Many people love dip mixes because they feel they are “cooking.” I say that with a big smile on my face because perhaps they are. I look at dip mixes in an abstract way. Basically throwing a few spices in sour cream, giving them a spin with a spoon – grabbing decent crackers and the meal is ready. Meal? Sure. I am an author. Dip mix and cold coffee can constitute a meal for two days if need be.

Dip Mixes are easy to prepare and they are also just wonderful as gifts. In my Kitchen Art’s Book coming out on Amazon’s Kindle (Whispernet platform) in mid October of 2010, I list hundreds of recipes to make as gifts. I think Kindle is great because the Kindle tablet can be in the kitchen and the recipe right there without pages flipping all over. I do use a plastic slip cover over my Kindle because batter does go flying around in my kitchen.

Dip Mixes are so easy to make the only real issue to contemplate is the packaging. Little glass shakers and bottles can be secured at most Dollar Stores, and the giver can simply tie card with a piece of raffia around the neck. I create a cute card from a business card, folded in half and create a hole in it to secure the card with the raffia. You will need to figure out how much your basic recipe weighs and then how many servings are in yoru final container. It is better to make the recipe for one use because spices tend to settle and it would be hard to divide the gift to make two servings.

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Why on earth would anyone in their right mind buy a waffle mix boggles the mind. They are such fun to make and you can be so creative besides most kitchens already have all that you need to make an interesting waffle anyway. Even if you are a health nut you can make great waffles with whole grain flour. Making them from scratch is a lot of fun and you save money too.

So, if your family loves waffles you need the Cuisinart Waffle Maker. Fresh instead of frozen is always a great treat. Making Belgian Waffles in your Cuisinart Waffle maker is easy and the Waffle maker itself is a thing of beauty. You can bake the waffles to golden or light brown using the 5 controls. The appliance is made even simpler to operate because of its indicator lights that tell you when it is ready to bake and when the waffles are ready to eat. The stainless design mixes well in any kitchen.

And for that added bit of convenience they give you non-stick plates to make your clean up a breeze. Read the rest of this entry »

This colourful risotto makes an excellent healthy dinner party main course if served with salad – and it’s easy to make a vegan version, too…

Serves: 4

1 l/1 ¾ pints vegetable stock (you may need more)
10ml/2 tsp olive oil
1 onion, finely chopped
375g/12 oz arborio rice
150ml/5 fl oz dry white wine
15g/1/2 oz dried cep mushrooms
/1/2 oz butter (or vegan margarine, if making the vegan recipe)
225g/8oz mixed wild mushrooms, sliced
100g/4oz wild rice, cooked
50g/2oz Camargue red wild rice, cooked
50g/2oz vegetarian pecorino cheese (optional – omit for vegan recipe)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

1. Bring the stock to the boil in a large saucepan and keep it simmering.

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