Thursday, March 23, 2023
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Tasty Protein-Packed Meals to Keep You Full

By
Justin Ankus
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When it comes to protein, the very first thing you will think of is chicken, or if you give it a long shot, maybe you will think about salmon or fish. On the contrary, the only thing that will keep you full for a long time is carb-based food. So, you need to find a common ground. As a passionate cook, I might not be a very good dietician, but I know a thing or two about making flavorful meals that will keep you full. Most people with full-time desk jobs struggle with mundane work so the mind automatically wanders around making them feel hungry all the time. This is where you need to find a good hearty meal that will keep you full regardless of the time duration.

Most of the recipes that I have personally tried for a protein-packed meal all have a base of grilled chicken. Most of the recipes I tried to explore from other sources had one thing in common and that was grilled chicken. However, there are only so many grilled chicken recipes that you try. If you are also bored with the same boring grilled chicken recipes as a protein-packed meal, you need to continue reading.

We have assembled some of the most fun and unexpected protein-packed meals that will keep you full for the whole day. These meals are not just boring salads but full meals that you can enjoy during lunch, dinner, bring along to your office for the break, or just munch as you work.

1- Avocado Egg Salad

The most basic recipe and yet so flavorful and tasty that you will not be able to hold yourself back. If you are having a party at home or you fancy some tea and sandwich picnic with friends, this will be a party winner. For the classic egg salad recipe, you can add some hard boiled egg and mash it properly, then you need to add chopped celery, some herbs of your choice, lemon juice mayo, and mustard. Specifically like some dill, coriander, and mint for an enhanced flavor. You can also add some shredded chicken pieces. Now, the twist is to add some guacamole and if you do not have that, just add some avocado chopped.

Serving Style

The best thing about this recipe is that you can either eat as is with a spoon or you can toast some bread till it’s brown and a little crispy. Then smoother a generous amount of avocado egg salad and dig in. This recipe is a classic but it can surprise you based on the sauces you add and the vegetable combination you try, feel free to add your favorite protein source or some grilled vegetables if you like.

2- Quinoa Burrito Bowls

Another life-changing recipe that has so much potential to surprise you. This is a basic Quinoa Burrito Bowl, which you can order according to your taste. You can start with the basic Quinoa as the base and then start topping it with all the fun vet gables and protein sources you like. This is a literal Mexican party in a bowl that will make you fall in love with tacos and burritos all over again.

To start, get your vegetables chopped and drench them in a generous amount of lemon juice and olive oil. Now add paprika, salt, and black pepper based on taste. Let it sit for as long as you want, some people like to keep it in the fridge so they can add it to salad whenever they want. Now, you need a protein base so, get some kidney beans, chickpeas, corn, and any check of your choice. After that, you need some salsa to enhance the flavor. My favorite is the tangy, mango salsa with a generous amount of tomato and some black olives.

Serving Style

Once everything is done, my superior ingredients are the tortilla chips that will offer a crunchy texture layered with some velvety salsa and olive oil-soaked vegetables. Just mix all these things up and sprinkle some tortilla chips and it is ready to be served.

3- Chicken Burrito Bowls

If you do not like quinoa and you like to go all the way, you will need some rice-cooking skills. If you do not know how to cook rice, a rice cooker will work fine as well. For the base, we will take a generous amount of cooked rice. However, for the added vegetables and protein, the sky’s the limit.

For the recipe let’s start by cooking the rice. In a rice cooker, you need to add rice, water, some salt to taste, some oil to keep the rice a little glossy, and one tablespoon of lime juice. Run the cooker and let the rice cook.

While rice is cooking you need to prepare the bean topping. In a bowl, you need to mix one tablespoon of olive oil along with chopped onion, chilies, black bean, some sun dried tomato water, and taco seasoning. After mixing it up, add some sheared chicken, and then finally mix any dressing of your choice. This will work as the main topping. For enhanced flavor, you can keep it aside for at least one hour so the beans, chicken, and vegetables get to absorb all the flavors and tangy goodness.

Serving Style

Finally, it’s time for the side topping that you can increase or decrease according to taste. Some of the options that you should consider can include avocado chopped or just guacamole, some sour cream, cheese, lettuce, and potato wedges. My personal favorites are some air-fried potato wedges with sour cream but most people avoid the potatoes altogether. No matter what your choice may be, one thing is for certain, this bowl will become your favorite in no time.

Wrap Up

Most of the time healthy meals are confused with boring meals that you will find hard to swallow and even worse, you might feel like they are too dry or just not flavorful enough. A good way to customize your bowl is to know about the flavors you really like and then try mixing them up. This will help you get different flavors all the time and finally get to a recipe that you will fall in love with.

 

 

 

Best Ways to Spice up Your Boring Salad Recipe

By
Justin Ankus
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Salads are healthy and no matter what your health issue might be, a good protein-packed salad can fix up everything. However, most people complain that they do not enjoy salad too much. Blame it on the dry recipe, not too much seasoning, not the right choice, or maybe you have been eating the same salad over and over. No matter what your issue might be, the right recipe, good variations, and some fun spices can solve everything.

As a beginner, you will come across salads that look good on installation, all the colorful salads with mixed chopped vegetables and some creamy sauce. However, there is no way you can predict if a salad will suit your palate. This is where layering and variations come in. with the right combination and the right method of laying, you will get a salad that is rich in texture, flavorful, and aesthetically pleasing as well. The only focus should be on adding variations and texture.

The process of laying seems fun but when you are on a diet and you need to make sure that calorie count doesn’t exceed a certain level, there is so much you can do. This is where you can get creative and experiment to know about your flavors. Also, not every salad dressing needs to have oil or butter, so you can easily cut the calories by replacing it with something light.

Here are some of the best and simplest ways to make your salad that will make it more flavorful.

Start With Some Base Vegetables

We know greens should be added to the salad but are you sticking to your greens or is there room for some colors as well? A very good way to add a pop of color and some extra flavors is to mix up vegetables. Start with the basic greens like cucumber, add some celery leaves but do not forget to add onions and tomatoes as well. If you want to enhance the flavor just toss them in an oven for a few minutes with some spices of your choice and a dash of oil. The roasted vegetables will have a much sweeter flavor with a hint of spice and crispy skin that will be much more enjoyable.

Turn Vegetables into Dressing

For most people, this might sound weird but hear me out. We all love a bit of mixed vegetable dip and what better way to enjoy your salad than with some roasted tomato puree for the flavor? In case you do not want to just rely on the tomatoes, you can add carrots along with some lemon juice and chickpeas as well. Just a blend and this will turn into a creamy paste that you can add to your salad. This will turn your salad into a creamy hummus-dripping goodness.

Take Inspiration from Traditional Foods

Global cuisines are so vast, full of flavors, and celebrate variations. If you are into traditional food, you will know that most countries have their salad styles, the Lebanese salad has a sweet tangy pomegranate syrup that is added to the food, whereas Arabian people like to add some roasted peat bread for the crunch. If you move to the south Indian side you will see a lot of salad variations where yogurt mixed with herbs is used as a salad dressing. Also, you will see a potato and onion mixture as well. China, Korea, and other countries add pickled vegetables marinated in spices and chop them to add them to the salad. All these things collectively will help you add a lot of flavors.

Add Some Crunch

Dry fruits are great crunchy options and most people love to add peanuts and almonds. However, if you have a nut allergy or nuts are not available, you can also add roasted chickpeas, some roasted bread cubes, or even pita bread. However, if you roast the vegetables with a bit of oil, the upper crunchy skin also helps in layering the flavors and balanced out the soft interiors with some crispy and crunchy outside.

Know Your Proteins

If you are missing the proteins or using the same old boiled chicken, you are definitely missing out on the flavors. The key is to roast the chicken with some good barbeque price mix. You can marinate it with lemon juice, spice, and a bit of yogurt, and then keep it for a few minutes. Then grill it up and cut it down into small pieces. This will be a great protein source and this will add flavor as well. If you are vegan or do not like chicken, just add chickpeas and kidney beans. Some people like to add corn as well. Just trust the process and know that the more things you add, the better the taste will be. Some people also like to add boiled egg which is another very good and cheap protein source.

Don’t Just Stick To Veggies

Most people think that salad is all about vegetables. However, your goal should be to look at flavors rather than just vegetables. Fruits are exceptionally flavorful and if you do not like to add fruit chicken you can still add fruit juice mixed with lemon for the dressing. The usually sweet and citrusy orange juice can be poured on the salad as a dressing. Also, you can experiment a little with seasonal fruits, like popular mango salsa is a great example.

Keep It for A Few Minutes

Tossing the salad doesn’t mean you are done and it is ready to eat. After you are done with the salad, keep it in a dry and cool place for at least 1 hour. The vegetables will soak up the juices and the leaves will be smothered in all the dressing so every time you take a bite you will get the right crunch and a flavorful burst.

Bottom Line

Salads can be anything you want but never allow your salad to be boring. With the right layering, a good choice of spices, and some creamy dressing, you can even turn a boring choppy salad into a flavor bomb.

 

 

Best Breakfast on the Go Recipes for Winter Mornings

By
Justin Ankus
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On winter mornings when you are all rolled up under your warm blanket, waking up for work might seem like the death penalty. However, if you imagine a cozy, warm breakfast with a hot cup of coffee or hot chocolate, everything starts feeling better. The biggest twist in this whole scenario is that getting out of bed and then preparing breakfast is one of the most difficult tasks. No one wants to get out of bed and then stand in front of a stove to prepare breakfast. In fact, most of us would put everything in jeopardy just to have a few more minutes tucked in a blanket. When stuck in a situation like that, the simplest yet most effective motivation is to look for a breakfast that is easy to make yet flavorful and warm. Combining all these things might seem like a difficult task but if you like experimenting with food, you can easily mix things up to prepare breakfast in no time.

While most people know what to do with breakfast, some of us are either too lazy to come up with ideas or we are not sure what would taste good. Although it is better to know what you like to eat or what you are craving at the moment you need something more than a basic breakfast. Perfect for the lazy yet cozy morning, here are some of the simplest suggestions. These breakfasts are extremely fun to prepare, easy and you do not have to stand in the kitchen. You can prepare them as you get ready for work or just heat them for a quick bite.

Banana Oatmeal Bread

Now hear me out, I know I promised an easy-to-follow recipe and banana bread might seem like a recipe that requires more than five minutes, but this recipe will be life-changing. It takes less than three minutes to prepare and you do not have to stand and wait. For this recipe just get your favorite mug and add two tablespoons of oat, one egg, a dash of milk, and a mashed banana. For some enhanced flavor you can also add a pinch of powdered cinnamon, a few drops of villa essence, and one teaspoon of chocolate. Mix it all up and just bake it in the microwave for three minutes. Once you see the upper layer of the oats getting a little tan and crispy, get it out. You can drizzle some honey on top or you can also top it with some whipped cream. Some people also like to add fruit of their choice, if you want to add fruit, I would recommend the strawberry and blueberry, however, and you can add whatever you like.

Egg Quiche

Another fun mug recipe but this time it is a little savory addition. For this recipe just chop up vegetables of your choice. I prefer some onions, tomato, parsley, coriander, green onion, and bell pepper. You can either add all these vegetables or select the one you like. For better taste, I would recommend using at least three vegetables. For some extra protein, you can add chicken or some diced sausage and add an egg. Whisk the egg well, then add a dash of milk, salt, pepper, or any other seasoning of your choice. Then in a mug or small bowl, add diced bread and pour the egg mixture on top. Now you can either add shredded cheese or skip this part completely. Bake this mixture for three minutes and then get it out. This is one of the simplest yet most fun breakfasts and the best thing about this breakfast is that it is oil-free and you do not have to do a lot of work. You can also chop up all the vegetables and freeze them so you can make them anytime you want.

Crispy Toast Savory Style

If you want a basic toast recipe, a very fun variation to try is avocado toast. For this toast, you can mash up some avocado and then add some spices of your choice. Once everything is mixed this will serve as your base. Meanwhile, toast the bread till it is crispy golden brown. Now, layer a generous amount of avocado mash on top of the bread and spread it evenly. For the protein, you can either choose egg or beacon. If you are decisive, you can add both. For the egg most people will go with a runny yolk, sunny side up egg style but if you do not want to cook, you can poach the egg in the microwave.

For the poached egg, you need a mug, fill it up with water and break your egg in the mug. The ratio of egg to water should be 1:3, so the egg doesn’t end up soaking in too much heat. In case the egg soaks up too much heat, it might burst, so it is very important to maintain a good water-to-egg ratio. For poaching, the egg just microwaves the cup for three minutes and you will get a perfectly fluffy egg with a runny yolk. Now just put this egg on the bread and dig in.

Crispy Toast Sweet Style

Very simple yet very cozy, this recipe will remind you of your Christmas childhood. For this recipe, toast your bread and let it change color. Now add some simple butter to get the umami flavor. Now, it’s time to spread some peanut butter, then some sliced banana, and a drizzle of honey. You can also add chocolate chips if you like. This is one of the simplest yet most flavorful bread recipes.

Italian Toast

This toast is the simplest and easiest but it tastes like Italian summer. Flavorful, warm, and simple, you will fall in love with the recipe because it is that simple. For this toast, you need to just toast the bread till it is golden brown and crispy. Now add two thin slices of fresh tomato, and sprinkle some salt and pepper. Finally, you can add some mozzarella cheese. If you do not like mozzarella, you can add any other cheese of your choice. Finally, bake it in an air fryer or a bread oven for just two minutes. Now drizzle some balsamic vinegar and enjoy it piping hot.

Bottom Line

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so you need to make sure the food you choose is simple, and easy to make but rich in nutrients. These recipes are not only tasty but they will not take more than 5 minutes to prepare.

 

4 Healthy Recipes You Can Cook In 5 Minutes Or Less

By
Justin Ankus
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Most of us have full-time jobs which just limit our capacity to cook fresh food every day. Within the corporate world, the schedule is so tight that you have to juggle multiple roles while taking care of your health as well as your home. Imagine waking up every day just to have enough time to get ready to catch the bus on time and then coming fully drained and tired at home to have enough time to eat food and go to sleep. In this situation, there is no time to cook fresh food and most people opt for microwavable meals, and frozen food items, and take them always.

However, what if I tell you, you can make your fresh and healthy food from scratch without getting tired or doing too much? This might seem like a difficult task but with the right ingredients at hand and the right technique, you can not only make good meals in a few minutes with minimal effort but you can also make a full meal for the rest of the week so you do not have to worry about eating oily, spicy and soggy takeaways.

If you are thinking that an easy and healthy recipe in just five minutes is too good to be true, just trust the process and you will know how easily you can make a good meal. For all the newbies and young adults with no cooking experience trying to skip this, all these recipes are beginners friendly.

Yogurt Salad And Pita

This is one of the simplest yet most effective recipes. This recipe is so simple and tasty that even a beginner-level cook can make this with no prior experience. You just need a bowl to add yogurt and then add the seasoning of your choice. Most people like to add salt, black better, and some sugar but it is much better to add some cumin seeds and a mix of paprika, salt, and a lot of herbs. Now add in your favorite chopped vegetables and mix them all well. Make sure the yogurt is a little thick and cold before serving. Some people like eating this salad alone while others like some bread as well. You can easily spread some oil on the pita and roast it in the air fryer. Also, butter up some bread and toast it till it’s golden brown. This yogurt recipe is a traditional recipe that is consumed in a huge part of India where they either eat it with pita or spread it on toasted bread just like the jam. It works both ways and it is super delicious.

Grilled chicken salad

This is one of the best salad recipes, it’s easy to make and there are so many variations. You can layer up the texture to add more flavors, or just simply toast the vegetables according to taste. From changing the vegetables to making different styles of dressings, the sky’s the limit. For grilled chicken, you will add salt, paprika, oregano, and some yogurt. Keep it in the fridge for a few hours and then air fry it for 20 minutes. Now start chopping your vegetables and layer them up. You can add as many or as few vegetables as possible. Some of the most recommended vegetables include celery, salad leaves, tomato, onion, cucumber, radish, carrot, mint, coriander, and cilantro. Some people also like to add fresh fruits like mango and pineapple for a better taste. Now mix it all up and add the dressing of your choice.

If you are running out of time you can add a mix of peanut butter, lemon juice, olive oil, salt pepper, and her of your choice.

Another fun dressing is the hummus dressing with some extra prices and lemon juice, garlic, and some sesame seed paste.

If you want to make the vegetable dressing you can try basic avocado guac or some humus mix. No matter what you choose, just make sure to mix it all up so salad gets smothered in the dressing.

Chicken tortilla roll

This is a protein-packed burrito that you are never going to forget. For this recipe, get a full-size tortilla and add a mix of one teaspoon of mayo, one teaspoon of yogurt, and one teaspoon of ketchup. Add a pinch of salad and paprika as well. Now leather it all over the tortilla and add the protein of your choice. Some people like to add grilled chicken, others like to add salmon and smoked beef, and it’s all about the choice. Finally, add one half-boiled egg and some salsa. Wrap it all up and either eat it cold or heat it in an air fryer for at least 5 minutes. Perfect for dinner, lunch, or lazy picnics.

Lazy Taco

My personal favorite is lazy tacos. If you do not want to do anything but still want something flavorful and tasty, this will be best for you. For this recipe, you have to chop up basic vegetables that you would like in a salad. In case chopping is not your thing, just run a lighter blender or get a slam chop. Throw in a half an onion, one small size tomato, some green chili, cilantro, and lemon juice. You will get a very basic chop salad that will work as the base. Some people like to throw in boiled potato and seasonal fruit as well, but it all comes down to the way you like your food. Then get the tortilla and add this salad base on the tortilla, add one teaspoon of your favorite sauce and some grilled chicken. This recipe is a winner during the summer tea breaks with friends as well.

Bottom Line

To sum it all up, a good recipe doesn’t require too much effort, you just need to know what you like to eat. Some people make the base food for the whole week and then add variations on the go. If you choose to use these recipes, you can keep the grilled chicken, some bread, and chopped vegetables in the fridge at all times so the preparation time can be reduced to a minimum.

2 Power Bowl Recipes to Try On Lazy Sundays

By
Justin Ankus
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Something about a lazy Sunday screams a fresh colorful one-pot meal filled with everything you love. I don’t know about other people but on some weekends I do not want to eat too much so I opt for one meal. On these meal kinds’ days, there is no better way to mix up things and enjoy a bit of everything than a powerful one. Literally, a power bowl has no hard and fast rule. You can throw in things you like, mix it all up and customize the flavors by adding spices or just leave it plain. Some people go all in, mixing the meat, protein, and some colorful vegetables while others try to keep it simple. There is no limitation in topping and flavors. One thing is clear, as long as you are enjoying it and it has everything you like, it is a clear winner.

Usually, power bowels are seen as a long-lost cuisine or burrito bowl but minus the Mexican seasoning and salsa. You get to choose a base like rice, quinoa, grain, millet, barley, oat, or any carb base. Then you add some vegetables of your choice preferably vegetables that do not require cooking for hours. In case you are wondering about the possible variations and the vegetables you can choose, you can add just about anything, however, the starchy food items are a big no-no. After the base and vegetables you then have to figure out a protein source. This cannot just be limited to chicken, fish, meat, or pork or you can get to the other protein sources based on your taste. Finlay, you will add the sauce of your choice based on preference and you are ready for the power bowl.

Although there are so many different variations in power bowls and there are no limitations, I have listed down some of my personal favorites that I have been enjoying these days. Also, you can change the recipe based on the seasons and the seasonal vegetables that you like to have.

Pulled Beef Power Bowl

This power bowl is a little difficult for someone who has never made pulled beef before. However, protein is the only difficult part but the flavor is so worth it that you will forget about all the other options.

Protein Recipe

For the pulled beef you need to marinate the beef chunk in your favorite source. I like salt, better, some basic BBQ seasoning, and some yogurt. However, you can also replace the yogurt with some red wine for a rich sweet flavor. After letting it soak for a few hours just wrap it up in foil and let it cook in an oven. After it’s cooked you need to shred it so that when you add it to the bowl you can mix it up properly.

Grain Options

Now for the grain, you can add simple white boiled rice or quinoa. However, if you want to experiment, look for purple rice.

Sauce Recipe

For this power bowl, a good gravy source of white sauce would be ideal. For the whole source, you need to add some yogurt, dill, coriander, ginger, garlic, mayo, cream, salt, pepper, and seasoning of your choice in a blender. Run it till the sauce is a little thick and everything is mixed properly.

Vegetable Recipe

Finally, add some vegetables of your choice. I like grilled cabbage, onion, broccoli, carrot, and cauliflower. Once you roast it with a drizzle of oil and some salt, it will enhance in flavor, with a soft mushy texture forming inside and a crispy, crunchy skin forming outside.

Mix it all up, drizzle a generous amount of sauce and dig in.

Arabian Power Bowl

Another of my favorite bowls that I have been loving these days is the Arabian power bowl. This bowl feels like a mix of some of the best flavors in the Arab world put together.

Grain Recipe

For the grain, I would personally recommend some basic cumin seed rice. For this, you can boil up the rice as per usual and then add cumin, some lemon juice, some salt, and vinegar. This will prevent the rice from getting mushy.

Prepare the Vegetables

For this, you will need some Lebanese-inspired vegetable salad. A simple recipe is to go for chopped coriander, tomato, some cucumber, and a generous amount of carrot. Now, you do not have to roast these vegetables, instead just put them in a bowl and add some seasoning of your choice and then lemon juice and pomegranate syrup. This will be a perfect mix and it will eventually enhance the flavor as well.

Sauce

For the sauce, you can either go for the basic humus just like an Arabian recipe or you can go for the Arabian white sauce as well. For the humus you need some sesame seed paste, add some garlic, spices of your choice, lemon juice and finally add some chicken peas. Mix it all up and let it get turned into a thick paste. For making it a little runny like a sauce, you then have to add some olive oil as well. In case you are going for the famous Arabian halal guy sauce, you do not need a lot of ingredients, just mixing yogurt with a lot of mayo, cream, garlic, and any spice of your choice would be fine.

Protein

Although hummus has a generous amount of protein you need a good protein source for the topping as well. Although most people would go for the basic grilled chicken, my opinion is to look for the prawns if you are into seafood. However, a grilled chicken in the air fryer will work as well because when it is smoother with a generous amount of sauce, you will get a notice that it tastes much better.

Now that you have everything prepared it’s time to serve up things. Get a bowl of your choice, set the base with your grain, and add a generous amount of sauce first so it gets soaked by the grains. Now top it up with protein and vegetables. Finally, drizzle a good amount of sauce and you are ready with your Arabian bowl.

Bottom Line

There is no hard and fast rule in the case of a power bowl, anything that excites you or any flavor that you have been loving lately would work. Mix the grain up or roast the vegetables, as long as you are enjoying it, everything will turn out great.

 

 

How to Food Travel

By
Justin Ankus
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You can select in between an immersive food journey, where the whole schedule is centred on the cooking experiences of the location, or simply consist of some food tourist activities to match your schedule.

 

 no matter what kind of traveler you are, Interest is the secret sauce to getting the most out of your experience. 

 

Attempt to comprehend not just what individuals consume, but why they consume in one method or another, what are the regional components, and what is the story behind the food they prepare. Ask, communicate, smile and taste.

 

How to prep for your Journey

You can prepare a cooking journey on your own or through travel firms. And whatever your option is, Food ‘n Roadway will assist you.

 

To start with, get motivated with Food and Travel blog site and check out food locations with guides and material from each nation.

 

After picking the location of your next journey, we recommend 2 options:

 

If you wish to prepare your travel plan separately, visit our market to discover and book experiences, we handpick the very best food tourist activities and trips from worldwide.

 

Now, if you desire a real gastronomic journey adjusted to your taste, we recommend our Food Travel Style service to make an entirely personalized travel plan for you.

 

It makes a distinction to surpass the plate

On a cooking journey, you wind up discovering a lot about the regional culture and the very best, straight with the homeowners, exchanging info, and having and attempting brand-new flavors enjoyable.

 

Throughout our journeys, something that constantly strikes us is observing the resemblances between the food of far-off nations and how the very same components are utilized in such various methods.

 

For instance, have you ever questioned how essential the chilli pepper is for Asian food although it is a native component from the Americas? With each journey, a brand-new discovery!

6 Must-Haves for Your French Bakery

By
Natalie Thornburn
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When you start a French bakery, there will be countless options of delicious pastries to make. You may need some inspiration when it comes time to decide what you should have on hand in your shop. If you are not sure where to begin, consider some of the following must-haves for your French bakery.

Croissants

Croissants are probably the pastry that comes to mind when people think about France and its food culture. Both savory and sweet versions exist, though most bakeries choose primarily one or the other since each option has specific methods for their creation. Test both out if you want to see which one sells more.

Macarons

Macarons are, of course, a must-serve item in any French bakery! Whether you choose to go with traditional flavors like vanilla or chocolate or fun ones such as green tea and lavender. They can provide customization options according to holidays and themes.

Choux pastry

Known sometimes as cream puffs, choux pastry is very much a part of French baking culture. Pate a choux is made by starting with butter and flour being combined before being cooked on the stovetop to form dough which is then gradually brought into formation. After cooling down, it will have formed enough shape to be rolled into balls or smaller pieces that can filled with savory ingredients such as cheese or sweet fillings like custard cream before baking.

Éclairs

An éclair is simply a longer version of the cream puff, or choux pastry. It is still made from the same dough but shaped into an oblong shape. Once again you can decide what kind of filling you want inside whether it be sweet chocolate or savory cheeses and meats across different variations. The outside is often iced with either fondant or glaze depending on preference, which gives these treats their iconic appearance.

Pain au Chocolat

Pain au Chocolat, also known as chocolate bread, is one of the most popular and common pastries one can expect to find at a French bakery. Because people love pastries that pair well with coffee, this is a prime option available for your bakery.

French Baguette Loaf
Finally, nothing says France like a French baguette loaf. Having a several on hand is the perfect touch. Consider using it for French toast, or a simple side of bread and butter. Guests will love the option to buy French bread with their coffee.

Like any other customizable menu, it is always a good idea to get feedback on some of your available options to know what your customers enjoy. By working with your patrons and thinking about the theme for your bakery, you can stock up on delicious pastries that will be sure to keep your customers coming back for more.

 

Easy Cocktails You Can Make at Home

By
Natalie Thornburn
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When it comes to entertaining at home, it’s probably a true to say that almost everyone loves cocktails. It’s also probably true to say that many people, maybe even you, don’t try to make them due to the intimidation factor. Here’s the real truth, though. You don’t need to be a master mixologist to create cocktails that you and yours will enjoy. All you need is a bit of know-how and the right ingredients. In this post, we cover some of the easiest, least intimidating cocktails you can make for family and friends on your next night in.

Negroni

This sweet Italian drink offers your taste buds a taste of the Old Country. All that’s missing is an Italian opera singer, belting out a melancholy love song (though it’s fair to say that you just might start singing once you taste this).

You only need three ingredients, plus ice for this easy home cocktail: gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth in equal amounts. Use the small end of the jigger to measure out the spirits.

Add ice to a mixing glass, followed by the three ingredients. Stir everything until the glass gets cold. Strain the cocktail into a rocks glass filled with ice. Garnish with the peel of an orange.

Gin Martini

The gin martini straight up conjures up images of Dean Martin movies and 60s-era swing. This easy cocktail recipe only requires two ingredients: gin and dry vermouth.

Pour gin into the large side of the jigger, and then add the gin to a cocktail shaker. Top with a dash of vermouth to taste. Add ice and shake. Strain into a chilled ‘tini glass. Garnish with an olive or a lemon peel.

If you prefer, you can make a vodka martini instead of a gin martini. If you have none at home, five minutes and a quick trip to the liquor store solves that dilemma.

White Russian

For coffee lovers, the White Russian is like iced coffee with a punch, but such a good punch. Fortunately, it’s also way easy to make. It only requires a bit of coffee liqueur — Kahlua’s a good bet — along with some vodka and some fresh cream or Half and Half.

To make a White Russian, add ice to a rocks glass. In a separate tumbler, add one shot (the large side of the jigger) of vodka to the tumbler. Then, pour Kahlua into the small side of the jigger and then into the tumbler. Mix together and then pour the mixture in the tumbler over the ice in the rocks glass. Add cream or Half and Half to taste.

Rum and Coke

This is maybe the simplest cocktail you’ll ever make, but still one of the most popular, so you can’t go wrong with it as a party drink option.

Add ice to a rocks glass. Pour the some white rum into the large end of the jigger and then pour the rum (from the jigger) into the rocks glass. Top with Coke or Pepsi. Add a slice of lime and you go from rum and Coke to Cubra Libre in a hot New York minute!

Final Thoughts

If you love to entertain, then you know what a good cocktail can do for the mood of your party. Fortunately, you don’t have to be a master mixologist to make these four cocktails. All you need is a bit of patience and the right spirits and you have cocktails that everyone can enjoy.

 

4 Easy Meals For A Family Reunion

By
Natalie Thornburn
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When you are planning a family reunion, you are filled with anticipation when thinking about visiting with relatives you have not seen for years. While everyone will have lots of fun sitting around and catching up on things, the reunion will be even more fun if it has some great food for everyone to eat. Yet rather than spend lots of your time trying to come up with fancy meals, there are plenty of easy meals that are perfect for family reunions. To make sure everyone leaves with smiles on their faces and full stomachs, here are four easy meals to have at your next family reunion.

Pizza

There aren’t many individuals who don’t love a good slice of pizza. If you want to make meal planning very easy for your reunion, simply order a number of pizzas with different toppings, plus a few that just have cheese. Once the pizzas are delivered, you can sit back, relax, and fill up on pepperoni. To be sensitive to any gluten or dairy allergies, try to include a couple pizzas that cater to dietary needs.

Macaroni and Cheese

A great comfort food as well as one that goes great with a variety of other foods, macaroni and cheese is easy to make, easy to transport, and easy to heat up. Able to be made with many different types of cheeses, it’s a given mac and cheese will quickly disappear at your reunion.

Hamburgers and Hot Dogs

If you want the ultimate easy meal for your upcoming reunion, grab some Kaiser buns, fire up your grill, and start cooking some hamburgers and hot dogs. The All-American meals, all you will need to do is add some potato chips to the mix, toss in a few soft drinks, and you should have no complaints whatsoever from your attendees.

Potato Salad

Finally, is there ever a family reunion anywhere that is not complete without having a big bowl of potato salad on a table? Should you agree with this statement, you will need to make sure your family reunion does not break this sacred tradition. Like mac and cheese, potato salad goes great with so many things, especially fried chicken. Yet no matter what else is served at your reunion, chances are potato salad will be one of the favorites.

Simple to make and beloved by so many, each of these meal suggestions should prove to be very popular at your family reunion. Whether you’ve got a juicy hamburger on your plate or maybe a slice or two of pizza, your taste buds will thank you from the first bite to the last.

Rise and Shine: 5 Breakfast Ideas When Hosting Guests

By
Natalie Thornburn
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Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but what if you’re feeding a crowd? Although having friends over for breakfast isn’t as common as hosting a dinner party or luncheon, getting together over the morning meal can be a lot of fun. Whether you’re hosting a church breakfast or feeding sleepover guests, here are five options to help everyone start the day right.

Traditional Full Breakfast

If you have a hungry crowd to feed, you can’t go wrong with a traditional full breakfast. Whether you choose a full English breakfast or the American version, start the meal with eggs, sausage, and bacon. An American breakfast adds pancakes and hash browns, while the full English breakfast is rounded out with baked beans, toast, and a grilled tomato.

Egg or Tofu Scramble

Even novice chefs can fry up a delicious scramble with minimal effort. Start with eggs, or choose tofu for a vegan option. Chop some onions, bell peppers, and tomatoes, and sauté them in oil until they become soft. Toss in your choice of protein, and scramble everything together until fully cooked.

Taco Bar

You’re already familiar with Taco Tuesday, but what about tacos for breakfast? Impress your guests with breakfast tacos featuring scrambled eggs, beans, peppers, tomatoes, and salsa. If you have a lot of guests to feed, try setting up a taco bar with all the fixings so that everyone can make a taco exactly the way they like.

DIY Waffles or Pancakes

Do you prefer a breakfast that satisfies your sweet tooth? Serve up a make-your-own waffle and pancake bar. Mix the batter in a pourable pitcher, and place it near an electric waffle iron or heated pancake griddle. Add a selection of toppings like maple syrup, whipped cream, and sprinkles so that your guests can complete their creations.

Brunch Buffet

Are your guests planning to sleep late? Fill a buffet with brunch favorites that bridge the gap between breakfast and lunch. Breakfast casserole, muffins, frittatas, and breakfast pizza are just a few of the delicious dishes you can serve for brunch. You can also serve adult beverages with brunch because it’s served later in the day.

Did you sleep through your alarm clock, run out of orange juice, or burn the toast? If your breakfast plans have gone awry, don’t worry. You can move the party to a local restaurant for pancakes, waffles, scrambled eggs, and sausage, and leave the cooking up to the professionals.

 

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