Quinoa Pudding

Among many cooking recipes, perhaps, quinoa recipes are known to be one of the healthiest. Quinoa is slowly making its way up to the top as one of the most used and flexible ingredient that you can find in a kitchen. Not too shabby, right? 

Well, most people who discovered the healthy benefits of quinoa are substituting it to rice. Like in this certain recipe, unlike the normal rice pudding, we will, today, make a quinoa pudding. 

Quinoa is also packed with nutrients and rich in protein so it is perfect for those who are in a low-carbohydrate diet. The flavor of quinoa is like brown rice, a bit nutty, but with a texture like oatmeal, soft and fluffy. This makes it perfect for making pudding.

I assure you that this recipe will only take about 40 minutes of your time or less. It's a healthy recipe that one must know. 

Ingredients:

• ¾ cup quinoa, rinsed and drained

• 1 ½ cups water

• 2 cups milk

• ¼ cup brown sugar

• 2 medium ripe bananas

• Salt to taste

• ½ teaspoon butter

• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Procedure:

1. In a saucepan, combine water and cleaned quinoa. Boil over high heat, stirring occasionally. Once boiling, reduce heat to medium low, cover saucepan and continue simmering about 15 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
2. Combine together the milk, brown sugar, bananas and salt, blend using a blender or a food processor until smooth. Then pour in milk mixture in the saucepan with quinoa. 
3. Put saucepan back over medium heat. Continue cooking, 5-15 minutes or until mixture thickens and becomes creamy, stirring occasionally. When done, remove from heat, blend in butter and vanilla extract. Serve warm.

Chicken and Salmon Satays Recipe

Today, we will be uncovering this amazing salmon and chicken recipe (with salmon). Do know that this certain recipe requires: (1) marinade; (2) cutting and skewering the salmon and chicken; and (3) grilling. 

For this certain recipe, I will discuss it in parts.  
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MARINADE

Ingredients/Utensils

• Cutting board
• Sharp knife
• Grill
• Chicken
• Salmon
• Sesame oil
• soy sauce
• Lemon juice
• rice wine vinegar
• garlic
• olive oil
• salt
• cilantro

Preparation Instructions

1. Go over to the marinade bowl.
2. Put 2 tablespoons of Soy sauce and lemon juice, and then 1 tablespoon of rice wine vinegar.
3. Take the olive oil and drizzle it into the base, whisking the mix as you do.
4. Take the tip off of the garlic and then finely chop it. Then add salt to it.
5. Mash the garlic down with your knife.
6. Put the garlic paste into the marinade.
7. Divide the marinade into two with another bowl.

For Chicken

1. Go back to the chicken and cut from an angle on the chicken evenly, slightly thick bite size pieces.
2. Place these slices into the marinade and mix them in.
3. Take a little cilantro and pull it into pieces on top of the chicken.

For Salmon

1. Take the belly flap off of the salmon.
2. Then cut the salmon into a filet shape. This will define its desired length. Then continue cutting it into bit sized pieces.
3. Put the salmon into the second bowl of marinade and pull apart some cilantro above it, putting the pieces on it.

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SKEWER & GRILLING

Ingredients/Utensils

• Cutting board
• Sharp knife
• Grill
• Aluminum Foil
• Skewers
• Baking Pan
• Pre-marinated Chicken
• Pre-marinated Salmon

Preparation Instructions

1. Take the skewer and push them to the tip of the meat but don't break through.
2. Lay foil down the edge of the grill and then turn on the grill on a temperature of your choosing, the lower the more cooked it will be and the higher the faster the grill marks will appear. Take the foil and fold it to the length of the skewer.
3. Lay the wood part of the skewer over the foil with the meat on the grill.
4. Once they have the grill mark on both sides they are ready to go on a baking pan.
5. Place them apart from each other on the baking pan.
6. Place them in the oven and keep an eye on them. The salmon will take about a minute but the chicken will take 2-3 minutes. Cook according to what the eye thinks is good as most of the cooking was done on the grill.

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DISHING OUT

Ingredients/Utensils

• Strawberry or olive Platter
• Skewers
• Snack bowl of your choosing
• Martini Glass
• Pre-cooked Pre-skewered Pre-marinated Chicken
• Pre-cooked Pre-skewered Pre-marinated Salmon
• Thai Chili Glaze
• Basil
• Lemon
• Flat Leaf Parsley

Preparation Instructions

1. Layer the Salmon skewers in the strawberry platter.
2. Place the Chicken skewers into a snack bowl in which the wooden ends stick outwards for easy grabbing.
3. Take a little flat leaf parsley to one of the the edges of the bowl and place where you feel it is right.
4. You can take a lemon twist and put it on top of this. Take a lemon and slice off a round piece that's thin. Cut about halfway in and twist it to make a lemon twist.
5. Take a little basil and set it at one of the ends.

For dip dish
Take a martini glass and pour some Thai chili glaze in it.

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Napkin folding for a romantic dinner

Planning a romantic dinner date? Why not do it in your own backyard or perhaps in your own dining room?  Now that's done and okay. What about your food? Have you chosen the perfect cooking recipes for your loved one? And don't buy takeout! That's cheating! Make sure that you prepared yourself that ambrosia! So, done with food, right? What about the nectar? Of course, do remember that you must match your ambrosia to a nectar. The Greek gods and goddesses wouldn't have lived without those combination. Make sure that your love must feel like a Greek god/goddess for this special evening. What about the table setting? Did you set out your special plate? The one you bought specifically for this night or those lovely pieces your grandmother bestowed upon you. Now that's all and done, what about your napkins? Why, of course, napkins are an essential part of a table setting!

Napkins to a table setting is compared as the perfect necklace to a woman's elegant gown. It makes the whole romantic dinner perfect. It's the accessory to it. But do make sure that when you do napkin folding, it won't outshine your own homemade gourmet meal. 

The *most* common technique (and perhaps cliche and expected) in napkin folding for a romantic dinner is shaping them into hearts and flowers. Red as a color scheme is also not unusual for this sort of events. Nowadays, any color combination if properly executed can evoke romance – off white and beige, pink and magenta or even black and white. The table linen, centerpieces,  china, flatware, glassware and other secondary elements to a meal should go together. 

There are some extra efforts to be undertaken to successfully translate this concept into a romantic table setting and not look cheap. Using dainty vintage cotton or linen napkins (as long as they’re intact and not falling apart) rather than store bought polyester blends may in itself already evoke some element of class and romance especially if the theme is carried throughout the china, glassware and of course the food served.

Now that I have imparted my knowledge on you, I wish you luck on your romantic dinner date with your special someone.  I wish that Eros and Aphrodite guide you in showing your love the best night of his/her life. 

Organic Spinach Stuffed Chicken Breasts

Healthy chicken recipes are really hard to find. There's always that unending question, "But wouldn't it be bland if I remove the chicken skin or if I only cook the chicken breasts?" If you don't play your cards right, then it will definitely bland and who would like to eat a dry, bland meal? I'm pretty sure you don't. 

But you don't necessarily need to sacrifice your diet just to have a very tasty meal. So, as a help, here is one of the cooking recipes that I came across that will definitely help our fellow brethren that are undergoing a diet but still want to satisfy and please their taste buds: Organic Spinach Stuffed Chicken Breasts.  

One of the common problems in cooking chicken breasts is that it dries out easily, there is a high chance it will be bland as it consists white meat. But in this certain chicken recipe, we will solve that problem. By stuffing it with spinach, cheese, aromatic spices, this bland boring meal turns to a gourmet that both adult and children will love!

To ensure that chicken breasts are moist and tender, moist and tender, rub it with an ample amount of healthy oil like olive oil. 

Are you ready to uncover this recipe? Ready your cooking skills and let's get cooking!


Ingredients:

• 2 pkg. (10 oz. each) frozen chopped organic spinach, thawed
• 1 cup shredded low-fat organic Swiss cheese
• 3/4 cup low-fat organic ricotta cheese
• 1/3 cup grated low-fat organic Parmesan cheese
• 1 clove organic garlic, minced
• 3 tbsp. organic white onion, finely chopped
• 1/2 tsp. course ground black pepper
• 1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
• 6 boneless, organic skinless chicken breasts
• 2 tbsp. olive oil
• 1 tsp. paprika
• 1/2 tsp. organic dried thyme
• 1/2 tsp. organic dried oregano

Preparation Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a 15 X 10-inch baking pan by lightly greasing or spraying lightly with cooking spray.
2. Squeeze moisture from spinach. Put in a large bowl, along with the cheeses, garlic, onion, pepper and nutmeg. Stir to combine.
3. Cut a slit lengthwise through the center of each chicken breast to form a pocket. Stuff each chicken breast with the spinach mixture. Place chicken pieces in baking pan.
4. In a small bowl, combine oil and remaining spices. Brush mixture over chicken breasts.
5. Bake, uncovered, 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes, or until meat is cooked through.

Enjoy your originally bland chicken meal turned into a gourmet meal!

Knowing When to Clean Your Grill

If you want to get the best results out of your BBQ it is very important to take care of your grill. By keeping your grill in good condition you are not only going to ensure that your cooking recipes tastes better, but you are also going to extend the life of your barbecue grate. We have already talked about choosing the best BBQ grill brush for the job, but when is the best time to actually do the cleaning? Well there are two schools of thought here, both with their pros and cons. What they share in common is that they are both times when the cooking grid is hot which makes the job much easier.

CLEANING BEFORE COOKING

Most people probably think that the best time to clean is after those great recipes has been prepared, but there are some great advantages to doing it beforehand too. Get the grill heated up first, then give it a quick clean before you put any food on. The first advantage of doing things this way is that food is going to be cooked on a totally clean grate. Bits of crud can sometimes find their way in there if you have not grilled for a while, and you don't want these messing up the flavor of your dinner! Another advantage is that by by cleaning before, and leaving the grill dirty afterwards, you are leaving a layer of burnt on food/grease on the bars that will protect them from corrosion until you next get the BBQ out. This is particularly important if you have cast iron grills, as they are the most prone to rusting. One last advantage, and this is a big one for me, is simply that you are getting the cleaning out the way as soon as possible; I can never be bothered to get up and clean once I have a belly full of food!

CLEANING AFTER COOKING

The is perhaps the more traditional way of doing things. The first advantage here is that the grill is already going to be hot, and all the food and grease are fresh and therefore easier to brush off. But as we said before, by cleaning after the meal, you are leaving the cooking grill more exposed to the elements and at a higher risk of rusting. This can issue can be worked around by ensuring you oil the grate once you have finished cleaning as the oil will prevent any moisture corroding the metal. Remember, this is especially important if your grate is cast iron.

Going Pineapple for Chicken Salad

Here comes the summer and with it comes the feeling of heaviness on the body when heavy meals are eaten in this season.Chicken as a light meat and pineapple as a juicy fruit are more appropriate in the summer than heavy sauces and meats. Pineapple is rich in vitamin C and not only that but also supplies the body with vitamin A, pantothenic acid and folate. With its juiciness that is a good replenishment for the body to remain hydrated, there is nothing like having pineapple in the hot summer months. While chicken is rich in protein, it also provides the body with phosphorus, tryptophan, vitamin B6, selenium,vitamin B3 and more. Though it can be prepared anytime you want, Pineapple Chicken Salad recipes are especially great in the summer. The sweet-tasting pineapple gives a more delicious taste into the chicken salad you surely wouldn’t want to miss when picking your favorites served on a buffet table. The lemon juice, pepper, salt as well as the tomatoes make the salad more flavorful which creates a perfect balance in your palate. This recipe is especially a delight for the pineapple lovers, which can also be made as a filling for sandwiches. Some prefer to munch on a pineapple chicken salad sandwich at lunchtime. Chicken salad is not only great with sweet pineapple but also with crunchy pecan, both are considered a perfect combination to make a delicious pineapple chicken salad sandwich. One of the best easy recipes out there and is very popular in casual gatherings especially when made as a filling in sandwiches. Great for picnics, for any weekend getaway or just any day of the week, this recipe is irresistible that everyone is just sure to love since it is not only light but also healthful and perfect for those who are dieting as well.

Ingredients

4 chicken breasts cooked and chopped into bite size pieces

3 cups fresh chopped pineapple

24 oz. bag of fresh spring mix

2 cups of cherry tomatoes sliced in halves

Olive Oil

Lemon juice

Salt

Pepper

Basil (Dried)

1.After the chicken breasts are cooked, using a large bowl, mix the pineapple, spring mix and chicken well. 

2.Drizzle the salad with some amounts of lemon juice and olive oil. 

3.Sprinkle pepper and salt. 

4.Add dried basil, a few dashes of it. 

5.The salad should be mixed well and tenderly. 

6.Separate equally into 4 chilled plates. 

7. This recipe makes for 4 servings.

Loving Slow Cooked Delight

There is something incredible and comforting when you enter your home and the smell of dinner recipes hit you. It is like a reminder of a childhood moment when you entered the home from school and your mother was cooking a delicious meal for you. After a long day of running errands and attending meetings, appointments, car pools and workouts, this trip down memory lane is highly soothing. Entering your home with such memories, home-cooked meals and flavorful scents seems like a dream. However, with a slow cooker, this no longer needs to be a dream, but rather reality.

Having a slow cooker at home is almost like having a professional cook prepare all of your meals. This is because slow cooked meals are extra moist and extra delicious perfect gourmet food for you and your family. All you have to do to achieve such a delectable meal is just to set it into action in the morning when you place all the ingredients in it. You can add some vegetables with chicken or meat with a little broth to add just a bit of extra moisture. These fulfilling ingredients are cooked all day long until the meat is tender enough to melt in your mouth. You can grab a bite for yourself or wait until the whole family arrives and enjoy the best cooked family dinner ever, minus the effort!

Slow cooked meals are very economical as well. How so? Well, first of all for meals cooked in this device you don't have to buy special cuts of meat that require less time to cook. These cuts are more costly than the low-cuts. So, while cooking in a slow cooker, regardless of how hard the meat is, it will always be cooked at the right time and will also be soft and moist just like it should be. Secondly, the thought of going home and preparing a meal is something we all dislike and to avoid it we normally go for fast food options. But when you know that a meal will be ready for you when you get home, you won't feel the need to spend money eating out. Hence, it definitely saves you a lot on food expenses.

Meals cooked in a slow cooker are also very healthy since the natural nutrients and ingredients are preserved in the dish. Now you can enjoy a hearty meal with your family without shedding a drop of sweat.