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Holiday gift idea

It’s hard to believe that fall of the year will soon be here… and with that, the holiday season right on it’s heels. As I stood in line to register my child for school thinking that it was too soon to getting my little man ready for school. But no, it was the end of July and with school starting in a few weeks… fall was right around the corner. So, if school snuck up on me so quickly, what would the holiday season do? Come running up out of nowhere in a huge sneak attack from behind and clobber me? Yeah, it probably would. So while my mind wondered while standing in the endless line of parents and children I thought of something… holiday gift baskets. What a great idea. With holiday gift baskets, I could go as big or as little or as personal as I wanted to. Tanners Pecans already has such a variety of holiday gift basket to choose from the only problem would be selecting one. I send holiday gift baskets for nearly any and every occasion. Doesn’t just have to be at holiday time. My mother received one on Mother’s Day, my son’s teacher at the end of the school year, my friends for their birthday… I can always find a holiday gift basket for whatever it is I have coming up. And what I love is their versatility. If I’m going to send a family group gift, I can go with our Southern Creation holiday gift basket. It is chock full of yummy southern traditions. It has mini pecan pies, chocolate pecan fudge, peanut butter fudge, and our award winning brownies… Oh my goodness, the brownies. Who doesn’t like brownies? Add nuts, peanut butter, caramel, or cream cheese icing… whatever… brownies are just the best!

Grandma’s Brownies:

3 / 4 cup butter

2 cups packed brown sugar

3 eggs

4 (1 ounce) squares unsweetened chocolate, melted

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup all – purpose flour

1 cup chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Grease 8 x 8 inch baking pan. In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar, and eggs until light and fluffy. Stir in the unsweetened chocolate and vanilla until well blended. Mix in the flour, and then the walnuts. Spread batter evenly into the prepared pan. Bake for 1 hour in the preheated oven, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool in the pan on a wire rack before cutting into bars.

Now, our Southern Creation holiday gift basket is our top of the line… filled with just about everything including the kitchen sink… Kidding about the sink of course, but this gift basket is sure to be packed full of goodies that the recipient will absolutely love. We have holiday gift baskets for sweeter tastes and more gourmet tastes and even sugar free tastes. Holiday gift baskets that include everything from orange, butter rum, and cinnamon candied pecans to chocolate pecan fudge, brownies, and nuts to cheese straws, she-crab soup, and pepper jelly. Now my only problem is deciding who gets what…

Tanner

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Some people can imagine chicken delicious only when it’s fried. Granted one has to admit that it really does indeed taste great when cooked like that, but is it healthy? And if it is not healthy, is there another way to prepare chicken quick and easy which not only will taste great but also provide a much healthier option for those on a diet or who simply wish to watch what they and their families eat.

Well, in fact there is, there’s a much better alternative of cooking it fried and indeed just as delicious, if not more — the simple question then is: Why not bake chicken?

It is not hard as it sounds either. By following simple instructions you are on your way to a healthy and great tasting meal.

To bake chicken we need either a whole chicken or 6 chicken breast pieces. Wash the dressed chicken thoroughly and coat with olive oil. Sprinkle enough salt and pepper to taste. If we want, we may put some marinade mix, like a concoction of rosemary herbs, thyme or oregano, dried or fresh. For simple marinade, try soy sauce and lemon. As we’re doing these, pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees.

Now we’re ready to bake chicken.

-Put the chicken on the baking dish. Then place it in the oven and make sure it is uncovered.

-Bake chicken for an hour and a half in 350 degrees till we see the chicken skin turn into a luscious and juicy golden brown.

-Place inside a meaty part of the chicken a meat thermometer to check if the meat temperature has reached 170 degrees. If it has then we’re ready to take it out of the oven. To bake chicken thighs we need the meat temperature to reach 180 degrees. These standard meat temperatures make sure we bake chicken well with all parts cooked. Half-cooked chicken, or any meat for that matter, can cause stomach upset or even food poisoning.

-Then we cut the fleshy part of the meat deep. This should reveal white meat inside instead of pink and clear lip-smacking juice, not reddish. To bake chicken correctly all these tests should be satisfied. If not, we bake the chicken some more. Then we’re ready to serve tender and juicy baked chicken, in all its yummy goodness.

When we opt to bake chicken we come out with a healthy and tastier chicken than when we fry it. Deep frying may be a good idea. But baked chicken is still many times better. When re-heating left-overs through the oven chicken often comes out tasting better than if we re-fry left-over chicken.

When we bake chicken we can even opt to stuff it with potatoes, or garlic and onions. There are lesser chances of burning the meat or ruining the skin cover. Lots of times, we need breading to fry chicken—that’s added cholesterol. If we merely bake chicken there is no need for any covering on the skin surface.

So opt to bake chicken more often. It will surely do well for our taste, health, and family.

John Grant is a the author for a how to site where he is writing articles about how to bake chicken.

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Feeding you, your family, and your friends means having something delicious that is also healthy. With the healthy awareness of our society, feeding those you care for a healthy meal is a vital part of living life to its fullest. Mexican recipes offer a tantalizing way to not only feed those you care about healthy meals but it also is a colorful addition to any type of meal.

When it comes to finding the best Mexican recipes for your needs, you will find there are copious ways to get the meals you want. Whichever you choose, you will have found a perfect method for your needs. Sometimes, using a combination of methods will serve you best.

Take a look at a few of these great ideas when it comes to finding the Mexican recipes you need for your needs!

Good old-fashioned cookbooks will never go out of style. Cookbooks change over time as do the methods of cooking. When cooking with some of the older cookbooks, it is important to realize that a lot of the ingredients may not be as healthy as they once where. These also help find those specialty meals you want such as those on a vegan diet or low-fat diet.

Cookbooks can be on a specific cuisine or a combination of meals ranging from breakfast to dessert. The type of cookbook you purchase will be well suited for your needs. Of course, make sure the cookbook fits your lifestyle! If you only have an hour in the evening to cook a family meal purchasing a cookbook where meals take all day is not going to be suited for your needs.

With the popularity of the internet, finding Mexican recipes online is another great method to get the meals you want. Delicious additions will be both gorgeously beautiful and healthy if you find the appropriate website for your needs. There are many websites specializing in nothing but recipes – even Mexican recipes!

When doing your hunt online, you will want to insure you have an appropriate printer, ink, and paper. In addition, what one person thinks is fabulous for them may not be fabulous for you. If you see an ingredient you know is not liked in a meal, do not automatically say, “No”. You can often find an appropriate substitute.

Mail order Mexican recipes are another popular addition to our modern society. Joining these types of clubs will get you a nice array of benefits from delicious recipe cards to a place to organize those cards into your own cookbook. Generally, these are mailed out every 6 to 8 weeks depending on the type of club you join.

Mail order is great, and it is always nice to get something in the mail, but you will find you are paying more for this type of Mexican recipe over the long haul. What you have to ask yourself is how much you like getting mail with a nice surprise that will feed the whole family.

Mexican recipes are extremely popular, and you too can insure you have the wonderful meals you need for your needs simply by keeping your options open.

More about Annie Dubois and great Mexican food or gift boxes can be found at Mexican Food & Gifts To Go.

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Getting the most for your money means you need great deals for the home. Finding wonderful Mexican recipes for those delicious meals translates to a cheaper budget where you feed you and your family healthy recipes that are sure to please. From enchiladas to chimichangas, having the right recipe will make a world of difference.

Are you thinking of finding some Mexican recipes that are delicious but healthy for your whole family? Authentic Mexican food is a delectable addition to any home pleasing young and old alike. Unlike Tex-Mex cuisine, authentic style is not loaded with the copious amount of extra calories, fats, and sugars. Instead, authentic meals are a colorful meal idea with loads of healthy benefits.

Take a look at a few menu items you may want to investigate for your family!

Burritos are always delicious often consisting of a lean meat such as beef, chicken, and even pork. Vegetables are added with brilliant choices to choose from. Instead of just using those green bell peppers, try adding a unique taste as well as color with the brilliantly colorful red and yellow bell peppers.

Of course, many meals consist of flour or corn tortillas. Each type of tortilla has its place when it comes to Mexican recipes of a more authentic nature. One idea, if you have time, is to make your own tortillas with some of the kits on the market today. These kits generally come with a cast iron press and a bag of the appropriate flour to get you started.

Nothing says delicious like fresh, homemade tortillas!

Tacos are wonderful and a favorite for everyone. These are just as varying as anything else that has to do with cuisine from Mexico. In fact, you can make taco makings and let the kids make their own tacos. Definitely a delightful activity for the whole family.

Remember to avoid some of those empty calories; either negate the sour cream or simply go for a fat-free sour cream. Same great taste without all that extra fat that makes sour cream unhealthy.

Enchiladas are just as popular! Add your favorite ingredients, and you will find a dish of homemade enchiladas will become a favorite dish for just about any get together for church or family. There are a lot of thoughts on what makes the best enchilada, but with a little experience, you will find the pattern perfect for you and your family.

Another awesome factor when it comes to wonderful Mexican recipes is the fact garnishes go a long way. Garnish should be colorful with red, greens, or yellows. Regardless of your use of peppers, chilies, or other vegetables, the garnish is a wonderful way to make the presentation that much better.

When it comes to getting the best in Mexican recipes, the internet is a wonderful tool. Keep in mind that just because it is on the internet does not make it instantly perfect. The wonderful thing about this type of healthy cuisine is that you will make the dish better by exploring your own dishes. Soon, you will have a wonderful family tradition passed down through the generations.

More about Annie Dubois and great Mexican food or gift boxes can be found at Mexican Food & Gifts To Go.

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Smoker grills are to the serious backyard barbecue enthusiast what power tools are to Tim “The Tool man” Taylor. Your backyard barbecues will become the talk of the neighborhood once you learn how to smoke meat the right way. Your hickory smoked chicken or mesquite smoked steaks will be not only in everyone’s satisfied stomachs, but on everyone’s lips come Monday morning at the water cooler. Forget the standard steaks, hot dogs, hamburgers and chicken on the grill top. Put smoked salmon on the menu and look out. We are talking about taking how to smoke meat to a whole new level.

If you can, get a combination grill, one that will let you grill your food the boring, traditional way, and give you the choice to smoke your food too. Traditional means grilling your meat over an open flame, using charcoal or a gas fire. But if you are going to learn how to use a smoker, you are going to have to heat up the fire box, put on your favorite wood — hickory, oak, cherry, mesquite, to name a few — and get to it.

These hardwoods, in the form of chips, are placed into the smoker’s firebox. When burning, they produce specific flavors when absorbed by the meats being smoked. This not only gets your mouth salivating, but the flavor cannot be bested by regular grilling methods. What’s nice about it is when you learn how to smoke meat; you learn that the fire never reaches the meat when it is being smoked. The downside of this aspect of how to use a smoker is that it takes longer for the meat to be ready to serve, but the upside is that none of the meat juices will cause fire bursts to reach up and blacken the meat, and your barbecuing reputation. The process of smoking generally takes about 3-5 hours for most meats, and up to 12 hours for larger cuts.

Another angle when learning how to smoke meat is that the heat from the smoker is lower. This means that you not only learn how to smoke meat, you can learn how to steam vegetables. What you end up with are vegetables that not only taste superb, but vegetables that keep all the good stuff in. All the nutrients stay with the vegetables. Good taste, and healthy for you to boot. When you learn how to smoke meat and vegetables, then you can move on to the more exotic eats like hickory smoked chili.

Part of learning how to smoke meat is learning how to choose the right smoker for your needs. There are several manufacturers, so you have many makes and models of smokers to choose from to learn how to smoke meat. They may not be low cost, but the investment in healthy eating, and tasty eating, is well worth the price you will pay to get just the right kind of smoker to learn how to smoke meat and vegetables, and anything else your healthy heart desires, all with less fat and cholesterol than with other grilling styles.

Robert Fox maintains a website with more information about how to use a smoker.

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