The Olive Chef Community

(Submitted by Sir Oliver)

    This English dish is generally made with ground lamb. (“Shepherd’s Pie”) This recipe uses ground chicken, but you can also use ground beef, turkey, or lamb.

Shepherd’s Pie is easy to make for a large group. (more…)

(submitted by Sir Oliver)

Again, using the stencil method. the decorations are mint and orange peels.

(submitted by Rosita)

Here are some cool pics of wedding cakes I’ve creatd. Most of the ideas I got from cookbooks, but then just worked with whatever ingredients we had. I generally think that colorings make a cake look cheap, so opt for a more natural look. Most of these were made with whipping cream, grated chocolate, fresh fruits, and real flowers (a normal wedding cake decoration that makes a cake look dazzling).

You can also use edible flowers that are very easy to ice, if you want a more glazed look. Enjoy!

picture: parisiennes with a green tea cream filling

(submitted by Yolanda)

(photos by Sir Oliver)

If I am correct, and I always am, choux means “carrot” in French. (more…)

       (by Rosita)

A tip I often share with cooks attempting to make that “perfect chicken soup” is to have chicken broth available at all times as a stock item in your refridgerator or freezer.When you boil a whole chicken or boil down soup bones there are many qualities that are wonderful for both flavor and health, but what often turns people off is the high fat rate.
Imagine, you sit down to enjoy a hot bowl of freshly made chicken soup and as you go to taste you see a clear layer of animal fat/oil floating on top of all those tasty vegetables and meat.
Simple solution: make broth ahead of time, let cool for several hours or preferably overnight. The chicken grease will automatically float to the top and harden. Scoop out and throw away. Your broth will have a more defined flavor and a whole lot less fat. Heat up the broth and continue as before to cook your vegetables, noodles, or other ingredients.
I usually use broth as my water to cook the chicken in. Makes for a more concentrated taste as well. Enjoy!

(submitted by Rosita, Detroit)

Here’s a tasty recipe for a simple, fast and easy to put together snack for the whole home. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

2 1/2 cups flour (whole wheat flour works well)

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 cup butter

2 cups sugar (brown or raw)

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 cups chocolate chips or 1 cup chips and 1 cup of nuts (more…)

BBC

Drinking green tea can substantially cut the risk of dying from a range of illnesses, a Japanese study has found.

The research, which looked at over 40,000 people, found the risk of fatal cardiovascular disease was cut by more than a quarter.

But British heart experts said the benefits may be linked to the whole Japanese diet, which is healthier than that eaten in the west. (more…)

(From Eve)

* If the recipe calls for 2 tablespoons Grand Marnier or other orange-flavored liqueur, substitute 2 tablespoons unsweetened orange juice concentrate or 2 tablespoons orange juice and 1/2 teaspoon orange extract.
* For 2 tablespoons Amaretto, substitute ¼ to ½ teaspoon almond extract.
* For 2 tablespoons sherry or bourbon, substitute 1 to 2 teaspoons vanilla extract. (more…)

Reuters Health

Soaking brown rice for a day before it is cooked may be an inexpensive and easy way to turbocharge the nutritional value of this staple food, Japanese scientists have found.
Soaking the rice stimulates the early stages of germination, when a tiny sprout, less than a millimeter tall, grows from the grain. “The birth of a sprout activates dormant enzymes in the brown rice all at once to supply the best nutrition to the growing sprout,” said Dr. Hiroshi Kayahara, a professor at Shinshu University in Nagano. (more…)

(submitted by Sir Oliver)

This won’t take you more than five to ten minutes to prepare, and no more than twenty in the oven. The recipe here is for two, but you can multiply it for the whole home. It makes for a fast but gourmet special dinner with a simple soup, some salad, rice, and/or garlic toast, and white wine for those inclined. Don’t worry if you don’t have any rosemary. There are other alternatives listed later in the recipe. (more…)