Texas Style Barbecue For Everyone
January 14, 2010 by BB
Filed under Food & Drink
‘Luscious’, ‘yummy’, ‘delicious’, … people just fall short of praises when speaking of Texas style barbecue. In fact, each time I put a tender slice of Texas style barbecue into my mouth, the juicy and flavorful piece of meat convinces me that the Texans where the only ones to perfect the BBQ art. Nonetheless, it is not just the taste factor, the Texas bar-b-qs enjoy equal acceptance as health food.
Like everyone else, if you are wondering what makes the Texas barbecues so special, I will tell you that it is almost everything. If you go on to make a list, the whole lot will feature in it – right from seasoning to cooking and smoking to presentation. Above all, you will require patience! If you falter there, you will spoil the barbecue.
To start with, we will be mentioning the cooking process. Texas style barbecue is not cooked in the standard grilling process. While BBQs in general are cooked over searing heat, the secret to grilling (rather smoking) melting soft and succulent Texan barbecues is to cook them slowly over low temperature and indirect heat. The lower the temperature (say, between 200-250 degree F) of the pit/grill, the lesser will be the moisture-loss and so the piece of meat will not get dry. Moreover, the steady and low heat will thoroughly cure the brisket, causing the collagen as well as connective tissues to break down and add to the tenderness of the meat. In fact, it is this prolonged process of cooking (around 6/7 hours) which renders even unusual and more difficult cuts like a brisket, shoulder or ribs utterly delicious.
Adding to this lusciousness, this deliciousness of the Texan style barbecues is the frequent use of mop sauce. After the meat has been smoke treated, say for the initial 2/3 hours, it is basted with a mop sauce containing bacon, beef broth, lemon, pepper, onions, etc. and turned every 30 minutes for another 3 to 4 hours.
The flavor is the other specialty, the ‘tang’ factor of a Texas style barbecue. Both seasoning and hardwood smoke contribute to the unusual flavor of Texan barbecues. Texans prefer dry rubs containing black pepper, cumin, garlic, red pepper, salt, sugar, etc. in powered form. People even use Marinades. There are lots of good dry rubs and marinades available in the market, which penetrates into the meat-cut when left overnight, tenderizing it and making it flavorsome.
Smoke from the hardwoods such as mesquite, pecan, hickory and fruitwoods give the Texan bar-b-qs a typical sweet flavor. Used with charcoal, they increase the food value of Texan BBQs. The much talked-about reddish colored smoke-ring that forms around the internal edge of the meat as a result of a chemical reaction between smoke and air (nitrogen) is another specialty of Texan style barbeques; it is usually considered that the bigger the ring, the greater is its penetrating power and consequently stronger favorable effects on health.
This speaks for the taste and health benefits of the Texan style barbecue, but what about its looks! Well, you can give an appetizing look to your Texas style barbecue by slicing each piece across the grain of the meat. Now, when you serve the Texas barbecues, your guests will be eager to enjoy the well-cooked aroma of the steaming barbeque cuts and will gather around the dining table to bite into the savory, succulent Texas BBQ.
Author: Reinaldo Finch
Want to find out about carbs in carrots and carrot allergy? Get tips from the Benefits Of Carrots website.
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Texas Style Barbecue For Everyone
Cooking for the Holidays
December 13, 2009 by BB
Filed under Food & Drink
Finding good recipes for Holiday fiests isn’t really a problem. There are recipes all over the Internet that make it easy to prepare and serve your own delightful dinners, breakfasts, and party trays for the Holidays. As a dinner club we have founf many different websites with many recipe collections but www.foodnetwork.com has always been my favorite. They seem to have a recipe for every occasion and with all the contributing chefs and cooks that they have why wouldn’t they. So if your looking for Holiday recipes start here ” http://www.foodnetwork.com/holidays-and-parties/index.html“ and if they don’t have something to your liking you’ll just have to google it.
Stay Warm This Winter
October 27, 2009 by BB
Filed under Food & Drink
Winter Warmer Recipes – Food to keep you warm through winter
The colder months have already begun and by now many of us will be feeling the cold, if we don’t be careful we could catch a cold also. Getting a cold at this time of year is never good, coming down with something can leave you tired and feeling run down which means you’ll struggle to get any work done and have low energy levels.
One way we can keep our energy levels up is by making sure we stay warm this winter, a great way to do this is by eating and drinking warm food and drink that will keep you warm. The only problem many people who are conscious of what they eat have is that in order to get high energy foods this can normally mean food that isn’t exactly healthy as it tends to be foods high in sugars and fats that hold most energy.
Fortunately there are quite a few recipes that have both high energy elements but also have a lot of vegetables or fruit in them making them overall good for us, in moderation of course. One such example of this is the perfect winter warmer, Beef stew. Beef stew has been around for an incredibly long time and is a very versatile dish which can have a lot of different vegetables and meat in it. Beef stew is typically made with stewing beef but many people add bacon pieces and a whole range of vegetables cut into chunks. A stew can be cooked slowly also so putting the ingredients into a crock pot in the morning will have a stew ready for you in the evening.
Another popular winter warmer is a bowl of hot soup; again this food is very versatile with a wide range of soups that are perfect for a cold winter’s day. The UK favourite tomato soup can be spiced up with red peppers or chillies depending on how hot you want to make it. Another favourite is pumpkin soup which is popular mainly due to all the pumpkin flesh left after carving pumpkins in October. In fact there are quite a few ways to make good use of the leftover pumpkin such as a pumpkin shake which is great as breakfast or a light dessert. Making good use of the pumpkin can be a good way to get children eating more fruit and vegetables.
There are many foods that can warm you up this winter that both give you energy but also are warmed up to keep you warm on even the coldest night.
Author: Phil Adams-Wright
About the Author:
There are a wide range of healthy food available to keep you warm this winter but also making sure that you don’t eat junk food. Check out the healthy recipes and diet tips available online.
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Winter Warmer Recipes – Food to keep you warm through winter
Speed up that old metabolism!
August 12, 2009 by BB
Filed under Food & Drink
It’s not only important to eat healthy, it’s also important to eat smart and if you’re trying to loose weight or just maintain your weight, the way you eat will determine the outcome. There are some interesting points in the following article.
10 Foods That Speed Up Your Metabolism
Author: Xylene Belita
Are you in search for foods that speed up your metabolism? Then, continue reading and I will you a list of foods that speed up metabolism. But you should know that all foods really help speed up your body’s metabolism.
However, if you want a higher rate of metabolism, then you should take in foods that are rich in carbohydrates and protein. It is noted that food rich in protein burn as much as 25% of that food’s calories when going through the process of digestion and absorption.
However, you have to pay attention also that although protein speeds up metabolism, taking foods rich in protein alone will not suffice the need of your body. Supplementing your protein diet with other vitamins and minerals will not cope up the other nutrients needed by your body which can be found only in foods.
The wisest thing to do is to eat proportionate meals habitually. These foods must contain of course protein, fats, carbohydrates and non-starchy vegetables. Following this diet plan can regulate fat production at the same time keep your blood sugar on regular height that helps in burning fat and building muscles.
Here is the list of foods that speed up metabolism. These are 10 specific kinds of foods that are proven to help speed up metabolism and burn fat:
Whole grain bread
Chicken
Salmon
Eggs
Fresh Cheese
Green Beans
Summer Squash
Cabbage
Asparagus and other non-starchy vegetables
Meats rich in protein
Drinking cold water can temporarily speed up your metabolism by at least 30%. However, there are also some factors that may inevitably affect your metabolism such as age, sex, and even any medical condition.
Though you can choose to eat the kind of foods that speed up your metabolism, losing weight can be best achieved if you eat a regular and healthy meal and pair it off with physical exercise. Concentrate on foods and physical routines that can help build muscles since it burns calories faster.
About the Author:
Seriously, when you do exercise regularly and eat with proper diet like a good amount of protein, non-starchy vegetables, fats and carbohydrates, results can be seen in a matter of time. Find out more foods that speed up your metabolism so you can plan your diet program. Visit website for more tips: http://www.weightlossreviewed.info
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – 10 Foods That Speed Up Your Metabolism
Summer Goodness Fresh Asparagus
July 6, 2009 by BB
Filed under Food & Drink
Here In New Jersey it’s all about fresh vegetables in the summertime. You go to the farm market and fill up your basket with tomatoes, corn, peppers, and how about some asparagus. Asparagus is one of those vegetables many people aren’t too sure of. Maybe because they’ve never had it cooked right. Here are some tips and instructions for preparing Asoaragus the right way and you’ll love it.
Cooking Asparagus The Fun And Easy Way
Preparation is the key when you’re going to cook asparagus. There are several methods of cooking boiling, grilling, steaming, or roasting. The microwave is also a good option when cooking asparagus. Cut the asparagus into sections and you can use it in stirfries you can also blanch the asparagus and use it in vegetable dips. Of course, there’s nothing like steamed asparagus with butter, salt, and pepper.
When buying asparagus make sure that it is fresh, the asparagus will taste much better and can be kept for two to three days when properly stored. Once you get the asparagus home and ready to prepare, you’ll need to trim it. The easiest way to trim asparagus before cooking is to simply do it by hand by bending the stock until it breaks. If it will not break but only bends, it is probably old and will not be as fresh as you would like it. Some cooks prefer to peel the bottom of the stocks this is not really necessary but sometimes helps when the stocks are a little woody. Contrary to popular belief the thicker asparagus is actually more flavorful than the pencil thin variety that most people want to buy.
An easy way to peel asparagus if you decide to go that route, is to lay a stalk on the counter or a cutting board and use a vegetable peeler. Starting at the top of the asparagus peel all the way to the end. The main reason anybody would peel asparagus, as I mentioned above, would be to make the asparagus more tender. You don’t need to completely peel the asparagus either, simply peel down one one side to allow moisture to enter the asparagus while it is cooking.
If you want to steam the asparagus here is a simple method. After you have timmed your asparagus to the size you need, and optionally peeled it, place them in a saucepan and about an inch of water. Another steaming method you can use when cooking asparagus is to stand them vertically. Make sure you tie the bundles at the bottom and the top so they don’t fall over in the pan. They should steam for approximately 5 to 10 minutes depending on the thickness.
Boiling is a great way to cook asparagus also. You want to use just enough water to cover the asparagus but make sure all the stems face the same direction and are covered with water. The asparagus will take between four to six minutes to cook completely, but again that depends on the size.
One method I really enjoy is using the grill. Cooking asparagus on the grill either directly over the fire or on skewers gives a great smoky flavor. Depending how you like them, cook the asparagus for anywhere from 30 seconds to 10 minutes. Another great way to cook the asparagus is to wrap them in foil with a little bit of olive oil and salt and pepper and cook them on the grill for 10-20 minutes. You’ll have a great treat.
On those winter days when you really don’t want to cook asparagus on the BBQ, another great option is roasting. Simply heat the oven to 425° F, and lay the asparagus flat on a baking sheet lined with foil. You can put any seasoning you want on the asparagus when roasting; salt, pepper, lemon pepper or any other spice that you have on hand are good. You will be rewarded with a nice tender stalk with a roasted flavor in about two to three minutes.
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About the Author
Jon Griffin has been playing music since he was 7 years old. He is also an avid cook and expert in beer, brewing and other beverages. He owns salsablanca.com and learningaboutstuff.com He went to Grove School of Music where he studied songwriting and composing and arranging (yes it was fun doing a big band chart every week!).
