Cooking Blog

Sweet Potatoes also called Yams

Sweet potato is a staple that is grown here in Jamaica as well as several other countries in the world. It was one of those root crops grown by the Arawak Indians who inhabited the Island at the time when Christopher Columbus first set foot on the island. There are several varieties of the staple presently grown here. The three most commonly grown ones are white, yellow or deep orange when cooked.

Sweet potatoes are extremely versatile; as such they are consumed in many ways. The potato can be eaten by simply peeling away the skin and boiling with a pinch of salt. It can be diced, boiled and used to make a sweet potato salad or it can be added to soup to help enhance the flavour, in the meantime adding body to the soup.

Another very popular way to use the sweet potato is to make a ‘candied’ dish. In fact this is a holiday delight for most families. The sweet potato could also be blanched, that is after peeling and putting the slices in a pot of boiling water for about 5 minutes, they are quickly removed and paced in some cold water. These blanched pieces of sweet potato having been properly drained can be fried lightly.

Sweet potatoes can be baked as a whole. Usually, a really large size potato is ideal for baking. After peeling the baked potato, it could be eaten as is or by adding a little butter.

To be used as a snack the sweet potato could be peeled, sliced thinly and deep fried. Sweet potato chips are delectable and are always a welcome treat included in family gatherings, business meetings and any other social event.

Added to all the uses mentioned above is the sweet potato pudding. This is a pastry enjoyed in Jamaica, and a number of the islands in the Caribbean. Unlike the other uses of the sweet potato in the ideas previously advanced; in making the sweet potato pudding, the potato is not cooked, Instead it is peeled and grated.

Like most things there are several variations of the sweet potato pudding. Among these are, sweet potato with yellow yam and cornmeal, sweet potato with cornmeal and flour, or sweet potato with coco. The real delight about the pudding is the combination of creamy coconut milk, with sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla with the grated sweet potato. The actual baking is no less delightful as the aroma which fills the air surely triggers all the excitement needed to get the taste buds going and the digestive juices in a state of anticipation.

Sweet potato pudding is a mouthwatering delight served in restaurants, sold in corner shops, school canteens, and dozen of pastry shops. For a recipes using the potato visit www.mouthwatering-recipes.com

Guest Contributor: Maureen E. Swaby-Samuels of http://www.mouthwatering-recipes.com

Evolution of Cupcake Wraps and Decorations for Cupcakes

I remember when I was younger, my grandmother would always have a cute little cupcake waiting for me and she would lay out all of the decorations for cupcakes and let me decorate them when I arrived. My family get-together almost always ended up with white cupcakes, decked with lots of chocolate icing and sprinkles on top, as desserts. Today, the cupcake has evolved from the usual white cake flavor to the more elaborate forms, such as red velvet cupcakes, carrot cake cupcakes and many, many more.

While the housing and the flavor of the cupcakes have improved over the years, so have the accessories used in cupcake preparation and decoration-some new found, and some improved. These cupcake accessories have made the cupcake more interesting to cook and decorate.

Cupcake Wraps and Liners

Cupcake wraps and liners or round sheets of thin paper, such as parchment paper, are used to provide a thin barrier between the cake and the cupcake pan. The job of a cupcake liner is to keep the cupcakes moist and soft and also make it easier to remove the cupcakes from the pan after they have finished cooking and cooling.

White paper used to be the main style of cupcake liner available. Eventually manufacturers came out with plain colored cupcake liners that you could purchase for events such as birthday’s and anniversaries. A couple of years later, colorful paper liners with designs that match your party theme were made available. If it’s Spiderman or Hello Kitty you want, finding the paper liner that fits your needs is no longer a problem.

Not only have the cupcake liners evolved into works of art, the big trend is to now wrap your cooked and decorated cupcake with cupcake wraps. Cupcake wraps are the new chic in the cupcake industry. Cupcake wraps are easy to handle and can make even the most novice bakers’ cupcake look like a designer cupcake out of a couture cupcake shop.

Cupcake Towers

Cupcakes used to be baked and placed on a platter or maybe even a cake plate for display. They weren’t displayed long in my house, as I remember as soon as they were baked, they were eaten. There was no time for fancy decorations and displays.

Nowadays, cupcakes are the centerpiece of the dessert table for many events. In fact, the latest trend in weddings is cupcake wedding cakes. Cupcake trees and cupcake towers are being used as wedding cupcake stands in order to display hundreds of elegantly decorated cupcakes replacing the traditional wedding cake in many weddings today. The guests of the party can even take their own cupcake home with them in specially made cupcake containers.

Depending on how large the event may be, cupcake towers can have 3 to 7 tiers at an average. Most of them can be easily taken down, washed and stored for future use while others are disposable so the host doesn’t have to worry about cleaning the cupcake tower and storing after the party. The disposable towers are usually cheaper than the reusable ones; however, if you plan on having several events during the year, it would be beneficial to invest in a little higher priced, reusable tower that would really save you money in the long run.

Conclusion:

Cupcakes have always held a place in my heart and remind me of the simple things in life I enjoy. With that said, cupcake accessories available on the market, make simple things, a little more enjoyable.

There are many places to get ideas for cupcakes online. You can find an online cupcake store or cupcake blog that will have information about baby shower cupcake ideas, novelty birthday cakes and decorations for cupcakes.

Guest Contributor: Dana March of http://www.cupcakesuppliesonline.com

Dr. Marc Halpern, Director of the California College of Ayurveda, interviews with host of "Physician of the Soul," Gabriel Cousens, M.D., on

"Ayurveda for a Whole Life"

Shares an Upbeat and Informative Hour on the Ancient and Modern Art

TIME: 10am-11am PST  (1 p.m. Eastern)
and Archived in Case You Miss It!
DATE: Friday, December 1, 2006
HOW: Listen FREE on www.WorldTalkRadio.com

Host of Physician of the Soul is Gabriel Cousens, M.D., M.D.(H), Diplomate of Ayurveda, Dip. American Board of Holistic Medicine, who is the founder and director of the Tree of Lief Rejuvenation Center and the author of "Spiritual Nutrition" and "Conscious Eating."  Physician of the Soul is broadcast weekly from the Tree of Life Rejuvenation Center on different topics for an inspired whole life.

Dr. Marc Halpern, Director of the California College of Ayurveda, interviews with host of "Physician of the Soul," Gabriel Cousens, M.D., on

"Ayurveda for a Whole Life"

Shares an Upbeat and Informative Hour on the Ancient and Modern Art

TIME: 10am-11am PST  (1 p.m. Eastern)
and Archived in Case You Miss It!
DATE: Friday, December 1, 2006
HOW: Listen FREE on www.WorldTalkRadio.com

Host of Physician of the Soul is Gabriel Cousens, M.D., M.D.(H), Diplomate of Ayurveda, Dip. American Board of Holistic Medicine, who is the founder and director of the Tree of Lief Rejuvenation Center and the author of "Spiritual Nutrition" and "Conscious Eating."  Physician of the Soul is broadcast weekly from the Tree of Life Rejuvenation Center on different topics for an inspired whole life.

Dr. Marc Halpern, Director of the California College of Ayurveda, interviews with host of "Physician of the Soul," Gabriel Cousens, M.D., on

"Ayurveda for a Whole Life"

Shares an Upbeat and Informative Hour on the Ancient and Modern Art

TIME: 10am-11am PST  (1 p.m. Eastern)
and Archived in Case You Miss It!
DATE: Friday, December 1, 2006
HOW: Listen FREE on www.WorldTalkRadio.com

Host of Physician of the Soul is Gabriel Cousens, M.D., M.D.(H), Diplomate of Ayurveda, Dip. American Board of Holistic Medicine, who is the founder and director of the Tree of Lief Rejuvenation Center and the author of "Spiritual Nutrition" and "Conscious Eating."  Physician of the Soul is broadcast weekly from the Tree of Life Rejuvenation Center on different topics for an inspired whole life.