Best Homemade Gourmet Recipes

You want the Best Gourmet Recipe available on the web?

The term "gourmet" when applied to a recipe implies that it's the best of it's kind, the fanciest, and probably the most expensive. What about all of us who love good food, are hosting an event (like a book club meeting) and want to delight our guests with some gourmet recipes of our own? This is where a Homemade Gourmet Recipe comes in handy!

A Homemade Best Gourmet Recipe is tried and true by someone you know. Generally they are passed down through families or friends by word of mouth until someone, like me, decide to start writing them out! There are chefs who work for years to perfect their secret ingredients and then charge an arm and a leg for you to try them when instead, you could be making your own!

The best way to go about starting a collection of Homemade Gourmet Recipes is to go straight to your favorite sources. Have an Aunt who is known for her Cream Chip Beef Dip? Go Get It! Does your mom make the best Lasagna this side of the Mississippi? Ask Her For It! Once you start collecting these recipes (email is always a great way to do this) create a recipe file box and add each one. Try them out on your own. Modify if necessary. Tell your friends and soon you'll all be sharing and making the best gourmet recipes out there - in your own home!

I couldn't resist giving you one of our favorites:

John's Shrimp Di Oro

Appetizer for 4 people.

Ingredients

1 lb (16/20) Shrimp, peeled and de-veined but leave tail on


1 cup Olive Oil


1 cup Vegetable Oil


1 cup All Purpose Flour


3 lemons


1 sprig of Fresh Parsley


A pinch of salt


A pinch of pepper

Combine Olive Oil and Vegetable Oil in a 10 inch sauté pan. Heat over medium-hi heat for 15 minutes.

Cover each individual shrimp in flour. Be sure to shake off excess flour. Once oil is heated, place shrimp in oil turning occasionally until golden (1-3 minutes). Remove shrimp and place on paper towel to soak up remaining oil. While the shrimp is hot, dash with pepper and salt.

Place shrimp on platter. Cut Lemon in half and squeeze over all shrimp (do not drop the seeds!). Take 2 remaining lemons, quarter them and spread around the rim of the plate. Garnish plate with sprig of parsley in middle.

ENJOY!

Interested in more homemade gourmet recipes? We have them!

Desiree, aka Queenie D, is an English teacher, mom, and lover of books!

Want more information on book clubs? Looking for a book to read? Want to share something you've read? Visit http://www.book-club-queen.com for a fantastic adventure in reading!

Homemade Gourmet - Honest Homemade Gourmet Business Review

Homemade Gourmet Helps People Connect While Enjoying Food

This is not a false statement. Before we really go bonkers over Homemade Gourmet and its benefits we will be objective in this review. The best decisions in any opportunity are always formed out of knowledge. Learn how this actually opportunity works in less than 7 minutes of your leisure time.

1) At The Beginning

The lady behind the Homemade Gourmet enterprise is none other than Tami VanHoy. She lives by her strong Christian beliefs though that shouldn't be our main basis of discussion today. As founder and CEO, she started selling her own recipes and food mixes during the holidays in 1997.

It wasn't long when other women also took an interest in reselling her products. Tami's goal is simple. Your dinner should be on the table in 30 minutes or less. Homemade Gourmet, Inc is headquartered in Canton, Texas.

2) Your Cost And Products

Seriously, I'm also a fan of food but just because we're reviewing this objectively I'll calm down. Homemade Gourmet's range of product choices are pretty wide. Starting from its flagship product of ' 4 meals in 4 minutes' package (which is about $129) right up to standalone desert mixes.

Give or take $7 for each individual pack and you're good to go. You could choose to become a distributor by becoming a "preferred customer" at $79 to startup. Hold your horses, wait until we get to the end.

3) Do You Know The Compensation Plan?

Ultimately, when you join in as a distributor you are joining into a network marketing system. By cutting away all the fat and hype out there you will find the real bones behind the Homemade Gourmet inner workings.

You can earn 25% on commission is someone orders via your replicated website. Then, 40% on reorders you personally deliver to homes. The main thing that may catch your attention is the 9% you earn from your first 9 downlines. Though there is a catch.

Leverage or Balancing Act?

So is Homemade Gourmet an opportunity which is suitable for you? Only you can decide but remember that typically network marketing systems require you to be able to duplicate your recruiting system. You can double your speed of duplication by learning how to market online. Its simple and effective once you employ the right marketing knowledge.

This article is the property of [http://www.simple-riches.com] - you may freely publish it on a website as long as it is not modified in any way. It must include the author bylines; all hyperlinks and URLs must be made or remain active.

Vern How has been earning online since June 2006. He is a professional affiliate marketer who believes in giving back by helping others.

Find out Vern's latest marketing musings by visiting his blog at Online Marketing Business [http://www.simple-riches.com/blog]

For more information on a fool-proof strategy to profiting massively on the Internet, just check out more Homemade Gourmet Recruiting Secrets [http://www.simple-riches.com]!

How to Market Homemade Gourmet Recipes & Dishes

Food is one of the basic needs of man. Therefore, food businesses are unlikely to go bankrupt. So, if you like puttering around the kitchen, you might as well turn your hobby into a lucrative business. If you are into gourmet and pastries, you can sell handmade gourmet and handmade pastry around your neighborhood or in high-profile stores. Handmade pastry and handmade gourmet are trendy nowadays. Then again, do not think that there are no documents required. All kinds of businesses have to be legalized, even the small-scaled ones; and all food sellers have to abide by the rules and regulations of the FDA or the Food and Drug Administration. In addition, sanitation permits and insurance policies must be obtained.

Make sure that your kitchen area meets the standards for local inspection, and that it is suitable for commercial use. You need to get a business license and business insurance too, before you can start selling handmade gourmet and handmade pastry. You also have to follow the proper accounting methods. Every locality and state has its own requirement for every category, and you must ensure that you are not violating the law. Moreover, you have to make sure that you can protect yourself if ever something goes awry. Aside from business insurance, you also need business liability insurance. The purpose of this is to protect you from any lawsuit that will be brought against your handmade gourmet and handmade pastry business.

Once all the legal paperwork are taken cared of, you can then proceed to marketing. Keep in mind that consumers are more health-conscious now than they were years ago. That is why they prefer handmade and natural food products. This only means that your handmade gourmet and handmade pastry already have potential consumers. You just have to follow the basics of marketing. You also need to establish a brand as well as a reputation for your handmade gourmet and handmade pastry products. Anyway, one good suggestion on how you can attract the attention of customers is to emphasize that your products are handmade.

Include the list of ingredients on the packaging of your handmade pastry. You can also cite reasons why such ingredients are good for the body. Be sure to emphasize the unhealthy ingredients that you did not use, as well. Then, you can use recyclable materials for the packaging of your handmade gourmet to make it more appealing. For instance, you can place a handmade pastry in a lunch bag, or you can wrap a handmade gourmet sandwich in wax paper. Customers like their orders neatly presented, but they like it better if the packaging materials used are not harmful to the environment. In addition, you can create a website for your products. In this way, old customers will be updated with the latest goods and new ones will see what you have to offer.

MadeItMyself is a rapidly growing, unique and fun artisan online marketplace that lets you post your handmade creations and share them with the rest of the world.

MadeItMyself provides endless possibilities for the people who love art and originality and want to make a good living from their respective trades. http://www.madeitmyself.com

(c) Article Copyright - MadeitMyself.com.

A Review of the Homemade Gourmet Income Opportunity

If you believe that there will always be a market for good food and that people are always interested in filling up their stomachs, Homemade Gourmet might be just the program for you!. With an intriguing mix of social opportunity and excellent food, many people have used Homemade Gourmet to do everything from make a few books to start a whole new career. If you are in a position where you would like to make some extra spending money, take a look at what Homemade Gourmet has to offer.

Homemade Gourmet is essentially a recipe, food mix and soup base provider, but it actually goes a lot further than that. This company has made a name for itself in the field of inexpensive and delicious cuisine that can be prepared in the home, and as such it has an existing customer base and a long reputation to trade on. For people who are looking for an opportunity that offers a little more stability than the average start up MLM company, this might one of the more interesting opportunities that they have to offer.

Essentially, when someone decides to work with Homemade Gourmet, they are not an employee; instead they are a distributor, and, as such, they will purchase a distributor kit and then use that to sell Homemade Gourmet products. While Homemade Gourmet provides a very loose work structure for distributors, this can be ideal for the person who is looking to work precisely when they choose to.

As a Homemade Gourmet representative, you will give presentations at homes, conferences and work places and show off the different recipes and ready made food that can be regularly ordered. One of the best reasons to get involved with Homemade Gourmet is that allows you to do a great deal of socialization and to really talk with people and address their needs. For people who are naturally gregarious, this is an excellent opportunity and for people who are a bit more shy, this can be a great way to climb out of their shell.

Homemade Gourmet has many people who are excellent distributors but prior to working for the company have never made a sale in their lives. With experience comes grace, and you will realize that this is something that will soon become second nature if you work at it. This position is well suited to someone who has already used Homemade Gourmet and enjoys it a great deal; remember that when selling something, passion is very important. Homemade Gourmet has a great deal to offer, so do some investigating and see if this opportunity is for you!

Brian Garvin and Jeff West are the owners of http://www.joinbrianandjeff.com . This website specializes in showing small and medium sized business owners the techniques and pitfalls regarding what it takes to make true, long-term, walk-away residual income. Free Insider Report!

Homemade Food Gift Baskets - Created By You

Gifts of food are welcomed and appreciated for all holidays and special occasions. It can be a basket of homemade goodies or it can be a more elaborate gift basket containing gourmet foods and a bottle of wine.

Wicker baskets are traditional containers, but there are many other containers that are suitable. Unbreakable containers like wooden crates, trays with an edge, basins, tubs, and ice buckets are good alternatives. Since theme gift baskets are very popular, here are three of my favorite themes when making a food gift basket.

Cookie Lover's Theme

This is a gift for anyone who loves sweets. It's a good idea for work associates and teachers as well as family and friends. A cookie jar, mixing bowl, or a basket are all nice containers. Line the container with a decorative towel, purchased shred, or tissue paper. Fill it with an assortment of cookies wrapped in small cello bags, purchased cookie mixes, chocolate chips, herbal tea, gourmet coffee, or envelopes of hot chocolate mix. Add a wooden spoon, spatula, and your favorite cookie recipes written on recipe cards. Wrap the completed gift in a cello bag, tied at the top with curly ribbon. If desired, tie a decorative cookie cutter in with the ribbon and add a gift card.

Barbecue Theme

This is a particularly nice idea for men on Father's Day, birthdays, or anniversaries. It's also a nice gift to take if you are invited as a guest to a barbecue or housewarming party. Use a container that can double as a cooler such as a metal or plastic basin, tray, or a pail. An unbreakable tray with an edge works well, too. Include gifts items such as bbq tools, an apron, an oven mitt, cookbook, or citronella candles. Barbecue sauces, marinades, rubs, hot sauce, and cans of soda or beer are all necessary items for a cookout.

Mexican/Southwestern Theme

Anyone who enjoys spicy food would be more than happy to receive an assortment of Mexican food items. The best tip I can gift you in creating this theme gift basket is to make it spicy and make it colorful. Place an assortment of spices, dry or canned beans, rice, bags of chips, and jars of salsa in a basket or a colorful bowl or serving tray. Add some fresh fruit such as avocados, lemons, limes, and pineapple. You may want to add a cookbook for Mexican food or beverages. Line the container with bright colored terry towels and top off your gift basket with some fresh peppers. Don't forget the makings for margaritas.

For assembly information, decorating tips, and unique container ideas for homemade food gift baskets, go to http://www.homemade-gift-basket-ideas.com/

Home-Made Gourmet Pet Food Businesses Are on the Rise!

Pet Owners, i.e. consumers, have become much more educated over the past few years. They are not buying into the same old jargon or packaged foods loaded with preservatives, processed in China, and loaded with harmful dyes.

Pet Products is one of the few industries that has not been affected by the economy. Pet foods and Pet supplies are a well over 16.9 Billion Dollar Industry. That was the overall stats in 2008! So where do you think that number is now? Large Pet Food Manufacturers are counting on consumers continuing to buy their new packaging, their claims to All Natural Ingredients, with little to No Change in the Actual Contents. These same Manufacturers are still having the processing done with dangerous elements developed in China!

Unknowingly, most pet owners do not realize that "Regulations" Allow Pet Food Manufacturers to Directly Lie to Consumers! They are not held "Responsible" for the products they are putting on the consumer to feed their pets. The biggest change that will affect these large corporations is the simple fact that pet owners are becoming intelligent - they want safe, healthy products for their pets. These pet food manufacturers have lost the trust of the consumer - period!

Owners are constantly on the lookout for treats that are not only tasty but high in nutritional value. Home-made treats consisting of high quality ingredients are in high demand. Ingredients that you yourself use in your own recipes! That said, more and more entrepreneurs are starting to take notice of this exciting niche.

I do believe this is the time for anyone looking for an extremely lucrative business opportunity to check out pet foods and treats! Consumers are looking for pure, natural, safe foods to serve their pets from people they can trust. Starting a home-made, gourmet food or treat business could well be the place to be now!

If you are interested in starting this kind of business and willing learn Step by Step - the How To(s), this could be a great opportunity for you. Add in a touch of a little creativity and love for pets - I believe this could be an amazing niche waiting to be grabbed!

I am Ellen Thorp, the author of various marketing and affiliate marketing articles and posts on my Marketing Blog. I also author 4 other blog sites covering topics from Book Reviews to a blog on Pets where I offer some insight and information on various animals and our pets. My Thoughts is a blog devoted totally to short stories and poems.

If you would like to learn more about me and Home-made Gourmet Dog Treats as a business opportunity, visit my site http://ellenthorp.com for more information. To Your Success, Ellen Thorp

How to Make Homemade Yogurt

Full of live, active bacteria, yogurt is one of the most healthy things a home cook can make—no chemistry PhD needed.

“Making yogurt is all about getting two ingredients—a starter culture and milk—to interact in the right way,” says Ron Marks. A trained chef, Marks is the founder of AtlantaFresh Artisan Creamery, a company that recently began selling its thick, Greek-style yogurts throughout the South. Marks explains that a starter culture is a mixture of live, active bacteria that consume lactose, producing lactic acid (which creates a tangy flavor) as it transforms milk into yogurt. The trickiest part of the yogurt-making process is making sure that the cultured milk stays at the right temperature, between 105 and 110 degrees Fahrenheit. An electric yogurt maker simplifies the task, but you can improvise by setting the cultured milk near a warm radiator, in a slow cooker or even in an oven. After that, it’s just a matter of time—anywhere from five to 18 hours. Here, Marks provides two options for making yogurt at home and shares several of his favorite toppings.

This recipe adds live, active bacteria to milk by using either store-bought yogurt or, for the best result, powdered yogurt culture.

“High-quality milk that isn’t ultra-pasteurized will produce a better, more complex-tasting yogurt,” Ron Marks says.

“A pH meter can be your best friend,” says Marks. He suggests one from Hanna Instruments ($30; amazon.com).

In a bowl, stir together 1 cup yogurt with 4 tablespoons warmed wildflower honey.

Another idea for yogurt: Gail Simmons braises merguez and chickpeas in chicken stock and tops the dish with harissa-spiced Greek yogurt and mint.

How to make delicious homemade yogurt. Photo © John Kernick.

View the original article here

How to Personalize a Homemade Food Gift Basket

Gifts of food can be given to anyone for holidays or other special occasions. These gifts will be appreciated by family, friends, coworkers, or anyone else on your gift list. Creating your own food gift basket can be a very special gift as you can personalized it with favorite candy, cookies, wine, or other food or beverage items.

When selecting foods to place in your gift basket, make sure they are fresh and check any expiration dates. It's difficult to include foods that are perishable and require refrigeration, so keep that in mind when you are choosing items to place in a food gift basket. Fresh fruits and vegetables are wonderful items because they are inexpensive, colorful, and readily available. However, it's better if you choose fruits that are not yet ripe; oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruits, and apples are good choices because they are more hearty.

In addition to wicker baskets, there are many other containers to choose from. Unbreakable bowls are appropriate for most food themes and it is easy to assemble your gifts in bowls. If you are trying to stay within a budget, shop at your local discount or dollar store. My local dollar store has a nice variety of large plastic bowls and serving trays that are sturdy and attractive. If you decide to use a serving tray, choose one with sides as the assembly will be easier.

Breakfast Basket:

This make a great gift for a hostess when you are an overnight guest, or as a housewarming, anniversary or wedding gift. It's also a nice gift idea for a large family.

Choose a wicker tray or basket with handles as it will be easier to work with than one without handles. Fill the container with shredded brown paper, straw, or purchased shred. If desired, add a couple of rolled napkins. Select food items that one would eat or drink for breakfast; herbal tea, coffee or coffee beans, small bag or box of pancake mix, bottle of maple syrup, jams, jellies, and a small jar of honey for the tea drinkers. If there are small children in the family, include several serving size boxes of dry cereal. Add several fresh oranges or grapefruits and a couple of lemons. Since an overflowing gift basket looks better than a sparse one, fill in any empty spaces with colorful silk flowers or greenery. A nice decorative touch is to include a wooden spoon or a wire whisk tied with curly ribbon or a bow.

Pizza Basket:

Create this gift basket for a student going away to college or anyone setting up their first home.

Use a pizza pan or pizza stone as a container to hold the food items. Place several red checkered napkins or tea towels on the pan or stone to help position and anchor the other items. Include gifts such as pizza dough mix, pizza sauce, Italian seasoning, garlic powder or a bulb of fresh garlic, red pepper flakes, a small bottle of olive oil, grating cheese, a cheese grater, and a pizza cutter. If you prefer an easier method, use a wicker basket instead of the pizza stone or pan.

Asian Food Basket:

Make this gift basket for anyone who enjoys Chinese food. It is also a great gift for a bridal shower or wedding.

Use a wok or bamboo steamer as the container and fill it with the makings of delicious Asian cuisine: soy sauce, sesame oil, rice wine vinegar, fresh ginger, ginger grater, a bulb of garlic, cornstarch, Asian noodles, duck sauce, a stir fry spatula, and a cookbook. Tie curly ribbon or raffia around several sets of chopsticks and position them throughout the basket. Don't forget to add some fortune cookies.

After you have completed your food gift basket, you may want to place it in a cello bag or wrap it in cello paper; the bags are much easier to work with. This will help in transporting your gift basket and keep it dust free. If you choose to use cello, you can place ribbon or other decorative items before placing the basket in the bag, on the outside of the cello wrapped basket, or both. A nice idea is to place a decorative item amongst the food items before placing it the cello. You will need to use ribbon or raffia to tie the bag closed above the basket. It looks really nice if you allow curly ribbon or steamers to cascade down the front of the completed basket.

Janet Vogel is the owner of Homemade Gift Basket Ideas where you will find additional info regarding making a Food Gift Basket as well as Italian Gift Baskets and Pizza Gift Baskets.

Tips For Creating A Homemade Gourmet Gift Basket

A gift basket filled with gourmet food items can be a practical gift as well as delicious. And, if you make it yourself, you can personalize it with gifts of the recipient's favorite foods. Gourmet foods are special foods and a wonderful way to celebrate a holiday or special occasion.

Selecting the Basket:

When selecting an empty basket for your food gifts, choose a size that is appropriate for the number of people for whom you are making the gift. For example, you can make a small gourmet basket for an individual or for a couple, or a larger one for a group of people or for an entire family. If you already have a nearly new basket you would like to use, simply give it a quick refresher by swishing it in hot, soapy water, rinsing it with clear water to remove any fragrance from the soap, and allow the basket to thoroughly air dry.

Preparing the Basket:

The most attractive gift basket looks overflowing. Before arranging the food items in the basket, place plenty of filler materials in the basket so that the gifts show above the basket. If your basket is on the deep side, place a piece of foam in the bottom first. Shredded brown paper or newspaper as well as purchased colorful shred or straw are all attractive fillers. If you have empty spaces after you have placed all the gift items, place small bunches of the shredded materials in these spaces.

Choosing the Contents:

A variety of gourmet meats such as pepperoni, salami, and a small canned ham are regularly used in gourmet food gift baskets. You may also want to include canned seafood products like crabmeat, clams, and sardines. It's a nice touch to add a dry mix for making a dip using the canned seafood. As assortment of cheese wedges, cheese spreads, gourmet crackers, bread sticks along with a small cheese board with a cheese knife or spreader are readily available and easy to place in the gift basket. Green and black olives, spicy mustard, pickled onions, roasted peppers, and appetizers in jars are nice accompaniments to the meats and cheeses. Include something sweet for dessert, such as cookies, chocolate covered mints, or anything with chocolate.

Top off your contents with a selection of beverages: a bottle of wine or non-alcoholic sparkling cider as well as gourmet coffee and herbal tea. If you plan to include a bottle of wine or sparkling cider in your gift basket, choose an empty basket with a sturdy handle so you can anchor the bottle by tying the neck of the bottle to the basket handle using twine or cord.

Decorative Touches:
Add small bunches of fresh red or green grapes at the last minute so they remain fresh.
Scatter colorful Hershey's Kisses amongst the gifts.
Add a fruit, wine, or chocolate scented candle. (Note: Some non-food fragrances might seep into the food.)
If desired, place your finished gourmet gift basket in a cello bag. Close the bag at the top with curly ribbon with plenty of ribbon so it cascades down the front of the gift basket. You can tie silk flowers or a satin bow in with the ribbon.
Don't forget to include a gift card.

About the Author: Janet Vogel is the owner of Homemade Gift Basket Ideas where you can find more information about Homemade Gourmet Gift Baskets as well as over 50 other gift basket themes.