Archive for the ‘Food and Drink’ Category

A favorite Italian dish that has become a staple meal for a lot of households in the United States is stuffed peppers, which should come as no surprise considering the fact that they are not only easy to make, but they are very tasty and healthy way too eat as well. Another reason that stuffed peppers are so well liked is the fact that they can be very colorful with varying ingredients both in the stuffing for the peppers as well as with the peppers themselves, which come in several different colors. Let us take a look at some good ideas for ingredients that you can use to make stuffed peppers.

The most important ingredients for stuffed peppers is going to be what kind of meat that you choose to use for this dish. The meat is also usually mixed with rice to make the stuffing. The meat that is usually used in stuffed peppers is ground beef and if this is what you choose to use then you should use the leanest ground beef possible in order to cut down on the fat content in the meat. If you decide to use ground, Italian sausage the same rule applies to using the leanest meat possible. Even a few stuffed pepper recipes call for using shredded chicken or even shrimp in place of beef or pork.

As is previously stated one of the two main ingredients in the stuffing for the stuffed peppers is rice. There is really no hard and fast rule on what kind of rice you have to use in your stuffed peppers stuffing mixture, which means that you can use whatever kind of rice you want to use whether it is plain white rice, brown rice, or a long grain wild rice since it makes no difference at all. If you want to and you are feeling a little bit adventurous then you should try using minute pasta like orzo, which is also known as risoni or maybe even using Pastina in place of the rice.

With stuffed peppers it is also all right to get a little creative with the preparation of the dish. You should really try to incorporate more vegetables into your stuffed peppers, although there are some basic vegetables that are already used when making stuffed peppers. The basic veggies are onions and tomatoes, which are chopped finely and mixed into the stuffed pepper stuffing along with the meat and the rice. Other vegetables that you might want to try using in your stuffed peppers dish are mushrooms and corn. If you make it with a Mexican flavor try using black beans and some kind of chili peppers too.

Of course, another important part of your stuffed peppers dish is going to be what you use to top your stuffed peppers, because this is what those you serve this dish will see first. One of the basic toppings for an Italian style stuffed peppers dish is of course an Italian style marinara sauce, which is made up of primarily tomatoes and seasonings like garlic and oregano. Along with the Italian style sauce, you might want to try using Parmesan or Romano cheese to compliment the sauce. Should you decide on a Mexican flavor consider using some kind of salsa or picante and Mexican flavored cheese blend.

Stuffed peppers are a tasty way to use up hamburger meat. cheeseburger recipes are sure to be a hit with the family too. Start looking for the best hamburger recipe to try out on the grill.

The Best Burger Recipes the Net Has to Offer – BestHamburgerRecipes.org

From all of us here at the Recipe Publishing Network especially MexicanFoodRecipes.org and MexicanDessertRecipes.net we wish all a happy and fun holiday that is actually bigger in America then it is in Mexico. Today is a day just like St. Patrick’s day when instead of being a little Irish we get to be a little Mexican.

Christine

Do you have a prized blueberry pie recipe which you want to share with the world while gaining some recognition or even a prize for your efforts? Maybe you have a friendly rivalry with one of your friends, family members, or neighbors about whose pecan pie is better – and one way to settle the question once and for all is to enter your pie recipe in a contest. You could win prizes or fame for your baking talents and of course, it is also a lot of fun to enter a pie contest and see how your own pie recipe stacks up against those of other cooks.

The first thing to do is to get into the kitchen and put in some practice with your soon to be prize winning pie recipe. Even if you have made it a million times before, it never hurts to be in practice – and if you are entered into a competition, you may well have to make your pie within a specified time limit, so it’s a good idea to make sure that you’re able to turn out the perfect pie in the minimum amount of time.

One thing which practicing your recipe can be especially helpful with is in the presentation of your pie. While many cooks would argue that it is taste and taste alone which should go into determining the best pie recipe in a contest, it is undeniable that looks do matter here. Practice making decorative lattice tops if your pie lends itself to this or other decorative bits of pastry to go on top of your pie to make an impression on the judges. For example, if you are making a pumpkin pie you would not usually have a top crust or a lattice top, but you can try some creative ideas like miniature jack o’ lanterns made from pie crust or other decorations which fit with the pie recipe or a seasonal theme.

Once you have got your pie recipe perfected, the next step is to find a contest to enter it in if you do not already have such an event in mind. Even if you already know of a pie recipe contest which you plan to enter your recipe in, there are likely to be others you can enter, which gives you more chances to wow the judges with your recipe and of course, to win prizes for your baking.

Check your local paper and inquire with your city’s chamber of commerce for upcoming events where there will be such contests as well as with magazines and other publications and contact the appropriate people as early as possible. Pie baking contests are often full of entries shortly after being announced, so getting your pie recipe into the running often depends on acting quickly. Once you have entered, all you can do is to keep practicing; your friends and family will not mind the abundance of pies coming their way and you will be prepared to go home with a blue ribbon for your secret recipe.

The hot sandwich is a very popular meal that is served in restaurants all over the United States as well as in Canada and in some countries in Europe too. In fact, the sandwich is said to have been invented in England by John Montage the Earl of Sandwich. Some say that he invented the sandwich while sitting at a gaming table, and another story states that he invented the sandwich while sitting at his desk. However, this does not apply to hot sandwiches as far as anyone can tell, although no one knows for sure if the sandwiches John Montage consumed were hot or not.

One kind of hot sandwich that is very popular and can be found being served in many diners is the hot open-faced sandwich. These sandwiches are usually made with roast beef, turkey, and chicken and are usually served with mashed potatoes and a vegetable as sides. Unlike regular sandwiches, the hot open-faced sandwiches are not served with stuff like lettuce, tomato, and onion and neither are they served with condiments such as mayonnaise, ketchup, and mustard too. These excellent sandwiches are usually served for a modest price, although recipes are easy to find and they are easy to make as well.

Another business that is known for making very good hot sandwiches is the deli business. This applies particularly to those delis located in the northeastern part of the United States and even more specifically to the family owned delis such as one might find in New York, New Jersey, and Philadelphia. In these local establishments, you will find shot sandwiches like the popular Philly Cheese Steak. The Rueben, Pastrami on Rye, and Corned Beef. It is the sandwiches and the delis in particular that help to keep their communities well grounded in addition to well fed.

An excellent place to get good hot sandwiches is at your local pizzerias. This is especially true of those pizzerias that are true New York Style pizza shops hidden deep within the heart of their community. These little pizza shops are treasured as both a great place to eat s well as a place where the locals go to hang out and everyone there knows everyone. Some popular pizzeria style hot sandwiches are the Meatball Sub, Sausage Parmesan, Veal Cutlet Parmesan, and the Philly style Cheese Steak too. Not counting the Cheese Steak these, other hot sandwiches have a real Italian taste using Tomato sauce, Parmesan cheese and other Italian cheeses.

As it happens, the most popular hot sandwich is of course the hamburger or cheeseburger if you want cheese on yours. You can go virtually anywhere2 in the country and find a place that sells burgers. You can find them in many diners where they are called the Hamburger or Cheeseburger Deluxe and are served with French Fries and in some cases coleslaw. Even some pizzerias offer burgers as an alternative to pizza by the slice, by the pie, or their hot sub sandwiches. Of course, there is always the fast food restaurant where you can by a burger, and there is of course restaurants that specialize in burgers too.

Beef is always a great for a sandwich. Start looking for the best hamburger recipe that will thrill the family or even the worlds best hamburger recipe.

The Best Burger Recipes the Net Has to Offer – BestHamburgerRecipes.org

What is a tilapia? Long and short answer, it is a fish. Tilapia has a very mild flavor, and does well with heavy seasoning. If it is fresh, it is rarely fishy, and there is no excuse for tilapia not to be fresh.

Tilapia is farm raised. Off the Pacific coast of Mexico, you can see large corrals set up in the ocean. These are the tilapia pens. Some farm raised fish are kept in small ponds or tanks and forced to live in water that can be suspect if there are any issues with the filtration system. However, Mexican tilapia not only have fresh ocean water that is constantly changed, but the fish have access to their natural food (much smaller fish) as well as the commercial feed that is given to them.

Rather than just making fish tacos (which are delicious when made with fresh tilapia) or grilling it, what about a good, hearty casserole? This is a good way to use up any leftover fresh salsa after your Cinco de Mayo party.

Tilapia Bake

What You Will Need:

• 24 ounces fresh tilapia filet
• one large onion, thinly sliced
• one tablespoon lemon juice
• ½ teaspoon chili powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ cup roasted red pepper
• ¼ cup chopped canned jalapeño, drained
• ½ cup sliced black olives, or mixed black and green olives
• 1 cup mild or medium hot salsa
• 2 boxes corn muffin mix, prepared according to the package directions
• ½ cup shredded cheese
• optional: one can creamed corn

How to Make It:

Grease a baking dish. Layer one half of the onions in the bottom of the dish. Place one half of the filets on top of the onions, and season with half of the chili, salt, and garlic. Add ½ of the pepper and olives. Repeat the layer with the rest of the ingredients. Pour the salsa over the top.

Mix the corn muffin mix according to the package direction. Stir the cheese into the mix. At this point, you may add a can of creamed corn. Spoon the corn muffin mix over the top of the fish.

Bake at 375° F for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the crust is brown and beginning to crack.

Serve with some extra sweet salsa, like mango or pineapple, on the side. Add a green vegetable like roasted asparagus and you have a complete, well balanced meal.

Another option for a side dish is a guacamole salad. To prepare one, place some torn lettuce such as romaine or butter crunch, on a plate. Add some freshly chopped tomatoes (you can use canned diced tomatoes if there are no decent fresh tomatoes available) a little cilantro, and some finely chopped onion. Place a ‘hunk’ (a hunk being about 2 good tablespoons full) of prepared guacamole on the lettuce, and a dollop of sour cream next to that. You may also add some cooked, drained black beans if you like.

Salsa recipe are not for just chips. It can not only be a condiment, but can be a prime ingredient in a lot of Mexican food or dishes inspired by Mexico.

MexicanFoodRecipes.org When it has to be Real Authentic Mexican Food