Category Archives: Festivals

Christmas Dinner Ideas

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It’s nearly December and very soon it will be Christmas!  If there is one thing I love about Christmas, apart from celebrating Christ’s birth, it’s my childhood stocking that withstood the test of time.  I still remember my surprise and delight when on Christmas morning I found Kisses and a 5-dollar bill in it.

However, my fondest memory of Christmas isn’t really the chocolates or dollar bills, instead it’s the sumptuous Christmas dinners my Mom painstakingly prepared for the whole family.

Mom always made sure that her Christmas dinner was the year’s crème de la crème.  As I watched her prepare the family’s Christmas dinners for over the past 24 years, before I moved out and started my own family, I realized that my Mom had no special recipe, but each Christmas dinner turned out special because she mixed her love into it.

My Mom’s Christmas Dinners:

Poultry.  There’s no cooking etiquette against serving Turkey twice in a year’s time, is there?  Thanksgiving turkey is different from a Christmas turkey, although they can taste the same.  Mom always insisted on a turkey because of the size of our family however, if your own family objects, chicken or duck can make a tasty substitute.  You can try some garlic hot sauce with it.

Quick Tip:  To cook meat faster, use meat tenderizing marinade.

Bread and Pastries.  Cookies, cakes, and all those yummy treats that children love were on Mom’s table and should be on your Christmas dinner table, too.

Ham.  Cooked or sweet ham is an ideal Christmas dinner treat; in fact, Christmas is never complete without it.

Fruit.  Mom is half-Asian, and as most Asians believe, fruit on the dinner table during Christmas, especially on New Year’s Eve, ushers in good luck.  We never challenged her beliefs because fruit and salads are perfect for any occasion anyway.

Christmas Dishes From Around the World

For countries celebrating Christmas, Christmas dinners are never complete without a dish or two of the following:

Australia = roast turkey, grilled chicken in barbeque salsa, ham; cake, pudding, gingerbread, salads

Canada = roast turkey, fruitcake, gingerbread, candy canes

Finland = ham, mustard, casserole (vegetables, liver)

France = smoked salmon, oysters, roasted chicken

Germany = potato salad, ham (smoked or corned), sausages, baked apples

Hungary = roast goose, roast duck or turkey, stuffed cabbage

Jamaica = ham, chicken, goat in curry sauce, fruit cake, rice, peas

Philippines = roasted pig or chicken, pasta, fruits, salads

UK = roasted turkey, potatoes, brussel sprouts, pudding pie.

Italy = preferably fish (Most Italians abstain from eating red meat on Christmas).

So what will be on your table this Christmas?  Regardless of the menu you’ll whip up, just make sure you have enough love and food to go around. Happy Holidays.

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How To Prepare A Japanese Spider Crab

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When one thinks of crab, one often thinks of Alaskan King Crab legs, Dungeness or Snow crab. However, one type of crab which is often overlooked is that of the Japanese Spider Crab. A crab which is larger than most with long spindly legs and a bright orange coloring with white spots. In addition, the thorny eyes often throw people off course when considering such crab as a gourmet delicacy.

However, while in some areas, the Japanese Spider Crab is often revered, it is a gourmet cuisine in others. As such, it has been considered a delicacy for many years. However, when preparing crabs for cooking, if one is not going to cook such crabs live, then one needs to placed the crabs on ice before a process known as hibernation begins. After which, the best way to cook such crab is often by steaming in brine for 15 to 20 minutes depending upon the size.

However, if one is going to Cooking Crab Legs at home, there are a few things one may want to know. For example, while many cafes, diners and restaurants cook such crabs live, one can also preserve such crabs on ice for short periods of time. As such, if one is uncomfortable with cooking such creatures live, one can often have a local market put the crab on ice so that one can later cook the frozen crab at home.

Of course, like all crabs, the Japanese Spider Crab has a tough skin. However, unlike other crabs, this crab often has hairy skin up until adulthood. As such, one can tell how young or old such a crab is by the appearance of its outer skin. For, if the skin is hairy, it is often a younger crab. Whereas, when such skin is smooth, the crab is most likely an adult.

As to the habitat in which such crabs are found. Most often, this rare species is found off the coast of Japan, around the Japanese archipelago. However, it had originally been believed that such crabs covered a much larger area of the continent but had been eliminated due to over harvesting. Although, it appears the species is back to normal levels even with such ongoing harvest for culinary purposes.

In addition, to their size and overwhelming appearance, in earlier times it had also been believed that such crabs were some form of sea monster. As such, many may have been destroyed out of fear and understanding as have been destroyed for food. Regardless, such crabs have now become known as a delicacy among crabs and have now become known more for their flavor than their size.

To this end, while fear to some and food to others, it is believed that the Japanese Spider Crab is a crab among crabs. As such, many individuals believe there is no comparison between the taste of traditional crab such as Alaskan, Dungeness or Snow crab and that of this species. However, as one may often have to travel to locate this rare species of crab, many individuals never have the opportunity to try what has become known, at least in Japan, as a culinary delight unless one has an opportunity to visit such regions of the World.

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Entrepreneurs Are Rushing Towards Home Food Delivery

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Millions of people find themselves unable to accomplish their own shopping every day. This scenario can leave the person with deeply negative feelings. They may feel desperate or inadequate. Perhaps their are social reasons for not wanting to leave the house but they still have domestic responsibilities that need to be filled. A motivated entrepreneur can readily prosper by starting a simple home food delivery service.

People find themselves unable to accomplish their shopping tasks for food for many different reasons. Seniors are in percentage around the world and in the next several years that number shows signs of climbing. Individuals find themselves bed ridden for common illnesses, severe sicknesses and injuries every day. Broken limbs, the common cold and debilitating disease can make it impossible to complete mundane tasks. Aged eyes get weak making navigating city and town streets difficult and unsafe.

Other reasons might include the loss of a loved one and the person is not yet ready to leave the safety and security of their dwelling yet. Some social anxiety disorders make it extremely difficult for some people to leave the house and face a public scenario.

Large responsibilities arise and quickly can become too much to handle for many couples and especially those starting families. Even singles are apt to be so engrossed in professional lives, many with obligations that run far beyond normal working hours, find no time left over for small needs that are often and quickly over looked.

Businesses that support and aid in these kinds of scenarios and problems are often long lasting. With not relief in sight many situations, like injury and a bustling life-style this is a job market that seems on the verge of growing and breaking out to new levels of need. Thanks to medical findings and advancements more people are living longer but will still be limited in activity.

A low over-head cost only makes this kind of business more attractive to some. They can usually be run out of someones home or apartment with typical and simple communications. And because of the low cost for starting and maintenance the possibility for profit increases greatly.

Promoting an effort like this may take some time and energy but with more exposure comes a much larger clientele pool that will be in constant need of services. Those that were once sick or injured and can now accomplish their own food shopping will be readily equipped with a positive comment about these businesses to those in need of it.

Owners can set their own price, within reason, and the factors that help this decision can be wide ranging. As long as there are people who need the service and are willing to pay to have it done for them there are certain pieces of proficiency that will help. Understanding how to food shop in an efficient manner and where the best prices in any given area are will ensure a quick turn around time. This benefits the customer as well as the service provider.

If wanting to be self-employed and making money has been on someones mind then the home food delivery sector is an idea worth looking into. Keep the customer group growing and the possibility of a large profit peeks on the horizon.

Sharon is a diet authority who is experienced in great places for Seattle food delivery.

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