THE ART OF COOKING

^{Chilly con carne is a Mexican dish but it is so popular in USA that I think is as American as the Corn Dog.
I think The popularity of the dish is due to how fast and easy is to prepare it, beside being a filling and tasty dish.
I know that most of you know how to make chilly con carne dish, and this country do not need another chilly con carne recipe. What I am trying to teach you is how to simplified cooking.
Year ago I read a recipe book , "How to cook and prepare, Chinese food" I don't remember the name of the Author, but you do not find a single recipe in the book only methods and ways of cooking, that teach me to be practical when cooking anything, to improvised and substitute.
I had seen people with a recipe books going crazy because they can't find a particular ingredient needed for a particular recipe. People... improvise! In a case of being out of onions, on a recipe that call for onions I have skip the onions and double in other ingredients like garlic and peppers, the recipe has been equally delicious. I think that the more relax about cooking you are the better the taste. Notice: how those recipes, you have learn to prepare. always comes out tasting good.
I have been in situations where a recipe that call for meat, need a substitute (some people don't eat meat) with zuquini,}

eggplants, pumpkin or green beans, it is healthy and a delicious vegetarian dish, perfect for those in a diet,low protein,or low calories.
Remember that food is about ingredients, methods and love. Make cooking a delightful experience for those around you, get then involve in the process.
For example I get Dion involve by asking him to help me prepare, get me the eggs, and the milk, out the fridge, I also let him beat certain ingredients, I also let him taste and express his opinion After all he will be eating it.
All you cook should have your signature, one of my signature when cooking meat is to add a bit (very small amount) of nutmegs.
I find that it enhances the flavor of the meat. (I usually keep this to myself, like a secret ingredient).When cooking tomatoes sauce a hint of sugar kill the acid, adding a bit of sugar in the vinegar, made those vinaigrette's dressing taste delicious and kill the acid as well
Don't be afraid to experiment. I also love to stew my meat in a cast iron pot, it is my believed that it give a better taste and slower cooking proses to the meat. Its good to cure my cast iron pot by scrubbing the pot with salt and then burn it, now remember this is not a fact but a believe.
PS: if you still like another CHILLY CON CARNE RECIPE, just let me know.
I also have a recipe for Calabazita Rellenas (Stuff pumpkin) that I may post if ask for.

It's a sad day for classic American cool.

Link

Little pig little pig

http://www.takepart.com/news/2011/07/25/usda-make-it-more-obvious-when-meat-is-enhanced

200 Countries, 200 Years, 4 Minutes

Link

this is so cool watch it

New Year's Eve and some traditions from around the world

New Year's Eve Is Just Around The Corner. It's Time To Celebrate The Start Of A New Year. Some People Feel New Year Brings Good Luck And Some Pray For Prosperity,

And almost everywhere in the world people stay late to see the old year out and the new year in with bells ringing, horns tooting, whistles blowing, sirens shrieking, people laughing, cheers and singing.

Here is the New Year traditions around the World for you to explore the different customs.

Italy: eating seafood before midnight supposed to mean good luck and plenty to eat. Wearing red underwear for good luck in love.

South America, Spain, and all Hispanics countries: eatting 12 grapes right at midnight, one for each strike of the clock and to symbolize the twelve months of the year.

Denmark: Throwing broken plates at your friends' homes is a symbol of friendship, jumping off of chairs at midnight to leap into the new year, believing this will bring luck.

The good old USA:Kissing someone you love at midnight will bring good luck.

Southern U.S.: eating black eyes pea, bring good luck for the coming year

Austria: they eat suckling pig. The pig symbolizes good luck.

Belgium: At midnight everyone kisses, exchanges good luck greetings, and drinks toasts

Belgium farmers wish their animals a Happy New Year for blessings.

Chinese New Year: Chinese people believe that evil spirits dislike loud noises so they decorate their houses with plastic firecrackers. The loud noises are intended to frighten away evil spirits and bad luck that the spirits might bring. Lucky money is given out in red envelopes with the family name and good-luck message written on them in gold. They are given on New Year by relatives, but, only to the unmarried as well as the children of the family.

German New Year: In Germany people would drop molten lead into cold water and try to tell the future from the shape it made. A heart or ring shape meant a wedding, a ship a journey, and a pig plenty of food in the year ahead.

Korean New Year: New Year's Eve: People place straw scooper, rakes or sieves on their doors and walls to protect their families from evil spirit sin the new year.

Japanese New Year: To keep out evil spirits, they hang a rope of straw across the front of their houses, which stands for happiness and good luck.

Greece: Special New Year bread is baked by all the family members. A coin is buried in the dough which is considered very auspicious.

In Columbia, Cuba and Puerto Rico, Dominican Rep. families stuff a life-size male doll with things and then they dress it up in old clothes from each family member. At the stroke of midnight, this 'Mr. Old Year' is set on fire. This is done with the simple belief that a doll thus stuffed have bad memories or sadness associated with them, and that the burning of these will help one to do away with all past grief's and usher in happiness in life with the coming year.

In Venezuela, Argentina, Bolivia, and Mexico, those with hopes of traveling in the New Year carry a suitcase around the house at midnight. Some even carry it around the block to ensure traveling at greater distances.

Jewish New Year

The Jewish New Year is called Rosh Hashanah. It is a holy time when Jews recall the things they have done wrong in the past, and then promise to do better in the future. Special services are held in the synagogues, children are given new clothes and New Year loaves are baked to remind people of harvest time.

American resolutions

40 to 45% of American adults make one or more New Year's resolutions each year. And these ranges from debt reduction to giving up bad habits to what not? But the ones that are the most common deal with weight loss to exercise to giving up smoking.

Many cultures believe that anything in the shape of a ring is good luck, because it symbolizes "coming full circle," completing a year's cycle

Decorate with children in mind

Top Safety TipsIf you decorate a tree, avoid these top decorating mistakes: Do not put ornaments that have small parts or metal hooks, or look like food or candy, on the lower branches where small children can reach them.Natural trees always involve some risk of fire. To minimize the risk, get a fresh tree and keep it watered at all times. Do not put the tree within three feet of a fireplace, space heater, radiator or heat vent.Never leave a lit tree or other decorative lighting display unattendedInspect lights for exposed or frayed wires, loose connections and broken sockets.Do not overload extension cords or outlets and do not run an electrical cord under a rug.Do not burn tree branches, treated wood or wrapping paper in a home fireplace. Mistletoe berries, Holly Berry and Jerusalem Cherry can be poisonous. If they are used in decorating, make sure children and pets cannot reach it.Artificial snow can be harmful if inhaled, so use it in a well-vented space.Keep alcohol, including baking extracts, out of reach and do not leave alcoholic drinks unattended.In a poison emergency, call the national Poison Control Center at 800-222-1222.

Cantaloupe

Cantaloupes are named for the papal gardens of Cantaloupe, Italy, where some historians say this species of melon was first grown.

Cantaloupe with its refreshingly rich flavor and odour and minimum number of calories, is the most popular form of melon. Cantaloupe is also referred to as a netted melon because it has a ribless rind with a distinctive netted skin. It has evolved as an excellent source of vitamin C.

One cup of cantaloupe contains 112.5% of the daily value for this well-known antioxidant. Cantaloupe has antioxidants that help us fight heart diseases, high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, aging, etc. Cantaloupe is also a very good source of potassium, vitamin B6, dietary fiber and niacin (vitamin B3)

The combination of all these B complex vitamins along with the fiber found in cantaloupe make it an exceptionally good fruit for supporting energy production through good carbohydrate metabolism and blood sugar stability. Cantaloupe is fat and cholesterol free, and is a good source of Folate.

Healthy Cantaloupe Recipe

Cantaloupe Ice Popsicle

Ingredients:

• 1 small Cantaloupe
• 1/3 cup Honey
• 1 tsp. Fresh mint leaves
• 1 Lemon

Cut the cantaloupe in half, remove the seeds and peel. Puree the flesh in a food processor together with the honey. Add the finely chopped mint leaves. Squeeze the lemon and add its juice to taste. Pour the mixture into the Popsicle molds and leave in the freezer for 1 hour or until they begin to set. Arrange the Popsicle sticks in the middle and put back in the refrigerator until completely frozen. Alternatively, you can add some low fat yogurt or milk to the mixture for a more creamy texture.