself go
with bright colors and maybe a picture of a hula dancer. Try and create
the right mood. This will certainly catch the interest of those you are
trying to invite.
Once you have the invitations sent out and the parties venue picked out,
start choosing your decorations. You are going to want to have the right
ambience set for the party. In order to create that festive atmosphere
and Hawaiian feel use a lot of candles, balloons, and tropical
adornments. Hawaiian music is an awesome mood setter too.
When choosing your food, go with the tropical variety. Some choices to
consider are; pineapples, mango, coconuts, fruit drinks, tropical drinks,
wine coolers, roast pork, veggie kabobs, rice and salad.
An important factor in making your luau party planning a success is by
having the right entertainment. There are many ways to make this work. If
you have the funds, hire a hula dancer for the evening. A Hawaiian band
would also be a great choice. If you can't find one in your area you
could always hire a DJ. There are also many other things you can do to
bring the Big Island home. There are outdoor games you could play. A
favorite would be crab football. The rules are similar to soccer except
you use a large inflatable ball and everyone walks or tries to run like
crabs. This is done by placing your hands down in front of you and
scurrying around. It is fun to play and even more fun to watch. Another
cool thing you can do is add body art. The kids will absolutely love the
idea of having their faces painted and maybe some of the adults will too
once they've had a few drinks.
Luau's are definitely a great time. You can expect a lot of playful fun
and laughter. When the time comes and the guests arrive at the door give
them the added surprise by wearing a grass skirt and a ring of flowers or
lei around your neck. The cameras will surely snap. Then take it a step
further and place a lei around their neck. It'll be your turn to take
pictures and it'll be the beginning of a party long to be remembered.
About The Author
James Craven is a party planning expert. For more information regarding
luau party planning visit: PlanningParty.net
The author invites you to visit: http://www.planningparty.net
by: James Craven
Luau party planning is an excellent idea to move forward with. If you
love the idea of flowers, bright colors, Hawaiian music, grass skirts,
tiki torches and luau or hula dancers you are in for the time of your
life. It's the ultimate tropical illusion set perfectly in your home or
yard and would make you the hit of the neighborhood. So go ahead and take
your planning to the next stage because this article is dedicated solely
on how to make your tropical island dreams a reality.
Party planning is best if taken one step at a time and luau party
planning is no different. Your first step should be in creating a
checklist to keep track of all the key factors, including: budget, venue,
guest list, food and decorations. Once you have created your checklist,
you must decide on a budget that is workable. You can keep the price tag
relatively cheap, if kept at home and your guest list is under 25. If you
plan on having a large party you might want to consider defraying some of
the cost by asking some of your guests to bring some of the party items,
i.e. food and drink.
A luau calls for a creative invitation. You may want to think about
having them professionally made, giving you the choice between some
already prepared invites. Or if you had something special in mind, have
them created per your imagination. You could also go online and have them
sent out via e-mail. There are some great services that provide excellent
choices for any type of party. If you decide to craft them yourself go
with bright colors and maybe a picture of a hula dancer. Try and create
the right mood. This will certainly catch the interest of those you are
trying to invite.
Once you have the invitations sent out and the parties venue picked out,
start choosing your decorations. You are going to want to have the right
ambience set for the party. In order to create that festive atmosphere
and Hawaiian feel use a lot of candles, balloons, and tropical
adornments. Hawaiian music is an awesome mood setter too.
When choosing your food, go with the tropical variety. Some choices to
consider are; pineapples, mango, coconuts, fruit drinks, tropical drinks,
wine coolers, roast pork, veggie kabobs, rice and salad.
An important factor in making your luau party planning a success is by
having the right entertainment. There are many ways to make this work. If
you have the funds, hire a hula dancer for the evening. A Hawaiian band
would also be a great choice. If you can't find one in your area you
could always hire a DJ. There are also many other things you can do to
bring the Big Island home. There are outdoor games you could play. A
favorite would be crab football. The rules are similar to soccer except
you use a large inflatable ball and everyone walks or tries to run like
crabs. This is done by placing your hands down in front of you and
scurrying around. It is fun to play and even more fun to watch. Another
cool thing you can do is add body art. The kids will absolutely love the
idea of having their faces painted and maybe some of the adults will too
once they've had a few drinks.
Luau's are definitely a great time. You can expect a lot of playful fun
and laughter. When the time comes and the guests arrive at the door give
them the added surprise by wearing a grass skirt and a ring of flowers or
lei around your neck. The cameras will surely snap. Then take it a step
further and place a lei around their neck. It'll be your turn to take
pictures and it'll be the beginning of a party long to be remembered.
About The Author
James Craven is a party planning expert. For more information regarding
luau party planning visit: PlanningParty.net
The author invites you to visit: http://www.planningparty.net
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Cocktail Party Planning-Drinks Before Dinner
Cocktail Party Planning-Drinks Before Dinner
by: James Craven
The definition of a cocktail party hasn't changed. It is still considered
an early evening or late afternoon party where drinks are served in a
socially active atmosphere. The picture is clear. There are no real
hurdles to cross, making it fairly simple to prepare for. So take the
bull by the horns and make your cocktail party planning a success.
A good cocktail party can be a lot of fun. The guests are bursting with
energy, crackling with conversation and slowly sipping their drinks. The
scene is all so familiar. The night is young, the appetizers are
delicious and so is the taste of the alcohol. Everyone is either laughing
or deep in conversation, whilst the host is preparing another drink. The
crowd shifts towards the deck, where a group is bursting with laughter
from some old joke. These are good times that create fond memories.
Whether it be between family and friends or the more common cocktail
party for business or corporate gatherings. It matters little, because
the actual cocktail party planning is the same. It is fairly simple and
easy to prepare for.
There are a few decisions to be made pertaining to the type of cocktail
party you would like to have. It normally depends on who you plan on
inviting. Such as, if it were to be mainly business associates you may
want to have everyone arrive in formal attire. If it were going to be
family, the decision on how to dress is best left up to them, unless you
had other plans where the party itself was a prelude to a long night out
on the town. Whatever your choice of dress, the rest is your basic
pattern of cocktail party planning.
The best place to start is with your guest list. From there, send out
your invitations. Once you have a rounded number of approximate guests,
you can figure on the amount of food and drink. Of course, it is always
best to have more instead of less, so when doing your shopping make sure
you spend more than what is needed, while not breaking your planned
budget. Also while you are out shopping, you may want to purchase some
flowers to match the table cloth and add some other decorations, if you
are so inclined. Flowers are always a nice touch to any table and I
highly recommend adding them.
Now that you have the desired ingredients or readymade appetizers to go
along with the wine, champagne, booze and/or beer you may begin getting
the living room ready for some heavy foot traffic. If not the living
room, then maybe the deck or the pool house would be ideal. Wherever you
choose be sure you are able to provide ample seating for all the guests,
along with glassware. Since you will be serving a large amount of drinks
you may want to hire a bartender for the evening. It isn't good practice
at a cocktail party to have everyone pour their own drinks, so the job
would ultimately fall on the host. If you would rather spend the night
laughing and giggling, mingling and bouncing from one conversation to the
next it would be a headache saved and a good time made by hiring out. You
could easily find someone to work behind the bar for a fair amount or you
may get lucky and have one of your friends opt-in for the job. Although
this would be my preference it is not to say you would not enjoy serving
drinks. The bartender is surely very popular at all occasions and gets
plenty of attention, but as host more than just drinks must be served.
The appetizers are an important part of any cocktail party. So make sure
you get it right by having enough to last. If dinner is not in the plans
for the evening, expect more to be eaten and faster. If dinner is
planned, then figure on just the opposite.
Cocktail parties are great social events. If you are making plans, don't
plan on having fun. It just happens!
About The Author
James Craven is a party planning expert. For more information regarding
party planning visit: www.PlanningParty.net
The author invites you to visit: http://www.planningparty.net
by: James Craven
The definition of a cocktail party hasn't changed. It is still considered
an early evening or late afternoon party where drinks are served in a
socially active atmosphere. The picture is clear. There are no real
hurdles to cross, making it fairly simple to prepare for. So take the
bull by the horns and make your cocktail party planning a success.
A good cocktail party can be a lot of fun. The guests are bursting with
energy, crackling with conversation and slowly sipping their drinks. The
scene is all so familiar. The night is young, the appetizers are
delicious and so is the taste of the alcohol. Everyone is either laughing
or deep in conversation, whilst the host is preparing another drink. The
crowd shifts towards the deck, where a group is bursting with laughter
from some old joke. These are good times that create fond memories.
Whether it be between family and friends or the more common cocktail
party for business or corporate gatherings. It matters little, because
the actual cocktail party planning is the same. It is fairly simple and
easy to prepare for.
There are a few decisions to be made pertaining to the type of cocktail
party you would like to have. It normally depends on who you plan on
inviting. Such as, if it were to be mainly business associates you may
want to have everyone arrive in formal attire. If it were going to be
family, the decision on how to dress is best left up to them, unless you
had other plans where the party itself was a prelude to a long night out
on the town. Whatever your choice of dress, the rest is your basic
pattern of cocktail party planning.
The best place to start is with your guest list. From there, send out
your invitations. Once you have a rounded number of approximate guests,
you can figure on the amount of food and drink. Of course, it is always
best to have more instead of less, so when doing your shopping make sure
you spend more than what is needed, while not breaking your planned
budget. Also while you are out shopping, you may want to purchase some
flowers to match the table cloth and add some other decorations, if you
are so inclined. Flowers are always a nice touch to any table and I
highly recommend adding them.
Now that you have the desired ingredients or readymade appetizers to go
along with the wine, champagne, booze and/or beer you may begin getting
the living room ready for some heavy foot traffic. If not the living
room, then maybe the deck or the pool house would be ideal. Wherever you
choose be sure you are able to provide ample seating for all the guests,
along with glassware. Since you will be serving a large amount of drinks
you may want to hire a bartender for the evening. It isn't good practice
at a cocktail party to have everyone pour their own drinks, so the job
would ultimately fall on the host. If you would rather spend the night
laughing and giggling, mingling and bouncing from one conversation to the
next it would be a headache saved and a good time made by hiring out. You
could easily find someone to work behind the bar for a fair amount or you
may get lucky and have one of your friends opt-in for the job. Although
this would be my preference it is not to say you would not enjoy serving
drinks. The bartender is surely very popular at all occasions and gets
plenty of attention, but as host more than just drinks must be served.
The appetizers are an important part of any cocktail party. So make sure
you get it right by having enough to last. If dinner is not in the plans
for the evening, expect more to be eaten and faster. If dinner is
planned, then figure on just the opposite.
Cocktail parties are great social events. If you are making plans, don't
plan on having fun. It just happens!
About The Author
James Craven is a party planning expert. For more information regarding
party planning visit: www.PlanningParty.net
The author invites you to visit: http://www.planningparty.net
Monday, October 26, 2009
Party Planning Checklist-A Party Planner's Bible
Party Planning Checklist-A Party Planner's Bible
by: James Craven
You're about to start planning a party, but don't know where to start.
You run to the grocery store, looking at this and that, deciding on a few
things you may need, knowing the whole time you've forgotten something.
Now it's time to head over to the local department store for some
decorations. You follow the same unguided principles you went through at
the grocery store. Then once again you missed a few things at the liquor
store. You've also forgotten to send invitations to so and so and a few
others and the party is only a few days away. Suddenly you find yourself
scrambling back to all the same stores trying to find the items you
missed the first time around. Then out of nowhere the night of the party
arrives and you realize you don't have enough food for all the invited
guests. Then the worst possible thing happens, you hear a knock at the
front door. It's as if a new and frightening nightmare has blossomed out
of thin air. You feel the shakes coming on and your stress level is
reaching new and incredible heights. I could go even further, but I think
you get the idea. If only you had begun your planning by keeping track of
all that you need, every purchased item and menu dishes prepared. If only
you had made a party planning checklist none of the awful party mistakes
listed above would have happened. Now that I've gotten the point across
about how important a checklist is I will now inform you about what it
needs in order to make it work.
A party planning checklist should consist of the type of party you plan
on having, it's budget, the guest list, venue, decorations, food and
beverages and the time and date of your party. Start by writing yourself
a header. Something like, 'Luau party planning checklist', will do just
nicely. The reason it's a good idea to create a headline is it will make
it more difficult to deviate from your parties theme if you keep reading
it over and over.
The next aspect of your checklist should definitely be your budget.
Creating a budget and keeping track of all your spending is very
important. Your budget will be the key reason for many of your up and
coming party decisions. The checklist is a way of keeping everything in
order so you don't overspend in one area and leave another area short.
The item listed after the budget on the party planning checklist is
usually your venue choice. If you are planning to have the party away
from home the venue choice will cost money and will come out of your
budget and a time will have to be arranged for decorations and so forth.
If your party is going to be at home, and you have to hire a professional
to come and clean some unwanted stains out of your rug the parties budget
will be affected, making it an important listing in your checklist. Of
course, if your home needs nothing besides some freshening up you may
leave it off your list for now.
The checklist is about to be hammered with information and the reason for
this is you're about to create your guest list. Here you should write out
the invitees names, phone numbers and addresses. You will be needing this
information for the invitations and it makes it much easier than trying
to look through your address book and try and remember who was invited,
what their numbers are and where they live.
The menu should be added once you have completed the above. Now you will
have a clear idea as to what you need and how much. List the items you
need, then check them off the list once purchased, while also keeping
track of prices. The same goes for decorations.
The information listed above should help prevent problems created by
trying to 'wing it'. If not, there is plenty of available information out
there, you just have to know where to look.
Good luck on your up and coming party and have a great time.
About The Author
James Craven is a party planning expert with over 20 years experience.
For more information and valuable tips on party planning checklist visit:
PartyPlanning.net
The author invites you to visit: http://www.planningparty.net
by: James Craven
You're about to start planning a party, but don't know where to start.
You run to the grocery store, looking at this and that, deciding on a few
things you may need, knowing the whole time you've forgotten something.
Now it's time to head over to the local department store for some
decorations. You follow the same unguided principles you went through at
the grocery store. Then once again you missed a few things at the liquor
store. You've also forgotten to send invitations to so and so and a few
others and the party is only a few days away. Suddenly you find yourself
scrambling back to all the same stores trying to find the items you
missed the first time around. Then out of nowhere the night of the party
arrives and you realize you don't have enough food for all the invited
guests. Then the worst possible thing happens, you hear a knock at the
front door. It's as if a new and frightening nightmare has blossomed out
of thin air. You feel the shakes coming on and your stress level is
reaching new and incredible heights. I could go even further, but I think
you get the idea. If only you had begun your planning by keeping track of
all that you need, every purchased item and menu dishes prepared. If only
you had made a party planning checklist none of the awful party mistakes
listed above would have happened. Now that I've gotten the point across
about how important a checklist is I will now inform you about what it
needs in order to make it work.
A party planning checklist should consist of the type of party you plan
on having, it's budget, the guest list, venue, decorations, food and
beverages and the time and date of your party. Start by writing yourself
a header. Something like, 'Luau party planning checklist', will do just
nicely. The reason it's a good idea to create a headline is it will make
it more difficult to deviate from your parties theme if you keep reading
it over and over.
The next aspect of your checklist should definitely be your budget.
Creating a budget and keeping track of all your spending is very
important. Your budget will be the key reason for many of your up and
coming party decisions. The checklist is a way of keeping everything in
order so you don't overspend in one area and leave another area short.
The item listed after the budget on the party planning checklist is
usually your venue choice. If you are planning to have the party away
from home the venue choice will cost money and will come out of your
budget and a time will have to be arranged for decorations and so forth.
If your party is going to be at home, and you have to hire a professional
to come and clean some unwanted stains out of your rug the parties budget
will be affected, making it an important listing in your checklist. Of
course, if your home needs nothing besides some freshening up you may
leave it off your list for now.
The checklist is about to be hammered with information and the reason for
this is you're about to create your guest list. Here you should write out
the invitees names, phone numbers and addresses. You will be needing this
information for the invitations and it makes it much easier than trying
to look through your address book and try and remember who was invited,
what their numbers are and where they live.
The menu should be added once you have completed the above. Now you will
have a clear idea as to what you need and how much. List the items you
need, then check them off the list once purchased, while also keeping
track of prices. The same goes for decorations.
The information listed above should help prevent problems created by
trying to 'wing it'. If not, there is plenty of available information out
there, you just have to know where to look.
Good luck on your up and coming party and have a great time.
About The Author
James Craven is a party planning expert with over 20 years experience.
For more information and valuable tips on party planning checklist visit:
PartyPlanning.net
The author invites you to visit: http://www.planningparty.net
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Party Planning Information-The Party Starts Here
Party Planning Information-The Party Starts Here
by: James Craven
The days of your youth are at an end. Back then party planning was so
simple anyone could do it. Unfortunately things must change. You've grown
up and things no longer come as easy. Actual planning must be strategized
in order for your party to produce a success. The best way to insure a
great party today is by examining the possibilities. The party planning
information you will discover here takes you bounding through time to the
here and now, gleefully leaving your childhood behind, into a world of
alcohol, great food and variations of intense partying that'll fit any
mood or personality.
This strategy of party planning is for those looking to create a more
formal affair. If you want to revert back to your youth, you can
certainly make some phone calls and tell your friends to bring the beer
and the chips because the party is at your place tonight. Otherwise, read
on, because the party planning information you are looking for starts now.
There are 6 basic steps in party planning that you must consider.
The 6 basic stages of preparation are:
1) Checklist: The creation of a checklist is a vitally important tip for
anyone who plans on having a party. It is imperative to keep track of all
your party preparations. In order to eliminate the inevitable stress,
create a checklist, then use it.
2) Deciding on the type of party: For most people the idea for a party
developed long before the date for the event was scheduled. This is true
in most cases, but not all. There are many different types of parties,
including: theme, luau, surprise, baby shower, wedding, bachelor,
surprise, etc. If you've decided to have a party, but don't know what
type, now is the time to make a choice. Once you've come to a decision,
write the name down on a piece of paper and entitle it (your party
choice) checklist.
3) The Budget is a major step: This is the step that has a direct impact
on most of your coming decisions. Your budget size decides the size of
your party, where it will be held, what type of food and beverages you
will serve and whether or not you will be adding decorations.
4) The Venue is next: Where you want to have your party should be next in
your party planning. This decision is not always an easy one. If you have
a large guest list and the accommodations will in no way be adequate,
renting a space may be your only choice. However, if your budget is
limited, don't be shy in asking for help from relatives and friends.
Remember this is a party you are having and your guests will more than
likely be willing to help.
5) The Guest list should now be formulated: Now that the other big
decisions have been covered you can begin the actual guest list. You
should now know whether or not your party will be big or small, at home
or abroad. With this information in hand, the who and the how many on
your guest list should be jotted down on your checklist. The invitations
should now be sent. The partying is soon to begin and the excitement is
definitely building at this point.
6) The Food and Beverage Menu: With all the other planning accomplished
the menu should now be sorted. Take great care in your food planning.
This is an area where people tend to make mistakes and find themselves
either running short or running out at the last minute to grab something
they've forgotten. Don't let this happen to you. Plan accordingly.
Those are the basic steps in party planning. With the information listed
here you will be well on your way to having a party that will far surpass
the days when making a phone call was all you needed to do.
About The Author
James Craven is a party planning expert with over 20 years of experience.
For more great tips regarding party planning information visit.
PlanningParty.net
The author invites you to visit: http://www.planningparty.net
by: James Craven
The days of your youth are at an end. Back then party planning was so
simple anyone could do it. Unfortunately things must change. You've grown
up and things no longer come as easy. Actual planning must be strategized
in order for your party to produce a success. The best way to insure a
great party today is by examining the possibilities. The party planning
information you will discover here takes you bounding through time to the
here and now, gleefully leaving your childhood behind, into a world of
alcohol, great food and variations of intense partying that'll fit any
mood or personality.
This strategy of party planning is for those looking to create a more
formal affair. If you want to revert back to your youth, you can
certainly make some phone calls and tell your friends to bring the beer
and the chips because the party is at your place tonight. Otherwise, read
on, because the party planning information you are looking for starts now.
There are 6 basic steps in party planning that you must consider.
The 6 basic stages of preparation are:
1) Checklist: The creation of a checklist is a vitally important tip for
anyone who plans on having a party. It is imperative to keep track of all
your party preparations. In order to eliminate the inevitable stress,
create a checklist, then use it.
2) Deciding on the type of party: For most people the idea for a party
developed long before the date for the event was scheduled. This is true
in most cases, but not all. There are many different types of parties,
including: theme, luau, surprise, baby shower, wedding, bachelor,
surprise, etc. If you've decided to have a party, but don't know what
type, now is the time to make a choice. Once you've come to a decision,
write the name down on a piece of paper and entitle it (your party
choice) checklist.
3) The Budget is a major step: This is the step that has a direct impact
on most of your coming decisions. Your budget size decides the size of
your party, where it will be held, what type of food and beverages you
will serve and whether or not you will be adding decorations.
4) The Venue is next: Where you want to have your party should be next in
your party planning. This decision is not always an easy one. If you have
a large guest list and the accommodations will in no way be adequate,
renting a space may be your only choice. However, if your budget is
limited, don't be shy in asking for help from relatives and friends.
Remember this is a party you are having and your guests will more than
likely be willing to help.
5) The Guest list should now be formulated: Now that the other big
decisions have been covered you can begin the actual guest list. You
should now know whether or not your party will be big or small, at home
or abroad. With this information in hand, the who and the how many on
your guest list should be jotted down on your checklist. The invitations
should now be sent. The partying is soon to begin and the excitement is
definitely building at this point.
6) The Food and Beverage Menu: With all the other planning accomplished
the menu should now be sorted. Take great care in your food planning.
This is an area where people tend to make mistakes and find themselves
either running short or running out at the last minute to grab something
they've forgotten. Don't let this happen to you. Plan accordingly.
Those are the basic steps in party planning. With the information listed
here you will be well on your way to having a party that will far surpass
the days when making a phone call was all you needed to do.
About The Author
James Craven is a party planning expert with over 20 years of experience.
For more great tips regarding party planning information visit.
PlanningParty.net
The author invites you to visit: http://www.planningparty.net
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Be A Great Potluck Host For Thanksgiving!
Be A Great Potluck Host For Thanksgiving!
by: Kathy Smith
Being the host of an appetizing potluck isn't as easy as it sounds but
it's definitely fun once you learn how to handle one, especially when
it's during a warm and fruitful holiday like Thanksgiving. Here are ways
that might help improve those hosting skills.
1) Write down the number of people you are expecting on that day. Your
family, friends, neighbors, business partners, colleagues, anyone you are
expecting or the ones you invited. Don't forget to include the people who
might be coming along with them (kids, girlfriends, boyfriends). This
list will help narrow down the quantity of prepared food needed.
2) The holiday's potluck must have the common or usual dishes in order
for things to remain traditional. But adding new ones to the developed
menu isn't a bad idea. It's actually a brilliant idea! Select a specific
menu you plan on having for the dinner and inform the expected guests
about it. Try looking for a selection which you think everyone will
appreciate. The holiday's potluck must have the traditional turkey,
veggies, garnishes, condiments, desserts, berries and breads.
3) Make everything easier by e-mailing the chosen menu to expected guests
coming. Also ask what dish in the selected menu they plan on bringing
over. Some are nice enough to volunteer in bringing more dishes. A family
might even bring more than expected.
It would also be easier if they could tell you the food they plan on
bringing ahead of time to avoid guests bringing the same kind. So
deadlines must be set. Inform them the number of expected guests coming
that day for them to know the amount of food they'll be preparing.
4) An extra hand is always useful in the preparation of a successful
Thanksgiving potluck, so do not hesitate to ask. You could just probably
ask the closest to you or anyone free on that time to go to your house
earlier and give you a hand.
It's a lot more fun having someone accompanying you rather than having no
one helping you out. This will make the tasks lighter and faster to
accomplish, plus you also have the opportunity to bond with each other
more. More things you may be thankful for.
5) Display the prepared potluck on one table big enough for all the
dishes. Arrange it like how a buffet is done to let that appetite grow.
Make sure everything is set well. Potlucks are best eaten when
self-served, especially when it's Thanksgiving.
Invite everyone to eat. Start by digging in yourself. But of course don't
forget to say grace before doing so. Let's be reminded of what
Thanksgiving really means. Then, nothing else is left but to have fun
with Thanksgiving potluck. Happy Thanksgiving!
About The Author
Kathy is a food Lover! You can check out her very popular Thanksgiving
Recipes website where she shares some of her Thanksgiving Stuffing
Recipes and Thanksgiving Turkey Recipes on http://www.quickthanksgivingrecipes.com
The author invites you to visit: http://www.greatappetizerecipes.com
by: Kathy Smith
Being the host of an appetizing potluck isn't as easy as it sounds but
it's definitely fun once you learn how to handle one, especially when
it's during a warm and fruitful holiday like Thanksgiving. Here are ways
that might help improve those hosting skills.
1) Write down the number of people you are expecting on that day. Your
family, friends, neighbors, business partners, colleagues, anyone you are
expecting or the ones you invited. Don't forget to include the people who
might be coming along with them (kids, girlfriends, boyfriends). This
list will help narrow down the quantity of prepared food needed.
2) The holiday's potluck must have the common or usual dishes in order
for things to remain traditional. But adding new ones to the developed
menu isn't a bad idea. It's actually a brilliant idea! Select a specific
menu you plan on having for the dinner and inform the expected guests
about it. Try looking for a selection which you think everyone will
appreciate. The holiday's potluck must have the traditional turkey,
veggies, garnishes, condiments, desserts, berries and breads.
3) Make everything easier by e-mailing the chosen menu to expected guests
coming. Also ask what dish in the selected menu they plan on bringing
over. Some are nice enough to volunteer in bringing more dishes. A family
might even bring more than expected.
It would also be easier if they could tell you the food they plan on
bringing ahead of time to avoid guests bringing the same kind. So
deadlines must be set. Inform them the number of expected guests coming
that day for them to know the amount of food they'll be preparing.
4) An extra hand is always useful in the preparation of a successful
Thanksgiving potluck, so do not hesitate to ask. You could just probably
ask the closest to you or anyone free on that time to go to your house
earlier and give you a hand.
It's a lot more fun having someone accompanying you rather than having no
one helping you out. This will make the tasks lighter and faster to
accomplish, plus you also have the opportunity to bond with each other
more. More things you may be thankful for.
5) Display the prepared potluck on one table big enough for all the
dishes. Arrange it like how a buffet is done to let that appetite grow.
Make sure everything is set well. Potlucks are best eaten when
self-served, especially when it's Thanksgiving.
Invite everyone to eat. Start by digging in yourself. But of course don't
forget to say grace before doing so. Let's be reminded of what
Thanksgiving really means. Then, nothing else is left but to have fun
with Thanksgiving potluck. Happy Thanksgiving!
About The Author
Kathy is a food Lover! You can check out her very popular Thanksgiving
Recipes website where she shares some of her Thanksgiving Stuffing
Recipes and Thanksgiving Turkey Recipes on http://www.quickthanksgivingrecipes.com
The author invites you to visit: http://www.greatappetizerecipes.com
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Learn How To Prepare The Most Disgusting Halloween Recipes Ever.
Learn How To Prepare The Most Disgusting Halloween Recipes Ever.
by: Chris D Gardner
To stimulate one's appetite, presentation is key. Food that looks
appealing can get people crave for them. If you're looking for added fun
and gross dishes for your upcoming Halloween party, here are some ideas
that are sure to be a big hit and is sure to really make party guests
scream in delight.
Pimple Poppers
Ingredients:
1 dozen cherry tomatoes, drained
Soft cream cheese spread, flavored
Core the tomatoes using a small knife. Stuff the holes with cream cheese
using a butter knife. By gently squeezing them, you give the gross idea
of popping out a pimple. Arrange onto a platter and serve.
Hairball salad in drool dressing
Ingredients:
1 ripe avocado
Sprouts
Grated carrots
Vinaigrette or any salad dressing of your choice
Cut the avocado in half and remove the pit. Scoop out the flesh and put
in a bowl adding the sprouts and mashing it using a fork. Having some
lumps is fine. Set aside. Then, distribute the grated carrots evenly
depending on how many servings you like. Form hairballs the size of
walnuts and put them over on your grated carrots. Then drizzle the salad
dressing, which constitutes the 'drool'. Serve.
Ghoulish Eyeballs
Ingredients:
6 hardboiled eggs
6 oz. cream cheese, whipped
7 oz green olives, with pimiento
Red food color
Toothpick
Remove the shell off the eggs and remove the yolks. Stuff the hole with
whipped cream cheese so as to form the eyeball. Press one olive to every
eyeball. Make sure the pimiento faces up. Now, draw broken blood vessels
in the stuffing using the toothpick dipped in red food color.
Stale Bath Water
Ingredients:
12 oz frozen lemonade
2 liters lime soda
Half a gallon sherbet
Thaw the sherbet for about 15 minutes and place in a container. Prepare
the lemonade according to package instructions and blend with the lime
soda and the sherbet. At this point, the sherbet should melt and turn
into grayish-brown liquid, much like used bathwater. You may use colored
mints to float on your scummy-looking drink.
Gooey Brains
Ingredients:
1 pack jello
1 carton cottage cheese, small-curd
1 can of berries of your choice, in thick syrup,
Food coloring
To prepare:
First, make the jello according to instructions. Set aside to chill. In a
bowl, mix the cottage cheese and your choice of berries carefully, as
cheese constitutes the brain matter. Add food color. On a serving plate,
place a few tablespoonfuls of your jello, which makes for your brain
fluid. Drizzle with thick syrup. Top with the cheese-berries mixture.
Serve.
Make these recipes a part of your Halloween party menu. These are
must-try gastronomic wonders that are bound to have your party guests
screaming in utter delight.
About The Author
Chris is a food fanatic! Visit his very popular Halloween Recipes &
Sandwich Recipes & Pork Chop Recipes
The author invites you to visit: http://www.greatappetizerecipes.com
by: Chris D Gardner
To stimulate one's appetite, presentation is key. Food that looks
appealing can get people crave for them. If you're looking for added fun
and gross dishes for your upcoming Halloween party, here are some ideas
that are sure to be a big hit and is sure to really make party guests
scream in delight.
Pimple Poppers
Ingredients:
1 dozen cherry tomatoes, drained
Soft cream cheese spread, flavored
Core the tomatoes using a small knife. Stuff the holes with cream cheese
using a butter knife. By gently squeezing them, you give the gross idea
of popping out a pimple. Arrange onto a platter and serve.
Hairball salad in drool dressing
Ingredients:
1 ripe avocado
Sprouts
Grated carrots
Vinaigrette or any salad dressing of your choice
Cut the avocado in half and remove the pit. Scoop out the flesh and put
in a bowl adding the sprouts and mashing it using a fork. Having some
lumps is fine. Set aside. Then, distribute the grated carrots evenly
depending on how many servings you like. Form hairballs the size of
walnuts and put them over on your grated carrots. Then drizzle the salad
dressing, which constitutes the 'drool'. Serve.
Ghoulish Eyeballs
Ingredients:
6 hardboiled eggs
6 oz. cream cheese, whipped
7 oz green olives, with pimiento
Red food color
Toothpick
Remove the shell off the eggs and remove the yolks. Stuff the hole with
whipped cream cheese so as to form the eyeball. Press one olive to every
eyeball. Make sure the pimiento faces up. Now, draw broken blood vessels
in the stuffing using the toothpick dipped in red food color.
Stale Bath Water
Ingredients:
12 oz frozen lemonade
2 liters lime soda
Half a gallon sherbet
Thaw the sherbet for about 15 minutes and place in a container. Prepare
the lemonade according to package instructions and blend with the lime
soda and the sherbet. At this point, the sherbet should melt and turn
into grayish-brown liquid, much like used bathwater. You may use colored
mints to float on your scummy-looking drink.
Gooey Brains
Ingredients:
1 pack jello
1 carton cottage cheese, small-curd
1 can of berries of your choice, in thick syrup,
Food coloring
To prepare:
First, make the jello according to instructions. Set aside to chill. In a
bowl, mix the cottage cheese and your choice of berries carefully, as
cheese constitutes the brain matter. Add food color. On a serving plate,
place a few tablespoonfuls of your jello, which makes for your brain
fluid. Drizzle with thick syrup. Top with the cheese-berries mixture.
Serve.
Make these recipes a part of your Halloween party menu. These are
must-try gastronomic wonders that are bound to have your party guests
screaming in utter delight.
About The Author
Chris is a food fanatic! Visit his very popular Halloween Recipes &
Sandwich Recipes & Pork Chop Recipes
The author invites you to visit: http://www.greatappetizerecipes.com
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
5 FUSS-FREE AND REALLY CREEPY HALLOWEEN TREATS TO PREPARE!
5 FUSS-FREE AND REALLY CREEPY HALLOWEEN TREATS TO PREPARE!
by: Mary Walsh
Kids enjoy special treats during Halloween - but usually it takes some
time in creating those spooky meals, it might seem like its impossible or
such a burden to do but NO. Here are 5 quick & easy food suggestions for
your Halloween. Creating them will seem effortless and they can be easy
to prepare, it's even easy for your older group of kids to create the
treats themselves.
Eye Ball Rice Cake Treats
These treats are tasty, crunchy and they definitely look disgusting!
Align the treats onto one plate then using some squeezy bottled ketchup,
trace red lines across the plate for it to appear like a spider. Cut into
circles some cheese for that violent yellow pupil look, then top it with
1 slice of pepperoni or salami. Feel free to vary the eye ball treats
with different kinds of elements, prefer choosing those that kids surely
love.
Ghostly Burger Treats
Cook burgers. During cooking, create or trace out ghostly shapes of
cheese using some Halloween molders or with the use of some template.
Then cut two eye holes. Once they're done, arrange each cheese with
ghostly shapes on top then quickly cook them using a grill or a broiler
until cheese starts to melt.
Guts Jello
Mix some yellow or green jelly then pour them in suitable Halloween
containers, you may use goblet shaped containers that looks grand, but
plastic cups would work. Once ready, drop some plastic spiders on top in
every container. Allowing them to stand each alongside every plate while
scattering some extra spiders will enhance that spooky effect.
Marshmallow Ghouls and Ghosts
During the event invite a group of kids who want to be involved in the
festivities to make this activity easy and fun. Melt chocolates (white)
or chips of chocolates (white) into a microwaveable bowl then microwave
these for one to two minutes. While waiting, string some marshmallows
(white) on each lollipop or popsicle stick.
Then dip each marshmallow on some chocolate (melted) while swirling them
around ensuring total coverage of every ghost heads. Take the treats out
then put them flat onto each paper plate for chocolate to cool. Prior to
it cooling, push two silver pieces of balls to serve as eyes.
You may use some writing frosting tube to create one mouth also include
some features that you like. Create each ghoul using multi-colored
marshmallows. Then thread each of the marshmallows onto sticks then add a
bit of green food coloring unto chocolate (melted) prior to swirling each
of the marshmallows, to ensure total surface coverage.
Use two silver pieces of balls to serve as their eyes just like what we
did earlier, and then add a bit of decoration as well: for example, we
made strawberry strands of candy appear to look like its hair; we could
have included some drops of chocolate for those ears if only we had not
already eaten all! Allow your chocolate to cool just like before
About The Author
Mary is a food lover! Visit her very popular Halloween Recipes & Sandwich
Recipes & Pork Chop Recipes
The author invites you to visit: http://www.greatappetizerecipes.com
by: Mary Walsh
Kids enjoy special treats during Halloween - but usually it takes some
time in creating those spooky meals, it might seem like its impossible or
such a burden to do but NO. Here are 5 quick & easy food suggestions for
your Halloween. Creating them will seem effortless and they can be easy
to prepare, it's even easy for your older group of kids to create the
treats themselves.
Eye Ball Rice Cake Treats
These treats are tasty, crunchy and they definitely look disgusting!
Align the treats onto one plate then using some squeezy bottled ketchup,
trace red lines across the plate for it to appear like a spider. Cut into
circles some cheese for that violent yellow pupil look, then top it with
1 slice of pepperoni or salami. Feel free to vary the eye ball treats
with different kinds of elements, prefer choosing those that kids surely
love.
Ghostly Burger Treats
Cook burgers. During cooking, create or trace out ghostly shapes of
cheese using some Halloween molders or with the use of some template.
Then cut two eye holes. Once they're done, arrange each cheese with
ghostly shapes on top then quickly cook them using a grill or a broiler
until cheese starts to melt.
Guts Jello
Mix some yellow or green jelly then pour them in suitable Halloween
containers, you may use goblet shaped containers that looks grand, but
plastic cups would work. Once ready, drop some plastic spiders on top in
every container. Allowing them to stand each alongside every plate while
scattering some extra spiders will enhance that spooky effect.
Marshmallow Ghouls and Ghosts
During the event invite a group of kids who want to be involved in the
festivities to make this activity easy and fun. Melt chocolates (white)
or chips of chocolates (white) into a microwaveable bowl then microwave
these for one to two minutes. While waiting, string some marshmallows
(white) on each lollipop or popsicle stick.
Then dip each marshmallow on some chocolate (melted) while swirling them
around ensuring total coverage of every ghost heads. Take the treats out
then put them flat onto each paper plate for chocolate to cool. Prior to
it cooling, push two silver pieces of balls to serve as eyes.
You may use some writing frosting tube to create one mouth also include
some features that you like. Create each ghoul using multi-colored
marshmallows. Then thread each of the marshmallows onto sticks then add a
bit of green food coloring unto chocolate (melted) prior to swirling each
of the marshmallows, to ensure total surface coverage.
Use two silver pieces of balls to serve as their eyes just like what we
did earlier, and then add a bit of decoration as well: for example, we
made strawberry strands of candy appear to look like its hair; we could
have included some drops of chocolate for those ears if only we had not
already eaten all! Allow your chocolate to cool just like before
About The Author
Mary is a food lover! Visit her very popular Halloween Recipes & Sandwich
Recipes & Pork Chop Recipes
The author invites you to visit: http://www.greatappetizerecipes.com
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Cooking Accessories for BBQ's
Cooking Accessories for BBQ's
by Sandy Darson
Grilling is a time-honored tradition enjoyed by many families. Barbequing is great especially during the summer months or whenever the weather outside is warm. Grilling is also enjoyable because it is a relatively fast process (depending on the type of grill you have) and the food tastes great too! Barbequing also creates a delicious aroma and is a great occasion to bring together family and friends. Although every chef and grilling enthusiast has his or her own methods, hot dogs and hamburgers are always popular because there are so many excellent cooking accessories that make grilling these foods much easier.
Reliable Racks
A reversible rack is the perfect addition to the collection of any avid grill master. Use it on the slotted side and you have individual spaces for grilling multiple slabs of ribs off the rack. This allows you to grill enough to feed everyone at your summer party or family gathering. Flip it over and you are ready to barbeque that tasty brisket or even the holiday turkey for the whole extended family. Made with a non-stick coating, this grilling rack helps ensure that you spend less time cleaning up and more time with your friends and family.
Bountiful Baskets
Grilling family favorites such as hamburgers, hot dogs, and even sausage can be an even more enjoyable process with the right cooking tools
. Flipping each burger or hot dog
individually can be a slow process. After your food is finished cooking, you may have to clean the charred areas of the grill as well. This tedious process can be prevented with the proper tools.
Rather than turning each burger individually or turning those hamburgers one by one, add a handy basket to your grilling accessories that allow you to cook and turn four hamburger patties
at once or a variety of sausage links. Not only does this make burger flipping a breeze, but it also makes clean up a snap since the food never touches the grill rack and the basket itself is made of non-stick material.
Kabobs are another tasty treat straight from the grill that can cause a considerable mess without the right tools. Although a simple skewer has long been thought to be the best way to grill up this meal, a kabob grilling basket is really the best way to go to avoid lost morsels, burnt food and a time consuming clean up after the coals have cooled. With kabob baskets, you can cut up your favorite cuts of meat, vegetables, mushrooms, and never waste a drop of flavor by puncturing them with the skewer. Instead, everything loads easily into this nickel-plated steel wire basket. Best of all, you can toss this into the dishwasher once you have completed the meal so that your time to relax can begin sooner.
Attractive Accessories
Everyone knows that most barbequed delights are only as good as the marinade and spices used during the cooking process. A good set of tongs should be present with your set of kitchen supplies
. By investing in a set of tongs that also perform other important tasks, you can save a lot of time. Basting tongs are a great way to accomplish this. With the hand brush affixed onto the tongs
, you can lift, baste, and turn your items all at the same time.
Even if you are not ready to turn in your trusty tongs for these upscale variations, you can still safely season all your grilling selections. Long handled salt and peppershakers in a hard wood design can keep your fingers from getting crisp while spicing up all your meals from the grill.
Quick Clean Up
Not every grilling surface is going to be perfectly clean at the end of a cookout, even with all of the unique and handy of grilling gadgets. Grease drips and meat can still stick. Rather than spending the day scrubbing the grill with steel wool and sturdy sponges, a Grill Daddy Brush is truly one of those cleaning devices that every griller should consider purchasing. Regardless of whether the grill is hot or cold, this powerful steam cleaner brush removes the residue that accumulates on the grill along with tough stuck-on grease. When you have finished your task, remove the cleaning head for easy cleaning in dishwasher.
Because the art of grilling is enjoyed by many households, it is important to have tools that make the process much easier and less stressful. If you are cooking hamburgers and hotdogs, it is helpful to use a basket that allows you to lift all the patties or hotdogs at the same time. This allows you to avoid picking up each hotdog or hamburger one at a time. You also reduce the risk of dropping the food. When cleaning the grill, it can be difficult to clean the residue thoroughly using a steel wool brush. You should consider a Grill Daddy instead.
These are all products that make your grilling life much easier. If you are planning a family get together or party for your friends, you should consider these tips and product suggestions, grill some delicious food, and enjoy!
About the Author
Sandy Darson is a freelance writer who writes about home accessories, often focusing on specific items such as a glass beverage dispenser.
Article Source: Content for Reprint
by Sandy Darson
Grilling is a time-honored tradition enjoyed by many families. Barbequing is great especially during the summer months or whenever the weather outside is warm. Grilling is also enjoyable because it is a relatively fast process (depending on the type of grill you have) and the food tastes great too! Barbequing also creates a delicious aroma and is a great occasion to bring together family and friends. Although every chef and grilling enthusiast has his or her own methods, hot dogs and hamburgers are always popular because there are so many excellent cooking accessories that make grilling these foods much easier.
Reliable Racks
A reversible rack is the perfect addition to the collection of any avid grill master. Use it on the slotted side and you have individual spaces for grilling multiple slabs of ribs off the rack. This allows you to grill enough to feed everyone at your summer party or family gathering. Flip it over and you are ready to barbeque that tasty brisket or even the holiday turkey for the whole extended family. Made with a non-stick coating, this grilling rack helps ensure that you spend less time cleaning up and more time with your friends and family.
Bountiful Baskets
Grilling family favorites such as hamburgers, hot dogs, and even sausage can be an even more enjoyable process with the right cooking tools
. Flipping each burger or hot dog
individually can be a slow process. After your food is finished cooking, you may have to clean the charred areas of the grill as well. This tedious process can be prevented with the proper tools.
Rather than turning each burger individually or turning those hamburgers one by one, add a handy basket to your grilling accessories that allow you to cook and turn four hamburger patties
at once or a variety of sausage links. Not only does this make burger flipping a breeze, but it also makes clean up a snap since the food never touches the grill rack and the basket itself is made of non-stick material.
Kabobs are another tasty treat straight from the grill that can cause a considerable mess without the right tools. Although a simple skewer has long been thought to be the best way to grill up this meal, a kabob grilling basket is really the best way to go to avoid lost morsels, burnt food and a time consuming clean up after the coals have cooled. With kabob baskets, you can cut up your favorite cuts of meat, vegetables, mushrooms, and never waste a drop of flavor by puncturing them with the skewer. Instead, everything loads easily into this nickel-plated steel wire basket. Best of all, you can toss this into the dishwasher once you have completed the meal so that your time to relax can begin sooner.
Attractive Accessories
Everyone knows that most barbequed delights are only as good as the marinade and spices used during the cooking process. A good set of tongs should be present with your set of kitchen supplies
. By investing in a set of tongs that also perform other important tasks, you can save a lot of time. Basting tongs are a great way to accomplish this. With the hand brush affixed onto the tongs
, you can lift, baste, and turn your items all at the same time.
Even if you are not ready to turn in your trusty tongs for these upscale variations, you can still safely season all your grilling selections. Long handled salt and peppershakers in a hard wood design can keep your fingers from getting crisp while spicing up all your meals from the grill.
Quick Clean Up
Not every grilling surface is going to be perfectly clean at the end of a cookout, even with all of the unique and handy of grilling gadgets. Grease drips and meat can still stick. Rather than spending the day scrubbing the grill with steel wool and sturdy sponges, a Grill Daddy Brush is truly one of those cleaning devices that every griller should consider purchasing. Regardless of whether the grill is hot or cold, this powerful steam cleaner brush removes the residue that accumulates on the grill along with tough stuck-on grease. When you have finished your task, remove the cleaning head for easy cleaning in dishwasher.
Because the art of grilling is enjoyed by many households, it is important to have tools that make the process much easier and less stressful. If you are cooking hamburgers and hotdogs, it is helpful to use a basket that allows you to lift all the patties or hotdogs at the same time. This allows you to avoid picking up each hotdog or hamburger one at a time. You also reduce the risk of dropping the food. When cleaning the grill, it can be difficult to clean the residue thoroughly using a steel wool brush. You should consider a Grill Daddy instead.
These are all products that make your grilling life much easier. If you are planning a family get together or party for your friends, you should consider these tips and product suggestions, grill some delicious food, and enjoy!
About the Author
Sandy Darson is a freelance writer who writes about home accessories, often focusing on specific items such as a glass beverage dispenser.
Article Source: Content for Reprint
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Halloween Activities for Kids
Halloween Activities for Kids
By: Nikki Phipps
There's no doubt about it; kids love Halloween. They love dressing up in costumes and collecting loads of candy. But did you know that kids also enjoy participating in other fun, creative activities as well? There are tons of interesting ways to entertain a child's imagination, including simple craft projects and games. Why not take advantage of this amazing holiday by spending some extra time with the children and doing these activities together?
Craft projects are a great way to get your child involved with Halloween traditions. Children love the chance to use and show off their imagination. Why not allow them to help out with the Halloween decorations? Sure, you could go out and spend lots of money on decorations that are already assembled, but wouldn't it be nice to save some cash by making your own? And as a bonus, you get to share the moment with your children.
Here's a nifty idea for adding Halloween charm to your porch or patio. Thoroughly clean and remove the labels from empty 2-liter pop bottles and pour a little bit of orange paint inside, replacing lid afterward. Let the kids shake the bottles around until the inside is covered with orange paint. Once dry, allow them to decorate faces onto the outside of the bottles with black paint. Add a green ribbon or bow to the top of the bottle and set on the porch. To lessen the chance of your pop-bottle pumpkins from blowing over, you can add a handful of sand using a funnel.
Another fun project for the kids involves making pumpkin pouches from ordinary paper plates. These creative little pouches will look great hung on the wall or door. Use them for holding candy or other items. In fact, use them all year long. They can easily be created to change as the seasons do. Take two plates and cut one in half. Secure the half plate onto the whole one using either staples or weaving ribbon through punched-out holes. Paint the plate pouch orange and allow it to dry. Decorate the pumpkin with funny or spooky faces and hang (pouch out). You could also have the kids create a festive Halloween handprint wreath for hanging on the front door. Choose autumn-colored pieces of construction paper and trace around your child's hand. Cut the little hands out and glue them together in the shape of a wreath. These can be further decorated or left as is. The size of the wreath is up to you.
Planning a party? Get the kids to help out with the invitations. Create adorable ghost print cards using their own footprints. Your children will not only enjoy making them, but your guests will love the cute designs as well. Simply grab some black and orange-colored construction paper (amount will vary depending on how many people), white tempera or other washable paint, and some gold gel markers. Lay down some newspaper and fill a shallow container with paint. Fold each piece of construction paper in half and place, one at a time, onto the newspaper. Have each child dip his/her foot into the paint and 'stamp' the card with a footprint. Allow the cards to dry; afterward, let the kids add a face onto the ghost and print a small message inside using markers. You could use glue for this instead and decorate with glitter.
You could attach some lively little ghost pops onto each card. Just have the children cover a tootsie pop with tissue and secure it in place with a piece of orange or black yarn. Use a marker to add a face to the ghost. These also make fun treats to give out to the trick-or-treaters.
Other interesting ideas for the kids to make and give out to party guests as well as trick-or-treaters include bat bags and candy cups. Use an ordinary brown paper lunch bag and some brown construction paper. Have the kids draw a bat's head onto the piece of construction paper and cut it out. Let them decorate it with markers, glitter, etc. Fill the bag with treats, fold the top over, and staple (parent/adult should do this). Of course, you don't need to feel limited to bats; allow them to choose whatever Halloween design they want or one that goes with a party theme.
Candy cups are good for party guests. Simply allow kids to decorate Styrofoam cups with markers relating to Halloween theme. Meanwhile, fill some plastic baggies with individually wrapped candy and tie the tops with decorative yarn or ribbon. Let the kids drop one baggie into each of the cups; these can also contain the names of guests or allow the guests to become involved as well and include the activity as a party event.
While children are always fascinated with creative craft projects, they simply love the opportunity to play. Games are another fun way for them to enjoy the Halloween festivities. Traditional games such as Snap Apple are always a hit. Hang an apple from the doorway with a string and have the children take turns trying to bite the apple, with their hands behind their back. This game was thought to bring good fortunes to those accomplishing the task. Of course, you could give a prize instead.
An interesting alternative to the more traditional Halloween games might include a good old-fashioned game of Pin the Nose on the Pumpkin. This game is played in the same way as Pin the Tail on the Donkey. Create a pumpkin from a piece of orange poster board and draw a mouth and eyes onto it with black marker. Create the nose from a piece of black poster board or construction paper and attach some double-sided tape to the back of it. Blindfold the players, having them turn around a couple of times, then allow them to 'pin' the nose onto the pumpkin. Winner gets a small prize.
Halloween isn't just about the candy or the costumes; nor is it about the ghosts, goblins, or witches. Halloween is an ideal occasion for spending and honoring time with family and friends. From small decorating projects to fun games, the Halloween season offers plenty of easy and interesting activities for the kids as well as the parents.
Author Bio
This article was written by Nikki Phipps and was sponsored by DareToScare.com.
By: Nikki Phipps
There's no doubt about it; kids love Halloween. They love dressing up in costumes and collecting loads of candy. But did you know that kids also enjoy participating in other fun, creative activities as well? There are tons of interesting ways to entertain a child's imagination, including simple craft projects and games. Why not take advantage of this amazing holiday by spending some extra time with the children and doing these activities together?
Craft projects are a great way to get your child involved with Halloween traditions. Children love the chance to use and show off their imagination. Why not allow them to help out with the Halloween decorations? Sure, you could go out and spend lots of money on decorations that are already assembled, but wouldn't it be nice to save some cash by making your own? And as a bonus, you get to share the moment with your children.
Here's a nifty idea for adding Halloween charm to your porch or patio. Thoroughly clean and remove the labels from empty 2-liter pop bottles and pour a little bit of orange paint inside, replacing lid afterward. Let the kids shake the bottles around until the inside is covered with orange paint. Once dry, allow them to decorate faces onto the outside of the bottles with black paint. Add a green ribbon or bow to the top of the bottle and set on the porch. To lessen the chance of your pop-bottle pumpkins from blowing over, you can add a handful of sand using a funnel.
Another fun project for the kids involves making pumpkin pouches from ordinary paper plates. These creative little pouches will look great hung on the wall or door. Use them for holding candy or other items. In fact, use them all year long. They can easily be created to change as the seasons do. Take two plates and cut one in half. Secure the half plate onto the whole one using either staples or weaving ribbon through punched-out holes. Paint the plate pouch orange and allow it to dry. Decorate the pumpkin with funny or spooky faces and hang (pouch out). You could also have the kids create a festive Halloween handprint wreath for hanging on the front door. Choose autumn-colored pieces of construction paper and trace around your child's hand. Cut the little hands out and glue them together in the shape of a wreath. These can be further decorated or left as is. The size of the wreath is up to you.
Planning a party? Get the kids to help out with the invitations. Create adorable ghost print cards using their own footprints. Your children will not only enjoy making them, but your guests will love the cute designs as well. Simply grab some black and orange-colored construction paper (amount will vary depending on how many people), white tempera or other washable paint, and some gold gel markers. Lay down some newspaper and fill a shallow container with paint. Fold each piece of construction paper in half and place, one at a time, onto the newspaper. Have each child dip his/her foot into the paint and 'stamp' the card with a footprint. Allow the cards to dry; afterward, let the kids add a face onto the ghost and print a small message inside using markers. You could use glue for this instead and decorate with glitter.
You could attach some lively little ghost pops onto each card. Just have the children cover a tootsie pop with tissue and secure it in place with a piece of orange or black yarn. Use a marker to add a face to the ghost. These also make fun treats to give out to the trick-or-treaters.
Other interesting ideas for the kids to make and give out to party guests as well as trick-or-treaters include bat bags and candy cups. Use an ordinary brown paper lunch bag and some brown construction paper. Have the kids draw a bat's head onto the piece of construction paper and cut it out. Let them decorate it with markers, glitter, etc. Fill the bag with treats, fold the top over, and staple (parent/adult should do this). Of course, you don't need to feel limited to bats; allow them to choose whatever Halloween design they want or one that goes with a party theme.
Candy cups are good for party guests. Simply allow kids to decorate Styrofoam cups with markers relating to Halloween theme. Meanwhile, fill some plastic baggies with individually wrapped candy and tie the tops with decorative yarn or ribbon. Let the kids drop one baggie into each of the cups; these can also contain the names of guests or allow the guests to become involved as well and include the activity as a party event.
While children are always fascinated with creative craft projects, they simply love the opportunity to play. Games are another fun way for them to enjoy the Halloween festivities. Traditional games such as Snap Apple are always a hit. Hang an apple from the doorway with a string and have the children take turns trying to bite the apple, with their hands behind their back. This game was thought to bring good fortunes to those accomplishing the task. Of course, you could give a prize instead.
An interesting alternative to the more traditional Halloween games might include a good old-fashioned game of Pin the Nose on the Pumpkin. This game is played in the same way as Pin the Tail on the Donkey. Create a pumpkin from a piece of orange poster board and draw a mouth and eyes onto it with black marker. Create the nose from a piece of black poster board or construction paper and attach some double-sided tape to the back of it. Blindfold the players, having them turn around a couple of times, then allow them to 'pin' the nose onto the pumpkin. Winner gets a small prize.
Halloween isn't just about the candy or the costumes; nor is it about the ghosts, goblins, or witches. Halloween is an ideal occasion for spending and honoring time with family and friends. From small decorating projects to fun games, the Halloween season offers plenty of easy and interesting activities for the kids as well as the parents.
Author Bio
This article was written by Nikki Phipps and was sponsored by DareToScare.com.
Article Source: http://www.ArticleGeek.com - Free Website Content
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Pig Roast Tips from the Experts - The Porkers
Pig Roast Tips from the Experts - The Porkers
by: Michael Achey
During the summer bbq season, a number of people have asked the Porkers
their secret to the perfect roast pig. The Porkers’ owner and professional pit master/pig roaster Michael Achey has compiled a list of 7 important tips on the art of cooking the perfect spit roasted pig. For more on The Porkers, go to http://www.pigcooks.com.
Tip # 1 - Roast Slowly
Cook a pig of over 40 pounds for a minimum of four hours, ideally at least six hours. You can’t rush great pork.
Tip # 2 - Cook it More Slowly
This can’t be overemphasized. Why? Because it takes time to break down the pig’s connective tissue into tender, delicious meat that everyone will love. For example, Hawaiian style roast pig can take 12 hours.
Tip #3 – To Baste or Not to Baste, That is the Question
And the answer is – no basting’s necessary. The pig will cook in its own juices. However, the Porkers have created their own special blend of seasonings (sorry, it’s a trade secret).
Tip # 4 – When Do You Stuff a Pig?
This is popular outside of the United States, such as in the Philippines. The Porkers don’t think this is necessary, but if you want to give it a go, it’s best with a small or suckling pig.
Tip # 5 – The Best Coals to Use Are…
Not charcoal brickets. The Porkers recommend hardwood charcoal for that one-of-a-kind succulent flavor. You can find them at stores selling outdoor equipment or Home Depot.
Tip # 6 – Utensils
The bottom line is, if you need a knife, then it’s cooked incorrectly. When the pig roasts long enough (yes, we’re talking “slowly” again), the meat will fall off into small pieces, including the ribs. With the Porkers’ pigs, we can separate the meat with our hands (sanitized hands,
of course).
Tip # 7 – Don’t Go From the Spit to the Plate
After you’ve roasted the pig slowly, remove it from the heat and allow it to keep turning for another 30 minutes. This evens out the temperature of the meat, which levels the moisture content as well.
The Porkers mastered the art of pig roasting after hundreds of BBQ's and a relentless desire to create the perfect entrees. Achey and partners will bring a whole pig on a spit to any location in the NY metropolitan area. And that's not all The Porkers provide - a full menu of barbecue
style food is included in the package price, including vegetarian options. The Porkers bring everything needed for a roasted pig, creating a worry-free experience for hosts and guests. A minimum of 40 party-goers is suggested to get the maximum value from each pig. For more
information, visit their website at http://www.pigcooks.com.
About The Author
Michael Achey is the owner of The Porkers, a pig roast catering company.
He is an expert is the art of spit roast pig, so his tips have been
tested and proven absolutely delicious!
by: Michael Achey
During the summer bbq season, a number of people have asked the Porkers
their secret to the perfect roast pig. The Porkers’ owner and professional pit master/pig roaster Michael Achey has compiled a list of 7 important tips on the art of cooking the perfect spit roasted pig. For more on The Porkers, go to http://www.pigcooks.com.
Tip # 1 - Roast Slowly
Cook a pig of over 40 pounds for a minimum of four hours, ideally at least six hours. You can’t rush great pork.
Tip # 2 - Cook it More Slowly
This can’t be overemphasized. Why? Because it takes time to break down the pig’s connective tissue into tender, delicious meat that everyone will love. For example, Hawaiian style roast pig can take 12 hours.
Tip #3 – To Baste or Not to Baste, That is the Question
And the answer is – no basting’s necessary. The pig will cook in its own juices. However, the Porkers have created their own special blend of seasonings (sorry, it’s a trade secret).
Tip # 4 – When Do You Stuff a Pig?
This is popular outside of the United States, such as in the Philippines. The Porkers don’t think this is necessary, but if you want to give it a go, it’s best with a small or suckling pig.
Tip # 5 – The Best Coals to Use Are…
Not charcoal brickets. The Porkers recommend hardwood charcoal for that one-of-a-kind succulent flavor. You can find them at stores selling outdoor equipment or Home Depot.
Tip # 6 – Utensils
The bottom line is, if you need a knife, then it’s cooked incorrectly. When the pig roasts long enough (yes, we’re talking “slowly” again), the meat will fall off into small pieces, including the ribs. With the Porkers’ pigs, we can separate the meat with our hands (sanitized hands,
of course).
Tip # 7 – Don’t Go From the Spit to the Plate
After you’ve roasted the pig slowly, remove it from the heat and allow it to keep turning for another 30 minutes. This evens out the temperature of the meat, which levels the moisture content as well.
The Porkers mastered the art of pig roasting after hundreds of BBQ's and a relentless desire to create the perfect entrees. Achey and partners will bring a whole pig on a spit to any location in the NY metropolitan area. And that's not all The Porkers provide - a full menu of barbecue
style food is included in the package price, including vegetarian options. The Porkers bring everything needed for a roasted pig, creating a worry-free experience for hosts and guests. A minimum of 40 party-goers is suggested to get the maximum value from each pig. For more
information, visit their website at http://www.pigcooks.com.
About The Author
Michael Achey is the owner of The Porkers, a pig roast catering company.
He is an expert is the art of spit roast pig, so his tips have been
tested and proven absolutely delicious!
Saturday, October 3, 2009
How To Choose A Catering Service
How To Choose A Catering Service
by Kurt Metzger
When choosing a catering service, there are many important items to take into consideration that will make your event the most successful. If this is the first time you have ever researched a catering service, the process can be daunting as it is much more than just the food that the
catering services will provide, but the entire feel, style and mood of the event is offered centered around the food and the caterer. For more information, visit http://www.conceptcateringbyck.com.
Budget. Everyone has a budget of each part of their event, and catering will often be a large piece of the pie. It is important to know exactly what you want to spend and go from there. As you begin your research, important things to consider are what exactly does you catered include. Is a wait staff provided? Are all supplies included? Is set up & cleanup a part of the process? Knowing what you can afford and what catering services provide is a great place to start.
Reputation. You are going to want to research the reputation of your catering services very careful and do research many references. Search the internet to look for reviews, but do not be afraid to ask for a list of references as well. You are not just looking to see if the food was fabulous. You want to research if the event in relation to the catering services was smooth? Was the wait staff provided professionally and pleasant for your guests? Was everything above & beyond expectations? Particularly if you are looking for a wedding catering service, the caterer is such an vital part of the wedding reception and it is important to really have a good feel of how the caterer performs.
Overall Event Coordination. You will want to know exactly how your catering service will coordinate with the rest of the event as your food & catering will often set the tone. Think of things such as coordination of flowers, entertainment and the facility itself. It is important that
your catering services is aware of all aspects of your event and willing to work with other aspects.
Surprises. An excellent catering service will be cool under pressure when it comes to handling surprises. Whether it is a guest with a not previously mentioned allergy and needs something special last minute or several surprise guests appearing at your event. Maybe your entire event
is even running behind schedule. The best catering services will get through unplanned circumstances smoothly and without worry.
Personality. It is very important for you to make sure that your catering service is run by people that you can get along with. Particularly if it is a wedding catering services, this is the most important event of your life and you want to have a catering service that is not only excellent
but is one in which you can communicate well with, listens to you, responds to you and you interact with well.
Food. Saving the best for last – the food! Of course you want to make sure the food is absolutely wonderful. Make sure you are able to sample and taste many different choices. Ask about where the catering service shops for their ingredients. If it important to you, ask about local and organic ingredients. Many catering services will accommodate your wishes if you prefer organic ingredients. Ask about special requests for specific ingredients.
Your catering service for your event should be willing to talk to you about all of these areas and answer even the toughest questions. Their goal is not only to prepare great food, but make your event special, memorable and fantastic. If they are not willing to spend the time to answer these types of questions, it is a good sign to keep looking.
About The Author
Born in the San Diego area, Kurt Metzger knew at a young age that he wanted to be a chef. Encouraged by his mother, whom he describes as a great cook, he began experimenting in the kitchen and eventually took his first professional job in the kitchen of a local restaurant in Houston. Kurt now runs a successful high-end San Diego catering service and is also the creator of http://www.conceptcateringbyck.com
by Kurt Metzger
When choosing a catering service, there are many important items to take into consideration that will make your event the most successful. If this is the first time you have ever researched a catering service, the process can be daunting as it is much more than just the food that the
catering services will provide, but the entire feel, style and mood of the event is offered centered around the food and the caterer. For more information, visit http://www.conceptcateringbyck.com.
Budget. Everyone has a budget of each part of their event, and catering will often be a large piece of the pie. It is important to know exactly what you want to spend and go from there. As you begin your research, important things to consider are what exactly does you catered include. Is a wait staff provided? Are all supplies included? Is set up & cleanup a part of the process? Knowing what you can afford and what catering services provide is a great place to start.
Reputation. You are going to want to research the reputation of your catering services very careful and do research many references. Search the internet to look for reviews, but do not be afraid to ask for a list of references as well. You are not just looking to see if the food was fabulous. You want to research if the event in relation to the catering services was smooth? Was the wait staff provided professionally and pleasant for your guests? Was everything above & beyond expectations? Particularly if you are looking for a wedding catering service, the caterer is such an vital part of the wedding reception and it is important to really have a good feel of how the caterer performs.
Overall Event Coordination. You will want to know exactly how your catering service will coordinate with the rest of the event as your food & catering will often set the tone. Think of things such as coordination of flowers, entertainment and the facility itself. It is important that
your catering services is aware of all aspects of your event and willing to work with other aspects.
Surprises. An excellent catering service will be cool under pressure when it comes to handling surprises. Whether it is a guest with a not previously mentioned allergy and needs something special last minute or several surprise guests appearing at your event. Maybe your entire event
is even running behind schedule. The best catering services will get through unplanned circumstances smoothly and without worry.
Personality. It is very important for you to make sure that your catering service is run by people that you can get along with. Particularly if it is a wedding catering services, this is the most important event of your life and you want to have a catering service that is not only excellent
but is one in which you can communicate well with, listens to you, responds to you and you interact with well.
Food. Saving the best for last – the food! Of course you want to make sure the food is absolutely wonderful. Make sure you are able to sample and taste many different choices. Ask about where the catering service shops for their ingredients. If it important to you, ask about local and organic ingredients. Many catering services will accommodate your wishes if you prefer organic ingredients. Ask about special requests for specific ingredients.
Your catering service for your event should be willing to talk to you about all of these areas and answer even the toughest questions. Their goal is not only to prepare great food, but make your event special, memorable and fantastic. If they are not willing to spend the time to answer these types of questions, it is a good sign to keep looking.
About The Author
Born in the San Diego area, Kurt Metzger knew at a young age that he wanted to be a chef. Encouraged by his mother, whom he describes as a great cook, he began experimenting in the kitchen and eventually took his first professional job in the kitchen of a local restaurant in Houston. Kurt now runs a successful high-end San Diego catering service and is also the creator of http://www.conceptcateringbyck.com
Friday, October 2, 2009
Capt'n Salsa's Grill Roasted Yard Bird
Capt'n Salsa's Grill Roasted Yard Bird
By: Capt'n Salsa
Wow I have a hankering for some really good grill roasted chicken, the melt in your mouth variety with some fresh homemade salsa slathered right on top. Just seems that we never have time during the lazy days of summer to get everything done. You know, you have to mow the grass, weed the garden and if you're lucky harvest a bounty of fresh produce from your own little truck farm.
Now you expect me to cook supper too? It's time to tell you my secret and go hunting for my favorite "yard bird", Capt'n Salsa's Grill Roasted Yard Bird, to be exact.
Yes.
Delicious golden brown moist and tender some of the best melt in your mouth grill roasted chicken you will ever eat. Now, don't let the hunting phrase concern you. The extent
of hunting chicken for me is looking for a big plump 3.5 to 4 pounder at the local grocery or meat market. I always bag my limit of two because it is just as easy to cook two at the same time to guarantee some leftovers...
"Come on, Capt'n Salsa, quit beating around the bushes and just give us the recipe!"
Oh, Okay.
Capt'n Salsa's Grill Roasted Yard bird is so easy you will probably laugh. Of course it goes with out saying you need to rinse the chicken in cold water before you cook it. All you are going to need is a generous amount of Lemon Pepper Seasoning. Mix up a solution of 1 part vegetable oil with 4 parts of Apple Cider Vinegar, remember that's the brown vinegar, together in a squirt bottle, an empty syrup bottle will do just fine.
Now we are going to cook our grilled chicken whole on your favorite charcoal or 2 burner gas grill using the "indirect heat" method. Your grill needs a lid that will close, too. Most of the time now I just use the gas grill, heating the grill with both burners, then turn one of them
totally off, yes, off and the other burner turn it all the way down to low.
I'm getting a little ahead of myself. Preheat your choice of grills. Then rinse and clean the birds. Now hose down the chicken with the mixture of oil and vinegar using the squirt bottle and sprinkle a generous portion of Lemon Pepper Seasoning all over the chicken. Don't forget the body cavity.
Place the chicken breast side up on the grill away from the heat source, above the burner that is turned off, indirect heat method remember. Squirt a little more oil and vinegar into the cavity of the chicken until it "overflows." Now close the lid. You want a low to medium low heat level. The objective is to take at least 2 to 2 1/2 hours to cook the chicken, nice and slow. Don't worry after a couple of times you will have it "down to a science" and know what works best for you.
Once you have your chicken on the grill go mow the grass or work in your garden for the next 2 to 2 1/2 hours without even looking at the birds... well, if you insist on looking after about an hour, you can raise the lid and give the birds a good squirt of the oil and vinegar solution... Now, close that lid and get back to work.
You will know the chicken is done by grabbing the tip of one of the legs with a paper towel, careful it will be hot, and gently twist the leg bone in a circle. If the leg bone easily breaks free at the joint, the chicken is done - a beautiful golden brown, moist and tender every time.
Easy huh?
Place the chicken on the grill, mow the grass and when you are finished with your yard you have Capt'n Salsa's Grill Roasted Chicken make that Yard Bird! Serve it up with one of your favorite homemade salsa recipes.
Roasted Corn Salsa or tasty Salsa de Tomatillos Delicious! Wrap it all up in a warm tortilla, complete with your favorite thirst quenching beverage and you will marvel about how great your yard looks.
Imagine. Mowing the grass and cooking supper all at the same time. Enjoy!
Author Bio
Capt'n Salsa provides an outstanding collection of free homemade salsa recipes at his web site, Great Salsa. Submit your favorite salsa recipe for publication at: http://www.great-salsa.com/submit_your_favorite_recipe.html
By: Capt'n Salsa
Wow I have a hankering for some really good grill roasted chicken, the melt in your mouth variety with some fresh homemade salsa slathered right on top. Just seems that we never have time during the lazy days of summer to get everything done. You know, you have to mow the grass, weed the garden and if you're lucky harvest a bounty of fresh produce from your own little truck farm.
Now you expect me to cook supper too? It's time to tell you my secret and go hunting for my favorite "yard bird", Capt'n Salsa's Grill Roasted Yard Bird, to be exact.
Yes.
Delicious golden brown moist and tender some of the best melt in your mouth grill roasted chicken you will ever eat. Now, don't let the hunting phrase concern you. The extent
of hunting chicken for me is looking for a big plump 3.5 to 4 pounder at the local grocery or meat market. I always bag my limit of two because it is just as easy to cook two at the same time to guarantee some leftovers...
"Come on, Capt'n Salsa, quit beating around the bushes and just give us the recipe!"
Oh, Okay.
Capt'n Salsa's Grill Roasted Yard bird is so easy you will probably laugh. Of course it goes with out saying you need to rinse the chicken in cold water before you cook it. All you are going to need is a generous amount of Lemon Pepper Seasoning. Mix up a solution of 1 part vegetable oil with 4 parts of Apple Cider Vinegar, remember that's the brown vinegar, together in a squirt bottle, an empty syrup bottle will do just fine.
Now we are going to cook our grilled chicken whole on your favorite charcoal or 2 burner gas grill using the "indirect heat" method. Your grill needs a lid that will close, too. Most of the time now I just use the gas grill, heating the grill with both burners, then turn one of them
totally off, yes, off and the other burner turn it all the way down to low.
I'm getting a little ahead of myself. Preheat your choice of grills. Then rinse and clean the birds. Now hose down the chicken with the mixture of oil and vinegar using the squirt bottle and sprinkle a generous portion of Lemon Pepper Seasoning all over the chicken. Don't forget the body cavity.
Place the chicken breast side up on the grill away from the heat source, above the burner that is turned off, indirect heat method remember. Squirt a little more oil and vinegar into the cavity of the chicken until it "overflows." Now close the lid. You want a low to medium low heat level. The objective is to take at least 2 to 2 1/2 hours to cook the chicken, nice and slow. Don't worry after a couple of times you will have it "down to a science" and know what works best for you.
Once you have your chicken on the grill go mow the grass or work in your garden for the next 2 to 2 1/2 hours without even looking at the birds... well, if you insist on looking after about an hour, you can raise the lid and give the birds a good squirt of the oil and vinegar solution... Now, close that lid and get back to work.
You will know the chicken is done by grabbing the tip of one of the legs with a paper towel, careful it will be hot, and gently twist the leg bone in a circle. If the leg bone easily breaks free at the joint, the chicken is done - a beautiful golden brown, moist and tender every time.
Easy huh?
Place the chicken on the grill, mow the grass and when you are finished with your yard you have Capt'n Salsa's Grill Roasted Chicken make that Yard Bird! Serve it up with one of your favorite homemade salsa recipes.
Roasted Corn Salsa or tasty Salsa de Tomatillos Delicious! Wrap it all up in a warm tortilla, complete with your favorite thirst quenching beverage and you will marvel about how great your yard looks.
Imagine. Mowing the grass and cooking supper all at the same time. Enjoy!
Author Bio
Capt'n Salsa provides an outstanding collection of free homemade salsa recipes at his web site, Great Salsa. Submit your favorite salsa recipe for publication at: http://www.great-salsa.com/submit_your_favorite_recipe.html
Article Source: http://www.ArticleGeek.com - Free Website Content
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Invite Your Friends To Raise A Glass and Celebrate Oktoberfest!
Invite Your Friends To Raise A Glass and Celebrate Oktoberfest!
by: Hillary Marshak
Wish you were in Germany to celebrate Oktoberfest? Now you don't have to
be! Recipe4Living has compiled a delicious menu of traditional German
food and fun for you to host your own Oktoberfest party!
Oktoberfest is a multi-century old German tradition that began in Munich
to celebrate and commemorate the marriage of German Prince Ludwig and
Princess Therese. Now a festival celebrated by millions all across the
world, it's an excuse to kick back with some good German food and German
beer! With tasty menu ideas and beer suggestions, you can have your own
Oktoberfest party in your very own home.
Hillary
Your RSVP Editor
Appetizers
Start off with some spaetzle, sauerkraut or meatballs flavored with beer!
Holly's German Spaetzle Dumplings
Sauerkraut Soup
Beerballs
German Soft Pretzels
Beer Cheese Soup
Main Courses
Traditional Oktoberfest fare usually involves some sort of sausage,
chicken or cabbage. Keep it authentic with these traditional German
dishes!
Slow Cooked Spicy Kielbasa
Pork Chops and Cabbage
Chicken Breasts and Sauerkraut over Egg Noodles
Grilled Bratwurst with German Potato Salad
Schnitzel Paniert
Side Dishes
Wilted Cabbage Salad with Bacon
German Creamed Spinach
Shrimp and Fresh Herb Spaetzle with Creamy Tomato Sauce
German Oven Potatoes
German Sweet and Sour Green Beans
Desserts
Try an apple-inspired torte or a rich German chocolate confection for a
tasty authentic Oktoberfest dessert!
Bavarian Apple Torte
German Sweet Chocolate Cake
Plum Kuchen
Rich German Chocolate Brownies
German Butter Cake
Beverages
The occasion calls for beer (and lots of it) but here are some
suggestions for alternative drinks to serve in addition to your beer
selection.
Apple Cider Punch
Harvest Coffee Cider
Honey Apple Tea
Cinnamon Apple Cooler
Autumn Tea
Presentation Pointers: 1. If weather permits, hold your party outdoors
just like they do in Munich for the real Oktoberfest. It will make your
party feel more like the real thing!
2. Make sure you've stocked up on German beer. Some authentic German brew
labels include: Lowenbrau, Hacker-Pschorr, Paulaner, Spaten, Augustiner,
and Hofbrau. For extra points, serve your beer in German beer steins (see
picture here)!
3. Simple playful games like beanbag tosses, relay races, or beer keg
races will keep up the spirit of Oktoberfest in your own home!
Oktoberfest Resources: But Why Does It Start In September? List of
Oktoberfest Celebrations in North America How to Brew Your Own Beer
If you're not already receiving these weekly party planners right to your
inbox, click here to sign up for the RSVP newsletter!
About The Author
Hillary Marshak is a writer and editor for Recipe4Living.com, a
user-submitted recipe website with more than 16,000 recipes! For recipes
or more articles like this, visit
http://www.Recipe4Living.com!
by: Hillary Marshak
Wish you were in Germany to celebrate Oktoberfest? Now you don't have to
be! Recipe4Living has compiled a delicious menu of traditional German
food and fun for you to host your own Oktoberfest party!
Oktoberfest is a multi-century old German tradition that began in Munich
to celebrate and commemorate the marriage of German Prince Ludwig and
Princess Therese. Now a festival celebrated by millions all across the
world, it's an excuse to kick back with some good German food and German
beer! With tasty menu ideas and beer suggestions, you can have your own
Oktoberfest party in your very own home.
Hillary
Your RSVP Editor
Appetizers
Start off with some spaetzle, sauerkraut or meatballs flavored with beer!
Holly's German Spaetzle Dumplings
Sauerkraut Soup
Beerballs
German Soft Pretzels
Beer Cheese Soup
Main Courses
Traditional Oktoberfest fare usually involves some sort of sausage,
chicken or cabbage. Keep it authentic with these traditional German
dishes!
Slow Cooked Spicy Kielbasa
Pork Chops and Cabbage
Chicken Breasts and Sauerkraut over Egg Noodles
Grilled Bratwurst with German Potato Salad
Schnitzel Paniert
Side Dishes
Wilted Cabbage Salad with Bacon
German Creamed Spinach
Shrimp and Fresh Herb Spaetzle with Creamy Tomato Sauce
German Oven Potatoes
German Sweet and Sour Green Beans
Desserts
Try an apple-inspired torte or a rich German chocolate confection for a
tasty authentic Oktoberfest dessert!
Bavarian Apple Torte
German Sweet Chocolate Cake
Plum Kuchen
Rich German Chocolate Brownies
German Butter Cake
Beverages
The occasion calls for beer (and lots of it) but here are some
suggestions for alternative drinks to serve in addition to your beer
selection.
Apple Cider Punch
Harvest Coffee Cider
Honey Apple Tea
Cinnamon Apple Cooler
Autumn Tea
Presentation Pointers: 1. If weather permits, hold your party outdoors
just like they do in Munich for the real Oktoberfest. It will make your
party feel more like the real thing!
2. Make sure you've stocked up on German beer. Some authentic German brew
labels include: Lowenbrau, Hacker-Pschorr, Paulaner, Spaten, Augustiner,
and Hofbrau. For extra points, serve your beer in German beer steins (see
picture here)!
3. Simple playful games like beanbag tosses, relay races, or beer keg
races will keep up the spirit of Oktoberfest in your own home!
Oktoberfest Resources: But Why Does It Start In September? List of
Oktoberfest Celebrations in North America How to Brew Your Own Beer
If you're not already receiving these weekly party planners right to your
inbox, click here to sign up for the RSVP newsletter!
About The Author
Hillary Marshak is a writer and editor for Recipe4Living.com, a
user-submitted recipe website with more than 16,000 recipes! For recipes
or more articles like this, visit
http://www.Recipe4Living.com!
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