They may be included as part of the main meal and served while sitting at the table. In France, the appetizers are generally light dishes such as an assortment of nuts, chips, or a vegetable tray. In Germany, they favor much heavier dishes like a bowl of barbecued sausage and pineapple chunks. In some cases like a reception and cocktail party events, they are served with no meal afterwards. Each culture or region offers unique tasty portions to stimulate one’s appetite. It could be something deliciously hot, tempting cold, oozing with dip and more. So browse below and try our appetizer and starter recipes.

In hot pot cooking like shabu-shabu, thinly sliced beef is cooked at the table by dipping it in a hot pot of water or stock with vegetables. While in fondue bourguignon, you dip tiny portions of beef into a pot of hot oil at the table. Both techniques serve flavorful sauces to complement the meat. Buy beef that is firm to touch, not the wet, slimy, greenish-grey colored and smelly ones. Keep them up to five days only in the fridge or depending on its freshness. Mince and offal are best eaten within two days. Vacuum-packed meat typically lasts longer, but always checks the expiration date. Beef differs in taste and quality depending on the age, breed, diet, slaughter and processing of the animal, so it's wise to buy from your trusted brands or vendor and cook your meat carefully. For beef recipe ideas, browse and click below.

Cocktail in the other hand is an alcoholic mixed drink that contains one or more spirits and one or more mixers like fruit juice. Since mocktail is alcohol free, it can be enjoyed by everyone even the young kids. You can make it healthier by adding yoghurt or low fat milk. And you may put also a variety of fresh, frozen or unsweetened fruits too like berries, peach, pineapple, mango and more. Beverages and Mocktails are not only good to drink; they are also a sight to behold when poured in unique drinking glasses or coasters and pop with some colorful decorations. Below are some beverages and mocktails which you can easily prepare at your own home bar and serve to your family and guests-from kids to adults.

Paratha is also a flatbread, but it is made from whole wheat flour. Pan fried in a tava, an Indian frying pan, it is an excellent accompaniment to Indian, Pakistani and Bengali cuisines. It can be round, heptagonal, square or triangular. A stuffed paratha can be eaten simply with a spread of butter on top, with chutney, with pickles and yogurt, or with meat or vegetable curries. Others roll it like a tube and dip into the tea. Yogurt is added to Naan to enhance its volume and thickness. Paratha, on the other hand, is soft and flaky. Both Naan and Paratha and all the other breads are good carbohydrate food. So try the recipes below that can give you enough energy for work and play.

Try to make variations in the foods you served every morning. The whole family especially the kids must have a pleasant experience with this meal to full appreciate breakfast. Alternate coffee, tea or fresh fruit juice paired with bacon or sausage. Prepare in advance some homemade pastries. In addition to homemade on-the-go foods, keep whole fresh fruit, yogurt, whole grain cereals or oat meals as well as whole grain breads and peanut butter for quick sandwiches. Just keep in mind that any food is good when consumed in moderation. Wanna try new good starter meals? Take a look with these quick, easy and delicious breakfast recipes below.

Many are confused between casseroles and stews, using them interchangeably. Stew cooking is when heat is fired at the bottom of the pot over a fire or on a stove, whereas casserole cooking is done in an oven to bake where heat surrounds the cooking vessel. Most recipes required the best dish size, but a helpful tip is to fill up the dish with about three-quarters of ingredients and stock at the start of the cooking process. Here are loads of hearty casserole dishes to comfort you and your loved ones during the colder months.

It must be cooked appropriately and not eaten raw because it contains Salmonella that cause illness like typhoid fever. The recommended temperature to cook whole chicken is 165°F as gauged in the thigh by a food thermometer.  So never semi-cook chicken then refrigerate and finish cooking later as any bacteria present won’t be destroyed. But it is safe though to partially pre-cook like boiling it or microwave it then transfer to the hot grill or deep fried to finish cooking. Looking for fresh new ideas to enjoy this meat? Give our chicken recipes a try for a wonderful treat!

How to cook chocolate? It should not be melted directly over heat. Instead melt it in a double boiler or in a heat proof/container over a saucepan of hot water. While melting, gradually put bits of chocolate and stir continuously with a wooden spoon to avoid forming lumps. You can also melt them in a microwave. Just break them into tiny portions then microwave for 30 seconds, stir then heat again for another 30 seconds. Always be careful in reading the recipe instructions and the chocolate package to fully enjoy indulging in these chocolate recipes.

Curry has two varieties as "wet" or "dry." Wet curries contain sauce made from yoghurt, dal, coconut milk, or stock. Dry curries are cooked with almost no liquid, just little amount to be evaporated, so the ingredients remained is coated with the mixture. It may also contain meat, poultry, fish, or seafoods, either alone or in combination with vegetables. Now curry powder is readily available in all markets. The powder usually includes coriander, turmeric, cumin, fenugreek, and red pepper in their blends.  Anytime and any day, you can prepare these simple, spicy and inexpensive dal and curry recipes with whatever you have in your pantry.

Wild duck, goose and quail eggs are sometimes cooked in gourmet dishes. Gull eggs are a delicacy and the pheasant and emu eggs are also deliciously edible. Store eggs in the refrigerator for only about one month and do not wash them because they have a protective coating. It is best to keep them in their original carton or in their container. They might absorb some odor or lose moisture when exposed. Arrange them with the pointed end facing downward to avoid the air chamber and the yolk from being displaced. And to prevent any damage caused by a spoiled egg, break each separately in a small bowl. Now you are ready to give these appetizing egg recipes a try.

Desiccation by drying completely is the common way to preserve fish like cod. Semi drying and salting method is good for herring and mackerel. And tuna, salmon, mackerel and herring are canned. Aside from being easily spoiled, they also are quite delicate when cooked. So check if the fish 'flakes' begin to separate. Use a fork or knife and insert gently into the meatiest part of the fish and twist. And since almost all seafoods have soft delicate flesh and to avoid them being overcooked,  when it's about done remove from heat and let it stay there for a few minutes to be fully cooked. The tuna and salmon, can be cooked and served medium rare. And many sea foods can be prepared and eaten raw. Give yourself a wonderful fish and seafood adventure with these recipes.

What so good about the fruits are generally they are high in nutritional value. They are rich in fiber, vitamin C and phytochemicals which can help you reduce the risks of cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and more. Since they also have low calorie content, fruit is an effective agent in a weight-loss diet. To ensure the quality of your dish, select fruits which are fresh and unbruised. Always rinse carefully before using, chopping or consuming them. The preparation should be done just before cooking to avoid premature spoilage. This way we could prevent foodborne illnesses and contamination. Recipes may require fresh, sweetened, canned or preserved fruits from common to exotic and tropical. From fruit salads to savory stews, our fruit recipes will give everyone a sweet and refreshing palate experience.

Homemade ingredients are oftentimes the healthier alternative. Because you know and you will use ingredients which are fresh and healthy. You can also "tailor make" them to best suit you and your family’s preferences and needs. Making them will cost you only a fraction of the price of ready-made or store bought foods. And making these homemade ingredients is a gratifying and rewarding experience. This also provides other benefits, including helping you live a healthier lifestyle. It will allow you to decide the portion size and content as necessary, minimizing your urge to indulge as you would have on salty and greasy fast food meals. Also, eating homemade ingredients which you prepare helps you appreciate good nutrition, which you can set as the example to your family so that they can be a healthy eater too. Economically and health wise, make batches of these homemade ingredients for your everyday and emergecy dishes.

Nurturing a health-conscious home is one of the most important decisions you can make to guarantee the health of your child. Begin by making intelligent food choices, and help your child develop appreciation for healthy food. Your kids will learn it from your good example. Experts said that a good breakfast and healthy lunch is not enough. Kids should have a light after-school snack to recharge a kid's mind and body before play or study time. Assortment of nuts and an apple is excellent, or a snack tray of vegetables and dips can be served. Avoid giving chips, sodas, pastries and candy because an Oxford study shows, sugary and high glycemic index foods just make kids hungrier. Modeling is the key, so keep yourself from munching on these junk foods. So eat right, get some exercise, and make a healthy lifestyle a family routine. And as a starter, try our kids recipes below.

And it is recommended to cook lamb in methods that will keep it moist and tender. Lamb can be easily overcooked and become dry. Here are some suggestions on how to cook best the following parts. The shoulder parts are excellent for stew, Shank/breast is good when braised in red wine, garlic and rosemary, lamb chops are best roasted or "Quick Broiled", rack of lamb is Best roasted or "Quick Broiled", Ground lamb can be sautéed for delicious burgers and most of all the hearty flavor of lamb makes it a wonderful meat to be included in a stew. Whatever may the cooking method be, you’ll surely be delighted with these lamb recipes below.

This meat is particularly excellent for cakes and puddings, slow-cooked curries, braises and pot-roasts. The taste of the mutton during the slow cooking provides an eating experience that is truly delightful. Mutton is significantly unappreciated sometimes. The cuts are just like lamb but are generally bigger, deeper in color with a better taste. Mutton should be selected in rich brown color. Meat with dull color or yellow fat should be avoided. It lacks softness like lamb because it contains more fats.

Pasta is well-known for many reasons as it is affordable, tasty and soothing. Luckily, the relaxation we get from pasta comes from its excellent carbohydrate count. It is a type of noodle; served with different sauces and is a staple food of traditional Italian cuisine. It is generally an easy dish, some pasta recipes are provided as a 1st course meal in Italy. It is also cooked for light meals like salads. If you are thinking 'what to cook for a special dinner?’ you might consider Noodles and pasta.

Jam contains both juice and flesh of the fruit or vegetable. Accurately, the term "jam" is the food made with whole fruit, cut into chunks or mashed. The fruit is cooked with water and sugar to stimulate the pectin in it. The mixture is then put into jars for storage. Even consistency is the character of good jam with shiny color, semi-jelled texture & with no liquid and chunks. Jam can be made from any fruit or veggie. It is not only can be used in cakes and pastries rather than eating with bread.

Cheddar, Parmesan, Mozzarella, Provolone cheese are used in making pizza. For topping Ricotta and Romano cheese is frequently used. Different toppings are used in pizza are bacon, onion, pepperoni, ground beef, olive, jalapeno, tomato, sun-dried tomato, & vegetables. In Brazil, pizza is made of chocolate. In India pizza is topped with tandoori chicken and paneer which is becoming hot favorite in urban regions. The ingredients are specially imported from Italy in Indian – Italian restaurants.

Everyone loves Cakes. Normally it is combination of flour, eggs, sugar and butter/oil. For flavors nuts, fruits, purees, extracts are used. It is the first choice for every festival or occasion. The word 'cake' is derived in Viking from 'kaka'. Finishing of the cake is done by icing, frosting and toppings. Special tools are required to make complex cakes. Basic decoration are open star, closed star, round, drop flower, leaf and multi-petal. 

The mystery of its name is unsolved yet. Some sources says it came from Old French word 'ris' while other says it came from the Latin word 'oriza' or Greek word which is still unclear. No matter from where its name came, it will remain favorite around the globe. Rice recipes category below has different aromatic and tasty rice recipes.

Burgers are like sandwiches but sandwich is made of plain flat bread and burgers are made of sliced rolled bread. Burgers consist of a cooked patty, cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, condiments, mayonnaise and meat. It is served with different relish, ketchup or French Fries.  Patty in a burger is the cooked ground meat or vegetables in round shape and is flattened like tikki in India. Here is a good collection of sandwich and burgers recipes for you.

There's nothing good when you make your diners sit up and take a notice at the great aroma and sound of the sizzling food.

Second is thickening ingredients, the thickness of smoothie depends upon the ratio of liquids to solids. Some people put additional supplementary powders like protein powder or vitamin supplements. This increase thickness, nutritional value and flavors in the smoothie. Third is Topping or garnish, typically mint leaves, lemon wedges or frozen fruit chunks are used in topping or garnishing of a smoothie. This enhances the appearance and makes it more attractive. Here are a number of great smoothie recipes for you.

Snack foods are classically designed to be portable, satisfying and quick to make. These are the food items deigned to be consumed with beverages like tea and coffee in India. Every Indian home has a special snack. Healthy snacking is the part of weight loss too i.e. six-meal eating. But unhealthy snacking can lead to many problems like weight gain. Below is a good collection of snacks for you.

The major goodness of soup is that it can be made in less time with less effort. Soups are of 2 types, clear and thick soups, further sub categorized into hot and cold soups. There are ample numbers of soups in every cuisine such as fruit soups, cold soups, dessert soups etc. In this category you will find different easy and nutritious soup recipes that you can easily make at home.

Sweets are very tempting and mouth-watering food. Be it a hot summer or a chilling winter, sweets are always too hard to resist. In this category you will find many mouth-watering sweet recipes that you can’t resist making.

The word 'tofu' comes from Chinese word 'dòufu' which means 'from bean' and 'curdled'. Indian, Japanese and Chinese cuisines use tofu in many dishes. Merirasoi find tofu a very remarkable ingredient. In this category we have shared different lavishing Tofu recipes. Eat tofu stay healthy!

Roasting the turkey enhances its flavor and moisture.  It is also deep-fried for 30-40 minutes in some American regions. It is believed that white turkey is healthier than dark turkey because of its low-fat contents but the nutritional differences are minor. Traditionally, turkey is served with different seasonal vegetables like roasted potatoes, parsnips, brussels sprouts etc. Stuffing is an important step in preparation of turkey with the varieties like oatmeal, sage, chestnut or onions. Below are a good number of turkey recipes for you.

Vegetable should be washed thoroughly before use. Washing them removes dirt and traces of pesticides. You can freeze them for storage, pack them in wraps but don’t forget to remove the air. The frozen veggies can be stored up to 6 months. See a good collection of vegetable recipes below.