Storified by Arya McLean· Mon, Apr 22 2013 17:41:05
This pumpkin bread pudding is a great alternative to the traditional pumpkin pie. Stuffed with raisins and nuts, each bite will be a wonderful experience.
Ingredients:
1/2 loaf raisin bread, cut into cubes
1 cup canned pumpkin
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon ginger
1 can evaporated milk
1/3 cup walnuts, chopped
Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Grease an 9-inch pie plate.
Place bread cubes into the prepared pie plate.
In a medium bowl, combine the pumpkin, brown sugar, eggs, vanilla and ginger. Stir in the milk. Pour mixture over bread cubes; be sure to coat cubes well. Sprinkle walnuts on top.
Bake 25 to 30 minutes, or until knife inserted in middle comes out clean.
=> Best Bread Pudding Recipe: Banana Bread Pudding Recipe
If you love banana bread, then you'll absolutely love this banana bread pudding. It's made with mashed bananas, eggs, milk and French bread.
6 bananas, mashed
6 egg yolks
1 cup sugar
1 stick butter
1 can water
1 loaf French Bread, cut into cubes
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
In a large bowl, combine the bread cubes and the milk and water; let soak until bread is soft. Separate the egg yolks and whites.
In the same bowl, mix in the egg yolks, vanilla, butter and sugar; mix well. Add in the mashed up bananas. Pour mixture into prepared baking dish.
Bake for 60 minutes, or until knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
Blueberry Bread Pudding Recipe
The fresh taste of blueberries mixed with cream, bread and spices will have you going back for seconds of this fantastic dessert
2 slices day old Italian bread, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 egg yolk
1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
3 tablespoons milk
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted
3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Dash ground cinnamon
1/2 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
Confectioners' sugar
Grease a 2-quart casserole dish.
Cut up bread and place into prepared baking dish. In a bowl, combine the egg yolk, cream, milk, sugar, butter, vanilla, nutmeg and cinnamon. Stir in the blueberries. Pour mixture over bread cubes. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Bake, uncovered, for 30 minutes, or until knife inserted in middle comes out clean. Sprinkle confectioners' sugar on top. Serve warm.
Storified by ebanreb· Sat, Apr 20 2013 22:48:41
If you were to ask an average individual if they knew what a duck was, a great percentage would answer yes. Most of us perceive ducks as white animals with an orange beak that float in a pond. Many would be surprised to find out that there are many varied colors and species in the duck family. From the Mallard duck to the Blue Winged Teal duck and everything in between, they are quite unique in many ways. Here we will be highlighting some of the most popular ducks, and what makes them different from each other.
One of the most beautiful and distinctive ducks is the Northern Shoveler. This duck is prevalent in the northern part of the world. Extremely easy to identify due to a large spoon shaped bill. Usually the breeding male will be identifiable by a green head, brown stomach area, and a white breast area. Adding to it's distinctiveness and beauty, when in flight this duck will display pale blue wing feathers as well. Females of this species are a bit more typical. They boast a long broad bill and a light brown body similar to a mallard duck. These are usually around 19 inches in length and weigh a bit over a pound.
The next is the Blue Winged Teal duck. Beautiful at first sight they are very reminiscent of their name. Having a striking teal body and blue wings that are revealed upon flight. They are easily distinguishable among other ducks. They are not extremely common, and might be found anywhere in the hemisphere. They are a bit on the large side, and make a definite first impression on the viewer.
Mallard ducks are a common species among the duck family. Mallard ducks are also referred to as wild ducks. They are known as wild ducks because they are usually found in wetland areas of the hemisphere. Places that are wetlands can refer to parks, small ponds and rivers. Mallard ducks are easily recognizable, and probably one of the best known ducks in the world. Though found in wetland areas, they are migratory ducks as well. This refers to having the prevalent amount of them in the northern part of the hemisphere when it is warm. As soon as that weather begins to turn cold, these ducks fly south for the winter. Extremely fast flyers, they have clocked speeds up to 65 miles per hour. Within the mallard species of ducks(canard de challans), there are hybrid variations also. Some of the most popular include both the Big Marsh Mallard (located usually in large marsh areas), and the Springtime Plumage Mallard ( develops beautiful colored plumage in the spring).
Storified by ebanreb· Sat, Apr 20 2013 23:07:34
People with sweet tooth must be drooling over with homemade doughnut recipe. This is especially true for those who have kids at home. Why do you have to rush yourself and go to a doughnut store where in fact you can make your own at home? This could save some of your bucks and your time too! What more? You are very sure that what you are eating is fresh from the kitchen.
The origin of doughnuts may be uncertain but they made a mark in history. Until this day, doughnuts exist and play a vital role in the table for the pleasure of our taste bud. There are two major kinds of doughnuts, those that are leavened or raised with yeast and those which use baking powder or baking soda. There are differences in the two types, but both are delicious and the mouth watering homemade doughnut recipe(recette de beignet en video) for these two has actually the same yet lesser and simpler ingredients and procedure as compared with the commercially made doughnuts. The only difference is that you could use a much affordable equipment and that is a deep fryer.
Storified by Arya McLean· Wed, Apr 17 2013 22:30:29
There are many tilapia fish recipes, each of which offers a slightly different texture and taste. Tilapia is very versatile and there are several recommended cooking methods, baking being one of the best.
Not only are all baked fish recipes delicious but also tilapia is a very healthy fish and an ideal part of a nutritionally balanced diet. Tilapia is a mild-flavored fish, which means you can feel free to use tilapia fish recipes with strong sauces. Eating Tilapia, twice a week has various health benefits and this dorada fish is available all year round.
A small piece of salmon contains 158 calories and the same sized piece of tilapia has only 85. The salmon contains 7.9g of fat and the tilapia only 1g for the same sized portion.
Tilapia Fish Recipes - Health Benefits
A small portion of tilapia fish has about half the calories of an equal size piece of salmon. The salmon ways in with a whooping 158 calories, which as said is about double! In addition tilapia contains only 1g of fat compared to 7.9g of fat in the same sized portion of salmon.
Tilapia contains no carbohydrates or fiber. It is low in sodium and a good source of phosphorus and niacin. Tilapia is also a plentiful source of selenium, protein, and vitamin B12. The only negatives are that it is quite high in cholesterol and does not contain healthy omega-3 fatty oils but you can make up for this by consuming oily fish such as mackerel or salmon once or twice a week too.
Tilapia fish recipe nutrients vary depending on how the fish is prepared and cooked and what fats or sauces are added. You can marinate tilapia but you should only marinate it for a short time because else the proteins will be broken down, resulting in mushy fish. Grilling is another cooking method although tilapia does tend to be thin and small, meaning it tears easily if you are not careful. It needs only a few minutes grilling else it might dry out. Tilapia has a delicate taste and suits most seasonings. Grilling is a healthy way of cooking tilapia. You might want to grill a whole fish with some seasoning added or you might want to marinate it first.
You can use a baked tilapia recipe too. You will need to add fat by brushing on some oil or melted butter, to ensure the fish remains moist. This type of fish can dry out easily because there is very little fat content, so using butter or oil has great results.
You might like to place the tilapia on a bed of celery and onion or bake some vegetables with it or some thinly sliced vegetables on top of it to add moisture during cooking. If you want to saute the tilapia, this will also require butter or oil. If you do not want to add extra fats, steaming the tilapia is also a good cooking method.
Tilapia Fish Recipes Using Oil
You can bake or saute tilapia in oil or melted butter. If you would rather use oil, peanut, or sunflower oil are good choices, as they will not change the flavor of the fish. Many other oils will add their taste to the tilapia. Olive oil or canola oil can be used but you will be able to taste the oil flavor as well as the fish. Preparing tilapia with fats is also healthy, since fats are one of the major food groups required for overall good health.
Storified by Arya McLean· Wed, Apr 17 2013 22:42:14
White sauce is the basis of hundreds of casseroles, soups, vegetable, and meat sauces. When you know how to make a white sauce, you know how to make veloute sauce, cheese sauce, onion sauce, curry sauce, and others. You can buy white sauce packets and, while some are good, others taste artificial.
Nothing tastes as good as homemade sauce. I've been cooking for decades, but sometimes my sauce is lumpy because I am not paying close attention to what I am doing. Follow these tips and you will have a smooth white sauce every time.
1. Use a heavy-bottomed pan. This tip comes from the Epicurious website. Like most recipes, the recipe for white sauce on the website starts with butter.
2. Warm milk beforehand. This tip also comes from the Epicurious website. However, you can make a smooth sauce with cold milk if you are careful.
3. Stir/whisk the sauce constantly. According to the cooks.com website, you should stir the sauce constantly until it boils. Reduce the heat and cook a bit more, whisking constantly, until the sauce is smooth and thick.
4. Watch for sticking. Sometimes the flour in the sauce sticks to the bottom rim of the pan. You can feel this with the spoon or whisk when it starts to happen. To prevent lumping, remove the sauce from the heat, and scrape the bottom rim with a heat-proof spatula.
5. Use granular flour. I can make white sauce with regular flour, but prefer to use granuar (gravy) flour because it is less apt to lump.
Most white sauce recipes call for regular or evaporated milk. My husband and I eat a low fat diet, so I use skim milk. I also use a butter-margarine blend to make the roux. Here is my recipe for white sauce.
INGREDIENTS
1 tablespoon butter-margarine blend
1 1/2 tablespoons gravy flour
dash low-sodium salt
1 cup skim milk
METHOD
Melt butter-margarine blend in a small saucepan. If you have a glass stove top, make sure the saucepan has a flat bottom and fits the burner. Whisk in gravy flour and salt. Cook roux for a few seconds. Add milk, whisking constantly, and cook over medium heat until the sauce thickens.
You can change the flavor of your sauce by adding:
* freshly grated nutmeg (nice with creamed spinach)
* onion powder
* garlic powder (I do this if I'm making Alfredo sauce.)
* light cream cheese (about 2 tablespoons)
* Parmesan cheese (2-3 tablespoons)
* Cheddar cheese (1/3 cup)
* fresh lemon juice (about 1 tablespoon)
* chicken or fish stock instead of milk (Veloute sauce)
Storified by ebanreb· Wed, Apr 17 2013 19:14:36
Rice is a common, healthy food and learning how to cook rice is important for many world cuisine recipes. In some Asian countries, where it is the primary food staple essential to survival, a person can eat 300 pounds of it in a year, compared to an average of 25 pounds per person in America.
Types of Rice
When you learn how to cook rice, you'll find there are three main types of it you can eat.
They are:
White
The inner portion of the grain is white rice. It is commercially refined and sometimes contains a harmless coating of talc or glucose to make it look more appealing to the eye. White is popular with the buying public, but the refining process removes a lot of nutrition.
Whole grain or brown has more iron, phosphorus and vitamins B1 and G than white and a pleasant nut-like taste. It has not always been easy to buy but is steadily becoming more popular; it's often sold in sealed containers to prevent it from going rancid. When you learn how to cook rice, you'll find brown takes longer to cook than white.
Wild or Indian rice is technically not rice, but the seed of a marsh grass. It is the most expensive variety and food connoisseurs-pintade aux endives like the taste as an accompaniment to meat dishes.
Wash First and Last
Most varieties of rice need to be washed in a colander of fresh water prior to cooking. Some varieties are pre-washed and do not require this step. You should also rinse most varieties of rice with boiling water after cooking.
The actual cooking technique will depend on the type of rice dish. For example, a risotto requires a different method than an Indian or Chinese rice dish. Now all you need to know is how to cook rice!
Varieties and Techniques
The three main categories of rice contain a number of varieties, each with specific directions on how to cook rice.
Arborio
Arborio rice, ideal for Italian risotto dishes, is a short grain, extra starchy rice that has a creamy appearance after cooked.
Start by sautéing the rice in a little butter and then slowly cook a mix of 1 part rice to three parts liquid. You can add extra ingredients and vegetables at this point to flavor the risotto such as:
Arborio Rice can also be used to make rice puddings.
Brown
Available in both short and long grain varieties, brown rice is high in fiber and has a nutty taste. It is delicious in pilafs and many other dishes. Cook brown rice in two parts liquid to one part rice and simmer for about 40 to 45 minutes.
Basmati
Popular in Indian cooking, basmati rice is available as a white or whole grain variety. Use about one cup of rice to two cups of boiling water and simmer for 20 to 45 minutes. The whole grain variety will take longer to cook than white basmati rice.
Sushi
Sushi rice is a favorite in Japanese cuisine and often used in sushi dishes. Add the rice to an equal amount of boiling water and reduce heat to low. Allow it to set for 15 to 20 minutes, until the rice is tender.
Jasmine
Jasmine rice has a mild flavor and takes on the flavors of other ingredients in the dish. Cook the same as sushi rice, but with more boiling water - approximately 1¾ parts water to one part rice. Cover and simmer on a low heat for 15 to 20 minutes.
Wild
A rice native to North American, simmer wild rice on low heat for 40 to 45 minutes. Use one cup of rice to 1½ cups of boiling water.
Texmati
An alternative to basmati rice, texmati is a popular ingredient of many Tex-Mex dishes such as chili con carne. Use one cup of rice to 1½ cups of boiling water and simmer on a low heat for 20 minutes.
Fried
Chinese fried rice is used in many popular dishes. Simply cook your rice as above and then stir-fry in a frying pan. You can add vegetables and meat or eggs to make a complete dish.
Many varieties of rice can be made into delicious meals. Now that you know how to cook rice, make one of these great meals for your family or friends to enjoy.
Storified by ebanreb· Wed, Apr 17 2013 18:57:59
Mainly people from tropical countries use cod as an ingredient in their cooking. The reason could be because the fish can be preserved in a number of ways, besides the basic cooking methods. They can either smoke or dry it to make it last longer. Among the many corners of the world, cod is made into delicacies such as fresh cod, cakes, poached Italian cod and Cape Cod platter.
There are various recommended viable ways to cook cod fish.
First, this is how to cook cod the breaded way. The ingredients include cod fish, milk, purpose flour, salt, granulated garlic, black pepper, dried basil, thyme, dried parsley, cayenne pepper, chili powder, and cooking oil. The opening step is to cut the cod fillets to the desired size. Then put the cod in a steep sided bowl and add milk into it. Soak it for about an hour.
While waiting for the cod to be soaked, you need to prepare a dredge. This is done by mixing four cups of purpose flour, a quarter cup each for salt, granulated garlic, dried basil, thyme, dried parsley, black pepper, a tablespoon of cayenne pepper and chili powder. You should make it sufficient to completely cover the fish. Next, remove the cod from the milk but do not dry it. Place the cod on the prepared dredge and coat the cod fish with the seasoned flour. To ensure that the flour sticks, press it gently and place the fish in the dredge for 10 minutes.
Then, pan-fry the cod in light oil for three to four minutes on each side. The cooking time should depend on the thickness of the fish. Remove the fish and place it on a paper towel for oil absorption.
Apart from the methods mentioned above, cod can be served the Spanish way. To perform this you would need six cod fillets, a tablespoon of butter, a tablespoon of olive oil, a quarter cup of chopped onion, two tablespoons of chopped garlic, a cup of tomato sauce, 15 cherry tomatoes, and half a cup of chopped green olives.
You would also need a quarter cup of marinated Italian vegetable salad, a quarter teaspoon of black pepper, a quarter teaspoon of cayenne pepper and lastly, a quarter teaspoon of paprika. The initial step is to heat the olive oil and butter in a skillet. Cook the garlic and onion before adding cherry tomatoes and tomato sauce. When the mixture becomes simmering, add the marinated vegetables and green olives. Season them with paprika, cayenne pepper and black pepper. Place the fish into the skillet and cook for another eight minutes. Then transfer them into a bowl and you may serve immediately!
