The Recipe Man

We’ve all been there. Working under pressure to meet a deadline is a very stressful place to be. It’s also very motivating too – there is nothing like a deadline to focus your mind and get you working to capacity. But stop! We know the temptation is to press on and work constantly, but unless you stop for regular breaks you will find that the quality of your work significantly decreases.

It has been scientifically proven that the human mind can only concentrate to its full ability for around 45 minutes at a time. So if you have been working flat out for 8 hours in a row then what do you expect to happen? Your work will suffer as a result and you won’t get the satisfaction you’re looking for. Here are just some of the reasons you need a break. Why don’t you go and get yourself a coffee while you’re reading this?!

Socialising

Every human being needs interaction with other human beings. By chaining yourself to your desk for hours on end you are cutting yourself off from other people. Chatting with colleagues and friends can be hugely beneficial to your work’s final outcome. You can bounce ideas off them, and they can help you see things from different angles. And if you don’t want to talk about work then a quick chat about the weather or something else completely disassociated with work will help you come back to it fresh.

A Change of Scenery

We all need stimulation and you’re not going to get a whole load of it sitting in front of a computer. How about grabbing your coat and heading off for a take-out coffee? Take it to a park or a river or whichever place you feel inspired in and take a minute to soak up your new environment. Nice isn’t it? Don’t you think you should do it more often? Even a wander through town is enough to get your mind thinking about other things. You will come back to your work invigorated and ready to hit it again with energy.

Nutrition

Ok you’re not going to get a whole load of nutrition from a cup of coffee. But if you grab a snack along the way you will be arming your body with some much-needed refreshment. Going for long periods of time without food is really bad for your body and your brain – you’ll find yourself making silly mistakes that you wouldn’t normally make. A quick sandwich or salad will boost your energy levels and set you up for the next stint of work.

Grabbing a quick cup of coffee is all you need to stay on the ball. Opt for decaffeinated coffee if you are concerned about your caffeine intake – it has all the same benefits without making you jittery. Anything that takes you away from your desk for a few minutes has to be a good thing. Set an alarm if you think you’ll forget – or ask a colleague to give you a nudge from time to time. You’ll be glad you did!

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Jake Tyler is a leading distributor of wholesale coffee beans. A coffee lover to the core, according to him there are few better ways of getting over stress than a quick cup of coffee. A passionate blogger, he write about a variety of issues in his free time.

Australia has more than its fair share of fantastic wines, and in fact it is probably fair to say it produces some of the best that the New World has to offer. It is no slouch on the foodie front either. With more fresh produce than seems possible, there are some truly scrumptious traditional and fusion recipes on offer. When we marry these two heavyweights together, we are faced with a truly knockout selection of dining options. This article looks at some classic restaurant fare and picks the best Australian wine option to wash down the meal with a smile on your face.

Grilled Porterhouse with Hollandaise sauce

A classic steak dish that is fairly simple to reproduce in restaurant quality, just ensure the steaks are proper porterhouse variety and about a couple of inches thick. This will be a perfect match for most Shiraz wines. One of the best is as follows:

• Cat Amongst The Pigeons – Barossa Valley. This is a fairly heavy wine that includes some excellent layering flavours that include blueberry, blackberry and pepper. It is more than a match for the delicious porterhouse main course that it accompanies.

Thai Green Curried Chicken

This delicate yet quite fiery Thai classic dish contains some very complex flavours, due to the mix of coconut milk, coriander and lemon grass. The chicken selected in the restaurant dishes is usually tender breast meat, although the authentic Thailand dish prefers the succulent brown meat. It is suited to a white wine, as most chicken dishes seem to lend themselves to.

• Bay Of Fires Riesling – Northern Tasmania. This aromatic and flowery wine variety displays a high acidity that allows it to sit well with the complex flavours of the Thai green curry dish. The Bay of fires wine is an award winning variety that can stand up to even hotter dishes than this green curry, but is versatile enough to enjoy with this one in particular.

Spanish Paella

A classic rice and seafood based Spanish traditional dish, this can be enjoyed in many Australian fusion restaurants as well as Spanish outlets. It is particularly enjoyable when constructed using fresh seafood and herbs for the golden country. The Spanish influence suggests that we should try one of its countryside cousins when looking at a wine to match this dish. It can be enjoyed with a crisp white wine, a fizzy rose or a sombre red. For such a well-travelled and versatile dish, why not try all three? But not at the same time of course:

• Sandalford Margaret River Rose 2011 – A fuchsia pink award winning wine from Margaret River, this wine brings berry fruits with a natural acidity that provides a refreshing finish. Think about strawberries and cream regarding the nose and you would be pretty spot on. It matches the paella pound for pound and will always leave you asking for more. The Sandalford winery has won many awards and has been in existence for more than half a century.

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Today’s guest post author is Harry William. A wine lover to the core, he has travelled far and wide in search of the best wine. According to him, the Noosa heads resort serves some of the best wine and so often visits the place.

Coffee is a great drink that can pick you up at any time of the day. But were you aware that it has been proven, on many levels, that coffee is actually good for you? In recent times, scientists have run an awful lot of tests on our favourite bean, and some of the results have been nothing short of amazing. This article tips its cap towards caffeine and reveals some of those little known facts.

Coffee Can Make You Clever

We all know that a nice cup of hot coffee will wake almost anybody up in the morning, but it also contains a stimulant that enhances your levels of clear thought. The stimulant is non other than caffeine, and this has been proven to act in a very scientific way when it starts to affect our brain. There is an inhibitory neurotransmitter called Adenosine that has a negative effect on the way that we are able to process our thoughts. Caffeine has the ability to block this nasty little signal and encourages the release of dopamine and norepinephrine. These two neurotransmitters can improve our moods and make us feel somewhat happier than before. Caffeine also improves our reaction times and gives out memory a kick when required.

Coffee Can Reduce The Chances Of Catching Type 2 Diabetes

As you probably are aware, Type 2 diabetes is a life threatening disease that has affected over 300 million people worldwide. The disease usually starts due to high blood sugar levels and this because of an insulin resistance. It has been proven that for each cup of coffee you drink per day, you can reduce the risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes by 7 per cent. In some cases, the patient actually reduced the risk by an amazing 67 per cent.

Coffee Can Be Good For Your Liver

Your liver is an extremely vital organ that has hundreds of important uses to keep your body nice and healthy. If you consume too much alcohol or fructose, you can risk damaging this organ. One of the most common diseases associated with liver damage is called Cirrhosis, usually brought on by excessive alcohol abuse. Drinking coffee has been proven to reduce the chances of developing this disease by as high as 80 per cent. It has also been suggested that drinking coffee can reduce the chance of developing liver cancer by a massive forty per cent.

Coffee Is Packed With Nutrients And Antioxidants

There are many people out there, probably tea drinkers, who believe coffee is just a black sludge. Well it is packed with many good things and people should perhaps take a look at the ingredients before ‘spouting’ off! The coffee bean contains some seriously good stuff and some of this is transferred into your cup. It also contains a huge helping of antioxidants and they can flush a lot of junk out of your system. In fact, did you know that coffee is the biggest source of antioxidants in the Western world?

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Brian King, author of this post, is a blogger and keeps himself up-to-date with the latest in the field of technology. He likes to buy coffee on his way back from work; he finds it to extremely invigorating after a long day at work.

Dying to have a scoop of your favorite ice cream? Is the thought of your expanding waist line and gym trainers pulling you back? If so, then it’s time you let you off the hook and relish a quick dose of sweet temptation with some diet friendly ice creams. Don’t keep yourself away from your refrigerator just because you don’t want to get tempted with delicious ice creams.

Diet friendly ice creams are now available in a wide range of varieties, all of which can satiate your taste buds while adding no extra calories or fats to your diet chart. Here’s a list of 10 diet friendly ice creams which can prove to be useful in those times of longing:

Granita (The Italian Ice)

Just as the name suggests, this healthy mixture of liquid fruit juices and sugar in 4:1 proportion is all high on nutritional values and low on fat content. The continuous stirring during preparation adds to its unique flaky texture.

Fat Free/Sugar Free Fudgesicle

If you cannot subtract chocolate from your dessert, then this is indeed a savior for your diet plan. A single pack of Fat and Sugar free Fudgesicle contains as low as 0.3 grams of fat and 40 calories per serving. What else can appease your diet plan so perfectly?

Snickers Mini Ice Cream

Don’t punish yourself by staying away from those deliciously tempting mini bars, all laced with oodles of golden caramel and tons of nuts. Instead, enjoy a new flavour of snickers by mixing it with frozen ice cream which will not only subtract all those harmful calories from your hearty diet, but also satiate your sweet tooth with the tantalizing flavour.

Choc mint ice cream balls

Ideal for those scorching summer months, the choc mint ice cream balls will provide you the much needed relief from the extensive heat. An ideal combination of vanilla ice cream, dark chocolate and mint sauce makes the ice cream balls an instant hit with the kids as well as all those who’re looking to lose those few extra pounds.

Giant Mint Fudge Ice Cream Sundae Cone

Imagine yourself delving into a chocolate cone flavored with layers of yummy mint ice cream. Yes, that’s correct. Also, what’s unbeatable are the number of the calories you’re in-taking with this inventive ice cream variety. Catering to all those diet freaks out there, this ice cream sundae is going to please you to bits.

Blueberry “Mock” Ice Cream

A Yoplait Light Blueberry 100 calorie pack combined with banana and some blueberries create an astonishingly delightful flavour. It is easy to prepare, delicious to eat and restrained on its calorie quotient at the same time.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Ice Cream Cake

Peanut butter is naturally low on fat content and provides the best compensation for cream milk. This mixture is fused with a delectable, chocolate flavor and gives the other traditional desserts a run for their money.

Soft-Serve Banana ‘Ice Cream’

The softness of frozen banana yields nothing but magic when given a twist in the food processor. The best part is its easy and quick preparation; the absence of preservatives adds to the charm of the sweet concoction.

Watermelon pops

The fresh zeal of watermelon, a dose of lemon and a dab of honey create one of the juiciest desserts you might have ever tasted. The combo of sweet and sour ingredients makes it exotic, unique and extremely delicious.

Creamsicle Orange & Raspberry Ice Cream Bars

Ice cream bars have always catered to our childish fantasies, especially, if they are available in a variety of delectable flavors. The ideal combination of fruit sherbet and vanilla ice cream will keep those tongues wagging and those fingers licking with every bite.

The above list proves to be a perfect idea to set up your own ice cream franchise for those diet conscious ice cream lovers.

Stanley Cooper has always dreamed of owning his own ice cream franchise. He is studying the ins and outs of the business before taking the plunge and pursuing his childhood dream.

At the risk of sounding like a total slob, I make this confident proclamation- I love Pizza. Not in a way where that’s the only thing my system is familiar with, but maybe in the have-it-when-I’m-bored or I-love-calories way or even in an around-the world-in-80 pizzas way. I also love a little bit of weirdness (who doesn’t?). It adds that slight thrill to the daily torturous monotony of life. Which got me thinking, pizza and weird makes an interesting and a well-tested combination. Which got me thinking, why not try and find some of the weirdest pizza combinations mankind has to offer? Which got me thinking, are these even palatable? Only time and a true test of bravery will tell. But, well, a little bit of knowledge (and subsequent shock) never really hurt anyone.

Fried Egg Pizza:

Just one simple question- “How?” sent my eyebrows rising to record breaking heights. Am I impressed? Or disgusted? I can’t say. But, I can say, I’m intrigued. How will the yolk feel flowing over the crust? Will we have yolk-stuffed crust pizza next? I’m shuffling between curiosity and a bit of disgust.

Squid Ink Pizza:

You have to be a sea-man or an ink-lover of a whole new level to be able to digest this pizza.  Who even thought of this? And why?! What pleasure does tasting squid poo bring? Oh, the mysteries of the sea!

Scorpion Mini Pizza:

Before your jaws drop to the other end of this planet, let me tell you, scorpion pizza is a tried and tested and much famed delicacy in most countries around the world. Who would’ve thought, right? But yes, they come roasted or fried- your choice! This is sure some gastric daredevilry.

Worm Pizza:

Yes, I cringed as I wrote this. Let’s just take a minute or so to get some air and courage. But apparently this sentiment isn’t echoed by all. Conceptualized by Alexis Chambon, he’s known for his bug-inspired pizza too.

Chocolate and Marshmallow Pizza:

The instant image to flash before our eyes would be that of us as kids huddled around the campfire on those cold camping nights roasting those s’mores. And yes, we all smiled at the fondness of that memory. But chocolates AND marshmallows AND pizza? The memory won’t be so fond when the stomach goes on a rollercoaster ride and you’re puking your guts out like nobody’s business!

Happy Meal Pizza:

McDonald’s fans, rejoice! Your heaven is here. Loaded with the renowned fat kid snacks and then smothered in cheese. For the sake of convenience, let’s just rename this as the “Cholesterol Pizza”.

Wine, Grape and Pickle Pizza:

On their own, I love all three. But to try the same on a pizza, altogether, at the same time, it sounds like an adventure of sorts!  This pizza comes with generous amounts of gorgonzola cheese, port wine and scattered with grapes. The variance in flavors is bound to create something absolutely interesting. Plus, when has any food doused with alcohol ever failed?

Cookie Crust Pizza:

To imagine a cookie-crusted pizza, is something else altogether. But to imagine cookie crusted pizza topped with shrimp and potato is some rocket science. Though this seems like nothing out of the ordinary for a normal Asian pizza, it has managed to touch the stomachs of many. Apart from the already mentioned quirky combinations, the pizza comes sprinkled with sunflower and pumpkin seeds and raisins. And to take this quirkiness to a whole new level, the pizza comes with blueberry dipping sauce too. What can I say, I’m tempted.

For safety’s sake, I recommend the purchase of one important thing, before the purchase of any of these pizzas- Health Insurance!

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Phil Hughes is a foodie and loves trying out new dishes whenever he’s travelling. He specially enjoys the seafood restaurants in Nashville, TN. When he is not busy laying his hand on new dishes, he writes articles on them.

You know that lovely smell that you experience as you walk past a bakery in the early morning? It is the aroma of heavenly pastries and fresh bread wafting under your nose. Can you imagine being part of that routine on a daily basis? Some people are talented in the kitchen and others are not as fortunate. If you like nothing better than getting your apron on and kneading some tender dough, then why not think about making it your new career?  It is a fantastic career option, because people will always want fresh bread and gorgeous cakes. Not many people are lucky enough to transfer their hobby and passion into something that pays real money. Please read this article if you think that you may be cut out for a life as a baker.

No Pipedreams

Before you make any serious moves, you need to think seriously and level headedly about this line of work. You may well enjoy spending a few afternoons a week in your own kitchen, making gingerbread men and the odd fruitcake, but this is a little more hardcore. In your kitchen, you are the boss, and you can take as many tea breaks as you wish. When you begin work as a trainee baker, because that is what you will be, there will be a chain of command to follow. Eight or ten hours in a commercial kitchen or bakery, constitutes a lot of hard work and following orders.

Personal attributes

You will need to be able to tick the following boxes before signing on the flour dotted line:

• Physical Fitness – You will need to be able to handle large bags of ingredients, lift heavy equipment and all in a pretty warm environment.
• An eye for details – There are very specific ingredients and recipes to take into consideration, any lack of quality will not be tolerated.
• Hard work ethic – You will have to get up really early and be able to work for at least eight hours on your feet, not for the fainthearted.

What Type Of Baker?

Baking is a very general term and it covers a varied career path. You may wish to work for a small locally owned baking operation, or perhaps you would prefer working for a fancy restaurant or large hotel? Once you have qualified, you will probably have a better idea to what suits you.

Training

 Take a look at your local further education organization and see what catering courses they have on offer. They should have something that will suit you, also speak to some bakeries and restaurants and ask what qualifications they usually place a premium on when hiring new staff. Once you have started your desired course, you can see if any local companies are interested in giving you a part time or weekend job. This way you can get the best of both worlds, just don’t lie about your experience and let them know you are currently on a course. You may well get a permanent job offer after you have gained your qualifications.

Sue Carter is a foodie and a cake supplier based in Sydney.She loves to blog about cake recipes and has also done many food shows on television.

Food poisoning is no laughing matter and it can strike within minutes of you being infected. If you run a food related business and are directly connected to a food poisoning incident, it can have catastrophic repercussions. There are some basic guidelines that should always be adhered to if you are to avoid such issues. Here we look at the simple, yet effective ways in which you can ensure your staff are not passing on any extra risks during their food handling and preparation.

Staff Hygiene Standards

You staff that are charged with the responsibility of preparing your food must follow a strict set of guidelines in order to ensure that your food remains hygienic. Any contamination will soon spread into your foodstuffs and cause havoc for your business and customers.

Hand Washing

It is absolutely imperative that all of your staff have clean hands at all times whilst they are on food handling duties. Washing your hands is not an overly technical operation, but it should be taken seriously and certain steps followed at all times:

Have a supply of warm running water at the ready.

Use only antibacterial soap for ultimate hygienic experience.

Wet your hands using the warm water.

Apply the antibacterial soap liberally to your hands.

Rub both of your palms together about five times.

Apply the soap to the backs of your hands.

Use your fingers first and slide your palms together again about five times.

Interlock your fingers and rub their backs with your fingertips.

Rub both of your palms using your fingertips.

Rinse your hands under running water and use a hand towel to dry thoroughly.

Now your staff’s hands are clean, and really clean, but you will need to ensure that they follow this procedure frequently:

Before they begin work.

Before they start to handle the food products.

After handling raw food and before handing cooked foods.

After visiting the bathroom.

After dealing with waste products.

After sneezing

After handling money

After smoking a cigarette

This is by no means an exhaustive list, but it gives an indication of the intense regime that you need to follow regarding cleaning hands. Common sense becomes a big part of the food worker’s daily routine.

Hygiene No No’s

As we mentioned before, common sense plays a big part in the daily procedures of a food handler, here are some other taboo activities:

All clothes should be clean and dry when handling food.

Any open wounds or sores need to be covered up with a sanitized plaster or bandage.

Do not smoke in the food preparation or storage areas.

Never cough whilst handling food products.

Never wear nail varnish when preparing or handling food items.

If you feel sick, you should report to your supervisor immediately.

You hair should not hang loose and must be clean at all times.

Do not wear any jewellery apart from a wedding band.

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When not obsessing over cooking food, Chris Jackson works at Somers Elite Training, a company that provides the RSA (Responsible Service of Alcohol) training course. In his free time, he likes to blog about the various food satety techniques.

Coconut oil has frequently gotten mixed reviews in the media. While many will extoll its health benefits, including the protection against heart disease and its antioxidant properties, many other will tell you that it is a saturated fat that must be carefully limited within the diet.

No matter which side of the fence you’re on, the reality is that it works well as a substitute for shortening, butter, margarine, or other oils like vegetable oil. There are even cookies designed around coconut oil thanks to the fact that it can make these delicious little sweets a bit healthier.

How Do I Use It?

Coconut oil comes packaged in a canned, solid form, and there are two basic ways to use it in cookies. First, you can create a liquid from the solid stuff you get in a can. A cup of solid coconut oil will become a cup of liquid, so use it in proportion with your normal ratios. You simply dip it out of the can, then melt it over low heat. It needs to cool briefly before you use it. You can also use it in its solid state, but remember that it will only stay solid at a temperature of below 76 degrees. If you need a substitute for butter or shortening, this is a good time to use coconut oil in its solid form, particularly if you need to cut it into the flour or other ingredients.

Where Can I Get It?

Not sure where to get it? Depending on what part of the country you live in, you may need to do a bit of searching. In most cases, you can pick it up at a natural foods store. Whole Foods is a good choice if you’re not near a smaller, local provider. If that still doesn’t work out for you, there are a variety of e-tailers who carry it.

Which One Should I Buy?

As you begin to shop for coconut oil, you may see a variety of different packaging that will throw you off. Unrefined, sometimes called virgin, is the best one you can get because so little processing is involved. If you can’t get that, go with expeller-pressed. At all costs, you’ll want to avoid industrial or commercial grade oils, because it will make your cookies taste awful.

Mmmm… Cookies

While you can substitute coconut oil in any of your traditional recipes, you may want to use a cookie recipe specifically made for it as you start to bake with it. Here’s a great one for coconut chocolate chip cookies.

To get started, you’ll need ¾ cup coconut oil measured out as a solid. Melt it, then cool it slightly. You’ll also need a cup of brown sugar, 1/3 cup white sugar, 2 eggs, 2 teaspoons of vanilla, ¼ teaspoon of coconut extract, 2 cups of flour, ½ teaspoon baking soda, ¼ teaspoon salt, 2/3 cup of shredded coconut, and 2/3 cup of chocolate chips.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Mix the coconut oil and sugars together, then let them sit for fifteen minutes. Add the eggs, vanilla, and coconut extract. Make certain you mix them until they’re smooth. Add in ½ cup of your flour, the baking soda, and the salt. Then slowly add in ½ cup of flour at one time. If it feels crumbly, mix it with your hands. Add in the shredded coconut and then of course your chocolate chips. Roll into ½ inch balls, and place them on the baking sheet. Bake for 7 – 8 minutes, then pull off the cookie sheet to a wire rack to cool fully.

Coconut oil can make all of your cookie recipes taste amazing. Start experimenting, and introduce coconut oil to your life today.

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Betty Ann Sherman is a writer who enjoys baking and sharing recipes. She also regularly contributes to the Gourmet Cookie Bouquets Blog, which is put on by http://www.gourmet-cookie-bouquets.com/.

Cyprus Local Dishes

Cyprus is known for its beauty, but you might not have been aware of how delicious some of the local dishes are. If you’re an adventurous person who likes to try new things, or even if you just like great food, Cyprus is the place for you. There are many different dishes and flavors to choose from, so you won’t have a hard time finding something you love. Here are some of the foods that put Cyprus on the map.

Pork Lovers

If you’re a meat lover or a pork lover specifically, you’re going to love the delicious assortment of pork that you’ll find in Cyprus. The pork here is known to be some of the best in the world. You’ll find all different types of cuts that have been marinated in a number of seasonings and wines. One of the big things in dishes of Cyprus is the use of fresh olive oil that is made from local olives. It certainly could be the finishing touch of the pork that really makes it stand out.

Feta and Halloumi

Yet another thing that Cyprus is known for is its assortment of unique cheeses. This is a cheese lovers paradise, and there are all different kinds to suit everyone’s taste. Halloumi is a very delicious cheese that is typically made from goat, sheep or cow’s milk, but the more pungent variation will be made from sheep’s milk. The feta in Cyprus is known to be some of the best in the world and it’s recommended that you give it a try while you’re in the region.

Local Sweets

Once you’ve spent your time enjoying all of the wonderful savory dishes of Cyprus, you’ll want to move on to the various sweets that are offered. You will be impressed by the huge selection of sweets and deserts that you can find. Many of them are very unique and interesting. There are all kinds of different pastries and the bakeries here are some of the best in the world. If you’re a chocolate lover, you’re in luck. The chocolates that are native to the island can’t be matched.

Delicious Kebab

There’s no better way to celebrate a holiday than a delicious kebab. You can enjoy moist, roasted chicken and potatoes that will melt in your mouth. The great thing about these kebabs is that they’re widely available at many different shops and restaurants in the area. You don’t have to expect to spend a ton of money either; they are a relatively inexpensive snack.

Cyprus is one of the best places in the world if you’re looking for a great and interesting meal. You will fall in love with the fresh vegetables and fruits that are offered at the various establishments. If you’re a food lover, or just eager to try out new cuisine, I’d highly suggest taking a visit to Cyprus.

Jonathan Randers works with Cyprus car rental companies and has lived in Cyprus for the past 20 years.

Every town, city and state has something they’re proud of inventing and producing in the food industry. Whether it’s the philly cheesesteak from Philadelphia, the deep dish pizza from Chicago, Memphis barbeque or Kentucky fried chicken, everyone has their own creation that’s unique to their demographic. While NYC alone is well known for a variety of creations, there are several foods and dishes across New York State that have gone mainstream. Here are the top six New York State originated foods.

New York Style Pizza

Among the most famous of the NYS originated foods, New York Style Pizza in New York City has been celebrated for over 100 years. In 1905, Lombardi’s in New York City was established as the first pizzeria in America. Today, there are over 400 pizzerias in New York City alone, and many more throughout the state. What makes the New York Style Pizza so unique is its thin hand-tossed crust, made from a high-gluten bread flour. Rumor has it that the flavor of the crust comes from the minerals in the New York City water, which is why many pizzeria’s outside of the city actually have city water shipped to them in order to produce the same tasting dough.

Buffalo Wings

What goes better with pizza than some hot and spicy buffalo chicken wings? Another New York State originated food, the buffalo wing was invented in where else but Buffalo, NY. While there are a variety of stories about how the buffalo wings came to fruition, the most popular story is that they were first prepared at the Anchor Bar by Teressa Bellissimo in 1964. The traditional preparation of the buffalo wing is for wings to be deep fried in oil until well browned, drained and then mixed with cayenne pepper hot sauce and melted butter or margarine.

Potato Chips

Did you know that the potato chip was first invented out of spite after a grumpy patron kept sending back his fried potatoes because they were too thick and soggy? This is the story of the origin of the potato chip, dating back to August 24, 1853 in Saratoga Springs, NY. Aggravated hotel chef, George Crum, decided to slice the potatoes as thin as possible, frying them until crisp and then seasoned them with extra salt. The result? A happy patron and the creation of America’s favorite snack food.

Spiedie

A less familiar New York State originated dish is the spiedie, a dish local to Greater Binghamton in the Southern Tier of New York State. A spiedie consists of cubes of chicken, pork, lamb, veal, venison or beef. These meat cubes are marinated overnight or longer in a special marinade and then grilled over a charcoal pit. The original idea for a spiedie was actually brought to Upstate New York by Italian immigrants in the 1920s, and is now a celebrated food throughout Central New York and beyond, as far as North Carolina and Kentucky.

Greek Yogurt

While Greek Yogurt was created long before it was brought to America, this strained yogurt came to the USA in 1998 when FAGE began importing their Greek products here. In 2008, they set up shop for domestic production in Johnstown, NY. Additionally, Chobani, based in Berlin, NY, began their marketing for Greek-style yogurt in 2007.

Garbage Plate

The combination of one selection of cheeseburger, hamburger, red hots, white hots, Italian sausage, chicken tender, haddock, fried ham, grilled cheese or eggs with the choice of two sides of either home fries, french fries, baked beans, or macaroni salad makes up the garbage plate. This heart attack on a plate first originated back in 1918 at Nick Tahou Hots and was first named “Hots and Potatoes”. The name “garbage plate” was later put on this signature dish, trademarked in 1992, and has been a popular option for college students in the Rochester area for decades.

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Amy Richards is a freelance writer and lover of all things New York State. With a lot of experience putting together NY gift baskets, she has done a lot of research on places and items that have originated in New York State and is proud of where she’s from!