Cinnamon RollsTasty Morning Treats

Nothing beats a cinnamon roll in the morning or as a snack. There's something about the combo of a yeasty bread with the zing of cinnamon and sugar. Even better when they're fresh from the oven .Their recipe is also versatile because you can add extras to make them special or different.

Cinnamon rolls are one of the easiest baked goods to make. You can use a regular yeast base recipe or even just get crescent rolls and fill them up with plain cinnamon and sugar. Before doing this mix brush each triangle with melted butter and then roll up There was a recipe in Wednesday's new York Times dining section where Melissa Clark made her own , making the icing more butterscotch in taste. You could do this and also use it as a filling too, making it like the Cinnabon ones.

Cinnamon rolls can have variations too. You can add raisins as well as a variety  of nuts.Most bakers add walnuts for crunch and texture but also try milder tasting almonds to balance out the flavor. Again use whole nuts or grind them in a food processor. You can mix them in with the cinnamon and sugar and cinnamon too. Size can also vary, You can make huge ones that are perfect to split or tiny ones that are perfect for brunches or even afternoon teas.

Cinnamon rolls are wonderful bites of flavor and sweetness. You can easily make them using  premade dough or from scratch,Either way they are a great treat with coffee or tea.

The Spice of Sri Lanka Cooking

Sri Lanka conjures up bright colors and fiery spices.The same is true for their foods. They are hot yet sweet, flavorful yet full of regular ingredients. A dish from this tropical island is the perfect antidote for a cold day's dinner.

Dave Tanis tried Sri Lankan food in his City Kitchen  column in yesterday's New York Times Dining section. His recipe is the tasty and flavorful coconut chicken curry with cashews. This is a meal to make either for guests or simply for a regular weekday. it;s also the perfect chill chaser with turmeric and cayenne to give it heat. Sri Lankan food is similar to Southern Indian food  and the dish is laced with the spicy coriander and, cardamon and ginger.> Cashews are added for crunch and  they work well with the chicken , Tanis uses.

Sri Lankan food is pretty easy to make, especially if you're familiar with cooking  southern Indian food. it is highly spiced, perfect to go with the tea the island is known for (remember  that Sri Lanka was formerly known as  Ceylon and was a huge tea colony under British rule)Cashews are also a hallmark of the cuisine and the Portuguese who also ruled the island in the 1600's. Coconut milk is also used in the dish. Rice is usually served.with it but if you want you can also serve roti to scoop up the sauce and meat.

There's nothing like a fragrant hot meal from an exotic country to liven up a winter's table. Try this dish to give color and flavor to your dinner or party. It's like a culinary vacation for your palate.

Relearning Your Microwave

Everyone thinks that a microwave is just used for reheating  leftovers and popping popcorn every now and then. Surprisingly enough however it can be used to make first cooked quality meals. No matter what brand you have you can learn  to create high quality dinners and desserts that would make your oven envious,Another plus you can do it in half the time.

Relearning your microwave was the subject of an article in today's New York Times Dining section. The piece was written by Sophie Brickman and has some good advice as well as recipes. It is also  healthy with no fat and just a swipe of oil .A microwave can be used for a variety of different techniques.At its' lowest levels it can be used for a dehydrator.At the highest settings you can steam and fry. Clean up is also minimal at this level which makes microwave perfect if you're cooking for company.

Ms. Brickman decided to try both beef jerky and dried apples You usually have to use the lowest setting for this and a lot of patience, Most microwaves have the lowest setting of 700 watts however you;ll have to do some math  if you have a more powerful machine.(and you can also check the recipe book that comes with your microwave for conversions)Brickman
also tried a black cod with scallions and ginger, This was perfect with fully flavored fish and tender flesh. You can try it with salmon too and tuna,
Your microwave doesn't have to just reheat and pop popcorn. It can be used to make delicious gourmet restaurant type food. best of it , the food is fresh and tender, not day old and tough,

Fridge Hoarding

We're all guilty of it - fridge hoarding. We have cartons of unknown this and conainters of heaven only knows what. We mean to throw it out, but we never do. As much as we hate to admit it , we have become food hoarders and that's not healthy.

A lot of those containers come from restaurants . Let's face it  we're a country of diners who love to nosh at any eatery , from chains to family owned places. Unfortunately all those restaurants give us oversized portions and we bring them home. A week later it's an unidentified mass of glop that could have mold spots on it. Try  to eat leftovers a day or two after you;ve eaten out or better yet, split them with your friends or family(A better solution is ordering children's portions). If you've brought home steak or chicken wheat you can do is turn it into a sandwich the next day , or chop them up and serve with fresh pasta  or rice.If you;ve had food for more than a week , then it's time to introduce it to the garbage (Or use it as compost)

Sometimes we just buy too much on our trips to the grocery store , Let's face it eveyrthing looks good and it's so easy to toss stuff into our carts. Luckily veggies can either be turned into salads or cooked . The problem is that certain veggies can rot faster than others which creates some interesting odors. This in turns smells up the entire refrigerator.The same is true for fruit too Most should be kept for two weeks at best. Surprisingly bananas are are their best when their skin is black. Yet if it smells , then toss it. Another rule is if the rind is dried out as with citrus, then use it as mulch as  you can  do with bad veggies.

Hoarding isn;t just keeping all those ol birthday cards and soda bottles. It sometimes can mean hoarding food too . If you;ve had it for more than a week or two, then get rid of it. Nothing beats a clean fridge.

The Versatile Mashed Potato

Nothing is as staple as the mashed potato. It is a great plate filler, helping to absorb gravy as well introduce picky eaters to veggies. It;s also one of the easiest sides to make . You can make it by using real spuds or flakes. Either way they're versatile.

Plain mashed is great . Of course they taste the best with any kind of roast beef, turkey or chicken gravy. This is one of the richest way of eating it .You can mix in  some  low calorie sour cream along with herbs as a nice extra to grilled chicken or even fish. Adding roasting garlic is another plus and goes well with steak or pork.Even left over mashed potatoes can be tasty . Form balls, then dip them in beaten egg and breadcrumbs. Fry up the potato ball  in oil or butter and serve with ketchup as a fun alternative to French  fries.


Mashed potatoes are also a great ingredient in leftovers.Cooks from Paula Deene to locals make excellent pancakes with leftover mash .Add flour, and  eggs to day old potatoes and fry in bacon grease as well s adding bacon as decoaration. These go great with eggs sunnyside up and some ham slices.The English add cabbage to make the famed bubble and squeak which is a crispy kind of skillet cake while others add Parmesan cheese.You can also add mashed spuds to crab and fish cakes along to chicken croquettes to give them body.Regular dessert cakes also benefit from a cup of mashed potatoes.They give them a wonderful consistency that plain flour doesn't .


Mashed potatoes aren't boring as most people think. in fact they're versatile and fun to cook with . Use them in everything from skillet cakes to desserts for something delicious.

Appetizer Only Please

Sometimes a full restaurant dinner can be too much. There's so much to slog thourgh that you either waste it or have to take it home. This can leave you feeling too stuffed , more ready for bed than a night out. The best bet is getting appetizers. There's always a wide variety and always more than a few tasty choices.

Most restaurants, big  and small have large lists of appetizers. Some offere everything  from soup to mini versions of their more popular entrees. This is great if you just want to  sample or just prefer something simple before a movie or club. Appetizer lists though have great foods that are just plain fun. Chinese restaurants have beef and chicken on sticks which are fun along with dumplings , either boiled or fried. Italian restaurants  feature garlic knots, pizza dough twisted into knobs that run from marble to plum size These are served with a bowl of hot pizza sauce and do the trick as well as any slice of pizza.

Many chain restaurants along with diners thrive on appetizers. Their offerings cater to large groups of people and different taste. Some places like The Outback have the Bloomin' Onion which can serve anywhere from one to four people. Ohters like TGIF offer the tantazlizing trio of babyback ribs , chicken and shrimp along with chips with different kinds of dips. Diners also also great appetizers from the shareable nachos  to the fried platter. This last consists of fried mozzarealla sticks, chicken wings and shrooms, stuffed and fried mushroom caps.Sliders, those mini burgers are also on many a menu now and make more sense to eat than a huge burger. Instead of a whole meal think about appetizers. They're more fun to eat than the regular meal and easier to finish. Go small the next time in a favorite eating place.

January Is Kitchen Sale Times

January has always been the month for white sales. Sheets, pillowcases and towels were marked down to unbelievable prices. The same is now true with appliances and gadgets.If you feel like you need new gear or just over worked your blenders and toaster ovens over the holidays, then treat yourself to new ones this month.

Many stores from Targets to Kohl's are having major sales right now, especially on pots and pans sets. This is the time to buy them, especially with the great discounts happening. Some of the better brands such as LeCreuset can be bought with tremendous sales pricing right now. Kitchen Aid , always a chef's must have is also being offered at good pricing. A crock pot can be had at only twenty bucks and this is a steal at Target  , especially if you're big into slow cooking. Other must haves to pick up are electric griddles, rotisseries and grills. Any of these also make great shower or housewarming gifts too so stock up if you're going to have a few of these to attend.

Frill appliances are also going on sale right now too.If you wanted that cool Soda Stream, the aerator that carbonates regular water , scoop it up. Their  flavors are also being offered at discounts too at againlike stroes at Target and Kohl's.Those mini cake pop ovens  along with donut makers are also being sold at lower pricing too. Buy them now for some fun Valentine's Day baking later on. Keurig Coffee makers are being offered at lower pricing right now at some stores . Definitely take advantage of this if you're a big coffee maker,

January is a big sales month. Take advantage of these discounts if you need any appliance or just want a fun gadget. Pinching pennies is always good, better yet when thy're being saved on kitchen appliances.