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Cake Frosting Recipes


Cake frosting, or cake icing, is nothing but a sweet glaze made of sugar that often contains butter, water, egg whites, milk, and added flavorings, Cake frosting is used to cover and decorate baked goods like cakes or even cookies. If you are bored with ready-made cake frosting or the same old flavors that they have to offer, here are some innovative recipes. Now your cakes and cookies can have much more choices than the regular chocolate, vanilla or strawberry frosting.

Easy Cake Frosting Recipes

Marzipan

For this you will need three egg whites, three cups of fine sugar and a pound of blanched sweet almonds. All you need to do is blend the egg whites and the sugar. Make a fine paste of the almonds. Mix the almond paste with the sugar and egg white mix and add a hint of vanilla. Pound the mixture continuously for 10-15 minutes until the ingredients are thoroughly mixed. Your marzipan almond icing is ready to cover the cake. This icing goes well with almost any kind of cake be it chocolate, vanilla, or even carrot cake!

Coffee

Coffee aficionados would agree that coffee goes well with almost anything and everything. In order to make a coffee flavored frosting you would need three tablespoons of coffee liquor, 3 tablespoons of cocoa powder, half a teaspoon of vanilla and about two cups of confectioners' sugar. Just mix all the ingredients and stir until smooth. Coffee icing goes well with almond cake, chocolate cake, coffee cake or any other cakes with a milder flavor.

Orange

A tangy orange icing goes well with all sorts of cookies as well as a fruitcake. In order to make the orange icing you need one egg yolk, two cups of confectioners' sugar, two tablespoons of orange juice, teaspoon of orange liqueur and grated rind of one orange. Add the egg yolk and the sugar and beat until the sugar is completely dissolves. Now add all the other ingredients and blend for about ten minutes. If your want a more natural taste to it, add fresh orange pulp instead of the orange juice.

Caramel Butter

Caramel frosting brings an elegantly sweet and subtle taste to any cake or cookie. All you need for a caramel butter frosting is half a cup of butter, two cups of brown sugar and a hint of vanilla extract and heavy cream. Just mix the cream, butter and sugar and mix well. Now add the vanilla extract and mix again. Caramel frosting tastes heavenly with almond cookies as well.

Coconut

Coconut frosting go well for coconut cookies, fruitcakes or vanilla flavored baked goods. In order to make the coconut frosting you need three tablespoons of butter, five tablespoons of brown sugar, two tablespoons of light cream and half a cup of fresh grated coconut. Mix all the ingredients and broil until sugar is melted and starts bubbling. Be very careful while making this frosting since the mixture can burn very easily.

Blueberry

A blueberry frosting doesn't even need artificial coloring and had an awesome sweet and tangy taste to it. To make the blueberry frosting, you need eight ounces of thawed blueberries, five teaspoons of agar agar, eight ounces of cream cheese, two tablespoons of maple syrup and one tablespoon of vanilla extract. Heat the pured blueberries and agar agar in saucepan, bring to a boil and stir briskly. Cool the blueberry gel until it solidifies. Now, mix the cream cheese, blueberry gel, maple syrup and vanilla and blend well.

Watermelon

This one is truly innovative - who would have thought of a watermelon frosting! All you need is about half a cup of crushed watermelon, half a cup of butter, two cups of powdered sugar and about eight ounces of packaged cream cheese. First of all beat the cream cheese and butter and then add sugar and watermelon juice. Blend the mixture for a couple of minutes until the ingredients are mixed thoroughly.

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Homemade Spaghetti Tomato Sauce


Spaghetti sauce is a must with Italian pasta! However good the pasta is, its taste cannot be brought out until it is seasoned with a little spaghetti sauce! Making homemade spaghetti tomato sauce is quite easy, if you know the exact ingredients and some flavoring secrets! The following recipes will provide you with all the tips you will need for the perfect Italian style spaghetti sauce.

Homemade Spaghetti Tomato Basil Sauce
Ingredients
  • 4 large leaves fresh basil
  • 2 tbs olive oil
  • 4 large ripe plum tomatoes, blanched, peeled and seeded
  • Salt and pepper
Process

Blanch the tomatoes by placing them in simmering water, cover it and cook until the skin of the tomatoes split, for about 4 minutes. After 4 minutes, remove the tomatoes from heat, drain and let cool in a colander. Meanwhile, cut the basil into strips by first stacking them one over other and then rolling them lengthwise and then cutting across, to make strips; also mince garlic. The tomatoes must have been drained and cooled till now, dice the cooled tomatoes and set aside. Take a skillet and heat olive oil in it, add garlic, 1/8 tsp salt and black pepper to it. Heat on medium heat, only till garlic is fragrant, do not brown. Add in basil and tomatoes to the oil and simmer until liquid is released for about 5 minutes. When the mixture turns into a thick sauce add in salt and pepper to taste. Toss with boiled pasta and serve. This is one of the easy spaghetti tomato sauce recipes.

Homemade Spaghetti Meatballs With Tomato Sauce
Ingredients

For Meatballs
  • tsp ground black pepper
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • 1 cup fresh bread crumbs
  • 1 tbs grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/8 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tbs dried parsley
For Sauce
  • 2 (28 ounce) cans whole peeled tomatoes
  • cup chopped onion
  • tsp ground black pepper
  • cup olive oil
  • 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
  • tsp dried basil
  • 1 tsp white sugar
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 5 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tsp salt
Process

Take a large mixing bowl and add bread crumbs, cheese, ground beef, parsley, garlic powder, tsp black pepper and beaten egg in it, blend thoroughly and form it into 12 balls. Refrigerate until needed. Now heat a saucepan, pour olive oil into it and saut garlic and onions over medium heat. When onions turn light in shade, add in sugar, salt, tomatoes and bay leaf. Reduce the heat to low, cover and let simmer for 90 minutes. After the required time, stir in basil, tomato paste, meatballs and tsp pepper. Simmer for about 30 minutes, serve this homemade spaghetti tomato sauce hot.

Chicken Spaghetti Tomato Sauce
Ingredients
  • 3 lbs chicken, boiled and chopped
  • 2 cups broth, use from boiled chicken
  • 3 tbs bacon grease
  • 2 onions, chopped
  • 1 green sweet pepper, chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 4 celery ribs, chopped
  • 2 tbs Worcestershire sauce
  • 6 green onions, chopped (optional)
  • 1 lb spaghetti noodles, uncooked
  • 1 (10 ounce) can tomato soup
  • 2 tsp hot sauce (optional)
  • 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
  • 1 bell pepper
  • 3 bay leaves
  • 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
Process

Take a medium-sized skillet and saut garlic, bell pepper, onion, celery and green onion in bacon grease until onions are translucent. Bring to a boil and then add bay leaves and vegetables, boil further for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, add Worcestershire sauce and cook on medium-low heat, until thick. Add in tomato soup, tomato sauce and tomato paste and boil for 10 more minutes. After the required time, stir in noodles along with diced chicken and cook only until the sauce has been absorbed. If the sauce becomes too thick, add a little broth. This is one of the most delicious homemade spaghetti with tomato sauce.

These were some easy homemade spaghetti sauce recipes. You can add in extra ingredients in any of the above homemade spaghetti tomato sauce recipes, however, keep the base same to maintain the unique taste.
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Sour Cream Pound Cake Recipes


"Patty cake patty cake, baker's man
Bake me a cake as fast as you can
Roll the dough mark it with B
And throw it in the oven for baby and me" - Thomas D'Urfey's play 'The Campaigners'

My younger sister and me used to enjoy with blushing cheeks, when it came to relishing pound cake. It's such yummy and full-bodied cake, that one cannot resist the never-ending temptation about it. This coming weekend, I am planning to prepare a sour cream pound cake to content myself as well as gain the appreciation of my family members and the readers, who will try this cake recipe at least once! If you are looking for sour cream pound cake recipes, then you can try preparing any of the following delicious pound cake recipes.

Recipe 1

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup unsalted butter
1 cup granulated sugar
cup sour cream
4 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
teaspoons baking soda
teaspoon salt

Procedure

In a mixing bowl, beat the unsalted butter and add some sugar till they blend well. Add eggs and vanilla and beat the mixture well, for about 5 minutes. Take a separate bowl and combine together the ingredients - flour, baking soda and salt. To this bowl, add the butter and sugar mixture alternately with the sour cream. For baking, line a loaf pan (of about 2 liters) with double-layered parchment paper. Following this, transfer the cake mixture into the pan carefully. Bake the cake in a preheated oven at about 325 degrees Fahrenheit, for approximately 1 hours, or until the cake is done. Remove the sour cream pound cake from the oven, allow it to cool down and serve.

Recipe 2

Ingredients

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 cups partially melted butter
3 cups sugar
1 packet sour cream (about 8 ounces)
6 eggs
1 teaspoon lemon extract
teaspoon almond extract
teaspoon baking soda
teaspoon salt

Procedure

In a mixer beat the butter for about 2 minutes, add sugar and stir it for another 2 minutes. Transfer the mixture into a large mixing bowl and add the eggs to this mixture and stir well. In another bowl, mix the flour, baking soda and salt together. In the bowl containing the butter mixture, add the flour mixture and sour cream, alternately. Ensure that the last adding is the flour mixture. Add the lemon and almond extracts to the mixture and beat it slightly. Scrape the cake mixture into a grease and flour tube pan that can accommodate about 12 cups of materials. Bake the cake in a preheated oven (about 325 degrees Fahrenheit) for approximately 1 hours. Check whether the cake is done by inserting a cake tester. Remove the cake if done and let it cool down before serving.

Recipe 3

Ingredients

1 cups finely ground pecan
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup unsalted butter
3 cups granulated sugar
1 cup sour cream
6 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
teaspoon baking soda
teaspoon salt

Procedure

Preheat the oven to about 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Also, grease and flour a tube pan and sprinkle it with cup of pecan powder. Take a medium-sized bowl and combine the remaining pecan powder, flour, baking soda and salt. Whisk this mixture and set it aside. In another large mixing bowl, beat the butter and sugar until it turns fluffy. Add in the eggs and vanilla and stir the mixture. In this large bowl, you can add flour mixture and sour cream alternately. Blend the batter lightly and pour it on the tube pan. Bake the cake for about 1 hours and cool it by placing it over a wire rack. With this, your pecan sour cream pound cake is ready to serve.

You can now go ahead and watch as your family members and friends sit drooling over the cake your prepare. I am sure you will be asked to share a few of your sour cream pound cake recipes. So, go ahead and experiment as much as you can, and enjoy those delicious aromatic flavors of your very own sour cream pound cake.
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Turkish Coffee Pudding Recipe

Photo: Turkish Coffee Pudding recipe

The Lebanese Recipes Kitchen (The home of delicious Lebanese Recipes and Middle Eastern food recipes) invites you to try  Turkish Coffee Pudding Recipe. Enjoy the good taste of food and learn how to make Turkish Coffee Pudding.

A bit of cardamom gives this dessert its exotic flavor. The pudding needs to chill about five hours before serving, so be sure to plan ahead.

yield: Makes 6 servings
active time: 20 minutes
total time: 5 hours 20 minutes

Ingredients

2 1/4 cups heavy whipping cream, divided
3 tablespoons Kahlúa or other coffee liqueur, divided
2 tablespoons instant espresso powder plus additional for garnish
1 teaspoon (scant) ground cardamom plus additional for garnish
4 large egg yolks
1/2 cup (packed) golden brown sugar

Preparation

Combine 1 3/4 cups cream, 2 tablespoons Kahlúa, 2 tablespoons espresso powder, and 1 scant teaspoon cardamom in heavy small saucepan; bring to simmer. Whisk yolks and brown sugar in medium bowl. Gradually whisk hot cream mixture into yolk mixture; return to pan. Stir over medium-low heat until mixture is thick enough to coat back of spoon (do not boil), about 5 minutes. Strain through fine-mesh strainer into 2-cup measuring cup. Divide pudding among 6 demitasse cups. Refrigerate until set, about 5 hours. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Keep chilled.)

Whisk remaining 1/2 cup cream in medium bowl until peaks form. Whisk in remaining 1 tablespoon Kahlúa. Top each pudding with whipped cream. Sprinkle with additional espresso powder and additional cardamom.

Recipe by Epicurious


More from the Lebanese Recipes Kitchen:   

Chilled almond pudding with honey syrup 
Rose Water Rice Pudding with Basbosa 
Semolina Cream and Mango Pudding 
Middle Eastern rice pudding 
Turkish Coffee 
Top 5 Coffee Makers 

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Easy Lebanese Baklawa Recipe

Photo: Easy Lebanese Baklawa Recipe

The Lebanese Recipes Kitchen (The home of delicious Lebanese Recipes and Middle Eastern food recipes) invites you to try  Easy Lebanese Baklawa Recipe. Enjoy the good taste of food and learn how to make Easy Lebanese Baklawa.

Ingredients:

Servings: 15

8 ounces phyllo dough
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 1/2 cups water
1 cup sugar
1 tablespoon orange blossom water
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 cup pistachios, shells removed

Directions:

1 In a medium saucepan, combine the water and sugar and boil over high heat for 15 minutes to form a syrup. Remove from heat; stir in lemon juice and orange blossom water (you can substitute rose water if you can’t find orange blossom water), and set aside to cool.
 

2 Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Open the package of phyllo dough. If your phyllo dough came in a 1 lb. box, use only half of it. Carefully lift one sheet of the phyllo (it is paper thin and very fragile, so work quickly and carefully!) and place it on a large, smooth baking sheet. Using a pastry brush, brush melted butter over the sheet. Place the next sheet of phyllo on top, and repeat with the butter. Repeat this process until all of the sheets have been buttered and stacked.
 

3 Using a large, sharp knife, cut the stacked phyllo into 3 inch by 3 inch squares. Carefully roll each square up into a log , and place on another baking sheet (seam side down). Bake for 25 minutes, or until the logs start to turn a golden color.
 

4 Using a tablespoon, pour the cooled syrup onto the baklawa rolls. Repeat if desired (for a sweeter baklawa).
 

5 Place the pistachio nuts in a resealable plastic bag. Using a rolling pin, crush the nuts. Place the baklawa logs onto a serving plate and top with the nuts. Makes about 15 pieces.
 

From food.com
By Sommer Clary

More from the Lebanese Recipes Kitchen:    

Pistachio baklava 
Baklava with honey syrup 
Baklava 
Baklava Roll-Ups 
Mixed-Nut Honey Baklava 
Pistachio & cardamom baklava
 
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Shark Fin Recipes


Shark's fin soup, shark's fin omelet and braised shark's fin soup with crab meat are the most expensive dishes to be present in a Chinese banquet. Shark's fin is nothing but a soft tissue. Its cost is proportional to its length. The length of a shark's fin can vary from an inch to a foot. The cost also depends on the amount of cartilage. Shark's fin in itself is tasteless but has a strange capability of enhancing the taste of anything that it is cooked with. In the market, shark's fin is normally available in two forms, namely; frozen and dried. Dried shark's fin needs to be tenderized before using in the food recipes.

Shark's Fin Soup Recipe

Ingredients
To prepare shark's fin soup, the main ingredients are - 16 oz can of shark's fin, 1 chicken breast and 4 cups of water. To spice up the dish, we will need 2 tablespoons sherry, 3 tablespoons oil, 2 tablespoons of cornstarch, 1 ginger root, some dried black mushrooms and 2 scallion stalks. Salt can be added as per taste. 3 tablespoons of oil is enough to cook the entire dish.

Procedure
The chicken breast and the mushrooms are shred first and the scallions are cut into two inch sections. The ginger pieces are then sliced to very small pieces. The sliced ginger pieces, the scallion stalks, the canned shark's fin, sherry and water are then boiled together, in a pan for around 15 minutes. The shark's fin is then drained out, while the liquid, scallions and ginger root are discarded. Then stir fry the chicken pieces in the oil for around one minute, until they lose their pinkness. The shark's fin, remaining sherry, and shredded mushroom pieces are added to the fried chicken pieces and boiled for around 30 minutes. Salt is sprinkled over during the boiling process. The amount of salt to be sprinkled, depends on the maker's taste. Cornstarch is then the preparation to thicken the soup.

Shark's Fin Omelet Recipe

Ingredients
The main ingredients are a cup dried shark fin, hot chicken stock, six eggs, 2 tablespoons of scallion stock, 1 cup stock, 2 slices of ginger root and 2 tablespoons of sherry. Pepper and salt are needed to spice up the preparation. 4 tablespoons of oil is needed for the frying process.

Procedure
The shark's fin first needs to be tenderized. It is soaked in cold water for an hour and the water is then drained out. The ginger roots are then cut into very small pieces and the scallion stalks are sliced into 1 inch sections. The tenderized shark fin is then combined with the stock, sherry and salt and pepper. Salt and pepper is added as per the taste desired. Scallions and ginger root are stir fried in the oil for a few minutes. The preparation of shark fins is then added to the pan and cooked for 5 minutes on medium low heat. The remaining liquid, scallions and ginger root are then drained out from this preparation. Then beat the egg and pour it over this shark fin mixture. It is allowed to settle down on the preparation. It is repeatedly tossed and turned. The care should be taken that the omelet is moist, but not runny.

Braised Shark's Fin Soup with Crab Meat Recipe

Ingredients
The main ingredients are canned shark's fin and fresh crab meat. To spice up the dish we need chicken stock, salt, sugar, pepper, 3 tablespoons of ginger juice, potato starch and 3 tablespoons of Chinese wine. 1 tablespoon of Chinese sesame oil is enough to cook the mixture.

Procedure
The crab meat is boiled along with 2 tablespoons of ginger juice and 3 tablespoons of Chinese wine. The boiled crab meat is then strained and the chicken stock is boiled. The chicken stock and shark's fin is added to the boiled chicken stock. Salt, sugar, pepper, chicken powder and the remaining ginger juice is added to the preparation and the entire mixture is again boiled at medium heat. Potato starch along with water is finally added to the soup, to thicken it.

It is the slippery and glutinous property of shark's fin that causes its soup to be extra thick. In many restaurants cornstarch or potato starch is not even added to the soup. From a health perspective, shark's fin is believed to strengthen the internal organs. Though the killing of sharks is banned all over the world, but shark's fin, till date, continues to remain one of the most relished Chinese food recipes ever.
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Lebanese Tuna Tahini Salad recipe

Photo: Lebanese Tuna Tahini Salad recipe

The Lebanese Recipes Kitchen (The home of delicious Lebanese Recipes and Middle Eastern food recipes) invites you to try  Lebanese Tuna Tahini Salad Recipe. Enjoy the good taste of food and learn how to make Lebanese Tuna Tahini Salad.

 Total Time: 5 mins
Prep Time: 5 mins
Cook Time: 0 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 6

Tahini Dressing

2 tablespoons tahini
1/3 cup plain nonfat yogurt
1 lemon, juice of, about 3 tablespoons
2 tablespoons dried parsley
3 -4 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 1/2-2 teaspoons cumin
salt and pepper

Tuna

3 (6 1/2 ounce) cans tuna in water, drained and flaked
1/2 cup onion, diced
1/2 cup celery, diced
2 tablespoons capers
3 tablespoons green olives, chopped
1/2 cup apple, chopped (optional)

Directions:

1 In a food processor blend together the tahini, yogurt, lemon juice, garlic, parsley, and spices.
2 Season with salt and pepper to taste.
3 In a bowl toss the tuna, onion, celery, and apples lightly with the dressing to coat.
4 Serve in a whole wheat pita with tomatoes, cucumber, and lettuce.

From food.com
By poo235 

More from the Lebanese Recipes Kitchen:

Haloumi and crushed wheat salad 
Halloumi and cous cous salad 
Haloumi with basil and tomato  
Spicy couscous salad 
Zucchini & haloumi fritters with tabouli 
Zucchini and haloumi fritters with dill yoghurt dressing  


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Tomato Pasta Sauce from Scratch


Pasta which has its origin in Italian cuisine has become a popular dish among people all around the world. Pasta which is made by using wheat dough, eggs, water and vegetables are available in hundreds of shapes and sizes. Among the different types of pastas, fusilli, gnocchi, spaghetti, lasagna and macaroni are the most popular Italian pastas. Though it has been a practice of adding different types of vegetables, sausages and meat into the pasta, the dish is not complete without adding sauce. Though nowadays, ready-made pasta sauces are available in the market, they can never beat the taste that one gets from homemade tomato sauce. Hence, let us take a look at the ways of making tomato pasta sauce for kids as well for adults.

Recipe for Tomato Pasta Sauce

To make this sauce from scratch, the most important thing you need is fresh and juicy tomatoes. When you shop for tomatoes, pick up those which are small, but plum. Once you get good tomatoes, remove the skin and take out the seeds before starting the process.

Basic Tomato Pasta Sauce Recipe

Tomato Pasta Sauce Ingredients
  • Fresh tomatoes, peeled, seeded and chopped, 1 pound
  • Medium-sized onion, finely chopped,
  • Tomato paste, 1 teaspoon
  • Small celery stalk, finely chopped, 1
  • Dried basil, teaspoon
  • Small carrot, finely chopped, 1
  • Garlic, minced, 1 clove
  • Fresh parsley, chopped, 2 tablespoons
  • Olive oil, 2 tablespoons
  • Salt and black pepper- as per taste
Tomato Pasta Sauce Method

Take olive oil in a large saucepan and place it on a medium flame. When it becomes hot, put in the carrot, onion, parsley and celery into it and stir till all these ingredients are coated with oil. Once this is done, close the saucepan with a lid and let it cook on a low heat for 15 - 20 minutes. However, remember to stir with a spatula frequently. When these ingredients become tender, add minced garlic and stir. Cook on a medium flame for thirty seconds and then, put in the tomatoes, along with the juice. This should be followed by tomato paste, basil, salt and pepper. Stir till these ingredients are mixed well and then, cook on a low heat for 15 minutes. Do not cover the saucepan and take it off the flame when the sauce thickens. Mix this fresh tomato pasta sauce with your favorite pasta and enjoy.

Homemade Tomato Basil Pasta Sauce Recipe

Tomato Pasta Sauce Ingredients
  • Tomatoes, 8 quarts
  • Basil, 1 tablespoons
  • Onions, chopped coarsely, 10
  • Sugar, 4 ounces
  • Italian seasoning, 3 teaspoons
  • Oregano, 3 teaspoons
  • Green pepper, chopped coarsely, 1
  • Bay leaves, 5
  • Mushrooms, sliced, 32 ounces
  • Red pepper, crushed, teaspoon
  • Salt, 2 tablespoons
  • Tomato paste, 18 ounces
  • Large garlic cloves, pressed, 2
  • Celery stalks, chopped coarsely, 3
Tomato Pasta Sauce Method

In a blender, take tomatoes, half of the chopped onion, green pepper and celery and blend till you achieve the desired chunkiness. For instance, if you want to have some of the pieces in your sauce, you do not have to blend for a long time, on the other hand if you want a smooth sauce, you will have to blend for a long time. Take these blended vegetables in a large pot and cook on a medium to low heat. Put in the tomato paste, spices, remaining onions and mushrooms in the pot and cook for at least 2 - 3 hours, according to the consistency you need. Once this done, remove the bay leaves and store the tomato sauce in air tight containers and freeze them. This basil tomato pasta sauce goes well with spaghetti.

Creamy Tomato Pasta Sauce Recipe

Tomato Pasta Sauce Ingredients
  • Italian style diced tomatoes, undrained, 1 can
  • Heavy cream, 4 ounces
  • White sugar, teaspoon
  • Onion, diced, 1
  • Salt, teaspoon
  • Butter, 3 teaspoons
  • Olive oil, 2 tablespoons
  • Dried basil leaves, 3 teaspoons
  • Ground black pepper, teaspoon
  • Dried oregano, teaspoon
  • Garlic, minced, 1 clove
Tomato Pasta Sauce Method

Heat olive oil in a large skillet and fry onion and garlic in it. Stir on medium to low flame, so that it doesn't burn. Once the onions become transparent, put in tomatoes, oregano, basil, pepper, sugar and salt into the pan. Stir the tomato sauce and cook on a medium to high heat. When it starts boiling, let it cook on medium flame for some time till the liquid evaporates. Add butter and whipping cream to the sauce and allow it to cook on a low heat for five to seven minutes more.
So, if you are planning to make pasta for dinner, instead of using the tomato pasta sauce that you have brought from the market, try making one of these tomato sauces. I am sure the homemade tomato pasta sauce will be a great hit not only among adults, but with little kids too.
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Lebanese Tomato Salsa (Banadurah Harrah) Recipe

Photo: Lebanese Tomato Salsa Recipe


The Lebanese Recipes Kitchen (The home of delicious Lebanese Recipes and Middle Eastern food recipes) invites you to try  Lebanese Tomato Salsa (Banadurah Harrah) Recipe. Enjoy the good taste of food and learn how to make Lebanese Tomato Salsa (Banadurah Harrah).

 An unusual spicy dip from - serve with fried eggplant, herby meat balls or just on its own with pita bread.

Total Time: 20 mins
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 10 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 4-6

2 lbs tomatoes, firm and ripe
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
3 garlic cloves, crushed
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon dried mint

Directions:

1 Cut the stalks out of the tomatoes. Put them in a bowl and pour over boiling water to loosen their skins. Peel away the skins, remove the seeds and finely dice the flesh.
2 Heat the olive oil in a pan over a medium heat. When hot, add the tomatoes and garlic. Cook, stirring frequently, for 5 minutes.
3 Add the cayenne pepper and dried mint. Season with salt and cook for another 5 minutes, stirring. By now, the tomatoes should have lost all their excess liquid. Taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary.
4 Serve the tomato salsa at room temperature.

From food.com
By English_Rose

More from the Lebanese Recipes Kitchen:


Garlic Sauce
Falafel Sauce 
Grilled Chicken with Mango Salsa  
Turkish meatballs 
Moroccan meatballs 
Fried Eggplant with Yoghurt   

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Muhallabia, Lebanese Almond Cream Pudding Recipe

Photo: Muhallabia Recipe


The Lebanese Recipes Kitchen (The home of delicious Lebanese Recipes and Middle Eastern food recipes) invites you to try  Muhallabia, Lebanese Almond Cream Pudding Recipe. Enjoy the good taste of food and learn how to make Muhallabia, Lebanese Almond Cream Pudding.  

Total Time: 25 mins
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 6

1/4 cup rice flour
3 cups milk
1 pinch salt
1/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup ground almonds
1 tablespoon rose water
pistachios (optional, to garnish) or almonds (optional, to garnish)

Directions:

1 Blend ground rice in a 1/4 cup of milk.
2 Bring remainder of milk to a boil and blend in the ground rice mixture, salt & sugar.
3 Stir constantly until the mixture bubbles gently (medium high heat).
4 Simmer for 5 minutes, stir frequently lower heat if necessary so the mixture cooks slowly Add ground almonds and blend until smooth.
5 Add rose water.
6 Remove from heat and stir occasionally until the mixture cools slightly.
7 Pour into a serving bowl and garnish with nuts (optional).


From food.com
By Bergy   

More from the Lebanese Recipes Kitchen:   

Lebanese Knafe Na'ama
Katayef
Knafeh
Maamool with Dates 
Osmallieh
Sahlab


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Sugar-free Chocolate Chips


We all love eating chocolates, don't we? But as we all are aware that today's generation has become extraordinarily conscious about their health, plus there is this group of middle-aged people who are mostly suffering from diabetes or may be some other health problems. Then what for them? Don't worry. I am sure you will have a smile on your face after reading this article.

You all might be wondering, chocolate chips without sugar? Is it possible? The answer is yes. Obviously, you all must be aware of this "sugar-free" fad going on which is the "in" thing currently. But sugar-free does not always necessarily mean zero sugar; it could be negligible amounts of sugar. It's quite obvious that we would not like to eat chocolate without it being sweet. But if not sugar, then? Well, sugar substitutes, popularly called sugar alcohols or sugar replacers or sugar substitutes are available, which do the needful. All the sugar alcohols are called "polyols"; sweeteners being acesulfame potassium and sucralose to name a few. The advantage of using them obviously being, low-calorie intake that is around 2 cal per gram in comparison to the natural sugars which have high, around 5 cal per gram.

As I mentioned above, the calories in sugar-free chocolate chips makes them superbly popular. It is as good as, you can make your chocolate chips and have it too! As we are talking about calories and stuff, let's talk about some nutritional facts. But before listing them, I would like to mention the different brands which make these chips. You all must have heard of Hershey's. Then there is Sensato and Nevada Manna as well.

Just go through the list of nutrients present in these chips: [these are the average values per serving (around 1-2 tablespoons = approximately 15 grams) for the brands available above]
  • Total calories: ranges from 50-80 cal per serving
  • Total calories from fats: 40 cal
  • Total Fat content: 4.5-5 grams
  • Saturated Fat: 3 grams
  • Trans Fat: 0 gram
  • Cholesterol: 0 milligram
  • Total carbohydrates: 9 grams
  • Sugar content: 0 gram
  • Fiber content: 1-7 grams
  • Total proteins: 0-1 gram
  • Sugar alcohols: 0 gram
  • Sodium content: 0-15 milligram
  • Vitamin C: 0 gram
  • Vitamin A: 0 gram
  • Iron: High chances of it being present. Other minerals like potassium, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus might be present in small amounts.
Recipe

I am clarifying the fact that this is going to be a totally sugar-free recipe and the taste obviously bitter, so try it if you want to! And if you want a slight sweet taste, you can add sugar sweeteners or replacers as mentioned above.

Ingredients:
  • 350 grams unsweetened chocolate bar
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 250 ml non-fat milk, preferably cow's
Procedure:
  • Arrange a double boiler. Put on high flame.
  • Add milk and butter and stir until it gets mixed uniformly.
  • When the water starts boiling, add the unsweetened chocolate bar in it. Stir again until the chocolate melts. See to it that the consistency is thick enough.
  • Turn off the flame when the chocolate has entirely melted. This will avoid burning of the chocolate.
  • You can use molds of different shapes to allow the chocolate to solidify. Cut it into small chips later on. Your sugar-free chips are ready!
If some of you love dark chocolate, then I have a recipe for you all too. If you all are willing to make dark chocolate chips, you all can follow the same procedure as above. But make sure that you use sugar-free dark chocolate instead of unsweetened one. But I would suggest that you think twice before attempting this one. The dark chocolate is naturally a semi sweet chocolate and if you want to make it sugar-free then, all the best! Try it if you can tolerate its extreme bitter taste. If you are hesitant in trying at home, the Belgian sugar-free dark chocolate chips are pretty famous. Go in for them.

To sum up, I would suggest you all to try sugar-free chocolate chips at home. It is going to be fun people, so go and experiment. Some might like and some might not. Depends on your sweet tooth!
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Side Effects of Too Much Fiber


An average daily intake of fiber is about 25 grams for women, 30 grams for men, and approximately 20 grams for kids. Side effects are mostly noticed in individuals who consume higher than about 45 grams of fiber in a day. So, let's just say that if your fiber intake per day is 50 grams, you are having a lot of fiber!

Why Should You Eat Fiber in Moderation?

Fiber intake in more than the required amount has a host of uncomfortable and highly embarrassing side effects. Let's see which are potential harmful effects that occur.

Side Effect Description
Flatulence This is an embarrassing and highly uncomfortable side effect. I can only imagine a day at work, struggling with flatulence. Flatulence is a condition wherein mixed gases are expelled through the rectum. High intake of fiber can aid the process and cause you much shame.
Diarrhea It is a condition wherein the sufferer undergoes liquid-like bowel movements. This results in loss of body fluids, salts and other nutrients. It causes death in extreme conditions.
Abdominal Discomfort This one is not so embarrassing, but uncomfortable nonetheless. The queasy feeling in your stomach can be enough to put you off work, play and pleasure, if you know what I mean!
Constipation Constipation occurs when the colon absorbs excess water and this results in hard or no feces. If you wish to know, "Can eating extra fiber rich foods cause constipation", the answer is - "yes, it can!" Constipation is annoying, painful, uncomfortable and generally awful.
Blockages Extra fiber consumption can lead to a possibility of a severe blockage. It has been seen that patients need to get operated to get rid of the blockage caused due to excess fiber.
Abnormal Absorption Surplus fiber uptake can also cause you to gain weight. However, you can lose this weight without much trouble. I also asked a few dietitians, "Can having too much fiber make you bloated?", and the answer was - "Yes, it can!"
Intestinal Cramping This side effect takes place when the body is not able to carry out fiber breakdown. And this would occur only in case of excess fiber intake, during which, digestion slackens or even stops for a moment. This ends up in intestinal cramping and body discomfort.
Weight Gain Fibers in foods have the ability to bind to other foods (which include nutrients, minerals, etc.), because of which the body would not be able to ingest them. So, you can imagine what would be the case if you would be consuming excess fiber in your diet! Often, important minerals like calcium, iron, potassium, etc., do not get absorbed by the body. Nevertheless, this occurrence is very rare and one needn't worry too much over this side effect.

But, seriously, is fiber in excess a bad thing? Well, that is arguable. Several people live comfortably on diets that contain high fiber levels. The difference is that those people also maintain high water intake. Too much fiber with not enough water intake is the reason behind these terrible side effects. So, if you are suffering from the above symptoms, you are doing something wrong here! As long as you are making sure that you keep up the fiber-water balance, you will not suffer from any side effects or problems with drinking too much water. The two balance each other out.

Another fact that one needs to be well aware of, is that even though fiber makes the travel (of food through the digestive tract) faster, too much of it can cause one to feel "full". This can trick one into believing that enough nutrients have gotten consumed. Beware of that! More so, excess fiber can lead to lesser iron and calcium absorption. I need not remind you that this can lead to further health hassles. So, is eating extra fiber bad for you? Well, it has the potential to be. Hence, it is best to avoid consuming too much fiber.

Alright, this article was not to scare you off fiber. Don't forget, adequate fiber consumption is required by the body, beyond that it should be monitored. Otherwise, you will end up suffering from displeasing side effects.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is solely for educating the reader. It is not intended to be a substitute for the advice of a medical expert.
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How to Grill a Salmon on a Gas Grill


Salmon is a delicacy for all fish lovers. Rich in omega-3 essential fatty acids, it is also a healthy choice for people who have high cholesterol or heart related problems. As per individual preferences, salmon can be smoked, grilled, baked, broiled, poached or fried. Whichever method you choose for preparing salmon, it tastes delicious. Amongst the different ways of cooking salmon, most people prefer grilling salmon, as it takes less time, and retains much of its flavor. What's more, the instructions for grilling a salmon on a gas grill are very easy. You just need a suitable marinade or rub, and grill for the correct time.

Cooking Salmon on a Gas Grill

For grilling tasty salmon, you should purchase fresh filets that are firm, light pink in color, and have smooth cuts. Avoid buying fishy smelling filets or steaks that indicate old cuts. Also, do not forget to ask the fishmonger to retain skin on the filets, so that they do not stick to the grill or break apart while cooking. If you are not cooking directly, keep filets in the refrigerator until you are ready to grill them. Mentioned below are some simple steps on cooking salmon on a gas grill with foil.
  • The first step for grilling a salmon on a gas grill is to prepare the grill properly. If you have not used it for a long time, consider cleaning it first with a metal brush, and apply oil to reduce sticking. Then, preheat the gas grill at a high setting.
  • As far as wrapping the rack with aluminum foil is concerned, it is optional for grilling salmon. However, if you are using foil, you do not need to oil the grill. Instead spray oil on the aluminum foil before you actually place filets over it.
  • In the meantime, you can prepare salmon filets by brushing with your favorite dry rub or marinade. For any fish recipe, do not make the mistake of marinating pieces for a long time. Or else, the flesh will lose its firmness and flavor, which you do not want at any cost.
  • The next step for grilling the salmon is estimating the correct cooking time according to the thickness of the filets. A half-inch thick filet requires 4 minutes grilling, i.e., 2 minutes per side. Likewise, determine salmon cooking time, and grill accordingly.
  • As soon as the gas grill is ready, adjust it again to low heat setting. With the skin side up, place marinated salmon filets over the grill, and close the lid for cooking. Retain lid until one side of the filet is cooked properly.
  • When the cut side is cooked for the estimated time (4 minutes for 1-inch thick filets), open lid and flip the filet carefully with a thin spatula. You should place the filet over the grill with the skin side down. If desired, rub the cooked side with olive oil or butter.
  • Cover lid and cook the remaining side of the filet for the predicted time. Once the cooking time is reached, remove cooked salmon from the gas grill, and allow it to cool down slightly. This way, you can grill salmon by turning only once during cooking.
  • Your grilled salmon recipe is done, when it flakes easily. To check, insert a metal skewer in the thickest part of the filets and pull a little. Well cooked filets appear opaque with a tender and flaky textured meat. Work with the spatula to separate the skin from the meat part.
Just keep in mind that while grilling a salmon on a gas grill, do not overcook the filets. Always remember that frequent turning will break apart the fish flesh. With practice, you can make grilled salmon like a professional chef. Each time, you can try different marinade or rub recipes to alter the flavor of your grilled salmon. Serve grilled salmon with a spicy sauce and boiled red potatoes for excellent taste.
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Microwave Oven History


Today, a microwave oven (or simply microwave as we refer it today) is an indispensable part of our kitchen. Most of us consider the invention of the microwave oven as one of the most magnificent scientific inventions of the twentieth century. Microwave cooking has provided us a faster way to prepare food. The heating technique of the oven is quite unique. It uses dielectric heating to heat water and other such polarized molecules present in the food material, and helps in uniform heating of the food. The microwave oven's history began way back in the era of World War II. Since then, it has undergone many changes before we got the present working model.

Invention

We can say that the invention of the microwave oven happened by chance. The credit for inventing this oven goes to Dr. Percy Spencer, an engineer with Raytheon Corporation. He invented this amazing kitchen appliance in the year 1946 while working on a research project of radar. While conducting a test for a special kind of vacuum tube called a magnetron, he found that a candy bar kept in his pocket had melted. He got curious to know whether it happened due to the heat generated by the magnetron tube or not. So he placed some popcorn kernels close to the tube and observed it closely. After a few minutes, he surprisingly found that the popcorn started cracking and popping all over the laboratory.

The very next day, he and his colleague came up with the idea of placing an egg in front of the magnetron tube. Again, they found that in no time the egg started moving because of high internal pressure caused due to rapid rise in temperature inside it. Finally, the egg exploded and splattered all over the face of his colleague. Thus, he concluded that the low density microwave energy can be used to cook food. For the final inference of his observation, Dr. Spencer used a metal box in which he fed microwave power in order to create a high density electromagnetic field. The food was placed inside the box, and as usual the temperature of the food went up rapidly.

The First Model

The work for the first model of the first microwave oven started soon after Dr. Spencer's invention. Raytheon Corporation filed for its US patent for Spencer's microwave method of cooking on October 8, 1945. A specimen of the oven that can heat food with the help of microwave energy was kept in the Boston restaurant for the purpose of testing. In 1947, Raytheon Corporation developed the first microwave oven of the world and named it Radarange. It was of huge size much larger than its present form. It was about 1.8 m (6 feet) tall and 750 pounds or 340 kg in weight. The cost of the machine was $5,000. The magnetron tube of the oven needed water cooling, hence, plumbing installations was also included in the oven. Power required to run the microwave oven was as high as 3 kilowatts!

Evolution

The first commercial model of the microwave oven came up in 1954, but it did not do well in terms of sale. In the year 1965, Amana Corporation was acquired by Raytheon, and they developed the first home model of Radarange in 1967. It was priced at US $495, and it became quite popular despite the fact that the sales were quite slow in the beginning. This marked the beginning of a whole new concept of microwave cooking.

In the 1960s, another company called Litton, came up with a new model of microwave ovens, which were short and wide in shape, and looked quite similar to the present model of microwaves. This model was constructed with a unique magnetron feed which helped it to support itself in a no-load condition for an indefinite period. It was first exhibited in a trade show in Chicago, and as a result, its sales grew at a very rapid pace. In the 1970s, the sales of microwaves grew at a much faster rate and touched one million in the US market by the end of 1975. Japan developed a much cheaper variety of microwaves around this time, as they used a re-engineered magnetron which was less costly. In the late 1970s, more number of companies joined the market and started building microwave ovens with improved technology, and the price of such ovens began to fall. Till date, the market is expanding continuously and you can get a wide variety of microwaves as per your requirement of features, size, shape, color, style, budget, etc.

From the microwave oven history, we have found that the appliance which was once used for the purpose of industrial applications, has now become a necessity of contemporary kitchens worldwide. This is simply because of its many advantages. It saves both our time and energy to a great extent. Thus, it perfectly suits the cooking habits of the fast paced world of today.
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Foods that Lower LDL


LDL stands for Low Density Lipoprotein which is one of the five groups of lipoproteins, that help in the transportation of lipids like cholesterol and triglycerides within the bloodstream. However, out of all these lipoprotein groups, LDL is considered to be responsible for many cardiovascular diseases and thus known as "bad cholesterol". In contradiction, HDL or High Density Lipoprotein is known as the "good cholesterol" and is healthy for the body's metabolism. While flowing through the bloodstream, cholesterol doesn't mix with water and thus needs help in moving around. HDL comes to the rescue at such times and transports this cholesterol by forming packets of it and moves it to the liver, from where it is flushed out of the body. Whereas LDL deposits this cholesterol onto the vessel walls and causes heart disease and obesity. To help through this situation, there are certain foods that lower LDL cholesterol.

How to Keep the LDL Levels Low

Your low cholesterol diet is the only way through which maximum amounts of diseases can be fought. Through the consumption of the right foods, you get the required nutrients to carry out metabolic pathways and produce energy as well as strengthen the immune system. Through all this, your body functions properly and battles the various types of infections that attack it.

These foods also prove healthy because they prevent the body from weight gain and heart problems. Mentioned below are some food choices you can have to reduce your LDL along with regular exercising. Instead of sorting to weight loss diets with fake promises, you can simply follow a healthy diet with these foods and exercise regularly to lose weight and stay fit. Take a look at the list mentioned below.

Fruits
Fruits like red grapes, apples and green grapes are very rich in soluble fiber. This soluble fiber helps to draw cholesterol out of the system and doesn't let the bad cholesterol accumulate in the body. Flavonoids, present in the grapes protect LDL cholesterol from free radical damage and minimize platelet clumping.

Vegetables
Beans and green vegetables also have excellent sources of soluble fiber and protein. By properly combing beans with brown rice, seeds, corn, wheat you can create a complete protein. There is no need for red meat protein to provide the body's protein requirement as red meat is high in saturated fat (unhealthy fat). It is also found that cinnamon reduces triglyceride and totally helps. Garlic, soy, chillies and eggplant are also rich in soluble fibers to be included in the list.

Brown Rice
This food contains a heart-healthy fiber, magnesium and B vitamins which are very good binders and help release the LDL out of the body. There is oil in the whole brown rice which also does this job more finely than its fiber.

Fish
Fish and seafood is the richest source of Omega-3 essential fatty acids and protein. Now, these are the healthy fatty acids required by the body and increase the amounts of HDL. The fish that can be included in our diet can be; mackerel, tuna, sardines, salmon, anchovies, and herring.

Nuts
If you are not a big fan of nuts, you are definitely missing out one of the best LDL reducer required by the body. Nuts such as walnuts and pecans are very rich in Omega-3 fatty acids and fiber. So if you don't eat fish, these can be your heroes! They have the ability to raise the HDL levels and reduce LDL to keep the body healthy and fit.

Oatmeal
This is the best and healthiest breakfast you can have if you are suffering from obesity and trying to get rid of excess weight. Oats are soluble fiber foods and 5 to 10 grams of oats every day can reduce LDL by 5%. Thus, make sure you have this healthy breakfast which also fills you up till lunch!

With these great foods, you can reduce your extra bad cholesterol within a month of regular exercise accompanied with it. So, make sure you eat healthy as that's the cure for almost all your health problems.
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Grilled Sirloin Tip Roast


So you have loads of friends coming over to your place on a Saturday evening for a delicious mouth-watering supper. Well, what have you planned to cook for them? If you have thought of nothing as of now, you can try something unique this time. When you get a chance to go to the market, shop for a sirloin tip meat and cook a unique tasty recipe for your Saturday night dinner. I am sure you would definitely need help with some easy instructions and mouth-watering recipes to go about. So here are the best grilled sirloin tip roast recipes hashed out in this content.

Sirloin tip is technically a part of the loin (beef) which is right in front of the rump of a cow. This part is quite tough to cook and hence when it's placed for cooking, it takes quite a lot of time to get cooked. Although you can cook it in the most ordinary form by either deep frying or stewing, but grilling, especially a cut of meat, is one of the forms in the field of cooking which enriches the taste and flavor of the flesh to the fullest.

How to Grill a Sirloin Tip Roast

The sirloin tip roast has an extremely delicious beef flavor and tastes even great when it is prepared with rosemary. Well, this recipe takes a while to get grilled and cooked to give out a complete enriching sense of taste to the meat.

Ingredients
  • Sirloin Roast
  • 2 tablespoons fresh Rosemary (chopped)
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper (freshly ground)
  • 2 tablespoons Kosher salt
  • 2 teaspoons Paprika
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • Aluminum foil
  • 13'' x 9'' disposable aluminum roasting pan
Method

To start off with this recipe of cooking sirloin tip roast on a grilling unit, first preheat your grill to a medium heat and cover each side of the sirloin roast with salt 'n' freshly ground pepper. Once you have sprinkled the flecks of this light and dark flavor place the sirloin roast tip on the grill unit and heat it for about 10 minutes carefully roasting each side for a good 2 minutes each. Grill the cut of meat until it turns slightly brown. After the sirloin tip is roasted well, keep the piece of meat in the center of a disposable aluminum roasting pan which measures 13'' x 9'' in size. Now use an aluminum foil to wrap the entire pan gently and place it onto the center of the BBQ grill. Seat this covered wrapped pan onto the grill for about 3 hours so that the meat gets cooked properly. After a while poke a fork or cut a slice into the meat to check if it's done. Place the pan away from the grill if you know that the meat is properly cooked and also shreds into pieces without any difficulty. Later cut the meat into '' to '' slices and serve it immediately all seared and grilled with a few pieces of bread and wine. Enjoy!

Grilled Sirloin Tip Roast Marinade Recipe

While you shop for a beef sirloin tip, make sure you learn the difference that this cut of meat isn't the same as the top sirloin roast.The sirloin tip is above the hip or around the cow's hind portion. Basically, sirloin tip roast is a part that is round and nearest to the cow's rear portion. The meat bears a large amount of muscle, and is not very tender in nature. It's the most thickest part of the meat and once it's cooked thoroughly it can be easily sliced into pieces. The steaks can be stewed or stir fried on either grill units or roast pans.

Ingredients
  • 3 to 4 lbs sirloin tip roast
  • cup of water
  • cup vinegar
  • cup of soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons of honey
  • teaspoon garlic powder
Method

To prepare this particular recipe (marinated first), you will have to mix all the ingredients in a bowl or flat dish and keep the entire mixture into the refrigerator for 1 whole day. Ensure when you place the mixture in a dish, the sirloin tip steak is covered with a food bag. Squeeze out all the air from the bag, add the marinade to the plastic food bag and then refrigerate it for the given time duration.

After a day when you are ready to cook the sirloin tip, remove the mixture from the refrigerator an hour before grilling it. Let it settle down to a room temperature. Then remove the marinated meat from the bag and dab it dry with a paper towel and also add salt and pepper to it. If possible use some vegetable oil to grease the meat so that it doesn't stick to the grilling pan. Now preheat a gas grill for 15-20 minutes and place the sirloin tip marinated meat onto the grill to cook it. Grill and cook the meat in between 135 and 145 degrees Fahrenheit temperature. If you use a high temperature, there are chances your steaks will dry out. Grill the pieces until cooked thoroughly, if done, remove the steaks off the grill and let it cool down for a while. Later thinly slice the steak and serve immediately.

Once you learn how to prepare this recipe, the next time you will successfully try different variations and combinations to bring forth a better taste with this cut of meat called sirloin. Enjoy preparing and savoring the above discussed recipes with your family and friends.
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Lebanese Marinated Chicken Recipe

Photo: Lebanese Marinated Chicken Recipe

The Lebanese Recipes Kitchen (The home of delicious Lebanese Recipes and Middle Eastern food recipes) invites you to try  Lebanese Marinated Chicken Recipe. Enjoy the good taste of food and learn how to make Lebanese Marinated Chicken.

Total Time: 6 hrs 10 mins
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 6 hrs
 

Ingredients:

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
4 -6 garlic cloves, finely minced
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
1 teaspoon paprika
1/4-1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
1/2 cup olive oil

Directions:

1 Cut chicken into 1-in cubes and place in a shallow nonreactive container.
2 Combine all marinade ingredients and pour over the chicken.
3 Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for 6 hours or overnight.
4 Thread chicken on skewers & grill or broil as desired.

From food.com
By SusieQusie

More from the Lebanese Recipes Kitchen:


Mediterranean chicken with roasted vegetables 
Mediterranean chicken tray bake 
Garlic and yogurt marinated chicken 
Chicken and tomato spiced curry
Lebanese Chicken 
Roasted Chicken with Oriental Rice

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Fruitarianism



Enlarge Image A human can be healthy without killing animals for food. Therefore if he eats meat he participates in taking animal life merely for the sake of his appetite. Leo Tolstoy

If you thought following a vegan diet or even a vegetarian diet was a tough job, then you would be stunned to know about fruitarianism. As the name suggests, fruitarianism is a concept that advocates a diet that consists of fruits alone. Many of the fruitarians also include fresh vegetables and other vegan foods however more than fifty percent of the diet has to include only fresh fruits in order to be considered a fruitarian.

Variations of the Fruitarian Diet

Fruitarians are actually a sub-group of vegans who only consume the fruits of the plants. Most of the fruitarians are also advocates of raw-food. The fruitarian section in itself also has some further sub-divisions.

Fruit diet: In a strictly fruitarian diet, people are supposed to be on a diet that contains fruits and fruits only. The strict fruitarian can have all sorts of fruits, which are available round the year. A certain section of fruitarians also believe in having only the fruits that have fallen off the trees since these people believe obtaining food without causing harm to any living beings.

Fruit & Seed Diet: The diet can include various seeds and nuts along with fruits. This version is perhaps has an added advantage that it provides good sources of essential proteins, which are not necessarily available in the strict fruitarian diet.

Advantages of Being a Fruitarian

One of the basic advantages of fruitarianism is that it advocates a diet that cleanses the body of all the toxins. Since fruits have a lot of fiber and water content, having a fruitarian diet helps to keep the digestive system functioning smoothly. For people who have problems of the digestive tract, a fruitarian diet can also be used as a therapeutic diet. Since fruits contain a lot of water and help in reducing cholesterol, switching to a fruitarian diet can actually help in losing weight and having a lighter and healthier body.

Promoters of fruitarian diets, say that fruitarians' diet actually enhance the emotional well-being and give you a sense of spiritual bliss since the strict fruitarian diet is seen as a diet that causes no harm to any living being whatsoever. Although it hasn't been proven it has been observed in most of the cases that a fruitarian diet can actually enhance your immunity and make you more resistant to common infections and diseases.

Disadvantages of Being a Fruitarian

First of all a fruitarian diet is not easy business. Most of the people who are not used to it will find it physically as well as emotionally unsatisfying and will become more irritable while following the diet. Since fruits contain a lot of natural sugar, it is possible that people on a fruitarian diet can actually get addicted to sugar due to excessive sugar intake. It can occasionally lead to food cravings and binge eating. A severe weight loss is one of the major problems that strict fruitarians have to face. People can reach a stage where they can suffer from starvation or anorexia due to the fruitarian diet since it is very difficult to gain weight on a fruit diet. A year round supply of adequate varieties of fruits might not be available to everyone. Also for people who live on a tighter budget, a fruitarian diet is not necessarily affordable due to the soaring costs of fresh fruits. A major disadvantage of being a fruitarian is the problems you can face while socializing due to the inability to attend regular dinner and luncheon parties.
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Oyster Sauce Substitutes


As far as the Chinese cuisine is concerned, sauces are almost indispensable. There are different types of sauces that are Chinese in origin and oyster sauce is one among them. As the name rightly suggests, this sauce is made of oysters and is used in a wide range of Chinese recipes. Apart from the Chinese cuisine, oyster sauce is an indispensable ingredient in Thai, Vietnamese, and Cambodian cuisine too.

Traditionally, oyster sauce is prepared by condensing oyster broth (made by boiling oysters in water). The oyster broth is reduced, till it becomes viscous and brown in color. Earlier, no additives were added to this sauce. Today, oyster sauce available in the market contain caramel coloring, starch, oyster extracts, and preservatives. A vegetarian version of this sauce is also available and is made with mushrooms, especially oyster mushrooms. Oyster sauce enhances the flavor of various meat and vegetable dishes. It is a common ingredient in noodle stir-fries and stir-fried vegetables. Some people use this sauce as a topping too. If you want to prepare some recipe that calls for this sauce, you may use the sauce itself or its substitutes.

Oyster Sauce Substitution

In almost all food recipes that require oyster sauce as an ingredient, the flavor is mostly imparted by this sauce. So there is no point in preparing the dish without this ingredient. Sometimes, it may happen that you run out of the sauce and realize it, only when you are halfway through the preparation. It is better to add some alternative to oyster sauce rather than ignoring it totally.

Other Sauces: Most people use soy sauce as an oyster sauce substitute, as the former provides some color and flavor to the dish. You may also add half a teaspoon of sugar to the soy sauce. Some people add a few drops of Worcestershire sauce to soy sauce, which is meant to replace oyster sauce. Even fish sauce is used as a replacement for oyster sauce in some food recipes. You may use the one that is best suited for the dish, as per your choice (and the flavor of the dish). However, soy sauce cannot be a perfect replacement as there will be some difference in flavor.

Vegan Substitute: Another option is to prepare a vegetarian substitute for oyster sauce. This will be more useful for vegans. All you have to do is to dissolve one mushroom broth cube in half a cup of boiling water. Add two tablespoons of brown bean sauce and one tablespoon of unprocessed sugar to the solution. Allow it to boil for sometime and then add cornstarch mixed with water (one teaspoon of cornstarch dissolved in one teaspoon of cold water). Stir the boiling solution, till it thickens. Your oyster sauce substitute is ready.

Homemade Oyster Sauce: You can easily prepare oyster sauce at home, with the following ingredients. Drain oysters from half a pound of shucked oysters (with liquid). Keep the liquid aside. Mince the drained oysters and add one tablespoon of water, along with the reserved liquid. Take a saucepan and boil the mixture. Once it is boiled, simmer for around ten minutes. Remove the saucepan from heat, add salt and let cool. Sieve the mixture and add two tablespoons of light soy sauce for every half cup of the mixture. The next step is to add half a tablespoon of dark soy sauce. Now boil the solution and simmer for about ten minutes. Your homemade oyster sauce is ready and can be used as substitute for the regular one.

These substitutes may alter the taste and flavor of the dish to some extent. While soy sauce and fish sauce may not exactly replace oyster sauce in flavor, sauce prepared from mushrooms could be a better option. Homemade substitute can be more effective, as compared to other options. You may try these methods and find the perfect one for your recipe.
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How to Make a Frappuccino


Coffee is one of the most popular beverages all across the world. Nowadays, it is available in numerous varieties with different blends. Most of them are highly popular, at the same time, expensive too. So how about making some varieties at home itself? It can save you some money, as well as your trips to the coffee shops. Making frappuccino at home is not a difficult task, provided you know the right methods and you have the required materials.

Tips for Making Frappuccino at Home

If you know how to make coffee, then making a frappuccino is no big deal. In order to make a glass of frappuccino, you require a shot of espresso (can be replaced with a cup of filter coffee or a spoon of instant coffee), sugar (or sweetener), chocolate syrup, whipped cream, ice cubes, etc. You can make a frappuccino with the help of the following guidelines.
  • Add the espresso shot, half cup of hot water, sugar (as required) and ice cubes (at least six) to the blender.
  • You may also use a cup of filter coffee instead of espresso shot and hot water. In case you are using instant coffee powder, then one spoon of coffee powder along with a cup of hot water will be needed as an alternative.
  • If you like slightly thicker coffee blends, you may also add a small amount of milk or cream. You can also add chocolate syrup or other flavored syrups too.
  • Once you are done with the ingredients, blend them for around 30 to 45 seconds. As the mixture blends well, pour it into a tall cup and top it with some whipped cream. Spread some chocolate or caramel sauce over it and your frappuccino is ready.
It is really easy and less expensive when compared to those offered by coffee shops. While you can make a frappuccino with the help of an espresso machine and a blender, a frappuccino maker can reduce your work considerably. So, you may also invest in a frappuccino machine so that you can make this coffee with less effort. There are various other frappuccino recipes that you can try at home.

Caramel Frappuccino Recipe

In order to prepare caramel frappuccino, you need the following ingredients.
  • Chilled strong coffee - cup
  • Milk - cup
  • Sugar - three tablespoons or as per taste
  • Caramel syrup - 3 tablespoons
  • Crushed ice - 2 cups
  • Whipped cream
How to Prepare: As in the above said frappuccino recipe, you have to blend the ingredients and serve in tall glasses with whipped cream topping. If you want to prepare mocha frappuccino with milk, then you need half cup of milk, cup of extra strong chilled coffee, one cup of crushed ice, two tablespoons of chocolate syrup and sugar (as per taste). Blend the ingredients (except ice) and add ice, after the sugar gets dissolved completely. Once again blend the ingredients and serve with whipped cream (optional).

In short, making frappuccino is very simple and easy. So, try these tips and enjoy your homemade frappuccino.
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Thick-Style Lebanese Garlic Sauce Recipe

Photo: Thick-Style Lebanese Garlic Sauce Recipe

The Lebanese Recipes Kitchen (The home of delicious Lebanese Recipes and Middle Eastern food recipes) invites you to try  Thick-Style Lebanese Garlic Sauce Recipe. Enjoy the good taste of food and learn how to make Thick-Style Lebanese Garlic Sauce.

PREP 15 mins
READY IN 15 mins


Ingredients:

1 head garlic, minced

1 tablespoon sea salt

1/2 cup fresh lemon juice

1 cup vegetable oil

1 cup olive oil (not extra virgin)

Directions

Place the garlic, salt, lemon juice, vegetable oil, and olive oil in a quart-sized jar. Submerge an immersion blender in the mixture to the bottom of the jar. Mix with the blender resting on the bottom of the jar until the ingredients thicken, 1 to 2 minutes. Angle the mixer to pull ingredients from the sides of the jar and lift it toward the top to better combine. Continue blending until the mixture reaches a texture similar to mayonnaise.

Source allrecipes.com

More from the Lebanese Recipes Kitchen:


Garlic Sauce  
Lemon-Garlic Chick Pea Dip with Veggies and Chips 
Lebanese Sauce 
Cauliflower Fritters with Tarator Sauce 
Falafel Sauce 
Middle Eastern Roast Lamb with Tahini Sauce  

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High Protein Diet for Weight Loss in Vegetarians


The belief that a healthy diet is one that mandatorily comprises both meat and vegetarian food is one that has to come to an end. Undeniably, a diet that comprises both, is a nourishing diet, but for those who do not consume meat, there are ample vegetarian substitutes that provide the same health benefits. We all know that foods such as eggs, fish, beef, poultry, etc., are high in protein when it comes to the non-vegetarian front, but what about its non-meaty counterparts? There is a lot in that category too actually. Most soy products, and foods like nuts and seeds are great stand-ins. But coming to the big question... What is a popular high protein diet for weight loss in vegetarians? How about we take a closer look at that...

Vegetarian High Protein Weight Loss Diet

A vegetarian high protein quick weight loss diet is one that keeps away the carbohydrates, and instead includes high protein, and rich in fiber foods. A protein rich diet is considered better than certain others mainly because they are better sources of providing energy as opposed to carbs or fats. Another advantage with this weight loss plan is that it does no damage to people who are already suffering from conditions such as high cholesterol, diabetes, heart diseases, or high blood pressure. Needless to say though, if it is a diet, there are always cons along with the pros. While the pros are about it being healthy, the cons are about not having a balanced intake of all the elements that the body requires. But what exactly comprises a protein rich diet for vegetarians? Here's what.

Studies show us that the advantage vegetarians have from this diet is that most high protein vegetarian foods are low in fat and calories, on the other hand, people tend to overdo the consumption of proteins when on this diet. If consumed in moderation, the following foods are advisable as part of a protein rich diet...
  • Soy beans
  • Soy milk
  • Tofu
  • Tempeh
  • Almonds
  • Pecans
  • Walnuts
  • Pumpkin seeds
  • Sunflower seeds
  • Flax seeds
  • Lentils
  • Oat bran
A balanced inclusion of the given food items are a great way to plan a weight loss diet that is both, high protein, as well as vegetarian. Along with the consumption of these foods, it would also be a good idea to include foods that have a high fiber content, as they keep you full for a longer time.

Benefits and Drawbacks of a High Protein Vegetarian Diet

A diet that is sufficiently packed with all the amino acids that the body requires also allows production of high quality protein on a daily basis. But while a protein rich diet can help lose weight quickly, it can also make a person regain all that weight in no time once the person goes off that high protein trip. Another blessing with this diet is that it keeps away the nimiety of fat, toxins, and any other harmful ingredients which can bring harm upon the kidneys too. On the flip-side, too much protein can lead to osteoporosis, digestion problems, or even kidney trouble.

With changing times and changing trends, people are definitely becoming more conscious about health and weight issues, but one cannot forget that almost anything can have its repercussions. Diets and weight loss programs mostly top this list. Though if ever you would want to turn to a diet, it is recommended to first consult a doctor or a dietitian, especially because you never know if your body is cut out for every healthy diet program that's ever been thought of. One way or another, you'd much rather be safe than sorry, right?
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What Your Wine Preference Says About You


Wine Experts on iTunes!
WineSimple is an iTunes app that recommends the best wine for us by conducting a small quiz. Now, we don't need an expert to tell us the wine that will suit our tastes!
When you are partying with your friends or are attending a meeting, the one thing that you cannot miss out on is a glass of your favorite wine. Red, White, and Ros are the basic categories of wine, and each category says something about your personality. Yes! Your Cabernet Sauvignon or Pinot Noir can reveal details about your personality! Not convinced? Read on to know what your favorite wine has to say about you.

What Your Wine Choice Reveals

Before starting with the popular grape wines, let us first look at the base categories of wine.

Red Wine
White Wine
Ros Wine

Red Wine
All the red wine drinkers out there will be really happy to read this. If you love your tipple of red wine, you are richer, more educated, and happier than any average person! You are likely to have a degree with you and will be happily married. You are well-settled with a decent salary. And yes, you are intelligent, confident, and strong. I never knew my glass of Shiraz could reveal such good things about my personality!

White Wine
All white wine lovers will be happy to learn that they are known to be the practical ones amongst the lot. However, not many of the white wine lovers are highly educated or earn a hefty salary. They are generally content with their current jobs and may lack interest in climbing up the corporate ladder. Shy, practical, and quietthat's how white wine lovers are!

Ros Wine
Loud but charmingthat's the best way to describe ros wine lovers. You guys are full of life and enjoy every moment of it. You come across as a warm person, someone who is great company to be with. However, the not-so-good news is that ros wine lovers are not highly educated nor do they earn very well. They are mostly in unmarried relationships but are definitely happy in them!

Favorite Wines

These were just the basic types of wines that could reveal little details about our personalities, but all of us have our favorite wines made from popular grapes! So, it will help us to reveal more about ourselves if we start looking at each brand of our tipple.

Cabernet Sauvignon

Cabernet Sauvignon, the yummy red wine that has everything from blackberries to plums to black currants, can be heavy on your wallet. And that's what it says about you! It says, business is what you like. You are conservative, powerful, and will be into the world of business. However, you have another side to your personality as well which is pretty bold. It also means that you can really sound blunt while giving an immensely honest opinion.
Pinot Grigio

Most wine lovers will know that Pinot Grigio can get you drunk big time! The commercial wine sends out the message loud and clear that you are of the cautious type. You play it safe every time you wish to do any work. And the best part is that you know what works the best for you! There is absolutely no need for you to get suggestions from people.
Sauvignon Blanc

This white wine has incredible taste sensations from herbal to flavors of grass! The smell is so sweet that it won't get unnoticed. And this is exactly how the Sauvignon lovers are. They are the life of any party and will never miss a chance to be in the limelight. As soon as you walk into a party or a meeting room, all eyes will be on you. And you definitely don't mind the attention as you are pretty outgoing who likes to make his/her presence felt.
Riesling

Riesling, the white grape wine from the Rhine region, is known to be consumed young. The youngness of the wine is transferred to its drinkers! Riesling lovers are known to be vibrant and are like a breath of fresh air. They will always be up to something and thus, make for some great company. You will never be bored if these people are around. They also have a kind personality that will make you go "aww ..."
Pinot Noir

"The most romantic of wines", as Joel Fleischman of Vanity Fair puts it, Pinot Noir is one of the most popular wines in the world. The wine is made from black grapes that are the toughest to grow! So, for its lovers as well, quality matters a lot. They will not be easily let go of the quality factor in anything and will be ready to shell out more money for the same. Sophisticationthat's what this wine says about you.
Gewrztraminer

Gewrztraminer is an altogether different kind of white wine. It is exotic, has a spicy aroma, and lychee flavor. That's quite an unusual combination for a wine. And that's exactly how lovers of this wine are describedunusual! They are "out-of-the-box" thinkers who are willing to take the risk of doing something different. However, to do something different, you need to be creative enough. Gewrztraminer lovers are extremely creative people too.
Chardonnay

Chardonnay is the most alcoholic white wine amongst the others and comes with oak overtones, which is quite a dominating aroma for a white wine! Its drinkers are also of the "be-in-control-of-the-situation" type. They are confident about themselves, both at work and home! They will make you feel extremely comfortable in their company as they are very easygoing and fun to be with.
So, the next time you are at a party or a social gathering, you can do a personality analysis of the people around you by taking a look at their drink!
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