Rabu, 30 Juli 2008

Produce: The Roots of Good Health

by: Chris Robertson

Even if we roll our eyes when we hear it, "Eat your veggies" is a maxim that we'd be well advised to heed. Our mothers and grandmothers instinctively knew that fresh fruit and vegetables were good for us, and science has reinforced the value of fresh produce in keeping our bodies in peak condition. Nevertheless, we often skimp on eating root vegetables, either because they seem boring or we don't know how to best prepare them. These nutrition-packed powerhouses are worth a second look, though. Here's an overview that will hopefully inspire you to reach for the roots when you're in the produce section of your grocery store.

Captivating Carrots

Oh, the ubiquitous carrot. Baby carrots are peeled, washed, and sealed in plastic bags for a no-fuss, no-muss snack. But carrots aren't given credit for their variety or versatility. For example, not all carrots are orange. The next time you want to experiment, be on the lookout for white, yellow, red, and even purple carrots. They can be used in recipes, or to add vibrant color to your plates.

Speaking of recipes, carrots can be more than an afterthought for a salad or to enrich and add flavor to broths. Carrots give breads, muffins, and cakes a wonderful moistness, texture, and flavor, and cold carrot soup can be a refreshing taste treat on a hot summer day. Throw grated carrots, cream cheese, and grated onion into a food processor and spread on toast points for a delicious appetizer. Step into the future with a carrot mousse or flashback to the past with pickled carrots. Let your imagination fly and you'll rediscover these colorful treasures.

Radical Rutabagas and Tasty Turnips

Although the Finns and Swedes cook rutabagas with aplomb, the rutabaga and turnip aren't in most Americans repertoires when it comes to cooking vegetables. Sure, turnip greens are a staple of the delicious cuisine of the South, but what to do with the root?

Rutabagas are actually a cross between turnips and cabbages, although they are most often used like a turnip in cooking. Either rutabagas or turnips can be cooked and added to mashed potatoes to enhance their flavor and nutrition. Try turnip custard, or combine apples and rutabagas for a delicious baked casserole. Use rutabagas in a spice cake or bread, or make a seasoned puree and serve it with a meat dish.

Hearty Jicama

Like the carrot, the jicama is often relegated to the salad bar. But this sweet, starchy, and refreshing root vegetable is a wonderful addition to stir-fry or potato salad. Much of jicama's appeal is its unique crunchy texture, so grate it, cube it, or julienne it to add zazz to cold dishes. Toss jalapeno with vinegar, cilantro, and jalapeno, and then place grilled shrimp over a bed of jicama. Delectable!

Other Nutrition-Packed Roots

When visiting the fresh produce section of your grocery store, don't overlook other roots that have taken a back seat to other fresh fruit and vegetables. Beets, parsnips, and radishes also offer culinary delights, so embrace their versatility and their ability to get you excited about eating your veggies!

Loving Food And Digesting It

by: Jon Caldwell

Firstly, Easterner like eating hot food. For example, on the morning, Chinese often eat hot porridge, clay oven rolls, fried bread stick, noodles, soybean milk and other Chinese food. All of these are hot. On the other hand, People in the west usually eat bread, milk, orange and coffee which are cold commonly.

Secondly, An Easterner like drink hot water whenever it is winter or summer. If you go to a Chinese home, they will give you a cup of tea, and the tea always is hot unless you demand for cold water. But in the west, People like drinking cold water or beverage, they even can drink a bottle of cold water in winter, this is inconceivability in an easterner's eyes.

Thirdly, It is different altogether between Easterner and Occidental in dinner. We often see a round table in a Chinese family, then, a whole family can sit together to eat dinner. They like share all dishes with other families, round table is convenient for a family. On the other hand, In a occidental family, a square table is familiar. A family eats in each different dish. Why dose a Chinese family use a round table? Because they think a whole families sharing all food represent reunion and "warm". All of this are traditional. In modern life, Chinese also like square table, because it is popular.

We’ve always been known for our love of food, but for most people, that hearty appetite comes at a price. With our increasingly hectic lifestyles, there’s hardly any time to exercise or get fit. Add to that the fact that Filipino cuisine tends to be high in fat and calories. Yes, it’s great food, but you have to admit it’s not exactly healthy.

But before ditching that adobo or taking out those South Beach cookbooks, here’s some good news: there is such a thing as low-fat Filipino food. In fact, you can make any dish diet-friendly with just a few simple tweaks—without giving up any of the flavor. If all that eating is taking a toll on your waist, start eating healthier with these tips and low-fat Filipino food recipes.

One of the secrets to low-fat cooking is replacing common ingredients with low-fat alternatives. Start with your oil: most people use regular cooking oil, which is made from animal fat and very high in cholesterol. Use vegetable-based oils such as corn, canola, sunflower, or if you can afford it, olive oil. When making salads, replace mayonnaise with mustard or vinaigrette, and use fresh instead of canned ingredients.

A common problem with substitution is that they don’t always work. You can’t expect them to taste the same as the original, but they don’t have to taste bad. It takes some practice and experience to know which ingredients will work together and which ones will not. Feel free to experiment—you’ll learn from your mistakes and get the hang of it in no time.

Fish is a favorite replacement for meat dishes. Try this low-fat recipe in place of steak and meat chops.

Tropical Fruit Basket--A Gift to Say You Care

by: Laura Weaver

Have you ever wondered what to give a friend to let her know you're thinking of her during a time of crisis? Not that anything could change the outcome of her problem, but just a little something to let her know you care. I found a simple yet healthy way to do just that.

My girlfriend was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. Her symptoms developed quickly, so this diagnosis came as quite a shock to her. Of course, facing this medical crisis was very frightening for her, even though the prognosis was encouraging with the proper treatment. Even so, she became depressed and worried.

Wanting to do something to cheer her and to just let her know I was thinking of her during this trying time in her life, I decided to send my girlfriend a Tropical Fruit Basket. I, myself, was recently the recipient of a lovely fruit basket. In the basket I received, the seasonably ripe fruit was displayed on a round serving tray which can be used over and over again. The crisp apples, juicy pears, and fragrant oranges were a delicious treat that I thoroughly enjoyed.

I found that there are many choices involved in selecting fruit baskets, from containers holding the fruit to filler items that personalize the gift to the actual kinds of fruit, itself. Containers can range from simple boxes with colorful wrappings to useful serving platters to elegant wicker baskets. Fillers can consist of little wrapped hard candies, foil-covered wedges of cheese, a box of cookies, or even a bottle of wine.

Of the many choices in selecting the kind of fruit basket to send my friend, I was excited to choose a Tropical Fruit Basket. We have vacationed together in tropical locations and both enjoy the images of palm trees, balmy ocean breezes, vibrant colors, and a relaxing carefree lifestyle that thinking "tropics" brings to mind. This seemed to be a very appropriate theme to lift my girlfriend's spirits.

The Tropical Fruit Basket I sent was presented in a beautiful white wicker basket with a large, bright yellow hand-tied bow. It was brimming with beautiful tropical fruit: a centrally-placed pineapple surrounded by oranges, tangerines, bananas, and kiwi. There was also an assortment of hard lemon and lime candies my girlfriend could savor when her stomach was feeling a little queasy from her treatments. I also included a personal note card with a photo of a beautiful sunset over the turquoise sea and palm trees lining the white sandy beach.

My girlfriend was very appreciative of receiving such a beautiful, nutritious gift. The selection of fresh tropical fruits appealed to her appetite, helping her to keep up her strength. Sending the Tropical Fruit Basket was the perfect way to remind my girlfriend how much I care. Receiving it brightened her mood and made her day!

Cappuccino: Basic Information

by: Kaafae Blanda

Cappuccino is a cup of coffee with fresh milk and milk foam bubbles burst on the top of cup. The milk foam bubbles burst acts as the insulator and keep the heat of the coffee for a longer time. The color of Cappuccino is dark brown. Normally, the cappuccino is served in the porcelain cup. It is better than the glass or paper cup. Cappuccino is a name that from the color of the robe of priest in Roman Catholic called “Capuchin”. It always drinks in the morning with breakfast. And now, cappuccino is modified to serve by the chain stores and the other manufacturing.

Type of Cappuccino

Base on the mixture ratios of the cappuccino

1. Traditional Cappuccino

It is the espresso with the hot foam milk on the top. The Thick of foam milk is about 1 cm.

2. Cappuccino Chiaro (Light Cappuccino or Wet Cappuccino)

There is more milk ratio than the normal cappuccino.

3. Cappuccino Scuro (Dark Cappuccino or Dry Cappuccino)

There is less milk ratio than the normal cappuccino.

How to make a cup of cappuccino

Compositions

1. Roasted bean = 8-10 grams
2. Fresh milk = 4-6 ounces
3. Coffee cup = 6 ounces
4. Chocolate or cinnamon powder
5. Sugar

Method

The important point in making the cappuccino is the milk with foam bubbles. The skilled barista who has acquired some level of expertise in the preparation of coffee should be pay attention while creating the milk foam bubble burst in each type if cappuccino.

1. Use one by tree of coffee volume in a cup.
2. Heat the fresh milk with 60 grade Celsius or lower.
3. Make the fine milk foam bubbles burst in suitable volume.
4. Add one by tree cup of warm milk in the cup.
5. Use a tea spoon for take the milk foam bubbles burst on the top of coffee until the edge of cup.
6. Before serve, sprinkle the top with chocolate or cinnamon powder.

Ice Cappuccino (Cappuccino “Freddo”)

The method is similar to hot cappuccino. Ice cappuccino is cappuccino that serves with ice. The ice has to fine to small molecule. The glass volume should be 8-12 ounces and cylinder shape. Put cappuccino in fine ice and add the milk foam bubbles burst on the top about one of three from the edge of the glass. Before serve, coffee maker ought to wait a moment for cooled glass of cappuccino. And do not forget to put a stick in the glass. The drinkers should drink all in one time because if the ice melt, the taste/flavor will change.

How to drink Cappuccino

1. Never stir Cappuccino with spoon.

2. Normally, no need to add sugar because the Cappuccino is pretty sweet already. But if you want sweeter, add sugar a tea spoon and stir with gentle. Never use syrup as sweetener in Cappuccino because milk and syrup will incompatibility.

3. Smell the flavor of Chocolate or cinnamon powder before drinking.

4. After drinking, the foamed milk will stick at the bottom of the cup. If no foamed milk stick means the method of making coffee is not good enough.

The Best Way To Store Coffee Is To Go "Green"!

by: Ebenezer Heng

The best way to store coffee is a question that is always on coffee aficinados' mind, but one that is seldom "tackle". Think about it, in most coffee maker reviews, you have the best brewer, best grinder, best roaster and so on, but have you ever heard of a best container?

Folks all over the world are looking for the freshest brew, but not a lot of people are concerned about storing the coffee, which is actually a key element in the coffee experience. Unless, you have access to a coffee store near your house, and would never buy more than that day consumption. If not, you would definitely have to store the coffee.

So, what is the best way to store coffee? Remember the coffee freshness rule and you would know how long you can store that "coffee". Raw green coffee beans can be fresh for years, so they are the easiest to store. Roasted beans, which are what you can easily find in Supermarket, would lose their flavour after a week.

And if you were to ground the coffee, the flavour would be lost within hours. And you probably can forget about keeping brewed coffee as it begins to lose its flavour after minutes.

Based on the above, the easiest to store would be green coffee beans and personally, I think they are the best way to store coffee. All you need to do is to store in a cool location, in a tightly sealed container and you can keep it for more than a year!

Sure, you need to purchase a roaster and a grinder in addition to your coffee maker but you would not have to throw away any unused coffee and you would have the freshest coffee.

For roasted beans, it is similar to green beans, store in an airtight container and try to use ceramic as plastic or metal would contaminate the taste of the beans. Keep away from sunlight and try to store in dark places. This allows you to keep the beans fresh for at least 2 weeks.

And if you really want it to keep a longer time, keeping in the freezer can probably last for another 2 more weeks. To use it, just take it out and grind. Do take note that it is to keep in the freezer and not the fridge, never keep coffee beans in the fridge as it would simply absorb the odour of the other food and spoilt your coffee...

If you really want to store the roast and ground which cannot be store past a few days. Keep it with a good airtight container and away from the sun. This would allow the freshness to stay for a week. For the ground, freezer cannot help much as the surface area is too wide and it would still go stale.

If it is not green beans, the coffee beans would not last more than a month. To me, the best to store coffee is to go "green", however, let me go through the savings and convince you on this as well!

1 kg of Green beans can last you probably for a year and cost about $25.00. Assuming you have a fully automatic espresso machine which comes with a grinder, you would be buying roasted beans. You would have to buy them every month and it cost about $15.00 per 100g.

In one year, your roasted beans would cost you $150.00. So, between the roasted and the green coffee beans, that is a savings of $125.00. Sure, you have to get a roaster, let say you get a "Fresh Roast" roaster for $70.00, you still have a savings of $55.00.

Now, would you not agreed with me that the best way to store coffee is to go "green". Storing the Green coffee beans allows you to buy coffee in bulk (get discount from bulk purchase), roast your own coffee and have the freshest cup possible and not forgetting, it saves you some money in the process...

Kamis, 24 Juli 2008

Gluten Inedible Products

by: Anglea Morken

A common question among the newly diagnosed with celiac disease, an autoimmune condition triggered by the presence of gluten (wheat, rye, barley and oats), is whether you should be concerned about gluten found in inedible products—products that you don't eat but only use. The answer is yes. After using inedible products that contain gluten, make sure that you wash your hands well with non-gluten soap and water so that any residue found in the products will be washed away and not later find its way into your food. Inedible products include shampoos, conditioners, hair styling products, cosmetics, lip balms, nail care, soaps, lotions, sunscreens, laundry and household cleaning products, pet foods, arts and crafts supplies, etc. 

The rule for these inedible products is the same as for any product containing gluten. Your food must not come in contact with it! Neither should your mouth. If you touch any product containing gluten, wash your hands with soap and water before eating your own gluten-free food. The tiniest bit of residue left on your hands can cause an adverse reaction. The fact that a reaction can occur with such minimal ingestion is the reason that inedible products can also cause a reaction and should be avoided or treated properly. 

Most people with celiac disease do not get a reaction from merely touching gluten. The reaction occurs when the residue on your hands makes its way to your lips or into your mouth. This can be easier than you might think. There are many ways to ingest gluten. Take hair products. Unfortunately, a majority of hair care products contain gluten. Although you don't intend to get any shampoo or conditioner into your mouth, the water that comes out of your hair with the shampoo can bounce off the shower wall or shower curtain and land on your lips. You won't even notice yourself licking it off. Cosmetics, especially lipsticks, lip balms, nail polish and artificial nails, can also be a source of gluten. While lip balms and lipsticks are the more obvious sources for ingestion, nail polish and artificial nail products can also make their way to your mouth as you touch your food. Foundations, powders, blushes and bronzers can settle on your lips during application. They can also be a source of gluten if you absent-mindedly touch your face and then forget to wash your hands before eating. Washing your hands with confirmed gluten-free soap and water before you eat and getting into the habit of not touching your lips or mouth with your hands, may help keep you from ingesting the gluten in this manner. When you feed your pet, be especially careful. Many pet foods, especially dry pet food and treats, contain gluten. Make sure that you use the same precautions as you would use in handling any other type of gluten-containing food. Unfortunately, inedible products don't have the same labeling laws and restrictions as food does. Sometimes a product will contain gluten without it appearing on the label. 

Many manufacturers simply don't have the ability to fully verify all of their ingredients because one ingredient can come from several sources. You can get some good advice and information on whether or not the products you use contain gluten from on-line celiac support groups. A quick search of the message board archives can pull up information on the specific brands and items that concern you. If nobody has any experience with the products that you are concerned about, you can either switch to products trusted to be gluten-free by others in the celiac community or withdraw from using all of the unknown products. 

You can then slowly reintroduce them, one by one, to determine which one, if any, is causing a reaction. It is like adding new foods to your newborn baby. Individual products should be reintroduced several days apart from each other because reactions can sometimes take a few days to manifest. The bottom line is that if you suffer from celiac disease, it is your personal lifestyle and habits which will help you decide whether or not to take the chance of using inedible products containing gluten.

Tasty Gluten Free Products

by: Anglea Morken

In the gluten-filled world where we have spent most of our lives until now, we learned as children which products we liked to eat and which we didn't. Now, as sufferers of celiac disease or as a gluten intolerant, we find ourselves thrown into the task of finding gluten-free products to replace all those foods containing wheat, rye, barley and oats that we loved to eat--like bread, cookies, cakes and pastas. Our lives have suddenly become much more complicated. 

A totally gluten-free diet means learning to cope with the creation of menus for three meals a day every day of the week with gluten free products most of which we've never heard of or even tasted. While some products on the market are good, some are only okay and many are so bad that you may as well eat the carton on the box it came in. At the start of your gluten-free diet, many of the foods you have purchased will end up in your garbage pail and leave you frustrated and on the verge of deciding to give up on gluten-free food after only trying a few things. How can you ease your suffering and find what products are the most tasty in the easiest way possible, avoiding the costly and time-consuming trial and error system? One of the best ways is to follow the crowd. Log onto the on-line celiac message boards and local support groups. Here the members will tell you in no uncertain terms what gluten-free products are worth eating and which should be avoided at all costs. 

Since most people with celiac disease were diagnosed with the disease well into adulthood, they, like you, remember exactly what their favorite products tasted like. The modern gluten-free food manufacturer has a lot of work to do in the taste-pleasing department if he wants to keep his customers. Word of mouth spreads quickly in the celiac community. If a product meets or exceeds expectations, it quickly gains a following. If the product is tasteless, the word spreads just as quickly. There's nothing that a person with celiac disease hates more than spending good money on bad food. What follows below are some foods to get you started on your way. We have carried out a survey of some of the best-loved gluten-free food along with the names of their manufacturers. K-Toos (cream-filled chocolate sandwich cookies similar to Oreos); KinniKritters (animal crackers) and Tapioca Rice Cinnamon Buns (cinnamon rolls) are some of the favorite products coming from Kinnikinnick manufactures. All Kinnikinnick products are manufactured in a gluten-free facility so there is no need to worry about cross-contamination. As they have over 100 products there are plenty of products to choose from. 

If you are looking to go the mix route try looking in the health food sections for such popular mixes as Perfect Pie Crust, Chocolate Truffle Brownie Mix, Favorite Sandwich Bread and Angel Food Cake, all from the Glutino Food Group. Pamela's Products is another well-recognized brand that deserves its place high on the list of favorite gluten-free brands. Their Amazing Wheat-Free Bread Mix is among the most popular due to its soft, bendable texture. Their Ultimate Baking and Pancake Mix comes in a large, 4-pound recloseable zipper bag! If you are looking for pasta, no list of the best gluten-free brands would be complete without mentioning Tinkyada Pasta which can be used instead of regular pasta to cook all your pre-gluten-free pasta-based family recipes like spaghetti, casseroles and lasagna. And the best part about their products, which come in all the traditional shapes such as spaghetti, fettuccine penne, spirals, lasagna, shells and elbow macaroni, is their taste and high quality which enables celiacs and non-celiacs to enjoy the same great meal. 

You might be surprised at how easy it can be to live well on a gluten-free diet with some of these delicious, quality products in your kitchen. 

So here's to happy and tasty gluten-free eating!