Excellent Tips on How to Cook Shrimp

Shrimp is one of the greatest food that God created. It tastes fabulous but you have to cook it right. Shrimps are member of the crustaceans and are very abundant wherever you go around the world. If you are familiar with Tom Hank's movie called Forrest Gump, you'll agree with me.

Before going to the whole process of properly cooking shrimp, let get one confusion out of the way. Shift and prawns are almost synonymous depending on where you are located. The main difference is that prawns are found in fresh water plus they differ significantly in size.

Here are some of the greatest tips from the greatest cooks on how to cook shrimps. There will no be actual cooking but just stating facts about them.

Firstly, since shrimp is a sea food, they are super high in iodine and protein content. They also have a high value of calcium. Before you plan to cook them, make sure that you know or familiar on how to clean them up.

There are some recipe that require them to be de-shell, removal of the tail, head and outer shell. This can easily be done by holding down the head and let the fingers shelves out the back shell and tail.

There are times though, just for personal preference, some people like to keep the tail of the shrimp for presentation purposes. If you ever seen those chef and cooking show, you probably saw some shrimp with their tails still intact.

There are a long list of how to cook them. Why is that? This is because besides having their own recipe, that is, they are the main course, they can also be used as additive to all sorts of food preparations. They can be added to salad or mixed fried rice and others.

Like I said, with all these great things about shrimp, they are indeed one of God's best creations for man's consumptions.

4 Easy Tips To Have Healthy Meals In No Time

It's time to eat and it's time to eat NOW! I know this because I can hear a symphony orchestra playing in my stomach through my t-shirt and sweater. I'm surprised nobody asked me to turn the volume down. I'm not quite sure I have the time it takes for the food I have in the refrigerator to be done. I'm sure I'll be passed out and comatose on the floor by then! So I run down to the corner to grab food from the quickest place I can find. In comes the realization that the money I just spent could have made 2 or 3 meals had I gone to the store with it and bought groceries. I'd also probably feel less greasy and spaced out had I made a nice home-cooked meal with no mystery ingredients.

I'm sure many can relate to this situation. In today's fast-paced world, where even five year olds have fuller social calendars than I do, we have jam-packed lives with very little time for cooking. This is definitely one of the reasons why the fast food industry is a billion dollar one. This is what I know for sure, however: cooking for yourself is more nutritious AND it saves you money. Health and money, now these are two things we can all use more of! After all, our health is truly our wealth. So allow me to increase your health and save you some more money for retirement by sharing some of my tried and true time-saving tips in the kitchen.

#1: Plan ahead
Eating healthier this year will not get done unless you properly plan it. And the first step in any plan is being clear about when it will happen. Just as you schedule other important appointments, block off a time in your planner each day or a few times a week that you will prepare your meals. Be sure to honor your commitment to yourself. What's also helpful is at the top of the week, jot down the meals you want to have throughout the week. This eliminates the guess work and stress of trying to figure out what's for dinner when time is of the essence.

#2: Prepare one-pot meals
Become a master at making soups, stews and casseroles. These dishes, often made with a variety of food categories, are usually packed with both flavor and nutrition. For example, a hearty soup during the winter is a great way to get grains, vegetables and a protein source all in one shot. Making one-pot meals saves time with cleaning up as well, since you won't be left with multiple pots and pans to clean up after your meal.

#3: Prep staple ingredients ahead of time
If you know you oftentimes use onion, garlic, tomatoes and carrots in your cooking, then have these things already washed and chopped in your refrigerator so they're ready to go when you need them for cooking. Also, wash, pick and even chop your fresh herbs and store them in the refrigerator. If you don't chop the washed herbs right away, wrap them in paper towel and store them in a sealed plastic bag to maximize their freshness.

#4: Cook once, eat many times
This tip is what maximizing your time in the kitchen is all about. It can mean that you're preparing a large enough quantity of food to have leftovers for several days. It can also mean that you cook a large amount of a staple ingredient and use it in a variety of ways throughout the week. Grains, for example, are very versatile. From one pot of quinoa, you can have several dishes. Quinoa is great as side dish for dinner, but then take that same quinoa and make a porridge for breakfast (be sure to puree it in the blender if you want a smooth consistency). And let's not forget that a quinoa salad with parsley, carrots and cucumber with a lemon vinaigrette is the most refreshing and energizing dish ever! The possibilities are endless.

It is totally do-able to prepare fresh, wholesome meals when you don't have hours to devote in the kitchen. It just takes a little planning and creativity on your part. As in learning anything new, be patient with yourself as you learn these habits. Once these tips are effortlessly incorporated into your routine, you'll have less stress around meal time, more money in your bank account and more home-cooked and nourishing meals. As I like to say, a nourished belly equals a happy belly and a happy belly equals a healthy person.

Easy to Cook Vegetarian Recipes

Vegetarian recipes are very yummy, healthy and are normally effortless in preparations, as they take less time in cooking. Various vegetarian recipes are available on this earth giving you ample of choices to select one and relish the recipe.
Various Crunchy, colourful and fresh, vegetarian appetizer recipes consume less time and are ideal for those who do not want to spend more time in the kitchen. Baked dishes also takes less time and are very easy to cook. Soups and various Italian and Chinese vegetarian dishes are also prepared very fast. Various vegetarian recipes which are easy to cook are: Vegan Hummus, Mushroom Barley Soup, and various noodles, pasta, macaroni and pizza recipes.
The butter or cheeses can be used with various types of breads available as they are easier in making. Cheese can be used as a topping on the cookies or biscuits and you can relish these combinations together with sodas, plain water, tea, coffee or wine. Cheeses come in various types and forms; you can use them with other snacks available. Cheese can be cut in slices or can be grated as per the time and liking. You can stock cheeses and you can serve them plain or with something.
Various types of noodles, pastas or macaroni can be boiled quickly and can be mixed with various vegetarian ingredients. Ready made sauces can be poured on these and various sandwich spreads can also be mixed and can be served to your guests.
With potatoes also you can make a quick recipe such as it can be baked or boiled and different types of sauces or mayonnaise, or butter can be used as a topping. Mashed potatoes with butter can also be served or the potatoes can be put in the gravy already prepared and frozen. Chips, cookies, nachos can be served with various dips. Dips made from butter, mayonnaise, cheeses can be made in minutes.
Thus by using commonsense and easy ingredients you can do cooking in an uncomplicated manner and can save time and relish different recipes at the same time. Thus you can offer scrumptious, easy and quick recipes to your guests. There is no limit to easy vegetarian recipes. You can also search online and can make cooking hassle free. There are many varieties of the vegan recipes for all meals during a day, you can make according to your guest's choice.

Best Ice Cream Makers 2011

Ice cream, where would the world be without them. Man has been eating the stuff since he started scooping handfuls of snow and flavoring it with syrups of his choice. In fact many of the recipes that we use even today are as old as the Persian Empire that first started the trend. More than 2500 yrs ago, Persian Emperors had horsemen relay snow from the high up mountains where snow was present even is summer down to them so that they can have ice cream in summer.
The first patent for ice cream makers was issued in the 1930s and since then although there have been advancements in design, the old ones still hold sway. I have reviewed many of the leading manufacturers in the market and give you our verdict on which the best one is for your home.
Simac Gelato
Truly, the Italians have understood man's need for ice cream much better than we have. The Simac Gelato is a very small machine and makes only one quart, lesser even than the tiny counter top options that you have. They have however understood that you do not plan in advance to have ice cream; you eat it when you want it. They therefore have made their machines fully integrated with a refrigeration unit so that all you need to do is to put in the ice cream mix into the canister and press the button.
No waiting, and the only preparation that you need is to ensure that you have a ready supply of ingredients in your home. This is our first choice because at $200 they give you everything except maybe quantity, but then if you want more, you just put in another batch. It gets done in half an hour's time and you can always make two batches before you eat them while another one gets done in the mean time.
White Mountain 6 quart automatic maker
This is our second option because of the capacity that it gives you. A 6 quart machine is massive. Since you are making it at home, you can control the amount of sugar that goes inside and compensate with quantity with your kids. We give this second place because at $200 it costs just as much as the Gelato, but comes with a much much bigger capacity, and if you have kids at home, you need quantities. As long as you have a refrigerator that can keep supplying you with enough ice cubes, you can pretty much keep making ice cream the whole day long, although why anyone would want more than one batch is beyond our guess.
Cuisinart ICE 45 soft serve maker
The Cuisinart ICE 45 comes in the third place ahead of other similar soft serve makers because they give you a 1.5 quart capacity. Although there are may such machines in the market and some that are even cheaper, this is one of the largest capacities for soft serve machines. If you freeze the inner canister then you get sufficient ice cream for a small family, and this is more than enough. Because this is a soft serve option, the volume of ice cream that you get is also much more, plus you get to add in up to four extra ingredients that you like with their add on plastic jars.
There may be other machines that some of us may feel is much better. Everyone has a different need and the best one for them may not be the best for everyone.

Heart Healthy Dressings - Top Healthy Salad Dressings To Make At Home

Everyone knows that salads can be good for you, but add the wrong dressing and you will end up ruining a good thing. Do not sabotage your diet with high calorie and high fat dressings. Instead, use heart healthy dressings that taste great. If you are having trouble finding great dressings you enjoy, consider making them yourself. Here is a look at some of the top healthy salad dressings that you can make at home.
Tomato Vinaigrette
One of the easy heart healthy dressings you can easily make at home is a tomato vinaigrette. You will only need a few ingredients and you can quickly mix up this great salad dressing in minutes. It includes tomatoes, parsley, balsamic vinegar, and of course some tomato paste, as well as other ingredients. This is a great dressing to use on almost any type of salad, although it probably will not be good on a salad that uses fruit in it.
Miso Dressing
Are you planning a salad that uses oriental cabbage or even some Udon noodles in it? If so, a miso dressing is a great idea. This dressing combines things like miso, lemon, thyme, sesame seeds, dulse flakes, tarragon, and more all together for a distinct taste that is sure to compliment any Asian style salad. The extra virgin olive oil used in it makes it one of the heart healthy dressings that you can add to your diet to improve your health.
Honey Mustard and Lemon Dressing
Another of the heart healthy dressings to make in your home is the honey mustard and lemon dressing. This is a different twist on traditional honey mustard dressings. It makes a wonderful dressing for a plain Caesar salad or even a nice chicken salad. However, with the various flavors in this dressing, you will want to keep the salad rather simple. Included in this dressing you will find fresh lemon juice, olive oil for your heart, prepared mustard, honey, cashew pieces, and even some apple cider vinegar. It is a quick dressing to make and it can add class to any salad.
Garlic and Honey Dressing
While you may not put garlic on your salad, you will find that a nice garlic dressing can be a perfect addition to any salad, complimenting the vegetables that you use on the salad. This is a great choice for a salad that is full of vegetables like peppers, onion, carrots, cucumbers, and more. With a nice amount of garlic and several other heart healthy ingredients, it makes an easy dressing that you will want to have on hand all the time.
Garlic and Honey Dressing Recipe
Ingredients:

• ¾ cup of extra virgin olive oil
• 3 cloves of garlic crushed
• 2 tablespoons of honey
• ¾ teaspoon of Mrs. Dash
• ½ cup of red wine vinegar
• 2 tablespoons chives, chopped
• 1 lemon, juiced
• 1/3 cup of distilled water

Preparation:
Place all ingredients together in a blender. Pulse on the highest speed until everything is mixed together well.
Makes two cups of dressing.