Tuesday, September 27, 2011

The Art Of Wine Tasting: The taste of fine wines

Even though many just assume that wine tasting is sipping, swishing, and swallowing - many are amazed to find that it’s actually a bit more. Wine tasting is more of an art, an art that is used to distinguish the taste of fine wines. Wine can be a tasty and refreshing drink - if the bottle was stored correctly and aged properly.

Wine tasting begins with the swishing. The reason why wine tasters swish the wine around in their mouths is to get the taste. Both the front and the back areas of the tongue contain taste buds, although neither one has any distinct sensation in taste. Taste buds can detect food and liquid that is bitter, salty or sweet, without a problem. To get the proper taste from wine however, you need to swish it around in your mouth and allow your taste buds and sense of smell to bring out the unique and fine flavors in the wine.

When you have a cold however, the wine can taste very different. When tasting your wine, your sense of smell has a major impact on the taste. What many fail to realize, is that over 75% of our taste is due to our sense of smell. When we have a cold, our sense of smell is affected. Therefore, when eating or tasting wine with a cold, the taste will appear different. Wine tasters all over the world will tell you that tasting wine is more about a sense of smell than the actual taste buds.

The art of wine tasting is indeed an art. Wine tasters do however, follow some general guidelines and rules that judge how great a wine is. These techniques can help you bring the most out of your wine, providing you follow them and know how to bring out the taste.

The first thing to do with wine is to look. With wine, you can tell quite a bit about it by looking at it. You should always start by pouring the wine into a clear glass, then taking a few minutes to look at the color. As far as the color goes, white whines aren’t white, but actually yellow, green, or brown. Red wines on the other hand are normally a pale red or dark brown color. Red wine gets better with age, while white whines get more stale with age.

Next, is the smell of the wine, which you should do in two steps. You should start with a brief smell to get a general idea of the wine, then take a deep, long smell. This deeper smell should allow you take the flavor of the wine in. The more experienced wine tasters prefer to sit back a bit and think about the smell before they actually taste the wine.

Last but not least, is to taste the wine. To properly taste the wine, you should first take a sip, swish it around in your mouth, and then swallow. Once you swish the wine around in your mouth, you’ll bring out the rich and bold flavors of the wine. After swallowing, you’ll be able to distinguish the after taste of the wine, and the overall flavor.

Once you have looked at the wine, smelled it, and finally tasted it, you’ll be able to evaluate the wine from a taster’s standpoint. This is the easiest way to determine the quality of the wine, and whether or not it has been properly stored and aged. As with all things in life - the more you taste wine - the better you will get at distinguishing the unique flavors.

Best Ever Wine Gift?

For virtually any occasion, such as special moments and holidays, wine makes a great gift. From informal meetings to wedding celebrations and bashes, wine is a gift that is truly hard to beat. There are several different gifts you can get that relate to wine. No matter who it may be that you are giving the gift to - wine is something that is truly appreciated - a gift from the heart.

Among the several gifts of wine that you can give, is personalized wine. There are several companies that offer personalized wine and champagne gifts, complete with custom made designs and labels. For corporate events and parties, a personalized wine gift is an ideal way to showcase your gratitude and give a gift that truly shows how much you care.

If you prefer, there are also ways that you can create your own personalized gift. First of all, you’ll need to select a wine label from one of the numerous custom wines available. Next, you will need to personalize your text by adding your own messages and ideas. Last, you’ll need to select a container or wrapper that is best appropriate for your gift of wine. You should be as creative as possible, as it will help to make your wine gift to have a bit more impact.

Another great wine related gift that you can give are corkscrews. Corkscrews make for a truly great gift, allowing you to open wine bottles with the corks intact. Wine lovers who want to open a bottle of wine every now and then, and keep the cork in great shape will truly appreciate the gift of a corkscrew. Corkscrews are also used in restaurants as well, as they can easily remove even the toughest of corks.

Another great gift that relates to wine is the pocket vineyard, which is an electronic device that contains a wine glossary, vintage wine charts, and even suggestions and ideas for pairing wine with food. The pocket vineyard is a great gift for anyone who likes wine, as it allows them to learn more about wine in general and make better choices overall when it comes to wine.

You can find many other wine gifts to give as well. If you look on the Internet, you can find all different types of wine gifts that you can give to virtually anyone. You can also find great gifts in local stores as well, many of which are available at great prices. If you aren’t sure about what to get someone, you can always ask. Although there are many different gifts that you can give for a variety of occasions, few gifts have the impact of wine. If you choose - you can always give the gift of wine - a bottle that is sure to please anyone.

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Substituting Alcohol For Tea - Various Types of Tea

To read more about the benefits of types of tea, the author, Maria Davos invites you to visit sadogreentea.com/. This is a buy tea online store, there have many introductions about chinese tea, chinese black tea. chinese hearbal tea, chinese jasmine tea,tea bags and so on

Affordable Champagne Brands

Are you searching for quality and affordable champagne? If so, you've found the right article. We are going to discuss about getting a good quality bubbly at a great price. We are also going to discuss about well-knowned champagne brands and how to avoid artificial sparkling wines.

Whether you throw parties several times per month or you just want to drink lots of sparkling wine you'll need to buy good champagne at cheaper prices. First, you should know that sparkling wine and champagne are two different things. Champagne is been made in northeast of France in Champagne region while many other sparkling wines resembling it can be found all over the world and they are not traditional champagne.

When you want to purchase a bottle of the noble drink, try to stick to the big brands. Choose Moet et Chandon, Bollinger, Taittinger, Veuve Clicquot, Ruinart, Freixenet and others. Expensive champagnes like Dom Perignon, Krug, Heidsieck, Perrier-Jouet, Cristal can cost several hundreds of dollars at a supermarket. Yet, they are high-priced because they are vintage champagnes, which are been made from exceptional harvests and held almost 10 years in the cellar before entering the market. If you want a good bargain-priced champagne choose non-vintage champagnes. A non-vintage Moet et Chandon can be bought for as low as $15, while a Veuve Clicquot costs over $28 for the cheapest bottle. If you don't buy a brand's prestige cuvee, then you can find affordable champagne offered by most champagne brands.

If you stick to the big trademarks, you will avoid most fake champagnes on the market. Genuine champagne is produced by the champenoise methode and you can read on its label: "Fermented inside the bottle". A standard artificial champagne can cost as low as $5 per bottle and the bubbles are been created artificially with carbon dioxide injection while the fermenting is obtained at high temperature and pressure inside large industrial containers. Avoiding such a product is easy when you know the important champagne brands. Nevertheless, there are alternatives to champagne, as you can find a good sparkling wine at an inexpensive price such as the Italian Prosecco or the Spanish Cava. Regardless of which champagne you choose, remember that the best deals you can find are on the web rather than at your local store.

You can find champagne brands that sell inexpensive champagne even among the most expensive champagne houses . Selecting which you're going to get is up to you, but don't forget that the online market offers the best champagne prices.

About the Author

Champagne Tips.

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Effective Dealing With Hangovers?

A hangover is something that just about all of us have experienced at some point in time. After spending a night out drinking, you may wake up in the morning with your head feeling heavy and your stomach in knots. At that moment, you probably decided that you would quit drinking, to prevent this awful feeling from happening again. No matter how hard you may have tried though, chances are that it happened again.

Even though we all know that alcohol can lead to hangovers, the cause of a hangover is something we don’t know. Alcohol does have some positive effects on the body, although it can also lead to negative effects such as hangovers. Some doctors will actually recommend it, while others will tell you never to drink it. Even though drinking is good, moderation is the key. The easiest way to avoid hangovers is to drink in moderation - and never get drunk.

As many of us already know, whisky, bourbon, and wine can result in a much harder hangover than vodka or beer. For many people, chemicals in wines or yeast found in unfiltered beers can result in headaches. Beer, wine, and liquor can be fun and relaxing to drink, although if you aren’t careful you can easily get a headache or a hangover.

Even though the cause for hangovers is unknown, it has been proven that the headaches associated with hangovers stem from dehydration. With alcohol being a diuretic, it will make you urinate quite often. Therefore, if you drink alcohol or beer on a daily basis, your body will remain dehydrated. When you wake up in the morning with a bad headache and turn to coffee, which is also a diuretic, the process of dehydration actually gets worse.

You’ll also need to do something with the alcohol that has been left in your body. Even though a hangover can make you want to stay in bed, the secret to getting yourself back on track is movement. To rid your body of the alcohol, you’ll need sweat. Sweating gets the toxins out of your body, and helps you feel better. You can exercise or have sex to get over a hangover, as the heat your body emits will be too much for alcohol toxins to handle.

Although a hangover can be a bit of a pain, it can be prevented. The first rule of drinking any type of alcoholic beverage is to never drink on an empty stomach. If you eat a good meal before you start drinking, you’ll find that the food can help you digest the alcohol much better. When the alcohol starts to attack your stomach, you should consider eating foods that are high in fat, such as cheese. You can also sip some olive oil or drink some water. The secret to making sure that you don’t get a hangover when drinking is to drink in moderation and never let yourself get too drunk.

Beer is digested very fast by your body, which is why you should always drink beer first if you plan to mix drinks. Beer is digested the fastest, and will also help your body to absorb any other drinks you have faster. You should always keep in mind that when you drink alcohol, your body will get dehydrated. Any type of alcohol that you consume is a diuretic, therefore you should always drink water with your alcohol. Alcohol can dehydrate your body very fast - which is why you’ll need water to ensure that you stay hydrated.

Hungary is home to over 20 wine regions

Despite what many may think, the area known as Hungary holds more wine tradition than any other country in Europe. Most of this very tradition is just now surfacing in the light, with people finally starting to catch wind about everything Hungarian wine has to offer. Even though many wine drinkers aren’t familiar with Hungary - there are many who are.

Hungary is home to over 20 wine regions, fully of forests, vineyards, and orchards. With several different varieties of grapes to offer, the vineyards found in Hungary have flourished since the great Roman Times. The weather in Hungary is seasonal to say the least, with cold winters and extremely hot summers. This weather allows the soil in the country to be diverse, which allows wine makers to create a variety of quality wines.

Despite the communist control in the past, there are several different wines found in Hungary. Although the vineyards here produce a lot of excellent wines, Tokay Aszu is by far the favorite here and the wine that locals always love raising their glass to. Tokay Aszu is a popular wine with meals or dessert, in Hungary and also happens to be one of the most popular dessert wines in the entire world.

Tokay Aszu was discovered in the mid 17th century in Hungary, quickly becoming a favorite for many European aristocrats. Even though it was great to the taste, many believed that certain types of the wine had mystical healing powers. Although this was strictly a rumor, it actually helped the wine become more popular than ever. Over the years, Tokay Aszu was one indeed the most popular wine in Hungary, spreading to other areas of the world as well.

Egri Bikaver, also referred to as Bulls Blood is another popular wine found in Hungary. This is another popular wine for locals, and can be found throughout the world as well. Getting it’s name from it’s color, Bulls Blood is truly a feast for anyone who likes wine. The wine is dark red in color, yet sweet to the taste. The wine was first developed back in the 16th century, and remains popular even to this day.

If you ever visit Hungary, there are many places you can visit to get some great wine. You should also make a point to visit Tokay, located in the northeast. You can take a train from Budapest and arrive here in a few hours. There are several different wine flavors and varieties here, sure to please just about anyone. The wineries found throughout the Tokay area are normally open for tours and tasters from May to the end of October. If you visit during these months, you can tour the underground cellars, sample the superb wine, and learn more than you ever thought possible about the manufacturing of Hungarian wines.

All in the all, the wine found in Hungary is great to have in your collection or just have around the house for special occasions. You can get it by the bottle, the glass, or by the case. All types of Hungarian wine has been perfected over the years, making it something that you really can’t go wrong with. If you like to drink wine, as most of us do, you really can’t go wrong with any type of Hungarian wine. Hungarian wine gives wine lovers plenty to study, plenty to order, and plenty to drink. The wine is very tasty and refreshing - and it helps to keep the nation of Hungary thirsty for more.

Thursday, July 7, 2011

An Introduction To Bartending

Setting up your own bar is actually quite easy to do. There are however, a few things that good bartenders need to know to run a bar efficiently. In order for a bar to succeed, you’ll need to have the basic wines, liquors, and spirits - along with the right equipment. Although these things are essential, bartenders also need the proper technique for mixing drinks and cocktails as well.

With bartending, the location of the bar is very important. The bar should be placed in an area that is easy to reach and provides plenty of space behind it. There should be plenty of room for glasses and drinks, along with a chair or two as well. The bartender has to learn the area behind the bar, and know everything about it. Bartenders need to know their area well - and how to perform their mixing duties when business heats up.

Another job bartenders have is knowing their drinks. Bartenders are responsible for serving and mixing drinks, which is a wide variety to say the least. It can be nearly impossible to know every possible drink mixture, why is why most bartenders use mixing lists hidden under the bar to help them know what goes in each drink.

Bartenders don’t have a lot of time to mix drinks, which makes it nearly impossible to read each and every label. To help with this dilemma, you can always arrange your alcohol and drinks a certain way, to ensure that you know where everything is. This way, when business picks up and you find yourself short on time - you’ll know where everything is.

To become a successful bartender, or mixologist, it takes years of practice. There are several styles of bartending as well, including the well known and very impressive flair style. Flair bartending involves very impressive techniques and tricks, which will leave customers truly amazed. Flair is the hardest style of bartending to perfect, taking years and years of practice. Flair bartenders all around the world will tell you that flair brings the most crowds - although it can also cost a lot of money in broken bottles along the way!

Each and every bar should also have the basic spirits, such as Tequila, Vodka, Rum, and Gin. There should be also be fruit juices on hand as well, such as lemon juice, orange juice, and even pineapple juice. Almost all mixed drinks require juice, such as screwdrivers - which require both Vodka and orange juice. Mixed drinks are very popular, making it essential for the bartender to be a good mixologist - and have the right materials on hand at all times.

A lot of drinks that bartenders mix will require special gadgets such as shakers, measuring cups, rinsing bowls, and straws. Shakers are the most commonly used gadget, as they are essential for mixing alcohol. Bartenders will also need to keep cloth on hand as well, to quickly clean up spills and wipe down the mixing area from time to time.

As a career, bartending can provide you with a lot of money. If you go to college and learn the techniques required for bartending, you can make more money than you ever thought possible. The job is high paying, a lot of fun, and a great way to meet new people. There are a lot of colleges and universities that offer bartending, or you can study online. No matter which way you go - bartending will be a lot of fun and will take you far in life as an exciting career.

All You Need To Know About Whiskey?

In meaning, whiskey translates to “water of life”. Whiskey originated from Scotland during the early 1400's, and is very popular around the world today. Even today, whiskey tastes much like it did when it first began. Manufacturers of whiskey are strong on heritage, and therefore do all they can to capture the flavor that whiskey has always been known for.

For any occasion, whiskey is truly great. Whiskey is commonly used during weddings and ceremonies, and both the bride and groom will drink it to signify a relationship that will stand the test of time. The drink isn’t only served with weddings, as it is also popular in bars and restaurants as well. Those wishing to signify friendship can also serve whisky as a gesture of wanting to be friends.

Whiskey also makes a great gift for friends, employees, and even executives. Around the office, whiskey is very popular. When someone has had a tough day at work, few things bring out the best like whiskey. It can help someone relax, and make them feel at ease. Drink enough of it however - and you will feel as if you are king of the world!

Although it has many uses, one of the best is ice cubes. If you combine whiskey with ice cubes, the combination is truly inspiring. People often refer to it as whiskey on the rocks, as it is very commonly served in bars and restaurants. Whiskey on the rocks is also refreshing, as the ice cubes help to take some of the “bite” away from the otherwise strong and potent drink.

There are several variations of whiskey as well. Scottish whiskey, Jack Daniels, and Wild Turkey are among the most popular. Scottish whiskey is very popular in different parts of the world, while Jack Daniels is the preferred brand of whiskey in the United States. Jack is served at many bars and restaurants, and provides a great mixed drink if you pair it with Coke.

If you’re looking to buy some whiskey for your home, you’ll never have to worry about having trouble finding it. ABC stores are the best source, although if you live in a state such as California you can find it at your local grocery or department store. Whiskey is one of the best selling forms of hard liquor, with thousands of people around the world drinking it quite frequently.

Easy to find and easy to use, whiskey is easily one of the best types of alcohol that you can buy. You can use it at parties or socials, or just keep it for yourself. Whiskey is also great the body, if you drink a shot of it a day. With various ways to be used and a bold crisp flavor - whiskey is something that you can never go wrong with.

Monday, July 4, 2011

A better Look At Champagne today!

Traditionally, Champagne has always a way to celebrate milestones or toast the bride and groom on their marriage. Considered to be a flexible beverage, Champagne can be served with a meal or with dessert. For many years, this truly refreshing and exotic drink has been used as a way of celebration and just enjoying the times that lie ahead.

Champagne comes from the vineyards of the French region. If you get a bottle and notice Champagne imprinted on the label, you can rest assured that the bottle was produced in the vineyards of France. If you don’t get Champagne that was produced in the infamous French regions, you are pretty much just buying the standard sparkling wine. You should also make sure that the bottle is spelled “Champagne”, with a capital C. French manufacturers are very protective of this very name, and therefore are the only ones that are authorized to use it.

Champagne is made using three different types of grape - Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, and Chardonnay. Noir and Meunier are types of black grapes, while the well known Chardonnay is a type of white grape. The label on the bottle will signify what type of Champagne you are buying, so you’ll know what flavor to expect. There are also types of this wine that are a blend of different grapes, providing quite an exquisite taste to say the least.

Much like sparkling wine, Champagne is very common with celebrations and such. Although it is actually considered to be a type of sparkling wine, Champagne is much better. You have to be careful where you buy it though, as a lot of manufacturers like to use cheaper grapes, which don’t taste the same. If you have ever tasted this wine before - you’ll know first hand what quality tastes like.

A lot of people prefer Champagne because of the bubbles that are known to spew forth once a bottle has been uncorked. The bubbles that spew from this wine are the result of tiny drops of liquid that are disturbed by the carbonic acid gas. Once the liquid is disturbed, the bubbles form and short out of the bottle. This is a natural reaction of the double fermentation process that can only be found with a bottle of Champagne.

The next time you have a celebration and need something to make the celebration a bit more interesting, you should grab a bottle of Champagne. Few things compliment a celebration like the bursting bubbles of a fine bottle. You can find quality Champagne at ABC stores or other stores that sell alcoholic beverages. Even though it may cost you a bit of money - when you pop the top you’ll be glad you bought it.

A better Look At Ice Wine

Although there are several types of wine that you buy, one of the most unheard of is ice wine. Ice wine is a very rare form of wine, a wine that is produced under certain types of weather conditions. Ice wine is mainly produced in the Pacific Northwest region, where the weather conditions are right for the wine.

As ironic as it is, ice wine is produced in very small quantities. With the wine requiring only the fines of quality and a lack of availability, the product is extremely rare indeed. Truth be told, there are only a lucky few who are actually able to purchase the wine. Ice wine, due to the scarce amount, can be extremely expensive and out of the price range for a majority of us.

Much like the beauty of owning a diamond, ice wine is something that many of us hope and dream to experience at some point in our lives. Although the materials are rare, the weather conditions are even more crucial to producing this wine. Once the right weather conditions arrive, the wine maker prepares to produce this extremely rare and priceless wine.

The basic requirements needed to produce ice wine are fully ripened grapes and a temperature of around 5 degrees C. The temperature needs to stay that way for several days, so that the wine maker can complete the process of making the wine. Grapes that are frozen during these extremely cold temperatures are hand plucked at night by the wine maker and his assistants.

To produce a bottle of ice wine, full vine grapes may be required. Once the grapes have been collected, they are gently pressed, in order to collect the running juice only. The temperature creates the frozen water crystals, which are fermented along with sugars and the particles that are found in the free running juices. Through this process, the wonderful and rare ice wine is created.

If you have been looking to try ice wine, finding it may be very difficult. As you probably already know, most alcohol and wine stores don’t sell this rare wine. Finding it online is very hard to do as well, unless you catch it at the right time. Even then, if you are able to find it, it can easily cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars for a single bottle.

The best way to experience ice wine is to find the right wine maker in the Pacific Northwest region. Even though bottles go extremely fast once they have been made, you may be able to catch a wine maker with some on hand. Be prepared to spend a hefty amount though. Although it can cost a lot and be extremely hard to find - the taste of ice wine makes it well worth the effort.

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Making Great Red Wine

Among the many types of wine available, red wine is among the best. There are many types of red wine available, although most are made using the same methods. This very exhilarating type of wine is made from black grapes, drawing their color from the skins of the grapes.

During the beginning stages of making red wine, the grapes that have been picked are put into a crusher. Here, the crusher will gently break the skins of the grapes. Depending on what type of wine is being made and the tannin that’s required, the stalks will either be used or discarded at this point. Next, the grapes are put into a fermentation vat with the skins. This can be a long process, taking several weeks to complete. If a higher temperature is used, more tannin and color will be extracted from the grapes.

When making soft wines, the whole grapes are fermented using sealed vats. The carbon dioxide that becomes trapped in the sealed vats ferment the grapes under pressure, which is normally a quick process, taking only a few days. Keep in mind, the color and tannin content of the wine is based on how long the fermenting process takes. If the fermenting process takes a long time, the wine will generally hold more flavor and color.

The remaining bulk of the grapes will go through a press, being crushed to create a tannic wine. Sometimes, this tannic wine is added with a free run wine in order to add a bit more structure to the wine blend. Both the press and vat wine are then mixed and transferred to either tanks or barrels for a second fermentation. The second fermentation will take the longest, although it brings out the quality and taste from the wine.

All types of fine red wine will spend a minimum of a year in the barrels. Some types of red wine will spend a lot more time in the barrels, possibly several years. Red wine is also fine tuned with egg whites, which will suspend the yeast and other solids found in the wine downwards, before the wine is racked, filtered, and eventually bottled. Once the wine has been bottled, it is then shipped off and sold. Some wine however, will be stored for a period of time in the bottle before it is offered for sale.

The time a wine spends in the bottle is very important, although not every wine needs to spend a lot of time in the bottle. The more complex and more expensive types of red wine will benefit the most from aging in the bottle, to preserve flavor and color. The simple types of red wine however, don’t need to spend much time at all in the bottle.

About German Beer

Throughout Germany, beer is very popular with the culture. Germany contains well over 1,000 breweries, which is more than any other location in the world. All beer that is manufactured in Germany must follow the purity law, which lets manufacturers know what ingredients can and can’t be used. Basically, the only ingredients allowed to make beer in Germany are water, hops, and barley malt.

Due to the strict purity requirements, you can easily notice German beers by their overall level of quality. They have a distinct taste, with little to no aftertaste. Some styles of German ale include Koelsch, Weizen, and Altbier. Some types of German lagers include Bock, Pilsener, Dunkel, Helles, and Maerzen. Keep in mind that the taste, aroma, and color can vary, although all can be identified as being true German beers.

The German beer Altbier is a very common dark ale, that is top fermented in the lower regions of Germany. The beer proposes a yellow color, with a taste that is rich in hops. Another ale, Rauchbier, is known to have a smoky flavor with a smoked color. These beers taste great, and happen to be very popular throughout the regions of Germany.

German lagers are also very popular, and happen to be popular in other areas of the world as well. Pilsener is one of the most popular and most familiar of all German beers, providing you with more hops and less malt. Pilsener can be found for sale all over the world, and happens to be very popular throughout North America as well. Several bars serve it as well, as it happens to be one of the most popular dark lagers out there.

Throughout Germany, there are several different companies, produce over 4,000 different brands of beers. Some of the more well known and larger companies of north Germany are Beck, St. Pauli, Warsteiner, and Krombach. In the southern region of Germany, there are more breweries, although most of them are smaller, as they are locally owned and operated. Southern Germany also contains the Benedictine Abbey, which is one of the oldest breweries in the world. This brewery started producing beer in 1040 - very impressive indeed!

Germany is also home to Oktoberfest, which is held every year in Munich. Oktoberfest starts in late September and carries on for two weeks, ending in early October. During Oktoberfest, beer drinkers from all over the world will travel to Germany and celebrate German beers. Each and every year, over 5 million people attend the event, making it one of the biggest beer celebrations in the world.

During Oktoberfest, local breweries in Munich are the only breweries allowed to serve beer in the bigger tents. There are six breweries in total, producing a variety of different beers. By attending this yearly event, you can learn more about German beer, sample the different varieties, and enjoy the rich bold flavors that make German beer so very popular.

Due to the success Oktoberfest gets each and every year, other cities around the world try and mimic this event. Even though they have success, their level of success isn’t near as much as the original Oktoberfest - Germany. German beers are very popular around the world, with Oktoberfest helping to prove that very claim. If you drink beer but have never experienced what beers from Germany have to offer, you really should give them a try. Once you do, you’ll quickly realize why German beers are so very popular - and why the taste simply can’t be duplicated with any other beer.

Monday, April 25, 2011

Four Traits of the Great Chinese Restaurant

From as early as I can remember, one of my favorite restaurants to go to dinner at was a Chinese restaurant. It was always a unique experience no matter which restaurant we picked because no two Oriental cafés cooked in the same way. Whether we were going to a traditional restaurant with tables or a dim sum that served all the food in a rotating fashion, Chinese food always has an eloquence that makes you want to come back to get more. Here are a few tips on how to choose a great Chinese restaurant that you will go to again and again.

A Chinese restaurant that has a feeling of authenticity is something that will bring you back to it a game and again. The traditional Chinese lanterns and Chinese art that is indicative of a traditional Chinese restaurant is key to enjoying your dining experience whether or not the food is great or just above average.

The service that you receive a Chinese restaurant can also affect the way that you perceive the food that you are about to eat. If you are given great service where your teacup is filled at all times and your every need is met, it will enhance your dining experience based upon how you perceive your meal at that time.

The type of food can differ from Chinese restaurant to restaurant, however, some restaurants simply have better cooks than others. Sometimes the food is too greasy or undercooked. Although this is indicative of many restaurants across the nation, it will also affect your dining experience as you eat your Chinese food.

Always get the recommendations of friends or family that had eaten at various Chinese restaurants in the city where you live before actually trying them out. Although this may frontal lobe your mind into believing that a restaurant is better than it actually is, it is narrowing the playing field especially if you live in a city with far too many choices.

Style is one of the most important things that a Chinese restaurant can have in regard to the manner in which the food is served and presented. Finding a Chinese restaurant that has good management in regard to food preparation and deliver its is also a key factor in how you enjoy your meal and your dining experience that night.

Always be prepared for the worst. If you go in with a mindset that this restaurant will provide you with the best Chinese food on the planet, you will more than likely be disappointed every time regardless of the quality of the food. Be realistic before going into a restaurant that serves Chinese food and making rash judgments based upon your preconceived notions.

About the Author

Learn How To Cook Low Fat & Low Carb Chinese Food From Master Chef W/ 40 Years Of Cooking Experience! Click Here!

Various Health benefits of Pizza


In the past it was commonly thought that pizza was not really a healthy food choices. The main reason for this is that it was make the same group as other fast foods, for example hamburgers and fries. This is a major misconception, as pizza can actually be considered a highly nutritional meal.

One of the main ingredients of pizza is the tomato, which contains lycopene, a strong antioxidant. Lycopene is known to help fight many different types of cancer. Research indicates that individuals who eat pizza at least one time a week were a smaller amount prone to develop colon and mouth cancer in addition to stomach and lung cancer. It is known to be especially useful when you are fighting cancer of the prostate. Studies have shown that eating pizza can lower your chance of developing esophageal cancer by nearly 59%.

It's the tomato that is the main cancer-fighting ingredient of pizza. Incredibly, studies have also shown that processed tomatoes for example those found in pizza or spaghetti sauce are actually higher in lycopene than fresh tomatoes. The reason behind this is that along the way of cooking and processing the tomatoes, water content evaporates leaving a greater power of the antioxidant.

Tomato sauce is extremely healthy, and for this reason so is pizza, but you will find additional pizza toppings that can also enhance your health. Onions are full of chromium, ascorbic acid, and fiber. They assist to tear down blood sugar levels, cholesterol as well as blood pressure. Black olives are an execllent addition to pizza. Olives contain ingredients that help defend against cardiovascular disease and lower your cholesterol. The red pepper is a good pizza topping. They're sweet and tasty as well as full of Ascorbic acid, A, and B6.

Another health benefit of pizza is the dough. In fact, pizza dough is another ingredient of pizza that is full of antioxidants, and through certain baking techniques the antioxidants in the dough can in fact be increased.

Adding even more health benefits to pizza is straightforward. A vegetable pizza with just a little cheese is an extremely healthy food choices. You receive the truly amazing taste and health benefits of pizza without all of the extra fat and cholesterol normally associated with meats and cheese. If you're a meat fanatic and just can't handle your pizza without meat, you can always then add grilled chicken to your vegetable pizza. Chicken offers many many benefits that other meats don't, and it tastes great.

Using the many health benefits of pizza, it can no longer be viewed within the same light as other fast foods.

About the Author

Get the latest pizza hut coupon

Monday, April 18, 2011

Filipino Laing Recipe


Laing, it is a popular Filipino vegetable recipe that originate in Province of Bicol. Bicol is situated in a southern part of luzon on which majority of people rely on agriculture and fisheries as their means of livelihood. Bicolanos cuisine was influenced by their natural resources as they always use coconut cream and chilli on which are abundant on their place , they also cook exotic seafood recipes by incorporating shark and stingray meat on their recipe. Filipino from other region love to prepare Bicolanos recipe as filipino are so fond of eating spicy food recipe. Anyway here is my method of preparing this spicy Bicolano food, Laing recipe.

Ingredient:

3 bundle ot dry taro leaves, shreded
taro leaves stalk, peel and cut into 1" strips
1 cup of coconut milk( gata ng niyog)
1 cup of coconut cream ( kakang gata)
2-3 tbsp garlic, minced
1 pc onion, sliced
3 thumb size ginger, peel and julienne
100 gram pork belly (cube)
100 gram labahita dried fish
2-4 pcs hot chilli
vetsin
salt to taste

Procedure of Cooking Laing:

In a pot, pour in coconut milk, daing na labahita, liempo, coconut milk, garlic, onion, ginger, sili,1 tbsp salt. Bring to boil and simmer until the sauce decreases in half. Add kakang gata and bring to boil again until the sauces almost dry. Salt to taste and served laing recipe wahile it is hot along with hot steamy white rice.Adobo Recipe Ingredient:

1 kg chicken, wash and cut into serving pcs
3/4 cop soysauce
1/2 cup vinegar
3-5 tbsp garlic, minced
1/2 tsp ground peppercorn
2 pcs laurel leaves
vetsin
salt to taste
1 pc chicken cube seasoning

Procedure of Cooking:

In a pot, pour in the following ingredient Chicken, garlic, peppercorn, chicken seasoning cube, vinegar, soysauce, laurel leaves. Bring to boil and simmer until chicken meat tenders, add vetsin and salt if needed. Served newly chicken adobo with hot steamy rice.

About the Author

Daisy is married and blessed with four healthy children. She finds her way earning extra income using internet by blogging. Here is one of her blog that are trully close to her heart, cooking. Please visit my blog about Filipino Recipe at http://www.originalfilipinorecipes.blogspot.com/ and also her blog about some technique she uses when marketing using internet. http://www.learnhowtomakemoneyintheinternet.blogspot.com/

Popular Food Recipes: Luscious Caribbean Recipes


When you take a trip through the Caribbean you would possibly get to nibble some 'Soul food' dishes. Now let me unravel the mystery behind the Caribbean recipes containing soul food. The three ancient tribes Taino, Carib along with Arawak that belongs to India, when visited the Caribbean region had brought some of their native ingredients and mixed them with the local foodstuffs. These healthy products became the every day eating of Caribbean native and they termed them 'soul foods'. There are many exotic Craibbean recipes made up of these ingredeints that rules the taste buds of the travelers.

However, meat and fish preparations had been also included by the Taino tribe in the meal containing soul foods. They use to cook meats in large vessels made up of clay. The arrangement of spices and herbs with the meats offer a divine eating experience. The most ditinguished and known Island of Caribbean is Jamaiica that is loaded with exclusive range of spices and herbs used in Caribbean cooking.

Subsequent to Tainos, Arawaks was the tribe who largely influenced the Craibbean recipes with their methods of cooking. They used wood to cook meat and other dishes on low fire. The meats were used to place directly on the wood so that meat can absorb the murky flavor of the wood. Caribbean food lovers immensly like this flavor and relish Craibbean recipes cooked with this method. The taste and fragrance directly reaches to the soul. You must be surprised that this is the beginning of the popular cooking method called 'barbeque' that was famous at that time as 'barbacoa'.

One of the most surprising and enthralling facet of Caribbean dishes is the variety of food and seasonings. Caribbean is a cluster of religions and various traditions, consequently all of them has their particular methods of cooking that can be modified according to individual palate. The most convincing tribe was the Carib who are credited for introducing the spices and peppers to the Caribbean land. The 'soul food' brought by them is still the highlights of the extraordinary Caribbean preparations. Soul recipes mainly comprise Okra, yam, plantain, salted cod, banana, mangoes and sweet potato to name a few.

Most of the Caribbean soul food recipes are derived from Indian food culture, but Chinese and Spaniards are also credited for their contribution to the Caribbean recipes that still rules the Caribbean menu.

About the Author

For more information on Caribbean recipes please go to Caribbean Recipe. You may also have a look at some fantastic Jamaican recipes by visiting Jamaican Recipes.

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Great Ideas for Thanksgiving Food



Though much of history has inaccurately portrayed the first Thanksgiving menus--turkey, potatoes, corn on the cob, pumpkin pie, cranberry sauce--pilgrims and other early Americans did not have access or knowledge of many of these ingredients. Instead the menu included ingredients indigenous to the New World and ingredients readily available, such as seafood like cod, eel, clams and lobster; wild fowl like wild turkey, goose, duck, crane, swan, partridge and eagle; meat like venison and seal; grains like wheat flour and Indian corn; vegetables like pumpkin, peas, beans, onions, radishes and carrots; fruit like plums and grapes; nuts like walnuts, chestnuts and acorns; herbs and seasonings like olive oil, liverwort, leeks, dried currants and parsnips.

It was not until the time following President Abraham Lincoln's Thanksgiving proclamation that aimed at uniting the U.S. after the Civil War that traditional Thanksgiving staples--turkey, potatoes, corn on the cob, pumpkin pie, cranberry sauce--became the preferred Thanksgiving menu items. Today there are many regional interpretations of traditional Thanksgiving fare and food trends also dictate menu selection.

Cooking magazines and food magazines like Bon Appetit and Food & Wine aim to bridge the gap between the menus of the early Thanksgiving feasts, what has become known as the traditional feasts and modern day menus.

One such food trend is the locally grown and organic food trend. Many people around the U.S. are going back to the ways of the past and growing their own foods or using farmer's markets as their main source of fruits, vegetables and meats. To read more about this food trend read Vegetarian Times, Natural Health and Health magazines.

In its November issue Bon Appetit take on the modern Thanksgiving menu is "A Heritage Feast," which honors the roots of American foods with heirloom ingredients. Heirloom ingredients are fruits, vegetables and animals that were commonly grown in early history that have kept their traits. Examples of heirloom ingredients are turkey breeds bred in the U.S. since the 1800s, wild rice indigenous to the U.S. and apple varieties grown in Thomas Jefferson's orchards. The recipes featured in "A Heritage Feast" include roast heritage turkey, bacon, apple and fennel stuffing and garnet yams, come from the best ingredients across the U.S.

Another current food trend in Thanksgiving menus is melding country-of-origin recipes, flavors and ingredients with traditional American Thanksgiving fare. Given the many different cultures and backgrounds of Americans this makes for an enormous food trend.

The November issue of Food & Wine magazine features another take on the modern Thanksgiving meal with its Thanksgiving article, "A Chef's All-American Thanksgiving." The article features Chef Jose Garces's culturally-fused Thanksgiving menu that incorporates Latin-American flavors and ingredients with traditional American recipes. This menu reflects Garces's cultural background.

About the Author

For more on food magazines visit http://www.magazines.com/category/cooking-food

Jessica Vandelay is a freelance writer in New York City.

Singapore Dining - Best Dining Guide for American in Singapore


If you are looking for a Singapore dining guide, you are at the right place. In Singapore, there are many American restaurants available. As more expatriates are living in Singapore, you can see more restaurants serving American food.

In the past, if you are an American in Singapore, it is very difficult to locate a burger or rib joint. Today, you can find many bar & grill, burger and rib joints in any part of Singapore. With a more western culture today, you will see a boom of western restaurants.

So when did the western food culture started here? If you think of American food, you will think of burger and steak. American restaurants first opened in Orchard Road, with traditional neon signs and sizzle of steaks. As Orchard Road is a popular shopping destination among Singaporean, many locals start to patronize these restaurants. Some popular American restaurants are Billy Bombers, Breeks, Kenny Rogers and Jerry's BBQ.

Today, American and Singaporean are not limited by their options. Singapore has truly become a food paradise. You do not need to travel in order to get the best food in the world. Also, you get to enjoy these tasty American foods within fingertips, with just a taxi ride away.

One thing I like about American restaurant is that their serving is huge! I am a big eater and most servings of Asian restaurants are too small. With these American restaurants, you can rest assured that you will be satisfied with their serving and service.

These American restaurants really stand out with their huge servings, discounts and servicing. The ambiances of these restaurants are also very realistic and authentic, so that Americans who visit there will feel right at home. For Singaporean, we will also get a taste of what it would be like dining in New York or LA.

If you are looking for an American restaurant, head down to Orchard Road and look out for the neon signs. Also, don't forget to try out other delicious delicacies in Singapore too. Other than traditional American restaurants, there are many other good restaurants such as Jack's Place where you can dine with your love ones. You should also try out Singapore authentic food such as Laksa, Chicken Rice, Carrot Cake and Chili Crab at local coffee house. If you are unsure where to find these restaurants, do a search using Google Map Singapore.

About the Author

For Singapore Dining guide, visit JP Pepperdine now.

Monday, April 11, 2011

Popular Italian Food


When people think of popular Italian food they most likely think of spaghetti, lasagna, or tortellini. However, the popular Italian food in Italy is actually a little different and much more diverse.

A very popular Italian dish is the minestrone soup. This soup makes excellent use of one of the most popular ingredients in Italian food, beans. Beans are widely used in Italian food and are the feature ingredient in many soups, not just the minestrone. Along with beans are nuts as another popular ingredient. The main nut preferred for Italian food is the pine nut. This nut is used to not only accent pasta dishes, but also as a main ingredient in popular desserts. But, the most common and popular use of the nuts is in pesto sauce. Nothing says Italian food like a good pesto sauce.

Another popular Italian food ingredient is rice. By far the most popular use for this ingredient is in the signature Italian food dish of risotto. Here rice is mixed with broth, vegetables and spices to make a very unique and flavorful dish. Risotto is widely known as the most popular appetizer in Italian food and different regions take great pride in their individual risottos. Rice is also used in many different soups and stews throughout Italy.

The most ubiquitous of all popular Italian food ingredients is olive oil. The best olive oil is known as extra virgin olive oil and many Italian food chefs rely strictly on extra virgin olive oil. The difference between extra virgin olive oil and virgin olive oil is the acidity. In order to be classified as extra virgin the olive oil must not contain more than one percent acidity. Virgin olive oil on the other hand cannot have more than two percent acidity. Extra virgin olive oil is by far the most popular in Italian food where it is used not only to cook food in, but also as a dressing for salad and a dipping option for bread.

When discussing popular Italian food it is essential to talk about the most popular breads and pastries. Breads serve an important role in Italian food. They can be used as appetizers, sides to a meal, and desserts. The most popular breads are flavored with herbs, cheeses, and sun-dried tomatoes. An excellent dessert bread in Italian food is the biscotti which means "twice baked". This popular dessert is more like a biscuit or cookie and is often flavored with almonds and spices. Fruit can be added to the biscotti and a popular choice is cherries. Biscotti are very versatile in Italian food, being served for breakfast with coffee or as an after dinner treat.

There is much more to Italian food than just pasta and sauce. Italian food is a cuisine of diversity. When traveling in Italy it is often amusing to see the stark difference between what Italian food is popular in America and what Italian food is popular in Italy. If you want to try some different Italian food you certainly can't go wrong with these time tested favorites.

Learn more at http://www.allaboutitalianfood.com

About the Author

Aaron is a writer, teacher and soccer enthusiast in Langley, BC.

Italian Food Culture


Pizza is something that has basically shaped the fact that Americans love Italian food, and this dish has found its way into the hearts of more Americans that can be recorded. There are literally hundreds of different ways that you can enjoy pizza, and this Italian pie stretches from coast to coast in the USA and Canada. Each region feels that their version of this fine Italian fare is the best, while the Italians themselves actually know the truth. It is their pizza that is king, and you would be hard pressed to find someone that would argue the fact. Pizza is a simple food yet it is very filling, and it can be healthy as well. With the introduction of many different vegetables and meats you are basically getting many important nutrients within one sitting.

But perhaps the best way to get a full idea of Italian food history is to get out and eat some. Better yet, eat a lot! Eating Italian food is always better than Italian food history.

If you have decided that you want to take cooking Italian food at home to the next level, you might want to consider taking an official class. There are online courses that you can take, as well as college cooking courses. If you can afford a trip to Italy, there is no better way to learn Italian cooking than from the Italians themselves. A trip to Italy can give you the chance to learn from the masters, as well as taste local cuisines that can inspire you to attempt new creations in your home kitchen.

Many people that look to go out and dine on fine food would not be disappointed with excellent Italian food, and this food can be found in many places today. Some of the largest cities in the world have several different Italian restaurants available for diners to enjoy great food. The Mediterranean lifestyle is something that many people are actually quite familiar with, as this also includes Spanish and Greek foods that are very similar to what the Italians have to offer. These great restaurants in the larger cities can offer some of the most wonderful recipes to the diner, many of which are actually chef specialties. If you want the chef to do something specific, you could try and ask them prior to dining at the restaurant. This is when you could call the eatery, and speak to the chef directly.

Italy has its reputation through a lot of things, from sports cars and interior design, but for all that Italian cuisine has earned a nationally renowned. Of course, Italian national football team won the 2006 World Cup, but Italian cuisine continues to win the hearts of millions of people every day. It was observed that Italian cuisine is the most popular type of food when it comes to eating out. This is not just in Italy moderately the world at large is tending towards Italian food for diverse reasons.

You can feel free to try different variations on this recipe. Italian food is full of a variety of pastas and recipes that can keep you satisfied and healthy as long as you stay away from the heavy sauces and creams.

But once you do find a place with a good menu the next step is to learn to understand it. You want to make a good impression on your date by ordering something on the menu and knowing what to expect before the food arrives at the table. You surely don't want to order octopus soup because you think it is going to be a roasted pork dish. The best thing to do is learn how to properly say what you want to eat in Italian.

So the priorities are food first, service second, and a ambiance third. If all three are met, you have found a great Italian restaurant.

Every town has their own Italian food restaurants that are popular. Some Italian establishments are owned by family and some are chains. Check them out and try the different types of Italian cuisine and you will soon find your favourite.

About the Author

Excellent Italian Food Breaches the World Boarders. Visit Italian Food in Eugene. How to Find the Best Italian Food Restaurants. Visit Italian Food in Eugene.

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Top Filipino Cuisines


Wanted to try some authentic Filipino cuisines but don't know what they are? The Philippine islands, apart from their beautiful sites and talented, beautiful people, also serves some of the most succulent and delectable cuisines uniquely found across the Philippines. So here are some of the most popular Filipino cuisines that Filipinos and foreigners love.

Adobo
In Filipino cuisine, adobo refers to a common and very popular cooking process indigenous to the Philippines. When Spanish colonizers first took administration over the Philippines in the late 1500s and early 1600s, they encountered an indigenous cooking process which involved stewing with vinegar, which they then referred to as "adobo," which is the Spanish word for seasoning or marinade.

Lechon
In Lechon Philippine connotes a whole roasted pig, litsong baboy. In Lechon Philippine is often cooked during national festivities (known as fiestas), the holiday season, and other special occasions such as weddings, graduations, birthdays and baptisms, or family get-togethers. In Lechon Philippine is usually served with a liver-based sauce. However, in some cases, it maybe served Chinese style with steamed buns and a sweet plum sauce.

Mechado
Mechado is a stew served as a viand in the Philippines. Traditionally, it is cooked with beef briskets, potatoes, pimiento (red bell peppers), and tomatoes. It is similar to a beef stew, with elements of Filipino ingredients such as patis. The dish originated from a Spanish recipe whose name originally referred to the strips of pork back-fat that are threaded (mecha - wick) through thick pieces of cheaper lean beef to render them more tender and less dry.

Dinuguan
Dinuguan (also called dinardaraan in Ilocano, or pork blood stew in English) is a Filipino savory stew of blood and meat simmered in a rich, spicy gravy of pig blood, garlic, chili and vinegar. The term dinuguan comes from the word dugo meaning "blood". It is recognizably thick and dark, hence the Westernized euphemism "chocolate meat." It is similar to the Singapore dish pig's organ soup, differing in that it does not contain vegetables and has a characteristically thick gravy.

Kare-Kare
Kare-kare is a Philippine stew. It is made from peanut sauce with a variety of vegetables, stewed oxtail, beef, and occasionally offal or tripe. Meat variants may include goat meat or (rarely) chicken. It is often eaten with bagoong (shrimp paste), sometimes spiced with chili, and sprinkled with calamansi lime juice.

Traditionally, any Filipino fiesta (particularly in the Tagalog region) is not complete without kare-kare. In some Filipino-American versions of the dish, oxtail is exclusively used as the meat.

About the Author

Christine Layug writes articles for http://www.expressregalo.com Philippine Online Shopping Site, Express Regalo.

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Easy Fried Chicken Recipes


The easiest and the simplest way of cooking chicken is by frying it. Children absolutely love and adore this classic dish. Here are some easy fried chicken recipes for mom's out there who want to make fried chicken more interesting than the usual.

Easy Garlic Fried Chicken

This is one of easy chicken recipes that is really tasty and loved by many. These are the ingredients: garlic powder, ground black pepper, salt, paprika, flour, milk, egg, oil, and skinless chicken fillet. Cut the chicken as you wish. In a bowl, combine garlic powder, ground black pepper, salt, paprika, bread crumbs and flour. In a separate mixing bowl, whisk milk and eggs. Dip the chicken into the milk and eggs mixture, and then coat it with the dry mixture. Fry it in a skillet or deep fryer. Cook until the chicken is brown and tender. Drain oil using paper towels. Serve warm.

Asian Fried Chicken

Marinate the chicken in soy sauce, pepper, lemon, and garlic for at least 30 minutes (the longer, the better). After marinating, just simply fry it. Cook until the chicken is brown and tender. After, it is ready to serve!

Fried Chicken Strips with mushroom gravy

Cut chicken in strips. Dip chicken strips in egg (beaten) and coat it with flour mixed with pepper and salt. Deep fry it in a pan with hot fat or oil. Wait until the chicken browns and until it becomes crispy. For the mushroom gravy, all you have to do is simmer some chicken stock in a sauce pan under medium low heat. Add flour, salt and pepper. In another pan, sauté mushrooms, onions and garlic in butter over medium heat. Combine the sauce mixture with the mushroom mixture. Stir occasionally and let it thicken. Serve the fried chicken strips with separate mushroom gravy.

Deep South Fried Chicken

In a large skillet, heat the shortening over moderate heat. Combine flour, salt and pepper in a brown paper lunch bag. Put enough pieces of chicken in the paper bag and shake it until coated. Repeat the procedure with all the remaining chicken. Fry them in hot oil or shortening. Lower the heat, cover and cook for twenty-five minutes. After, remove the lid and turn up the heat a little. Fry them until the chicken pieces are golden brown and crispy. Drain oil using paper towels. Serve immediately.

These easy fried chicken recipes are simple yet they can make your fried chicken extra special. I am sure kids will like fried chicken more after trying these easy to do recipes.

About the Author

Article By : Recipe finder. Recipe finder, is a search engine with almost 1 million recipes, including lots of easy fried chicken recipes . You will also find interesting food related news and articles at the site.

Quick and Easy Chicken Recipes


What can beat a quick and easy recipe that is as good for your busy schedule as it is for your health? Not only is baking considered to be the healthiest way of preparing chicken, but it is also one of the quickest and simplest ways to prepare a tasty meal. Chicken is loaded with proteins and has considerably less fat than red meat, making it an ideal source of protein.

Whether prepared in whole or in part, it is recommended to keep the skin on the chicken while baking to prevent the meat from drying and burning. The skin helps maximize taste and can be removed before serving. For those who choose to leave the skin out entirely, baking chicken in sauce or as part of a casserole is a great way to serve a more juicy and tasteful entrée. There is a range of sauces and seasonings used to prepare truly mouthwatering chicken recipes.

Follow this expert tip for getting the most taste out of your baked chicken dishes: once the dish is prepared for baking, place the contents in an oven bag to preserve flavor throughout the cooking process. Your guests will taste the difference. An alternative is to place individual pieces of chicken in aluminum foil, along with sauce and seasonings. The foil should be folded in a way that would prevent the sauce from escaping. Arrange the foil-wrapped chicken pieces on a baking dish or tray and bake in a preheated 375 degree oven. Most recipes for chicken require a baking time of 30 minutes to one and a half hours.

Chicken lends itself well to a variety of flavors and seasonings. Below are some of the most popular chicken recipes among home cooks.

Honey 'n Garlic

Take a walk on the sweet side and add some honey flavor to your baked chicken. Baked chicken works incredibly well in a honey garlic sauce. Although it may seem like an odd blend at first, the sweetness of honey and the intensity of garlic are a wonderful combination of spices to make a mouthwatering chicken centerpiece. Honey has a tendency to mellow out the strong flavor of garlic, creating a smooth and flavorful taste to complement most side dishes. Honey 'n Garlic chicken tastes wonderful served alongside rice mixed with raisins and other dry fruits.

Barbecue Spices

The sweet tanginess of barbeque is a perfect complement for chicken and a great addition to your personal recipes cookbook. Barbecue sauce bakes well and comes in a large variety of flavors. From hot and spicy to sweet and tangy, there is ample variety to suit even the pickiest eaters. Barbecue sauce makes chicken tender, juicy and flavorful and is very easy to prepare.

Cranberry Sweetness

A special recipe to share with your loved ones is baked chicken with cranberry sauce. Although cranberry sauce is most commonly associated with holiday turkey dinners, cranberries make a perfect complement for chicken. Cranberry sauce adds much freshness and juiciness to the natural texture of chicken, and makes an enlivening sauce that is sure to be noticed. Serve this chicken dish in the wintertime, when the cranberries act as an immune booster. If fresh cranberries are hard to find, dried berries can be used instead. Be sure to reduce the amount of sugar in the recipe, as dried cranberries are usually pre-sweetened.

Asian Sauces

Craving exotic Asian flavors? Chicken in teriyaki sauce is a popular dish that is a sure crowd-pleaser. Homemade chicken teriyaki is healthier and tastier than takeout. Instead of opting for bottled teriyaki, make the sauce from scratch for a more intense and fresh flavor. Making the sauce yourself will also give you a great control over the final taste. With a bit of experimentation, you can create a sauce that is perfectly suited to your liking. You control the sweetness, thickness and the intensity of flavor. There is nothing quite like a teriyaki sauce made at home!

About the Author