How to make your own ground beef

Making your own home-made ground beef is a much better alternative than purchasing commercially packaged ones, both in terms of freshness as well as taste. Packaged ground beef would have most likely used discarded portions of meat and more fat in addition to having more risks of contamination. You also tend to spend more in buying ground beef commercially than making your own. When you ground the beef at home, you have the liberty of choosing the best meat without having the fear of being given unhygienic meat in the stores. The taste will also be far better than using packaged ground beef.

Contrary to how some might feel, making ground beef at home is not too much of a bother and you are most likely to have all the ingredients and equipment you require, right inside your kitchen.

Read on to find out how to grind beef without much hassle, including instructions on storage. Once you are done, you can dish up some nice yummy burgers or simply make a few meat balls in a jiffy.

Making a Pina Colada

Pina colada is a delightful cocktail which has the ability to transform your sunny terrace into a tropical paradise with just one sip. This coconut based drink is a marvel during the sweltering summer heat and a favorite at the beaches and outdoor summer parties. 

It has proudly occupied the position of the official drink of Puerto Rico since the 1978 and is simple enough to be made at home. So now you can sip and enjoy this delightful tropical cocktail sitting at your apartment and imagine yourself luxuriating in the beach.

Pina coladas are rum based cocktails prepared with coconut cream and blended pineapple extracts and ice. There are also various other flavors like strawberry, blue curacao etc. which can be added to the mix, depending on taste and preference. Malibu rum is also a popular replacement of the regular variety of rum. Pina colada without the rum is known as virgin colada which is popular in its own right, especially with the teetotalers.

Traditional dal tadka recipe

Image courtesy: Wikipidea

Dal (lentil) tadka is a traditional Indian staple dish which uses different variety of lentils mixed together or one single lentil for preparing a thick soup like. Tadka is a way of cooking lentils and other dishes where whole spices and herbs are first added to hot oil and then the Dal and other ingredients are mixed. This method of cooking adds a unique flavor to the dish and makes it delightful to taste. Dal tadka is a very popular staple dish in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. It can be consumed with steamed white rice or Indian bread. The lentils used in this recipe are full of proteins, dietary fibers and iron and the spices and herbs add flavor as well as healthy nutrients to the dish.

How to make dill pickles

Pickles are a delight to the taste buds and can add flavor to enhance the taste of even the blandest of meals. Pickles, when prepared with freshly picked ingredients, will maintain a glorified place in your kitchen shelves. 

The history of pickles seems to be so old that it is almost untraceable. But the origin of the main ingredient of pickles which is cucumber, can be traced back to India. Evidently, pickling seems to have been started by our fore-fathers almost 4000 years back to preserve food like vegetables and meat. Cucumber pickles were supposedly first preserved and eaten around 2030 BC. Throughout history, there have been mentions about the benefits of cucumber and pickled cucumbers, right from the Bible to scholars and historians. In addition to being praised for their excellent taste, they have been acclaimed to have many medicinal properties as well.

Whatever the history might be, the delight of pickles cannot be denied by anybody in the modern times as well. Pickles still remain a favorite of every household and likely to remain so for many more generations to come. 

The below recipe gives you an easy and uncomplicated way of preparing home-made pickles which is much tastier and healthier; than the packaged variety bought from the super-market.

Delicious fruit cobbler recipe

Cobbler is an American dessert quite similar to pie but much easier to make. It is said to have been brought to America by the early British settlers; who came up with different variations of their own traditional puddings; due to the lack of availability of ingredients. This innovation gave us many delectable desserts which would have otherwise never been invented. 

Cobbler makes a wholesome dessert, especially when there are seasonal fruits available. This scrumptious dessert can be quite a mouthful. The funny sounding name of this dessert is owed to its “cobbler” like shape. It is a thick-crust pie with a fruit filling especially good with just ripe fruits like berries, apples, peaches etc. 

The crust is usually made up of biscuit or can have a pastry topping.

The below recipe uses freshly picked fruits and gives 6-8 eight servings.

Duck roast with red wine

Although we love to order duck when we eat out, but cooking duck at home seems like a daunting task. In reality it is not an insurmountable task to cook duck in our own modest kitchens. So next time you throw a dinner party at home you can display your culinary skills by cooking duck.  

Duck meat is considered as “white” meat and is packed with essential nutrients like protein, vitamins, iron, zinc etc.and hence it is considered to be a much healthy alternative to pork or beef. It also has its own distinct aroma and flavor and goes well with both fruits as well as vegetables. The natural dark red color of duck meat will add an attractive and appetizing look to your dinner table.

There are various ways to cook duck but roasted duck is one of the most preferred recipes for a home cooked meal. This is a perfectly roasted dish with carefully chosen duck pieces and infused with herbs and spices which will give out a wonderful aroma to tantalize all your senses.

Easy Baked chicken and rice recipe

Preparing chicken and rice together is an old family tradition in many houses and which has been going on since olden days and continuing in the modern times as well. This dish holds a special place in the dining table during festivals and family gatherings, because it is economical as well as filling. It takes very less effort to prepare and you can easily leave the dish inside the oven and finish the rest of your chores. You'll have all the time to mingle with your guests and also prepare a dish which everyone will devour with relish. Make sure you have made extras for second helpings.

Chicken and rice can be cooked in a pot but baking makes the dish much more healthier and retains the nutrients as well. The below recipe serves four.