Womens Forum - Live, Love, Inspire

Steaks are great. But, how do you know which cut of beef is best?

You want to celebrate your father, uncle, date, boyfriend, etc. on Father’s Day with a special meal. You assume a grilled steak dinner would be perfect for this occasion, or broiled or seared steaks. So, off you go to the meat market or grocery store to buy the meat.  And that’s where the trouble begins.

This flat onion bread appetizer recipe is one you'll want to add to your list of favorites.

Whether you call this part of the meal hors d'oeuvres, little bites, first course, or appetizers, these food items are served before the main course. There are a plethora of appetizer recipes you can choose from, but our flat onion bread creation deserves some attention. 

Apples, full of antioxidants and fiber, offer many health benefits.

Not only are apples tasty and sweet, but they're also really good for you. Apples have been around for thousands of years, first in Europe and Asia. European colonists brought apples to North America in the 17th century. Most apples in the U.S. are grown in Washington State, New York, and Michigan, with each state specializing in certain varieties of apples.

How well do you know your seeds? Find out which are best for the mediterranean diet and everyday eating. 

Seeds are a great addition to the mediterranean diet plan. Sprinkle them on salads, eat them with fresh fruit and yogurt, toss into a stir-fry dish, blend them into smoothies, mix into flour when baking muffins, and add them to your trail mix. They are small, but they pack a powerful punch of nutrition.

Check out the different types of seeds to choose from. 

Let’s take a look at what the South has to offer in terms of food!

One of the fun parts of travel has to do with eating indigenous foods, so it’s best to know before you leave home what you should look for in a particular city or area of the country. Eating the foods of a region helps you understand the history of the area and appreciate what each region has to offer.

How well do you know your olive oils? Find out which is best for the Mediterranean Diet. 

Spinach, walnuts, oat products, broccoli, blueberries, dark chocolate and olive oil—what do all these foods have in common? They are all rich in antioxidants, a central theme of the Mediterranean Diet, which came about after the dietary patterns of southern Italy, Greece, Spain and Morocco were studied.

What is the difference between jam, jelly, marmalade, preserves, conserves, fruit butter, or fruit curd?

This can be a tough question to answer. These "jams" are all similar, but each one is different from the rest. Some use an ingredient called pectin, which is a natural, gelatin-like substance that is added to fruit to help it thicken. It is available in dry and liquid form. Most of these are sweet, fruit-based offerings, but some are tart and others are savory. Most of the items below are stored in glass jars, although cans and plastic packets are also used.

I've got a list of the top 10 2012 cookbooks!

There were many quality cookbooks published in 2012. Here are 10 of my favorites.  You’ll find a technique book, comfort food books, French, Mexican and Chinese cookbooks, as well as BBQ, Middle Eastern and baking cookbooks. There is a little something for everyone.

Gift baskets are a fun and thoughtful Valentine’s Day gift. They tell the recipient you thought to make something special just for them. Here are a few items to include in a gift basket - some savory and some sweet. And if an engagement ring is in your future, I have an online suggestion for that too.

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner so if you are looking for that perfect gift for your food or cooking-obsessed friend/wife/partner, look no further.

I suggest food items (always popular, especially chocolates), cookware, baking products, and spices.

When I started to research for my "What's Appening: Food and Wine Apps" blog post, I was astonished to find so many new apps. 

Mobile apps are available for iPhones, iPod touch, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire, Windows Phone and BlackBerry. There are apps for many purposes. You can learn to cook, search databases of recipes, make shopping lists, and even check off shopping lists as you make your way down grocery store aisles. 

While there are hundreds of food and wine apps, I picked out the best in the industry. Below are a few of my favorite food and wine apps that I currently use on my iPhone. 

I'll give you a list of the perfect wines for NYE.

Still and sparkling wines top the list for New Year’s Eve festivities. Whether you and your friends prefer red, white, or sparkling wine, the choices below offers some old favorites and some new releases, perfect for New Year's Eve parties. You'll find a variety in both both price and style.

The still wines include Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Malbec, Zinfandel, Meritage, Syrah, Merlot, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, and Chardonnay.

With only about 4 shopping days left before Christmas, many of you may need more Holiday Gift Ideas.  All of these companies have websites and take online orders. Whether you decide to buy candy, bake ware, wine, hot sauces, or pasta sauces, buying from these companies will produce quality products.

Sea Salt Candy Company

Lisa and Gretchen made toffee and caramels in a small town north of San Diego, California. They use Chico almonds, San Francisco Guittard chocolates, Central California dairy and Sonoma sea salt. Just enjoying a crunch of toffee or the soft chew of rich caramel can take you back to your childhood. They like to call it “Old Time Goodness Meets Urban Foodie.” seasaltcandy.com

Still looking for Holiday Gift Ideas? I have a few more gift ideas for you today. I don't know anyone who doesn't like receiving food as a fun gift. Think melt-in-your-mouth toffee or cheeses. Gifts for the kitchen or entertaining can be used all year long.

Here's a list of my favorite food gifts.

Shopping for family and friends during the December holidays can be either lots of fun or lots of stress. Sometimes we need a little help with coming up with the right gift for each person.

Here are a few of my holiday gift ideas from chocolates (my favorite gift to give and receive), cheeses, animal portraits, cookware and knives. Many times people give what they want to receive so if something appeals to you, it is likely to appeal to the recipient.

After the BIG holiday is over, after you have cooked all week or gone to someone's house to enjoy your Thanksgiving meal, there are usually Thanksgiving leftovers. Knowing what to do with those Thanksgiving leftovers can be a problem, and you certainly don't want any of the food to go to waste. You might even consider leftovers in advance and cook more food than what you know you will need.

Many women love cooking for Thanksgiving and entertaining family and friends but dislike having to come up with new recipes.

Yes, turkey makes an appearance on many tables as does Thanksgiving stuffing, green bean casserole, rolls, and pumpkin pie. But, if you are looking for a different stuffing recipe this year, look no further.  Here are two tasty and easy Thanksgiving stuffing recipes, both fruit-oriented.

Brussels sprouts are a perfect Thanksgiving recipe. Even people, who don’t think they like Brussels sprouts, end up liking this recipe after tasting it. The sprouts are cut into very thin slices, the onions caramelize to a tasty golden brown color and the pecans add the crunch. 

Isn’t it nice to serve something different for a change?

In a previous blogpost, I talked about “Sally’s Top 10 Spices,” but I actually have many more spices that I use frequently.  My first ten included: bay leaves, chili powder, cinnamon, cream of tartar, cumin, nutmeg, peppercorns, saffron, salt, and vanilla beans.  Now, I will branch out to include a variety of spices that crowd my spice shelf.

And by the way, those spices are lined up in alphabetical order, from A to Z. That way, it is easy to find what you need quickly. Many spices come in both whole and ground form.  Whenever possible, buy the whole spice and grind it yourself in a small food processor or spice grinder.  Ground spices should be bought in small quantities as they start to lose their potency after 6 months. Let’s discuss some of the more popular spices below.

Ode to BBQ!

There is more to eating BBQ than the meat. Great BBQ sides and desserts help complete your meal.

Best Sides for BBQ

Although BBQ sides vary from region to region, here are some of the most popular side dishes for BBQ: potato salad, baked beans, pinto beans, red beans and rice, coleslaw, corn on the cob, creamed corn, hush puppies, cornbread, Texas toast, macaroni salad, dill pickle slices, sliced onions, and pickled jalapenos.