In the nomenclature of the Internet, "cookie" is a small
piece of information sent by a web server to store on a web browser
so it can later be read back from that browser. Cookie and Java
are culinary terms used on the Internet, as well as in the kitchen.
I want to introduce you, or perhaps review with you, cookies
with "flour" power.
Try http://www.netacc.net/~waterbry/nieman.htm for a Texas legend.
My daughter in Virginia told me about the story as she served
the cookies to me. I located the site on the Internet while I
was in Minnesota. Send your browser to grab this one. The cookies
are quite good, and there's a bit of humor. Try as I might to
keep my appetites for well prepared food, and cookbooks in check,
I always suffer a massive, systemic breakdown of will power if
there's a cookbook to review, food to prepare, and better yet...both.
My name is Sandra Lee Larsen, and I confess! I indulge in, savoir
even, all aspects of the culinary art. This includes affixing
a bib and engaging in an encounter with a large crustacean. Ahhh...passion!
If you don't yet have a personal relationship with the Internet
and food, before you awaits a smorgasbord of information. It's
time to turn over a new leaf...how about basil for a start? At
http://www.virtualvin.com/ you can even find the perfect beverage
(you name it), for after a baseball game maybe.
Want to play with your food? Choose a food, an herb, or a menu
and you are just a click away from virtual indulgences. There
are no ethnic boundaries. Dietary customs can be explored. You
can even print out and clip your (discount) coupons at http://www.eat.com:80/index.html
(Mama's Cocina). There are recipes, techniques, dining delights,
and beverages. It's all there, from B & B to Zombies. Expand
your horizon and you can eat your words. If all you can make
for dinner is a reservation, restaurant reviews abound. You can
create a map to get there at www.mapquest.com. Want to eat and
run? At http://travel.epicurious.com/ you will whet your appetite.
You can join the email list at http://www.foodwine.com/food/foodscpe/resources.
A cooking calculator is available if you have an international
recipe, or if you just want to see how many kilograms you weight
- before your feast!
For an adventure, choose your search engine. That's Alta Vista,
Lycos, etc. Next, type in your food of choice, for the search
engine to take off. When you click on the "fetch" key,
you're on your way!
For some basics, and examples, if you're a net newbie, send your
browser to the earlier mentioned http://www.epicurious.com for a good
place to start. (Not only is there abundant food information,
but interesting kitchen gadgets. You will notice that when a
graphic (or icon) is "hot" (that is, when clicking on
it will move you to another page or area), you'll most likely
notice a change in the shape of your mouse cursor indicator when
it passes over that part of the screen.
Clicking on your choice (Eating, Drinking, Playing, and so on)
will take you directly to the first page in one of the five main
areas of Epicurious Food. Clicking on Forums allows you to swap
recipes, lore and news in the Epicurious food discussion groups.
A click on "Go to Epicurious Travel" will take you
to the sister site, which offers a wealth of information about
the world beyond your kitchen.
One last navigational tip: Your browser's BACK button (sometimes
found under the "Go" on the toolbar), will let you easily
retrace your steps, page by page, as you move around the site.
This is especially handy on the Search and Recipe File pages,
where you may want to submit a different search request or view
another recipe.
A wonderful site for every kitchen tool imaginable can be found
at the http://www.widerview.com/gourmet.html under
the heading of "The Gourmet Gallery". Don't miss it!
"Hit the deck" for barbecue with sites such as
http://pages.prodigy.com/TX/connie_black/bbq.html for an ongoing
presentation of smoked, rubbed, mopped meats and sauces. Wipe
that sauce off your mouth, lay the fork down and take a few minutes
to browse their quotes, smoke-spots and features of TEXAS barbecue!
Wild game recipes are the rage in America. Point your search
engine to "game recipes" for your own treasures including
ordering game. Don't want to bait the hook, or load the shotgun?
Check http://www.huntinfo.com/ and http://diver.ocean.washington.edu/peterl/recipes/recipemain.html
for interesting inspiration. Outfitters, lodges and firearm
details can be found at
http://www.arrowhead-classics.com/ .
Maybe you are fed up with shopping lists scribbled on bits of paper. For a family oriented feature, don't neglect http://family.disney.com/. There are activities, ideas for parents and the masterful recipe express. This will give you relief if you're tired of leafing through cookbooks for a dinner idea. It's waiting for you!
If you want to personalize your recipe inventory,
I would suggest the top-of-the-line MasterCook software. You
can then print out your recipe instead of going to a book, and
email a copy to your friends too.
Would you like to have a party with your newfound recipe riches?
Email your friends an invitation. (My email is gracenote@mailexcite.com
just in case!)
I've just moved to your fair area and am thrilled to be here. I wasn't born in Texas, but I got here as soon as I could! It's a l-o-n-g story; I'd love to share some of in the future. Meanwhile, happy, healthy surfing on the net, and bon appetit!
Sandra Lee Larsen, newcomer to the area, can be reached at gracenote@mailexcite.com.
To contribute articles to the Internet Beat column, contact coordinator
Gloria R. Rivera: riverag@connecti.com
voice: 303-4764
fax 3721418
http://www.seguin.net.