Most of this confusion stems from the fact that there are authentic copycat restaurant recipes and bad ones. If you have ever followed a bad copycat recipe the experience might have put you off trying another, which is a shame because some copycat recipes are excellent.

Some famous recipes are very simple and easy to copy, whereas others are more tricky and might contain a few elusive ingredients that contribute the special flavor in the dish. There are copycat restaurants for all kinds of famous meals, from Kentucky fried chicken copycat recipes to McDonalds dipping sauce recipes and more.

Simple Fast Food Copycat Recipes

Some copycat recipes are not secret any more thanks to the chefs or cooks in certain restaurants, some recipes have been guessed and others are really simple to make. What about a McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish sandwich, for example?

To make this recipe, you simply cook some southern fried fish fillets and fill a hamburger bun with two of these and a slice of American cheese. The “secret dressing” is a combination of mayonnaise, thousand island dressing, sweet relish and sugar. That is all you need.

Once you realize how simple these restaurant recipes are, a lot of the mystique about them is gone and you realize you can quite easily make a near replica of this famous dish at home. McDonalds might use square breaded fish fillets and slightly sweetened hamburger buns but you will be able to make a really close copy of this sandwich.

Copycat Recipe for Outback Steakhouse Shrimp on the Barbie

This very simple recipe uses a dry rub to flavor the shrimp and then they are simply sauteed or grilled with olive oil and white wine. This is a very popular dish at the Outback Steakhouse and it is incredibly easy to recreate yourself. The following recipe makes enough to serve two people.

You will need:

1 lb jumbo shrimp
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon white pepper
1/4 teaspoon poultry seasoning
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/8 teaspoon onion powder
Splash of white wine
Olive oil

How to make it:

Combine the garlic powder, white pepper, poultry seasoning, cayenne pepper and onion powder, and then rub this mixture into the shrimp. Leave them for an hour, and then saute them in some olive oil. Add the white wine while the shrimp are sauteing.

As soon as the shrimp are pink on both sides they are done. You could also grill them, in which case use the olive oil and white wine to baste the shrimp while they cook.

It can be a lot of fun to recreate copycat restaurant recipes yourself. Not only can you save a lot of money by buying ingredients instead of paying restaurant prices but you can get the same amazing flavor at home. Impress your family with a copycat recipe for your favorite dish. What about a Kentucky fried chicken recipe or another famous southern fried chicken recipe to treat your family? Good copycat restaurant recipes tend to be easy to make and taste just like the real thing.

SouthernFriedChickenRecipe.com When it has to be Real Fried Chicken

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The first big advantage is that easy recipes are very cheap. There aren’t so many ingredients that you need to obtain and these ingredients are very cheap. Of course the taste of easy meals is great. You only have to find a good easy recipe (for example recipe for a tasty soup etc). In my opinion you should try one of these great recipes.

The next advantage of using easy recipes for meals is that the dishes made from this recipes are easy to prepare. A low amount of ingredients and an uncomplicated way of preparing it are the biggest advantages of using easy recipes. I hope you are going to try them. It’s really worth it.

Another great advantage of using easy recipes is that the meals can be prepared by everybody. These great recipes are good for people who don’t have any experience in the kitchen. Using these recipes can be good even for children. They can learn how to work in the kitchen thank to these fantastic recipes. As you can see they can teach you a lot of things that can be important for you in the kitchen.

Of course there are many easy recipes in the whole world, so they will not be boring for you. You can find some examples of easy meals. There are for example chips with salad, chicken breasts or pasta with cheese, mushrooms, ham and ketchup (it’s a very easy meal and it takes only 10 minutes to prepare it).

As you can see these recipes have got a lot of advantages. They are easy, cheap and varied. It’s a perfect way to eat a cheap and quick dinner with your family. Easy recipes are also a perfect solution for unexpected visits of your friends.

That’s all I wanted to write in this article. I hope this information can be really helpful for you now or in the future. I believe that this text was really interesting for you. I’m going to write more of them in the future and I hope that you are waiting for them with patience.

View thousands of recipes. Sign up and gain access to your special cookbook collection, cooking tips and recipes. Free Recipes Toolbar for healthy recipes, cake recipes, chicken recipes, easy recipes, food recipes and other recipes.

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Although I already have thousands of recipes and popular foods recipes ebooks mainly in PDF format, that are these days available for instant download worldwide, I wanted something different.

After various free searches I came across an ebook containing 490 Blue Ribbon Recipes that had the exact recipe I wanted.

Having acquired my recipe I was curious as to how a recipe can get a “Blue Ribbon”.

Again I did loads of searches on various combinations of words including “Blue and Ribbon” and was surprised to find that was not an actual definition, maybe I just didn’t look in the right places, but my search was pretty thorough.

What I did however discover is that in America the competition for the blue ribbon is extremely competitive.

Basically I learnt that every year there about 80 fairs in the USA with representation from 50 States. Each fair has its own blue ribbon recipe competition. The field of acceptable categories is quite diverse which means there is something available for every taste. I found references to these fairs starting in the 1800′s

You will find Blue Ribbon Recipes in categories for appetizers, soups, sandwiches, main dishes, bread, rolls, biscuits, dips, dressings and every dessert you can think of. In fact there is recipe to satisfy every passion and for every occasion in the world of Blue Ribbon Recipes.

Astonishingly the contestants range from hardcore old hands and competitors who tour the whole country entering recipes for big cash rewards, to beginner home cooks enthusiastic to take a chance with Grannies ancient recipes for, say, the good old “Apple pie”.

As one hopeful contestant said “I just love entering County and State Fairs and I have been collecting competition recipes and cook books for many,many years”.

Inevitably, I suppose, commercialism has crept in to these events. During recent years apparently, sponsorship of recipe contests by national food companies has become popular at fairs across America. The various companies award generous prizes for original recipes featuring their products.

Again notably, some famous food products have originated as a result of state fairs. Way back in 1852 at the first State Fair of Texas, a notable contestant named Gail Borden Jr. submitted a dried “meat biscuit” recipe. His recognition and success came some time later after turning his processed and condensed milk into a “National Brand Name”.

If you are looking for a delicious dish to be proud of, let’s face it, you can’t go wrong with a recipe that has won a state fair competition and even better got that “Blue Ribbon” award!! They obviously do not just give them away lightly!!

Well there we are, just a little information on the significance of “Blue Ribbon Recipes”.

Just in case you are interested in the great recipe I discovered, here it is:

Delicious Barbecued Pork Roast

Serves 10-12 persons

3 lb / 1.5 kg boneless rolled top loin pork roast joint

3 large garlic cloves sliced

1 teaspoon black coarsely ground pepper

1/4 teaspoon dried sage

1/4 teaspoon dried thyme

vegetable oil, approx. 2 tablespoons

1 large onion, sliced (approx 8 oz)

1/4pint (approx 150 ml) chicken stock

8 oz tomato sauce (just over ¼ pint – approx 200ml)

50ml (approx. 4 tablespoons) chili sauce

50ml spicy tomato ketchup

50ml apple cider vinegar

50ml lemon juice

3 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

2 Tablespoons brown sugar

2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

1/4 teaspoon paprika

1/4 teaspoon red pepper

If there is a large amount of fat on joint, trim it off along with strings if the joint has come tied. Using butcher’s (or kitchen string), tie at 2″ intervals.

Cut deep slits in roast & insert garlic slices If desired, lay fat skin side up, sprinkle with salt and roast in a separate tin for those who like crackling.

Combine pepper, sage & thyme; rub over surface of roast. Coat a non
stick deep frying pan with oil, place over medium high heat until hot.

Add pork roast and roll around until brown all over, about 10 – 15 minutes. Take out meat, put on one side. Add onion & sauté until tender.

Add chicken stock bring to the boil. Transfer to a dish, then roast the meat uncovered at 350°f / 180°c for 30 minutes.

Combine tomato sauce & remaining ingredients in a medium saucepan.

Bring to a boil over medium heat; pour over pork.

Roast for an additional 35-45 minutes or until meat thermometer inserted in center
of roast registers 160°c. 325°f.

Slice pork, serve with hot sauce, ideal with tender new potatoes, in season vegetables and home made apple chutney/sauce.

Please note, I have amended the measurements from the ebook recipe so that they equate internationally.

For the record this recipe took 3rd place at the Illinois State Fair but I can’t tell you which year. What I can tell you is that the outcome of my dinner party was a complete success for me and my guests to the point that many of them even asked for the recipe!!

If you are interested in collecting good foods recipes, do yourself a favour and try and get hold of “490 Blue Ribbon Recipes”

The author Christopher Phillips is a retired restaurateur with a passion for collecting recipes from all over the world. You are free and welcome to copy and distribute this article without alteration and with the usual acknowledgment to the author.

Click here For More Blue Ribbon Recipes

More Great Recipes

www.cothivalebooks.com/

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Technology has allowed us access to these websites and recipes at a moments notice but in order to organize and keep your favorites on hand it may be necessary to create a file or use a software package. I have researched and will offer a review of a few software products that I recommend. These products will allow you to import, catalog and print your recipes in a variety of convenient formats.

1. MasterCook Deluxe 9.0 by ValuSoft

Product Features

Meal-planning software with 8,000+ recipes and 100s of international recipes

Thorough search capabilities; expert nutritional analysis

Professional tips, cooking for a crowd, and essential cooking techniques

Enjoy 400 savory baking recipes with step-by-step instructions

Print shopping lists for single recipes or entire menus, or download to PDA

2. Cook’n for Every Holiday by DVO Enterprises

This instructional computer software [http://www.thesoftwarespot.com/default.asp?SID=xSUDBN7CQH9W2UP3PGZYM6&S=500&A=F&SearchText=&CategoryID=1695949&NID=6372614] includes 582 recipes, recipe manager, menu planner, and more!

Product Features:

Search thousands of recipes in seconds–just tell it what you have on hand

Adjust recipe serving sizes automatically

Demonstrate preparation techniques with video clips

Display hundreds of full-color food photos

Organize your own recipes

Print your recipes on decorative 3×5 cards

Create weekly menus

Make grocery shopping lists

Analyze the nutritional value of your recipes

Recipe Manager:

Organizing your family recipe collection in the computer is easy with Cook’n. You already know how to put in your recipes, that’s because Cook’n's recipe window looks just like a recipe card. And, “Quick-Fill” editing does much of the typing for you.

Cook’n has simple cookbook-like chapters and categories that make it easy to find your recipes fast.

Cook’n's Recipe Manager makes entertaining a snap. Simply select the number of guests you will be serving and enter it into your favorite recipe. Cook’n calculates the new ingredient amounts for you.

Menu Planner:

Build your own weekly and monthly menus

Drag and drop meals to make your menus

Combine recipes and food items to make complete meals. Then, drag and drop meals to make your own weekly or monthly menus.

Grocery Shopping Assistant

Compiles your family’s shopping list automatically

Organizes shopping list items by aisle

Converts to package sizes (e.g., tablespoon tomato paste to 8 oz. cans)

Calculates your grocery cost

Personal Home Nutritionist

Analyze the nutritional elements of recipes and menus (even the ones you add!)

Choose between brands to satisfy dietary needs

Cook’n will analyze the nutritional value of any recipe or menu (even the ones you add!). Easy to read…Cook’n nutrition facts window looks just like the label on a can.

Cook’n has nutrition facts from the labels of 10,000 food products. You can choose between different brands to see what the nutritional effect is.

Now you can plan menus based on dietary needs and tastes. Prepare one delicious meal for the entire family.

Home Cookin: Recipe Software by Mountain Software

Product Features:

· Easy to Use Interface – Home Cooking uses a simple tabbed interface that is easy to operate while providing all the features you use most. You can create as many chapters as you wish. Home Cookin will keep everything sorted alphabetically so you can quickly browse through your collection, and find your favorites easily.

· Easy Recipe Entry

· Import and Export Capabilities – Thousands of free recipes can be found on web pages, newsgroups, and various mailing lists. You can easily add these to your collection by importing them into Home Cookin. Most standard formats are supported.

· Meal Planning – The meal calendar makes it easy to plan your upcoming meals. Locate your desired recipes, then add them to the calendar. Add personal notes if you plan on eating out, want to indicate a holiday, or to reference recipes in other cookbooks. When you are ready to prepare the meal, you can access the recipe quickly from the meal calendar.

· Grocery Management – The Home Cooking grocery manager will make quick work of preparing your grocery shopping lists. Start a new list, select the items you need, and print. A cost estimate is calculated as you select each item, so you’ll know ahead of time how much you’ll be spending on your groceries. The printed list is compact and sorted by store and location to make your shopping trip as easy as possible.

Websites provide us with recipes at a moments notice but in order to organize and keep them handy and get the most use of them it may be necessary to create a file or use a software package. I have provided a review of a few software products that I found to be of good quality. These products will allow you to import, analyze, catalog and print your recipes in a variety of convenient formats including a grocery list!

I have an extensive background in Finance and Fiscal Procedure. I also have a web business where I offer Educational Computer Software and Games [http://www.thesoftwarespot.com/default.asp?S=500&A=F&SearchText=&CategoryID=1695863&NID=6372614]. I am very interested in the product itself as well as the subject matter that it involves.

Please use the link above to visit us at The Software Spot! Thank you, Allison Merlino

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The truth is, there are hundreds and thousands of free recipes all mastered by different home cooks and chefs from around the world. Don’t worry if you’re not an expert cook, you still can find quality cooking recipes. All you need is to know where to look for them so you would never have any problem getting started with the dish you crave for, or you like to cook for dinner. Allow me to share what I think are the most basic ways to help you find any recipe you need:

The Cookbook

Obviously, this is the first thing that comes to people’s mind, a recipe book. Paper recipes are the oldest method of finding a recipe, and it’s where the majority of people resort to when they are thinking of making a dish that they are not familiar with. Paper recipes are very handy that allows you to keep cooking instructions along as you move throughout the cooking process. The advantage about paper recipes is that there are hundreds of them readily available. You can buy a cookbook that touches with any particular cuisine from food mixed with exotic spices to the lightest soups, or one that covers everything from cookie decorating to thirst-quenching drinks. Your cookbook collection will not just be paper recipes but food memoirs you can pass as legacy to your aspiring young cooks.

A Good Friend

If a cookbook can be your finest company in creating different dishes, a good friend can be a spring of new recipes. If you know of somebody who likes cooking, chances are you both will enjoy sharing the same passion and swap recipes. New-fangled dishes from people you know can expose rich underlying technique and ingredients that you can add in your list. Exchanging recipes is one of the effective ways in discovering new dishes, but is mostly overlooked. From a friend, you can uncover olden recipes handed down by great folks which can be helpful in rediscovering the more traditional food choices.

The Internet

The last but not the least is of course, the internet. You can search for any recipe from the many food networks online. The internet can also be the quickest way to find a certain recipe that you may be looking for without buying a single thing. Nowadays, the computer has served many people who are more determined to go the internet route for ease of access, and as for their recipes, they can simply print out from the computer any recipe they like. They get a handy guide as well as an appetizing photo of the dish. In fact, most people think it does not get much easier than that.

In our equipped world today, regardless of what type of a cooking recipe you are in need of, you will find wide-ranging collection of dishes all over the place. You will get different cuisines complete with tips, tricks, and tools to help you produce delicious and wholesome meals in your own kitchen. The main thing is that you do not have to be a cooking expert to find excellent recipes.

Find a quality cookware at Your Pressure Cooker Store. The online location for quality pressure pans and frying pans at reasonable prices with customer satisfaction guaranteed. Specializing in Fissler. Maria Antoniet Fornillos

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Essential oils you’ll need: Lavender, Lemon, Peppermint, Rosewood and Patchouli. Optional: Rosemary

Easy Aromatherapy Recipe #1: Minty Morning Shampoo

Buy a good unscented shampoo. For each 8 ounces (250ml) shampoo, add 15 drops peppermint, 10 drops lavender and 5 drops lemon essential oil. Optional: Replace 2 drops of the lemon with 2 drops rosemary essential oil. Shake well.

This essential oil recipe balances your scalp’s oil production, promotes hair growth and helps prevent (or get rid of) dandruff. Plus its bright, energizing aroma starts your day with a smile.

Handy Hint: To really rev up your morning, also use this recipe to scent a plain shower gel or body wash.

Easy Aromatherapy Recipe #2: Soothing Skin Lotion

Buy a good unscented lotion. For each 8 ounces (250ml) lotion, add 20 drops lavender and 5 drops rosewood OR patchouli (patchouli is less floral – good for guys.) Lavender, rosewood and patchouli are all excellent skin healers. They help rejuvenate your skin by stimulating the formation of new skin cells, they balance oil production, and they help with skin conditions such as acne or eczema.

Deeply soothing to the nervous system, this easy aromatherapy recipe also relaxes the muscles and promotes feelings of calm and well-being.

Handy Hint: Use as a hand lotion whenever you wash your hands. Not only will it give your spirits a lift, but it will also kill any lingering germs… AND soften your skin. A winner!

Easy Aromatherapy Recipe #3: Peppermint Pick-me-up Facial Mist (Or Room Spray or Body Mist)

This is a great aromatherapy home recipe for that mid-afternoon slump. Before your reach for coffee or a chocolate bar, reach for your spray bottle!

To make your facial mist, boil enough water to fill your bottle. Let the water cool, then pour it into the bottle. For each 8 ounces (250ml) water, add 15 drops peppermint and 5 drops lemon. Optional: Replace 3 drops of the peppermint with 3 drops of rosemary. Shake well before each use.

Make sure the nozzle gives a very fine mist. Dark glass or PET plastic bottles are best for essential oils recipes because the oils eat through other types of plastic.

Peppermint, lemon and rosemary boost energy, improve mental alertness and lift mood. They also relieve pain; try using this spray to ease a headache.

Use this essential oil recipe during a workout to increase your strength and energy. Or use as a room spray to freshen up sickrooms and nursing homes.

Caution for public places: People are becoming more sensitive to scents – even natural ones – so please make sure your spray doesn’t cause any asthma attacks or other health issues.

Easy Aromatherapy Recipe #4: Soothing Sleep-time Massage or Bath Oil

For massage oil: Pour 4 tablespoons (60ml) carrier oil into a glass bottle. Add 10 drops lavender, 3 drops rosewood and 2 drops patchouli. Put the cap on and shake until mixed.

For bath oil: Pour 1 tablespoon (15ml) carrier oil into a glass jar. Add 10 drops lavender, 3 drops rosewood and 2 drops patchouli. Put the cap on and shake until mixed.

This easy aromatherapy recipe also makes a fabulous rejuvenating facial serum. Use the massage oil recipe above; simply massage gently into your face (avoiding your eyes) using light, upward strokes. Good for all skin types, especially if you tailor your carrier oils to your skin type.

Click on the link at the end of this article to learn more about the best carrier oils for your skin.

Easy Aromatherapy Recipe #5: Clean Green All Purpose Disinfectant Spray

This easy aromatherapy recipe not only smells wonderful, but it also kills germs and bacteria… and it’s safe for the environment.

Fill a large spray bottle about 3/4 full of boiled and cooled water. Fill to the top with white vinegar. For each 8 ounces (250ml) of liquid, add 15 drops lavender and 15 drops lemon essential oil. Shake well before each use.

Use on virtually any surface: kitchen counters, bathroom fixtures, windows – even your car, office and patio… you name, it can clean it!

These 5 simple essential oils recipes make it easy to incorporate aromatherapy into your everyday life. Before long, you’ll see a difference. More energy, less stress… feeling good about taking care of yourself… improved health…

Small steps every day, including ‘aromatherapy breaks’, will help you have the healthy, happy life you deserve. Go for it!

If you’d like to make your own lotion from scratch, click here for a really nice aromatherapy lotion recipe. Or click here to learn more about carrier oils. Also find dozens of other quick, easy, fun-to-make aromatherapy recipes you can use to take care of yourself and your family. Recipes to help you sleep better… lose weight… relieve stress… ease pain… improve your skin… and much more.

From Kyley Zimmerman

Disclaimer: All information is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to treat, prevent, diagnose, or cure any condition.

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The cliche “having it at your fingertips” is very common in the digital age. Manufacturers of all types of products claim to provide this kind of convenience. But with an electronic recipe organizer, this cliche is a fact. About the size of a paperback novel, the typical version of this recipe organizer can provide you with ability to store thousands of your recipes. They are made to sit on your countertop, and have a clear plastic covering to make the occasional cleaning easy. Since it usually sits right next to the stove, it will get food spilled on it. But this is fine because the plastic cover protects it. Just wipe it down with warm damp cloth if this happens.

From the main screen, you can easily browse through the electronic recipe organizer and quickly find your desired recipe. The navigational buttons are incredibly easy to understand and even the most “non-technical” person should have no problem operating it. The designers of this type of product did this for a reason: most people using an electronic recipe organizer are not IT people. They are just mothers, grandmothers, and other people who love to cook and who may not have much experience operating electronic products. Ease of use is key.

How are the recipes loaded onto the electronic recipe organizer?

This is a common question among people thinking about purchasing these amazing tools. The reality is that adding recipes is also easy. All a person needs to do is go to a specific website, fill out a simple form with the recipe details, and hit the submit button. In an instant, the recipe is transferred to the electronic recipe organizer. But not only that, a copy of the recipe is also saved online. So if anything should ever happen to the organizer itself (whether it is lost, stolen, or destroyed), all of the recipes will be saved because a backup copy of all of them will still be online.

If you needed to find your favorite recipe, would you find it faster by going through your collection of recipe books, or by scrolling through your electronic recipe organizer? The latter, of course. It takes literally seconds to locate any of your recipes using an electronic recipe organizer. And this is among potentially thousands of recipes. If you are looking for the ideal way to store and manage the many recipes that you have, you can’t go wrong with one of these convenient solutions.

For an in depth look at the top digital recipe reader, including feedback from real customers, please visit DigitalRecipeReader.com today. Find out why users are raving about being able to have all of their recipes organized and readily available.

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To find these websites is very easy – you just have to do a search at Google, Yahoo, MSN or another search engine that you prefer. By typing in, for instance, ‘Italian recipes’ you will get a countless number of websites that provide Italian recipes. Not to forget that you can search for a specific type of cuisine (‘Chinese’, ‘German’, ‘American’, etc.) as well as for a specific ingredient (‘chicken recipes’, ‘lobster recipes’, ‘rosemary recipes’, etc.) or cooking method (for instance, ‘grilling recipes’). You can see on the right side or on the bottom of the search engine page related terms that you can search for when you type in a more generic term, like ‘shrimp recipes’. Another tip is to use quotation marks (” “) if you want to find a precise recipe or information (example: “Brazilian Coconut Shrimp”). Well, once you get the search results you just have to browse and look for the website that provides the recipes or information that you are looking for. And once you find a website that you like very much, don´t forget to bookmark it so you can always go back to it.

Another option is a directory, where you can browse through categories to find cooking and recipe websites. Usually recipes and food related websites can be found under the category Home Cooking – where you usually will find many sub-categories. The best known directory is the Dmoz.org.

Then we have the cooking forums. Cooking forum is a great place to get help with cooking or recipe questions, to discuss cooking methods and techniques, and to exchange food information, recipes, tips, and advice. The great advantage of forums is that they are made by real people with real experiences, interest, doubts, and feelings. You may check the forum Discusscooking.com. Another tip is the food site Grouprecipes.com – there you can create your own food page and organize your recipes, and of course discover new recipes and get in contact with many food and cooking lovers.

Well, as you can see the Internet is a wonderful resource to get recipes, food and cooking information. And the best of all is that it is for free – and if it is not, just search further that you will surely find information for free.

Come to my site to find free seafood recipes at www.weloveseafood.com

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English and foreign language teachers are often in a quandary for simple but effective class room activities. You and your language learners have to eat don’t you? Well, to help get you started, briefly here are some useful ways to use recipes for foreign language learning you might want to consider and a brief look at each:

o Making a recipe preparation video

If there was ever a great way to incorporate multiple intelligences and application of multi-media into foreign language learning, then this is it. You guide your language learners in preparing a short step-by-step video of preparing a simple recipe.

o Creating a recipe poster with images

For a much more low-tech approach, why not consider having your language learners make a poster showing how a simple recipe is prepared. They can include pictures of the preparation process and the finished recipe too.

o Narrating a recipe preparation

This is yet another particularly simple-to-apply method for using recipes for foreign language learning. Learners just narrate the process into a microphone, recording the recipe preparation process as a sound file into a cassette recorder, PC or laptop computer.

o Writing out a new recipe in different ways

The foreign language teacher can dictate a simple recipe for the learners to write down. The finished, corrected version can then be posted in the class room or online. Dictation addresses the foreign language learners’ writing ability as well as their listening comprehension skills.

o Shooting digital images of a recipe in preparation

To get a good series of images for preparing a recipe, foreign language learners absolutely must understand the preparation steps and how ingredients are combined. Photographing the recipe preparation process will help organize the steps and process in their minds as well as provide them with picture image “manipulatives” or realia they can physically handle or manipulate during the organization process.

o Focusing on the use of a particular ingredient in the preparation of different recipes

Take a commonly used ingredient like onions or tomatoes and ask your language learners about other recipes which use that particular ingredient. Can you make juice, pastries or desserts with it? How about soup or salad?

o Preparation of simple, basic recipes in class

Language learners just love this one. You have them select and prepare a very simple, basic recipe in class while explaining the process aloud. The recipe need not be anything fancy or special – just edible.

o Having English language learners bring prepared dishes to class and explain their ingredients and preparation

This is yet another variation on simple recipe preparation. Language learners being basic ingredients to class, then prepare their offering for all to sample. A peanut butter and jelly sandwich, hot dogs or a cookie sandwich hors d’oeuvres will do the trick nicely.

o Posting videos, narrations and written recipes online

Another concept which might be considered or included is to post the language learners’ recipes online. It could be on the school blog, in the school newspaper or as an article posting online at any of the hundreds of free article banks online. You choose, but choose wisely, grasshopper.

Ways to Use Recipes for Foreign Language Learning

So there you have it, nine ways to use recipes and their ingredients for English or other foreign language learning. Why not choose one or two and put them to the best use in your language learning class room soon?

Prof. Larry M. Lynch is an EFL Teacher Trainer, Intellectual Development Specialist, prolific writer, expert author and public speaker. He has written ESP, foreign language learning, English language teaching texts and hundreds of articles used in more than 120 countries. Get your FREE E-book, “If You Want to Teach English Abroad, Here’s What You Need to Know” and English language teaching and learning information at: bettereflteacher.blogspot.com Need a blogger or copywriter to promote your school, institution, service or business or an experienced writer and vibrant SEO content for your website, blog or newsletter? Contact the author at the above blog address for more information.

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The Internet is one of the best places to go when looking for new recipes. Using the Internet to gather new recipes ideas is your best choice because of how many different resources you can access using the internet. When using the Internet to find new recipes you are not limited to only one or two websites. Using the Internet allows you to access a variety of food related websites that focus on recipes, but you can also join food groups that provide you with new recipes.

Food and cooking blogs are among the most popular choices in the Internet. Food and cooking blogs not only provide you with new recipes, but they also provide you with nutritional information, as well as tips and tricks that you can use in your own kitchen. Food and cooking blogs are useful websites because of how much information they can provide you with. Another great feature that cooking and food blogs have is the ability to interact with the other readers through the comment boards. Using the comment boards allows you to exchange ideas with other readers, including new recipes and tips on preparing certain dishes.

Recipe websites are another great source for finding new and interesting recipes. There are many websites, such as Allrecipes.com, that provide you with just about any recipe that you are searching for. The best part about these recipe websites is how easy they are to use. With these websites you can simply search based on the type of dish you want to cook, such as a main entree or dessert or you can search based on what you want to cook, such as whether you want to use beef or chicken. Other recipe websites that people don’t often think about are food company websites, such as Kraft and Pillsbury. These websites often have a recipe section that you can visit for new recipe ideas using their products, but there are other recipes included.

One of the best things about using food and cooking blogs as a way to find new recipes or using recipe websites for new recipes is that you can usually sign up for a newsletter that comes to your email weekly. In the email newsletter you can find some of the recipes that they are highlighting that week. Newsletters are also a great way to obtain other information, such as deals on cookware that you might need or even information on local cooking classes.

Another great place to gather new recipe ideas is by watching cooking channels on television. If you are a cable or satellite subscriber you can access channels like Food Network, but even if you don’t have cable or satellite you can still watch PBS to gain access to some great cooking shows. On Food Network there are a ton of different shows that you can watch to learn new recipes, but what you watch is going to depend on what you want to cook. Semi-Homemade Cooking is a great show to watch if you are looking for some good recipe ideas that use mainly readymade products, but uses a handful of fresh products to give it that home cooked feel. 30 minute meals is another great show to watch if you are looking for new recipes that you can make in 30 minutes or less. The best part is that even though the meals are quick and easy to make they taste outstanding.

The final and maybe best choice to find new recipe ideas is to take a cooking class. With cooking classes you can take classes based on your current skill levels or you can take classes based on the type of cuisine you want to cook. Either method will provide you with a handful of new recipes that you can use at home or exchange with your friends. With a cooking class, you get the chance to interact with a professional chef and other students interested in cooking.

To find a local cooking class, do a search with the terms “cooking classes” and the city you live in. For example, since I am in Los Angeles, I will search for Los Angeles Cooking Classes.

Sophie Mitchells is a professional food photographer in Santa Monica, CA. When she is not photographing food she enjoys reading her favorite cooking blog for new recipe ideas.

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