I woke up a few mornings ago and wanted some brownies with my vanilla ice cream (Blue Bell, say what?!). I looked through a bunch of cookbooks on my shelf for a recipe but I couldn’t find what I wanted. So I ended up remixing a recipe.

This recipe uses dark chocolate to create rich brownies that stay moist for days.

Dark Chocolate Brownies

1 cup (2 sticks) salted butter

9 TBL unsweetened dark chocolate

5 TBL canola oil

2 cups sugar

3 eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup flour

3/4 cup chopped walnuts, or pecans

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. For a dark colored pan, preheat at 325 degrees.
Place 2 TBL oil in a 9X13-inch baking pan.
Place the baking pan in the oven.
Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat.
Stir in unsweetened dark chocolate and the remaining oil. Use a wooden spoon for this.
Remove the saucepan from heat.
Add sugar and mix well. Do not mix out the lumps!
Add eggs 1 at a time, mixing well after each addition. For fluffier brownies you can add the egg yolks now and fold in the beaten egg whites last.
Stir in the vanilla extract.
Add flour to the bowl and mix well. Do not over work the batter!
Fold in the nuts.
Bake at 350 degrees in preheated baking pan, for 35 minutes or until the brownies pull away from the side of the pan.
Allow the brownies to cool for about 10 minutes before cutting into bars. If you use a butter knife, or a plastic knife, the brownies will be easier to work with.

This recipe makes about 20 brownies.

Possible Substitutions:

These brownies are thick and fudgy and should be paired with vanilla ice cream.

If you want a low cholesterol solution you should replace the eggs with applesauce. Do not replace the butter with margarine.

You can also use regular unsweetened chocolate in place of the dark chocolate, though I personally think that will detract from the richness of the brownie.

For every 3 TBL unsweetened chocolate and 1 TBL oil, you can use baker’s chocolate. Melt the baker’s chocolate in a double boiler and use during step 5.

If you run out of eggs, you can use 1/2 cup of canola oil as a substitute. The brownies will turn out just as great!

Hope you enjoy!

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Although you know how chicken tastes and looks like, how well do you really know your chicken?

Preparing Your Chicken

Chicken is considered as a healthier option in comparison to beef and other red meat. Once purchased from the supermarket or store, chicken should be refrigerated at 40 degrees Fahrenheit and used within one to two days. Chicken, when deeply frozen at a temperature of at least 0 degrees Fahrenheit, can be kept in the freezer for longer periods of time. There are three ways to safely defrost chicken: through the microwave, in cold water, or the refrigerator.

Chicken cannot be eaten raw like fish or, if safely prepared, like beef. Chicken meat may harbor salmonella, a deadly type of bacteria that causes food poisoning. To prevent this from happening, always separate your chicken from other meat and food products when you place it in your bag or cart.

Raw chicken should be immediately frozen at home and once thawed, should not be placed in the freezer again. Once you are ready to make a meal out of your chicken, always cook the meat thoroughly. Meat should have an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit to kill the bacteria.

Cooking Ideas

The easiest way to prepare chicken is through baking, frying or grilling. A good basic breading mixture should have dried breadcrumbs, eggs, salt, and pepper. Italian or Japanese style panko bread crumbs may be used as a tasty alternative. Prepare your chicken for the grill by marinating the pieces for 24 hours in lemon, soy sauce, garlic, thyme, and other spices.

Unused pieces of the chicken can be used in many different ways. The neck and back, together with celery, thyme, parsley, leeks, and spices, can be boiled and turned into basic stock. This can be used as base for soup and sauces.

Chicken is a very versatile meat since its natural flavors can be enhanced with herbs and spices, and complemented with vegetables and other ingredients. Chicken can be prepared as an appetizer, main course, or side dish.

Find delicious chicken breast recipes for your next party, picnic, or family get together. Inspired from cuisines around the world, we offer the best chicken breast recipes for every occasion. Whether it is fried, broiled, grilled, sauteed, baked, or braised, chicken is the perfect choice. You’ll also find tips for cutting, handling, storing, and safe preparation with each recipe.

The humble kitchen cupboard, although most of the time hiding what’s inside, is one of the worst offenders for clutter collecting, but is one of the easiest to deal with. You may think “I’ll just shove this bit of tat in the cupboard and deal with it later”, but that bit of ‘tat’ never gets seen to and remains in the cupboard for years to come. This can be because the cupboard is already full of other things and the impetus to keep it clean isn’t always apparent. Firstly, sort through your cupboard discarding or moving unnecessary things to another location, always avoiding creating new clutter points. Secondly organise the contents, stack objects inside others if possible, in order to gain maximum use of the space while keeping it tidy. This should then give you the constant reminder to sort things as you go.

Drawers, similar to cupboards, are a big offender in clutter collection. Takeaway menus, junk leaflets, unread letters, old cards, bits of paper, pens, magazines and everything in-between fill drawers to their limit. The worse the problem the quicker clutter generates. Get into action by emptying the drawers completely and throw away anything you can. Only keep the most important and relevant materials that you will definitely need. For takeaway menus and leaflets you can invest in a pin board to hang on the wall. This gives the ideal platform to stop paper cluttering up your drawers.

Many kitchens, depending on the layout of the house, have utility closets. These are the bases of the clutter points with all manner of objects being shoved away inside. Keep the contents of these to the bare essentials, with only things that are needed in the kitchen or immediate areas. Mops, buckets, vacuums and brooms are the ideal residents of closets however shoes, laptops and coats aren’t the best items to locate in the closet, unless there is no possible alternative.

To minimise clutter in the kitchen you could employ a saucepan rack attached to the wall in a suitable position. However not all kitchens will be large enough to accommodate this. Having an excess of cutlery can also cause clutter without need. If you have a set of cutlery or glasses/cups that are only used on special occasions then consider storing them away in a safe dry place in a large, padded cardboard box.

If you follow all these tips you’ll soon find your kitchen can be clutter-less and clean without much fuss at all.

Crunchy Apple

Ingredients

1 large cooking apple
2 teaspoons chopped hazelnuts
3 teaspoons golden raisins
1 teaspoon clear honey
1/2 cup whipping cream
1 teaspoon butter or margarine, softened
Directions

Rinse apple under cold running water and remove core. Cut the skin in a line around the middle of the apple using a sharp knife. Switch oven to 400 degrees F. Put nuts, golden raisins, honey and 2 tablespoons of cream into small bowl. Mix well. Put butter or margarine into the mini Dutch oven and spread over bottom and side with a pastry brush. Stand the apple in the small pot and fill centertop with nut and raisin mixture. Cover with lid.

Carefully put the mini Dutch oven in the preheated oven and bake for 15-20 minutes. Meanwhile, pour rest of cream into a mixing bowl and whip until stiff with a hand whisk. Switch off oven and take out dish of apple. Stand on heatproof pad. Transfer apple crunchy onto a plate then top with whipped cream.

Tomatoes in Bed

Ingredients

2 large tomatoes
4 pinches of salt
5 tablespoons corn oil
1 teaspoon dried basil
4 tablespoons dry bread crumbs
1 tablespoon grated parmesan cheese
Directions

Switch oven to 400 degrees F. Pull stalks out of tomatoes then rinse with water. Wipe dry with paper towels. Cut each one into half then sprinkle with 2 pinches of salt. Pour 1 tablespoon oil into a mini Dutch oven; brush it over bottom and side with pastry brush. Put tomatoes into the mini oven cut sides up and skin sides down.

Tip basil into mixing bowl; add bread crumbs, 2 inches of salt and all the remaining oil. Stir to mix. Cover tomatoes carefully with bread crumb mixture sprinkling it over with spoon and gently pressing it down with your fingertips. Sprinkle cheese over tomatoes then put the mini pot into oven. Cook tomatoes for 12 to 15 minutes. Carefully take out pot out of oven and place into a heatproof pad. Turn off oven. Using spoon, lift tomatoes and transfer onto plate. Eat while hot and enjoy the sound of crispness!

Allow the mini Dutch oven dessert recipes to amaze you. Begin adding a little magic into your routine by filling your weekends with a baked-fruit delight full of love and healthiness.

Enjoy!

When it’s raining outside or its winter time and you badly want to savor the taste of burgers or barbecue being cooked outside during summer, there is always a great alternative. You can now enjoy the wonders of outdoor grilling inside your home through the use of an indoor grill. The indoor grill comes in various sizes and varieties. Also below are some tips on how to cook different food items using the indoor grill.

Selecting your grill

You have several indoor grill options you can use for cooking. Among them is the electric countertop grill. This grill is classified into 2 types: the open grills and the contact grills. Contact grills consists of a top and bottom plates which contain the food allowing it to be cooked on it’s two sides simultaneously, open grills on the other hand are similar to griddles, they have a lone flat surface intended for cooking and you can flip the food item to cook its other side. Another variant is the stovetop grill; you can find in stores some heavy cast iron models that can have at least 2 burners. It’s better to use the grill pan though for even distribution of heat. Select a grill pan that has indentations of the grill lines on the pan’s bottom. Other useful utensils are rubberized tongs to avoid damaging the grilling surface and a grilling brush.

Tips on grilling vegetables

Thinner and smaller vegetables can be cooked with good results in a grill like thinly sliced potato, eggplants, tomatoes, zucchinis, green beans, asparagus, etc. How you season the vegetables may affect the results. Before grilling, you may choose to season it with salt or other herbs. Bring your grill to the highest setting and have it pre-heat accordingly before placing the vegetables. Apply a small amount of vegetable oil before grilling. Flat vegetables are lined up diagonally on the grill while the long stick-like veggies are arranged perpendicular to the grill to achieve the desired marks. Season it occasionally to achieve the desired flavor and check the sides once in a while to ensure even cooking.

Tips on grilling meat and fish

The right slices of meat and fish is an important factor in achieving a delectable grilled taste. The thinner the cut, the better the results are for they’ll cook faster. Also, have the meat in uniform cuts for it to cook evenly. How you add seasonings to the meat will also affect the outcome. Though the simple sprinkling of salt and pepper may be enough, a spice rub containing smoky-flavored spices may be better. A marinade or grilling sauce too would be a good choice, apply it on the meat 20 minutes before grilling. Before cooking the meat, be sure that your grill is properly heated. Bring the countertop grill or electric grill to medium-high heat, brush the surface with vegetable oil then place the meat. Cook the meat using the desired procedures. Before serving, always check if the meat is evenly cooked on every side.

Enjoy the smell of burgers and barbecue anytime using your indoor grill. Use it with safety and you can now indulge in grilling anytime you want.

To check for the latest on a contact grill and for the best buys, please visit Contact Grills.

Why You Should Be Buying Bulk Candy

Buying bulk candy is cheaper than buying candy individually from the store. If you go to a convenience store or a wholesale store, you would notice that individual boxes and bags of candy would sell for over one dollar. With the economy being in such a poor condition, you have to save each penny that you earn. If you work with a candy wholesaler, you can save your hard earned money.

Working with wholesale candy suppliers is very easy. If you are with an organization that consumes a lot of candy, such as a church, a school, or a non-profit organization, you can receive a discount from the wholesaler for buying bulk candy. Discounts are great if you or your organization is on a tightly strapped budget. If you would have bought candy straight from the store, you would have had to sell double the cost in order to cover your expenses and to make a profit.

Various manufacturers carry certain brands of candy in bulk. Chocolate covered candy can contain nuts, caramel, coconut, and other types of flavors, and are a popular choice. Other popular types of candy are bubble gum, peppermints, sweet tarts, and butterscotch. You can even have candy personalized for an event, such as a sporting event or a wedding. This will have your customers or your guests to keep a momento of your event.

Another reason to buy bulk candy is that it is a good fundraising activity. Kids and adults love candy, especially chocolate bars. You can order packages of chocolate bars in bulk to give to your teachers at school. The teachers can give the children an order form for the children to keep track of the candy bars. The children can take the candy bars home and sell them to family, friends, neighbors and church members. As a fundraiser, you can have prizes for the children who sell the most boxes of candy in the entire school. Prizes, such as a pizza party for the person who sells the most candy would be exciting to younger children. For older children, a day at the amusement park would be exciting. The fundraiser could go to help to fund a school’s band trip, specific club, or another type of expense.

Finding a candy wholesaler is not difficult. In fact, it is relatively easy. Search online. Many reputable ones exist around the world, specializing in many different types of sweet treats. If you search for a bulk candy company wholesaler, be sure to contact them through telephone or through e-mail for any special types of deals that they can offer. This will save you money in the long run.

RoyalCandyCompany, the leading online wholesale candy retailer, offers the top Bulk Candy and Bulk Chocolate at highly discounted prices. Their price guarantee keeps customers coming back as they will match and beat any competitor’s price.

CHICKEN CACCIATORE

1 lb skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces

(chicken was fed all vegetarian diet, no hormones or steroids added, cage free – see cost note below)

½ medium onion, coarsely chopped

1 small organic green pepper, chopped (see cost note below)

1 T canola oil

15 oz tomato sauce

14.5 oz petite diced tomatoes

2 tsp minced garlic

½ tsp oregano

½ tsp pepper

6 cups cooked brown rice

In a skillet, cook the chicken, onion, garlic, and green pepper in oil until the chicken is cooked through and the vegetables are tender. Add tomato sauce, tomatoes, and seasonings; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, simmer for 5 minutes or until heated through. Serve over rice.

NUTRITION

calories = 333

fat = 4.9 grams

saturated fat =.5 grams

sodium = 427 mg

fiber = 4.5 grams

protein = 21 grams

COST

6 servings – $1.90 per serving (Midwest prices)

Bell peppers are on the dirty dozen list. Buying an organic pepper and vegetarian fed, cage free chicken cost only an additional.64 cents per serving

VERSATILITY

Add any vegetables and spices you enjoy. If peppers are not your thing, swap them out for zucchini, broccoli, or any other vegetable.

TIME SAVINGS

Slow cooking rice takes up to 45 minutes to cook. It can be made ahead of time (like the weekend) and stored in the refrigerator or freezer – ready to be heated and used.

Betsy McGuire invites you to visit http://www.chickpeawellness.com/ and sign up to receive her mind, body, and spirit blog the day entries are made. You can also “like” Chickpea Wellness on Facebook and receive new articles on your wall.

Copyright 2012 Chickpea Wellness, LLC

Red Quinoa Cooking Instructions

Before cooking any brand of quinoa you need to rinse it through with water to get rid of the bitter, waxy saponin coating. Some varieties need more rinsing than others depending on the processing the the quinoa has gone through. What will happen as you rinse it is that it will go foamy. As soon as the foam has gone you can start cooking.

The standard cooking method hold the same with red quinoa but with a few slight differences. Instead of 1 cup of quinoa and 2 cups of water I use 2 ½ cups of water. This is because red quinoa takes slightly longer to cook and become soft and fluffy.

You bring the water to the boil and put the quinoa in the pot. Bring back to the boil and then simmer for 12 – 18 minutes. This is 2 minutes longer than white quinoa. As it cooks you will see the germ of the grain appear and curl around the rest of the grain. As the grain is red and the germ is white this looks very attractive and appetising. It is this germ that gives the crunchy feel to the grain. It also adds a slight nut flavour to the seed.

What To Do With Your Cooked Red Quinoa

Once you have you red quinoa cooked and ready one of the best things you can do with it is make a salad. The red colour contrasts well with the colours of peppers, celery, cucumber and salad leaves. So as well as being healthy the salad will look stunningly delicious and colourful.

You can also add red quinoa to a spicy stir fry dish. It tastes particularly good with Mexican spices and jalapeño peppers. You can also use it instead of rice as a side dish to your favourite curry dish.

Ken Jones is the author of The Quinoa Cookbook. Find out the benefits of this super grain and how to cook it. Ken Has written many quinoa recipes that have been published on food expert blogs and websites worldwide.

Find out how you can enjoy quinoa in your daily diet http://www.quinoa-cookbook.com

Chicken broth is the most common base for soup, and it is the most versatile. Of course, chicken broth is used for chicken soups, but it can also be used as a base for vegetable soups as well. It’s also the most common to find. Chicken broth can be found in any grocery store, either in the can, or in a box. Or, if you have some leftover chicken parts in the refrigerator, or in the freezer, simply put these in the water with some seasoning, and now you’ll have some chicken broth. It’s just that simple, and the taste is unbelievable.

Beef broth is pretty easy to find in stores as well. Some people make beef broth-based soups, but beef broth tends to find its way into stews, and into meat pies. But a special note is French onion soup. Beef broth is the base for this soup, and because the soup is clear, this soup is healthy, as well as rich in flavor.

Vegetables can be simply boiled with seasoning, and they can create their own broth. One can also buy common vegetables, heat them, mash them, and freeze them. They’ll be ready for the cook when the cook is ready to create a fresh tasting soup that will outdo anything that can be bought at the store, anytime of day. Again, if a person is concerned about creating a healthy soup, then they need to make sure that they are taking their health considerations into account. Having said this, don’t be afraid to get creative when you are inventing ways to make a healthy and hearty soup for yourself, or for your family. If you need help with regards to recipes, there are plenty of them online, and on certain websites. You might not realize how easy it is to make a delicious, hearty, and healthy soup. But once you try it a couple of times, you will be hooked, and you’ll never want to buy soup from the can ever again.

Rick Mongiovi shares his recipe for chicken noodle soup and more soup recipes for chowders, cream soups, vegetable soups and more on his site at Best-Made-Soups.com.

Many dare not indulge in eating chocolates for fear of putting on weight but in actual fact, chocolates can be good for health too. This is especially true if you eat more dark chocolates compared to milk chocolate. We must not forget that there are many ways to enjoying this dark, delicious, sinful concoction, most often known as a slice of heaven. We can always melt plain dark chocolate and pour it into nice moulds while adding some nuts and fruit for extra flavoring to make our own chocolate bar. This kind of chocolate bar can be eaten as it is and it is rather easy to get carried away and eat the whole bar!

Now, another way to enjoy chocolate is to use it for baking. There are plenty of delicious and yet, simple recipes that one can enjoy. A nice dark rich moist chocolate cake can never fail to have everyone fighting for more in any party. If cake is really not your thing, there are cookie recipes like double chocolate chip cookies or even rich brownies that will have you moaning in delight at the first bite. Of course, you can always make chocolate ice cream too and puddings, pies and all things sweet.

Chocolate is not only confined to sweet desserts though. It makes great additions to savory dishes too. Have you had a crepe with chocolate sauce drizzled all over it? Well, it tastes just as good as any sweet dessert. That’s not all, chocolate could be used to cook red meat like pork and beef if used sparingly and teamed with the right ingredients.Of course it may sound weird but combined with some ingredients, it tastes as heavenly as any of the desserts mentioned above.

If you are watching your diet, you may want to only get dark chocolate with high cocoa content of above 70%. Dark chocolate is known to be good for the heart and having a small portion of it every other day will not hurt your diet a single bit. Instead, it may do well to curb your cravings for sweet stuffs and satisfy your sweet tooth with its sweet, rich flavors.

Get more Chocolate Cake Recipes and fat burning food here for more wonderful tips on healthy eating.