Food and Drink

What Does Organic Milk Taste Like?

Posted in Food and Drink, Uncategorized on September 2nd, 2010 by Jim – Comments Off

Have you ever wondered what organic milk today tastes like? There are a lot of people who are afraid to try organic products because they are afraid that they are going to taste too different from the products that we have all been so used to over the years. They fear that this difference in taste might make them not like the original product as much as they used to and therefore are just happy enough to leave the organic products alone. If you are someone who is wondering about organic milk vs regular then make sure to get the answer that you are looking for so that you will know once and for all.

If you are someone who does not like milk then you should try milk that is organic. You will find that it tastes a lot better than regular milk. There are several people who have shunned milk because of it hurting their stomach or for some other reason, but when they tried either organic chocolate milk or milk without chocolate they were very surprised by how great it tasted in comparison with the regular milk that they grew up not liking.

The reason that organic milk tastes better in comparison to regular milk is because of the amount of powdered milk that is used when making regular milk. When you buy USDA certified organic milk you are buying real fluid milk that does not have any added powder or unsavory products added to it. If you start drinking organic raw milk for a while, then you can really taste the difference when you switch back over to drinking regular milk. You will become spoiled on the organic taste and will never want to switch back to drinking regular milk and all of the unwholesome products that it includes ever again.

Is Your Party Missing Fondue?

Posted in Food and Drink on August 31st, 2010 by Jim – Comments Off

Entertaining is fun but at times it can be stressful.  If you are like me, you want everything to be just perfect for your guests.  This means perfect decorations, great food and a unique menu that lets them know just how special they are to me.  It is fun to “wow” my guests and show them a really good night.

One way that I really enjoy entertaining is to throw a fondue party.  If you have not yet tried it is great fun. In fact, every time I pull out my fondue set I get excited because I know I am about to have a wonderful and unique evening.

There are three main types of fondue – cheese, meat and dessert.  You can plan on serving all of them or you can serve just one.  I love to make the melting pot cheese fondue recipe, because it is something that just about everyone loves.  It is also quick to make and perfect every time.  If you are short on time, you can even pick up pre-sliced apples and vegetables to save on time.

If you are thinking about serving meat fondue, there are several options.  You can cook in the traditional oil, which tastes great.  The down side is that it is very heavy (and unhealthy!) and the oil will make your home and your guests clothing stink.  Healthier options are to use a bouillon or a wine-based bouillon blend.  Both of these options are much healthier but they do not require that you sacrifice on taste.

As far as the types of meat that you serve, I think it is always best to offer a wide variety of options.  By serving some chicken, beef and seafood, you are sure to please everyone.  I usually offer a separate pot with a vegetable bullion in it so that my vegetarian friends can make mushroom caps and cook other vegetables.

Of course, no fondue party is complete without dessert! It is great fun!

Simple Chicken Curry Recipes From Around The World

Posted in Food and Drink on August 31st, 2010 by Jim – Comments Off

Next time you are thinking about cooking up a quick and simple chicken curry, you might want to stop and ponder what exactly “curry” actually is. Most people think of them as Indian inventions, but Indian people rarely – if ever – refer to them as curries. There are also different takes on curry all over the various countries of the Indian sub-continent, from the Portuguese inspired chicken vindaloo to the slightly less fiery chicken Madras. And curry even appears in oriental countries such as China, and of course the very popular Thai green chicken curry and red curry. Head over to the West Indies and you’ll even find the well-known curried goat recipes. Even in the UK, there is the extremely well-loved curry called chicken tikka masala, which some believe was actually invented there.

Maybe there is no such thing as an easy chicken curry, given the number of different countries of origin, and therefore the whole array of different herbs and spices required to cook each one. They are all delicious, though unique, so let’s ponder some of the characteristics which give the various curries their distinct flavors.

In America, the chicken curries most frequently encountered are of Thai or Chinese origin. Of course, the Thai green curry is famous, and is notable for its fresh and fragrant pale green sauce. This curry sauce is made using coconut milk and cream, to which is added garlic and lemon grass, cilantro and plenty of fresh red chilies. The other Thai curry, a red one, is made similarly, from coconut milk, steeped with lemon grass and cilantro, but also with extra local spices including galangal, paprika and turmeric to give a deep orange or red colored curry.

The curries from the Indian sub-continent are more popular in the UK and some parts of Europe. They mainly originate from India, Bangladesh and Pakistan and taste entirely different to the Thai curries. The sauces are generally made from pastes incorporating ground spices mixed with garlic, ginger and fresh chilies. Some of the most widely used spices are cumin and coriander seeds, cinnamon, cloves and fennel seeds, but the exact composition depends on the recipe you are following. Often, the sauce also includes tomatoes for a darker gravy or for milder curries, a yogurt based sauce is used.

All curries are delicious and nutritious, and with such a wide selection to choose from, you are bound to find one to suit your tastes. The fact that there is not a single easy chicken curry recipe out there is a benefit; it means that as long as you have some garlic, chili and a selection of Asian spices, you can make up your own trademark curry yourself, and it’s bound to be a hit.