Archive for July, 2007
Make Cooking Fun
Friday, July 6th, 2007 by The Cooking GuyDreaded meal time
Every night when dinner time would roll around, the thought of having to get home from work and prepare a meal my family would eat felt overwhelming. My mind would go blank and my short list of recipes I knew how to cook didn’t seem appealing. I truly hated to cook.
The Change
I knew something had to change because I had a family to feed. I couldn’t continue to feel this way day after day. Weekends meant three meals instead of just two. I knew we couldn’t afford to eat out day after day and I certainly didn’t want my children eating unhealthy food on a daily basis. What bad eating habits would I instilling in my kids?
It seemed like one day I woke up and had a true desire to learn how to cook. Why I don’t know. It could be I was sick of eating the same food over and over or the pit in my stomach on my drive home.
I come from a long line of wonderful cooks especially my mother, but for some reason I did not get her love for cooking until now. As I grew up, my mom spent a lot of time with my sisters and me teaching us how
to cook. Most of my sisters learned her art, but for some reason the passion and skills were not instilled in me until much later in my life.
I had a close friend who always watched the Food Network and was always bringing in new recipes that she found on her favorite cooking show. It never occurred to me to watch a cooking show. Why on earth would I want to watch a boring cooking show? It wasn’t until Thanksgiving time rolled around and I was in charge of bringing the mashed potatoes.
Seems simple right? Well, I didn’t even know how to make mashed potatoes. I knew how to make the instant kind, but who can show up to Thanksgiving dinner with mashers made of potato pearls? I certainly didn’t want to be the talk of the town. I solicited help from my friend on how to make the perfect mashed potatoes.
She started rambling off all the different things I could throw in to add flavor. I thought, okay I want to be able to take a simple dish and turn it into a crowd pleasing masterpiece.
The Pursuit
I began my pursuit and started watching the cooking shows and looking through all of my recipes books. I was instantly addicted. After watching these great cooks whip up a delicious meal day after day, I started to understand the art of cooking. I felt like I had a personal teacher teaching me the secrets behind creating a great dish. I found myself getting on the web to print off recipes and even ventured out to try these new recipes. I can’t say all of them have turned out, but for the most part my family has enjoyed them. I had a ton of tried and true recipes and cookbooks from friends and family, but they were conveniently tucked away in my cupboard where I was sure not to find them. I have since them pulled them out and put them into binders where I look each week for menu ideas.
I have also headed back home for some cooking lessons from my mother. It has been a wonderful way to spend time with her. She loves to share her passion for cooking and is thrilled that I have been able to learn from her.
Master Chef?
I haven’t mastered the more difficult recipes yet, but from all my trial and error, I now have the ability to tweak a recipe by adding or deleting ingredients. The thing I love most is I have learned how to create a wonderful crowd pleasing meal using my own cooking abilities.
What changed for me? It started with a desire to want to learn to cook. Once I had the desire, the rest feel into place. It is no longer a dreaded chore, but an opportunity to be creative, confident and most of all proud of new found abilities.
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Summer Time Tasty Treats- Smoothie Recipes
Friday, July 6th, 2007 by The Cooking GuySummer is a wonderful time for cold and refreshing treats. These ideas are perfect for those hot days when you can see the steam coming off the blacktop, forcing you to run to the freezer and fill up on a bowl of ice cream. To avoid the sugar over load, these recipes and ideas will keep you and your kids cool and satisfied.
There is no better time than summer for cool fruity delights. There are lots of different ways to turn fruit into a cool, healthy and satisfying treat. Here are a few ideas that are sure to put a smile on your face.
Orange Julius
Ingredients:
- ½ can frozen Orange Juice concentrate
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup milk
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 1-2 cups ice cubes
Steps:
First add your ice to the bottom of the Blender. Next add all of your other ingredients. Blend until mixed and ice cubes are crushed.
Fresh Fruit Smoothie
Ingredients:
- 1-2 cups ice cubes
- ¼ cup fresh or frozen pineapple
- ¼ cup fresh or frozen berries
- ¼ cups fresh or frozen mangos
- 1 peach or nectarine
- 1 pear
- 1 fresh or frozen banana
- 2 cups pre-made orange juice
Steps:
First add your ice to the bottom of the blender. Next add your fruit. Lastly pour in your orange juice. Blend or chop for a minute or so or until your smoothie is the consistency you like. If you have added too much fruit or like a thinner smoothie then add more orange juice. If you want a little extra calcium you could also add a little bit of milk.
For extra nutrition, add a couple tablespoons of ground flaxseed or wheat germ.
Other suggestions: blackberries, blueberries, marion berries or melons.
I have tried kiwi, but it left it really pasty. So if you do add kiwi, do it sparingly.
Keep in mind, this is only a list of suggested fruit, so feel free to add or delete any fruit you want. BTW if you would like your kids to have fun with making smoothies, check out
SMOOTHIES by KLUTZ.
Peach or Pear Smoothie
Ingredients:
1 small or large can of peaches or pears (juice and all)
1 cup ice
Steps:
Combine in blender and blend until mixed.
Here are some other great ideas
- Frozen grapes are cool and sweet. You won’t know you are eating fruit these are so good. Once you try these, you will always have some on hand.
- Chocolate dipped strawberries, blackberries or raspberries. Put a toothpick in the tip and dip in chocolate and freeze on a tray.
- Frozen bananas dipped in chocolate syrup and chopped nuts
- Any combination of frozen fruit, milk, yogurt and ice for a tasty milkshake
- Fill ice cube trays or paper cups with fresh fruit juice or a mixture of blended fruit and juice.
I am sure you and your kids will enjoy these cool, tasty and nutritious summer time treats. You can now make smoothies easily with Easy Bake Smoothie Maker.
If you are looking for more smoothies recipes, send me an email at support@pickupcooking.com and I will whip up some more healthy smoothie recipes just for you.
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Why learn to cook
Wednesday, July 4th, 2007 by The Cooking GuyFor one, it is the healthiest option. Your body needs to be nourished by good food everyday. Eating out night after night is not giving your body what it needs. Learning how to prepare healthy and delicious meals will help instill healthy eating habits.
Some have a family to feed. Many parents who lack the skill of cooking want to teach their children how to cook and encourage healthy eating habits.
If you are worried about breaking the bank, then learning to cook will save you a ton of money. Let’s face it, eating out is expensive. You could prepare similar meals for half the price and who knows it may even taste better.
Many people are passionate about food; they just lack the skills to prepare it. Turn your passion into a skill. Who knows, it could lead you down a different career path.
Cooking is like an art. It is a wonderful way to be creative. Many people have found it to be a positive creative outlet. Who knows, creating recipes or designing wedding cakes could be in your future.
Cooking can be rewarding. For some, there is nothing better than to sit down with their loved ones and enjoy a meal they created. For others, they love hearing people rave about their cooking or leaving their guests with their mouths watering asking for more. Either way, it can be very satisfying.
Practicing
Learning a skill takes a lot of time and practice. Like anything you learn to do, with practice and patience you will eventually learn.
Taking the time to practice can be challenging to those who have hectic schedules. If you are committed to learning, you have to set aside time to practice just as you would if you were paying someone to teach you to play the violin.
Learning to cook is not about the level we can label ourselves, but rather it is about enjoying a skill that will last a lifetime.
Learning to Cook
Tuesday, July 3rd, 2007 by The Cooking GuyWe all know someone who has put the macaroni and cheese sauce packet in the water with the noodles or burnt a can of soup right? Even the smallest form of cooking can be quite challenging for those who have not learned the skill of cooking.
Learning to Cook can be intimidating. Why we might ask? Most of us come from a line of great cooks or we have friends that can whip up a delicious meal without even thinking about it. Do we feel that we could never measure up or ever quite possibly be that good at it? Or have we developed habits or a lifestyle that keeps us eating out or picking up take out?
Speaking from experience, I come from a long line of wonderful cooks. I also have friends who make these fabulous dinners night after night. Could I have been lacking in creativity or cooking common sense? Possibly, but there is one things I know; once I learned how to cook, my lack of confidence turned into a desire and now a passion to prepare great food.
You don’t have to go to cooking school or engage in professional training to learn how to be a great cook. All you need is a few good resources: family members, friends, books or the Internet. A few know how’s and you will be off to a good start.
1 Arm Cooking
Monday, July 2nd, 2007 by The Cooking GuyCan you cook like that? Truly an inspiration to us all, isn’t it?
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Whole Wheat Muffin Recipe
Sunday, July 1st, 2007 by The Cooking Guy
I wanted to share with you this wonderful family Whole Wheat Muffin recipe. Not only are they wonderfully delicious and filling, but they are a great way to eat whole wheat. I don’t particularly care for the taste of wheat, but these muffins are so flavorful that you won’t even knowyou are eating something healthy.
They are great for grabbing a healthy breakfast on the run, or a perfect compliment to any meal such as soups and stews. Or if you’re like me, I eat them all day long.
This batch makes three dozen. I leave about two dozen out and freeze the rest. When we are ready for more muffins, I pull the bag out of the freezer and they are ready to eat in no time.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup oil
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 cup brown sugar
- 2 cup milk
- 2 tsp baking soda
- 2 tsp vanilla
- 4 cup whole wheat flour
Steps:
Mix everything but flour in blender, pour liquid into flour in a bowl and mix well with spoon. Fill greased muffin tins 2/3 cup full. Bake 20 minutes at 350 degrees.
If you are feeling adventurous, you can buy wheat from your local grain mill and grind your own wheat flour.
Wheat is a wonderful way to keep your family healthy. As a dad, getting my children to eat healthy is always a challenge.
I hope you enjoy these crowd pleasing muffins as much as I do.
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Kitchen Tricks
Sunday, July 1st, 2007 by The Cooking GuyThe hassle of cooking is often in the preparation. Here are some tips to help you save time.
1. Shaving Food With Knife
Not easy to do. Use a vegetable peeler instead. You can even use it to shave parmesan cheese and chocolate.
2. Salad Dressing
Don’t waste your salad dressing. Mix salad dressing in a screw-top jar. The unused portion can be stored in the jar.
3.Marinate Meat
Marinate meat or dried fruit in a zip lock bag. Leave it in a fridge but remember to turn the bag every now and then.
4. Oily Gravy
Instead of trying to skim fat or oil off gravy with a ladle, pour the gravy into a plastic bag or ziplock bag. Let the fat rise to the top and drain out the broth leaving the fat in the bag.
5. Seed a Tomato
Use a Melon Baller instead of a knife.
6. Pie pan 
When preparing a pie, instead of having to chill, roll and line a Pie Pan with a biscuit crumb crust, spread the biscuit crumb mixture in the pan and use a same size pan to press the crust into place. A real time saver.
7. Leftover stock
Freeze leftover stock in disposable muffin pans. Thaw the necessary amount when needed.
8. Measuring viscous liquid
When measuring sticky liquid like honey and syrup, spray the measuring spoon with Cooking Spray. Helps the ingredients slide out easily.
9. Slicing mushrooms and fruits 
Use an Egg Slicer to slice mushroom and other small fruits.
10. Peeling Ginger
Use a spoon and scrap the skin when peeling ginger. Makes the job much easier.
Do you have any kitchen tricks yourself? Share of them with us.
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