MEAL TIME

Portable desserts make outdoor entertaining fun

People have long had a fascination with all things served on a stick. From kabobs to corn dogs, a ready-made handle can make eating on-the-go that much easier. With a little ingenuity, it's possible to serve cake on a stick as well, opening up a variety of unique possibilities for entertaining.

Stick foods are often staples of carnivals and fairs. They can also be the go-to solutions for backyard barbecues or picnics. Applying the same concept of portability to desserts helps move stick foods beyond ice pops and candied apples.
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Pizza With a Tasty Twist

Few foods are as universally beloved as pizza. Whether you're a fan of Chicago's famous deep dish or prefer New York City style pizza, chances are pizza pleases your palate.

One thing many people find less pleasing about pizza is its nutritional value, or lack thereof. While doctors may never recommend pizza as an important fixture in your daily diet, there are ways to make this delicious dish a little healthier. One such way is with the following recipe for "Egg and Spinach Pies" from Maxine Clark's "Pizza, Calzone & Focaccia" (Ryland, Peters & Small).
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Restaurant-Style Cuisine in the Comforts of Home

If there's any downside to restaurant cuisine, it might be the bill at the end of the meal. However, it's entirely possible for even novice chefs to bring their favorite restaurant-style cuisine into the comforts of their own kitchen.

With the following recipe for "Duck Breast With Cherries" from Raymond Blanc's "The Food of France" (Kyle Books), it's easy to enjoy five-star cuisine without paying five-star prices.
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Trying New Foods Part of the Fun for Foodies

Trying new things is what food lovers are all about. The excitement of trying a new dish or experimenting with an old favorite is an experience unlike any other. In addition to tantalizing your taste buds, trying new foods can also open your eyes to different cultures, and not just their cuisine. Eating foods of different cultures often teaches people about those cultures, including their history and any customs and traditions they might have when it comes to breaking bread.
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Guys can enjoy cooking indoors, too

The culinary arts sometimes do not necessarily come easily for men. While guys often look forward to grilling season, cooking indoors lacks the appeal of an open fire and friends and family munching on flame-broiled delights.

But cooking inside can be just as fun and rewarding as standing over the grill outdoors. Such is the case with the following recipe for "Pasta With Shrimp and Bacon" from Tucker Shaw's "Gentlemen, Start Your Ovens" (Chronicle Books).
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Tomatoes inspire simple, delicious meals

Creating simple, delicious meals does not have to be difficult. With the right ingredients on hand and a little know-how, you can create tasty meals right from your own kitchen. Italian dishes full of flavorful, fresh, tomato bases are some of the most popular around. Just think of the multitude of pasta options or meat, seafood and vegetable a la parmigiana dishes.
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Japanese Dish for Chefs Who Love to Experiment

Fun in the kitchen often involves experimenting with international cuisine. For those who want to combine their love of experimenting with their appreciation of Japanese cuisine, consider the following recipe for "Roasted North Sea Duck and Apple" from Takashi Sugimoto and Marcia Iwatate's "Shunju: New Japanese Cuisine" (Tuttle Publishing).
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Vietnamese Cuisine Comes to Your Kitchen

Part of the joy of cooking is getting to experiment with foods. Much of that experimentation involves trying the cuisines of different countries. No two countries approach cuisine in the same way, giving foodies a never-ending supply of foods to sample and enjoy.
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