Categories
Category: Menu Planning
Iftar sponsoredf by"tsunami of spices"
Ramadan, a Muslim holiday that spans the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, lasted from April 13 to May 12 this year. The month is dedicated to worship, charity and community. It welcomes Muslims to retreat from human and worldly desires and focus on renewing their Iman, or faith. Muslims celebrate by abstaining from food and drink from sunrise to sunset, and typically join in communal prayer and post-sunset feasting.
Every evening around 6:30 pm, the cars drove into the parking lot of our community Mosque during the month of Ramadan. The families inside were Muslims, checking out a fresh Ramadan contribution project driven by the coronavirus: Iftar boxes to-go.
With mosques closed to avoid the spread of COVID-19, the meals traditionally served after Muslims broke their daily fasts during Ramadan, likewise came to an end. These meals, called iftars, are particularly important to families and to community members who work late and have limited time to arrange food.
This year, my family and I had prepared and delivered Iftar boxes to-go. to our community as a way of spreading the Ramadan cheer and spirit.
It was a different experience of presenting food, without knowing your audience. Keeping the hope that it will fulfill their needs and taste. This task was teamwork of my family, my husband, and daughters, and we accomplished it really well and on time.
Preperation of 200 boxes
Cooking for a crowd can be one of the most stressful tasks. Not only do you have to worry about the food tasting good, but you also have to maintain your time frame.
Planning was the key to cook for a crowd, which was 200 boxes fully prepared with all the courses on the menu, which included:
- Chicken BBQ with Saffron Rice
- Smoked Ground Beef
- Yogurt with Gramflour Boondi
- Samosas
- Naan
- Date
Keeping all the courses, in mind, the biggest task was how to keep the quantity perfect and to keep the weight of all the boxes equal. I had to focus on the following points to stay on track:
- How long will it take to complete each recipe?
- Can some of the tasks be done in advance?
- Are all the ingredients in hand?
Cooking for a crowd is not as scary as it seems. Unlike home cooking, large gatherings require that you use a feast planner if you are going to be cooking large amounts of food, whether it be a sit-down dinner, a buffet, or even catering in to-go boxes. This must hold all details of the gathering from the very start of the preparation to the presentation of the food.
When it comes to big batch or crowd cooking, it requires planning and learning some cooking tips & tricks that will make the entire process smooth.
TIPS AND TRICKS TO COOK FOR A CROWD:
- If making something new, test the recipe ahead of time.
- Keep the decorations simple.
- Fill the menu with a few easy dishes.
- Use all appliances to execute tasks easily and quickly.
- Use slow cookers, chafing dishes, or warming trays to keep food at the right temperature.
- Choose some recipes that can be made ahead, in full or in part.
- Make large dishes that can easily be doubled.
- Do as much food prep ahead of time as possible.
- Create a menu with one simple main dish.
- Divide the portions in large foil trays to balance the spread.
- Label the to-go boxes with your sponsored name.
Categories
List of Cuisine to Learn
List of Cuisine to Learn
Coming Soon…….
When it comes to cooking, it is essential to keep in mind that everyone started somewhere. There is a lot of learning that needs to be done to become a productive cook and then there is always room for improvement. Not only do you need to begin with the basics when it comes to cooking but you almost need to begin again when learning to cook a new cuisine.
Many people cook for different reasons. Some cook to eat and survive while others cook because they really enjoy the process of cooking. Whatever your reason for cooking or learning to cook you should always begin with the basics.
The first thing that you need to learn is the different terminology used in cooking. when it comes to cooking basics, try simpler recipes for a while and then expand your limits. You don’t have to study cooking for years to get better at cooking food. Even as a beginner, it’s possible to cook delectable meals without detailed skills.
Cooking is perceived as an art that results in delightful foodstuffs. It is the only science that saves one from hunger and satisfies our cravings. One requires several sorts of gadgets to efficiently prepare food.
Cooking is fun, but kitchen safety is a priority. Many pieces of equipment can be very dangerous. Sharp objects like knives, open fire by the oven, electrical appliances around the kitchen. Following the basic rules of the kitchen, safety is a good rule, to begin with. Always give attention to what you’re doing in the kitchen. Adopt a plan for kitchen cleanliness, and have necessary safety equipment at your disposal.
THE BASIC RULES OF COOKING
The Kitchen Gear
The apron is used as a great shield against spills and stains. It is considered a uniform and a mandatory tool for home cooks and chefs who spend most of the day in the kitchen.
Read the Entire Recipe First
Reading the entire recipe before you start cooking will just give you a quick heads up before you make it into anything.
Use Measuring Tools
Measuring tools are some of the most important items in the kitchen.
Chop Easily With a Sharp Knife
Make sure that your knife is sharp. Not only will it make things easier, but it will also make things safer.
Don’t Improvise too Much
Wait until you're a little bit more experienced before improvising and adding your own touches to the recipe.
Let Red Meat Sit Before Cutting It
Wrap the meat in aluminum foil and let it sit there for around 5 minutes so the juices will have some time to settle before you cut it.
Turn Pan Handles to the Side
Make sure that the pan handles on the stove are facing inwards, to avoid accidents.
Taste Dishes Before Serving
Tasting food before serving it to anyone is the only way to make sure that it tastes great
Don’t Work Near Heat Sources
Avoid working near the stove, to prevent burns and spillage.
4 Steps for Food Safety
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The Leftovers
The Leftovers
Tales from the Table
When you plan your meals right, you won’t have too much of it leftover. This is the smart way of cooking food and reducing waste. However, in some families, leftover night gives the cook in the family a much-needed break. Leftover food is also ideal for elderly people or those living alone who prefer not to cook every day. So here are some tips, ideas, and easy ways to use leftover food.
Leftover foods can be a benefit to both…… your budget and your time. They’re also a great way to reduce food waste.
A shocking amount of food goes to waste. Much of this food gets thrown away before it ever reaches consumers, but a lot of food waste comes from our kitchens. Some of this waste results from leftovers from meals that aren’t eaten, and some is created during preparation, such as vegetable peels. Either way, food waste is expensive.
Hence if you find yourself constantly discarding leftovers and food portions, it’s time to be productive and start utilizing them.
Many people just don’t know what to do with leftovers. After finishing a dinner ,some might look at what’s left on the table and can’t understand any way of serving it again. So rather than put it in the fridge, they decide to throw it away and be done with it.
But that food is still perfectly good, and there are plenty of ways to put it to good use. By thinking outside the box, you can plate it for the servants or give it to the people who are sitting outside hungry, or use them as ingredients in a different meal that can feed the whole family next day.
The simplest way to use up leftovers is to eat them for lunch. If it’s a weekend it’s easy enough to reheat that leftover. If you don’t want to eat the same thing two days in a row, simply save it for the next day.
If you have to go to work, these leftovers can still be the source of lunch, instead of throwing it away. Leftovers are a chance to get creative
If you want a change, you can combine your leftovers with fresh ingredients to make a new dish, such as a salad or sandwich.
Practically, if you don’t want to eat the same thing so many times in a row, you can just put the whole meal in the freezer and reheat it later in the week for a quick dinner.
If you think you’re not going to have a chance to finish your leftovers within a few days of preparation, you can transfer them to a freezer-safe container and store it in the freezer. Good containers for freezing leftovers include:
- Pyrex Bowls
- Mason Jars
- Plastic Containers
- Zip-Top Bags
- Freezer Wrap.
It’s a good idea to label containers of leftovers with the contents
Normally, it’s best to restore leftovers whenever you can instead of letting them go to waste. However, this only applies to food that’s still safe to eat. If leftovers have already gone bad, they’re not food anymore they’re a case of food poisoning. To keep yourself safe, it’s best to discard any food that looks or smells at all suspicious. However, you can’t always identify bad food by smell, so you should also keep track of how long your leftovers have been in the fridge. This is particularly important with cooked meat and any type of salad containing mayonnaise since this food goes bad quickly.
However, even if your leftovers and food scraps are no longer fit to eat, there’s still one way left to get some use out of them By putting rotten fruit and veggie scraps in a compost bin, you can turn them into fertilizer for your garden. So even if your leftovers can’t feed you, they can still feed your plants.
Categories
List of Cuisine to Learn
Food has always been a major factor in every culture, but in the last few decades, cuisines of the world have migrated from their original homes to become known all over. Food knows no boundaries or borders, and thanks to food imports/exports, no cuisine is unachievable in our own kitchens.
There is a list of Cuisine which are eaten around the globe which some of them includes:
- ITALIAN CUISINE
- FRENCH CUISINE
- LEBANESE CUISINE
- INDIAN CUISINE
- CHINESE CUISINE
- AMERICAN CUISINE
- TURKISH CUISINE
These all can be prepared at home and enjoyed around the table on a reasonable budget.
Some of my favorites are listed here, starting from Appetizers to Desserts and Drinks. They all relate to diverse cultures throughout the world and can be learned through the Virtual Cooking Classes.
Appetizers
Breaded Fish Sticks
Chive Mashed Potatoes
Killer Quesadillas
Chicken Cheese Croquettes
Garlic Bread
Sandwich Cake
Garlic twisters
Wontons
Shrimp in tartar sauce
Pani poori
Chili garlic shrimp
Falafel
Chicken Egg Rolls
Chicken Fried Wings
Sesame Fish Cutlets
Chicken in Hot Sauce
Chicken Samosas
Wellington Sausage Roll
Goat Cheese and Caramelized Onion Tart
Cranberry and Chili Brioche Wreath
Meatloaf Roll
Smokey Chicken Pot Pie
Philly Cheese Steak Quesadilla
Dynamite Fries
Jalapeño Popper with Bacon
Smashed Potatoes
Avacado Shrimp Bites
Scalloped Potatoes
Stuffed Mini Sweet Peppers
Stuffed Cheesy Bellpeppers
Lettuce Wraps
Dynamite Chicken
Slinach and Ricotta Hasselbeck Chicken
Beef Samosas
Beef Cutlets
KFC Hotshots
Beef n Oyster Sauce Patties
Chicken Chunk Bites
Chunk Samosas
Potato Croquettes
Soups
Tomato Basil Soup
Chicken Corn Soup
Hot n Sour Soup
Sweet n Sour Soup
Lentil Soup
Beef Chili
Salads
Tuna Salad
Chicken Salad
Deviled Egg Salad
7 Layer Salad
Chicken mushroom salad
Chickpea Salad
Balsamic Walnut Salad
Yogurt Salad
Hawaiian Salad
Russian Salad
Apple and Potato Salad
Chicken Pasta Salad
Creamy Shrimp Pasta
Easy Stir-fry
Salsa
Tomato Salsa
Papaya Pineapple Salsa
Strawberry Mango Salsa Verde
Griddled Pepper Chicken Salsa
Avocado Mango Salsa
Avocado Corn Salsa
Black Bean and Corn Salsa
Dips
Great Guacamole
Spinach Artichoke Bacon Dip
Nacho Cheese Sauce
Spinach Artichoke Bacon Dip
Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
Yogurt Sauce
Baked eggplant raita
Prune Chutney
Baba Ganoush
Buffalo Chicken Dip
Smoked Salmon Spread
Jalapeno Cranberry Dip
Spinach Yogurt
Pasta
Alfredo Lite
Spaghetti Bolognese
Chicken Chow mien
All-meat Lasagna
Chicken Tetrazzini
Feta Cheese Garlic Pasta
Baked Ziti
Green Bean Casserole
Asparagus Casserole
Stuffed Shells
Spaghetti and Meatballs
Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo
Sandwiches/Burgers
Basic Bruschetta
Turkey Burgers
Zinger Burger
Chicken Fajita Sandwich
Cheese Egg Sandwich
Chicken Mayo Roll
Beef Burger
Mc Arabia
Philly Cheese Steak Sandwiches
Hamburger Buns
Chicken Shawarma Wrap
Club Sandwich
Chicken Caesar Salad Sandwich
Sausage Cucumber Mayo Sub
Chicken Tikka Sandwich
Tandoori Chicken Sub
Karachi Bun Kabab
Hot Cross Buns
Dinner Rolls
Beef Reshmi Kabab Paratha Roll
Breakfast
Denver Omelet
Buttermilk Pancakes
Potato Curry
Steak omelet
Mushroom Spinach omelet
Green omelet
Desi crepe roll
Steak omelet
Spicy Shami crepe
Quick Crepes
European Waffles
Khajla
Yellow Split Gram Kachori
Garbanzo Curry
Breakfast Potatoes
Semolina Pudding
Bread/Tortilla
Daal roti
Besan ki roti
Paratha
Aloo paratha
Qeema paratha
Naan
Basic Bread
Curries
Mutton Handi
Chicken Handi
Chicken White Karhai
Beef Paya
Haleem
Fried Chops
Kaleji
Maghaz
Mutton Karhai
Pickled Mutton
Kabab Mashavi
Chapli Kabab
Degi Qorma
Nihari
Koftay (Meatballs)
Nargasi Koftay
Khandvian
Bihari Qeema
Smoked Beef Qeema
Fry Qeema
Smoken Chicken Malai Handi
Butter Chicken
Afghani Chicken Karhai
The Saffron Chicken Kabab
Badam Gosht (Almond Mutton Curry)
Seekh Kabab Handi Masala
Mexican Chicken
Honey Chili Chicken
Sweet n Sour Chicken
Oyster Chicken
Black pepper grilled chicken
Sesame Chicken
Chicken Jalfrezi
Sweet n Sour Prawns
Orange Chicken
Teriyaki Salmon with Mango Salsa
Kung Pao Chicken
TWO’S Chicken
Grilled Salmon with Garlic Lime Butter
Beef with Chilies
Seekh Kabab Curry
Smoked Mutton
Chicken Shashlik
Chicken Alaking
Beef Pasanday
Methi Malai Chicken
Chicken Tikka Hara Masala (Green Chicken)
Chicken Chilies
Tandoori Chicken
Honey Chicken
Namkeen Gosht
Achari Qeema
Rice
Chicken Mandi
Student Biryani
Savor Pulao
Kabli Pulao
Singaporean Rice
Bbq tandoori fried rice
Egg Fied Rice
Oriental Supreme Rice
Chunk Fried Rice
Chili Garlic Fried Rice
Beef Biryani
Bombay Mutton Biryani
Plain Rice
Pea Rice
Hyderabadi Mutton Dum Biryani
Potato Rice (Tahiri)
Vegetable Biryani
Garbanzo Rice
Prawn Saffron Biryani
Kababs/BBQ
Kastoori Chicken Boti
Chicken Tikka
Boti Kabab
Doner Kabab
Persian Kabab
Baked Seekh Kabab
Chicken Spinach Kababs
Handi Kabab
Bihari Kabab
Bori Chicken Boti (BBQ)
Beef Satay
Chicken Cheese Kabab
Rib Eye Steak
Chicken Till Kabab
Ghilafi Kabab
Creamy Mayo Beef Patties
Deakcha Pasand Kabab
Beef Shish Kabab
Shami Kabab
Grilled Moroccan Skewers
Giant Cheese Steak Kabab
Chicken Satay Roll
Steak with Mushroom Sauce
Fried and Roasted Cuisines
Fried Bori Chicken
Al-Baik Fried Chicken
Roasted Turkey
Sajji
Crispy Fried Tilapia
Vegetarian
Pickled Eggplant
Palak Paneer
Mattar Paneer
Eggplant baked
Paneer Masala
Mix Vegetables with Chicken
Ridge Gourd Curry
Karhi Pakora
Red Lentil Curry
Hyderabadi Chili Curry
Bhagaray Baingan
Smokey Spinach Shakshuka
Egg Mushroom Rolls
Spicy Sesame Cauliflower
Pizza
Dessert
Chocolate Carrot Loaf
Mango Trifle Cake
Pistachio Kheer
Kulfi
Panjeeri
Mango Sooflay
Falooda
Flan
Cream Brule
Banana Walnut Muffins
Coffee Cake
White Chocolate Pistachio Truffles
Jelly Boats
Coffee Cake
Chocolate Mousse
Whipped Cream
Jalebi
Balu Shahi
Cinnamon Rolls
Columbian Coffee Mousse Cake
Tiramisu
Mango Cream Brule
Cinnamon Doughnut Puffs
Doughnut
Carrot Cake
Chocolate Eclairs
Cardamom Pound Cake
Lemon Cake
Motichoor Ladoos
Kalakand
Almond Pudding ( Badam ka Halwa)
Lotus Biscoff Hazelnut Lasagna
Carrot Pudding (Gajar ka Halwa)
Fudge Brownie
Baklava
Eclair Roll
Cinnamon Palmier
Mango Black pepper Carnachan
Chocolate Hazelnut Mousse
Orange and Coffee Poke Cake
Banoffee Pie
Smoothies
Berry Bonanza
Peach Smoothie
Super Sweet Smoothie
Pina Colada Smoothie
Rainbow Smoothie
Pineapple Kick
Date and Hazelnut Shake
Mango Banana Yogurt Smoothie
Mango Protein Shake
Juice
“Beat It” Juice
Pineapple Passion Juice
Island Punch
Orange Cream Juice
Tropical Slush
Strawberry Lime Slush
Mint Lemon Juice
Lemon Orange Juice
Kiwifruit Energy Juice
Orange Strawberry Juice
Sweet And Savory Carrot Juice
Mango Tango Twist
Strawberry Madness Margarita
Hawaiian Delight
Blueberry Chill
Watermelon Quench
Tropical Cooler
Tea/Coffee
Caramel Capri
Cafe Mocha
Honey Cinnamon Star Anise Tea
Dalgona coffee
Kashmiri Chai
WHAT IS A MENU PLANNING?
Menu planning is the process of determining what you will eat for each meal, including main dishes, side dishes, and desserts. It also involves knowing how many meals to plan for and when to serve them. Everyday activities may complicate the menu planning process. Understanding what varieties of meals can be cooked according to the activities and plans for a day, is an essential part of meal planning. At the table spread, everyone enjoys the food, but to make it possible, there is a complete process which starts from the question “WHAT TO COOK TODAY?”, to the selection of food, the number of meals, budget for groceries, timeframes for preparation and quality. All these factors are linked together to make the table complete.
PLANNING A MEAL
Cooking for a large family, or a family with dietary limitations, menu planning is an important step to take in order to ease the stress that is thought in the kitchen around lunch or dinner time. The menu-planning can benefit you and your family to overcome by the following methods.
IT SAVES MONEY
When a menu is set out beforehand it’s simple what to shop for at the grocery, everything can be purchased for the week in one trip. Knowing exactly what to buy also guarantees that you aren’t grabbing random items off the shelf, which usually does happen.
IT SAVES TIME
When everything is organized and planned ahead of time, with all ingredients and recipes laid out neatly in front, it’s much easier to prepare the meal quickly and efficiently.
ENCOURAGES NUTRITION
Knowing what is going to be served and having all the ingredients readily available allows one to concentrate on preparing nutritious meals. When selecting recipes at the beginning of the week with appropriate side dishes, the table can be set with a variety of options.
AVOIDS UNNECESSARY WASTE
One of the biggest peeves is wasting food. When you have a meal plan in place, any leftover food can be eaten the next day for lunch in some other form, instead of throwing it away. Planning ahead of time is the solution to buying and preparing only what is able to eat.
HELPS YOU SERVE BETTER MEALS
When researching dinner ideas at the beginning of the week, one has more time to come up with imaginative and delicious foods. Also, there is time to plan an extra comprehensive meal that includes side dishes, a salad, and dessert. The accurate menu plan will allow concentrating on good cooking techniques through the preparation of the meal.
ENCOURAGE VARIETY
Nobody likes eating the same thing more than twice a week. A menu plan helps to avoid serving the same meals again and again. Everybody enjoys variety and planning your meals ahead of time will benefit to mix it up.
FORCES YOU TO PLAN AHEAD
Planning ahead means the kitchen will be more organized, the food will be served on time, and the family’s favorite meals will be on the list. Therefore, plan ahead, plan for several days at a time, including side dishes, research new recipes and hold on to the list when at the grocery.
DESIGNING A MEAL
Designing a meal is a wisely composed combination of ingredients, textures, and flavors that come together to create pleasing new memories. Some meals have the ability to transport memories to the past, while there are nostalgic emotions of family traditions. There are many features that can go into making a dinner spread, but planning the menu is the most important. It really becomes a simple method, if things are managed well.
The texture is a significant element in individual dishes, and when it’s about a complete feast, it is even more essential to make sure there is a variety. Basically cooking is really about creating balance, and considering how different flavors complement each other.
- Try not to substitute rich and buttery meals and add both cooked and fresh sides, essentially analyze how all the flavors will serve collectively.
- Avoid repeating flavors, like if there is something sweet, accompany it with something sour or salty and be mindful that everything is not too spicy.
- Impressing guests have so much to do with the presentation, by including fresh, seasonal produce on the serving table, which can make the spread more appealing.
MAIN DISH:
When choosing a Main dish, keep it simple. Never try to attempt a new recipe when expecting company or having a special occasion. The best choice is to go for the recipes that you have truly mastered. If something can be made ahead of time, like frying or baking food, you’ll save yourself from a big mess.
SIDES:
Create seasonally and complement the flavors of your main dish with a colorful vegetable side, dips, or a crisp winter salad. If the Main Dish is served with a variety of sides and salads, it doesn’t always need to be a showstopper.
TABLE DISPLAY:
How food is presented can be as much fun as preparing it and eating it. Analyze how to serve the meals. Portions, whether served buffet-style or plated, the layout should be as simple as possible for guests to dish out and eat. When planning a food station at home, for a large gathering, instead of a traditional buffet table, set up a station where guests can assemble things themselves.
THE SWEET SPREAD:
Always aim to have your guests leave satisfied and not stuffed. If the main dish is simple, a heavy dessert will be a sincere surprise. If baking something, make it in advance or simply have store-bought sweets in different flavors. Something manageable to take home is great when a guest has no room for dessert. Dessert is a great place to display seasonal fruit in pies, cakes, and is also an opportunity to present rich flavors.