A is for...

I Love Avocados

OK, I admit it, I'm addicted.... to everything avocado. I usually just rough chop the avocado and add a little fresh squeezed lemon, ok a lot, since I love that too! And real lemons folks, not that bottled stuff. I spread this on a warm tortilla wrap...

Almonds

Did you know that almonds are a healthy snack and that they have been proven beneficial for weight loss, and can help to combat a number of health problems? Almonds posses a very high nutritional profile and are revered for their ability to strength...

Organic Flavored Agave Nectar and Diabetic Sweetener - Low Glycemic Agasweet

Recipes and information about Agasweet, the original healthfully flavored agave nectar, currently causing a nation-wide buzz of excitement due to its wonderful taste and incredible versatility. Please note! When I state that agave sweeteners are "su...

A is for Artichokes

Growing up in northern California, we were spoiled by an abundant supply of artichokes. Castroville, in Monterey County, is the undisputed artichoke center of the world and supplies most of the crop for the entire country. Indeed, the popular Castrov...

Asparagus Recipes and Grow Guide

Find everything you need to know about fresh asparagus right here! Learn how to grow asparagus, how to cook asparagus and even some tasty asparagus recipes. Fresh asparagus is delicious on it's own but by adding a few simple ingredients you can turn...

A is for...

Mock Apple Pie

Wait. You want me to make an apple pie with no apples in it? Mock apple pie has a rich history from the settlers heading west across a young United States to the 20th-century suburban housewife. Read on to learn all about this culinary oddity.

Awesome Apples-On-A-Stick!

Coated with caramel or candied, an Apple-On-A-Stick is a favorite summer and fall treat!  It's great to do after apple picking with the family or for a Halloween party for kids and adults alike! Learn how to do caramel or candy apples yourself;...

B is for...

The Moistest Banana-Blueberry Bread

What do you do with all your overripe bananas? You make homemade Banana Blueberry Bread...of course. For anyone who has never baked before (or if you bake all the time) this banana blueberry bread is so easy you'll want to make it all the time. The b...

Butter Horns, Hungarian Pastry -- 5 Fabulous Recipes

Holidays were always THE time of year that my grandmother baked the most of her famous Hungarian Butter Horns.  She could make hundreds of these at a time, with several different fillings -- usually nuts, apricots, and prune.  It'...

HOW TO MAKE BREADMAKING EASY!

There are few smells more wonderful, more nostalgic, more mouth-watering than the aroma of home baked bread. Unfortunately, it is an activity that had lost many participants because of the lack of time in most modern lives but it is now beginning to...

Easy Banana Cream Pie Recipe

Start with fresh bananas to make the easiest home made banana cream pie ever! This is one dessert that you will find yourself making again and again, not only because of it's simple preparation but because it tastes so good! Banana cream pie travels we...

My Favorite Yummiest Biscotti Recipe

A couple of years ago, I was introduced to someone who baked biscotti. I loved the idea of the cookie, but thought I could do better. What I learned was that there aren't a lot of recipes out there and I wanted more variations. So I started making up...

B is for...

B is for Beets

Grown primarily for livestock food and sugar processing, only a small percentage of beets make it to the dinner table. Nevertheless, beets are enjoying a comeback! Easy to grow, they're completely edible from top to bottom, and packed with nutri...

I LOVE Brussels Sprouts -- 5 Fabulous Recipes!

Yes, it's been reported that according to a 2002 survey, the brussels sprout ranked as the most disliked vegetable in Britain. Well, according to my palate, the brussels sprout is one of my favorite vegetables as I love them, along with broccoli, cau...

C is for...

Espresso Machine Trivia

Freshly brewed espresso is part of the morning ritual for many of us, but what do you talk about while you're waiting for the barista? Espresso trivia is what you need. The photo is by journeyscoffee at http://flickr.com

We Love Coffee: Delicious Coffee and Cool Java Stuff

All About Coffee, Java, Non-Fat Latte, Espresso, Extra Shots, Starbucks, Seattle's Best, and more!

Cooking With Coffee

The reason for this lense is my love of Gourmet Coffee. There are so many countries that produce excellent coffees. I have spent most of my adult life seeking out and trying new countries and new flavours. Every country has their own unique flavours...

PurJava Concentrated Coffee

Learn how you can make a perfect cup of coffee, every time -- with no messy clean-up! PurJava was developed from a search for coffee that had great coffee taste without the bitterness and acidity of regular brewed coffee. Coffee beans are obtained f...

C is for...

Molded Chocolates, Chocolate Candy and Truffles

Molded chocolates are the most popular chocolate candies in the world. If you follow a few basic steps, you can make these wonderful confections yourself. Fancy decorations for wedding cakes, handmade chocolate truffles, elegant candy confections in...

Chocolate Fix

Our love affair with chocolate dates back probably two thousand years or more! Chocolate originates from the Mayan and Aztec peoples of the Americas who developed it as a bitter drink made from the fruit of the cacao tree. The word "chocola...

Chocolate :: The Gourmet Guide

From the moment the aroma rises to your nose, to the sensual bliss of the feel and taste, fine chocolate is a gastronomic experience like no other. The focus of this lens is on the finest chocolates available. Understanding the differences between th...

In Praise of White Chocolate

What used to be the poor stepsister to chocolate has become a delicacy in its own right. You can find it everywhere from the most expensive chocolatier to the grocery store checkout lane. This stuff is so popular that people rub it all over their bod...

Make Your Perfect Hot Chocolate

Hot chocolate might be anything from melted, spiced drinking chocolate to a packet of instant mix that just needs hot water.  You might call it hot cocoa or hot chocolate and it may or may not have whipped cream or tiny marshmallows on top. ...

C is for...

Stuffed Cabbage

One of my fondest food memories growing up is watching my grandmother make Stuffed Cabbage ... and then, of course, eating it!  She had a "secret ingredient" that made her cabbage rolls the best I've ever had!  I'll let you know w...

C is for Cucumbers

Cucumbers originated in India and have been cultivated for more than 3,000 years, making them perhaps one of our oldest crops. The cucumber was even mentioned in the Bible! Today they are grown all over the world for pickling and the fresh market. Cu...

I LOVE Cucumbers -- 5 Fabulous Recipes!

OMG ... I've been enjoying cucumbers since I was knee high to a grasshopper in Northeastern Ohio ... those grasshoppers up there sure got to be mighty big you 'all! My favorite recipe for cucumbers involved either sour cream, vinegar, or onions! My g...

Nuts About Coconut

Yes, well, bad pun aside, the sentiment is genuine: I love all things coconut. It evokes great memories for me (having a drink of coconut water at an outdoor market from a fresh split coconut, for example), and just plain tastes good. I hope to use...

Fabulous Chili Recipes

As we chili lovers know, there a many different type of chili. There are also millions of different way to use this hot and no so hot veggie. My goal with this lense is to collect as many chili recipes as possible from as many places in the world as...

C is for...

The Joy of Chutney

Ah, chutney, a condiment combining fruits and spices that will tantalize the taste buds, and have you looking for more. There are so many varieties of this great food, which is most often prepared fresh. With its consistency similar to that of jelly,...

Krackers

I love crackers, and I know a good cracker when I see one. Whole grain crackers are healthy foods! The fabulous Doctor Kracker krackers are organic crackers made from whole grain. They're also called Dr Kracker flatbread. We will discuss this great k...

I LOVE Cayenne Pepper -- Do You?

Cayenne is a medicinal and nutritional herb. It is a very high source of Vitamins A and C, has the complete B complexes, and is very rich in organic calcium and potassium, which is one of the reasons it is good for the heart. Many herbalists believe...

EASY TO MAKE CRESCENT ROLLS

Awwww! The smell of fresh bread baking! Soooo good! Just makes the mouth start to water and the tummy start to rumble as your mind conjures up that enticing mental image of a warm, flaky roll, butter slowly melting, running in golden threads down it...

C is for...

Chicken Recipes

Chicken Recipes - Delicious and Easy Chicken Recipes. Great tips and recipes to prepare mouth-watering chicken meals and entrees in a variety of ways including grilled chicken, chicken soup, chicken stir fry and chicken sandwiches. Plus, baked chick...

You Say You Don't Like Salad

Okay, so you're probably already sitting down since you're reading this lens, but if not, do, then relax because it's really hard to appreciate my humor if you're uptight and skimming this so fast that you read right over it. Next, hold on to your mo...

Healthy Chicken Recipes

It is extremely easy to browse the Internet or check a cookbook and find chicken recipes galore - but how many of them will actually be healthy as well as enjoyable? They may contain sauces which are laden with sugar or salt, or call for the chicken...

Chickendumplinchick's Southern Chicken Dressing

You say stuffing. I say dressing. You put yours in the bird. I bake mine in a casserole. You put sage in yours--please hit the back button on your computer. This recipe ain't for you! My mama came from a family of six children with two girls and fou...

CURE FOR WHAT AILS YA! Chickendumplinchick's Yummy Chicken Soup

No self-respecting cook can call herself (or himself) a cook without a "Cure for What Ails Ya" chicken soup recipe. It is what we serve our sick husbands, wives, children, and friends when we want to show them we care. Whether chicken soup has actual...

C is for...

My Cakes

My most recent addition is a police car cake! This was made for a friend of mine whose son was having a birthday. I think it turned out pretty cute despite the fact that I really had no plan going into it. I just kind-of "winged it" on this one. Happ...

50 Kids Birthday Party Themes: Cake & Cupcake Pictures, Ideas and Supplies

This lens will feature cake and cupcake Ideas, Pictures and Supplies for the 50 Most Popular Kids Birthday Themes!  I have come across a lot of cake pictures while searching the Internet, however, the majority of them are nothing more than...

Fondant Cake Decorating: It's Play-Doh for Grown Ups!

Fondant is referred to by many as "Baker's Play-Doh" because of it's clay-like consistency and molding capabilities. It is a creamy confection that can be used as a filling or a covering for cakes, cookies, candies, and other sweets. The standard fo...

Super Soft, Melt in Your Mouth, Sugar Cookie Recipe

This sugar cookie recipe bakes up super soft. Follow my recipe and roll the dough thick and you'll get a soft, flaky sugar cookie that melts in your mouth.

D is for...

D is for Dates

In some parts of the world date palms are so highly valued that the trees are passed down from generation to generation, sometimes in the form of a bride's dowry. Under the proper climate conditions, a tree is capable of prod...

Cooking with Dandelions

Put that stubborn backyard weed to better use... on your dinner table! Dandelions can be a yummy addition to a fresh salad, or can even be used to make a coffee-like drink. They also can be used in soups and as their own side dish.

E is for...

Making Amazing Japanese Molded Eggs

For those of you who love cute food, have kids, are obsessed with bento lunches, or just want to try something different: I give you Japanese Egg Molds. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to transform the common egg into something eggstraordinary (s...

Christmas Eggnog -- Fabulous Recipes

Eggnog is something that my family looks forward to each Christmas.  We like it so much that it's served at other holidays, as well.  What's great about this particular traditional drink is that you can "spruce" it up with the alc...

Eggnog

E is for Eggplant

Eggplants are part of the nightshade family, which includes potatoes, tomatoes, and peppers. Most people think eggplant is a vegetable, but it's actually a fruit and classified botanically as a berry. Colors vary from white (which is how the eggplant...

Eggplant

Eggplant is a key ingredient in Italian, Middle Eastern and Asian dishes. Eggplant is popular in Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, Indian, Creole, Greek and French recipes. Eggplant is a vegetarian's delight, as its meaty firm texture is an excellent...

F is for...

The Best Fudge Recipe Ever From A Professional Pastry Chef!

Dear Readers!! This is my first lens ever! I am a professional Pastry Chef with a true passion for Fudge!! :-)..and i've decided with my first lens im going to share one of the best kept secrets in Fudge Making! This recipe was passed down to me by...

The Incredible Edible Flower

The virtual flower garden is a place for information on the use of flowers in the kitchen and in cooking. Check back often as I add information and modules on specific flowers. Remember, not all flowers can be eaten.

Christmas Fruitcake

Growing up in Northeastern Ohio, we generally received a fruitcake each Christmas.  Personally, I don't mind a little bit of fruitcake during the holidays despite the fact that the fruitcake fell out of favor within the past few decades. Do you k...

F is for Figs

Fig trees thrive in California, where the first trees were planted at the San Diego Mission in 1759. The Spanish missionary fathers planted fig trees throughout the state as other missions were built. This is how the Mission Fig, the most popular bla...

F is for...

All About Roe - Fish Roe & Caviar

Find information on any type of fish roe and black & red caviar and buy here: American sturgeon caviar, Russian Beluga caviar, wild Alaskan salmon roe, Sevruga Caspian caviar, Scottish salmon caviar, Iranian Osetra caviar, golden whitefish caviar, To...

FOR COD'S SAKE!

This light-hearted lens is devoted to fishy food and forgotten words. Frankly, if you hate fried fish, dislike chips with malt vinegar on top, and can't abide an acronym with more than one meaning, then you've probably come to the wrong spot. On the...

I love Sushi, how about you?

I was first introduced to sushi by my good friend Jerry and did not care for it at all. But after I ate it few more times I got hooked. Same happened to my wife when I introduced her to sushi. Now we are making it at home and love every bite of it. S...

What is Basa?

Basa is a type of catfish that doesn't really taste like the catfish we grew up with in the United States. It's worthy of trying EVEN if you do NOT like catfish--it's better!   Basa is a fish that my family LOVES and really can't get enough of ....

G is for...

My Stinky Focaccia Bread Recipe

I put a lot of love into this lens because every time I make this Focaccia bread recipe I am reminded of my daughters little face with her nose scrunched up. I stumbled upon this recipe when my oldest daughter was very small and it has become a famil...

G is for Grapes

Californians have been cultivating grapes for more than 200 years, and provide an astounding 99 percent of the country's commercially grown grapes. The first vines were planted in 1769 when the Spanish friars established missions in the state and int...

Hungarian Goulash

Do you remember having stew as a child?  I hope you liked it!  It sure seems like I used to have lots of stew when I was younger. Think of this as stew, Hungarian style--that's Hungarian Goulash. Goulash--Gulyás in Hungarian...

The Best Green Bean Recipes

Find the absolute best green bean recipes and a quick guide to growing green beans in your garden right here. Green beans are a home garden favorite because they are so easy to grow and taste great! Photo by zoyachubby

Grapes

Grapes are my fave fruit. Here is my lens devoted to this sweet purple taste of heaven.

G is for...

Wow! Not Your Grandma's Gingerbread Men!!!

Gingerbread men have moved out of the Christmas season into fun celebrations and events all year long! Create gingerbread men to make a statement, dress up your special events, or even to send a special person a message! The spicier, the better!

Ginger

The look of ginger is pretty unappealing, but you can't judge a book by its cover, right? Fresh ginger is something that I always have on hand and use almost every day. Come in and discover the wonderful properties and uses of this ancient root.

How to Brew Your Own Ginger Beer

It originated in England in the 1700s, and was the nation's favourite drink for 150 years. When sales of the drink began to decline in the 1930s, England had 3,000 breweries dedicated to ginger beer! Originally it was an alcoholic beverage, averagi...

Teri Rose's Gingerbread Cake Recipe

I'm Teri Rose, a graphic designer and artist in Northern Nevada. I enjoy baking, gardening, photography and other creative pursuits. One of my favorite things is a hot, fragrant gingerbread fresh from the oven. Over the last fifteen years, I've bake...

H is for...

The Largest Hamburger Ever

Denny's Beer Barrel Pub in Clearfield, Pennsylvania is proud of its Main Event burger which costs $379, feeds up to 200 people, and takes 9 hours to prepare. The super-sized burger features an 80-pound beef patty, a 30-pound bun, 12 tomatoes and 160...

XXX - Means Hot HOt HOT SAUCE!

I remember being a college freshman at Georgia Tech, and having a contest with my fraternity brothers to see who could eat the most jalapenos. Back then I thought that was the hottest thing on Earth. Then I discovered hot sauces. Like most people,...

H is for Hot Peppers

Hot peppers, or chili peppers, were first cultivated by the people of Central and South America as far back as 3000BC. Christopher Columbus is largely credited for introducing pepper seeds to Europe in 1493. Since that time, the popularity of hot pep...

Georgian Honey Walnut Candy

This easy to make, traditional Georgian (The republic, not the state) honey-walnut candy, not only tastes good but is actually good for you. Making this and eating it at the beginning of a new year is said to bring good luck to the family but this ea...

H is for...

Simple Guide to Cooking with Herbs and Spices

Most households have herbs and spices in their pantry or spice rack. Some do use them and some other seem to forget they're even there... except for the classic salt and pepper, that is. Among the people who use herbs and spices, few know what they...

Herbal Goddess: Herb Butters and Dips

Simple combinations of herbs combined with butter, yogurt, mayonnaise or oil can be a flavorful way to incorporate fresh herbs into light, tasty meals. Herb butters are perfect when served with a baked potato and salad, or boiled meat or fish. Dips m...

I is for...

I is for Ice

My freezer is full of ice... I make cubes from freshly squeezed lemons, coffee, and even leftover wine! The cubes last for several months in ziploc bags and are ready for use in soups, sauces, and beverages even months after the last lemon has been p...

How to make homemade icecream

Desserts might come last on the menu but they're high on the list of life's pleasures. And ice cream, during the hotter months, is a favourite. There are many different ways to make homemade ice cream; the normal freezing method, using bench top comm...

J is for...

Jello Recipes

You can't go to a family picnic, or a neighbor's birthday party without seeing a jello dish of some sort on the table. This are the recipes lovingly made and passed on within families. These are the down to earth recipes that memories are based on. T...

J is for Juice

Fresh fruit and vegetable juices are nearly impossible to purchase in supermarkets now, due to the widespread use of pasteurization to control bacteria. The problem is, once the juice is pasteurized, most nutrients and all beneficial enzymes are dest...

Recipes Junction

Welcome to your recipe junction where you will find easy to prepare jamaican recipes for all types of occasions and seasons. Whether it be for weddings, birthdays, parties, christmas, easter etc. Also, you can purchase your very own jamaican recipe b...

K is for...

Kifli -- Traditional Hungarian Pastry

Kifli is a traditional Hungarian pastry made by cutting sheets of soft flour dough into triangular wedges, and wrapping those wedges to create a crescent-shaped morsel, which is then baked. I think of them as a variation on the Hungarian Butter Horns...

K is for Kitty Litter Cake

Since I have two lenses on real kitty litter boxes, it seemed fitting to choose the infamous Kitty Litter Cake for the 'K' entry in my culinary favorites alphabet series. One of my aunts emailed this recipe to me last year and apologized for months a...

L is for...

Limoncello di Capri

More than a century ago, Vincenza Canale, owner of one of the first hotels on the island of Capri, offered her guests a small glass of lemon liqueur as an after-dinner drink, or digestivo. The fame of this lemony nectar soon spread amongst travelers,...

The Maine Lobster Shack

The informational guide to that delectable crustacean, of the cold North Atlantic waters, of the Gulf of Maine. The Maine lobster. Visit The Maine Store

I Love Lasagna

When we think of lasagna, most of us imagine that rich concoction full of cheeses and usually meat, tomatoes, and large, flat pasta noodles. You might not immediately think of Mexico or Greece. You might not associate lasagna with shrimp or tofu or l...

Limes - The Best Citrus

Okay, maybe the rest of the world thinks of oranges or lemons first when they think of citrus. Not me. For me it is limes. I love their color, their flavor, everything. They look cool and they taste even better. Want to learn more? Follow along with...

Recipes and Cooking with Lavender

This lens is dedicated to the exploration of lavender as a culinary ingredient. You will find many different kinds of recipes using fresh or dried lavender, lavender oil, lavender agave nectar, lavender sugar, and other fine lavender-flavored product...

M is for...

Muffins Even I Can Bake

The last thing I want to do is spend a lot of time in the kitchen... so I avoid it whenever possible. But I do like a muffin with my coffee... especially if they are low in sugar. That means I have to make them myself. But occasionally I will throw i...

Moxie

Moxie: The Maine State drink, a bitter cola with the bite of a viper, once called Snake Oil the Elixer of Life, described by it's lovers and haters alike as tasting like a snake soaked in kerosene, and here is my lens devoted to the best tasting drin...

All about Monkey Bread!

A traditionally Hungarian food that made it's way to women's recipe magazines in the U.S. during the 1950's. Although typically a Hungarian breakfast food in the U.S. it is sometimes served for breakfast but more often served as a traditional holiday...

The Absolute Best Home Made Manicotti Recipes

Nothing beats a steaming dish of manicotti dripping with tomato sauce and loaded with cheese, and in my opinion, nothing compares to home made.  The shells are easy to make once you know how and you can stuff them with all of your fami...

How to Make a Margarita

There's a local Mexican restaurant I go every now and then. The food is not so great, but I have to admit I keep going back for the Margaritas. Their secret? Fresh limes and premium tequila. Put away that boring artificially-flavored and strangely c...

M is for...

Mushrooms, Mushrooms and Mushrooms

You guessed it, I absolutely love mushrooms too! Mushrooms complement almost any meal, they are easy to saute and add flavor, texture, and nutrients to just about anything. From appetizers and salads to main dishes and sides, mushrooms can be enjoyed...

Butchepedia!! - Your No.1 Resource For Meat! :-)

Welcome!! I am The Online Butcher! Here you'll find an Immense Butchepedia of Information relating to Meat, Butchery Techniques, Cooking Times, Butchers, Welfare and What to Look for in QUALITY Beef and Veal, Poultry and Game, Lamb and Mutton, Pork...

N is for...

No more sugar, baby!

Several existing lenses demonstrate the harmfulness of refined sugars and artificial sugar substitutes. Here are some examples of nature's own pantry with healthful alternatives for everyone's sweet tooth, even diabetic sweeteners. Find info on agav...

I'm a little Nuts about Nuts

I really couldn't tell you which ones are my favorite, I don't think I could pick just one, from pecans to almonds, I love 'em all! And there is nothing yummier than a handful of nuts for a quick snack.   Nuts are seeds that are covered...

O is for...

Olives

What's not to love about olives? Could it be the combination of the meatiness and saltiness, maybe it's the color and texture, or perhaps it's what makes a great martini? Whatever the reason, I invite you to celebrate this ancient delicacy with me.

Vegetarian French Onion Soup

I love French onion soup, but it's almost always made with beef broth, and I'm a vegetarian. I have my own French onion soup recipe that is easy, vegetarian, and really yummy. Read on and learn how to make it yourself!

Onions

Onions are the bad boy of the vegetable world. They stink, they make make you cry but my God they're delicious. Salad Onions, scallions, spring onions, pickled onions, red onions, brown onions, shallots or white onions. I love them all. It would pr...

P is for...

Organic Heritage Amish Popcorn! Yummy Fabulous!

Once you've had Amish popcorn, made with Amish popcorn oil and drizzled with Amish butter, well, there is  just NO GOING BACK! In comparison, all other popcorns just taste stale and flat, in the same way that after you've had homemade noodles, bo...

Pomegranates

Pomegranate~The healthy fruit you eat the seeds from! This fruit is filled with delicious,juicy seeds that have an acid,almost citrus taste.Pomegranates are not only delicious, but are filled with healthful anti-oxidants!Yummy!!! Be sure to scroll al...

Pumpkins!

Pumpkins are very popular during the fall season, especially for Halloween and Thanksgiving. They have so many uses. You can plant, grow, and cook them. They can be used for decorations, or to create beautiful, albeit temporary, works of art. Pumpkin...

The Pomegranate

The Pomegranate is a very popular fruit. It is used in cooking, for juice, in desserts and as a healthy snack. Here is some great information on the Pomegranate!

How to Make Healthy Pumpkin Bread

Quickbreads like pumpkin bread have long been staples for bakers. They are tasty, easy to make, and freeze well: you simply double the recipe and make a loaf for later. On this lens, you'll find a recipe for lightly-spiced pumpkin bread and substitu...

P is for...

The Absolute Best Home Made Pizza Recipes

The best home made pizza recipes, made especially for you, by you! Includes the best pizza recipes, International pizza recipes, unusual pizza recipes, pizza making video, information on buying the best pizza making products and more! Ho...

Pizza

Pizza, is there any food that tastes better? Maybe, but I sure do love to eat mushroom, black olive, and lima bean pizza! I think I eat pizza more than any thing else, so here I am building a lens about pizza.

Homemade Pizza Recipe

everything you need to know to make great homemade pizza. I help you make the dough, the sauce, and I'll even pop on over when I'm in town to help you devour it....well, maybe not..., but enjoy anyway!

Healthy Cooking: Healthy Pizza

Include pizza as a part of your healthy diet by changing a few ingredients.  There are newer versions of traditional toppings with less fat and more flavor than their "healthy" cardboard counterparts of 20 years ago. &nb...

P is for...

Polish Pierogi -- Ethnic COMFORT Food

Growing up in Northeastern Ohio, I can tell you that we ate lots and lots of pierogi!  The varieties I remember having most often included stuffings of mashed potato, kraut, dry cottage cheese [my favorite], and PRUNE!  OMG, I did not like...

Panini Sandwiches

Delicious Panini (Panino) Grilled Sandwiches! Recipes, Ingredients, Articles, Cookbooks, Party Ideas, Panini Makers & Grills. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and even Dessert Panini Ideas!

Best Panini Sandwich Recipes

Two slices of of Italian bread stuffed with delicious goodies such as mozzarella, tomatoes, prosciutto, fresh basil, roasted red peppers, or whatever else makes you happy. Brush with extra virigin olive oil, then press between the hot plates of a pan...

Pasta

I was invited to a family in Rome. They said we would have dinner together. I really was looking forward to this visit. We talked and laughed as you do and finally we sat down at the dinner table. They served steaming hot pasta in large bowls. I ate...

Pierogi

Pierogis are amoung the best foods ever created. This lens is devoted to Pierogis.

P is for...

Did you know 2008 is the International Year of the Potato?

Spicy Potato Salad -- Not Your Grandmother's Recipe!

Ladies and gentlemen ... first of all, welcome to yet another of my food lenses! If you've been reading my array of such lenses, you've probably noted that I probably have less than two dozen of food and cooking lenses. However, these lenses typicall...

POSH POTATO

Welcome to the "Posh Potato", a tribute to tame if not timid tubers, (also affectionately known as "chips" and "fries" or "spuds" and "taters"). Humanity owes a great deal to the edible "earth apple" if not sometimes highly entertaining "Potato Head...

Ramp and Red Potatoes -- Not Your Grandmother's Recipe!

Well, you have come to the right place! Head Chef Jaguar Julie is at your service ... this recipe is hot from my kitchen to yours. It's been prepared and tested by a host of discerning tastebuds -- that would be my willing coworkers. I promised them...

P is for...

Pickles

I love pickles. Sweet pickles, sour pickles, dill pickles, freezer pickles, and all others. This lens is devoted to all things to do with pickles.

Paprika -- Hungarian Spice

I've been using Paprika for quite some time, well before I could drive a car. In fact, I even remember as a child adding it to my oatmeal ... today I wouldn't recommend that but I have seen friends adding it to their scrambled eggs! My grandmother u...

P is for...

Party Dips

Find fantastic favorite dip recipes for appetizers both hot and cold. I've listed my favorite party dips that I've found over the years at sites on the web and included my own tips and ideas for serving them.   Photo of Ar...

Party Appetizers

Looking for something interesting to serve at your next party?  Find a cavalcade of awesome appetizers to please even the pickiest palate. Appetizers are perfect to serve at Graduation parties, on New Year's Eve, at Cocktail parties, before dinne...

Q is for...

Quinoa - The Wonder Grain

Quinoa (pronounced KEEN-wah) is a native of Peru where it grows both wild and under cultivation for centuries begining with the Incas. It is technically a pseudo-cereal since it is not a member of the grass family, but rather produces seeds (usually...

R is for...

At Home: A Romantic Dinner For Two

As a mother of five, I know how hard it is to find time for romance. Maybe you have a busy home life and/or a hectic job. The trick is to schedule some time for just the two of you. You often hear romance compared to fire; here's how to fan the flame...

How to Roast Red Peppers

How to Roast Fresh Red Pepper for Recipes Once you've tasted fresh roasted red pepper you will never settle for the jarred kind again. Roasting fresh red peppers is easy and adds a depth to the pepper flavor that can't be beat. There are several metho...

I LOVE Rhubarb -- 5 Fabulous Recipes!

Growing up in Northeastern Ohio, we grew quite a variety of fruits and vegetables in our backyard garden. Corn and green beans grew quite well for us, but I can't help but remember the fabulously hearty stalks of rhubarb that our garden produced! It...

Rock Candy

Rock is a hit around the world.  It is a marvel of science, and a sweet treat for the partaker.  It is sugar in its purest form and of the first candies made. 

R is for...

Southern Road Kill Cooking

It's downright sinful to waste in the South. No sir-ee. You don't throw out perfectly good food stuff. Someone in China might be starving. Of course, it may very well be that kids in China hear the same story. "Clean that plate. Kids in the Sout...

S is for...

Sweet Potatoes: Healthy, Tasty, and Versatile

Yes, sweet potatoes come in a can, in gelatinous chunks destined to be covered with marshmallows.  If that's your idea of sweet potato perfection, stop reading this lens.  If you'd like something different - and much healthier - on your Tha...

How to Cook Spaghetti Squash

Not sure how to cook spaghetti squash? It's easy. Follow these simple directions for a tasty treat your whole family will love. Cooked spaghetti squash can be served topped with your favorite "real spaghetti" sauce, with butter and Parmesan cheese, o...

Salt :: The Gourmet Guide

The BEST barbecuing secret around, natural sea salts with incredible flavor, high potency minerals naturally!  Prepare your meats, vegetables and marinades with flavorful earth salts- no one will know how you do it! "Until recently salt was...

Authentic Feast-Style Sausage and Peppers

Authentic Italian San Gennaro Feast Style Sausage and Peppers Recipe Depending on which part of the country you live in, you might call it a hero, sub or hoagie but whatever the name, you have to admit, nothing compares to an Authentic Italian Feast...

Sweet Potato

I love sweet potatoes! My favorite snack is Sweet Potato Pie! This lens is to share with you some recipes, stories and facts about sweet potatoes.

S is for...

How to make the Perfect Smoothie...

A Smoothie is a blended beverage made from fresh fruit and best served chilled. In addition to fruit, many smoothies include crushed ice, frozen fruit, or even various health supplements. They have a milkshake-like consistency which is thicker than s...

Quick Salad Recipes - Quick Meals in Minutes

Have you ever just wanted a quick meal that you could make in minutes? Wanted a meal that was not only fresh and simple with just a few ingredients but also healthy too? I have always loved to cook but the time for cooking has grown considerably sho...

S.O.S - SECRETS OF SOUP

I love soup! The possibilities are endless, from simple clear soups to thick, creamy potato soups. It can make a light repast or a complete, hearty meal. Simple or exotic. Savory or sweet. Such potential! What do you do when the soup just doesn't do...

S is for...

National Salsa Month | Salsa Recipes

Are you a salsa lover? Then you have something to celebrate during the month of May because May is National Salsa Month! Whether you prefer your salsa red or green, hot or mild, chunky or smooth, you'll find that you have plenty of options when it c...

Create Your Own Signature Salsa

The term "salsa" covers a wide variety of tasty meal additions. It literally translates as "sauce," and you can put it on meats and veggies or use it as a dip for your chips. Whatever you do with your salsa, it's sure to spice up your meal. Read on t...

T is for...

Tuna Hot Dish: Easy Comfort Food

Tuna hot dish has long been a staple in American kitchens. The creamy, noodly goodness warms your body and your heart. You don't need to invest the time of pre-heating and baking tuna casserole to enjoy the rich flavor. This lens contains my family'...

Turkey Stuffing Recipe

Two things I look forward to each year, Thanksgiving and Christmas Dinner. Is it the turkey I look forward too? Naw, it's my stuffing! I used to make everything from scratch, but this became difficult as where we lived at the time, I couldn't easily...

Totally Terrific Tomato Recipes

Totally Terrific Tomato - Recipes and Growing Guide is a collection of totally terrific tomato recipes, a treasure trove of tomato information and a growing guide to help you grow the most totally terrific tomatoes ever. You'll find everything you nee...

How To Make Home Canned Turkey Vegetable Soup

Learning how to can your own soup (or anything else for that matter) just takes a little time, minimal equipment and the desire to preserve food for your family that contains ingredients you are fully aware of.

Bananas About Tomatoes

Welcome to my tribute page to the worlds greatest fruit masquerading as a vegetable -the little red beauty that is the tomato. On this lens you'll find a few of my favourite tomato recipes as well as links to more than a few I wish I'd thought of. Y...

T is for...

Blooming Tea - Magical Flowering Teas Unfold Before Your Eyes

Blooming and Flowering Teas are truly a unique experience. You can create a beautiful magical, moment, a moment to savor, simply by brewing tea. The carefully sewn hand-crafted blooming tea petals are put into special glass teapot. Once the hot wate...

V is for...

Herbal Goddess: Herb Vinegars

Vinegar is one of the most ancient preserving mediums. It is made by souring wine, cider or beer. It tastes sour because the alcohol content turns into acetic acid. Making your own herb and spice vinegars is very easy and can add some awesome flavors...

I LOVE Balsamic Vinegar -- 8 Fabulous Recipes!

Something that I found amazing to learn when writing this lens is that Balsamic Vinegar really wasn't all that popular in North America until the 1980s!  The credit for popularizing this food product is attributed to the Italian food writer, Mar...

Velveeta...Unwrapped

An in-depth look at one of the most villified foods in the United States. It's right up there with Spam. Get the history, find recipes you won't believe, learn how to make your own, find out what you do when someone gives you 30 pounds of Velveeta as...

Venezuelan Black - 100% Venezuelan cacao, the finest, rarest, most expensive cacao in the world

Willie Harcourt-Cooze is passionate about real chocolate (cacao) and is on a mission to produce the best chocolate in the world, from bean to bar. His final chocolate brand called 'Venezuelan Black' is the culmination of a dream that started 12 year...

How to Make Great Vegetable Broth

Homemade vegetable broth is easy to make and so much healthier and more flavorful than anything that you can buy in a supermarket. It's versatile, with uses that go far beyond making vegetable soup. Best of all, making homemade vegetable stock is as...

V is for...

Why Vegetarian? The Environment & cruelty to animals

There are several reasons for people to become vegetarians. For me it has to do with the spiritual effects of eating meat as well as the impact of eating animals on animals and the environment in general.

Vegetarian Health Tips

My collection of health tips for vegetarians. There is a lot of news about healthy foods these days and some of it just doesn't fit the vegetarian diet. This is my attempt at keeping it all straight and simple (and with as few pills as possible). I'...

W is for...

Flip the Pancake and Sing about Waffles

You can make the best waffles and pancakes with the cast iron griddles and pure Vermont Maple Syrup. To get you in the mood you gotta check out the video "Do you like pancakes?" My daughter drew the cats that keep popping up around the Waffles. So...

I know my Weenie!

Who proclaimed with all his might: "Weeni - Widi - Wici!"? Caesar - upon conquering the Frankfurters! Ouch...! Really good ones are hard to find - jokes as well as wiener dogs. It's very important to know your weenie! Here are some recommendations f...

Watermelon

  "Whenever I want to feel really beautiful, I help myself to a glass of Daddy's watermelon wine." One lady to another in Destrehan, Louisiana   My childhood memories of summer days are filled with thoughts of watermelons. Whether we...

Irish Whiskey

The word whiskey is believed to be a corruption of the Gaelic word uisce beatha which means "water of life". The Scots call their spirit "whisky" (without the "e") whereas the Irish and Americans call theirs "whiskey". Confusingly though there are h...

W is for...

How to Pair Wine and Cheese

Learn how to properly pair wine and cheese to encounter the most savory experience. The following suggestions should help you achieve excellent results at your next wine and cheese party.

Understanding Wine: A Beginners Guide

Grape growing and winemaking spread throughout Europe in the Greek and Roman times. Wine became such a valued trade item that the Romans, in 97BC, ordered the known world to pull out all vines in an attempt to protect their wine industry. Wine began...

Y is for...

Yorkshire Pudding - How do you eat yours?

It is thought to originate, as its name suggests, from Yorkshire in the North of England. It is similar to Popovers, but it's not meant to rise as high or be as airy. Like all things simple and homey, though, Yorkshire Pudding is the subject of muc...

Z is for...

The Absolute Best Zucchini Recipes

The absolute best zucchini recipes, zucchini holidays, zucchini videos, you name it and if it's about zucchini you'll find it here!  Zucchini is a nutritious and versatile vegetable that often gets overlooked.  It's light tas...

What Should We Do with X?

Here are suggestions from our fellow lensmasters:

Xtras like herbs and spices

Xigua (pronounced she-gwah) a Chinese name for
watermelon

Hey, Monkeybrain!

STARBUCKS vs. DUNKIN' DONUTS -- Coffee WARS!

STARBUCKS vs. DUNKIN' DONUTS -- Coffee WARS! Did you hear that STARBUCKS is closing down some 600 stores affecting some 12,000 workers? And, all this after they recently closed for 3 hours for employee training to refocus on making better coffee? Well...

COOL WHIP vs. REDDI-WIP -- Which FLUFF is your favorite?

COOL WHIP vs. REDDI-WIP -- Which FLUFF is your favorite? Ah, a sweet topic indeed. Cool Whip vs. Reddi-Wip! For years the battle has waged over these mighty contenders for the #1 spot amongst dessert toppings -- and other uses not to be mentioned in...

LIMBURGER Cheese -- Yummy or Stinky?

LIMBURGER Cheese is Yummy! I absolutely LOVE the taste of Limburger Cheese. Yes, it is YUMMY and delicious with a slice of onion on a fresh piece of rye bread. I've been loving this pungent cheese since I was a wee one in Northeastern Ohio. It seems...

SALTY or SWEET -- Which type of snack do you prefer?

SALTY or SWEET? Which type of snack do you prefer? Actually, I prefer salty snacks ... I really do not have a sweeth tooth! I personally think it tells a lot about the person as to which they prefer. Is it something that's in the genes? Is it a male...

Who's Busy in the Kitchen?

Treasures-By-Brenda, Stinky, The_Homeopath, debnet, Koltana

Our Favorite Chef on Squidoo

Chef Keem's Best Recipes To Die From - Ever.

They're rich, they're yummy, they're proven to take you to Heaven...on Earth, or otherwise. You live only once per reincarnation. Eat good while you can! What could be better than my best recipes to die from? I'm as serious as too much pan grease in...

Culinary Arts Alaska - Fishing, Cooking, Salmon, Bear!

Alaska jobs - dream jobs! I'm cooking, but I'm also fly fishing, bear chasing, adventure hunting, beach combing, and wild strawberry picking. I entertain my guests with comedy routines, and I develop recipes for wild salmon and wild duck. I see clos...

Here's What's Hot & Fresh!

Culinary Arts Alaska - Fishing, Cooking, Salmon, Bear!, The Largest Hamburger Ever, A is for Artichokes, Healthy Chicken Recipes, How to make the Perfect Smoothie...

Featured Celebrity Chefs

Gordon Ramsay ?

Gordon Ramsay is definitely one of the most controversial chef's around. I actually don't even like reality shows, but find I am always watching his most popular TV shows; Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares, Kitchen Nightmares and Hell's Kitchen. Scottish by...

Bobby Flay ?

Bobby Flay's culinary versatility is evident in the multiple talents he brings to the field: as a critically-acclaimed chef/restaurateur, award-winning cookbook author and television personality. However his first priority always remains with his res...

Mark McEwan ?

In 1976 Mark McEwan began his career in Canada’s food industry at Toronto’s Constellation Hotel where he worked under the tutelage of Executive Chef, Joseph Vonlanthen. Mark McEwan is a Canadian Celebrity chef based in Toronto. He is curre...

James Beard

James Beard was most active in Portland when I was a young child so I don't remember ever meeting him or eating in his restaurants. I do remember everyone deferring to him as setting the standard for dishes and menus. He was The Master. In our fami...

Food Network :: Celebrity chef round-up

Okay, it's addictive. From Mario Batali to Bobby Flay, if it's in the kitchen, it's on Food Network. It's my guilty pleasure–and I'm not alone. The network is seen in 100 million households. In addition to New York, it has offices in Atlanta, L...

Celebrity Chef Video Showcases

Giada De Laurentiis Video Showcase

I love her personality and her relationship to food! Nobody goes hungry around Giada- and its hard to find anyone that will fed the tribe any better! Any guy (it seems to me) would LOVE a woman like that...

Naked Chef Jamie Oliver Videos

The Naked Chef, also known as  Jamie Oliver is an unconventional and very creative celebrity chef who has changed the way the Brits look at cooking. Jamie has also changed the way the British cook! With his demos, TV cooking shows and books he h...

What's Cookin'?

Koltana Thank you for adding my lens. I hope all of you enjoy it. I wish the best to all of you :) Posted June 30, 2008

JaguarJulie Just dropping in to say again how much I love this group and wondering when oh when it will be the first group of the day? It was/is dinner time so I thought about your yummy group today and wanted to just say HI! Posted June 25, 2008

cleona Thanks Kim for adding my lens and your angel's blessing. You have just given me an inspiration. Posted June 25, 2008

raz4125 Thanks a million Kim for adding me to the group and also bestowing an angel blessing to my lens. Of course I'm so new to this that it took me some time to figure out what was going on but now I know. Hope to make lots more lenses in the near future. Posted June 20, 2008

awelldressedbullet Thank you Kim for noticing and including my Corn on the Cob lens. This is probably my most favorite group, and it's yummy too! I hope to create some more foodie lenses soon! - Kathy Posted June 19, 2008

Sylviane_Nuccio Great Cooking stuff! Love to cook, love natural cooking and good food. Posted June 15, 2008