Top 5 Cooking Shows

Chefs everywhere recently celebrated what would have been Julia Child’s 100thbirthday and her legacy lives on, not only in reruns of her pioneering cooking show, but in the great proliferation of such shows today. America is having a renewed love affair with the kitchen and the fire of that romance gets stoked by the amazing chefs who have followed in Julia’s footsteps. Here’s a breakdown of the best cooking shows on TV – those offering equal helpings of entertainment, education and inspiration (no bloody yelling, thank you very much!).

Giada at Home

Gorgeous Giada De Laurentiis welcomes viewers into her home to partake of her easy, California lifestyle. You get to spend the whole day with the Italian kitchen diva as she prepares food and puts together memorable gatherings for her family and friends. The casual atmosphere of “Giada at Home” makes you feel like you’re part of her inner circle and she offers a nice balance of recipes, kitchen tips and entertainment ideas. This is a show that’s fun to watch (even if it makes you jealous of her fabulous life and figure) and full of useful information that inspires you to get off the couch and into the kitchen.

Chopped

This high energy competition show is a pressure cooker of ingenuity, speed and grace under pressure. Up-and-coming chefs are presented with a basket of mystery ingredients they have to whip into a culinary delight that will dazzle the judges and keep them from being the next contestant on the chopping block. Each challenge has a time limit ranging from 20 minutes to an hour. The fast pace and creativity of this show keeps you on the edge of your seat and gets your culinary creativity going as you watch the brilliance of these chefs who can take sardines, sloppy joe mix and chiles and turn it into a mouth-watering dish in less than half an hour.

Nadia G’s Bitchin’ Kitchen

One-of-a-kind style, sass, and a couple greased-up hunks create the perfect recipe in “Nadia G’s Bitchin’ Kitchen.” This hilarious show is the ideal blend of whacky entertainment and kitchen how-tos. Nadia, who was raised in a loud, Italian family uses her brash sense of humor and kick-ass cooking skills to entertain and educate, with each episode having a theme that offers up little nuggets of trivia and history along with great recipes. Often dressed like a 50’s pinup, Nadia works her magic and serves up tasty treats in the form of hot guys throughout every show. She offers a nice variety of recipes, paying equal attention to those who can afford truffle oil (one of her faves) and those who need to create something delectable out of ramen noodles.

America’s Test Kitchen

This PBS staple and home of “Cooks Illustrated” magazine takes scientific inquiry and gastronomic passion and mixes them together to sort out the very best way to make favorite foods. It is absolutely fascinating to watch the more than three dozen full-time cooks test each recipe 10, 20, or even 70 times to come up with the best way to make everything from spaghetti and meatballs to pub-style burgers. They look at each and every factor that can impact the way a dish comes out – ingredients, heat, technique, and even the pots and pans used. It’s fun to watch along and predict what is going to work and what will flop. And it’s so much better to go for broke in the kitchen vicariously then having to try, try again on your own.

Good Eats with Alton Brown

Arguably the most entertaining food-centric show on the tube. Host Alton Brown puts his quirky spin on food and pop culture and takes viewers on a rollicking ride of culinary discovery and delicious eats. Alton digs into what makes food – and the cultures that created them – tick. Whether he’s dissecting the wonders of the pickle in between visiting ancient Egyptian ruins or singing the praises of butter, Alton Brown is never disappointing, always educational and sublimely entertaining.

What is your favorite cooking show on TV?

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Related News:

New Radio Show Features Heating and Cooking with Wood-Burning Appliances
PR Web (press release), on Wed, 22 Aug 2012 22:26:56 -0700

The program features authors, chefs, and contractors who specialize in high-efficiency wood-fired heating and cooking methods, and chimney, fireplace, masonry heater, brick oven and barbecue maintenance and use.

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Simple Cooking Tips

Knowing how to cook well can be one of the most useful skills you can have. It’s true that people love to eat, especially dishes cooked by friends or family members. Unfortunately, not everyone has as much skill as they desire.

What to Look for When Choosing a School for Cooking Lessons

If you want to learn how to be a good cook (or would at least like to learn some dishes to impress your family and friends with), then taking cooking lessons is a great idea.

Enjoy the Healthy and Versatile Texas Pecans

Although you may be quick to shrug off the importance of the industry – after all, nuts are a dime a dozen – much has to be appreciated for the opportunities that it has paved along the way for those who are in the business of growing them. Apart from that, however, you might just be more likely to enjoy them Texas Pecans once you find out about the health benefits that they have to offer.

Health Benefits

For such a little shell of a nut, did you know that pecans do pack a whopping punch when it comes to nutrients and vitamins? In fact, Texas Pecans have Calcium, Vitamin A, Vitamin E, Folic Acid, Acid, a slew of B Vitamins, Potassium, Magnesium, and Zinc, among many more others.

If you’re conscious about its fat content, you would relieved to know that there is very minimal amount of saturated fat in it. In fact, 60% of the fats are monounsaturated, while 30% are polyunsaturated. As for transfat, Texas Pecans are free of those, too, so you can be sure that it’s going to be healthy for you. It is also very rich in fiber, and is sodium-free, too.

It has also been found that for a fistful of pecans, you can already protect your nervous system because of the nut’s natural antioxidants. Motor degeneration caused by ageing can also be prevented simply by adding them to your regular diet. The antioxidants have also been proven to help in fighting diseases, such as heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s.

Versatile Pecans

The other good thing about pecans is that they are terribly versatile, going along well with a variety of recipes. You may be familiar most with them in pies and cookies. You may also find Roasted Pecans spread on your green salad, adding to the texture and flavor.

The Texas Pecan Board, in fact, even have their own annual Pecan Recipe contests, encouraging local growers and bakers to come up with delectable concoctions, putting their local state nut as the highlight of the recipe. From pudding to cakes, even on ice cream sundaes, contestants never fail to give a surprising twist to the use of Texas pecans.

Indeed, these nuts have come a long way, from being enjoyed by Texans, to the rest of the country, and now to the rest of the world. If anything, Texas Pecans have been successful thus far in leaving a mark in the nuts industry, thanks to their high quality, and of course, their proven health benefits.

Then again, before you go enjoying this health nut, just be sure that you are not allergic to it. It’s not worth taking the risk if you will end up landing in the hospital for it. If you’re all clear, then feel free to enjoy your daily dose of Texas pecans.  Order pecans online now.

A Traveler’s Guide To Aussie Food And Cuisine

Australian cuisine is an amalgamation of bush tucker foods, to colonial foods and international cuisines assimilated over many centuries. Many foods are eaten here that are not eaten elsewhere, such as Kangaroo meat dishes. Culinary tastes are also strongly influenced by British and Irish traditions. If you’re traveling to Australia, take a look at the kind of cuisines and food culture you can expect there.

Colonial Foods

You’ll find British influences in the cuisine in foods such as roast dinners, fish and chips, and the Australian meat pie. You’ll find most of these foods in the takeaway sector which offer quick and cheap meals cooked in the old colonial style with a few uniquely Australian updates.

Barbeques

On any given weekend or holiday, you’ll find roaring barbeques on beaches and backyards of homes. You’ll find barbecue stalls called “Sausage Sizzles” selling sausages with fried onion on white bread and barbecue sauce, which are a common sight during events. If you’re invited to a barbeque, bring some food item or drinks along with you as a mark of courtesy.

Bush Tucker Foods

Indigenous Australians were hunters and gatherers; their food comprised of the unique native plants and animals of Australia. Emu, kangaroo and wallaby were hunted and cooked, along with grubs, insects, snakes and lizards. These animals were either grilled on hot coals or cooked in stews and eaten along with wild fruits, bush berries, fruits and wild honey. Today you’ll find this same cuisine in the form of regional bush tucker foods served in restaurants on the Australian outback.

Modern Australian Cuisine

The modern Australian cuisine has evolved from colonial influences and multicultural influences including Asian, Mediterranean, European and Arabian. This mixed cuisine uses fresh produce, lean meat and is lightly cooked and colorful. Seasonal vegetables and seafood are used in regional areas, whereas in cities you’ll find imported foods from all around the world.

Fish and seafood

· Popular seafood choices here are King George whiting, Southern bluefin tuna Mud Crab, Moreton Bay bug, Dhufish, Yabby, Jew Fish and rock lobster.

· Restaurants on the sea coasts, especially in Sydney predominantly serve locally available fish of high quality. Australian seafood dishes are usually pan fried, stir fried, hot plate cooked or deep fried. They’re also frequently used in pasta dishes.

· Traditional colonial fish bakes, poached and steamed fish are found in metropolitan areas. Seafood is also cooked according to various international cuisines.

· Inland freshwater regions offer dishes made out of fresh water fish and various crustaceans. Seafood is cooked in traditional Aboriginal styles, wrapped in leaves or paperbark and cooked with native ginger.

 

Australian Beverages

Australia exports around 760 million liters of wine a year. Wine is one of the major beverages that’s drunk here, but beer makes it to #1 slot. Australia also has a well-developed coffee culture. You’ll find old Greek cafes in Sydney and Melbourne, which have been serving coffee since the 1910s. Vittoria is Australia’s largest coffee producer and distributor. The Australian flat white is a uniquely Australian espresso, a Cafe Latte that has no foam.

Indigenous Australian Fruit

Bush tucker fruits such as the Quandong, which is a native peach, Wattleseed, Illawarra plums, Munthari berry, native Raspberries, Lilli pillies and Riberry are available in various regions. Australian restaurants in these regions offer various salads, sorbets and other confections made out of these native bush tucker fruits. However, in major cities, bush tucker fruits aren’t widely available. You’ll find regular fruits such as kiwi fruit, oranges, banana, apples, mangoes, apricots, plums, pawpaw and so on.

Australian Fine Dining

There are many fine dining restaurants in major cities such as Melbourne, Adelaide, and Sydney and so on. Apart from that, you’ll find many fine dining places in Swan Valley in WA, Barossa Valley in SA, Margaret River and Broome in NA, in the Mornington Peninsula and Murray River regions. These regions produce quality wines, cheeses and artisan breads and preserves.

Iconic Australian Dishes

· Vegemite is Australia’s favorite toast spread.

· Pavlova and Anzac biscuits are considered national fruits.

· A honeycomb chocolate bar called Violet Crumble

· Macadamia nuts, cherry ripe, jaffas, orange-flavored chocolate, chiko roll, Chinese-inspired dumplings, a chocolate biscuit called Tim Tam, musk sticks, lamingtons, fairy bread.

· A fried meat patty which is the Australian hamburger served with sliced tomato and shredded lettuce on a toasted bread roll.

· Soda bread called Damper, baked in campfire coals.

Daily Meal Structure

Breakfast: Breakfast is light in warmer areas and slightly heavy in colder areas. Depending on the weather conditions, breakfast can be English porridge, cereal, toast and fruit. Breakfast beverages are tea, coffee, juice or flavored milk.

Dinner: Australians place importance on the family dinner. Dinner involves vegetables with roast meat, pasta dishes, seafood dishes, salads, soups, stir-fries, barbecued meat, curries and casseroles.

As Adrenalin’s adventure travel writer, Gemma has published hundreds of posts on extreme activities that double as awesome gift ideas.

What to Look for When Choosing a School for Cooking Lessons

If you want to learn how to be a good cook (or would at least like to learn some dishes to impress your family and friends with), then taking cooking lessons is a great idea. There are a number of ways you can go about getting the education in cooking that you want. The difficulty may lie in deciding which route to go. Here are some pointers for what to look for when choosing a school for cooking lessons:

Size up your options. There are a variety of places you may go to receive cooking lessons, including community colleges, caterers, culinary schools, and even some cookbook stores. Explore all of these options to create a list of viable candidates, and then consider which type of environment you think you’d learn best in.

Your personal interests. There are cooking lessons for everything from sushi rolling the classic French cuisine. Find a course that is specifically suited to your personal interests. If you can find exactly what you are looking for, then it is a good idea to take lessons to learn the basics of cooking, in general.

A schedule that matches your own. When you look into the variety of cooking lessons available to you, you will find that some schools offer one-day or weekend courses, while others offer ongoing training over the course of several weeks, or even months. Additionally, some courses may be during the daytime, while others may be in the evenings or at night. Choose a school that offers lessons that fit within your schedule.

Instructor credentials. Find out who the instructor is, and ask about the instructor’s education and experience. Not only do you need to know about the instructor’s hands-on kitchen experience, but also about his or her experience in a classroom setting, teaching cooking lessons to people like you.

Reputation. Once you have narrowed down your list of candidates to those who offer what you want, logistically, it is time to ask the schools for references. Call those references to ask about the quality of the instruction, as well as the nature of the course, itself. Also, it is a good idea to research online for cooking school reviews, to help you further assess the schools you are interested in.

Choosing a school for cooking lessons is not necessarily a difficult task, but it will take some time and effort. You will be investing in your cooking lessons, so it pays to invest in the task of choosing the best school for you, before you commit.

About the Author: Marcel Osinski just moved to the city and is now offering cooking lessons in New York. He works privately with small groups of people to teach basic cooking skills and enjoys watching his students learn how to move with ease in the kitchen.