Often we all feel like sitting in the garden and cooking delicious food for our partners in the bonfire. Not many of us got to avail that opportunity before the birth of fire pits I am sure, but now that bonfires are often replaced by permanent and far more convenient fire pits, cooking on fire pits can certainly be an experience to recall for the whole family and definitely worth a try on a holiday! Fire pit cooking is sure to become more and more popular as people realize how much fun and delightful an experience it can be…

Some fire pits are equipped to cook whereas others are possibly not. While designing or buying a fire pit, this off course has to be kept in mind. If spending just a few dollars more gives you the opportunity to cook on your fire pit then it surely is worth it. Isn’t it? Fire pit cooking is an experience in itself. You got to try to believe it! Though it might not be as adventurous and natural as bonfire cooking or the barbeque, but it is far more newer and advanced that too with adequate safety measures while retaining a good amount of thrill. So on your next holiday, cook on the fire pit for your wife!

Christmas recipe makes: 16 slices

calories per serving: 210

preparation time: 20 minutes

cooking time: 60 minutes

suitable for freezing

Christmas recipe ingredients:

* oil

* dates, stoned 125 g (4 oz)

* stem ginger, in syrup 50 g (2 oz)

* bicarbonate of soda, 2.5 ml (half tsp)

* milk, 50 ml (2 fl oz)

* butter, 125 g (4 oz)

* sugar, soft brown 125 g (4 oz)

* eggs, 2

* syrup, golden 150 g (5 oz)

* treacle, black 150 g (5 oz)

* flour, plain 225 g (8 oz)

* ginger, ground 7.5 ml (1.5 tsp)

* salt

Christmas recipe instructions:

1. Take a square 9 inch cake tin, grease and line with non-stick
baking paper. Mix the bicarbonate of soda with the milk and chop
the stem ginger and dates into rough pieces.

2. Blend together the sugar and butter, then add the beaten
eggs. Stir in the stem ginger, dates, milk, treacle and syrup.

3. Blend in a pinch of salt the ground ginger and the sifted
flour. Place into the cake tin and bake at gas mark 2 (150
degrees centigrade, 300 F) for about 60 minutes. Another test is
to put a skewer into the mixture and it should come out clean.
After baking leave the cake in the tin for 1 hour, then remove
fron the tin and place on a wire rack.

4. Wrap in greaseproof paper when cool.

Mexico brings to our mind nachos, the sombrero, the Spanish guitar and who could forget the hot favorite (well literally), Jalapeno? The Jalapeno pepper hot sauce has quite conquered borders with its blasted taste and lingering feeling. The Jalapeno chilli pepper can be both a luscious green and a bloody red, with the latter being a much milder variety and the Jalapeno pepper hot sauce is an accompaniment to many a snack.

The Jalapeno chilli is actually a pepper holding close relations to the capsicum. However, in comparison to other chilli peppers an amazing thing is discovered, its heat level varies according to its growth and preparation procedure. The name Jalapeno itself comes from the city Xalapa in Veracruz, which is the traditional home turf of these chillies. Apart from this place many other regions in Mexico too are dedicated for this purpose.

Go for a Jalapeno hot sauce if you are the one for tangy, acidic sensation swirling your taste buds. It is prized for the hot, burning sensation that it produces in the mouth when eaten. It is actually a cultivar of the species Capsicum annuum. The distinctive difference between a Jalapeno Hot Sauce and other hot sauces, well, yes, you have guessed it, is Jalapeno.

Only a few amongst those who are fond of the Jalapeno pepper hot sauce are aware of the source of the hot flavor of this sauce. Though there are conflicts in views, most people have the same opinion that the heat is generated, due to capsaicin and related compounds. These are caused by the seeds and veins and if they are removed, the heat vanishes too.

In comparison with other chile peppers, the jalapeno has a heat level that varies from mild to hot depending on how it was grown and how it was prepared. Most sources agree that the heat, due to capsaicin and related compounds, is concentrated in the seeds and the veins - i.e., deseeding and deveining can considerably reduce the heat imparted to a Jalapeno hot sauce. The Jalapeno sauces rate between 2500 and 8000 Scoville units in heat and have a characteristic acidic taste.

Jalapeno pepper is the most widely taken chili pepper in USA. Sauces made from the Jalapeno pepper bear the unique flavor of Mexico. The different ingredients used in the sauce make it tangy and lip smacking. For instance, the “Mad Dog Green Amigo Hot Sauce” is blended with fresh squeezed limejuice, garlic and sweet onions, which is just perfect for dipping the chicken wings. Whereas the “Pure Jalapeno” sauce is just a basic Jalapeno extract blended perfectly with salt and sugar. These are best for marinating the pork.

Jalapeno Pepper Hot Sauce is undoubtedly the best culinary addition to chicken, fish or steak.

Chris McCarthy is the owner of InsaneChicken.com. InsaneChicken sells hot sauces, bbq sauces, bbq rubs and salsa’a from around the world. Visit their web site at http://www.InsaneChicken.com

Decaffeination and tea is a subject that has long been misunderstood not only by consumers but also by industry professionals. I was taken by surprise when I recently read an excerpt from a newly released book, written by highly recognized tea industry professionals, that was clearly inaccurate when it came to the topic of decaffeination processing and tea.

I began questioning my own information on decaf processing and decided the best thing to do was to verify what I believed to be true. I decided to talk with the definitive authority on the subject, Joe Simrany, President of the Tea Association of the USA, Inc (TAUS).

I soon was relieved to learn that my critical information was indeed correct although some of the details need fixing. So here is what I learned. Unlike what I thought, decaffeination processing is not regulated by the FDA and adhering to industry standards is completely voluntary. The FDA does not have its own set of guidelines but relies on the expertise of the Tea Association Technical Committee (TATC) for the best practices. There is no sanction, legal or otherwise, for non-compliance. So what happens if a group is distributing “decaffeinated tea” that does not meet the standard? The first line of defense is the TAUS, who would attempt to correct the issue diplomatically. If that was unsuccessful the FDA would be notified and would follow up to see that the necessary changes to processing were made. So what do those guidelines consist of?

The Guidelines

Teas labeled Decaffeinated will contain no more than 0.4% caffeine on a dry weight basis.

Caffeine Free Tea is an inappropriate labeling term for any tea regardless of the degree of decaffeination processing.

There are currently only 2 methods approved for decaffeinating tea leaves, solvent extraction using ethyl acetate and carbon dioxide in the supercritical state. Both are selective for extraction and create no toxicity hazard.

Carbon dioxide is considered the better of the two, keeping more of the benefits and flavor intact.

The Facts

Decaffeinated teas have between 1/3 and 2/3 fewer beneficial components than regular, non-decaffeinated teas.

Both ethyl acetate and carbon dioxide are considered, and subsequently labeled, “natural”, because trace amounts of both components exist in the tea leaf, a fine line for many of us who rely on natural to mean exactly that.

“Water process”, aka Swiss Water Process, Natural Water Process etc, sometimes used on packaging, is not recognized by the industry as being anymore effective than pouring off the first brew at home.

Decaffeinating at home by the “water process” would be done by infusing the tea leaves for 30 seconds and pouring off that infusion. Then steep as you normally would. While this does eliminate caffeine it is difficult to be sure just how much caffeine is still present and likewise how much health benefits.

Tea bags will deliver more caffeine in your cup than loose teas because they infuse more quickly.

The amount of tea leaves used, brewing time and water temperature help determine the caffeine content in your cup.

Cultivation, environmental factors, region and growing conditions, while out of your control, do affect the caffeine content in your cup.

The only time coffee has less caffeine then tea is prior to brewing, 1 pound of tea yields 200 cups vs. 1 pound of coffee which yields 40-50 cups.

The ONLY government approved decaffeination processing is ethyl acetate and carbon dioxide. Methylene chloride is NOT a guideline or government approved processing method in the United States.

While we have a limited selection of decaffeinated teas, we guarantee all of the decaffeinated teas sold by Teas Etc. Inc. are processed using carbon dioxide

In summation, with the growing public interest in issues surrounding health and food, accurate labeling is likely to become a major issue in the future. Be a wise consumer. Beware of slick marketing and misleading information. Most importantly drink good, quality tea everyday.

© 2006 Teas Etc., Inc

Beth Johnston, owner of Teas Etc., is a noted tea expert, importer and tea enthusiast. To learn more about life style enhancement, health benefits and the ease of brewing loose leaf teas, sign up for our monthly newsletter at www.TeasEtc.com/newsletter.asp or visit www.TeasEtc.com.

French food is back with a vengeance. French cuisine has evolved into a less pretentious version of its older self. The new French cuisine, or Nouvelle Cuisine, is more accessible and comes in many varieties, including bistro food, brasserie style and the ultimate in luxury food, haute cuisine.

French cuisine is fresh and creative, and a lot more simple than it was in the past. French cuisine is often experimental, but the of the food continues to skyrocket. Basically, the French have gone back to their regional roots and brought a modern version of traditional French cooking. Unlike the sophisticated plates of the past, French food now fits into the public’s desire for “real food”. But real food is not just about traditional mum’s-cooking type of dishes. People want traditional foods and flavors with a distinct contemporary feel. People want the old packaged and presented in a new way. The new French cuisine is exactly this.

Frog’s legs are still being served in abundance, but the new French cuisine is also influenced by what is going on outside of France. French food is now transformed by influences from the South American, Asian, Italian and American cuisines. Chefs creating the new French cuisine are incorporating ideas picked up from their travels around the world. These days chefs are knowledgeable of the characteristics of cuisines around the world and can use elements of various cultures in creating their own new cuisine.

The result? The new French cuisine is creative and classical. The new French cuisine is both traditional and contemporary.

Dylan Miles, journalist, and website builder, lives in Texas. He is the owner and co-editor of http://www.foodgarden.info on which you will find a longer, more detailed version of this article.

Here is a sure holiday crowd pleasing recipe. This recipe makes
about 2 dozen cookies, but you can double it. Use a gingerbread
cookie man cookie-cutter.

6 cups all-purpose flour, plus more to cover work area 1
teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1 cup (2 sticks)
unsalted butter 1 cup packaged dark brown sugar 4 teaspoons
ground ginger 4 teaspoons ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon ground
pepper 1 1/2 teaspoons salt 2 large eggs 1 cup molasses

Sift together flour, baking soda and baking powder into a large
bowl. Set aside.

Put butter and brown sugar in a bowl and mix on medium speed
until fluffy. Mix in spices and salt, then eggs and molasses.

Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture; mix until dough is
combined.

Divide into thirds and refrigerate until cold, about one hour.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roll out dough on a lightly floured
work area about 1/4 inch thick. Cut with a cookie cutter, and
space 2 inches apart on baking sheets.

Bake cookies until crisp but not dark, 12 to 14 minutes. Let
cool on sheets on wire racks.

To decorate gingerbread cookies, mix a few tablespoons of
powdered sugar with a few drops of cool water, until consistency
is right for painting faces and buttons on the little guys or
gals.

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With Mother’s Day around the corner, are you at a complete loss
for an idea for the perfect Mother’s Day gift? Yes, Mother’s Day
is the second Sunday in May, and with a little planning you can
find a gift for mom that can be a help for her in the kitchen.
Along with the Mother’s day flowers and Mother’s Day card, why
not order a unique gift idea that she would use and appreciate
all year long?

Perhaps you are wondering what to buy your mother for her
birthday? Your search will definitely end at Cruets.com. We have
numerous gourmet gift items and imported condiments that have
won gourmet awards at fancy food shows and exhibitions.

One great gift idea is the specialty hand blown glass, oil and
vinegar cruet. As dual cruets for olive oil and aged balsamic
vinegar, our glass-within-glass cruets offer an innovative way
to store both oil and vinegar in the same decanter. Each oil and
vinegar cruet is a vessel within a vessel, and has two spouts,
one to pour olive oil and the other to serve vinegar. The grape
cluster cruet is by far our most popular design, one easy to add
to any kitchen décor. These items are custom made in Europe by
glass master artisans, from durable technical grade glass,
perfect for cooking and food serving.

Another gift idea we offer will free your mother from toiling in
the kitchen to make a simple mashed potatoes dish. Instead of
mom working diligently with a wire potato masher to achieve the
smooth consistency devoid of any lumps, you can give her our new
Ergonomic potato masher that is easy on her hands and wrist. The
ergonomic potato masher is truly a unique gourmet gift. Garlic
mashed potatoes will take on a new meaning in mom’s kitchen,
with half the effort to make them.

Ergonomically designed, this potato masher is easily the best
Mother’s day or birthday gift idea you will find that is both
practical and useful. Buy it for her as a thank you for all her
efforts. This potato masher requires only half the energy as
compared to conventional mashers. It has a rotating mechanism
that will mash potatoes easily and without much effort. This new
technique ensures a consistent paste of mashed potatoes and
hence a flawlessly delicious dish. Mom’s work will go
effortlessly with this latest kitchen product.

This simple and inexpensive culinary tool is made from food
grade plastic and is safe for the dishwasher.

Wish your mother or wife a very happy birthday, or Happy
Mother’s Day, with unique gift ideas from www.cruets.com You can
purchase online, and send by mail, these unique gifts are sure
to acquire a place of pride in any gourmet kitchen.

‘Viagra’ had become a hero much earlier than its launch. Thanks to the media and its makers. Viagra had been publicized as that one magic wand which could improve a man’s sexual health caused because of his impotency or to say according to the medical term prevalent–erectile dysfunction. Every where people could be heard talking about the so called forthcoming magical effects of Viagra much earlier than its launch itself, scattered discussions on Viagra news, countless Viagra jokes and what not!

But have you ever thought that how did Viagra get its much publicized name’VIAGRA?’ Whose brain child this brand name was? There had been continuous speculation since then. Was it named as Viagra because of its proximity to the word ‘Vigor’ meaning strength? Many even guessed that may be it was named as ‘Viagra’ because of its close phonetic sonance to the famous waterfall ‘Niagara’ epitomizing flow, power and grandeur.

The reality is the reason of naming this anti -impotence drug ‘Viagra’ is much more banal or uneventful.

The name ‘Viagra’ was finalized because of its being inoffensive in nature. This word was not in use in English or for that matter in any other foreign language to convey a particular meaning and that is why it was such that it could not cause any embarrassment or confusion to any body for the purpose that it was made for.

Definitely, the credit for publicizing this much famous name ‘Viagra’ goes to the official makers of this drug. It is a well known fact that just as mostly all the pharmaceutical companies work in consultation with their researchers and consultants similarly the makers of Viagra also work in close coordination with their consultants who work on the potential drug names and later trademark them. Later these names are stored in the trademark drug names databank. When a new drug needs a brand name then all the drug names are considered as a potential candidate for the branding of the new drug.

Every new drug name has to satisfy a long list of criteria. For e.g. it has to be simple so that people find it easy to pronounce, it should be simple enough to be memorized by the people and most importantly it should not bear any particular or unusual meaning in any language. After this the name goes to a series of linguistic screens to check that it does not carry any special meaning in any of the foreign languages and legal as well as trademark screens to check that nobody else is using that particular name. Similarly the researchers of the official makers of Viagra also tested the potential name ‘Viagra’ in different patterns to check that it does not have any unusual meaning and is not used by anybody else in the world.

So this is how the sojourn of Viagra started in the year 1998 with its launch and ever since then Viagra has never looked back and is persistently proceeding on its journey of fame as one of the first oral pill for men to treat erectile dysfunction.
The author is an amateur writer focusing primarily on health related topics or on the health related research findings. For more information on Viagra visit http://www.buy-viagra-with-us.com. For any feedback contact her at tracy.whitney@gmail.com