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The American Tradition In Literature

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Barbecue is as American as apple pie. It's aroma evokes memories of baseball games, swimming and family vacations. Mouths water when the grill is fired up. Preparing meat for the barbecue is just as important as the cooking itself. Marinating infuses flavor into the meat, ensuring a delicious family meal that will not be easily forgotten.

Marinating is the process of steeping meat in a mixture of an acid (i.e. vinegar, lemon juice, or wine) and spices (i.e. salt, pepper, and herbs.) The acid tenderizes the meat causing it to hold more liquid, making it juicier and more flavorful. Care must be taken when making the marinade, as too much acid will toughen the meat. When marinating poultry, poke holes in the meat with a fork, or use a needle injector. Removing the skin allows the marinade to fully penetrate the meat. (Leaving the skin on compromises the flavor.) Poultry can be refrigerated in a covered container for up to 2 days in a marinade. (Meat should always be covered in the refrigerator.) The time for marinating depends on the size of the pieces as well as the kind of meat. Chicken breast takes longer than steak because it is firmer. To reduce the amount of time needed for marinating cut the meat into smaller pieces. You can also pound chicken flat to cut time.

There are a variety of containers appropriate for marinating. Metal, plastic, and glass bowls all work. My favorite containers, however, are plastic bags. When a bag is used a smaller amount of marinade is needed because the air can be squeezed out. The meat is covered completely which allows for the flavors to be infused more quickly and evenly. Plus, the bag can be tossed when the job is done, making clean-up fast and easy.

There are a few safety tips to remember when marinating poultry, meat and seafood. Raw meat and fish contain juices which may harbor harmful bacteria. To avoid contamination never reuse a marinade. Do not reuse containers without carefully washing them with dish soap. Don't marinate meat past the grocer's "use-by" date. And finally, always marinate in the refrigerator--never at room temperature.

Italian Chicken Marinade - Place 2 lbs. sliced chicken in a plastic bag. Add 8 oz. Italian dressing, the juice of 1 fresh lemon, a few turns of fresh pepper, and a little salt. Marinate a few hours in the refrigerator. Remove from the bag and place on a heated grill. During the last few minutes of grill time, lay thin slices of lemon over the chicken. Serve the grilled chicken with a small amount of the unused Italian dressing.

The American Tradition In Literature

Fortune cookies are crisp cookies made in Asia and in America, and they are prepared with flour, vanilla, oil and sugar. They have a fortune placed inside them, printed on a piece of paper. Normally, fortune cookies are served as desserts in Chinese restaurants. Apart from fortunes, the paper may also contain some lucky numbers with a translated Chinese phrase or saying. It is not very clear as to where the fortune cookie was originated, but it is believed that they were made popular by many immigrant groups in California at the beginning of the 20th century. The recipe for fortune cookies was based on a Japanese cracker.

Since nobody has any clue as to where the fortune cookie was used for the first time, it's why many schools of thought have prevailed in this regard. It is believed that in the 13th and 14th centuries, there were secret messages carried inside the cookies. The Mongols had occupied China during this time, and - to get information about the revolts - Chen Juan Chen disguised himself as a Taoist priest in order to enter the cities which the Mongols had occupied. It is also a custom in China to use messages in cake rolls on the event of the birth of a baby.

It is generally believed that fortune cookies were originated in San Francisco in 1914. A landscape designer, Makoto Hagiwara, who was an immigrant from Japan, had some plans for the Japanese Tea Garden. He was later fired by the anti-Japanese mayor of San Francisco. This left Machete in a bad financial condition, which was eventually improved when a later mayor reinstated him. The development of fortune cookies is supported by 2 different theories:

* The first one suggests that Makoto wrote 'Thank You' notes, placed them inside the cookies, and gave them as gifts to all the people who stayed by his side during his bad times.

* The second theory claims that he had made the cookies as refreshments for the visitors who just came for a stroll in the Japanese Tea Garden. The cookies were displayed at the World's Fair in San Francisco in 1915.

In the early 20th century, entrepreneurs had plans for the transformation of San Francisco's Chinatown from a slum area as it was at the time, into an attractive tourist spot. The city was active in promoting parades, architecture and decorations which resembled China. So it is believed that the enhanced tourist activities were behind the birth of fortune cookies, as the cookies might have been used to give to the tourists as a dessert. It's also reported that a San Francisco worker in the 1930's had designed a simple and a flat cookie. A bit of Chinese wisdom was written on a piece of paper and folded into the still-warm cookie.

A much later version relates to Los Angeles in 1918. But irrespective of where fortune cookies were actually originated, they are basically a tradition followed in America. The Chinese people did not even know about fortune cookies until the 1990's. In fact, the cookies were marketed in China with "Genuine American Fortune Cookies" as their motto.

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Emma Snow has sinced written about articles on various topics from Family, Food and Drink and Health. Emma Snow is contributing author and publisher to an online resource that provides you with in. Emma Snow's top article generates over 27100 views. to your Favourites.

Erin Jump has sinced written about articles on various topics from Food and Drink, Finances and Food and Drink. Erin Jump Fancy Fortune Cookies 6249 Coffman Rd. Indianapolis, IN 46268 (317) 299-8900 x 105 . Erin Jump's top article generates over 12100 views. to your Favourites.

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