Throwing a party where you need to feed a large number of people can be a stressful and costly experience, but it needs not be either of these things. If you are having a large party and need to feed tens or hundreds of people on a budget, but still want to maintain the wow factor with your dinner options, cheap chocolate fountains could actually be one of the best choices available to you. These will allow you to offer party goers a dessert which will be tasty, fun and sociable all at the same time!

Chocolate is an incredible popular foodstuff amongst people of all ages and many people love to indulge their desires for chocolate whenever they can. For many people, getting to see the river of chocolate in "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" would be a dream come true and a chocolate fountain could go part of the way to achieving this dream, because these fountains produce a constant stream of melted chocolate which things can be dipped into.



Because most chocolate fountain actually comes with a whole range of different dipping options, such as mini-doughtnuts or sliced fruit pieces, the pressure is reduced to provide a range of different desserts for your guests. Most pieces which can be dipped are only one mouthful, so guests will be able to try a whole range of different things whilst they indulge their chocolate desires.

A chocolate fountain will provide an exciting and different type of centrepiece for a party, which will allow your guests to mingle with each other whilst they eat. Some guests may even be able to bond with each other over the indulgent experience as they discuss which of the dipping options is the best and they will share a sense of camaraderie as they watch one another sneak back for "one last piece".

The best thing about a chocolate fountain is that despite the fact that can create a wow factor, it need not be an expensive option. Although some luxury fountains may be expensive, it is easy to find a cheap chocolate experience. Many chocolate providers will be able to offer budget options simply by running the fountain for less time (only after a buffet, rather than for the whole party) or by reducing the number of dipping options available. Standard milk chocolate fountains are usually a cheaper option than white chocolate, dark chocolate or pink raspberry fountains for example.






Courtesy:Ezinearticles

In the world of wines, Pinot Noir is a top contender. This variety is striking for its flavor and ability to pair with virtually any type of food. Known as an ancient grape of France, Cistercian monks grew this fruit in their monasteries in Burgundy.

Regions of Origin

Pinot Noir comes from grapes grown in a variety of regions. France boasts the most vineyards with over 75,000 acres. The United States comes in at a close second. Germany, New Zealand, Italy, Australia, Chile, Argentina, and South Africa are also countries that grow these grapes. Dijon, France, is the most famous location that produces this wine.



Taste Details

Many connoisseurs consider Pinot Noir to be a fickle wine with a great flavor range. Both vintage and growing location have a significant impact on flavor.

- Grapes grown in France usually have a light flavor and color. People may describe this taste as having floral and sweet undertones.

- In Germany, the wine produced has an earthy flavor with touches of cherry and raspberry.

- Italian Pinot comes from vineyards located in this country's cooler climate. Although these varieties still have a fruitiness, they also have other distinctive flavors such as clove, white pepper, and tobacco. Italians like to boast that their product has a higher alcohol content.

- The wine produced in California is bolder and fruitier. Vineyards offer interesting flavors such as black raspberry, black cherry, and caramel. In Oregon, the product tends to have a lighter color and a tart flavor.

- New Zealanders are proud of their spicy and rich grapes that create a strong wine. The Australian variety is similar to the New Zealand one; however, it tends to be a bit sweeter.

- South American wine resembles that of the product produced by the United States. However, it often has more of a floral undertone than a fruity one.

Growing Details

The grapes used to produce Pinot Noir are difficult to grow. They have thin skins, and they tend to ripen early in the season. Farmers must care for this fruit attentively to ensure that it thrives. It's only with precise climate and patient tending that these grapes will grow well. For optimal growth, plants need cool temperatures, plenty of spacing between vines, and sandy soil. Plants grown in warm areas usually produce grapes that are milder in both flavor and color. A number of diseases can plague this fruit. This plant is also susceptible to point mutations. It's typical to find vines with unique shoots that do not resemble any other ones existing on the same plant. A farmer might capitalize on this type of mutation by using it to propagate new plants.


Pinot Noir is commonly known by a variety of names. Other names include Franc Pineau, Salvagnin, Morillon, Pineau de Bourgoyne, and Auvernat. Different countries have different names for the wine.








Source:Ezinearticles

Desserts are an important part of any meal and barbecues are no exception. If you're serving grilled meat as a main course, sweet treats will serve as the perfect ending for any appetite. If you're a sweet tooth, make try these deliciously unique dessert recipes you can make with your grill:

Fruity Barbecue Treat

What you need:

1 cup sliced apple
1 cup sliced pineapple
1/2 cup sliced banana
1/2 cup fresh raspberries
1/4 cup chocolate chips


Place fruit slices on skewers then grill over medium heat for 5-7 minutes until heated through or tender. When ready, remove the fruit slices from the skewers then transfer into a medium bowl. Mix in chocolate chips then serve immediately.

Satisfy your sweet tooth during your next barbecue with these easy-to-follow barbecue recipe desserts that even kids will love!

Adrian T. Cheng is a food blogger and a BBQ expert. Through years of grilling experience, reviewing various top quality grill accessories and trying delicious and unique recipes, he is sharing his knowledge with everyone through his blog. For more grilling secrets, tips, recipes and more, head over to Adrian's page.




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This is a great soup that is popular in the Mediterranean countries of Europe. It takes a little work, but the results are well worth the effort. You can cook this without the pressure-cooker, but the pressure-cooker cuts the time for cooking way down.

6 SERVINGS

- 1/2 pounds chick-peas (soak overnight for faster cooking)
- 9 cups water (1 cups less if the beans have been pre-soaked)

1. Place the chick-peas and water in a pressure-cooker. Bring to pressure and cook for 5 minutes.

Relieve the pressure, remove the lid and test the chick peas to be sure peas are tender. If they are not tender, just simmer them in the pot until they are tender and their skins are loose.




- 1-1/2 teaspoons salt

2. Puree about half the chick-peas with a little of their cooking liquid in a blender or food processor, and then return them to the pressure-cooker pot, add the above salt, and stir to blend. (The soup should be slightly creamy and studded with whole chick-peas.)

Cover the pot to keep the ingredients warm.

- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

3. Add the oil to a heavy skillet over medium-low heat and sauté the onion and leeks until softened.

- 1 medium onion, sliced
- 2 leeks (white parts only) rinsed well and sliced
- 1 14.5 ounce can chopped tomatoes, drained
- 1/2 small orange peel zest (cut the thin orange layer off the peel) and cut into julienne strips
- 1 teaspoon ground fennel seeds
- 2/3 teaspoon pepper

4. Add the above ingredients to the skillet and cook for 3 or 4 minutes, or just long enough to thicken the sauce a little. Add all that's in the skillet to the pressure-cooker pot, stir and bring the soup back to a gentle simmer, then remove from the heat.

- 6 pieces toasted crusty French bread drizzled with olive oil

5. Serve the soup in a bowl poured over the toasted bread.

Although this soup is great at any time, it is the perfect soup for those cold winter days when you just want something hot and delicious in your stomach.

Give it a try...you are sure to enjoy it!






Source:Ezinearticles

I have made a commitment to stick to a healthy diet this year, so as much as possible, I eat less meat and opt for seafood instead. The change was kind of difficult at first, considering seafood is more expensive than meat. What is more is that it is not all the time you can find a good seafood recipe that won't cost you that much. Luckily, I have a partner who is creative in the kitchen and just recently, she made me this delicious seafood meal that I would love to share with you, guys. She calls it called Grilled Herbed Prawns in Mayo Mustard Dressing with Mixed Green Salad. If you are into seafood and salad, this is the perfect dish for you! The recipe is simple and you can prepare it in less than an hour (not including the marinating part, of course). The best part is that it won't cost you that much, which means you can always prepare it every time you're craving for prawns and salad.
Enjoy!


Main Ingredients:
For the prawns
3 pcs. prawns, butterflied and deveined
paprika
cayenne pepper
salt and pepper to taste
olive oil
For the dressing
½ cup mayonnaise
1/8 cup Dijon mustard
salt and pepper
chopped parsley

Instructions for preparing the prawns:
Begin by marinating the prawns with paprika, cayenne, salt, and pepper. Once marinating is done, sear marinated prawns in a little olive until the color changes. Remove prawns afterwards and set aside in a separate container.

Instructions for preparing the mayo mustard dressing:
Take both mayonnaise and mustard and whisk them together in a small bowl. Season the mixture with salt and pepper to taste. After that, sprinkle the mixture with parsley and mix it well.
Now comes the assembling part.

Instructions for assembling:
What you will need
Mixed salad greens
chopped onions
chopped carrots
To assemble

On the center of a salad plate, assemble a bed of mixed salad greens and sprinkle some chopped onions and carrots on top. Take the grilled herbed prawns and position them gently around the green salad. I would suggest placing up to three pieces of prawns only per serving. Finally, drizzle the dish with mayo mustard dressing.

There you go! Another healthy seafood recipe you can enjoy this year. If you want, you can also enjoy this dish a bottle of favorite red wine. Perfect for a lovely evening with your partner!

About the Author: Stephen John is a food and wine enthusiast. He loves to travel and try exotic cuisines of different countries. He also writes for winemarket.com.au, an excellent source of some of the best wines of the world like Penfolds wine, Australian Shiraz, and more.