Mexican cuisine makes most of us think of assertive spices; mostly chilies and cumin. This combination of spices is one, which is a perfect representative of the country’s culinary history; an ingredient, which came from the old world with the Spanish and one, which has been a central part of Mexican food for thousands of years.
Chilies are the Mexican spices with the longest history, having been used by the Aztecs for many centuries before the arrival of Europeans. Like tomatoes and potatoes, peppers are new world natives and remain one of the most important ingredients in Mexican recipes just as they always have been.
A familiar type of pepper to Americans is the jalapeno; these small to medium sized hot peppers are a common ingredient in salsas, where they lend their characteristic kick to these sauces. They are also commonly pickled on their own or as part of an escabeche (which is somewhat similar to a Mexican take on Italian giardinera). The Serrano pepper, a smaller and usually slightly hotter pepper is also seen fairly often in US markets. It is hard to imagine Mexican cuisine or Mexican food without the presence of these peppers, as well as others, which are often dried, and ground, as are anchos and pasilla peppers. You will also find peppers smoked to provide a milder, smoky heat as with the smoked jalapenos known as chipotle peppers.
Some of the Mexican culinary herbs, which are native to the country, include epazote, culantro, and Mexican oregano, all of which are very important to various Mexican recipes. Used very often in Mexican and Caribbean cooking, culantro is largely unknown in the US and hard to find other than in Mexican groceries. Its flavor, however, is similar enough to cilantro that this herb may be substituted if you cannot find the real thing in your area.
Despite its name, Mexican oregano is not even a relative of the old world herb of the same name. While their flavors are similar enough that Greek oregano can be substituted if needed, this herb is actually related to lemon verbena, not oregano. Its flavor is slightly stronger than that of the oregano used in Greek and Italian cooking and can be found dried in Mexican groceries and specialty spice markets.
Epazote, on the other hand, is an herb for which there is no real substitute. This herb is used to flavor beans in traditional Mexican recipes. While its flavor is something like that of tarragon, it is not recommended to substitute this or any other herb in a Mexican recipe, which calls for epazote. It has a flavor which is all its own.
Cumin is one of the spices, which we think of the most in connection to Mexican food. This spice is also a staple of Turkish and other Mediterranean cuisines; introduced to Mexico by the Spanish (who themselves were introduced to it by Arabs during the Moorish period in Spain), this ingredient was adopted by Mexican cooks with enthusiasm. This newcomer quickly became an important ingredient in a great many Mexican dishes.
You might say that Mexican food is among the world’s first fusion cuisines, with its blending of old world and new world flavors. Using ingredients from both Europe and the Americas, Mexican cooks created something unique, new and distinctively Mexican. It is a cuisine which has a flavor all its own and thanks in part to Mexican spices, it has become popular in nearly every part of the world.
Mexican food has quite a history and many delicious dishes to experiment with. Visit MexicanFoodRecipes.org for resources, tasty recipes like Mexican rice recipe and handy tips for trying your hand at this delicious cuisine.
Filed under Negative Calorie Foods by on Dec 12th, 2009. Comment. 
There is nothing as comforting as a hot bowl of homemade soup. It warms your belly, making you feel content and cared for. Many consider making soup from scratch to be intimidating, but it is really very easy once you have given it a try. When you use your slow cooker, it is even easier.
Soups for the Slow Cooker
Almost any kind of soup can be made in a slow cooker. Whether you prefer simpler soups like vegetable beef or lentil soup, or if your favorites include fancier soups like vichyssoise or pot-au-feu, your slow cooker will come in handy. You can even create delicate soups such as trout chowder or crab soup in a slow cooker while you attend to other tasks. If you like ethnic soups like Indian Dal or Italian Wedding soup, they also turn out perfectly in a slow cooker.
It does not matter what your favorite soup is… you can probably make it in your slow cooker. Leftovers work, too. If you have a ham bone left, toss it in with some split peas for yummy pea soup, or add some navy beans to make a hearty bean soup.
Even soups that seem more complicated, like cheddar cheese or clam chowder, can easily be made in your slow cooker. Whether it is something simple like chicken soup or more complicated, you can make all your favorite soups. Use your favorite ingredients like noodles, dumplings or rice… whichever you prefer.
New Soups
Maybe you will want to try a soup you have never tasted before. Trying new dishes is fun! Take a chance and try a new slow cooker soup. Have you ever tried a taco soup? What about cheesy meatball soup or deviled chicken soup? Ever tried a garden cabbage soup? There are many different soups out there just waiting to become your new favorite!
With a little inspiration, you can create your own slow cooker soup recipes. Why not give it a try? The slow cooker lets you make a few mistakes. It will tenderize a tough piece of meat. Adding different vegetables and herbs add a delicious, complex flavor to your soup. If you like a creamy soup, add some milk or cream towards the end of your cooking time. Let your imagination run wild.
Traditional soups like chicken and dumplings, beef noodle and potato soup are great, too. For something a little different, mix up the ingredients a bit. Try adding bacon or ham to your potato soup, or put brown rice in your beef soup. Adding a new twist can be a lot of fun.
You can even press your slow cooker into service after the holidays to make your day after easier. Add leftover turkey from Thanksgiving to the slow cooker to make a delicious turkey soup. Add rice, potatoes, or noodles, whichever you like best. Add in leftover vegetables like peas, squash, carrots, or leftover gravy. You will end up with a new way to enjoy the fruits of your labors from before the big day. Slow cookers are a great way to use up these leftover goodies.
Soup can be clear and delicate or creamy and thick. Both are definitely delicious. Whether you prefer a clear soup or a creamy soup, you can’t do better than to serve it up with some hot crusty bread or some fresh biscuits, hot from the oven. Your family will love it!
Filed under Dinner, Fat Burning Foods, Fat Burning Recipes, Negative Calorie Foods, Soup by on Dec 11th, 2009. Comment.
Expresso coffee has been around for a long time but the term that we refer to it by today is relatively new. Expresso coffee is named after espresso the term that originated in Italy to describe individually brewed coffee. Espresso in Italian means brewed for you. There is some popular confusion on what exactly Expresso coffee is.
It is commonly thought that Expresso coffee is based on a type of coffee bean. While there are particular beans that tend to be used in making Expresso coffee it is not the bean that makes Expresso different. In fact any coffee bean could be used to make a cup of Expresso coffee.
Other people think that what makes Expresso coffee special is the blend. There are specialty blends that are designed for Expresso coffee but this alone does not make a cup of coffee Expresso coffee. These same blends could be used to make a standard cup of coffee but it would not be Expresso just because these blends have been used.
It’s not the bean and it’s not the blend so is it the roast? There is common thought that expresso coffee must be a dark roast coffee. While actually the right roast will vary based on the part of the country you are in. For instance on the east coast of the Us people favor a light roast while Californians tend to prefer a dark roast. The standard in Italy is actually a medium roast. What roast is used depends entirely on personal taste.
Generally coffee is about what is in the coffee such as the bean and the blend but this is not the case for Expresso coffee. Expresso coffee is actually all about the way it is brewed. Remember this does not mean that there are not certain blends or beans that are designed for Expresso coffee but rather that the brewing method is the true difference between Expresso coffee and other types of coffee. Expresso coffee is actually not a cup of coffee at all at least not in the traditional sense. Expresso coffee is actually a small shot of coffee that has been brewed from extra fine ground beans and prepared under lots of pressure.
The method of making Expresso coffee has been considered by some as an art. While the machine that is used certainly has a factor the amount of pressure that is applied against the grounds when being placed in the filter makes a big difference. A good Expresso coffee will have a small creamy layer on the top. This layer is known as crema. The correct amount of crema is what separates an outstanding cup of Expresso coffee from a mediocre cup of Expresso coffee.
The way Expresso coffee is drank is as specialized as the way it is brewed. The proper method of drinking Expresso coffee is to lift the cup to just below the nose and then inhale the aroma. Savor this aroma and then drink the Expresso coffee in several large gulps almost like you would a good lager. Once the cup has been emptied it should be placed diligently onto the saucer.
It is not a sin to sweeten Expresso coffee but it is best savored just the way it was brewed. However if you are the type that just has to have a little sugar with your coffee feel free to add it to your Expresso coffee. In fact it is often done this way in Italy. No matter if you like it sweet or not enjoying a cup of Expresso can be a very unique and bold experience.
For more information on kcups or coffee vending machine, visit Latte Nite.
Filed under Breakfast, Fat Burning Foods, Negative Calorie Foods by on Nov 30th, 2009. Comment.
