Articles written by Norman Kolpas

Want to know the best dishes to order when dining in a Spanish restaurant or Portuguese restaurant? Be sure to try one or more of these classics for a great meal.

Feb 14, 2010 - Norman Kolpas

It's easy and fun to tell fortunes by reading the patterns left in the grounds from a cup of Turkish coffee. Follow these simple steps to read Turkish coffee grounds.

Feb 11, 2010 - Norman Kolpas

To tell if a steak, chop, or other meat or poultry is cooked to taste. follow these simple guidelines-using an instant-read thermometer or an old-fashioned chef's trick.

Feb 9, 2010 - Norman Kolpas

Don't know what a Chateaubriand steak, a Porterhouse steak, a flat iron steak, or a hanger steak is? This handy guide explains the names and qualities of popular steaks.

Feb 6, 2010 - Norman Kolpas

Wine lovers are often confused when trying to order wine in Asian restaurants. Follow these simple guidelines and suggestions for successful food-and-wine pairings.

Feb 4, 2010 - Norman Kolpas

Louisiana's famed red beans and rice usually includes smoked ham hock or andouille sausage. But this flavorful vegetarian recipe omits the meat and adds spicy chilies.

Feb 4, 2010 - Norman Kolpas

The heated dish looks nowhere near as appealing as its box photo. But this seafood main course in Trader Joe's Reduced-Guilt line satisfies and tastes surprisingly good.

Feb 4, 2010 - Norman Kolpas

This A-to-Z guide to classic dishes from England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland proves that there are plenty of good reasons to enjoy great British cooking.

Feb 2, 2010 - Norman Kolpas

For Valentine's Day or at any time of year, adding spirits to a good cup of hot chocolate creates a warming drink adults can enjoy together. Try these five great recipes.

Feb 2, 2010 - Norman Kolpas

For a satisfying, hearty, meaty-tasting chili that will satisfy vegetarians and meat eaters alike, try substituting chopped mushrooms for the meat in chili con carne.

Feb 1, 2010 - Norman Kolpas

Chocolate has been closely associated with love for centuries. Sweet, good, and able to excite the innermost passions, chocolate has long been considered an aphrodisiac.

Feb 1, 2010 - Norman Kolpas

Follow this easy method to make chocolate covered strawberries and other chocolate dipped fruit for holiday parties, holiday gifts, for Valentine's Day, or any occasion.

Dec 14, 2009 - Norman Kolpas

Shrimp scampi with garlic is one of the most popular ways to cook and enjoy shrimp. Mild or hot green chilies are added to this easy garlicky shrimp recipe.

Dec 6, 2009 - Norman Kolpas

Wine aerators from companies like Vinturi and Metrokane help everyday wines taste great and bring out the best in great wines, making them terrific gifts for wine lovers.

Dec 2, 2009 - Norman Kolpas

Want to buy one of the year's best cookbooks, or give cookbook gifts to food-loving friends? Check out top cookbook choices from the illustrious James Beard Foundation.

Nov 30, 2009 - Norman Kolpas

Breeches and jodhpurs for English riding offer a wide range of choices. This history explains how this equestrian clothing evolved and describes the choices available.

Nov 13, 2009 - Norman Kolpas

Inspired by Boston baked beans and perfect for entertaining, this spicy baked beans recipe includes pork loin, bacon, molasses, mustard, and two kinds of hot chilies.

Nov 10, 2009 - Norman Kolpas

From proclaiming the banns to putting a silver sixpence in the bride's shoe to breaking the bannock, these Scottish wedding customs help enrich any marriage ceremony.

Nov 5, 2009 - Norman Kolpas

This delicious, simple recipe for ground beef chili features chile powder, garlic, onions, bell peppers, canned tomatoes, and beer, and takes well under 1 hour to make.

Nov 3, 2009 - Norman Kolpas

Fresh green medium-hot chile peppers and cubes of lean pork combine in this quickly prepared recipes for a classic version of chili con carne from the old Southwest.

Oct 31, 2009 - Norman Kolpas

This easy, inexpensive recipe makes it possible, in under 30 minutes, to create a beautiful, delicious pilaf of rice and pasta reminiscent of the popular Rice-a-Roni®.

Sep 24, 2009 - Norman Kolpas

Finding the perfect fit in English riding boots for equestrian events takes a combination of knowledge, skill, and patience. Here's how to find the perfect boots.

Sep 13, 2009 - Norman Kolpas

Trophy buckles, also known as Western buckles, rodeo buckles, or cowboy buckles, are wearable works of art. This guide explains how to find the best Western belt buckles.

Sep 12, 2009 - Norman Kolpas

From Piccolo to Magnum, Jeroboam to Methuselah to the giant Nebuchadnezzar and Melchior, here's a complete guide to Champagne bottle sizes and how many glasses they hold.

Sep 3, 2009 - Norman Kolpas

Best-selling cowboy hats from Stetson endure for their comfort, practicality, quality, range of choices and styles, and authentic links to rich Western heritage.

Aug 31, 2009 - Norman Kolpas

The best cowboy hats have long been synonymous with Stetson hats, a direct result of the ingenuity of classic Western hat inventor John Batterson Stetson.

Aug 31, 2009 - Norman Kolpas

This easy recipe features a quickly made filling of ground lamb, ground beef, ground pork, or ground turkey with a cornbread topping, quickly baked until golden brown.

Aug 22, 2009 - Norman Kolpas

Add a touch of Hispanic heritage and passion to any wedding ceremony by incorporating one or more of these wedding traditions from Latin American countries.

Aug 13, 2009 - Norman Kolpas

From Elvish invitations to Middle Earth jewelry to ceremonies held in New Zealand film locations, throw a Lord of the Rings wedding inspired by the books or film trilogy.

Aug 7, 2009 - Norman Kolpas

Spanish tapas are one of the easiest ways to entertain. This simple guide explains how to shop for a tapas party and how to make tapas with almost no cooking at all.

Aug 3, 2009 - Norman Kolpas

Looking for a special way to observe Japanese heritage at a wedding? Traditional Japanese wedding foods promise good fortune, togetherness, fertility, eternity, and joy.

Jul 28, 2009 - Norman Kolpas

Like Thanksgiving on a bun, these delicious and easy to make broiled or grilled turkey burgers deliver favorite flavors of the holiday season to enjoy year round.

Jul 21, 2009 - Norman Kolpas

Just below The Getty Center at the crossroads of Brentwood, Bel-Air, and Westwood, the Hotel Angeleno puts some of L.A.'s best vacation attractions within easy reach.

Jul 19, 2009 - Norman Kolpas

An annex of the National Museum of Modern Art, a small gem of a Tokyo museum offers a superb overview of handmade Japanese crafts on the grounds of the Imperial Palace.

Jun 26, 2009 - Norman Kolpas

From hair braiding to colorful textiles, cowry shells to warmly glowing embers, drumming to jumping the broom, there are many ways to celebrate African heritage weddings.

May 29, 2009 - Norman Kolpas

From the first conch-shell fanfare to the final fireworks, these Hawaiian wedding customs will cast a tropical spell over the blessed day for both bride and groom.

May 28, 2009 - Norman Kolpas

Mixing garlic, basil, tomato paste, oregano, and Parmesan cheese into ground beef adds the flavors of a classic pizza to every bite of this easy grilled burger recipe.

May 25, 2009 - Norman Kolpas

From the marriage contract to the wedding canopy, the seven blessings to the lively chair dance, here are the must-have customs for an authentic Jewish wedding.

May 19, 2009 - Norman Kolpas

From tying the knot to ringing the wedding bells to exchanging claddagh rings, Irish wedding customs add a rich aura of Emerald Isle heritage to the special day.

May 11, 2009 - Norman Kolpas

Have a truly "Big Fat Greek Wedding" by including one or more traditional Greek marriage customs in the nuptial plans, from baby rolling to wedding parade to money dance.

May 11, 2009 - Norman Kolpas

Served as a grill appetizer or main course, this easy recipe for barbecued shrimp kabobs gains memorable taste from tangy apricot jam and strips of smoky bacon.

May 9, 2009 - Norman Kolpas

Slathered with olive oil and lots of crushed garlic, this delicious, easy-to-make grilled shrimp recipe has all the authentic flavor of a dish from a Spanish tapas bar.

Apr 24, 2009 - Norman Kolpas

From the ring ceremony well before the wedding day to the final ritual for blending families, here are simple instructions for an authentic Hindu wedding.

Apr 22, 2009 - Norman Kolpas

Shopping for a wedding ring? Use these expert tips to choose the best quality diamond and the right diamond shape for a wedding ring that best flatters the bride's hand.

Apr 15, 2009 - Norman Kolpas

Included in a modern wedding, these old-fashioned Italian customs can add history, tradition, and fun to any ceremony involving a bride or groom of Italian heritage.

Apr 14, 2009 - Norman Kolpas

Looking for something different to cook and serve for the next cookout? Try this backyard grill adaptation of a popular Italian chicken breast recipe.

Apr 7, 2009 - Norman Kolpas

Start with good-quality beef and a hot fire in the backyard barbecue, and it's easy to cook delicious grilled steaks, especially with an easy salsa recipe from Argentina.

Mar 30, 2009 - Norman Kolpas

One of the great pleasures of Chinese food, dim sum, literally bites of food that "touch the heart," are easy to order and enjoy thanks to this guide to the basics.

Mar 25, 2009 - Norman Kolpas

Want to throw a wedding in the style of the warriors from the planet Klingon on Star Trek? Here are the basics. Now, just set phasers to "stun" and exchange vows!

Mar 23, 2009 - Norman Kolpas

Declared a "Living National Treasure," Duff Severe created some of the finest Western saddles ever. His legacy lives on at Severe Brothers Saddles In Pendleton, Oregon.

Mar 9, 2009 - Norman Kolpas