Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a shallow baking dish with aluminum foil and grease lightly. Cut tips from chicken wings and discard. Cut between the joint to separate each wing into 2 pieces. Combine butter and garlic in a small saucepan over low heat; heat until butter is melted and garlic is fragrant, 3 to 5 minutes.
Mix Parmesan cheese, parsley, oregano, paprika, salt, and pepper together in a shallow bowl. Dip chicken wing pieces in melted butter mixture; coat with Parmesan cheese mixture in the bowl. Arrange in the prepared baking dish. Drizzle any remaining butter on top. Bake in the preheated oven until skin is browned and juices run clear, about 1 hour.
Photo Courtesy: Google/ images are subject to copyright
The long, thin loaf of French bread, ‘baguette’ that is commonly made from basic lean dough, is a healthy and tasty food. Lets make some homemade French Baguettes.
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons honey
2 envelopes dry active yeast (1 1/2 tablespoons)
3 1/2 to 4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
2 teaspoons salt
Canola oil, for greasing bowl
Cornmeal, for dusting pan
3 to 4 ice cubes
Preparation
Combine the honey, yeast and 1/2 cup warm water. Stir to combine and let the mixture stand until the yeast is activated and begins to foam, 5 minutes. Mix the flour and salt in a large mixing bowl with a dough hook and slowly add in the yeast mixture. Gradually add 1 cup warm water and mix until the dough comes together into a ball that is not too wet (you may not need all of the water).
If the dough is sticky, add a little bit more flour. Turn out the dough onto a floured surface and knead until the dough is smooth and elastic, 2 to 6 minutes. You can do the thumbprint test: press in the dough with your thumb and it should bounce back when it’s ready.
Form the dough into a ball, place it in a lightly-oiled bowl and cover with a dishcloth, so it doesn’t dry out. Let rest in a warm environment until doubled in size, 25 to 30 minutes. Punch down the dough and divide it in half. Shape into 2 baguettes by making a flat rectangle out of your dough, then folding the top and bottom towards the middle, like an envelope, and sealing the seam with your fingers. Keep repeating the folding and sealing, stretching the rectangle lengthwise as you go, until it’s about 12 to 14 inches long and 2 inches wide.
Fold and seal either end to round. Flip seam-side down and place on a sheet pan or baguette pan that has been dusted with cornmeal. Score the tops of the loaves, making deep diagonal slits 1/2-inch deep, cover with a dishcloth and let rise in a warm environment until they have doubled in size, 25 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F and position your oven racks with one on the bottom and the other in the middle. Place an oven-safe (non-glass) bowl or pan on the bottom rack.
When your bread has doubled for the second time, remove the towel and quickly and simultaneously, slide the sheet tray with the baguettes onto the middle rack while carefully throwing the ice cubes into the bowl on the bottom rack. The ice will create a burst of steam that will give you a nice crispy crust. Quickly shut the oven door so no steam escapes. Bake the baguettes until golden brown, 15 minutes.
Cook’s Note: If you have a glass window on your oven, place a towel over it when throwing the ice in, hot glass can shatter if ice touches it. Can serve with ricotta cheese and acacia honey.
Mash the garlic to a paste with a generous pinch of salt, in a large bowl. Whisk in the mayonnaise, vinegar and oregano, then whisk in the olive oil. Season with pepper. Add all of the remaining ingredients and toss well. Serve right away.
Photo Courtesy: Google/ images are subject to copyright
Cacciatore means “hunter” in Italian. The recipe name refers to a meal prepared in “hunter-style” with onions, herbs, usually tomatoes, often bell peppers, and sometimes wine.
Ingredients
8 chicken thighs
1/4 cup olive oil, divided
1 onion, diced
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
8 chicken thighs
1/2 cup dry white wine
2 (14.5 ounce) cans diced tomatoes
2 (6 ounce) cans tomato paste
1/4 teaspoon white sugar, or more to taste
Salt and ground black pepper to taste
1/2 cup chicken broth, or more as needed
1/2 cup black olives, pitted
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
1 tablespoon torn basil leaves
Preparation
Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a skillet over medium heat and cook onion, stirring often, until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a pot. Combine flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a large bowl. Toss chicken thighs in the flour mixture until evenly coated. Heat remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in the skillet over medium heat, add chicken thighs, and brown on one side, without turning, for 5 minutes. Turn and cook until browned on the other side, about 5 minutes more. Transfer browned chicken thighs to the pot.
Pour white wine into the skillet; bring to a boil. Stir to loosen all the browned bits of chicken and flavors in the skillet pour into the pot. Add diced tomatoes, tomato paste, and sugar; season with salt and pepper. Add as much chicken stock as needed to cover the chicken. Cover pot and simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until chicken is no longer pink in the center, about 45 minutes. Stir in olives, parsley, and basil. Stir to heat through.
Photo Courtesy: Google/ images are subject to copyright
A Polish media has busted a racket, which has allegedly smuggled sick cattle into Poland and sold them illegally in their abattoirs. The Polish investigators have launched an investigation into the illegal racket. The report has considerably reduced the demand of Polish beef across the European continent.
How popular is Polish beef in Europe
Poland is the seventh largest producers of beef. Its beef is not as popular as the beef produced in Ireland, Spain, Italy, the UK, Germany and France. The UK is the biggest importer of Polish beef. It imports Polish beef as much as it imports Irish beef.
As per the EU regulation, no slaughter house should slaughter cattle in the absence of medical expert. The video released proves that there were no medical personals in the featured slaughter houses when they performed the slaughtering. The Polish authorities see this absence through suspicious eyes, like many who have watched that video.
What the Polish media has found
Through a sting operation, it has exposed the illegal way some of the Polish abattoirs operate. The video released by the media shows the presence of sick cattle in certain Polish abattoirs.
What veterinary experts say
A veterinary expert says that the video released by the media is reliable, and clearly proves the illegality of the operations carried out by those abattoirs featured in that.
Is this the first time such a report has surfaced
In the past, a large amount of meat was withdrawn from the EU market due to a similar issue.
Europeans respect quality more than any thing else. No other continent gives importance to quality as much as the Europe does.
The European Union market follows high market standards. In the EU market, no goods and services which compromise on its quality are encouraged. Often the EU countries fail to comply with that necessity. In most situations, that is done purposefully to amass huge profit.
The latest development is also seen as the one intended to gain profit.
Vignesh. S. G Photo Courtesy: Google/ images are subject to copyright
The Whoopie Pies can be considered either a cookie, pie, sandwich, or cake. Lets take a look at some sweet recipe this time. The recipe includes for both cake and its filling. Lets fill the sweet!
Ingredients
For filling:
1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, softened
1 1/4 cups confectioners sugar
2 cups marshmallow cream such as Marshmallow Fluff
1 teaspoon vanilla
For cakes:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup Dutch-process cocoa powder
1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup well-shaken buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 large egg
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350°F. Whisk together flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt in a bowl until combined. Stir together buttermilk and vanilla in a small bowl. Beat together butter and brown sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer at medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes in a standing mixer or 5 minutes with a handheld, then add egg, beating until combined well. Reduce speed to low and alternately mix in flour mixture and buttermilk in batches, beginning and ending with flour, scraping down side of bowl occasionally, and mixing until smooth.
Spoon 1/4-cup mounds of batter about 2 inches apart onto 2 buttered large baking sheets. Bake in upper and lower thirds of oven, switching position of sheets halfway through baking, until tops are puffed and cakes spring back when touched, 11 to 13 minutes. Transfer with a metal spatula to a rack to cool completely.
Filling:
Beat together butter, confectioners sugar, marshmallow, and vanilla in a bowl with electric mixer at medium speed until smooth, about 3 minutes.
Assemble pies
Spread a rounded tablespoon filling on flat sides of half of cakes and top with
Photo Courtesy: Google/ images are subject to copyright
Here is a simple and delicious chicken Marsala recipe.
Ingredients
2 cups water
1 cup uncooked white rice
1 cup all-purpose flour
salt to taste
ground black pepper to taste
1 pinch dried oregano to taste
1 pound skinless, boneless chicken cutlets, pounded to 1/4-inch thickness
2 tablespoons butter, divided
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
salt and ground black pepper to taste
1/2 cup Marsala wine
1/2 cup chicken stock
Preparation
Bring the rice and water to a boil in a saucepan over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the rice is tender, and the liquid has been absorbed, 20 to 25 minutes. Set rice aside. In a large bowl, whisk the flour with salt, black pepper, and oregano. Gently press the chicken breasts into the flour mixture to coat, and shake off the excess flour.
Heat the olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Arrange the chicken in the skillet and cook until the chicken is no longer pink inside and golden brown outside, 5 to 8 minutes per side. Drain the cooked chicken on a paper towel-lined plate.
Melt the remaining 1 tablespoon butter in the same skillet over medium heat while scraping up any brown bits with a spoon. Stir in the garlic; cook and stir until fragrant. Add the mushrooms, and cook and stir until they are tender and have released their liquid, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and black pepper, then stir in the Marsala wine and chicken stock.
Transfer the chicken back to the skillet, and spoon sauce over chicken pieces. Increase heat to medium-high, and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer until the the sauce is thickened, about 5 minutes more. Serve the chicken and sauce over the cooked rice.
Photo Courtesy: Google/ images are subject to copyright
Planning to make a delicious and easy chicken dish for dinner? Here is a mouth watering recipe of Chicken Breasts in Caper Cream Sauce!
Ingredients
4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
1 teaspoon lemon pepper
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon dried dill weed
1 teaspoon garlic powder
3 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup whipping cream
2 tablespoons capers, drained and rinsed
Preparation
Season chicken breasts with lemon pepper, salt, dill weed, and garlic powder. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Place breasts in skillet, and increase heat to medium-high. Turn chicken frequently, until brown, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium, and cook 5 to 7 minutes, until breasts are cooked through.
Remove chicken to a warm serving platter, and cover with foil. Return skillet to stove, and increase heat to high. Whisk in whipping cream, whisking continuously until reduced to sauce consistency, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in capers. Pour sauce over chicken, and serve hot.
Photo Courtesy: Google/ images are subject to copyright
Soups are an ever favorite dish. Lets give a try to the delicious Cream of Green Garlic and Potato Soup.
Ingredients
4 russet potatoes, peeled and chopped into equal-sized chunks
3 cups chopped green garlic, white and light green parts only
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 ounces minced prosciutto
Salt and ground black pepper to taste
1 pinch cayenne pepper, or to taste
1 quart chicken broth, or more as needed
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives for garnish (optional)
Preparation
Place potatoes in bowl of water. Set aside. Soak green garlic in a bowl of water to remove dirt or sand. Drain and set aside. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat; cook and stir minced prosciutto until it begins to sizzle, about 2 minutes. Add green garlic and continue to cook, stirring frequently. Do not let the garlic brown. Season with salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper; cook and stir for 1 to 2 more minutes. Mix chicken broth into green garlic mixture and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low, cover and cook for 30 minutes.
Remove potatoes from the bowl of water and add them to the garlic and broth mixture. Cook until potatoes are tender and easily smashed against the side of the pot, about another 30 minutes. Add broth as needed. Transfer potato chunks and some green garlic chunks to a blender with about 1/2 cup cooking liquid. Puree until smooth, adding more cooking liquid as needed. Stir blended potato mixture back into the pot; stir in heavy cream. Cook over medium-high heat until cream is warmed through, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and black pepper to taste. Garnish with fresh chopped chives.
Photo Courtesy: Google/ images are subject to copyright
Diet and health are important in our modern lifestyle. Taking diet does not mean that you have to ignore your healthy food. Try these nutritious foods that helps in diet plan.
Avocados
A typical serving of avocado (100 g) is moderate to rich in several B vitamins and vitamin K, with good content of vitamin C, vitamin E and potassium (right table, USDA nutrient data). Avocados also contain phytosterols and carotenoids, such as lutein and zeaxanthin. People who eat avocados tend to have lower BMI, body weight and waist circumference than people who skip this green superfood, per a study in Nutrition Journal. Though Avocados are higher in calories than other fruits and vegetables, their satisfying fat and fiber combo may help you slim down.
Eggs
Eggs are among the healthiest foods you can eat. They are rich in high-quality protein, healthy fats and many essential vitamins and minerals. Eating a high-protein breakfast promotes weight loss, because protein increases satiety while regulating hunger and appetite hormones, helping fend off your hunger until lunchtime.
Beans
Beans are high in protein, complex carbohydrates, folate, and iron.[25] Beans also have significant amounts of fiber and soluble fiber, with one cup[clarification needed] of cooked beans providing between nine and 13 grams of fiber. Fiber contained food helps you feel fuller longer, thus controlling hunger and helps in dieting.
Yogurt
Yogurt is protein-packed and full of probiotics, which are good for health and may helps in weight-loss. Yogurt (plain yogurt from whole milk) is 81% water, 9% protein, 5% fat, and 4% carbohydrates, including 4% sugars (table). A 100-gram amount provides 406 kilojoules (97 kcal) of dietary energy.
Leafy Greens
Leaf vegetables are typically low in calories and fat, and high in protein per calorie, dietary fiber, vitamin C, pro-vitamin A carotenoids, folate, manganese and vitamin K. If leaves are cooked for food, they may be referred to as boiled greens. Leaf vegetables may be stir-fried, stewed, steamed, or consumed raw. Leaf vegetables contain many typical plant nutrients, but since they are photosynthetic tissues, their vitamin K levels are particularly notable. Phylloquinone, the most common form of the vitamin, is directly involved in photosynthesis. This causes leaf vegetables to be the primary food class that interacts significantly with the anticoagulant warfarin.
Nuts
Nuts are the source of energy and nutrients for the new plant. They contain a relatively large quantity of calories, essential unsaturated and monounsaturated fats including linoleic acid and linolenic acid, vitamins, and essential amino acids. People who eat nuts may have lower risk for some diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Consumption of nuts helps in decreasing hunger and hence helps in dieting.
Sunaya Paison Photo Courtesy: Google/ images are subject to copyright
