How to Cook Fantastic Food

Cooking pinto beans is a simple process, and makes for a wonderful side or main dish. Learning how to cook pinto beans is equally easy and it's also kinda fun!

You will need the following ingredients:
- 1 pound dry pinto beans
- 8 cups of water
- 2 smoked pork hocks
- 2 tablespoons worcestershire sauce
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 or 2 Jalapenos, seeded and chopped
- 2 or 3 dashes hot pepper sauce

Boil the beans and 4 cups of water and simmer for 2 minutes. Cover and let stand for 1 hour. Drain and rinse beans, return to pot. Add 4 cups of water and all other ingredients and stir. Bring to boil, cover and simmer for 2 1/2 hours adding more water if needed. Remove the meat on the pork hocks and stir into the beans.

Pinto beans are high in fiber and help control cholesterol. Whether your are having hamburgers or tacos, this dish will perk up any meal. Your random trivia for the day: The word "pinto" is Spanish for "Speckled".

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If you are looking for a sweet and savory vegetable, consider preparing beetroot. Before preparing beetroot, make sure it is firm and free from mold. Purchase beetroot that still has the stems and leaves attached. Here is a simple recipe that shows you how to cook beetroot.

Before you begin cooking beetroot, remove all the stems and leaves. Fill a large pan full of water and bring to a boil. After the water has begun to boil, add the beetroots. Allow the beetroots to boil for one hour. Keep an eye on the pan to avoid burned or dried out beetroots. After the beetroot is soft, remove the skin and place back into the pan. Add salt, butter and pepper to taste. Heat thoroughly. The beetroots are now ready to enjoy.

Beetroot makes a great side dish for any meal. Consider serving with rice, chicken or in a salad. Not only is beetroot delicious, it is also beneficial to your health. Eating beetroot can help your body ward off heart disease. Beetroot can also help with stress related disorders.

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Do you know how to cook beans? If your bean recipe goes like this: Open can, heat, eat; then let me tell you right now how to cook beans people will rave about with this easy recipe:

You will need the following ingredients:
- 2 cans Bush Original Baked Beans
- 8 pieces bacon cut in half
- 1 medium onion (diced)
- 1/2 cup brown sugar

First, cook bacon in saucepan, remove and set aside, saving a bit of the grease in the pan. Cook the onions in the bacon grease until tender. Add beans and brown sugar to the pan, mixing thoroughly. Transfer to oven dish, place bacon strips on top of mixture and bake at 350 for an hour and a half.

Beans have many health benefits, including antioxidant properties and fiber content . Experiment with the many variations and healthier bean recipes as well, like red beans and rice with a glass of milk; simple and divine!

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The phrase "brussel sprouts" used to send evil chills up my spine when I was a kid. Since then I've discovered numerous creative ways how to cook brussel sprouts that would please even the toughest of critics. I guess some foods your taste buds just need a chance to grow into. One of my favorite dishes is called "Mediterranean Brussels Sprouts" and it's one of the easiest and most delicious ways I know of how to cook brussel sprouts.

You will need the following ingredients:
- 1 pound Brussels Sprouts, ends trimmed and yellow leaves removed
- 2 Garlic Cloves, crushed
- 3 TBS Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 2 TBS Dijon Mustard
- 1 TBS Parsley, minced
- Sea Salt and Black Pepper to taste

To make the Mediterranean Dressing, in a small bowl combine extra virgin olive oil, dijon mustard and parsley. Mix well and set aside. Fill a medium sized pot with about 2 inches of water, place vegetable steamer in pot and heat on medium-high. While water is heating, quarter the trimmed Brussels sprouts and let sit for 5 minutes. Once the water has reached a boil, steam Brussels sprouts for 5 minutes. Add the garlic for the last 2 minutes. Remove Brussels sprouts and garlic from pot and toss with Mediterranean dressing while still hot. Season with sea salt and fresh black pepper to taste. Serve immediately.

Brussels sprouts are best served with fresh grilled Salmon. Many health benefits come from eating a diet which includes Brussels sprouts , such as cholesterol-lowering cancer prevention.

Note: the correct phrase is actually "Brussels sprouts" as opposed to "brussel sprouts" but since most people know them as the latter, I figured I'd fall in line. Who am I to fight with tradition?

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Cooking acorn squash is so easy that the hardest part of cooking acorn squash may be cutting it in half. Learning how to cook acorn squash is easy.

A sharp knife should be used to cut this squash because the skin is very thick and difficult to cut. The seeds should be scooped out and roasted in the oven for 20 minuets at 350 degrees. When roasted, the seeds can be salted and they taste a lot like pumpkin seeds and make a great snack.

Squash is wonderful when roasted in the oven. A pat of butter and a tablespoon of brown sugar placed in the hollow before cooking will create a great tasting side dish when baked in the oven for one hour at 350 degrees. Place in a shallow baking dish with one half cup of water in the bottom. This will prevent the squash from sticking. Try eating more of this delicious vegetable that has also been reported to prevent spikes in blood sugar and prevent cancer.

Acorn squash is one of the most nutrient rich vegetables available. It is rich in beta carotene, has 145% or the daily requirements of vitamin A in one cup and is rich in many other antioxidants. This squash is often over looked because many people do not know how to cook acorn squash. Because of the many health benefits, it should be incorporated into our diets more often.

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Black beans are a fantastic way to spice up many dishes, especially your Spanish dishes . Many people simply don't use black beans because they don't know how to cook with black beans. Instead of purchasing a can of precooked refried beans you can make your very own at home. You will need a manual potato masher for this recipe.

You will need the following ingredients:
- One can of black beans, rinsed
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1/2 tsp fresh ground black pepper
- 3 tbs. butter
- 1/2 small onion, finely chopped
- 1 tsp. minced garlic

First add the butter to a medium sized sauce pan set on medium-low heat. When the butter is melted you will then add your chopped onion, minced garlic and salt. Once the garlic and onions have had time to properly sweat you will add your black beans and pepper. Let the beans saute in the sauce for roughly 5 mins before taking the potato masher to them. Blend and mash the beans until you achieve the consistency you desire.

Serve on tacos, burritos or even on nachos!

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The thought of trying to cook healthy foods can sometimes be overwhelming. Broccoli contains many health benefits such as vitamin C, folic acid, calcium, potasium and is also rich in fiber. This will show you with easy steps, how to cook broccoli in the microwave for a quick and healthy side dish.

First, wash the broccoli in cool water. Trim the florets off the stem (cut them in half if they are large in size). Place florets in microwave safe dish in a single layer. Season as desired (lemon and garlic add great flavor). Add a tablespoon of water per half lb. of broccoli. Making sure to leave a small vent in the corner, cover the dish with cling wrap. Microwave on high 3-4 minutes depending on how tender you wish the broccoli to be, but be sure to not overcook

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If you're looking for the best set of instructions for how to cook asparagus look no further! The easiest way to cook asparagus is just to boil in water for approximately 10 - 15 minutes and then top with salt, pepper, and butter.

However, if you'd like an easy and exciting new recipe, try Sauteed Garlic Asparagus. It's a simple and delicious twist on plain asparagus that will be sure to please. This recipe is best prepared with one bundle of fresh asparagus. However, in a pinch, one bag of frozen asparagus that has been previously thawed will work.

To prepare, melt three tablespoons of butter in a saucepan over medium to high heat. Add three chopped cloves of garlic and asparagus and saute for about ten minutes or until desired tenderness making sure to stir occasionally.

Asparagus has been described as difficult to pair wines with. However, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, and Pinot Gris have been recommended. If pairing asparagus with meat, pair wine according to the meat as well. Asparagus will make a great compliment to most meat dishes.

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