Feel-Good Organics

You'll find tons of articles and lists on how to be more eco-friendly, and they're all great. I still believe that going
organic in our average lives should be a pleasurable adventure, like taste-testing, not a social or political statement.

Organic food:

On a pretty autumn Saturday, swing into a local organic farm stand and browse. Nothing is better than locally grown produce
that's grown exclusively for flavor and color, compared with supermarket veggies grown to withstand harsh cross country shipments.

Visit local pumpkin farms at harvest time. In many areas of the country, families annually enjoy autumn weekend outings to
pumpkin farms that are a riot of color, and absolutely packed with incredible organic vegetables at great prices. Try organic apple orchards and berry farms where you can pick your own baskets.

Try organic coffee. Yum! More stores are carrying organic java now, which may cost more but has rich flavors that cannot
be matched by chemically processed coffees. Look for the Fair Trade label which means beans grown and harvested by organic farms and coops around the world, who get a fairer price. Organic coffee farmers are better able to feed their families, provide education for the children, and provide community services we take for granted.

Absolutely plant some herbs. There's nothing like clipping some basil and oregano from your own garden patch or patio pots, for your favorite sauce recipe. Most herbs don't require much babying and come back year after year.

Go Vegetarian?

That's a very personal decision. If your family is accustomed to meats, I suggest initially just cutting back on the burgers and introducing more fish, and more vegetable based entrees with cheese. Some restaurant chains are introducing vegetarian appetizers and entrees that are so good, being meatless is more of a bonus. Try some vegetarian dishes. If you and your family like them, add them to the menu.

Is an Organic Home too high-end?

No, not at all. While organic bedding and organic cottons for bed and bath are typically considered luxury items, they are for EVERYBODY. No need to strip your bedrooms and go nuts, unless you want to. In the range of around $100, you can pick up a few organic cotton bathtowels, an organic cotton bathrobe, or some basic organic cotton sheets.

Organic cotton blankets and throws are also around the $100 range, and the quality is amazing. Organic cotton and wool comforters are a bit more expensive, but will last years longer than conventional comforters. Gradually replace old pummeled bed pillows with organic cotton or wool fill pillows, that range between $50 and $100 apiece, depending on size.

Organic cotton underwear is very affordable. You can replace a bunch of undies for around $100.00, and good local or web-based stores are easy to find.

Organic foods and home products are to be enjoyed, and integration into our normal lives should be natural, pleasurable, and easy.

Susan Fullen-Yurek of Kushtush Organics, http://www.kushtush.com, is an e-commerce entrepreneur specializing in organic bedding and organic cotton linens.

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Eating Healthy School Meals for Vegetarians

Making sure that your child is having healthy meals at school can already be a challenge; it is even harder if your child is a vegetarian. However, most schools today have dedicated plenty of time and effort in researching and coming up with options to improving their meal programs and ensuring that they are complying with the contemporary dietary recommendations. For example, there are some schools that are now serving yogurt as an alternative for meat as well as non-dairy cheeses instead of the dairy ones, provided that they offer the same nutrients. There are still a number of schools, though, that are still not offering healthy vegan options for school meals, giving vegetarian children even less choices. If you are looking for some ideas and options on how your children can have healthy vegetarian meals in school, read on.

1. First off, you could opt to prepare a bag lunch for your child or children. Bag lunches would make sure that they would be eating tasty and nutritious food, instead of having to settle for whatever is being served at school. You could make mini-pizzas which are made from whole wheat pita bread, tomato sauce, vegetarian salami or pepperoni slices, cheese and some vegetable toppings like mushrooms and bell peppers. You could also make build-your-own lunch boxes. This would include some high-fiber rye or wheat crackers and some cheese or vegetarian pate or vegetarian luncheon meat that your child could put on the crackers. Some other great choices would be fresh fruits, grilled cheese sandwiches, vegetarian pasta dishes and even vegetarian antipasto.

2. Check if you could get a copy of the menu of the school cafeteria. This would give you and your child the opportunity to pick the best food choices every day.

3. You could also talk with the food service personnel of the school and discuss some possible practical and economical solutions.

4. There are also some programs which encourage schools to serve fresher and more nutritious meals. One example would be the National Farm to School Program, a program which started in the late 1990s in Florida and California. The program aims to provide schools with more fresh and locally grown produce. Some of its other goals would be to support local agriculture, educate students and parents about nutrition and improve meal options in school cafeterias.

5. You can also check with the school if they have plans of using the nutrient-based menu planning system. It is a system which calls for the evaluation of a meal based on its overall nutritional composition instead of on whether or not it has a certain number of servings from the different food groups. This system would make it easier for schools to come up with meatless menus, since food servings that are made from the mat group would not be required. Today, though, only a few schools in the US are making use of this system because changing from the old system to this new one would call for more resources that plenty of schools cannot afford.

Shaz has written hundreds of articles online for almost 3 years. Not only does this author specialize in Proper Nutrition, you can also check out his latest website on hard pool covers which reviews and lists Mesh Pool Covers for adding beauty of your pool and to protect your children from some of the safety hazards that it poses.

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Lose Weight And Improve Health With A Vegetarian Diet Plan

Vegetarianism is growing in popularity, and for many people, a vegetarian diet plan is their answer to healthy weight loss.

First, it is important to define what a vegetarian diet plan is. There are many different types of vegetarian diets. Some vegetarians eat only fruits, vegetables, nuts and beans. Others may also eat cheese and other dairy products and drink milk. Some may also eat eggs.

An obvious advantage of any vegetarian diet plan is that it is likely to be low in fat and cholesterol. Consequently, vegetarian diets can reduce the risk of heart disease and illnesses such as cancer and diabetes. Nevertheless, vegetarian eating plans can be deficient in important nutrients and you have to make sure you give your body enough vitamins, minerals, enzymes and other nutrients. Therefore, planning is very important. If you don't ensure a balanced diet, you can become malnourished.

A particular benefit of a vegetarian eating plan is that it usually encourages a healthy serving of fruits and vegetables along with some whole grains. It can, however, be difficult to get enough protein in a vegetarian diet. You must learn how to mix various beans and grain dishes to provide you with a complete protein. Iron intake can also be inadequate. Spinach and beans can provide the required iron and soy is high in protein content.

Vitamin and mineral supplementation may also be necessary to ensure adequate nutrition. B12 vitamins, in particular, are very important for your health and are difficult to obtain in a vegetarian menu. It is critical to supplement B12 in this type of diet plan. The other alternative is to eat a lot of whole grain cereal, soy milk, broccoli and spinach. To lose weight using a vegetarian plan, you will still need to restrict high calorie foods.

The key to an effective vegetarian diet regimen is variety. To get full nutritional benefit, you will need to eat a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, beans, and whole grains. If you choose to eat dairy, make sure you limit your intake to non-fat or low-fat milk and cheese.

A vegetarian menu plan can be an excellent way to lose weight. Research has shown that vegetarians usually consume far fewer calories than meat eaters daily. Body mass index is also usually lower for vegetarians. Nevertheless, vegetarians can still be overweight if they eat poorly. It is important to eat healthy and to control the amount of food eaten. Used wisely, becoming a vegetarian can help you achieve your ideal weight.

Are you looking for a quick weight loss plan? Be sure to read my article on a weight loss exercise plan that will work long-term and get you started right!

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Vegetarian Dining in the Caribbean

For vegetarians, dining out presents many challenges; finding vegan choices can be even more frustrating. Add travel to the mix and you've got a potential recipe for disaster. While the Caribbean's abundance of seafood will suit pescetarians, discovering true vegetarian meals requires a bit more work. Fortunately, a little research before you go will help find dining choices which are not only suitable but delicious.

If you're planning to take a cruise, you're in luck. A number of cruise lines offer vegetarian options, a complete vegetarian menu, or can make you special dishes on request. Celebrity Cruises has received rave reviews for their excellent gourmet vegetarian cuisine, which tailors meals to diners' needs. NCL and Royal Caribbean also rank highly with vegetarian passengers. Carnival Cruise Lines, on the other hand, may be one to avoid. Although they offer one vegetarian item per menu and claim they can accommodate vegetarian requests, they don't have a dietician on board, so their ability to make changes is limited. For vegans, this can be a big problem. One vegan reports that she was assured before the cruise that her diet would be no trouble; however, all she could actually eat was bread, lettuce, and an occasional baked potato. When booking a cruise with any company, tell them you're vegetarian or vegan and ask any questions you may have about menu offerings.

Land-lubbers may find the easiest way to assure a variety of vegetarian choices is to stay at a resort with several restaurants. The Sandals chain, for example, includes up to eleven eateries at each location. Their menus typically include at least one vegetarian option in each category. While that may sound limiting, resort menus tend to change frequently, often nightly. Resorts also usually have a buffet, so you'll be able to pick and choose. Sample menus are generally posted on a resort's website, so logging online may be one way to do a bit of investigative work. Still, it's a good idea to check with the resort before booking to find out how veg-friendly they are.

Higher-end resorts are often more conscious of serving healthy food, including vegetarian dishes. Some of them use locally grown and/or organic items in their cooking. Even if you can't afford to stay there, you may be able to eat at their restaurants. For instance, the Sugar Mill Restaurant at the Sugar Mill Hotel (British Virgin Islands) is a local treat that's worth the trip. Voted "The Best Restaurant in the Caribbean" by readers of Caribbean Travel & Life, this gourmet restaurant's ever-changing menu always offers several vegetarian dishes and its atmosphere makes it a great place for a special night out.

Meat-free travelers interested in visiting the Dominican Republic should consider Sirenis Hotels, which have an all-vegetarian restaurant at their Punta Cana resort complex. Comprised of Sirenis Cocotal Beach Resort and Sirenis Tropical Suites, the vegetarian restaurant seems to be on the all-inclusive plan of Tropical Suites but not Cocotal Beach Resort. If you prefer to stay at Cocotal, check with them to find out if you'll be able to eat at the vegetarian restaurant.

As far as specific countries go, Jamaica is veggie heaven. Because Rastafarians are vegetarian, options abound. The key word to remember is "Ital," derived from "vital." Ital cooking uses pure, organic ingredients, and is essentially vegan. However, some dishes may contain honey, so if you don't eat honey be sure to ask about it. In fact, Ital is a good word to look out for anywhere, as Ital food can be found in other countries, too.

Puerto Rico also has a number of cafés and restaurants which are either all-vegetarian or veg-friendly. If you're having a hard time finding a place, keep your eyes out for the fast food chain Pollo Tropical, which doesn't put meat in its rice and beans.

Of course, ethnic restaurants are good stand-bys anywhere. An island's ethnic population will partially determine what's available. For instance, Trinidad has a number of Chinese and Indian restaurants because immigrants came over from those countries prior to the 20th century.

For casual or take-out meals, look for natural food supermarkets, which sometimes have delis with vegetarian items. Nature's Way in the British Virgin Islands' Road Town is one such place.

The brief list of dining options below will help you get started. Some aren't exclusively vegetarian, but all include at least a few veggie choices on their menus. Vegan and vegan-friendly are indicated with a V.

Antigua: Kalabashe, St. John's West. V

Barbados: Back to Eden, Speightstown. V

Cancun: 100% Natural. V

Cayman Islands: Veggie Delights, Georgetown. V

Dominican Republic: Lotos Restaurant, Santo Domingo. V

Nevis: Natural Livity, Newcastle Village. V

Puerto Rico: Asiquesi, Cabo Rojo. V

St. Martin: Top Carrot, Simpson Bay.

Trinidad: Mother Nature, Port of Spain.

Tobago: Kariwak Village Restaurant, Crown Point.

US Virgin Islands: Soul Vegetarian, Christiansted. V

A few good online resources are www.HappyCow.net, www.VegDining.com, and www.VegSource.com. Unlike the first two, VegSource doesn't have a directory, but its forum has a few threads on restaurants in the Caribbean, and you can always post your own question. Also take a look at the online international yellow pages. Just remember that businesses have to pay money to be listed, so not all restaurants will be represented.

When you're on your trip, if you want to try a restaurant that's out of the way, call first since listings can be outdated. With a little preparation, you'll spend less time worrying about where you're going to eat and more time enjoying your travels.

Karen Joslin writes for Antigua-Guide.info, VirginIslands-Guide.info, and other Segisys travel Web sites.

© 2006, Interactive Internet Websites, Inc.
Article may only be reprinted if it is not modified in any way, and if all links remain live.

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Low Calorie and Vegetarian Recipes - Tasty Alternatives

Many people think low calorie and vegetarian recipes are probably boring and bland. But, truth is, they can be tasty, healthy alternatives to some of your favorite dishes. This article is going to share with you two examples of such recipes.

1. Vegetarian Black Bean Burgers

For this recipe, you will need

* 1 can of black beans

* 1/2 of an onion

* 1/2 cup of flour

* 2 slices of bread

* 1 teaspoon of garlic powder

* 1 teaspoon of onion powder

* 1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt

* salt and pepper

To prepare, follow the steps below:

a). Dice the onion, then saute it for about 4 or 5 minutes until soft.

b) Pour the black beans into a large bowl and mash them until they are almost smooth.

c) Add the sauteed onions, garlic powder, onion powder, and seasoned salt to the black beans.

d) Crumble up the slices of bread and add them to the mix.

e) Add the flour to the mixture a few tablespoons at a time, stirring after each addition.

f) Pour a small amount of oil into a frying pan, and let it heat up.

g) Using your hands, scoop some of the beef mixture out of the bowl, and shape it into a pattie that is about 1/2 thick.

h) Fry the patties until they are firm.

You will be surprised how good these burgers taste.

2. Tofu Scramble

Have you ever tried tofu? Well, you really should. Tofu is used as a substitute for meat in many vegetarian dishes. And tofu scramble is a great alternative to scrambled eggs.

You will need:

* 1 block of tofu, drained and press

* 1/2 yellow onion

* 1/2 green pepper

* 1 teaspoon garlic powder

* 1 teaspoon onion powder

* 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley

* 1 tablespoon soy sauce

* 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast

* 2 teaspoons oil or margarine

Here are the steps for cooking:

a) Cut the tofu into one inch cubes, and then use a fork to slightly crumble it.

b) Dice your onion and bell pepper.

c) Add some oil or margarine to a skillet set to medium-high.

d). Add the onion, green pepper and tofu to the skillet and cook for 4 or 5 minutes.

e) Add garlic powder, onion powder, parsley, soy sauce, and nutritional yeast to the skillet.

f) Cook the tofu scramble for 6 or 7 minutes, stirring frequently. When it is done, pour onto a plate and enjoy.

You can treat a tofu scramble like what you would do with scramble eggs, adding vegetables of your choice, like tomatoes, mushrooms, spinach, and carrots.

If you just give a try to these two recipes, you will be convinced that low calorie and vegetarian recipes do not have to be bland or boring. In fact, there are thousands of vegetarian dishes out there that are tasty, easy to make, and good for your health.

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Popular Deep Fried Side Dishes

If you are serving a deep fried dish, such as a country fried chicken recipe or battered fish, you might want to serve some boiled, sauteed or steamed vegetables on the side, or a crisp salad, to contrast in flavor and texture. On the other hand, perhaps you want to make some tasty deep fried side dishes to accompany your fried chicken or another dish.

Deep fried side dishes include delights like deep fried garlic mushrooms, onion rings, or potato wedges. French fries are, of course, a great accompaniment to fried chicken recipes and many others. You can batter chopped vegetables to make a crunchy side dish and this is also a very fast way to cook food. Soft battered ingredients like mushrooms or zucchini will cook in a few minutes, although harder ones like carrots will need to be parboiled or fried for longer.

Fried okra, chiles rellenos (battered, stuffed chili peppers), egg croquettes, breadcrumb-coated eggplant slices, French fried tomatoes, mozzarella cubes and squash puffs are some other ideas if you want to make some tasty fried side dishes.

The most popular fried side dish, after French fries, is perhaps onion rings and there are many ways to make them. You can coat onion rings in breadcrumbs or batter and you can add herbs, spices, or hot sauce to give them any flavor you like. Onion rings are amazing with a juicy steak, with a fried chicken recipe or alongside pretty much any meal you can think of.

Recipe for Squash Croquettes

This delicious squash croquettes recipe makes enough for four people. You can serve this with a country fried chicken recipe, a steak or even alongside something fish-based or vegetarian. Basil, thyme, and green onions add plenty of flavor to these squash croquettes.

You can use different herbs if you prefer, or even a pinch of dried mixed herbs. Perhaps you have some fresh pumpkin to use up instead of squash and that is great to use in this recipe too.

What you will need:

2 beaten eggs
3 cups cooked, drained yellow squash
1 cup coarse breadcrumbs
1/2 teaspoon basil
1 teaspoon thyme
3 finely chopped green onions
Vegetable oil, for deep frying
Salt and black pepper, to taste

How to make them:

Mash the squash in a bowl and then stir in the basil, breadcrumbs, onion, eggs, thyme, salt and pepper. If the mixture is not thick enough to form balls easily, add some more breadcrumbs. Heat the oil to 370 degrees F or until a droplet of batter floats to the top quickly.

Make two inch balls with the squash mixture and fry three at a time. Cook them until golden. This will take about five minutes. Drain the squash croquettes on paper towels. You can keep them warm in a 175 degrees F oven if you like, while you cook the rest.

When you have a craving for comfort food, chicken fried steak might be the perfect dish to satisfy that craving. Making some deep fried sides to serve with your country fried chicken recipe will give you the ultimate comfort food feast.

SouthernFriedChickenRecipe.com When it has to be Real Fried Chicken

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Indian Cooking - North Indian Breads

The world over, Indian food is largely perceived as curries. While this isn't strictly true-considering the large amounts of spices and their quantities and types used-it is really quite inevitable, unless one is aware of the cooking styles in this country.

India is a land of abundant cultures and sub cultures, each having their own unique way of cooking, with very little in common between them. Cooking styles vary, and so do tastes, textures and spices used. However, three main spices are common throughout India- Turmeric (Haldi), Salt (Namak) and Red Chilli Powder (Mirch). Keeping these as a base, Indian cooks create a huge variety of dishes by varying add-on spices.

In this article, I'll introduce some common and not so well known north Indian breads. For the record, the term 'North India', from a cultural point of view, includes New Delhi, Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal, and Rajasthan. Except New Delhi, which is more of a cosmopolitan city-state, all these places have their own distinct food culture and traditions. It is therefore slightly unfair to club them all in a single term when discussing food, but it will have to do for the purpose of this article.

North India typically has a multitude of griddle (tava) baked breads made with unleavened dough for the most part. The base dough for most consists of whole meal flour mixed with water and a little salt, the whole of which is then kneaded to a soft pliable consistency. This is then made into different types of breads as below.

Roti or Chapaati

For this bread, a small ball of dough is rolled out flat (about 1 - 2mm) in a circular shape (about 6 inches in diameter), these are dry baked on a hot griddle until splotchy brown and cooked through. The Roti has a few variants which are mentioned below.

Phulka

A very close relative of the Roti, Phulkas are cooked on one side on a griddle and then laid on an open flame, which causes the Roti to puff up, at which point it becomes a phulka. The term 'phul' means to puff up or to bloat, hence the derivative Phulka.

Makki Ki Roti

This is a favorite winter time roti made using corn flour (makki ka atta). After making a simple dough with water (and perhaps some grated veggies like radish or carrots) a ball of the dough is pressed down on a piece of cloth or flexible plastic, as the dough is very brittle and doesn't hang together. When the circle is roti sized, it is flipped over on to a hot griddle and usually served with vegetable pickle or sarson ka saag (mustard greens).

Ulte Tave Ki Roti

Literally translated, this means 'Rotis cooked on an upturned Griddle'. Made the same way as normal Rotis, these are about double the normal thickness and placed on a hot griddle after wetting both sides of the uncooked Roti with water. This makes it stick to the griddle that in turn produces the desires effect when the griddle is upturned and the roti exposed to a naked flame. These Rotis are normally eaten with non-vegetarian dishes, but that's mostly a matter of individual preference.

Missi Roti

A Missi Roti is actually a normal roti, made with the normal dough as described earlier, to which various other types of flour and spices have been added. There isn't any fixed recipe for this - it's each one to his own here. One simple example would be to mix equal proportions of whole meal wheat and gram flour with some red chilli powder, salt, kasuri methi and perhaps a little cuminseed, add some water and make a soft dough. You could also knead in a little oil if you like. When done, cook on a hot griddle like a normal Roti.

The Tandoor

The Tandoor is an upright cylinder with an outer sheath of metal and an inside made of a very thick layer of baked clay. Rotis made inside it are plastered to the inner walls. When roasting meats or cooking kebabs, the food is threaded on long metal skewers or Seekhs hence the name of the very popular kebab - Seekh Kebab.

Tandoori Roti

Similar to Ulte Tave Ki Roti when rolled out, these are cooked in the Tandoor. After rolling, the roti is placed on the inside walls of the Tandoor and left to bake. Tandoori Rotis are usually a little more than double the thickness of normal Rotis.

The Kashmiris have a variant called Lavasa, which too is quite bland as it doesn't have any seasoning. The dough uses refined flour as opposed to the wholemeal flour used for the Tandoori Roti. While it can be eaten with anything, it is typically eaten with highly spiced Kashmiri style mutton stews.

Tandoori Paratha

Tandoori Parathas are made much the same way as Lachha Parathas. The only difference is that they are cooked inside the Tandoor, rather than a hot griddle.

Naan

Naans are made using dough made of refined flour with a leavening agent of some sort. Some use fermented dough, others may use yeast and few people mix active yoghurt into the dough. The end result however, is the same - the dough must rise. Naans vary in size from a few inches across to a monster I've personally had the pleasure of demolishing, which was a little more than 1.5 feet in diameter. Typically, Naan's are cooked in the tandoor, though an oven does the job too. Coal however, delivers a flavor that cannot be matched by a conventional oven.

Stuffed Naan (Amritsari)

Amritsar is an important city in the state of Punjab. The stuffed Naan takes its name from this city and is also called Amritsari Naan. A stuffed naan is made using the Naan dough, stuffed with a filling similar to a stuffed paratha and usually rolled into a circle. It is then stuck to the inner walls of the Tandoor to cook.

Paratha

There are many types of parathas and they're all high calorie and quite delicious.

Typical Paratha

A thin layer of oil or clarified butter (ghee) is spread on the surface of the rolled Roti and folded until it's a square about an inch across, with oil being spread on every un-oiled surface that's exposed upwards. It is then rolled again and the process is repeated a few times. The Paratha is then cooked on a hot griddle, with liberal splashes of oil or ghee. The final result is a crisp (or not) bread that is multi layered and tastes quite good with just about anything. Typically, it isn't eaten with non-vegetarian dishes. In ethnic Muslim cuisine, this is also called Roghani Roti, where 'Roghani' refers to 'fat'.

Stuffed Paratha

The stuffed paratha starts out as a Roti rolled out, in the centre of which is placed a dollop of stuffing (spiced, mashed boiled potatoes, cauliflour etc). The Roti is then picked up by the edges, sealed (by pressing together) and then rolled out again. This is then cooked the same way as a Paratha. Typically it is served crisp, with yoghurt (sometimes whipped) with pickles. An idea after-paratha drink is sweet, milky tea.

Lachha Paratha

A Lachha Paratha is composed of many layers - many more than a normal paratha. Also, the layers here are horizontal as well as vertical, as opposed to only vertical in a normal Paratha. This is made by rolling out a Roti, spreading oil or ghee on the surface and then cutting it into strips. These strips are place one on top of the other and holding the pile by both ends, twisted into a roundish shape. This is then rolled flat and cooked on a griddle. Another way of making this is to make a long cylindrical shape with the dough, coating it with oil and starting from one end, making it into a wheel shape with concentric circles. As with technique #1, this is then rolled flat and cooked on a hot griddle, or in a Tandoor.

In the context of Muslim cuisine, this is also known as a Warqui Paratha, where Warqui means 'leaves' and is similar to the word Warq, which refers to the beaten silver or gold sheets that are used to decorate sweets.

Roomali Roti

This is more of a technique than a recipe. Literally translated 'Roomal' means 'Handkerchief' and the Roomali Roti is just that. A very soft, thin and large bread that folds and bends just like cloth. While it can be eaten with just about anything, it is a particular favorite when it comes to making rolls or wraps.

Cheela

Cheela is a variant of the Roti that is made with gram flour instead of the normal wholemeal wheat flour. However, unlike the humble Roti, there's considerable scope for creativity here. Various additions can be made to the basic gram flour mixture like finely chopped onions, green chilli, coriander and just about anything else that has been well drained, like the outer flesh of tomatoes for example. The Cheela is also quite well seasoned, usually with Ajowan (carom, ajwain, or bishop's weed), powdered black pepper, red chilli powder and coriander powder (dhania). After mixing everything together with a little water to make the dough, Cheelas are cooking just like Parathas, on a hot, flat griddle, brushing each side with a little oil before turning over.

Kulcha

The Kulcha is a variety of baked flat bread that is made using refined flour. It is leavened with baking powder and active, whole milk yoghurt. It can be eaten as is or lightly toasted in a pan or toaster. It tastes slightly sour and is sometimes garnished with chopped coriander leaves on top. Kulchas are usually eaten with a chickpea curry and are also good with Indian pickles for breakfast.

Another variant is the Kashmiri Kulcha. Made with a dough that is quite similar to the one used for Tel Varu, the Kashmiri Kulcha is quite different from the normal Kulcha. While the normal Kulcha is slightly sour tasting and quite soft, the Kashmiri Kulcha is quite crisp and rusk-like. It comes in two flavors - sweet and salty with a spot of cumin seed. The Kashmiri Kulcha too is normally eaten with tea - Sheer Chai, Kahwa or normal tea.

Bhatura

Bhaturas are one of my all time favorites. Usually thick and soft, they can be crispy too and are traditionaly eaten with one of many varieties of chickpea curry. Refined flour forms the base for this bread, which is leavened with yoghurt and yeast and flavored with a little sugar and salt. After rising, the dough is rolled out and pulled from one side to make it slightly elongated, after which it is deep fried in hot oil.

Puri

Puris are made using the same dough as that for the Roti. The only difference is that a little oil is added and the Puri dough needs to be stiff as opposed to soft for the Roti. After allowing the dough to rest for 30 - 90 minutes, the dough is taken off the main mass in a hunk, rolled into a ball, a corner dipped in oil and then rolled in a circular shape to about 4 inches in diameter. When frying, the Puri must inflate and swell out, which is usually accomplished by tossing hot oil over it from the pan in which it's being fried. When lightly brown on top, it is taken out and drained. Puris are usually eaten with potato or chicken pea curry. In some parts of India, puris are also eaten with a sweet mango puree or semolina halva (a sweet dish made using clarified butter, nuts and roasted semolina)

Another variation is the Luchi. Using the same dough as the Puri, it usually more than 2 feet across, sometimes nearly a meter in diameter. Luchis are made on festive occasions and obviously require special utensils for the oil and for retrieval. Quite light in texture, they are shallow fried, not deep fried like the Puri.

Sheermaal

Sheermaal is a baked flatbread from ethnic Muslim cuisine. It is made using a dough comprising refined flour, milk, a pinch of salt, sugar, clarified butter (ghee) and Vetivier (kewda). This dough is rolled into circular shape about 2 - 3mm thick. The saffron is mixed with some warm milk and used to brush the bread from time to time when it's baking in the oven. This gives the bread its characteristic orangish yellow color. When done the sheermaal must be brushed with some white (freshly churned) butter and served immediately.

Bakarkhani

Bakarkhani is a spongy, thick, round bread that has its origins in ethnic Muslim cuisine. Made with leavened flour, mawa and eggs, it is baked in an oven and is usually eaten with mutton dishes such as Nihari or Korma. The preperation process is quite time consuming as the dough needs to be kneaded for hours then rolled out and folded over (with clarified butter and flour sprinkled on every fold) several times before it is ready. When the dough is ready, it is rolled into disc about a centimeter thick and 4 to 5 inches in diameter. These are then sprinkled with sesame seeds and baked. While baking they are basted twice with whole milk. The texture of Bakarkhani can be a bit dry at times, however, considering it is eaten with curries in most part, this feature actually helps soak up and retain flavor while eating.

This bread too has a Kashmiri variation called the Katlam. The only difference is in the size, where the Kashmiri version is usually smaller and crisper than its mainline cousin. Like many Kashmiri breads, it is eaten with hot tea.

Bhati

The Bhati is quite unlike any other Indian bread. Predominantly eaten in the state of Rajasthan, Bhatis are made with unleavened wholemeal flour dough into which a little salt and clarified butter have been mixed. The dough is shaped into small balls and baked in a moderately hot oven until brown on the outside and soft on the inside. Bhatis are traditionally served in a container that is then filled with clarified butter. They are eaten after being allowed to soak for a while.

Tel Varu

This bread is Kashmiri in origin. Tel Varu closely resembles a bun and is sprinkled with sesame seeds on the crust, which is quite crisp. Slightly salty in taste, it is made with normal bread dough - really a local variation of bread as we all know and love. Tel Varu is usually eaten with Sheer Chai, which is salty Kashmiri tea.

... and that completes the list, though there are probably a few regional specialiaties I've missed out.

Sid Khullar has written nearly 400 articles on food, cooking and other related subject on Chef at Large. He welcomes recipe and photo contributions and is always looking to meet people passionate about the culinary arts.

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Kenyan Food Recipes

Mahamri is an alternative to bread or tea biscuits. It is sweetened and spiced. Mahamris are a specialty at the Kenyan coast. Coastal women prepare them for breakfast or even as an accompaniment for vegetarian dishes.

WHAT YOU NEED TO PREPARE MAHAMRI

Iliki - Swahili for cardamom
Amira - Swahili for yeast
White flour
fresh milk or coconut milk
Sugar
Eggs- This is optional ·
Warm Water
Salt
Oil

HOW TO PREPARE MAHAMRIS

1. Dilute one teaspoon of yeast in a cup of warm water and leave it undisturbed for at least three hours.

2. Mix a teaspoon of crushed cardamom, four tablespoons of sugar, a pinch of salt and three eggs.

3. Add half a cup of warm milk and yeast to the mixture and mix thoroughly.

4. Add three cups of white flour to the paste and knead the dough until it is fine. Make sure it has no flour lumps.

5. Divide the dough into several medium sized balls and roll them onto a floured board or surface.

6. Depending on the size of each ball, cut the rolled dough into smaller pieces. You can cut them circular or square, depending on your choice.

7. Let these balls rest under room temperature for about two hours so as to allow them to lighten up.

8. Pour the oil into a pan and heat it until it is hot. Begin to fry several of the mahamris at a go. Cook them on both sides until they are golden brown in colour. Do not let them stay in the pan for more than three minutes.

Serving tips

Good for breakfast with tea or black coffee. They can also be eaten on their own as a snack, or served with fried cowpeas as a full meal.

To get more Kenyan Recipes, visit: http://africancook.co.ke.

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Onam - History and Celebrations

Onam is a Festival Celebrating in Kerala a state in India. In India the states are mainly divided according to Languages and culture. KERALA belong to a southern state where the Language is Malayalam. Kerala there is 13 districts and 3 main religions (Hindus, Christians, Muslims). The kerala districts has lot of variations in their culture as for northern side theyam and related festivals are important and sorthern part Pooram temple festival is more celebrated.Since in India the states are divided according to Languages in the Kerala the main Language is Malayalam. So the keralites are normally known as Malayalees and as in modern eworld as Mallu. In India we can see lots of states names are evolved from their language like Tamilnadu (the place of Tamil) from the language Tamil, Karnataka (Kannada Language), Gujarath (Gujarathi Language) etc etc. But the Kerala name has been evolved from keram the Malayalam word for coconut. As the name suggests the dominant agricultural activity is growing coconut tree. Now there are lot of other agricultural activity also like Rubber tree, vanilla, tea, coffee etc. But wherever you go you will be able to see Coconut tress (thengu in Malayalam). Kerala is Very beautiful place and it has got a good position on Indian tourism Map. Kerala Backwaters and houseboats are very attraction for the visitors.

Onam the Religious story:

Onam History Manly related to Hindu Religion, But now the Festival has become State Festival and all religions celebrate it. Malayalees believe that once upon a time the king Mahabali was ruled Kerala. Mahabali was the grand son of Prahaladha who was one of the greatest devotee of lord Vishnu. His Fathe hiranyakshipe was against God and He claimed he is ultimated god and every body should worship him. Prahaladha the only son of the king Hiranyashibu defied his father and told him that lord Vishnu stays in even in pillars and rust. An angry hiranyakashibu cut the pillar saying let me see your Vishnu inside the pillar. And Vishnu emerged from pillar as in the form of Narashimham (half Man-half lion form). Vishun is taken Narashimham form as Hiranyakashibu got a blessing early from Lord Shiva that no man or no animal will be able to kill him.

Mahabali was grown on the laps of his grandfather prahaladha and became very religious and devotee to Lord Vishnu. Subsequently he has become the ruler of their kingdom which keralites believe is Kerala. When Mahabali ruled over Kerala it was said as the Golden time in Kerala history. No body ever starved and there was no beggar in the streets. There was no fake measurements or no body used to lye. As the Mahabali name Spread his power as king as well as his spiritual power as good person started growing up. By this Lord Indra who is the king of Heaven got afraid and He thought His Position as King of heaven will Loose to mahabali who looks more eligible for that position. So he consulted the sage naradha and prayed to Lord Vishnu to save his position.

Vishnu takes Vamana avatar

As Vishnu was very pleased with his devotee Mahabali, and he knows that Mahabalies earthy days are over, he accepted Indras request. He promised Indra that he will do the needful. As Lord Vishnu want to bless Mahabali as well as end his earthy days as it is almost completed. He also knows that Mahabali got selfpride of himself since he believe his the best king in the world and he is always having blessings of Lord Vishnu. If he dies in this state his self-pride will stop him to attain the eternal position after his death. So he is taken the form of small brahmin boy (called vamana avatar) and visits Mahabali. Mahabali as usual too proud of himself asks the boy what you want. The boy replied him Oh King I just needed 3 feet of land to sit and pray. Mahabali offered him more land but boy stayed with his request of 3 feet land. And Mahabali granted him and asked him to measure the three feet of land himself.

Once Mahabali agreed for his request Vamana(Lord Vishnu) grown himself to the Universal form. And with One foot he measured all earth, and with second foot he measured Heaven, and sky. Then he tolled to the Mahabali there is no land left to keep his third foot. Mahabali who recognized that vamana is none other than Lord Vishnu and he was so much ashamed of himself about his self-pride as he can not full fill one boys request for3 feet of land. He understood that lord Vishnu has emerged himself to kill his self-pride and to purify him. So he humbly asked the Lord to keep his 3rd foot on his head. Pleased with his obedience Lord Vishnu granted him the rule of Pathalam (The world under earth) and Promised him the King of heaven after the Indras Period. He also granted him a day in a year where he can return to Kerala to visit his people which is onam. And he pressed Mahabali to pathalam (world under earth). Even thought Kerala has become poor afterwards the Malayalees will some how celebrate Onam with flowers, and with lot of food on Onam so that their beloved king will think that Kerala is still prosperous like the days he ruled the country. Now a days Onam is celebrated along with leopard dance all over kerala where people will dress up like leopard and dance in front of a leopard hunder who dressed up as leopard hunder with gun and Boat races all over kerala.

Morality:

Lot of question we ask is why Lord Vishnu send Mahabali to Pathalam (The world below earth) even though he is good.

Every person has a limited number of earthy days and Mahabali finished it. So instead of Dying He got a chance to rule another world.
He has got chance to keep his head under Lord Vishnu's holy feet and thus he purified to utmost level a man can be achieved. His all sins which might have acted as obstacle in his way to eternity has been cleared. We must read this along with how the cross has been used to kill thousand of people is purified just because they crucified the Jesus (Son of God) on cross.
Because of this incident He has got the position King of heaven (after Indras Period) which indra was trying to deny him.
He may be the only person in any history where god has begged something from (3 feet of Land). We all beg and pray to god for blessing and Prosperity. He is still remembered by his People even after thousand of years where as other kings has Been Forgotten

Onam Celebrations:

Malayalees Celebrate Onam by putting pookalam (Arts by flowers) in front of Their house. It will start 10 days before the Onam and Onam falls on 10th day of Pookalam. On onam (called as thiruonam ) day Pookkalam will be the biggest one. Onam days Normally will Traditional vegetarian Dishes with Rice, sambar, avial, upperi, Pappadam and Payasam. Lot of special dishes like Varuthepperi, Pickle etc will be there. Non Kerala Malayalees celebrate on Onam in their house. Malayalee association in non Kerala celebrate Onam on nearest Sunday, Saturday or holidays of the country they live. In Kerala Onam is Celebrated By Boat race and other activity

Onam Greeting Cards Onam greeting cards will be send days before the Onam to make sure that no postal delays are affected the delivery. Now Lots of online greeting cards sites are there to where we can send Beautiful Onam greetings. Below are some sites.

http://www.365greetings.com - The got a variety of Onam cards which can be found at Onam cards Sections. This site is Without any popup ads

http://www.123greetings.com - 123greetings got Lot of Onam greetings

Author is having 7 years of experience in Web design and hosting.

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Vegetarian Culinary School

Vegetarian cooking has been popular for decades, and there are now more and more restaurants specializing in this kind of cuisine. Whether it's your ambition to become a chef in one of these restaurants, or simply learn how to make exciting and tasty vegetarian meals, a vegetarian culinary school could be just the thing for you.

Vegetarian cooking schools will teach you everything right from the basics of cooking right through to the art of cooking great meals. Depending on your level of cooking you can attempt to qualify for a diploma, and this could advance you towards a career as a professional chef. Cooking courses will also provide you with a valuable list of recipes, cookery guides and support from your expert tutor, which will help you produce great vegetarian dishes.

Vegetarian food is becoming increasingly popular, and there is a lot of experimentation towards creating exciting flavors, textures and colors in food. Part of your course will deal with the aspects of presentation, on top of learning about the nutritional values of a vegetarian and vegan diet. Not only is this a great career choice, but it can also be a great way to expand your cooking repertoire and learn how to cook healthy meals for the whole family.

Vegetarian culinary school can be a great experience, personally or professionally. Whether you choose to attend a full time cooking school, a course one night a week, or find an online distance learning option, cooking schools really are the best way of improving your skills within a short period of time.

Find the BEST vegetarian culinary schools at the authors cooking schools website by clicking here.

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Maintaining Your Vegetarian Diet

Becoming a vegetarian is a life-changing decision. Simply making that choice puts you one step ahead, but the difficult part is following through with it. Here are a few tips to help you make that transition a smooth one.

Taking on a change as big as this requires baby steps. Start by having vegetarian meals three days a week for the first half of the month. You can substitute ingredients in your favorite dishes to make sure that they are meatless.

As a cooking tip, you can add in mushrooms to some marinara sauce to replace meatballs. You can also try replacing the meat in lasagna with beans. Making simple tweaks in your favorite recipes can encourage you to stay on track once you realize that meatless meals can be just as good.

Once you pass the two-week hump, you can commit to having vegetarian meals five days a week for the rest of the month. In this case, studying the natural foods aisle at your local grocery store will certainly work to your benefit. You can also explore the internet for great vegetarian recipes. For added motivation, treat yourself to new vegetarian products, and incorporate them into your meals from time to time.

Don't limit yourself either to simply being a vegetarian at home. Whenever you choose to dine out, experiment with their vegetarian dishes. Who knows, this may even inspire you to prepare new vegetarian meals at home.

Once you accomplish this, commit to having vegetarian meals for two more days in a week. This shouldn't be that big of a stretch since you've been having veggie meals five days a week for over a month now. This took an incredible amount of discipline on your part, so take pride in your accomplishments. By being a vegetarian, not only are you doing your body a favor, you're helping the environment as well.

Remember, it's not about getting things right, all in one go. Transitioning to being a vegetarian is hard work and it may take some getting used to, but soon you'll realize that the end results are priceless. Just keep rewarding yourself for making good dietary choices and you'll certainly be more motivated to continue heading in the right direction.

Oftentimes I experiment on subjects and topics of my articles. Today I wrote about diet, yesterday It was about the asphalt sealer. Read more of my articles at here

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Thinking About Going Vegetarian? Here are Some Facts

Let's face it - we live in a steak and potato society. People who don't eat meat are looked at more than a little suspiciously in this country. But what are the facts? Is a plant based diet good for you, bad for you or makes no difference?

Let's set the record straight and debunk some misinformation about vegetarianism:

Myth: Eating a vegetarian diet is healthier for you. The truth is that eating a vegetarian diet is good for you and, in general, people who don't eat meat take in fewer calories than those who do. The bad news is that this isn't always true. There are a ton of vegetarian recipes that contain enough calories and fat to rival a night out at McDonalds. No matter if you're completely avoiding meat, a healthy diet means eating foods that are low in salt, fat and calories.

Myth: Going on a vegetarian diet means the end of exciting, good tasting meals. The truth is that any diet becomes boring when you eat the same things day after day. There are so many ingredients available and different ways of putting them together that, with a little imagination, you can come up with vegetarian recipes that will have your family clamoring for more.

Myth: There really aren't many vegetarians. According to a 1994 National Roper Poll it has been estimated that about 20% of the population of the United States define themselves as vegetarian with many more describing themselves as interested in consuming more vegetarian based meals. While still in the minority, vegetarians make up a rapidly growing segment of society. If you're still skeptical, go onto google and do a search for "vegetarian recipes" to see how many millions of hits you get.

Myth: If you go to a vegetarian diet you can forget about ever feeling full or satisfied. The truth is if you're eating lots of plant foods, you're also getting a lot of fiber and fiber is what makes your stomach feel full. Also, if you're eating legumes like red, black and kidney beans you're also getting the protein you need to satisfy your feelings of hunger.

Myth: If you go on a vegetarian diet, you're in danger of starving yourself of the protein your body needs. The truth is that it's very easy to get the protein you need strictly through plant based sources. Being vegetarian does not mean you won't be getting enough protein in your diet. Since so many plant foods include protein it would actually be difficult to go on a vegetarian diet and come up short on protein. In fact, too much protein can contribute to problems with your health. Most health experts now believe that one of the benefits of a vegetarian diet is that it includes just the right amount of protein.

Myth: A vegetarian diet is not suitable for children or pregnant women. The truth is that a vegetarian diet can be healthy for everyone, including during pregnancy. Protein is protein whether you get it from plants or from animal foods. Remember to take vitamin supplements and consult with your doctor to ensure that you're getting the right levels of nutrition.

Myth: If you become a vegetarian you will never have to worry about cancer and heart disease. While it's true that a vegetarian diet can reduce your risk of certain types of heart disease and cancer there are other contributing factors that are equally, if not more, important. A sedentary lifestyle, smoking, excessive drinking, obesity, high blood pressure and heredity play an enormous role in your overall health and can't be offset by simply avoiding meat.

Myth: Eating meat is just a lot easier than eating a vegetarian diet. The truth is that it's very easy to find vegetarian choices at restaurants these days. Even fast food places are now offering vegetarian dishes on the menu due to the great demand for them and these dishes are also generally lower in cost. Cooking delicious vegetarian meals at home also takes about the same amount of preparation time as meat-based dishes and often takes less.

Myth: A vegetarian diet can provide you with all of the vitamins you need to be healthy. The truth is that while you can get most of the nutrition you need from a vegetarian diet, there are still some that you will need to supplement to stay healthy. Two vitamins that should be supplemented are vitamin D and vitamin B12. Vitamin D is created in our bodies through the action of sunlight on our skin but it's very difficult to get enough vitamin D this way to stay healthy. This is especially true for those who live further from the equator and for those who have fair skin and tend to use sunblock on a regular basis. The only completely reliable sources of vitamin B12 are animal products such as meat and eggs. If you are on a strict vegan diet, you should make sure you take B12 supplements to avoid the possibility of anemia.

There are many more myths and misunderstandings about vegetarianism. The truth is that a vegetarian diet won't solve all of your health problems and concerns but can be a healthy, satisfying life choice.

John Fleming
Health Correspondent
http://www.healthyliving411.com

Learn more about diet and health. Visit HealthyLiving411.com where you can find reviews and information to choose the best healthy lifestyle for you.

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A Hawaii Beach Wedding Makes for a Picture Perfect Celebration

A lot of couples dream of having a Hawaii beach wedding. And why not? The golden coasts, lush vegetation, and a populace known for its warmth and sense of jubilation all make for a vivid and stimulating destination wedding.

But like every great beach wedding idea, a Hawaii destination wedding needs careful thought and planning. Probably the best way to research your Hawaii beach wedding would be to use the internet. The beach theme wedding is so popular there are many websites devoted to Hawaiian ceremonies. You can also find info on a Caribbean beach wedding, Florida beach wedding, and other places that can offer you similarly stimulating venues for your ceremony.

The keyword here is planning. The more you know what you want and the better you can visualize it, the more successful and memorable your big day will be.

The following steps will help you envision, plan, and organize a breathtaking Hawaii beach wedding.

Hawaii Beach Wedding Tip #1 - Create Your Invitations

Create invitations that reflect the theme of your ceremony. Traditional card invitations that come in light sandy colors are great; alternatively, how about non-traditional invites like small bottles with sand and a rolled sheet of paper inside (with your ceremony details printed on it)?

Hawaii Beach Wedding Tip #2 - Book Your Destination Wedding

Be sure to settle your venue quick; remember, you're not the only couple that wants to get married in Hawaii! Check places through travel agencies or online. Research the location, amenities, view, and other details of your Hawaii destination wedding. Also book your minister around this time as well as the all-important reception area.

Hawaii Beach Wedding Tip #3 - Make Travel Arrangements

If you're not from Hawaii, book all plane tickets, island rides, and hotel accommodations well in advance so you don't have to worry about them later. Make sure your hotel is near the venue. The success of a destination wedding hinges on this crucial plan element.

Hawaii Beach Wedding Tip #4 - Apply for a Marriage License

The application fee for a Hawaiian marriage license is $50. You have 30 days from the issuance of the
license to get married in Hawaii. If it expires, your destination wedding will have to wait. It's easy enough to reapply but you'll have to spend $50 again!

Hawaii Beach Wedding Tip #5 - Choose Your Attire Well

The traditional garb is as follows: a white holoku (Hawaiian bridal dress) for the bride and a white shirt and pants with a colored sash for the groom. If it's going to be a full outdoor wedding, your attire shouldn't be too stifling. Arrange maile leis--woven garlands made out of fragrant green leaves - for the two of you to wear. As for a veil--most Hawaiian ceremonies do not require brides to wear veils. She might want to wear a special wreath of flowers on her head instead.

Hawaii Beach Wedding Tip #6 - Decide On Ceremony Elements

After the ceremony, some couples follow the Chinese practice of lighting fireworks to scare off evil spirits and bestow good luck on the newlyweds; others engage in a Pandango, a Filipino tradition where guests use pins to attach money to the couple as they dance. You can do something similar or you can simply put on a new twist on old practices. For example, instead of a unity candle ceremony, you can try the unity SAND ceremony where the bride and groom mix two different shades of sand into a large glass, signifying their union in a fun and unique way.

Hawaii Beach Wedding Tip #7 - Pick the Right Decorations

Select decor that go hand in hand with your overall theme and beach wedding elements. There's no need to go overboard with set pieces; minimalism is good as the venue itself is already quite a joy to the senses. But don't be too barren; just make sure to liven the place up with décor that befits your beach wedding ceremony and theme.

Hawaii Beach Wedding Tip #8 - Book Catering

Be sure your menu properly caters to your palette and those of your guests. If you know of any vegetarian guests, be sure to arrange some vegetarian dishes. Also, choose a menu that best reflects your ocean theme wedding--seafood is always great and heightens the ocean-side mood.

If you plan your destination wedding well and arrange many of these things in advance, your union will definitely be spectacular and memorable.

Sharon Vaz is founder of http://www.unitysandceremony.net an authority website dedicated to providing brides resources on planning a spectacular Unity Sand Ceremony.

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Easy Vegetarian Spaghetti

This is an easy recipe for those of us who don't eat meat. I love spaghetti and created this recipe playing around in the kitchen one day. My family really likes it and I make it often. Since the rest of my family does eat meat, I can make a separate pot for them with hamburger meat. I know they are still getting their vegetables because I have added the peas and corn. You can try it with other vegetables too, although I never have. Hope you like my families favorites spaghetti recipe.
1 lb Morning Star Vegetarian Meat Crumblies or something similar

1 can spaghetti sauce mix - (26.5 oz)

1 can whole corn - (15 oz)

1 can peas - (15 oz)

Your favorite seasoning

1/4 lb Uncooked spaghetti (1/2 - 8 oz. pkg.)

1 1/2 tsp Salt, if desired

Pepper to taste

Grated parmesan Cheese

Cook the spaghetti noodles according to the package instructions. Using a microwave safe container, heat the vegetarian crumblies/meat for 6 minutes or according to the instructions on the package.

Using a medium sized saucepan, place the heated vegetarian crumblies/meat, the spaghetti sauce, the canned vegetables, and your favorites seasonings. Remember, not too much seasoning is required because your canned spaghetti sauce already has seasonings in it. Add salt and pepper if desired. Mix all the ingredients well. Bring to boil and then simmer for 20 minutes. Serve sauce over cooked spaghetti noodles. This recipe will serve about four people.

Donna Rivera-Loudon
Quick and Easy Recipes Donna has an MBA in Information Ttechnology and is currently a Tupperware Director and CEO of her own company. She also teaches online Management and Business classes for a local community college as well as computer classes for a four-year university.

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Cooking Quest

Online cooking The bright side though is that you can spend under $20 online and get astonishingly large collections of restaurant copycat recipes and have them instantly downloadable so you can get cooking right away. Those who need a nudge and a few creative ideas to get the pots simmering can access thousands of recipes and cooking tips online.

Cooking equipment:

New professional kitchen equipment and more information about cooking allow people to do the job like chefs at home. They introduced new equipment that revolutionized French cooking and set new standards all over Western Europe. They introduced new equipment that revolutionized French cooking and set new standards all over Western Europe.

Outdoor cooking:

Outdoor grilling is a advantageous and nice alternative to cooking indoors. There are many variables such as outdoor temperature, the size and thickness of the meat, and how fast the coals are cooking. The wide affiliation of creative solutions offered includes everything from cooking together, to outdoor adventures, scavenger hunts to simulations of extreme sports... Take some time to explore the possibilities and find new ways to enhance your office environment.

Cooking tips:

Great recipes without ever having to invest in cookbooks, astonishing cooking tips without having to go to expensive cooking schools, tips for kitchen basics that will inform you of what you need to keep on hand without breaking the bank. A healthy eating approach should teach us what a balanced diet is, including low fat shopping tips, how to read labels, healthy cooking techniques and portion control. Heating and serving tips:Don"t keep food hot for longer than an hour before serving Leave roast potatoes open to the atmosphere after cooking, to retain their crispness. Some healthy eating tips to help lower your cholesterol:-Don't fry your food - try other ways of cooking your food; eg boil, steam, grill, poach. If you are not sure where to start, the internet can be a terrific resource for low fat cooking tips, recipes and other dieting support.

Cooking class:

One of my earliest school memories was when I was a first grader: our class was invited to be guests of the eighth grade cooking class and we were treated to hot cocoa and oatmeal cookies made by the "big kids. Do something you have never brought about before such as taking a cooking class, take a walk in a state park, attend a lecture or meet for a cup of coffee with some friends and browse books at the bookstore. In this age of technology, take time to brush up on your knowledge or take that class that you've always dreamt of taking such as a cooking, painting, sewing, or computers.

Cooking vegetarian:

Find a good vegan or vegetarian website and read about the many ways of cooking with tofu. People have written ebooks on topics such as vegetarian cooking to how to genuinely write an ebook in general. Some may even think the traditional Indian cooking is mostly about vegetarian dishes and curries. Keep cooking utensils separate to prevent "cross-contamination" between meat foods and vegetarian foods - this is something that many non vegetarians overlook, but something which is absolutely important to vegetarians.

Cooking healthy:

Finding healthy recipes that are fast and easy can be a challenge, but with a little planning ahead cooking dinner can be a snap. When you don"t feel like cooking, there are some healthy products that are especially gluten-free. With TV commercials bombarding children's minds with 'junk food' options and fast food restaurants appealing parents to 'take a break' from tedious cooking by offering toys or a play room, staying on a healthy eating plan is difficult. The true goal of cooking is to nourish these wonderful bodies that we live in, to allow them to grow and express vitality and strength, to keep them healthy and able to overcome environmental germs and bacteria.

Christopher Jackson- World Trade Marketing wtmsecured@mail2world.com USA Your online guide to eating smart, being fit and living well. search, browse and save thousands of healthy and delicious recipes.

[http://planet11-cooking.blogspot.com/]

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How to Plan a Wedding Party

Planning a wedding party is not like planning any other party. The amount of planning goes into it will boggle your mind. However, if a few important aspects of the planning process are kept in mind then, everything else will take care of itself. A wedding party should be fun and therefore must be planned well. Given below are a few aspects of planning a wedding party, which must be considered carefully.

The Budget

While planning a wedding party, the first thing you must do is set a budget. It is one of the most important aspects of planning a wedding, and once the budget is finalized you can get on to the other aspects of planning. If you have decided upon a low budget then you would have to plan a low key party, however if there are no limits to the budget than you can pull out all the stops. While figuring out the budget you must include the associated cost of anything and everything that is going to be a part of the wedding party right from invitations, to photography and from the cakes to the going away presents. Only then will you have a clear idea about the kind of money you can spend on the wedding party.

The Number of Guests

This is the tricky part. This is because the number of guests that are a part of your wedding party will decide the major part of the expense of your party. Have a rounded off figure that you can offer to the sales person of the party hall or garden where you are going to host the party. Try and give the maximum figure, which you can prune down at a later time. Most party halls or gardens etc, charge by "the head' and thus the number of guests that you are going to invite for your party are going to be very critical.

The Party Theme

If you want you can even plan a theme for the party. For e.g. you could call it a dinner 'n' dance party and thus decorate the venue and plan the party accordingly. Or else you could plan the party according to a particular theme like 'summer' 'Rain', or even 'Snow'. You could then ask people who are invited to the wedding party to don specific clothing and also organize various events centered on the particular theme. You can also keep a simple party that has no theme attached to it, and it's only about having fun and congratulating the wedded couple.

The Menu

It is a fact that one of the biggest attractions of any party is the menu. People might forget anything and everything associated with the party but they will never forget the kind of food that was served at the wedding party. Make sure that there is delicious food on the menu and that it caters to all kinds of tastes. You can offer your guests a myriad of choices ranging from Indian, Continental, and Chinese etc. You might also want to serve non-vegetarian dishes to your guests; however, this decision has to be taken with care. You might have invited guests who wouldn't like the fact that non-vegetarian dishes are being served along with vegetarian food.

Don't leave it all for the Party Planner

These days one can hire party planners who have an expertise in planning parties. You can just give them a fair idea of what you want and they will do everything else for you. However, it's important that even if you hire such people, you become a part of the planning process. Your contribution will give a personal touch to the party and moreover, you can know for certain whether all that you have asked to be planned is in order or not.

Indian Matrimony

Catering Service

Website development

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Delicious Bean Dishes, Ideal Protein

I remember learning "Beans, Beans, The Musical Fruit," while driving in our old red and white van. When my mother complained about my sister and I learning songs with people "tooting," my father promised we wouldn't remember. Now, thirty years later, I remember.

In my parent's home, I grew up on steak and noodles; it was a favorite and eaten regularly. As an adult, I follow a vegetarian diet and avoid refined carbohydrates. It's likely I'll never eat my favorite childhood dinner again, and I'm perfectly okay with that.

Instead of both of those former favorites I now enjoy: Beans.

I love beans and lentils, and I'll share how to make one of easiest and best tasting bean dishes I've ever had. This dish is incredibly delicious and full of protein. In addition, once you know that it takes one thousand gallons of water to produce just one pound of beef, or worse, that many animals used for consumption these days have cancer and tumors, you'll understand that why using this dish often will benefit both your body and the environment.

One of the best things about bean dishes is that there are so many different kinds of beans, and they all taste different. The recipe I'll share will work with just about any type of bean or lentil, but my favorites are red lentils and black-eyed-peas. Red lentils are delicious and because they only take about fifteen minutes to prepare, they are a wonderful fast meal and a perfect pasta replacement. Black-eyed-peas take a bit longer, about forty minutes, but when you're eating them, you'll know exactly why you waited.

Because I'm big on easy food preparation, you'll just need a couple of things to make this simple dish.

The first is coconut oil, which if you're not cooking with coconut oil regularly, you should be. Coconut oil is full of medium chain fatty acids, which offer remarkable health benefits. Coconut oil is known to kill cancer cells, be anti-bacteria, and contrary to popular belief, coconut oil actually works to prevent heart troubles. On top of that short summary of the benefits of coconut oil, coconut oil is the only oil that can stand the heat of cooking without creating free radicals. Plus, it's delicious.

The second item needed is sea salt, which is very different than traditional table salt. Unprocessed sea salt is full of minerals - which most people are deplete in - and is structurally different than standard table salt, which the body sees as toxic. So, if you haven't made the switch yet at your table, now's a perfectly good time to do so.

The third is fresh sage. Like many herbs, sage protects against cancer, has anti-bacterial properties, and is absolutely delicious. Now, you'll need your beans or lentils and purified water and that's it.

So, this is what you'll do with all of it...

Add a teaspoon or two of coconut oil to your pot. Heat it up, and tear up and add 5-7 large fresh sage leaves per large serving of prepared beans or lentils you plan to make. Let the sage sauté on low heat for a minute, then add your purified water and beans or lentils. You'll need about three times as much water as dried beans or lentils. Just it bring to a boil, and when boiling turn the heat down to medium low, cover, and let cook until they've finished. If you're not sure how long to cook the beans or lentils you're using, a Google search will easily yield the answer.

When they're finished the beans or lentils will be soft. Now, add in a teaspoon of coconut oil per large serving and use sea salt to flavor. You'll be amazed at how easy and delicious this is. And six to seven cups of beans or lentils each week meet the protein requirements of humans - so they're an easy hearty replacement if you want to move away from eating meat. Indulge and enjoy!

Kim Evans is an author and educator on cleansing the body. Her book, Cleaning Up!, offers a total body cleanse [http://www.cleaningupcleanse.com/ultimate-body-cleanse/], which addresses many common problems in the body. As an avid adventurer in the kitchen, Cleaning Up! also includes many simple delicious healthy recipes using whole foods from nature - including healthy desserts.

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Gluten-Free Vegetarian Meals - Nutritious and Delicious

As more and more people are diagnosed with celiac disease it is beginning to affect people who already have dietary restrictions. Take vegetarians and vegans for instance. If a vegetarian or vegan is diagnosed with celiac disease and can no longer consumer gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye and barley, they must find new ways to eat the meals they used to love.

Luckily thanks to the internet it is now possible to find gluten-free vegetarian meals that are healthy and fun to cook and eat. Websites have popped up that cater to individuals who are vegetarian and vegan who are also gluten-free. These sites allow users to share product reviews, recipes and discuss living such a restricted lifestyle.

There are tons of foods you can still eat if you are a vegetarian and also gluten-free. You may even find a great deal of relief in seeking out certain ethnic foods in particular. A lot of Mexican food is gluten-free naturally since dishes are mainly made with corn. Of course you will still have to double check the ingredients or speak to the chef. Also a lot of Thai cuisine is gluten-free except soy sauce and other small things of the sort can contain gluten. These are also two types of ethnic dining where vegetarianism is more a part of the diet than say in Germany or America. If you are anything like me you love tacos and nachos-good thing you can still have both if you are vegetarian and gluten-free. I like my nachos covered in protein-rich black or refried beans, some melted cheddar cheese, onions, jalapenos and I could go on and on forever... you get the point.

Not only is a vegetarian gluten-free diet delicious and easy to follow once you have it down, it's healthy too. A vegetarian and gluten-free diet is rich in fiber and heart healthy phytochemicals, you can't go wrong with it. It is also low in bad carbohydrates or refined carbohydrates.

If you are a vegetarian who is gluten-free or a vegetarian who recently discovered that he or she has celiac disease, do not fret! You can still keep being a vegan or vegetarian and maintain a healthy and delicious life. Simply check out product reviews before buying expensive products and share and find recipes online to help you in your journey. There are tons of vegetarian and vegan gluten-free options out there, enjoy!

Check out product reviews, share recipes and more at Vegiac.com, the online community for vegetarians and vegans with celiac disease.

by Andrew Maule

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Why Choose a Theme For Your Dinner Party?

Dinner parties can be a lot of fun. Getting together over a meal has traditionally been a great way to enjoy the company of friends and family. Have you ever thought about having a dinner party with a theme? A theme can turn a plain, boring old dinner party into something fun and exciting.

A theme can provide entertainment, such as a murder mystery dinner party, or it can merely provide interest to the evening, such as choosing a specific cuisine. For Cinco de Mayo, for instance, many people rightly choose a Mexican-themed dinner to help celebrate the Mexican culture, while on St. Patrick's Day, many people choose to make corned beef and cabbage. Italian, Chinese or any other cuisine would work as well at any time of year.

You could plan a dinner party and a movie and give it a Hollywood theme. This would also work for a Golden Globes or Oscar party. Lots of people do this every year for the Superbowl with football themed decorations. You are limited only by your imagination. It adds a bit of excitement to the dinner party and makes it more memorable, especially if you tend to have dinner parties frequently.

Using a theme can help you and your guests explore new foods or spend the evening with decadent desserts. It could also go even further with costumes, decorations and more. How far you take a theme is ultimately up to you.

Some Fun Themes to Consider

Farmer's Market Night: Make it a potluck and have everyone bring a dish with at least one ingredient that came from the local Farmer's Market. This is a great way to explore what is being grown by your local farmers. Many farmers' markets sell everything from fresh fruit and vegetables to homegrown meats and baked goods.

Iron Chef Night: Choose one ingredient and have everyone make a dish containing that ingredient. Perhaps you want to use lemon, apples, cherries, or zucchini. It can be interesting to see what your guests come up with for the special ingredient.

Cookbook Night: Choose a single cookbook and have every dish come from that book. You can cook them all, or you can assign a dish to each of your guests. This is fun. Choose Julia Child's cookbook and show the film "Julie and Julia" after dinner.

Cuisine Night: Choose a single cuisine and have all the dishes represent it. Some ideas would be Italian night, Dim Sum night, Sushi night, and so on. Choose some of your favorites or try something new.

Entertainment Night: Pick a movie or favorite TV show and find a way to incorporate it into the food. For example, pair Gilligan's Island with seafood and coconut cream pie or Wallace and Gromit's Curse of the Were-Rabbit with vegetarian dishes. It would be fun.

Try it once or twice and see what you come up with. This can even be exciting for kids in the family; perhaps they would be willing to try something new at a themed dinner.

When you need some easy party appetizers to serve in a jiffy, take a look online. Collect the recipes you like so the next time you need them, you can simply thumb through your recipe files. A good cold appetizer recipe always comes in handy.

EasyAppetizerRecipes.net - You Make the Appetizers, We Help You Make Them Delicious

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Vegetarian Crock Pot Recipes - One Dish Meals

The slow cooker is ideal for vegetarian meals. Most vegetables benefit from the slower cooking process, especially pulses, grains, and beans making it the perfect tool to use for your vegetarian crock pot recipes. Slow-cooking is an easy, convenient way to have the scrumptious flavors and aromas of home cooked stews, soups, and other favorites. Just use your favorite vegetarian recipe and let your meal slowly cook throughout the day and then come home to the irresistible aroma of your supper cooked and ready to be served.

Crock pot cooking, also called a slow cooker, can give you varied and delicious meals without a lot of hassle. By just using a good vegetarian recipe book and whatever ingredients you have handy, you can just throw everything into the pot and let it simmer away.

First time cooks might find using a slow cooker a little easier than conventional ovens. The temperature in a cooker is low enough to avoid badly overcooking food even if cooked for far longer than necessary. Cooking the meal in a single pot reduces washing up, and the low cooking temperature and glazed pot make cleaning it very easy, which we all appreciate. Ovens and stove tops are more dangerous than your slow cookers, because of the lower temperatures used for cooking and there secure, closed lids.

So if you have a slow cooker on the shelf collecting dust, then its time to take it down, dust it off, and find yourself a good vegetarian crock pot recipe. You will start to enjoy all the leisure time you can have when your not tied to your range.

To make the most of your crock pot you should have a few good vegetarian crock pot recipes and plenty of veggies and flavorings on hand.

Copyright 2007 ** Attn Ezine editors/Site Owners ** Feel free to reprint this article in its entirety in your ezine or on your site so long as you leave all links in place, do not modify the content and include our resource box as listed above.

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Becoming a Vegetarian is a Way of Life

The following are some facts and things that people should know about vegetarians and their vegetarian recipes.

There different types of vegetarians. The most common type of vegetarians is called total vegetarians or all out vegans. They are the people who totally eliminate red meat, chicken, fish and dairy products in their diet. The only food on their vegetarian recipes is derived from plain vegetables and fruits. Another kind of vegetarians is the group of vegans who eat dairy products such as cheese and milk in addition with their trusted fruits and vegetables. These people are typically called the lacto-vegetarians.

Dieticians are more lenient towards new vegans. They allow the new vegetarians to eat chicken and/or fish alongside the usual vegetable diet. Chicken skin is a big no-no on this diet. As well as the wing and thigh parts of the chicken. The breast area is the ideal part for this diet.

If you're a new vegan or if you want to be a vegetarian, it's vital to consult a doctor first. Most of the time, doctors allow, and even encourage, people to switch to a vegan diet. However, there are instances in where an individual needs the protein and nutrients that are supplied by poultry products in the body. To avoid complications, it's better to visit your doctor and have consultation.

Becoming a vegetarian is a way of life. Vegans take everything about their lifestyle seriously. It's improper and rude to laugh and mock people just because they prefer to have a healthier lifestyle than most people have.

Becoming a vegetarian is one way to keep a healthy. To learn even more about Vegetarian Cooking take a look at this site: http://www.vegetarian-cooking.net

Here you will find many articles about becoming a vegetarian, and many vegetarian recipes.

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Restaurants, the Best Location to Eat Someting!

People seem to love the exotic aroma of Indian spices and achaars. India is certainly the place for amazing Indian food but London is not far behind. London also plays host to some authentic Indian restaurants. From stylish and tasteful decor that reminds you of India to various chutneys, achaars and recipes, Indian restaurants in London seem to have it all. Indian restaurants in London are visited are surely visited for the love people have for India. The London restaurants boast its innumerable variety of delicious vegetarian dishes along with spicy and exotic non-vegetarian curries. The tempting Indian vegetarian dishes include Navratan Korma, Shahi Paneer Baingan ka Bharta, Daal Makhni etc and the non-vegetarian dishes are butter chicken, chicken tikka masala and sharabi kababi tikka.

Apart from Indian food, the culinary delights from Asia are also very popular. China, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and other places are also flaunted on the menu cards of other restaurants in London. The pan-Asian flavors dominate the dining scene in London for the enjoyable experience it offers. These restaurants provide for buffets as well as al'-carte. With colorful cocktails and some alluring mocktails, the Asian dining experience is heightened. Eating the most favorite and specialized cuisines from Asia sitting in your own home London, these pan-Asian restaurants in London certainly have their unique selling point set.

The restaurants in London bring with them a corresponding decor and music with the cuisine that makes the dining experience more real. Having a bar serving the most exquisite alcohol and drinks only adds to the elaborate Asian setting. People are attracted to Asian food for its ingenious spices and herbs. Offering the best cuisines from world over, London certainly promotes multiculturalism. Eating out is an integral part of the city's life, this becomes more prominent by seeing the variety of London restaurants along with many street food stalls interspersed all over the city.

A cultural hub and a city that loves food, London surely has a lot for anyone who is traveling or planning to be there any time soon. For all those who are going there for a holiday especially from Asia, it is hundred percent sure that you are not going to miss Indian, Chinese and other Asian cuisines there. Authentic cuisines in world-class setting is going to be a great experience for any one who loves traveling yet staying in touch with their Asian roots. One should not forget tasting and trying everything that is not Asian in London to get a comprehensive feel of the place but for all those times when you are missing India or your roots, any Indian restaurant in London can bring you back to the Indian flourish. Being in touch with your own food, lifestyle, culture, decor and space is not tough when you are in London. Therefore, enjoying the colorful panorama of the city, indulging in the goings-on of the city along with eating the best food at restaurants in London makes for a spectacular experience that surely can't be missed.

Old World Hospitality Operates 2 Restaurants in London. Check Out Indian Restaurants in London.

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Vegetarian Jerky and Other Soy Foods

What is vegetarian jerky? It is a meatless type jerky made from wheat gluten, soy flour, and extract of soybeans. This bean paste jerky can be made to taste many different ways, depending on the herbs and spices it is made with. You can buy several different varieties of meatless jerky online or in health food stores.

Soy Bean Patties or Veggie Burgers

Besides vegetarian jerky, veggie burgers are another tasty and healthy soybean based food. There are several ways you can prepare soybean patties. This particular recipe that I am sharing with you is quite easy and very healthy.

Veggies Burgers Ingredients

2 cups soybeans,
1-cup millet or brown rice
½ cup quick cooking oats
½ cup whole-wheat flour
½ onion, diced
1-teaspoon garlic powder
2 tablespoons liquid aminos, or soy sauce
1-teaspoon basil
1-teaspoon oregano
1-teaspoon sea salt
½ teaspoon freshly ground pepper

Preparation

Cook soybeans until done. Cook brown rice or millet according to package directions and set aside. With a fork or potato masher, mash the beans. They don't need to be pureed. You can quickly sauté the veggies, or you can leave them raw, it's really up to you, just make sure they are diced fine if left raw.

Mix all of the ingredients together and form into patties. Bake in the oven for 45 minutes at 350 or fry in a pan with safflower oil. Serve with whole-wheat rolls or bread and condiments of your choice.

Textured Soy Protein

Textured soy protein is similar to vegetarian jerky but is more widely used in packaged and refined foods and sold in retail grocery and health food stores. Vegetarians and health conscience individuals use textured soy protein as a partial substitute for ground meat in recipes.

Soy protein can replace half or all of the meat in meat loaf, hamburgers, meatballs, and many other meat dishes that call for ground beef. The wonderful aspect about soy protein is you will still get lots of protein, which is a great substitute for vegetarians.

Cooking With Tofu

Tofu or bean curd is used extensively in Japanese cuisine. Tofu can be steeped in an aromatic broth, and then broiled stir-fried, or simmered with other ingredients. Because of its delicate texture, tofu takes on the flavor of any sauce or broth it is cooked in.

Tofu is healthy. It has lots of protein, iron, calcium, and B vitamins, and it contains no cholesterol. Here is a quick, easy, and healthy tofu recipe.

Tofu Stir-Fry Ingredients

1 block of tofu
½ cup carrots, sliced thin
2 garlic cloves, diced
3 scallions, diced
1 bell pepper, sliced thin
1-cup mushrooms
¼ cup sesame seeds
¼ cup soy sauce
Olive oil for sautéing

Preparation

Slice the tofu in small bite sized blocks. Heat olive oil in a wok or other pan, and add garlic and stir-fry for 30 seconds. Add the tofu in batches, carefully stirring until lightly browned. Remove tofu from pan and set aside. Add vegetables, sesame seeds, and soy sauce and cook for two minutes. Add the tofu and stir for two more minutes. Serve with Chinese noodles.

Pablo Jones is a medical professional and has been for seventeen years. He is a healthy eating enthusiast and regularly submits information on healthy eating at http://www.organichealthyeating.com. Find out more about vegetaraian jerky here.

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How To Choose A Wedding Caterer

If you have decided to tie the knot with your partner you are probably feeling very excited. If you are to ensure that the big day goes as expected and is memorable for all the right reasons you should start planning the wedding as early as you can. One of the most important considerations will be choosing a caterer who can keep all the guests fed and content. To help ensure you choose the best caterer for your budget you should check out the following tips and advice.

To start with you should have in your mind an idea of the type of dishes and drinks that you would like to be served. It is important that your preferences are met as well as those of the majority of your guests. We all have different likes and dislikes when it comes to food, make sure the caterer you choose can provide meals that keep everyone happy. Keep in mind that some of the guests may have specific requirements, for example vegetarian dishes or allergen free meals.

When contacting caterers in person you will need to ask them about how they calculate their costs. Will it be on a per head basis or does it vary depending on the foods selected. Also find out whether table linen and drinks are included in the quote. Whether or not alcohol is served will depend on your own preferences.

It is often beneficial if you can be provided sample dishes prior to making a final decision on the foods that are to be served. This will help you have peace of mind that your guests will enjoy the food that is provided.

You should ask the caterer how many years experience they have of providing wedding services. Those with the most experience are more likely to provide a professional service. Avoid any frames that have little or no knowledge of catering at weddings.

About The Author: Jerry Leung designs Chinese wedding invitations. Be sure to check his DIY wedding stationery Ideas.

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