Classic Southern Pumpkin Bread Recipe

Pumpkin Bread
Of all the wonderful flavors on which we're able to indulge during Thanksgiving, pumpkin has to be one of the most delicious. It seems that it has become a trend around this holiday to find new and creative ways to infuse anything edible with the great flavor of pumpkin. However, it's nice to sometimes go back to the standards and enjoy those treats that made pumpkin so popular.
The first of these recipes will be for Pumpkin Bread.
Cook Time
Prep time: 25 minutes
Cook time: 1 hour 30 min
Ready in: 1 hour 55 min
Yields: No. of servings depends on the size of the slices.
Ingredients

• 1-1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 2 eggs
• 1-2/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. cloves
• 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp. nutmeg
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
• 1 cup pumpkin, canned or steamed, drained and mashed

How to Prepare

1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray non-stick cooking spray on a 9 x 5 inch loaf pan.
2. Combine the sugar, vegetable oil and eggs into a large mixing bowl and set aside.
3. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cloves, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
4. Add these dry ingredient mixture into the bowl containing the egg, oil, and sugar mixture. Mix until well blended.
5. Combine the pumpkin and chopped nuts into the bowl and mix well.
6. Pour into the greased loaf pan and baked for about an hour and a half or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
7. Let stand for about 5 minutes, then turn it onto a bread rack to cool. Serve and enjoy!

In Conclusion
Pumpkin bread is similar in texture to banana bread and zucchini bread, but is a bit richer with a flavor best suited for cooler weather. It can be enjoyed plain, with some melted butter, or with a light powder sugar based glaze. It works great as a companion to a cup of hot chocolate while sitting by the fireplace.
Some additional ingredients you might enjoy in this recipe are a cup of raisins or chocolate chips, or experiment with other additions and let everyone know in the comments below how they turn out.
Hope you and your family enjoy this delicious treat and have a Happy Thanksgiving!

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Halloween Bundt Cake

Now when Halloween is behind us and the spooky party has finished we can review our menu strategy and announce the party menu winners. Our first stage winner is without a doubt one very popular and easy to bake cake well-known under different names in Germany, Austria, Czech Republic and Slovakia. Usually served with hot coffee or your afternoon tea, in England commonly familiar as a marble cake, a poppy seed ring or a Bundt cake. I would like to share with you my mother's simplified version of this cake. But be aware, there is a challenge!
The base for the Bundt cake is not difficult to prepare, very easy to mix and even easier to finish. The most complicated part of this Halloween version is the decoration. Because we create this masterpiece for very special purposes, the design is a bit more complex to handle. The usual humble version of this cake comes without icing, but not the special Halloween version! We decorate this one with a style to impress our guests and form an edible sweet cake pumpkin. The preparation is a bit unusual too. Instead of one cake, we will bake two. From the spare mixture you can easily bake twelve cupcakes. With these two cakes we are going to build the main base of our cake pumpkin when connected together. Then we will brush a thin layer of apricot jam known as an apricot glaze between them to work as a glue to attach the two parts together. But let's list the ingredients before having a more detailed look at the directions.
Ingredients for the cake base
4 medium eggs
250 g of caster sugar
1 unsalted butter or margarine
350 g plain flour
200 ml milk
10 g baking powder
Ingredients for the decoration
icing sugar
orange icing sugar paste
green icing sugar paste
yellow icing sugar paste
few drops food colouring - optional
Method
First separate egg whites and egg yolks. Whisk the egg whites in a large mixing bowl until soft but not dry. Using the same whisk save on washing, beat the butter in a large bowl until soft. Add icing sugar and 4 yolks. Sift the flour over the mixture and fold in. Add milk and stir the egg whites into the mixture. Mix gently. Divide the mixture into separate bowls 400 g each.
Pour the three-quarters of the butter from one bowl into the prepared well oiled tin. Sift about 25 g of cocoa into the mixture and stir until well blended. Add the cocoa mixture into the tin and level the surface. Take a skewer and swirl it around the mixture in the tin a few times to create a marbled effect. Bake the cake for 45 minutes until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Turn out on a cooling rack and leave to cool. Bake the remaining mixture the same way. If you have any left you can use them for cupcakes.
The cake building
When cooled trim the bottoms of the cakes so they lie flat against each other. Glaze the flat surface of the bottom cake using prepared apricot glaze and place the other cake on top. Glaze the entire cake.
The decoration
While the glaze is drying sprinkle sugar over your working surface and a use a rolling-pin to flatten black icing sugar paste. Decide on what side you want to have a face and using your rolling-pin transfer black icing sugar paste on the cake. Using the same technique prepare the orange icing sugar paste. Cut the eyes, nose and mouth. Again using the rolling-pin transfer the orange icing sugar paste on the black icing sugar paste. Gently with your hands tap the orange icing sugar paste on the cake. You can add extra details to create a more expressive face, or just simply use a Halloween cake topper glued sideways. Another possibility is to design personalised cake topper designs. Finish as you wish and done.

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Mutton or Chicken Biryani - Which One to Prefer in Hyderabad?

Biryani is a part and parcel of many lives in Hyderabad. Almost every localite, irrespective of the caste and religion celebrates with this dish special occasions like weddings, birthdays, parties and even some festivals. It becomes the main dish in their lunch/dinner menu. Till today, for many people in Hyderabad weekend means biryani time! Not just for the local people, Hyderabad's Dum-ka biryani is popular all across the world.
For people outside the city this craze may look mysterious but once they taste the authentic dish, they will surely admire it. But most tourists and people outside the city are always confused whether to eat mutton or chicken biryani.
Since many hotels, restaurants and Irani cafes in the twin cities serve the dish, it is important to choose a good and popular one to have a good experience.
Hyderabadi Chicken Biryani
Chicken is much cheaper than mutton. You can get 1kg of it at around Rs.200 at retail market, whereas mutton costs around Rs.300-350 per kg. Therefore, you get more meat with chicken biryani than mutton biryani. Moreover, many restaurants either do not use good mutton or give only a limited quantity of meat due to its cost. This affects the eating experience. Better to go for chicken dish if you prefer to have more meat.
You can have mutton dish only in a few places, that too during peak hours. Other times it is safer to go for chicken dish. Also, when you are in doubt, it is always better to go for the latter.
Hyderabadi Mutton Biryani
When you cook the dish at home, or having at some other's place, or at a popular restaurant like Paradise, Cafe Bahar, etc., always go for mutton biryani. It is the original and authentic dish from the city.
Meat of the goat in Telangana region is considered as one of the best in the world. The semi arid vegetation of the Deccan plateau with its rolling hills, boulders and volcanic ash is a great place to rear goats. In deltas where land is fertile and no free land exists, goats are not very common.
Chicken is a very late entrant in Hyderabad. It is not uncommon in old time Hyderabadis not to eat it at all or dislike it. It was not part of the regular meats in the city till a couple of decades.
Apart from these two, there are many other varieties of non-vegetarian and vegetarian biryanies today. The creativity of the people invented a number of similar dishes such as fish, prawn, egg and vegetable biryani etc. Mutton and chicken dishes are, however, popular in the city.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8114005

Amazing Facts About Chicken Recipes

Chicken is called the universal meat due to its universal acceptance across the world. For chicken lovers it is the food of life. For cooking a superb chicken dish there are so many recipes available that you cannot simply count them on fingers.
Such easy and versatile is the chicken recipe dish. Everyone off course has different set of favorite flavors which they can try to create amazing chicken recipes at home and thrill their family. It can be grilled, fried, stewed or barbecued. There are many ways in which this dish can be served such as main course dish, or simply added to salads, soups or rice or pasta or pizza. There are plenty of variations which can surely please even a picky eater.
You can surprise your family members every day by trying different scrumptious chicken recipes at home that surely brings in smile on their faces.
It is considered quite healthy among other meat alternatives and is one of the top choices of healthy nutrition. It is one of the leaner meats which is highly rich in protein with no carbohydrates and is low in fat and cholesterol. Even doctors advise pregnant women and people who have obesity and other health related issues to add this nutritious dish in their diet chart. When preparing this dish you actually don't have to sacrifice taste.
The best part about a chicken recipe is that just by altering its couple of ingredients a whole new dish can be prepared easily. Take for example if you have pasta salad ready you can simply add some cubed chicken cubes to it and you are ready with a whole new chicken recipe that will delight your friends.
For beginners who are new to chicken cooking process they should always keep following tips in mind:

• It should never be cooked incompletely and stored that way. This surely promotes the growth of bacteria. To prevent the bacteria growth it's advised to wash uncooked chicken thoroughly before cooking it.
• To prepare quick and easy chicken recipes it's advisable to prepare any seasonings or sauces and vegetables beforehand which saves time.
• Chicken should never look grey or pale in color.
• If it smells a foul odor it indicates it's a spoiled chicken.
• Before using its prior inspection is necessary it should be creamy white or pale yellow.
• Freeze it if you don't plan to cook it immediately.

I hope the readers of this article might really find the tips and suggestions advised here quite fruitful which they can use to prepare hearty and delicious chicken recipes. Eating doesn't only provide you with nutrition but ensures your family's delight as well.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8118400

3 Tips for Green Smoothie Success (For Beginners)

If you just learned about green smoothies, you may be excited to try them out. Green smoothies all the rage these days, and for a good reason: they are super easy to make and super tasty.
However, you still need to know some basic rules to make your smoothies a success. If you don't, you may be disappointed and become discouraged quickly, before they become a part of your life.
So here are my top three tips for green smoothie success (for beginners):
Green Smoothie Success Tip #One: Be Aware of Strong Tasting Greens
First of all, when you're just starting out, don't use really strong tasting ingredients, such as mustard greens, cabbage, Swiss chard, parsley or watercress. Even though these ingredients are super healthy, if you add too much of them to a smoothie, it may become unpalatable, so it's best to avoid them altogether, at least initially. I find that the best ingredients for beginners are baby greens (such as spinach, lettuce, or arugula), celery stalks (see the tip below about the best blenders to buy), and lots of sweet, juicy fruits.
Green Smoothie Success Tip #Two: Buy the Best Blender for Your Green Smoothies That You Can Afford
If you don't have a high power blender, such as Vitamix or Blendtec, you may want to avoid really tough greens and vegetables, such as kale leaves or celery stalks, as your blender may not be able to handle the challenge, and you'll end up with a smoothie with lots of tough chunks. That's definitely not what you want!
Start with baby greens, such as baby spinach, and make sure you blend your greens first with the liquid until very smooth. Another option is to add green powders to your smoothies.
However, if you are really serious about green smoothies, my advice is to invest in a high-end blender. You'll be able to use it for much more than just smoothie making machine; plus, even though it's more expensive, it will last for many more years or heavy use. Think of it as an investment in your health and how much you'll save on doctor's bills.
Green Smoothie Success Tip #Three: Mask the Color with Blueberries
If someone in your home objects to the green color of the smoothie, you may add some blueberries or black berries to mask the color. The resulting color may not be the prettiest, but it will not be green. Or try serving it an opaque glass and serve it with a straw.

Healthy Ways To Cook Chicken

Cooking light is the new way of enjoying food that is good for you, as well as nutritional, without the added fat and calories. The body requires protein to regulate growth and the healthy development of muscles, organs and all other parts of the body. One of the best sources of protein comes from chicken, and finding healthy ways to cook chicken will ensure that the body is provided with much needed protein in a lean form.
Using healthy ways to cook chicken does not have to be boring as there are lots of ways to add flavor and interest to chicken recipes. Removing the skin and trimming all fat from the chicken before using it in a recipe, already reduces the amount of calories by a significant amount. Half a lean chicken breast contains only 182 calories and 4 grams of fat, of which only 1,1 g is saturated fat.
Below are some healthy ways to cook chicken using five main techniques:
STIR FRYING
Stir frying is a fast and easy, as well as healthy way to cook lean chicken.
Chicken Teriyaki
1 Chicken Breast - cut into ½" wide strips
1 Tablespoon Canola Oil
½ Cup Carrots
1 Cup Broccoli florettes
3 Tablespoons low sodium Teriyake Sauce
1 Cup Cooked Brown Rice
Stir fry the chicken strips lightly in the canola oil for two minutes. Add the carrots and broccoli and continue to fry for a further two minutes. Add the Teriyaki sauce and serve over cooked brown rice.
BOILING
Boiling chicken will dissolve any excess fat and eliminates the need for any additional oil or fat to cook the chicken. The cooked chicken can be added to stir fried dishes after the vegetables have been cooked in a small amount of water for a completely fat free meal.
Boil the chicken for a few minutes until it there is no pink left in the center. Add chicken stock or fragrant herbs to the cooking water to enhance the flavor. When done, the chicken can be used in healthy salads, added to hot or cold soup, or used in delicious sandwich fillings for a quick healthy meal.
BROILING
Pre-heat a broiler or set the oven on broil. Coat chicken breasts lightly with canola oil and broil for 5 minutes. Turn over for another 5 minutes of cooking. Remove and baste with a marinade of your choice. A healthy way is to use apricot preserve with a dash of hot sauce added. Return to chicken to the broiler for another 2 minutes, or until done.
GRILLING
Grilling chicken on a gas or charcoal grill under direct heat is one of the healthy ways to cook chicken. Lightly coat the chicken with canola oil to prevent it sticking to the grill. Sprinkle spices or herbs on the chicken and grill on both sides until done.
Alternatively a lemon marinade can be used to marinade the chicken before grilling. Serve with a healthy salad.
For the marinade, mix 1/3 cup of lemon juice, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 teaspoon oregano, ½ teaspoon chopped garlic, and pepper to taste.
ROASTING
Remove any excess fat from the cavity of the bird. Rub inside and outside with olive oil and sprinkle with rosemary. Roast in the oven at 400 degrees for 45 minutes. At this stage you can add vegetables to the pan and continue cooking until the vegetables are done. Remove the chicken and vegetables and pour off any fat left in the pan, add a splash of white wine or wine vinegar to the pan juices and serve.
The variations of healthy ways to cook chicken are limited only by your imagination. So be adventurous with your techniques and serve healthy, light chicken dishes on any day of the week.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8122107