Delicious Crock Pot Pasta Recipes That Are Ideal For Cooking Beginners

Pasta is a favorite dish worldwide, so if you’re a cooking beginner, knowing how to cook pasta is a must. There are endless options when it comes to cooking pasta dishes. You can choose from a variety of noodles, sauces, meats, veggies and even herbs and spices to make your own. But if you’re just a beginner, you can try these crock pot pasta recipes to help you get started with your cooking journey – everyone will surely approve!

Easy Crock Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs Soup

What you need:

4 cups beef broth
3 cups water
3 cups spaghetti sauce
2 1/2 cups frozen meatballs
1 cup angel hair pasta, broken into 1-inch pieces
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon dried basil

Continue reading “Delicious Crock Pot Pasta Recipes That Are Ideal For Cooking Beginners”

Reflections of Travel to Europe

As a four-decade Certified Travel Agent, international airline employee, researcher, writer, teacher, and photographer, travel, whether for pleasure or business purposes, has always been a significant and an integral part of my life. Some 400 trips to every portion of the globe, by means of road, rail, sea, and air, entailed destinations both mundane and exotic. This article focuses on those in Europe.

Ireland:

Ireland, the emerald green isle, was also visited on a number of occasions, and its attractions included Trinity College, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and Phoenix Park in Dublin. A Glens of Antrim itinerary included Belfast; Ballycastle, Dunluce Castle; the Old Bushmills Distillery; the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge; and the Giant’s Causeway, which was comprised of volcanic hexagonal basalt columns, all in Northern Ireland.

Morning tea in the Marine Hotel in Ballycastle included scones, butter, jam, whipped cream, and pots of the tea itself, and lunch in the Royal Court Hotel featured fresh fruit; a topside of beef, gravy, horseradish, a pastry cup, roasted potatoes, boiled potatoes, carrots, and cabbage; strawberry and kiwi pavlova with whipped cream and strawberry sauce; coffee; and chocolate mints. Continue reading “Reflections of Travel to Europe”

Costa Blanca: Something for All the Family

The 200 km Costa Blanca (White Coast) stretches from the town of Denia in the north to Pilar de la Horadada in the south, for which it is considered one of Europe’s most popular areas. Its popularity grew due to its unspoiled beautiful white sand coastline interspersed with rocky coves and pebbled beaches, as well as Spain being very inexpensive in the 1960’s when it first opened up at the end of Franco’s dictatorship era.

It can seem, on the face of it, that all has changed, but this only applies to the busy touristy areas of Torrevieja in the south and Benidorm in the northern part of the Costa Blanca.

If you enjoy the bustling coastal hot spots with 24 hour entertainment, then you could do no better than staying in the very popular Benidorm. A town that keeps growing with amazing shaped high-rise buildings, with much on offer to entertain the whole family, from water parks to international starred cabaret night clubs.

If, on the other hand, you prefer the more tranquil serenity away from the hurly burly, then staying in the smaller resorts along the coast or just inland can be appealing and is very much a different experience than say Benidorm. It does not prevent you from taking in a visit to see some attractions in and around the big tourist areas, so if some members of the family wish to go to experience the thrill of say the water theme park in the mountains just behind Benidorm, then it is only a 30 minute drive away from towns like Moraira. Continue reading “Costa Blanca: Something for All the Family”

Seasoning 101 – An Exhausting Guide to Herbs and Spices

Spices and Herbs have been around for thousands of years. They give our food flavor, some of them have medicinal benefits and they are mostly very affordable. Nothing elevates humble ingredients more elegantly and in a more affordable way than spices.

A few tips: If you have the choice always buy whole seeds and grind on a per need basis – a dedicated coffee grinder does a good job. For herbs grow your own fresh plant if you can or buy fresh herbs if they are affordable – you usually do not need a whole of a fresh herb to make a big impact on flavor and you can keep the unused herb in the refrigerator or freeze it for later.

Try to buy your spices or herbs in the health food store in the bulk spice section. Make sure the store has a high turnover. Spices, especially ground ones, die very quickly. If the flavor does not hit you in the face as you open the jar – stay away – no matter how much dead spice you will add, it will never improve your dish.

Storage: glass jars are best – buy little spice at a time – store away from sunlight and heat. I will present all spices in one list whether they are seeds, barks, roots or fruits. Continue reading “Seasoning 101 – An Exhausting Guide to Herbs and Spices”

4 Ways Youth Hostels in Barcelona Can Break the Mould

There is an aura inherent to the Spanish city of Barcelona that draws people back again and again, and it is not hard to realise why. The caramel beaches, the lively public squares, the famous food and the incomparable architecture all fuse together to create the city’s rare blend of sophistication and ease.

But if you are tempted to visit more than once, it is important to know how to break the mould and discover new experiences each time you stay in one of the fabulous youth hostels of the city.

Beyond El Barri Gotic’s streets

Returning to your favourite youth hostels in Barcelona may entrench you in experiences that, no matter how delightful, may be repeated. To go beyond this, it pays to step outside the usual touristic haunts. Most budget accommodation draws travellers to the suburb of Gotic (the Gothic quarter) and its surrounds, but explore a little further away, perhaps closer to the heights of Gracia or the pavements of St Marti, and you will immediately experience a different ambience.

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Tapas: A Spanish Food Adventure

A tapa is an appetizer or snack in Spanish cuisine and translates to a small portion of any kind of food, similar to Chinese dim sum. It may be cold or hot. In the early days of tapas, a slice of cheese or ham was served with your drink and placed over the mouth of the glass (saved on washing plates). They were basically designed to tide one over until the traditional way of eating dinner very late in the evening, when most Americans are already sleeping. It may be cold (such as mixed olives and cheese) or hot (such as chopitos, which are fried baby squid). In select bars in Spain, tapas have evolved into an entire sophisticated cuisine.

Legend has it that Castilian King Alfonso the Tenth (circa late 13th century) had once been stricken with a serious illness which only allowed him to consume small portions of food with small amounts of wine. (Perhaps he just got too hungry between lunch and dinner.) The U.S. has adopted this cuisine through tapas restaurants, wine bars and some micro breweries, as opposed to Spain, where it’s usually served up in simple tapas bars. Popular dishes include many traditional Spanish delicacies that are worth trying (be very brave, now):

Albóndigas – your basic meatballs

Aceitunas – assorted olives (no meal is complete without them) Continue reading “Tapas: A Spanish Food Adventure”

Madrid – Tips on Eating Out Like a Local

Spanish cusine is a combination of different regional qualities of Galicia, Castilia, Valencia, the Basque regions, and the rest of the Mediterranean. The flavours are rich, expansive and varied. For the Spanish, eating well and drinking well is a way of life.

Eating out in Madrid is cheaper than in most European capital cities, and the locals do so with great frequency.

Breakfast is usually eaten on the run at a bar, and is nothing more elaborate than a milky coffee, “cafe con leche”, and a sweet roll or croissant.

At around 10:00 AM, the locals might leave the office for a plate of “churros con chocolate”, curls of fried doughnut-like batter eaten with hot melted chocolate. This is the ultimate in decadence. As far as restaurants that serve “Churros con Chocolate” go, there is the world-famous, and extremely crowded, Cafe San Gines. However, the Valor and Cacao Sampaka have better chocolate minus the hype.

Lunch is eaten between 1:30 and 4:00 PM, and is the main meal of the day. Most restaurants will offer a lunchtime menu, often called “Menu del Dia” for 8-16 Euros. This consists of a fixed 3 course meal which includes a cheaper house wine. Of course, you can always pay a bit more for a premium wine, although the house wines are often quite good. This fixed meal is, many times, better than the a la carte menu, and it makes it possible to try out the best restaurants in Madrid at reasonable prices. Stay away from the “touristy” areas, like Puerta del Sol and Plaza Mayor, and try the little side streets instead. Better yet, ask the locals where they like to eat, and like us, discover some gems that way. The Spanish love their food, and eating badly is not an option, so actively seek out their recommendations. The Madrid locals are a friendly lot, and are only too happy to help. Continue reading “Madrid – Tips on Eating Out Like a Local”

Where to Eat Paella in Valencia

It’s not a surprise that Valencia is the best place to go for paella. The original recipe comes from here and this great dish is the culinary symbol of the city. In Valencia there are lots of nice restaurants, often located by the beach or near the “Ciudad Vella”. Most of them have spent a lot of effort into the decoration and the atmosphere is really welcoming. No matter what you will be doing in Valencia: you must taste paella at least once during your stay. Check these 3 restaurants so that you can eat the best paella in town.

La Ruia Restaurant

Probably it is the best place to eat if you are looking for a traditional genuine Valencian restaurant. It offers a wide range of local choices: over 15 traditional types of paellas and rice (it’s difficult to find such an offer in any other restaurant in the city), fish dishes and the local meat. The interior is typical Valencian with ceramics and meborabilia on the walls. La Riua is really a legend: it is a loved and respected place and due to this there are usually a lot of guests. You can call and book a table or also order your paella while you are arriving. Eating paella costs almost 15 euro, meat 7, 10 fish and seafood.

Tapelia Restaurant Continue reading “Where to Eat Paella in Valencia”

Victorian Era Puddings and Desserts

The Victorian period was known for its gentleness and decorum. Manners and etiquette were considered of the utmost importance, and so books on the subject were very popular. The most famous of these was the ‘Book Of Household Management’ by Mrs Eliza Beeton (1836-1865).

Milk and honey were used widely in Victorian cooking. According to Mrs Beeton, milk was ‘complete’. Honey was a popular sweetener, as it had been since before the introduction of sugar in the late 18th century.

Syllabub
1/2 cup sugar, 2/3 cup sweet sherry, 1 1/4 cups whipping cream, 3 tb brandy, 1 tb lemon juice
Whisk all the ingredients until the mix thickens. Serve chilled in pretty crystal or glass bowls or glasses. Decorate with sugar crystals along the rim, and topped with whipped cream and fine slivers of almond.

Custard Continue reading “Victorian Era Puddings and Desserts”

A Muffin is Not, Nor Will Ever Be A Cupcake

A muffin is not a cupcake, but how does one ultimately distinguish between the two delectable treats? They are both after all approximately the same size and shape and come in a variety of flavors. This article will illuminate some of the distinguishing factors.

First of all, a muffin can be categorized in several different ways. It can be a meal, typically had for breakfast, it can be a snack, and it can even be a dessert. It is usually consumed first thing in the morning and they are usually considered to be somewhat healthy. They can even be eaten with a meal, instead of perhaps bread rolls or slices. Restaurants often serve them with a salad to add the extra carbohydrate filler that many people seem to crave with their salads. They are consumed with juice, milk and other such beverages, even soda during lunch.

A cupcake, on the other hand, is often something that is considered a dessert and a dessert by definition only. It is a treat that is not considered a meal and most would not feel satiated by one cupcake alone, if that was indeed being consumed in place of a meal. Typically, cupcakes are considered to be higher in calorie count and fat than a muffin. Sometimes this is not the case, but more often it is. They are typically consumed with milk and eaten after a meal or as a special snack. Continue reading “A Muffin is Not, Nor Will Ever Be A Cupcake”