Food Down Under Gourmet And Rare

Australia is known for many things. beautiful cities, A dazzling outback filled with all sorts of natural wonder. Sunny, bright people who are always quick to smile. Their food - not so much. Yet the Aussies are breaking away from the Vegemite and expanding their horizons

The New York Times Food section devoted their entire section today to the tastes and flavors of the world's smallest continent.Of course the most obvious influence is Asian with Chinese and Vietnamese holding sway in many big cities and even smaller suburbs such as Cabramatta. They influenced such famed chefs as Kylie Kwong,Luke Mangan, Neil Perry and David Thompson. There's also an interesting article about the Market Melbourne and the fight to keep it going instead of razing it.One of the more interesting articles is about Aussie foods used to make traditional dishes or traditional immigrant foods respun by Aussie chefs.. Imagine using a huge emu egg to make sabayon (!) Or imagine a sausage brought by Slovenian immigrants and renamed kranskys. There is the Bunning's sausage sizzle named for the company that started this hot dog cook out. Aussie cuisine also celebrates the aboriginal foods, the ingredients that have been used for five thousand years.

This is for my little fish lover, Wellington or Wells, Sadly we lost him to a stroke today at 8 this morning. He was only five years old, still young in feline years. He was a special little boy who loved his one kind of food, flavored with salmon and tuna. Wells was not a foodie cat, begging for scraps and licks from an  ice cream or cream filled spoon. He was very traditional and catholic in his choices. I will miss him.

Amping Up Your Barbecue

July Fourth not only signifies the birth of our nation but also the start of the barbecue season. It's time to amp up the old tired recipes and try some new recipes. Shoot some spark in your outdoor grilling for tastier and fun meals.

Most home grillers make just beef and turkey, but you can try bison and emu as well. Both are flavorful and lower in fat and calories. Emu is 95 percent fat free and it's perfect for dieters who still love a rich burger but don't want the pounds,Bison is only 152 calories  too and it is another alternative to beef. Some gourmet supermarkets do sell both meats but you can also get them on line Of course you can also take the traditional recipe and give it a tweak. Add a dash of chili powder for some heat or even cumin for a more exotic flavor. Adding the last is a health benefit because it aids  digestion. Another way to ratchet up those burgers is by serving them on brioches . Top with a homemade chutney for flavor.Hot dogs, another summer classic, can also be transformed into a gourmet treat. Slit the dogs before cooking and when they're hot off the grill stuff them with  real English cheddar and apple wood smoked bacon Good cheese shops will have several different kinds of cheddars while the bacon can be had at the local grocery.

Potato salad is another must have for a barbecue. The usual recipe has mayo and celery however you can try it Moroccan style with tomatoes and saffron. Paprika and cumin are also stirred in for color and zing.Home chefs can also make one with an oil and vinegar dressing, using champagne vinegar and chervil. Mediterranean style is also good especially when you're serving kabobs.This one has feta cheese . kalamata olives and rosemary.,It is also eye catching thanks to using baby red, whit,e and purple spuds. For a really different spin try sweet potatoes.They have to be roasted first, usually with a drizzle of olive oil They need a simple dressing such as a red wine vinaigrette. because of their intense sweet flavor . Macaroni salad is always on the picnic table. Mix it up by subbing in soba noodles or penne instead of the usual elbow kind Give family and guests something to talk about with an Asian style pasta salad , complete with spicy Thai chilis and peanuts. Meats and fish can also be added  .Try grilled chicken and even salmon to rev up the noodles. Another tasty and rarely made dish is the Neopolitan   tomatoes and bread salad. This is taking sliced tomatoes and onions and mixing it with cubes of stale Italian bread and  olive oil. Rosemary and oregano are also used. The salad should be made two to three hours in advance and chilled.

Zest up your barbecue wit exotic meats and salads. Revamp the classic into new and tastier recipes. It'll make your barbecue much more special and exciting.

Good Indulgemces

Surprisingly what's bad for you is actually good for you too.Some of what's seemingly decadent has all sorts of benefits.Even though they may taste sinful. These goodies are actually full of vitamins and antioxidants along with tremendous benefits for your body ,skin and wen hair.Not only are you treating your palate, you're also treating your body. Some lush looking meats are actually very good for you.Salmon is one of those good for you decadent fish.The taste is rich,flavorful with a smooth taste.It is greet steams or grilled, perfect with a squeeze of lemon or even lime.As we all know is its packed with essential Omega 3s , .These stave off certain cancers and even lower cholesterol.Mussels,a staple in Belgian cooking , are great bathed in a white wine sauce.They're low in calories but high in Vitamin B12 and selenium.However since they're basically filters, taking in "dirty" or contaminated sea water and spitting out purified, clean water, caution should be exercised.Contaminants and algae can sometimes be found.Mussels are good steamed in white wine but they're also tasty drenched in a healthy tomato sauce. Sop up the juices and sauce with slices of whole wheat Italian bread. Bison meat may sound like a true indulgence,thanks to it being from an animal not usually known for its meat.It's abetted alternative to the standard burger.It's loaded with zinc and Vitamin B. It's low in calories and fats so you can make yourself a quarter pounder.Emu may sound like the most exotic and the most decadent It actually has Vitamin C?The lean but tasty meat are great for athletes, because of the high concentrate of protein. What about those decadent desserts? Again it's pleasant shock to know that some of the dreamiest creations are actually good for you.Black cherries are a great snack,but also a wonderful component of any dessert.They can literally chew the fat, reducing pounds.They're also good in combatting gout and diabetes along with rheumatism.You can make a Black Forest cake however a healthier treat is a pie.Rolled oats is added to the crust for texture and more benefits.Brown sugar, much more beneficial than refined white kind, is added for sweetness.Serve this with a big scoop of vanilla soy ice cream.Mangoes which would work at any luau are another seemingingly decadent food.Yet, as with any fruit, they are chock full of good stuff.They help the body fight cancer as wells alkalize it.The fruit helps keep cholesterol in check which is perfect for those having trouble with it.Mango is good raw however yup can slice and grill it.Brush it with some margarine and again brown sugar to give it a glaze.Want ice cream?Then try any of the ones made with Greek yogurt,soy or coconut milk.These're taste as good as the real ice cream.Make healthy parfaits or ice cream pies with these.Delicious but not that sinful. If it tastes good ,it may be bad.Yet maybe not.Sometimes the best tasting, most decadent dishes are actually the most healthiest.Indulge.Enjoy.Savor.

Be Daring In The New Year

This is the time for resolutions.Most go for a better and heather dietOthers vow to give up certain foods.Why not be different and be daring?Make 2013 the year of trying new and interesting dishes . There are so many different foods and cuisines out there that's it's easy to explore.If you're tired of Chinese, then go for Thai or Malaysian. the food dissimilar but there are differences that give the cuisines zing. African cuisine is always an adventure and you can always get any recipes on line if you don't live near a major city.Arabian food itself is welcome change with it's rich lamb dishes and exotic couscous. Sometimes it's just a matter of changing up a recipe. Instead of the usual pizza, try one with shrimp or duck. Add a huge dash of hot pepper to your sauces for a spicy arrabiata.Switch from regular hamburgers to emu or bison for a leaner but tastier treat. try exotic grains or classic ones like quinoa or millet for a different mix up.Use more sauces if you don't already.Vary your veggies too for excitement. add asparagus and artichokes to your salads. Be fun and daring this New Year. See cooking and eating as new adventures. it'll heat up your kitchen and spice up your life!