Lately I have had a real craving for fruit. I think it is because of several things - I have been cooped up in my office all winter, I smoke too much, and I need vast quantities of fruit. I crave it like a junkie. My poor old misused body is screaming at me, I think, to give it what it needs…

I love applesauce, but it has gotta be right. It has to have lots of chunks of apple, loaded with cinnamon, and have just the right amount of both tartness and sweetness.

This recipe is unique in that it uses Cinnamon Imperials to give it both a bite and good cinnamon taste. It is easy to prepare, and once you get through the drudge work of peeling the apples, is a snap in your favorite crockpot.

Enjoy…

Peace,

Charlie~

Cinnamon Imperial Applesauce

10 to 12 apples, peeled, cored and chopped (I prefer Golden Delicious)
3/4 cup Cinnamon Imperials
1/2 cup apple juice

Combine apples, Cinnamon Imperials, and apple juice in crockpot. Cook on low 7 to 8 hours, or until desired consistency is reached. (4 hours on high)
Serve either warm or chilled. (Best chilled)

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I am always looking for resources for easy recipes. Because my wife and I generally work 7 days a week and a lot of hours, we tend to rely on the crockpot a lot, and I often have a problem with the blandness of crockpot meals. Since we have opened Bella Grande we find that time in the kitchen has decreased even more. Bummer! So, in an effort to create nutritious and palate-pleasing meals, I have begun to rely on the old quick cooker more. Makes me sad…

This article shows us ways to find good recipes that are easy to prepare, and can be enjoyed to the max. Enjoy…

Peace,

Charlie~

Hugo Felix

Easy Gourmet Recipes
People constantly ask me whats the best source of easy gourmet recipes? Finding new recipes should not be a tiresome task. Easy gourmet recipes are the lifeblood of making great cooking easy and fast. I always recommend having multiple sources of recipes to really get a good understanding of how to vary a dish. Here are my three favorite sources of new easy gourmet recipes:

1. Websites - Two of my favorites are The Reluctant Gourmet and Easy Gourmet Recipes

2. Magazines - There are many good ones I recommend Food and Wine, Bon App�tit and Gourmet Magazines.

3. TV Shows - Some of my favorites Rachel Rays 30 Minute Meals and Robin Millers Quick Fix Meals

Good websites are a great source of gourmet recipes and related tips, links and material to make the process easier. Magazines are a convenient source that you can take anywhere and view at a moments notice. TV shows are a great way to visually see the recipe being made and see how a cook will vary the recipe. Integrating all these sources into your search coupled with your favorite cookbook will greatly accelerate your learning.

Keep a constant watch for new recipes that you find interesting in multiple sources. This will be a great help in your development as a cook. This habit will help you pick up tips and ideas that will really help you in the kitchen. Finding just one easy gourmet recipe a week will really broaden your knowledge and accelerate your capability and enjoyment in the kitchen. Your family will be amazed at your new found confidence in the kitchen. Being more confident in the kitchen will make the experience more fun for you.

Hugo Felix is a cooking and time specialist specializing in making great cooking easy. To learn more about him visit The Minute Gourmet. For some lively discussion on making great cooking easy also visit {a xhref=’ http://www.theminutegourmet.com/blog/‘} Hugos blog .

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My influences are not only from Cajun cooking, but Oriental cooking as well. I would be hard pressed to choose between the two! a lot of my friends find this odd - I was born and raised on a farm where the fare was meat and potatoes, and pass the gravy…

I got my fondness for Oriental food while in the service, visiting such places as Japan, Viet Nam, and China. I brought home my love for this ethnic food from there, and have enjoyed it every since. I kinda think my favorite is Thai food, mainly because of how it is spiced. Generally hot to the taste, Thai food is absolutely delicious.

This recipe is one I have had for a long time, and I have no clue where the original come from. I have added to it so much that the origin is buried in some obscure cookbook in my large selection. the recipe is designed to be cooked in a slow cooker, and it only needs some TLC, careful spicing, and about 8 hours in the crockpot to make a great meal.

Enjoy…

Peace,

Charlie~

Mandarin Beef

2 # beef chuck roast, cut into 1″ cubes, fat trimmed
1 sweet red pepper, cored, seeded, and cut into thin strips
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 TBS grated fresh ginger
1/2 TBS Kikkoman Lite soy sauce
2 TBS balsamic rice vinegar
1 TBS oyster sauce
1/4 cup dry cooking sherry
1 PKG Birdseye sugar snap oriental vegetables, w/ broccoli
1 11 ounce can mandarin oranges
3 green onions, thinly sliced
2 TBS water
1/2 tsp Cayenne pepper (optional)

Combine everything except oriental vegetables, mandarin orange slices, and green onions. Cook on low 8 hours. 30 minutes before end of cooking time, add oriental vegetables. Toss steak mixture with mandarin orange slices, serve over hot rice. Use sliced green onions for garnish.

I like my food hot - eliminate the Cayenne if you can’t take the heat!

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