Will Blog For Food

Everyone always asks what's the easiest way to get into food writing? Blogging or the newer v-logging. If you love writing about food and cooking this is the way to go. It not only satisfies those creative cooking cravings, it also gets you established into the food writing industry.

Anyone can write a blog.It's easy. The thing is to create an unusual spin on it, especially with food. Have something that's boring and mundane and you won't get the readers (or the ads ) that generate the need to go on as well as give you the Internet cred. Check out some of the more
 successful ones,like Pioneer Woman which creates simple meals. You can go fancy with a gourmet chocolate blog or even a  caviar specific  (check the competition on any specialty food blog before you start).Any blog on food is actually a good one, especially the one with clips and pictures.

Another way to go is v-logging which is just making a daily or weekly video and uploading it on You Tube. This gives you a tremendous amount of creativity. You can film restaurants and even get interviews with local chefs (and famous ones). You can make some great how to videos about any dish . However it is basically a food show. You should have a steady hand with the camera or have a stable cameraman.Another is editing, It's fun to have bloopers  but not everyday or every week. Also it means hair, make up and clothing. No one wants to see a drudge cook. Glamor, sadly is everything , even in the food writing industry.

If you love food and are creative, then food blogging or v-logging is for you. It's a fun way to connect your passion the world. You don;t have to be a great chef either. Just have a good time, sharing your recipes and loves with the world!

Pastina That Italian Classic

If you're Italian, whether your roots are Northeern or Souterhn, you;ve probably had pastina soup when you''ve been sick.It's a wonderful and actually versatilepasta that tastes good either in just a simple broth or even with sauce. It's also a great staple to have if you have kids and toddlers . Pastina introduces the young ones to the lifelong joys of pasta.

Pastina means little pasta and are usually star shaped. These are tiny, about the size of pinheads when cooked. Most Italian mothers make them in chicken both as a good sick day meal or to introduce toddlers and babies to pasta Pastina is usually an Italian baby;s first solid food more eaten than cereal.It's usually made of wheat flour and some recipes have egg in them.The Turks make  something similar called Sehriye.Theirs add tomatoes and other veggies to pastina in a chicken broth.

Pastina soup is the easiest dish to make. Boil up some four or five broth cups in five cups of water and add an even cup of pastina. You can add cheese or butter later for more flavor or protein. There is also a great pastina and warm milk dish. This is an easy and comforting winter dish that involves the pasta bits, butter and a half cup of warm milk.I would try it with cream for a really rich , creamy texture and taste. There is also one recipe where you can sub in a beaten egg for a more tastier version. Pastina can be used in a variety of dishes using everything from pumpkin to turkey chunks to veggies,

Despite it's small size pastina is hugely versatile. Make it for a sick day soup or as a creamy comfort dish. It's a great pasta for  young or old, a tasty treat for everyone.

Saturday Night Treats

Saturday nights usually mean a night out. It could be a romantic dinner or a movie and drinks with the girls.Yet what happens when it's just you? Easy answer. Treat yourself. There's nothing wrong with going to your favorite restaurant. by yourself.One it's a chance to put on your nicest outfit, and two you can give yourself a truly wonderful meal.Try either a dish you' ve always wanted to try or to the most expensive dish in the place.This is the time to try those lamb shanks or seared scallops.The best part is bringing home what you can't finish. Eating by yourself is an excellent way to try new places.Enjoy it with the best wine in the house or even a glass of champagne. Cooking for one is also fun. You can treat yourself to a Dagwood or a burger without worrying about sharing. You can also make something as simple as a pizza bagel adding all sorts of funky ingredien s such as anchovies and scallions.Try out a new recipe too.It's a great time to experiment with a new ingredient or cuisine before trying it out on dinner guests. Then there is dessert.Definitely treat yourself to something wild and chocolate- y. Make a brownie sundae. using two or three flavors and enough sauce to float a boat. there 's also homemade cookies and there's nothing better than a plate of fresh home made ones. have them with a big glass of milk and your favorite movie. There's nothing wrong with a Saturday night by yourself. in fact consider it a foodie fantasy.Dine in or dine out, it's up to you. After all it's your night to treat yourself!

Romantic Dinners Anytime

Today is Valentine's Day and there were and still are home cooked meals Luckily though a candlelit dinner can be had anytime of year. after all rehire are engagement parties and anniversaries as well as celebratory meals. Melissa Clark wrote about the perfect Valentine's Day meal in yesterday 's New York Times Dining section.She makes a rib steak along with avocados with a bagna clad sauce. this wouldn't 't be my idea of a sexy meal. Bagna clad is a Piedmontese sauce made with anchovies, melted with oil and butter. I would serve it with the steak along with Savoy cabbage. A better romantic meal is filet mignon served on buttered toast with a side of the bang sauce. pair it with a rich and hearty Barolo and it's a great dinner. as for greens , maybe an asparagus salad with a simple vinaigrette although it really is not necessary. Ms. Clark suggests a vegan chocolate mouse that's made with whipped chocolate. it doesn't have eggs or milk so it' is perfect those with allergies too. i would put this with a scoop of coffee or vanilla ice cream. Another treat is Tamasin Day Lewis( yes, her brother is that Daniel of Lincoln fame) mocha brownies. these are rich , coffee laced treats dabbed with a hazelnut . They are the most decadent little cakes that are easy to make( check put the Tube clip to see how it's done. A romantic meal shouldn't be reserved just for today. make one any time of year. love isn't just for today. it's for everyday.

Lent Arrives Help Others Or Yourself?

Today is Ash Wednesday the start of Lent. Christians and some good hearted people are torn between whether to give up their favorite foods or pastimes to help others.To be honest ,if you can do both that is great.There,s nothing like improving your diet along with making other lives better. if you Re going to give up foods ,give up the ones that you like.These are usual Y the bad ones too like cake, candy and ice cream.For going these also teaches yup to eat healthier Their.You'll be subbing in fresh fruits for dessert and with it added vitamins and fiber.Forty days without sugar also changes your palate and you may find yourself developing a distaste for all thing sugary.This also app Ies to salty and greasy fast food too.A few weeks without fries and chips and yes ,you'll see and feel a difference.Lent is also the time to eat more fishTry moreOmega3 filled salmon or enjoy red snapper.These fish are tasty grilled and good with veggies and a pilaf. Of course some people would prefer to give up their time.You can work at your town or church's soup kitchen.Even if you can't cook, there's always clean up.There's nothing wrong with scrubbing pots and pans.You can even help with cleaning vegetables and cutting them up for sides and soups.You can also help pout at your food pantry too.If yup own a store or bakery,donate what you can to it.This may lead to year round helping.There are also meals on wheels where you can deliver hot lunches to the informed and elderly. you may enjoy this so muc that it could be a year round occurrence. Lent can mean a variety of good deeds. You can be good to your body by giving up the bad foods ruining yourself. you may help others with kind deeds and home cooked meals.Whatever you do think of what will come out of it.

Those Perfect Magazine Pics

Pictures of delicately frosted cakes.Stew sthat are golden brwon and laced with perfectly julienned carrots and browned onion squares. Hot cocoas topped with creamy swirls of whipped cream and sprinkled with chocolate shavings. Yes we;ve all seen them and been seducded by what;s known as food porn.These are those perfect pictures that we see in magazines and on the web. These are the photographs that seduce us into cooking and baking. We think we can recreate the same thing.Guess again.

There are usually armies helping to decorate every little rose and pearl onion. Some magazines even have thier own  decorators on call. As for those perfect dinners some of that food is plastic ,and the gravy is sugar water with coloring. Don't get me wrong .There are some magazines like the quaint TAste of Home hat actually uses real pictures submitted by real cooks.Thes ame can be said for real life blogs sich as Pioneer Woman. These are the ones I would trust the most.

What happens when your perfect dinner doesn't; live up to its' picture?If it;s for a group or party, just imrpovise. Cook extra rice or mashed potatoes along with making extra gravy ot hide the disaster. also if the taste isn;t too hit, then add an extra dash of salt.  The best idea is make a trial run and adjust the taste t the way you want it. The same for desserts. A fun idea is getting the kids to help you make the squiggles and rosesfor the cake.You can also try it on cupckes too..

Yeah, we all fall for food porn. Who wouldn't ?The problem is that what we fall for and what we try to make are two different things. If you want to make a perfect picture of the food , just practice, You may get it right,

Is Butter Better?

We all know butter's tasty it makes unbearable veggies bearable.It adds a richness to sauces Nd baked goos.Yet we also know that it can also be bad for you? Or supoosedly it is.Yet is subbing it with margarine a good thing? can it enhance yup cooking as well as your baking? Butter has been around since the beginning of time. it's been the base of any a sauce for millennia. it laso has been the main ingredient in cakes and cookies, giving both their rich tastes and fine textures. Butter is also a better addition to sauces,creating a silken texture that goes well with any mreat or fish. also , rub butter on a raw chicken. Or turkey and the end result is crisped bird with a crisy, yet tender skin.Let's face it ,a lobster tastes a million times better when it's dipped in a rich butter sauce.Remember butter does burn quickly, and can ruin a dish. Be careful and diligent when working with it, MArgarine does have it's pluses,Many health nuts swear by its' benefits. yes it is low in calories an can add to various dishes.It is great to sauté with and won't burn as much as butter.It can be used in the same baked products as butter. Margarine can be mixed with olive oil as well for various sauces. some people do like margarine on their veggies because they are not as rich then. I tWas created in France in 1813 by Michel Chevrel.Like butter it is an emulsier and was used by the lower classes.LouisNapoleon even created a contest in 1838 With Hyppolyte Meges Mouries.It. Was used vin some dishes but most French dishes require butter. What is the better choice. to be honest it's best to stick with both .Butter and margarine can be used for both tasty dishes that are good for you. Have both in your fridge. This is dedicated to my little butter lover Midnight who we lost last night.He loved licking butter off my chin. I will miss my sweet boy and pray he has all the butter he wants up in Heaven.There will be a time when Mommy will join you, cupcake and we will have butter together again.