America’s Home Cooking: The Television Program

America's Home Cooking is indeed a great show, elaborating simple recipes for America's daily lives. Chris Fennimore created this television show presenting many facets of American cooking. Currently the show contains of five installments:

1. Crock-pot cooking

2. Cookies

3. Comfort food

4. Italian cooking

5. Potatoes

As for now, there is no information about the potatoes section of America’s Home Cooking.

1. Crock-Pot Cooking

Crock-pot cooking goes much in tandem with America's daily cooking. Using crock-pots or slow cookers, the person can look around for other errands and yet cook awesome dishes. Chris Fennimore shows how individuals are making more & more use of casseroles. He also focuses on varied add-ons like side dishes, appetizers, main dishes, and desserts. Crock-pot not only saves time but also cooks a plethora of food items. Chris Fennimore detailed the recipes of 4 hot choices that are:

i. Wedding Soup

ii. Spinach Casserole

iii. Liquid Lasagna, and

iv. Apple Crisp

2. Cookies

This is quite a strength of the show. The television program focuses most of all on the cookies rather than the other sweet items like desserts, ice creams, cakes and pies. The show presents information on different types of toppings, frostings, fillings, etc. to team up with the various cookies. This culminates to endless delicious sweet delicacies. In this installment of the show, host Fennimore offers numerous specialties as well, for instance Ethnic Greek Cookies, Snickers Bar Cookies, and a Vienna Tart.

3. Comfort Foods

American daily cooking surely loves comfort foods. The people here distinguish comfort foods majorly in 4 chunks:

i. Soups and Stews

These choices satisfy your appetite. They warm your heart and are soothing to the soul.

ii. Classic Favorites

Another category of comfort food group takes you back to your childhood. These include several the all time favorites of American kids like spaghetti or meatloaf and meatballs.

iii. Ethnic Heritage

This category connects the American individuals back to their lost generations.

iv. The Indulgent Foods

The indulgent food category enlists platter topped with sweets and desserts like cheesecake. In this category, Host Chris Fennimore, details the recipes of items like:

pasta with fried zucchini;

spicy turkey and black bean chili;

classic meatloaf and gravy;

dumplings;

a peach dessert called peaches and cream;

toffee coffee cake, etc.

4. Italian Food

America has a very blended culture and so are its taste buds changing. America's Home Cooking in this section offers tips, tricks and recipes to merge Italian delicacies with the traditional American recipes. Chris Fennimore here explains the recipes of hot favorite dishes like:

Chicken cacciatore;

Pasta with puttanesca sauce;

Heart healthy alfredo sauce;

Stuffed artichokes;

A traditional Italian casserole called Tiela;

Baked eggplant.

Home Cooking Network: An Array Of Recipes

Home cooking network - a Pandora box for all the foodies. A never before array of recipes are a rare collection of specialties form all over the world. It can serve all sorts of individual needs that are vegetarian, quick & easy, traditional, etc. Ranging from gourmet to the simpler ones, these recipes can be broadly divided in to 4 heads. These are as follows:

1. Appetizers

Unlike the regulars such as bruschetta or deviled eggs, Home Cooking Network offers the individuals an opportunity to try various cuisines. Chinese, Mexican, French..... the list is amazing!

i. Spicy Appetizers

For spicy pre meal snacks check out the Mexican & Chinese appetizers.

ii. Soups

Soups make great appetizers and attribute to quite a healthy meal. If beef & chicken recipes do not tickle your taste bud being a vegetarian, look out for the vegetable soups such as carrot soup. For playing off the league try your hand with the French onion soup.

iii. Salads

Whether appetizers or a meal, salads are just perfect for all of us. And for the lazy ones, these are far more simpler & quicker recipes to opt from. They take almost no time, don't believe me, try potato salad or pasta salad! For some adventure & experience go for the Mexican salad.

2. The Main Course

Do you wanna be different this time? Choosing the main course could be rather hard but with Home Cooking Network, the choices are endless.

i. Beef

In place of the plain steak, try some corned beef or beef casserole, or the beef stroganoff.

ii. Chicken

Recipes enlist things as simple as the grilled chicken to something special like the low carb recipes and the chicken cordon bleu.

3. Traditional Home Cooking

This can be defined in many ways as per one's own perception. Home Cooking Network consists of many recipes that can be used as main course, appetizers, desserts or just simple snacks. These recipes are representatives of different cultures like

i. Polish

ii. Kosher

iii. German

iv. Indian

v. Mediterranean

vi. Filipino, etc.

4. Desserts

Desserts are surely delicious end to the meals. Home Cooking Network believes in trying different recipes that are new, uncommon and easy to cook.

i. Greek, Mexican and Phillipino desserts form a major chunk of the list.

ii. Alongside it enlists all time favorites like pies. Among pies, Home Cooking Network contains

recipes for key lime, fruit filled and pecan pies.

5. Vegetarian Special

Among vegetarian cuisines, Home Cooking Network offers various new & exquisite recipes like:

i. Pasta dishes

ii. New recipes for asparagus and sweet potatoes

iii. Cajun cooking

iv. Vegetarian meatloaf

6. Others

To tickle your taste buds further, Home Cooking Network's recipes include many other categories to serve any purpose you have on mind, that is a festive treat, pleasing a cherished guest or thanking a friend, or simply sharing a relishing moment with the family. These recipes might be time consuming but the time is all the worth. Its rich culinary list includes:

i. Cajun

ii. Gumbo

iii. Sweet breads, and

iv. Collard greens.

Recipes Of Italian Vegetarian Cooking

At times people think vegetarian food offers no variety at all. To prove this myth wrong, switch to Italian vegetarian recipes. These are a great combination of excellent food & vegetarian needs. You can enjoy a wonderful meal while adhering to your food needs. This is due to the fact that vegetable go much in tandem with the Italian cuisines. These recipes are not just healthy & harmless, but also culminate to a great taste. They are also royal and indeed unique such as Zucchini Corn & Tomato Au Gratin, Eggplant Parmigiana and Vegetables & Beans Alla Veneziana.

Lets have a glimpse of these exquisite preparations:

1. Appetizers

Pre meal dishes in Italian vegetarian offer a wide variety of salads. To name a few:

i.   Panzanella Salad

ii.  Rotini Salad teamed with Feta Cheese & Black Olives

iii. Italian Potato Salad served with Sun Dried Tomatoes

iv. Pecorino & Basil Crostini

v.  Rocket (Arugula) & Baby Corn Panzerotti

vi. Tomato Bruschetta

2. Pasta

Pasta is an exclusive Italian delicacy and are surely world-known. While there are several traditional pastas to choose from, with time many new & modern styles of cooking pasta have come in to being. Some not-a-miss vegetarian pasta varieties are: 

i.   Eliche Arrabbiata

ii.   Linguine teamed with Spinach Pesto

iii.  Rigatoni with Gorgonzola

iv.  Fusilli teamed with Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto

v.   Courgette

vi.  Spinach & Wild Mushroom Lasagna

vii. Cannelloni teamed with Ricotta Cheese in Red Wine Sauce

viii. Manicotti served with Artichokes in Green Tomato Sauce

ix.  Capellini in Tomato & Basil Sauce

x.   Conchiglie Genovese with Coriander Pesto

xi.  Spicy Vermicelli with Oyster Mushrooms

xii. Macaroni with Cheese

xiii. Fettuccine served in Creamy White Sauce

xiv. Tagliatelle with Tomato Sauce

xv.  Penne Pesto

xvi. Spaghetti served with Olive Oil & Garlic

xvii. Farfelle Marinara

xviii. Pasta Primavera

3. Gnocchi Dishes

Another exquisite Italian specialty, the gnocchi dishes just like the other categories offers lot of variations. Some of these are:

i.  Gnocchetti served in Pomodoro Sauce

ii. Potato Mushroom & Chives Gnocchi

iii. Spinach & Ricotta Cheese Gnocchi

iv. Pumpkin & Semolina Gnocchi

4. Risottos

Italian vegetarian cooking is almost filled of surprises. One among them are the risottos. Some unbeatable risotto recipes for the vegetarians are:

i.   Alla Pomodoro

ii.  Risotto Alla Milanese

iii.  Risotto served with Porcini Mushrooms

iv.  Baked Brown Rice served with Roasted Vegetables

5. Sauces

Italian food is served with varied sorts of sauces. Some of the known favorites among Italian vegetarian sauces are as follows:

i.  Almond Butter Sauce

ii.  Basil Garlic Sauce

iii. Herbed Mushroom Sauce

6. Pizza

It won't be wrong to say that pizza is among the most commonly prepared Italian dishes across the globe. Its list can be just endless. However, they are all based on the fresh dough pizza bases. The base is then garnished with the favorite toppings like:

i.  Thin Crust Gourmet Vegetarian Pizza

ii.  Deep Pan Pizza Margherita

iii. Cheese & Mushroom Calzone

iv. Spinach & Feta Cheese Stromboli

7. Desserts

Enjoying a rich vegetarian diet and ending up with sweets is a sheer treat for one & all. Desserts in the Italian recipes have a special space and these recipes are indeed different & unique in taste. To name a chosen few, these are:

i.  Risotto & Rocket Pie

ii. Vegetable & Rice Timbale

iii. Red Pepper & Spaghettini Flan

iv. Tiramisu

v.  Lemon Vanilla Panna Cotta with Wine

vi. Fresh Cherry Sauce

vii. Strawberry Cheesecake

Cooking With A Dutch Oven

For long & slow cooked dishes such as stews, roasts and casseroles, Dutch ovens are a sure choice. At the core, there are two types of Dutch ovens –

1. used at the campfires, and

2. used over traditional stoves or ovens.

Camping Dutch Ovens

It consists of:

1. three legs,

2. wire handle, and

3. slightly convex lid.

Its lid allows coal to rest on top as well as the bottom uniformly, so as to heat it like an oven. Campfire Dutch ovens are made of aluminum or cast iron. These ovens can perfectly bake breads, biscuits, pies, cakes and pizzas. Its containers can also be stacked for 5 or 6 high.

Stove Top Ovens

Stove top oven is flat on the bottom and has two handles. These are made of enameled or bare cast iron, ceramic or aluminum.

Regulating Temperature in a Dutch Oven

It could be quite challenging to regulate the temperature in Dutch ovens, more often with the camping ones. Here are a few tips and tricks to go about it more easily:

1. As a general rule, the oven must be maintained at a temperature of around three hundred fifty degrees Celsius.
2. In order to estimate the temperature, measure the size of oven in terms of inches. Then double the size to calculate the required number of briquettes.
3. Briquettes need to be placed in a circle, not less than half an inch from the oven's bottom.
4. Briquettes on the top of the oven must be placed in a checkerboard style.
5. Beware, that even while heating, briquettes can be further added, but once the food is burnt, it is burnt.

Special Tips

1. For Soups and stews

For stews & soups, on the top arrange one third of the briquettes and at the bottom two thirds.

2. For Breads, Cakes & Biscuits

In order to bake biscuits, breads and cakes keep two third of the briquettes on the top and one third on bottom.

3. For Meats & Casseroles

For casseroles and meats evenly split the briquettes on the top and bottom of the oven.

Tools used with Dutch Ovens

You would need varied tools while using Dutch ovens. These are as follows:

1. Wooden Spoons

While metal utensils could scratch the protective coating, plastic would melt away due to heat. So, wooden spoons are the best & probably the only choice.

2. Camp or Welders Gloves

It makes the work easier for the individual.

3. Charcoal Starters

These help you light up the fire easily as then you do not need lighter fluid - just a match and newspapers.

4. Long Handled Tongs

These enable you to move the briquettes rather safely and easily.

5. Lifters or Hooks

These make handling and lifting the lid easier.

6. Lid Stands

These are handy to be placed on lids while the individuals stir the food.

7. Whisk Broom

It keeps the ashes away from food.

8. Cooking Table

It allows the Dutch oven to be off the ground.

9. Dust Cover

It protects the Dutch ovens when they not in use.

Learn To Cook Italian Food On Vacation

Gone are the days when vacations were just about site seeing & relaxing. As times are changing, vacationers are now shifting to an interesting trend - Seeking Cooking classes for the Italian cuisines at mainland Italy. While this trend is also springing up in other parts of the world, Italy seems to be the hub.

Earlier tourists carried away souvenirs back home as a piece of memory, but now they preferable carry home a talent for life. Until today people were satisfied with enjoying the authentic Italian food within Italy to mark their vacations as special but now, they like to carry with them this fresh food back home.

Next time you plan your vacations, try it in a new modified style.

For this reach up to the front desk or concierge of the resort or hotel you are staying in and request them that you wish to learn some Italian cooking. Some times they would guide you towards the near by cooking classes.

In case you are lucky enough, you could fetch some sessions in your resort itself. Following the upcoming culture, several resorts & hotels in Italy now-a-days offer Italian cooking classes exclusively for their guests.

Do not feel surprised to know that the travel agencies also offer exclusive vacation packages that chiefly revolve around learning Italian cooking. In such cases you move around the country covering every key city and regions. In every place, you stop over to take the cooking lessons. Training is delivered from the ones who know it the best - rather than the American teachers or tour guides; it is the locals who teach the inquisitive tourists.

Interestingly, almost all resorts deliver such classes these days but do not advertise the same. This is because more oft they are conducted very professionally on a one to one basis. Hence, there is scope to accommodate very few learners. That required number of learners the resort gets quite easily simply with the word of mouth.

As we all know, almost all the resorts have their own world-class Italian food restaurants. Try complimenting a dish while having food. You would be glad to know that the resorts love to entertain their guests' curiosity by teaching them the recipe to cook the dish within their kitchen. Won't it be a 'wow' experience to learn cooking in a leading resort's kitchen!

Now, in case you have never tried entering the kitchen or so to say that you have absolutely no clue about cooking, do not get nervous. Because these classes are meant for all - cooks and 'non-cooks.' Next if you think that because you have never tried Italian cooking, it would be a tough job for you - think again! As these classes are structured in such a way that they are beneficial in all situations!

Also one must remember that the one on one format is the most flexible of learning. So, do not miss this rare opportunity and expand your knowledge. Learn how to cook Italian food from the actual Italian chefs and when you reach back home surprise your friends & family with your newly nurtured culinary skills.

The ones who are profound with the basics can opt for the advanced or intermediate levels. Though a majority of these classes are held for the beginners, this option is also not closed. 

More oft the chefs focus on simple yet classy dishes. At times some dishes seem to be very complicated but amazingly they are easier to be prepared. The understand that after all you are there to enjoy and just learn some dishes to impress your social circle, rather than stressing yourself too much. So they would pick out the most fancy and the simplest items to teach you, so that the learner doesn't get frustrated or looses his patience. They would always suggest you dishes with that 'wow' factor.

Alas, in your next vacation plan a trip to Italy and gather back a souvenir for life - a learning for life to taste yours and your family's taste buds.

Mardi Gras Cooking Cajun Style

Happiness is like a virus, you would never come to know when it gets spread and your smile is seen in some one else's eyes. The event of Mardi Gras is all about spreading that festive smile. While it is considered a special time span of the year down at Cajun Country, you can bring this festivity home quite easily.

Even if you do not reside in New Orleans, celebrating a festival only requires the right spirit. And in case of the Mardi Gras - the right ingredients. Yes, the essence of this celebration is the food, because Cajun cooking is known all across the world and this festival is all about touching the roots, the traditions and getting back some real Cajun cooking.

Now, to indeed spell the feel of Mardi Gras, plan a grand old meal fitting for King Rex. New Orleans city is known for their party moods and that's where you hit the jackpot. So, now note down the key ingredients - spices and rice.

Actually, people always have a hard time locating the real ingredients required for Cajun recipes. In case you meet a similar kind of problem, remember two key features of this style:

1. Cajun food is very spicy, so has quite many hot sauces in the meal.

2. It consists of a lot of rice.

The reason behind is the same - the social structure in those days. In the olden days when the society was primarily divided in to the main sections like very poor, average and the rich, the riches had the food that the poor ones couldn't even imagine. Those people used a lot of rice. Rice is indispensable in all sorts of dishes ranging from gumbo to red beans. The other variations depend upon the cost and culture. Creole is considered a rather richer choice.

In order to add some taste to this bland food, the poor in olden days used excess of spices. The modern day restaurants that serve Cajun food often tone down the spices to the colloquial tastes. Yet, till date expect the Cajun dishes to be a bit more heated up than the rest. The Cajun natives naturally then can handle the heat in the food quite well. For this they also have ample quantities of iced tea. The restaurants have iced flowing through the taps to help combat those tiny dishes when they get a bit too hot.

Some known Cajun favorites are listed below:

1. Po boys or Muffalettas

For those who want to go in for some lighter choices the sure names are po boys or muffalettas. Po boys are sandwiches that are some what deceiving in their appearance. These are anyways very filling meals. So as to prepare perfect po boys, one must look out for the perfect bread. Look for it anywhere outside Crescent City. This bread has some unique 'chewiness' that is a part of the real flavor of po boy. It cannot be imitated elsewhere. I've been all around the country and I'm sure of this fact.

2. French Fries

These continue be a part of the all time favorites for the Cajun countries.

3. Fried Sweet Potatoes

Down south, people like to fry almost everything. The recipe of fried sweet potatoes is pretty different and interesting. Its sweetness counteracts the spices of other Cajun favorites. 

4. Chicory Coffee

A perfect finish to the Cajun meal is chicory coffee. In case the local coffee shop does not solvethe purpose, try surfing through the website of Café du Monde. Just like its known about spices and rice, it is believed that chicory was blended in coffee and was often used as a replacement for coffee being its cheaper substitute. Though today one could go ahead with real coffee and amere hint of chicory, chicory is rather unique in flavor. For a large segment of people chicory is synonymous for the city all together.

These recipes can easily be located through internet within a click' time. So, all the best for planning your Mardi Gras cooking. Whether you are located in the New Orleans or elsewhere! 

Mother's Day Cooking Made Easy

Remember the last Mother's Day when Dad did the barbeque. It must have been fun. But then, at the end of the celebration your Mom smiled, thanked everybody and got busy cleaning the mess! Her special day went in veins doing all that extra cleaning job and adding to her toil!

Father's often love to put up the barbeque to help a day's meal; and Mom's, though they appreciate it, are made to do loads of extra work in place of the promised relaxation. Some families, who are smart enough to foresee the problem, move out to the nearby restaurant and waste hours together in waiting.

Gourmet cooking stores read through the problem and have come up with quite interesting solutions.

These stores allow guests to join in like a family and prepare the meals for their family using all fresh ingredients. They are given explicit instructions and are allowed close examination. Hence, you are able to prepare a nutritious & delicious meal for the family. You can carry it back home and freeze it. While serving, just heat it in the oven and serve it fresh and fragrant. It can also be packed in various sizes to suit one's individual needs. The dishes you can prepare enlist a good long variety, to name a few:

i. Coconut Shrimp

ii. Caribbean Pork Roast

iii. Pasta Dishes

This sort of arrangement calls for some prior planning, but once you are determined to do it, it shall certainly be a boon for the family during the special occasions. Such as the Mother's Day - it shall extremely lessen her cleaning job within no cooking utensils. Also while cooking she does not have to rush fetching things from all around the kitchen and gathering the ingredients.

Yet, if you want to become a hero still, after the gourmet cooked meal, try pitching in with all the family and clean up the mess after the meal. Let your Mom sit back and relax, and indeed enjoy the big day.

Gourmet cooking might not be as inexpensive. Still as compared to the six servings at your choicest restaurant (until & unless it's McDonald's) this would be far easier. Above all, it would give your mother a feel of your thoughtfulness, love and affection. Also, cooking at the gourmet store with your brother and father who are almost kitchen impaired could be great fun and collect some moments to remember for ever.

There are several gourmet cooking stores with varied names. Find one near your place. For this simply, punch in the keywords - Meal Preparation Centers - on the search engines on internet. And what next, plan a grand meal for all special family occasions like Father's Day, Mother's Day or other holidays or birthdays. These meals are surely a good idea for the nights when you want to just laze around and remain hassle-free.