Thanks for the post, Bernard Vasquez With two small children at home, my wife and I never get a chance to go to the movies anymore. Before we had kids we would go to the movies two or three times a month. I would say that I have been to the movies five times in the last five years. The problem is that it is so difficult to find people to watch our children. Plus going to the movies has become so expensive. Two tickets to the movies is the same price that it costs to rent ten movies from the local video store. I still love watching movies, but now we watch movies on television. We have satellite TV fromhttp://www.directstartv.com/ and have access to a number of movie channels every month. It is amazing how much our lives have changes since we had children. I would not trade my children for anything, and I love them both more than life itself. However, it is true that you sacrifice much when you take on the responsibly of parenthood. While it is exciting and rewarding, our ability to go out and catch a movie has changed significantly. |
|
There is a lot of History when we think about Wines. Just think about it. Wine has been around for a very long time. Jesus drank wine. Caesar drank it. Pharaoh's, Kings, Knights, Indians, Presidents, You and I were and are all wine lovers.
Ingredients
Preparation
1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour a 10-inch fluted tube pan; set aside.
2. In a large bowl stir together cake mix, flour, sugar, drink mix, baking powder and soda. Add oil, eggs, cherry pie filling, sour cream and almond extract. Beat with an electric mixer on low to medium speed for 2 minutes (batter will be stiff). Fold in chopped sweet chocolate. Spoon into prepared pan. Bake for 60 to 70 minutes or until wooden toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on wire rack for 20 minutes. Loosen sides and remove from pan. Cool completely.
3. For ganache, in a small saucepan heat cream just to boiling. In a medium bowl pour hot cream over bittersweet chocolate; let stand 5 minutes. Stir until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth; stir in rum. Place bowl with chocolate in a bowl of ice water and let stand about 20 minutes or until thickened, stirring occasionally. Transfer cake to serving plate. Spread ganache over cake. Let stand 1 hour before serving to set up. Makes 12 to 16 servings.
Servings: 12
Cooking Time: 60
www.luckyleaf.com
Related: Yahoo! Shine: What's For Dinner
At his brand new Brooklyn restaurant, Talde, he uses savory pantry ingredients, such as fish sauce and dried shrimp, to attain deep flavors in his dishes, a technique home cooks can adopt for quick weeknight meals. "Chefs understand that salt is the basis of most flavor and you can't be afraid of it," says Talde. He explains that home cooks can give their food a salty richness by reaching for kitchen basics such as soy sauce, mustard, andWorcestershire sauce.
We asked Talde and other great chefs to share their magic ingredients with Yahoo! Shine. Here are their best-kept secrets; now we'll have to kill you.
Fish sauce. This Vietnamese condiment is made from fermented fish. Don't be scared: Talde calls the Asian cooking staple his "number one ingredient" right now. He recommends adding just two or three drops to a seafood risotto or other fish dish to enhance flavor. It can also be used in soups, dressings, sautés, and dipping sauces.
Dried shrimp. Adding a small amount of dried shrimp will give speedy entrees and broths a caramelized richness. Talde likes to use dried shrimp in gumbo and beef stir-fry. He says mixing salty fish flavors with meat is what makes "surf and turf" so delicious. If you don't have access to an Asian market, you can purchase dried shrimp online.
Parmesan rind. Buy wedges of Parmesan cheese instead of pre-grated. Not only does it taste better when you grate it yourself, Talde says adding a chunk of Parmesan rind to any soup will give it a "whoa" flavor. Store inch-long pieces of rind in the freezer.
Tomato paste. Chef Quinn Hatfield, of Hatfield's in Los Angeles, which was named one of Bon Appetit Magazine's 10 best new restaurants of 2010, says tomato paste is a pantry must. You can use it to make a quick tomato sauce or spread it on fish before grilling to add sweetness. Tomato paste gives dimension to other mild proteins such as grilled chicken breasts without many calories and no fat. Look for tubes, which are more convenient to use and store than small cans.
Greek yogurt. Hatfield also recommends keeping a tub of Greek yogurt in the fridge. He suggests using it in place of mayo in pasta and potato salads. He also uses it to "finish marinades, vinaigrettes, and soups—pretty much across the board," he says. "It adds texture and a nice tang."
Sherry Vinegar. Chef Jesse Schenker, of Recette in New York City, recommends a splash of sherry vinegar to "brighten up" the flavor of savory dishes from soups to grains to vegetables. He also offers this tip: "More importantly, it can be used to correct a dish that is too salty or too sweet."
Balsamic Vinegar. Dan Silverman, chef at the Standard Grill in New York City, likes balsamic vinegar for its "sweet/sour acidic punch," which he says can liven up any meat sauce or braise. It's especially good with dried beans such as lentils. He thinks it makes the perfect vinaigrette, and he also reduces balsamic vinegar to a syrupy sauce for pork and poultry.
Apple Cider Vinegar. This tart but mellow vinegar is popular with award-winning southern chefs Harrison Keevil, of Brookville Restaurant in Charlottesville, Virginia, and James Boyce, of Cotton Row in Huntsville, Alabama. Boyce adds a splash to creamy soups to cut the fat and add a layer of flavor. Keevil uses it to round out the bitterness of winter greens such as collards and cabbage.
Honey. Americans love sweet flavors and a small amount of sweetener can make almost any dish from vegetables to stews more appealing. Keevil adds a bit of honey or Virginia maple syrup to most of his savory dishes for complexity. Another Top Chef alum, Manuel Trevino, of Marble Lane in New York City, adds honey to soups, stews, and sauces to balance out acidic flavors.
Fennel Pollen. This spice sounds esoteric, but Chef Laurent Tourondel, of BLT American Brasserie,assures Yahoo! Shine it is super versatile. He adds it to seasoning mixes for meat, poultry, and seafood, and sprinkles it on roasted vegetables, pizzas, and salads. Tourondel says, "Fennel pollen has delicious notes of licorice, honey, and curry and works well on just about any food." If you can't find fennel pollen at a gourmet market, you can purchase it online. It's pricey, but all you need is a tiny dusting.
Quatres épices. Another spice that's not commonly used in American kitchens, but should be, is a blend of nutmeg, white pepper, ginger, and ground cloves. It's a staple in France and the Middle East. Philippe Bertineau, Executive Chef at Benoit in New York City, says, "This simple secret ingredient is a magical seasoning for meats. It gives them a kick and draws out their essential flavors in earthy stews, soups, and ragouts." You can purchase quatres épices, which literally means "four spices" online.
Salt. The simplest way to get maximum flavor from your food is to add enough salt. Chef Benjamin Lambert of Wit and Wisdom, at the Four Seasons Hotel in Baltimore, says, "Salt is an essential ingredient that the body needs. Adding salt by a ratio of just one percent of the weight of your other ingredients will bring out their natural flavors. Two percent is actually what most restaurants use." If you are concerned about your sodium intake for health reasons, Lambert suggests cutting back salt in your recipe, but using a light sprinkle of good quality, flakey sea salt, such as Maldon salt, to finish the dish before serving.
What are your favorite "secret ingredients?" Please share in the comments below.
Also on Shine:
Top Chef Interviews: Karen and Quinn Hatfield
Fabio's Perfect Pasta
Out of ideas for what to make on Super Bowl Sunday? Well her you go! The stadium that is edible as well as cool to look at.
Over the Holidays I needed something to make for two classroom parties at my Kids school. I needed a bite size treat that every one would love. So I made these Cherry Bliss Brownies. They were a hit and talk of the parties!
I used a basic brownies mix by Ghiradelli with those huge chocolate chips and Lucky Leaf Premium Pie Filling.Ingredients
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350ºF.
In a large bowl prepare brownie mix according to package directions, using oil, eggs, and water. Spread batter in a 13”x9” greased baking pan. Set aside.
Beat cream cheese and butter in large bowl until fluffy. Add sugar. Beat in additional 2 eggs, flour, and vanilla. Drop spoonfuls of the mixture over brownie batter in pan. Use a knife to gently cut through batters to create a marble pattern.
Spoon Lucky Leaf Cherry Pie Filling over top. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
Cool completely before serving.
Servings: 24
Cooking Time: 60 minutes
Thanks for the guest post by Eugene Fulton Moving is such a hassle as everyone knows but it was even worse for us because we’ve got three kids. I love the idea that we’re moving into a great big house with room for everyone but for me it’s more about getting everyone in and settled in the shortest time possible. I love my family but being the matriarch is exhausting at times and between thewww.SatelliteTVFamily.com and the movers and the boxes upon boxes I’ve got my hands full. I’m still working part time but my husband’s working 12 hour days wrapping things up on hi project before we move so he hasn’t been able to help all that much. I love him to death but it’s almost like I’d rather have him move out of the way than try to help…he always makes things worse rather than better! I can’t imagine what it’s going to be like waking up in our new homebut I guess it’s only a matter of time until I find it out! |
Guest post by Jewel Cole So I just recently moved out of the city in to a more rural area so that I can have a taste of, as I call it, the country life. I really loved living in the city and everything it had to offer. Takeout food delivered at whatever time of day or night I wanted it. I was within walking distance to my favorite coffee shop and boutiques. It was time for me to make a change though, so I decided to head out to the country where I can live for a while and clear my head of all the city noise. When I moved out there I found out that my utilities are not the same as they were in the city. For instance I am on well water instead of city water. The other thing that changed for me was my internet connection. It was important for me to really check out the prices and compare and see what I could find that was a good deal. I have to have the internet but I don’t want to pay an arm and a leg for it. I used this linkhttp://www.satellitestarinternet.com/hughesnet_plans_pricing.html to find out the most recent rate plans for the internet in my area. Check it out. |
Looking for a new Espresso Machine? It isn't as easy as you may think to purchase one these days. Espresso Machines come in many sizes, colors, capabilities and prices.
