Cooking is one of my specialties. While in the US Army Reserves I learned about Cooking. Indoor, outdoor and campfire cooking was fun and easy with cast iron cookware. I remember the outdoors and the smell of campfire cooking, accompanied by the chorus of the squirrels, crickets and birds, during bivouacs.
The most ordinary form of outdoor cooking is campfire cooking. For families it is particularly well fitting, it is an activity which presents an opportunity for pleasant evenings and outings. It has its own taste and fancy. Skill and knowledge is required, but both are easily acquired. Campfire cooking is a tradition in itself and some cooks have years of experience both on safaris and at home. For more details www.cooking-groundbeef.com .It is one of my favorite things in life. It is great; however, most campfire cooking is done in campgrounds. Credit to improvements in camping cooking gear and a horde of easy-prep and in-store ingredients, it need not be limited to burgers, dogs and smokes. Another unique way of campfire cooking is to cook some food items inside of other foods. Another unusual campfire cooking method is cooking in paper. An unfussy and simple way of campfire cooking is to set a large coffee can on the coals. The days of utilitarian campfire cooking of yesteryear are gone. Try out a few odd techniques the next time you're out camping.
For the tools and tips, place in your favorite search engines: campfire cooking grill, campfire ring, propane in the ground campfire with a cast iron pot, campfire grill, campfire tripod, campfire in a can , California campfire fireplace, little red campfire , cooking steamer, induction cooking, cooking tripod, cooking strainer, cooking smoker, cooking station, cooking table, cooking pot, cooking twine, cooking thermometer, cooking rings, bistro cooking, plank cooking. Search for some prime cooking on the web or books on tips and tricks for Dutch oven campfire cooking. Buy books which are specifically written for the camper who wants to make campfire cooking easier, safer, revealing how to make campfire cooking grilling and RVing easy and fun in camping. I learned years ago from a relative that most pans will do well for campfire cooking.
If you've never done any campfire cooking or camp cooking before, one of the things to be aware of is that you'll need to monitor food closely from start to finish because it can burn quickly. Placing a marshmallow or hotdog on the end of a good stick and holding the food at just the right distance from the heat. For more details www.cat-head-biscuit.com .One of the disadvantages to campfire cooking is that cookware gets much dirtier than it does when cooking with a stove. So most likely campfire cooking will require more clean-up. Although campfire cooking can take a little more time than simply firing up the stove, it is more rewarding. If on the other hand you're in the mood to take your time and enjoy the experience, campfire cooking can be relaxing in a way that a stove can't begin to match.
Here are some items that you will need to have to be prepared for campfire cooking: Camping Cookbooks containing all the unique and fun camping recipes to make campfire cooking enjoyable. A large barbeque grill or rack will let you enjoy the full flavor and aroma of campfire cooking, using either wood or charcoal briquettes. On a Campfire a simple and easy way of campfire cooking is to set a large coffee can on the coals.
Campfire cooking is the most common form of outdoor cooking. There is definitely more to campfire cooking than just scorching marshmallows and making smokes. Have an outdoor party. Guest or spectators may soon become participants as the host or hosts divide their guests into teams and turn them loose for an afternoon of supervised campfire cooking Spurred on, in part, as they are getting hungry. Campfire cooking is gaining in popularity and or bringing friends and family together at the same time.
Attend a campfire cooking class. There are conducted nationwide tours of campfire cooking clinics held every year at different campgrounds across the country.
While some view campfire cooking as a survival skill, most people do it for other reasons. Campfire cooking is a way to bring groups together. It is a method in which to lure kids away from their video games or as a way for divorced dads to entertain kids on weekends, campfire cooking is an ideal way for families to reconnect. Everything tastes better roasted over an open fire maybe that is why kids campfire cooking is so popular. When you are done with your kid's campfire cooking, make sure the fire is totally out.
How about Breakfast Muffins, fried or poached eggs, Chopped Ham, Shredded cheese, Diced potatoes, for example. Try cooking in a black skillet or even a 12 hole muffin pan. Salt and pepper half of muffin tin placing 6 eggs in 6 holes with 6 muffin mix muffins in the remaining 6 holes. Campfire popcorn can be popped in foil: Popcorn Kernels and oil or butter with salt for seasoning. Tear off an 18 inch square of tin foil. The first lesson to be learned about campfire cooking is that you do not cook over an open flame. Try to have all the latest and greatest campfire cooking gear on hand. Purchase only cast iron products. Browse products of campfire cooking gear to find those goods that will work the best for you. Dutch oven Campfire Cooking is almost an ancient form of making food and very prevalent today.
Select the relaxed comfort of your living room fireplace; staring into the embers as your banquet cooks, or watching the flickering flames dance and play while toasting your choice dessert; campfire cooking is a great way to generate memories with your family.
Whether camping with the family, hunting with friends or merely achieving that wood-grilled flavor at home, campfire cooking is delicious and easier than you might think. Dutch oven campfire cooking is one of the best ways to make meals on camping trips. The secret of any campfire cooking is to try and maintain steadily glowing coals, but once you have your fire in this state, you can gauge its approximate temperature by using your hand. The single most indispensable piece of gear for campfire cooking is the cast iron skillet. Cooking Campfire cooking is something of a science, much like cooking on the stove at home. In the days of automatic coffee makers and microwave ovens, campfire cooking is somewhat of a step back.
Thursday, 29 October 2009
Food Hygiene
The term food hygiene has been defined, by Codex Alimentarius (an international organisation for the development of food standards and guidelines) as "all conditions and measures necessary to ensure the safety and suitability of food at all stages of the food chain."
As will be seen from this definition the term "food hygiene" encompasses a wide range of measures that can be applied from the growth of food products and the raising of food animals, through harvesting and slaughter, processing, delivery, storage and final sale. However, for many, food hygiene will be equated with cleanliness; the cleanliness of food premises and food handlers.
Whilst the cleanliness of those who handle food and their equipment and surroundings is essential for good food hygiene to occur it is only one of the measures necessary if food is to be safely prepared.
Of equal or perhaps even more importance in maintaining good standards of food hygiene is the avoidance of cross-contamination and good temperature control. Cross-contamination is the passing of food poisoning bacteria from contaminated, usually raw food to ready-to-eat food. Such cross-contamination can occur in three ways, direct contact of e.g. raw meat with ready-to-eat food, the drip of raw food juices such as blood onto a ready-to-eat food and the use of unwashed hands or equipment to handle both raw food and ready-to-eat food.
Good temperature control is essential if satisfactory standards of food hygiene are to be achieved. In most investigations that occur following the outbreak of a food-borne disease a failure in temperature control is identified as one of causes of the event. Foods which are suitable media for the growth of pathogenic (disease producing) bacteria - mainly moist high protein foods such as meat, eggs and dairy products - must be kept either cold or hot. They should not be allowed to languish in the danger zone between 5°C - 63°C for any longer than absolutely necessary.
This means that good food hygiene practices will include the correct storage of cold food at 5°C or below and hot food at 63°C or above. Good food hygiene will also require that food is properly cooked and if not used straightaway that it is cooled quickly to 5°C and if reheated later that this is done quickly to a good temperature.
As far as cooking and reheating temperatures are concerned for potentially contaminated foods, like raw meat and poultry, the usual recommendations in food hygiene textbooks is 75°C for 30 seconds.
Besides cleanliness, temperature control and the avoidance of cross contamination food hygiene measures will also include a safe supply of water for food preparation and cleaning, pest control and the proper training of staff in the principles of food hygiene.
The modern approach to food hygiene puts considerable emphasis on food safety management systems, which are designed to provide assurance that the correct food hygiene practices are always in place. The internationally accepted HACCP approach is now incorporated as a mandatory requirement in Food Hygiene Regulations across the globe. HACCP stands for "Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point" and is a system that establishes the stages in the food business that is absolutely essential (critical) for food safety and seeks to control and monitor them. Such critical controls might include thorough cooking of food, avoidance of cross-contamination and adequate refrigeration of perishable items etc.
So food hygiene really is a wide discipline and its implementation requires commitment and investment in time and money by those who carry the responsibility of providing and preparing food for consumption by the public.
As will be seen from this definition the term "food hygiene" encompasses a wide range of measures that can be applied from the growth of food products and the raising of food animals, through harvesting and slaughter, processing, delivery, storage and final sale. However, for many, food hygiene will be equated with cleanliness; the cleanliness of food premises and food handlers.
Whilst the cleanliness of those who handle food and their equipment and surroundings is essential for good food hygiene to occur it is only one of the measures necessary if food is to be safely prepared.
Of equal or perhaps even more importance in maintaining good standards of food hygiene is the avoidance of cross-contamination and good temperature control. Cross-contamination is the passing of food poisoning bacteria from contaminated, usually raw food to ready-to-eat food. Such cross-contamination can occur in three ways, direct contact of e.g. raw meat with ready-to-eat food, the drip of raw food juices such as blood onto a ready-to-eat food and the use of unwashed hands or equipment to handle both raw food and ready-to-eat food.
Good temperature control is essential if satisfactory standards of food hygiene are to be achieved. In most investigations that occur following the outbreak of a food-borne disease a failure in temperature control is identified as one of causes of the event. Foods which are suitable media for the growth of pathogenic (disease producing) bacteria - mainly moist high protein foods such as meat, eggs and dairy products - must be kept either cold or hot. They should not be allowed to languish in the danger zone between 5°C - 63°C for any longer than absolutely necessary.
This means that good food hygiene practices will include the correct storage of cold food at 5°C or below and hot food at 63°C or above. Good food hygiene will also require that food is properly cooked and if not used straightaway that it is cooled quickly to 5°C and if reheated later that this is done quickly to a good temperature.
As far as cooking and reheating temperatures are concerned for potentially contaminated foods, like raw meat and poultry, the usual recommendations in food hygiene textbooks is 75°C for 30 seconds.
Besides cleanliness, temperature control and the avoidance of cross contamination food hygiene measures will also include a safe supply of water for food preparation and cleaning, pest control and the proper training of staff in the principles of food hygiene.
The modern approach to food hygiene puts considerable emphasis on food safety management systems, which are designed to provide assurance that the correct food hygiene practices are always in place. The internationally accepted HACCP approach is now incorporated as a mandatory requirement in Food Hygiene Regulations across the globe. HACCP stands for "Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point" and is a system that establishes the stages in the food business that is absolutely essential (critical) for food safety and seeks to control and monitor them. Such critical controls might include thorough cooking of food, avoidance of cross-contamination and adequate refrigeration of perishable items etc.
So food hygiene really is a wide discipline and its implementation requires commitment and investment in time and money by those who carry the responsibility of providing and preparing food for consumption by the public.
Sunday, 25 October 2009
Chinese Cooking With a Wok Cooking Secrets
My mother was of the idea that a man's place was never in the kitchen, and this was ingrained into us as she shooed us out of the kitchen every time whenever we tried to get into the kitchen to see what was cooking. It might not have been the best or correct thing to do, and as a result, her children -the sons, including me, For more detail go to:www.cooking-groundbeef.com.grew up not knowing how to cook until we were college going kids and had to live away from home and to start to cook and fend for ourselves.
Disadvantaged as we were in cooking for ourselves, it made us more aware of the beauty in mum's cooking. Mum's prepared food that was absolutely marvelous, both in taste and smell. Meals prepared by her were never ordinary. They were a delight to behold, a pleasure to consume - no matter how simple the dish was.
Now in her twilight years, mum can no longer cook for herself. She has bouts of amnesia, and old age has taken a severe toil on her. Dependent on others to cook and serve her meals, she can sometimes struggle to the kitchen and still manage to prepare a ten minute fast cooking instant noodle, much to our chagrin and anxiety. The doctor orders were not to let her near a stove for fear of a fit or a fall, lest she burn the house down.
Just yesterday, in the quiet of the night, I was able to recall times I had with mum when I was about to go to college. Vivid in my mind, as history started to flash back, I remembered words of wisdom from mum on cooking. We were always profuse in our praise and bountiful in our appreciation for mum's fantastic cooking. And on one occasion, she revealed the secret formula that had always enveloped the food she cooked.
"In Chinese cooking," she said one day," the two most important things are to have a sharp knife and a hot stove. Always sharpen your knife so that you can slice through your veggie and your meat or fish. Cutting them up becomes a pleasure and not a task. Be sure to have everything prepared before you start cooking: the vegetables washed, drained and cut; the meat cut and marinated; the sauces prepared."
"And get yourself a good wok - It is the one piece of cooking equipment you may want to purchase before you start cooking for more detail go to: www.breakfasts-recipes.com.Chinese food. Always heat up the wok. When cooking meat or poultry, make sure that the wok is very hot before adding the food. If you are going to stir-fried meat and vegetables, stir-fry the meat first and set it aside. Then return it to the wok with a sauce during the final stages of cooking. And use a little cornstarch as a binder at the end of your cooking, if it calls for that. Just remember how the dish tastes like, the way I cooked it", she said.
Throughout the years when I had to cook, her words of wisdom flashed back to me whenever I despaired over my cooking. I had seen my cooking improved, and had added more styles and recipes to vary my cooking in the later years.
"And the secret ingredient in all Chinese cooking is to add a little bit of inner joy to your dish as you cook. When you approach your cooking with this little bit of inner joy, you will have a song on your lips as you cook. Something mysteriously will spur you on to do your best and turn on the magic in your cooking," she added.
That day, last week, when I recalled those words of mum when I prepared a meal for her, I could only add not just a little bit of inner joy, I tried my best to give her a physical massive hug of love.
"Vary your ingredients to add textures, colors and flavors. Then it is possible to find harmony and balance in your meals. This is an important principle in Chinese cooking."
Mum may be frail and too old to handle a wok anymore, but her words of wisdom in Chinese cooking has helped us through the many years. Her simple tips for Chinese cooking may help you too.
In honor of my ailing mum who could prepare the best Chinese meals and dishes, a website providing free tips and cooking recipes with cooking videos, recipes and other resources is available for you. Visit Wok With Betty to gain new skills in Chinese cooking and to obtain free cooking recipes covering the entire range of international cuisine.
Disadvantaged as we were in cooking for ourselves, it made us more aware of the beauty in mum's cooking. Mum's prepared food that was absolutely marvelous, both in taste and smell. Meals prepared by her were never ordinary. They were a delight to behold, a pleasure to consume - no matter how simple the dish was.
Now in her twilight years, mum can no longer cook for herself. She has bouts of amnesia, and old age has taken a severe toil on her. Dependent on others to cook and serve her meals, she can sometimes struggle to the kitchen and still manage to prepare a ten minute fast cooking instant noodle, much to our chagrin and anxiety. The doctor orders were not to let her near a stove for fear of a fit or a fall, lest she burn the house down.
Just yesterday, in the quiet of the night, I was able to recall times I had with mum when I was about to go to college. Vivid in my mind, as history started to flash back, I remembered words of wisdom from mum on cooking. We were always profuse in our praise and bountiful in our appreciation for mum's fantastic cooking. And on one occasion, she revealed the secret formula that had always enveloped the food she cooked.
"In Chinese cooking," she said one day," the two most important things are to have a sharp knife and a hot stove. Always sharpen your knife so that you can slice through your veggie and your meat or fish. Cutting them up becomes a pleasure and not a task. Be sure to have everything prepared before you start cooking: the vegetables washed, drained and cut; the meat cut and marinated; the sauces prepared."
"And get yourself a good wok - It is the one piece of cooking equipment you may want to purchase before you start cooking for more detail go to: www.breakfasts-recipes.com.Chinese food. Always heat up the wok. When cooking meat or poultry, make sure that the wok is very hot before adding the food. If you are going to stir-fried meat and vegetables, stir-fry the meat first and set it aside. Then return it to the wok with a sauce during the final stages of cooking. And use a little cornstarch as a binder at the end of your cooking, if it calls for that. Just remember how the dish tastes like, the way I cooked it", she said.
Throughout the years when I had to cook, her words of wisdom flashed back to me whenever I despaired over my cooking. I had seen my cooking improved, and had added more styles and recipes to vary my cooking in the later years.
"And the secret ingredient in all Chinese cooking is to add a little bit of inner joy to your dish as you cook. When you approach your cooking with this little bit of inner joy, you will have a song on your lips as you cook. Something mysteriously will spur you on to do your best and turn on the magic in your cooking," she added.
That day, last week, when I recalled those words of mum when I prepared a meal for her, I could only add not just a little bit of inner joy, I tried my best to give her a physical massive hug of love.
"Vary your ingredients to add textures, colors and flavors. Then it is possible to find harmony and balance in your meals. This is an important principle in Chinese cooking."
Mum may be frail and too old to handle a wok anymore, but her words of wisdom in Chinese cooking has helped us through the many years. Her simple tips for Chinese cooking may help you too.
In honor of my ailing mum who could prepare the best Chinese meals and dishes, a website providing free tips and cooking recipes with cooking videos, recipes and other resources is available for you. Visit Wok With Betty to gain new skills in Chinese cooking and to obtain free cooking recipes covering the entire range of international cuisine.
The Super Foods that keep you Healthy
Get ready to experience a volume of information of the healthiest foods in the world. Here is a list of the top ten super foods that most health experts agree on. You should tell everyone you know about these foods and enjoy them at your next meal. From fruits and vegetables, to whole grains, nuts, beans and legumes, this power-packed nutritional inventory will take you into the best years of your life and beyond.
Fruits
1.
Cantaloupe
Only a quarter of cantaloupe provides almost all the vitamin A needed in one day. Since the beta-carotene in a cantaloupe converts to vitamin A, you get both nutrients at once. These vision-strengthening nutrients may help reduce the risk of developing cataracts. Like an orange, cantaloupe is also an excellent source of vitamin C, which helps our immune system. It is also is a good source of vitamin B6, dietary fiber, folate, niacin, and potassium, which helps maintain good blood sugar levels and metabolism. This pale orange power fruit may help reduce our risk of heart disease, stroke, and cancer.
2.
Blueberries
These mildly sweet (and sometimes tangy) berries offer a high capacity to destroy free radicals that can cause cancer. Low in calories, they offer antioxidant phytonutrients called anthocyanidins, which enhance the effects of vitamin C. These antioxidants may help prevent cataracts, glaucoma, varicose veins, hemorrhoids, peptic ulcers, heart disease and cancer.
Vegetables
3: Tomatoes
Tomatoes help us fight against heart disease and cancers such as colorectal, prostate, breast, endometrial, lung, and cancer of the pancreas. Tomatoes are also good sources of vitamin C, A, and K. In a 2004 study, it was found that tomato juice alone can help reduce blood clotting.
Fresh, organic tomatoes deliver three times as much of the cancer-fighting carotenoid lycopene. Even organic ketchup is better for you than regular ketchup! Look for tomato pastes and sauces that contain the whole tomato (including peels) because you will absorb 75% more lycopene and almost two times the amount of beta-carotene.
4: Sweet Potatoes
As an excellent source of vitamin A, C, and manganese, sweet potatoes are also a good source of copper, dietary fiber, vitamin B6, potassium and iron. Those who are smokers or prone to second-hand smoke may benefit greatly from this root vegetable that helps protect us against emphysema.
For a unique dessert, cube a cooked sweet potato and slice a banana. Then lightly pour maple syrup over the top and add a dash or two of cinnamon. Add chopped walnuts for an even healthier kick.
5: Spinach and Kale
A cancer-fighter and cardio-helper, spinach and kale top the list as far as green leafy vegetables are concerned. Much like broccoli, they provide an excellent source of vitamin A and C. Kale is a surprisingly good source of calcium at 25% per cup, boiled. Vitamin K is abundantly found in spinach as well, with almost 200% of the Daily Value available, to help reduce bone loss.
Whole Grains
6: Whole Grain Bread, Pasta and Brown Rice
Whether it's bread or pasta, the first thing to check for when purchasing whole grain bread and pasta is to make sure it is 100% whole grain. Remember to check the list of ingredients on the package. For example, look for the exact phrase "whole wheat flour" as one of the first ingredients listed in whole wheat bread. If it's not listed as such, then it's not whole grain. Wheat bran is a cancer-fighting grain that also helps us regulate our bowel movements.
Brown rice is also a better choice than refined grain (white rice) for the same reason as choosing whole wheat bread. Whole wheat flour or brown rice that turns into white flour or white rice actually destroys between 50-90% of vitamin B3, vitamin B1, vitamin B6, manganese, phosphorus, iron, and all of the dietary fiber and essential fatty acids we need. Even when processed white flour or white rice is "enriched," it is not in the same form as the original unprocessed kind. In fact, 11 nutrients are actually lost and are not replaced during the "enrichment" process!
Nuts
7: Walnuts
These nuts are packed with omega-3 fats, which is one of the "good" fats. A quarter cup of walnuts would take care of about 90% of the omega-3s needed in one day. Walnuts provide many health benefits including cardiovascular protection, better cognitive function, anti-inflammatory advantages relating to asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, and inflammatory skin diseases like eczema and psoriasis. They can even help against cancer and also support the immune system.
Beans and Legumes
8: Black Beans and Lentils
While black beans are a good source of fiber that can lower cholesterol, so are lentils. The high fiber content in both black beans and lentils helps to maintain blood sugar levels. Also a fat-free, high quality protein with additional minerals and B-vitamins, black beans and lentils fill you up and don't expand your waistline.
A complete, one-stop source of using a variety of beans and lentils comes easy when you can find a bag of 15-bean mix (includes black beans, lentils, navy, pinto, red, kidney, etc.) at the grocery store. Consider making a delicious soup with the addition of tomatoes, onions, garlic and your favorite spices with this bean mixture.
Dairy
9: Skim Milk and Yogurt
Skim milk (or low-fat) helps to promote strong bones, offering an excellent source of calcium, vitamin D, and vitamin K. These nutrients help protect colon cells from cancer-causing chemicals, bone loss, migraine headaches, premenstrual symptoms, and childhood obesity. Recent studies also show that overweight adults lose weight, especially around the midsection, when consuming low-fat dairy such as skim milk and yogurt.
Yogurt also includes the essential nutrients such as phosphorous and vitamin B2, vitamin B12, vitamin B5, zinc, potassium, and protein. Yogurt's live bacterial cultures also provide a wealth of health benefits that may help us live longer and strengthen our immune system.
Seafood
10: Salmon
Salmon is high in protein, low in saturated fat and high in omega-3 fats (the essential fatty acids that are also found in those walnuts mentioned earlier). Salmon is a heart-healthy food and is recommended to eat at least twice a week. When choosing salmon, it's best to stay away from farm raised and select wild instead. Research studies show that farmed salmon may cause cancer because it may carry high levels of carcinogenic chemicals known as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).
Other
Green Tea and "Power" Water
Although not food per say, the health benefits of these beverages are worthy of mentioning.
Green tea has beneficial phytonutrients and lower levels of caffeine than all other teas. The more research studying green tea, the more health benefits are found. A cancer fighter as well, green tea has antioxidant effects that lower risks of bacterial or viral infections to cardiovascular disease, cancer, stroke, periodontal disease, and osteoporosis.
Water packed with vitamins and/or naturally sweetened fruit are also the newest trend. Some offer a full day's supply of vitamin C while others promise no artificial sweeteners with a full, fruity taste.
As you can see, the top ten super foods are worth every bite (or sip). Now that you know which foods can help save your life, what's more important than investing in your health?
Fruits
1.
Cantaloupe
Only a quarter of cantaloupe provides almost all the vitamin A needed in one day. Since the beta-carotene in a cantaloupe converts to vitamin A, you get both nutrients at once. These vision-strengthening nutrients may help reduce the risk of developing cataracts. Like an orange, cantaloupe is also an excellent source of vitamin C, which helps our immune system. It is also is a good source of vitamin B6, dietary fiber, folate, niacin, and potassium, which helps maintain good blood sugar levels and metabolism. This pale orange power fruit may help reduce our risk of heart disease, stroke, and cancer.
2.
Blueberries
These mildly sweet (and sometimes tangy) berries offer a high capacity to destroy free radicals that can cause cancer. Low in calories, they offer antioxidant phytonutrients called anthocyanidins, which enhance the effects of vitamin C. These antioxidants may help prevent cataracts, glaucoma, varicose veins, hemorrhoids, peptic ulcers, heart disease and cancer.
Vegetables
3: Tomatoes
Tomatoes help us fight against heart disease and cancers such as colorectal, prostate, breast, endometrial, lung, and cancer of the pancreas. Tomatoes are also good sources of vitamin C, A, and K. In a 2004 study, it was found that tomato juice alone can help reduce blood clotting.
Fresh, organic tomatoes deliver three times as much of the cancer-fighting carotenoid lycopene. Even organic ketchup is better for you than regular ketchup! Look for tomato pastes and sauces that contain the whole tomato (including peels) because you will absorb 75% more lycopene and almost two times the amount of beta-carotene.
4: Sweet Potatoes
As an excellent source of vitamin A, C, and manganese, sweet potatoes are also a good source of copper, dietary fiber, vitamin B6, potassium and iron. Those who are smokers or prone to second-hand smoke may benefit greatly from this root vegetable that helps protect us against emphysema.
For a unique dessert, cube a cooked sweet potato and slice a banana. Then lightly pour maple syrup over the top and add a dash or two of cinnamon. Add chopped walnuts for an even healthier kick.
5: Spinach and Kale
A cancer-fighter and cardio-helper, spinach and kale top the list as far as green leafy vegetables are concerned. Much like broccoli, they provide an excellent source of vitamin A and C. Kale is a surprisingly good source of calcium at 25% per cup, boiled. Vitamin K is abundantly found in spinach as well, with almost 200% of the Daily Value available, to help reduce bone loss.
Whole Grains
6: Whole Grain Bread, Pasta and Brown Rice
Whether it's bread or pasta, the first thing to check for when purchasing whole grain bread and pasta is to make sure it is 100% whole grain. Remember to check the list of ingredients on the package. For example, look for the exact phrase "whole wheat flour" as one of the first ingredients listed in whole wheat bread. If it's not listed as such, then it's not whole grain. Wheat bran is a cancer-fighting grain that also helps us regulate our bowel movements.
Brown rice is also a better choice than refined grain (white rice) for the same reason as choosing whole wheat bread. Whole wheat flour or brown rice that turns into white flour or white rice actually destroys between 50-90% of vitamin B3, vitamin B1, vitamin B6, manganese, phosphorus, iron, and all of the dietary fiber and essential fatty acids we need. Even when processed white flour or white rice is "enriched," it is not in the same form as the original unprocessed kind. In fact, 11 nutrients are actually lost and are not replaced during the "enrichment" process!
Nuts
7: Walnuts
These nuts are packed with omega-3 fats, which is one of the "good" fats. A quarter cup of walnuts would take care of about 90% of the omega-3s needed in one day. Walnuts provide many health benefits including cardiovascular protection, better cognitive function, anti-inflammatory advantages relating to asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, and inflammatory skin diseases like eczema and psoriasis. They can even help against cancer and also support the immune system.
Beans and Legumes
8: Black Beans and Lentils
While black beans are a good source of fiber that can lower cholesterol, so are lentils. The high fiber content in both black beans and lentils helps to maintain blood sugar levels. Also a fat-free, high quality protein with additional minerals and B-vitamins, black beans and lentils fill you up and don't expand your waistline.
A complete, one-stop source of using a variety of beans and lentils comes easy when you can find a bag of 15-bean mix (includes black beans, lentils, navy, pinto, red, kidney, etc.) at the grocery store. Consider making a delicious soup with the addition of tomatoes, onions, garlic and your favorite spices with this bean mixture.
Dairy
9: Skim Milk and Yogurt
Skim milk (or low-fat) helps to promote strong bones, offering an excellent source of calcium, vitamin D, and vitamin K. These nutrients help protect colon cells from cancer-causing chemicals, bone loss, migraine headaches, premenstrual symptoms, and childhood obesity. Recent studies also show that overweight adults lose weight, especially around the midsection, when consuming low-fat dairy such as skim milk and yogurt.
Yogurt also includes the essential nutrients such as phosphorous and vitamin B2, vitamin B12, vitamin B5, zinc, potassium, and protein. Yogurt's live bacterial cultures also provide a wealth of health benefits that may help us live longer and strengthen our immune system.
Seafood
10: Salmon
Salmon is high in protein, low in saturated fat and high in omega-3 fats (the essential fatty acids that are also found in those walnuts mentioned earlier). Salmon is a heart-healthy food and is recommended to eat at least twice a week. When choosing salmon, it's best to stay away from farm raised and select wild instead. Research studies show that farmed salmon may cause cancer because it may carry high levels of carcinogenic chemicals known as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).
Other
Green Tea and "Power" Water
Although not food per say, the health benefits of these beverages are worthy of mentioning.
Green tea has beneficial phytonutrients and lower levels of caffeine than all other teas. The more research studying green tea, the more health benefits are found. A cancer fighter as well, green tea has antioxidant effects that lower risks of bacterial or viral infections to cardiovascular disease, cancer, stroke, periodontal disease, and osteoporosis.
Water packed with vitamins and/or naturally sweetened fruit are also the newest trend. Some offer a full day's supply of vitamin C while others promise no artificial sweeteners with a full, fruity taste.
As you can see, the top ten super foods are worth every bite (or sip). Now that you know which foods can help save your life, what's more important than investing in your health?
Monday, 19 October 2009
Basic Vegetarian Food Pyramid Facts
The vegetarian food pyramid lists recommended foods and quantities just as a traditional food pyramid does but also lists legumes and nuts instead of meat. Because of their high fiber content, fruits and vegetables replace the fiber category at the bottom tier of the pyramid, and make it unnecessary to include fiber as a separate category.
Be aware that the regular vegetarian food pyramid is not suitable for strict vegans since the dairy products listed are not within their guidelines. Replacing dairy with soy products, for example, is an alternative. The main difference between the vegan food pyramid and the vegetarian food pyramid would be the addition of breads and grains instead of dairy or egg products.
The vegetarian food pyramid is a great tool to figure out what nutrition your body needs. If you worry about having the right foods and the right amount of foods, you only need to reference the pyramid and plan from there. Adhering to a vegetarian diet is easier also as you will learn the correct foods and proportions for each type of food in order to maintain a balanced diet that means your nutritional needs.
The vegetarian food pyramid also helps you determine how much of each type of food your body needs and what is over the limit. At the top of the pyramid for the smallest amounts are fats, oils and sweets. This is the way it should be if you are looking for the healthiest diet available.
The food pyramid that a vegetarian follows is a graphic representation of the healthy compenents of their diet. When the food pyramid is followed religiously, you can be assured that your diet is as nutritious as it could be. This is a great way for dieters, who also follow a vegetarian diet, to design their food plan to get the proper nutrition while they are trying to lose weight.
People choose a vegetarian diet for many reasons and healthy nutrition is right at the top of the list. It can be a little more difficult for a vegetarian to get the nutrition they need without the inclusion of meat, but as the pyramid shows, it can be done. The effort that is expended on planning your food consumption will be rewarded with a greater degree of health and longevity. Most vegetarians are noticeably healthier than their meat eating counterparts.
When beginning a vegetarian diet, look to the vegetarian food pyramid when planning your meals. This will help you to understand how to get the nutrients you need to stay healthy. This information makes is very easy to move into a diet that is actually healthy. You will soon discover how to make delicious vegetarian meals that are also healthy.
Be aware that the regular vegetarian food pyramid is not suitable for strict vegans since the dairy products listed are not within their guidelines. Replacing dairy with soy products, for example, is an alternative. The main difference between the vegan food pyramid and the vegetarian food pyramid would be the addition of breads and grains instead of dairy or egg products.
The vegetarian food pyramid is a great tool to figure out what nutrition your body needs. If you worry about having the right foods and the right amount of foods, you only need to reference the pyramid and plan from there. Adhering to a vegetarian diet is easier also as you will learn the correct foods and proportions for each type of food in order to maintain a balanced diet that means your nutritional needs.
The vegetarian food pyramid also helps you determine how much of each type of food your body needs and what is over the limit. At the top of the pyramid for the smallest amounts are fats, oils and sweets. This is the way it should be if you are looking for the healthiest diet available.
The food pyramid that a vegetarian follows is a graphic representation of the healthy compenents of their diet. When the food pyramid is followed religiously, you can be assured that your diet is as nutritious as it could be. This is a great way for dieters, who also follow a vegetarian diet, to design their food plan to get the proper nutrition while they are trying to lose weight.
People choose a vegetarian diet for many reasons and healthy nutrition is right at the top of the list. It can be a little more difficult for a vegetarian to get the nutrition they need without the inclusion of meat, but as the pyramid shows, it can be done. The effort that is expended on planning your food consumption will be rewarded with a greater degree of health and longevity. Most vegetarians are noticeably healthier than their meat eating counterparts.
When beginning a vegetarian diet, look to the vegetarian food pyramid when planning your meals. This will help you to understand how to get the nutrients you need to stay healthy. This information makes is very easy to move into a diet that is actually healthy. You will soon discover how to make delicious vegetarian meals that are also healthy.
Cuisines of India
Indian cuisine is famous the world over with its distinguishing sophisticated use of spices and herbs. Indian cuisine is strongly influenced by widespread and longstanding vegetarianism within sections of India's majority Hindu and Jain communities. Very integral to the Indian culture is the Indian cuisine and love of food amongst its vast population, cuisines differ according to community, region, and state. Indian cuisine is delightfully unique with a great variety of foods, spices, and cooking techniques, each with its distinct taste. Each religion, region, and caste has left its own influence on Indian food.
Vedic Hindus since the Vedic times gave a number of vegetarian recipes to the Indian cuisine. Later, Christians, British, Buddhists, Portuguese, Muslims from Turkey, Arabia, and Persia, and others had their influence as well when they arrived in India. Vegetarianism came to prominence during the rule of Ashoka, one of the greatest of Indian rulers who was a promoter of Buddhism; currently, 31% of Indians are vegetarians. In India, food, culture, religion, and regional festivals are all closely related. Indian meat and fish cuisine is mostly influenced by the Muslim population
Rice, atta (whole wheat flour), and almost five dozen varieties of pulses form the staple of Indian cuisine with the most important being chana (bengal gram), toor (pigeon pea or red gram), urad (black gram) and mung (green gram). Chana is usually utilized in different forms, and can be used whole or processed in a mill that removes the skin, eg dhuli moong or dhuli urad, and can also be sometimes mixed with rice and khichri (a food that is excellent for digestion and similar to the chick pea, but smaller and more flavorful). The Indian dal consists exclusively of pulses except chana. Chana is often cooked whole for breakfast and is processed into flour (besan). Most Indian curries are fried in vegetable oil. Vegetable oil too, is of different varieties. In North India, groundnut oil is traditionally been most popular for frying, while in Eastern India, Mustard oil is more commonly used. In South India, coconut oil is common. In recent decades, sunflower oil and soybean oil have gained popularity all over India. Hydrogenated vegetable oil, known as Vanaspati ghee, is also a popular cooking medium.
Spices form the most important part of the flavor of the Indian cuisine. The most important spices in Indian cuisine are chilli pepper, black mustard seed (rai), cumin (jeera), turmeric, fenugreek, ginger, coriander and asafoetida (hing). Garam masala is a very important spice and is a powder of five or more dried spices, commonly comprised of cardamom, cinnamon and clove. Some commonly used leaves are tejpata (malabathrum), bay leaf, coriander leaf, and mint leaf which adds to the zing of any tasty recipe. The common use of curry leaves is typical of South Indian cuisine. Cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, saffron, and rose petal essences are some exclusive and costly spices usually used in sweet dishes.
Dairy products such as milk, paneer, ghee (clarified butter), and yoghurt are used in a higher proportion in the North Indian cuisine whereas South Indian cuisine uses unaltered milk products in large quantities. North Indian gravies are typically dairy-based and employ thickening agents such as cashew or poppy seed paste. Milk-based sweets are also very popular fare, being a particular specialty in Bengal and Orissa. Other common ingredients include chilies, saffron, and nuts.
The Indian pancake 'roti' or 'paratha' (flat breads) are usually cooked with the use of a 'tawa' or a griddle while baking breads such as 'naan', 'kulcha' and 'khakhra is usually accomplished in a large and cylindrical coal-fired oven called the 'tandoor' even a popular dish called 'tandoori' chicken is cooked in tandoor. Other type of breads include puri and bhatoora, which are cooked by deep frying in oil, are also common. Most of North Indian food, like anywhere else in India, is vegetarian. There is an amalgamation of cuisines throughout India. Fish and seafood are very popular in the coastal states of Orissa and West Bengal.
A variety of lentils, vegetables, and roti (wheat based bread) constitute the staple food of most of North India. The preparation of these varieties can vary from place to place. Some of the most popular Northern Indian dishes include: Buknu, Gujiya, chaat, daal ki kachauri, jalebi, imarti, several types of pickles (known as achar), murabba, sharbat, pana, aam papad, and Poha.
Another famous snack famous throughout India and belonging to North Indian cuisine is the 'samosa'. These days it is common to get it in other parts of India as well. The most common filling of samosa is a boiled, fried, and mashed potato, although a variety of fillings make it a most delicious and a hot favourite all over India.
There are several popular sweets (mithai) like gulab jamun, peda, khurchan, petha, rewdi, gajak, milk cake, balusahi, bal mithai, singori, kulfi, falooda, khaja, ras malai, gulqand, and several varieties of laddu, barfi and halwa.
Some common North Indian foods such as the various kebabs and most of the meat dishes originated with Muslims advent into the country.
The countries known as Pakistan and Bangladesh were a part of North and East India prior to the partition of India. As a result, the cuisines in these countries are very similar to northern and eastern Indian cuisine.
South Indian
Main article: South Indian cuisine
South Indian cuisine is distinguished by a greater emphasis on rice as the staple grain, the liberal use of coconut and curry leaves particularly coconut oil, and the ubiquity of sambar and rasam (also called saaru) at meals.
South Indian cooking is even more vegetarian-friendly than north Indian cooking. The practice of naivedya, or ritual offerings, to Krishna at the Krishna Mutt temple in Udupi, Karnataka, has led to the Udupi style of vegetarian cooking. The variety of dishes which must be offered to Krishna forced the cooks of the temple to innovate. Traditional cooking in Udupi Ashtamatha is characterized by the use of local seasonal ingredients. Garam masala is generally avoided in South Indian cuisine.
The dosa, idli, vada, bonda, and bajji are typical South Indian snacks.
South Indian cuisine is not limited to the above snacks, which are very popular. Andhra, Chettinad, Hyderabadi Nawabi, Mangalorean, and Kerala cuisines each have distinct tastes and methods of cooking.
Vedic Hindus since the Vedic times gave a number of vegetarian recipes to the Indian cuisine. Later, Christians, British, Buddhists, Portuguese, Muslims from Turkey, Arabia, and Persia, and others had their influence as well when they arrived in India. Vegetarianism came to prominence during the rule of Ashoka, one of the greatest of Indian rulers who was a promoter of Buddhism; currently, 31% of Indians are vegetarians. In India, food, culture, religion, and regional festivals are all closely related. Indian meat and fish cuisine is mostly influenced by the Muslim population
Rice, atta (whole wheat flour), and almost five dozen varieties of pulses form the staple of Indian cuisine with the most important being chana (bengal gram), toor (pigeon pea or red gram), urad (black gram) and mung (green gram). Chana is usually utilized in different forms, and can be used whole or processed in a mill that removes the skin, eg dhuli moong or dhuli urad, and can also be sometimes mixed with rice and khichri (a food that is excellent for digestion and similar to the chick pea, but smaller and more flavorful). The Indian dal consists exclusively of pulses except chana. Chana is often cooked whole for breakfast and is processed into flour (besan). Most Indian curries are fried in vegetable oil. Vegetable oil too, is of different varieties. In North India, groundnut oil is traditionally been most popular for frying, while in Eastern India, Mustard oil is more commonly used. In South India, coconut oil is common. In recent decades, sunflower oil and soybean oil have gained popularity all over India. Hydrogenated vegetable oil, known as Vanaspati ghee, is also a popular cooking medium.
Spices form the most important part of the flavor of the Indian cuisine. The most important spices in Indian cuisine are chilli pepper, black mustard seed (rai), cumin (jeera), turmeric, fenugreek, ginger, coriander and asafoetida (hing). Garam masala is a very important spice and is a powder of five or more dried spices, commonly comprised of cardamom, cinnamon and clove. Some commonly used leaves are tejpata (malabathrum), bay leaf, coriander leaf, and mint leaf which adds to the zing of any tasty recipe. The common use of curry leaves is typical of South Indian cuisine. Cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, saffron, and rose petal essences are some exclusive and costly spices usually used in sweet dishes.
Dairy products such as milk, paneer, ghee (clarified butter), and yoghurt are used in a higher proportion in the North Indian cuisine whereas South Indian cuisine uses unaltered milk products in large quantities. North Indian gravies are typically dairy-based and employ thickening agents such as cashew or poppy seed paste. Milk-based sweets are also very popular fare, being a particular specialty in Bengal and Orissa. Other common ingredients include chilies, saffron, and nuts.
The Indian pancake 'roti' or 'paratha' (flat breads) are usually cooked with the use of a 'tawa' or a griddle while baking breads such as 'naan', 'kulcha' and 'khakhra is usually accomplished in a large and cylindrical coal-fired oven called the 'tandoor' even a popular dish called 'tandoori' chicken is cooked in tandoor. Other type of breads include puri and bhatoora, which are cooked by deep frying in oil, are also common. Most of North Indian food, like anywhere else in India, is vegetarian. There is an amalgamation of cuisines throughout India. Fish and seafood are very popular in the coastal states of Orissa and West Bengal.
A variety of lentils, vegetables, and roti (wheat based bread) constitute the staple food of most of North India. The preparation of these varieties can vary from place to place. Some of the most popular Northern Indian dishes include: Buknu, Gujiya, chaat, daal ki kachauri, jalebi, imarti, several types of pickles (known as achar), murabba, sharbat, pana, aam papad, and Poha.
Another famous snack famous throughout India and belonging to North Indian cuisine is the 'samosa'. These days it is common to get it in other parts of India as well. The most common filling of samosa is a boiled, fried, and mashed potato, although a variety of fillings make it a most delicious and a hot favourite all over India.
There are several popular sweets (mithai) like gulab jamun, peda, khurchan, petha, rewdi, gajak, milk cake, balusahi, bal mithai, singori, kulfi, falooda, khaja, ras malai, gulqand, and several varieties of laddu, barfi and halwa.
Some common North Indian foods such as the various kebabs and most of the meat dishes originated with Muslims advent into the country.
The countries known as Pakistan and Bangladesh were a part of North and East India prior to the partition of India. As a result, the cuisines in these countries are very similar to northern and eastern Indian cuisine.
South Indian
Main article: South Indian cuisine
South Indian cuisine is distinguished by a greater emphasis on rice as the staple grain, the liberal use of coconut and curry leaves particularly coconut oil, and the ubiquity of sambar and rasam (also called saaru) at meals.
South Indian cooking is even more vegetarian-friendly than north Indian cooking. The practice of naivedya, or ritual offerings, to Krishna at the Krishna Mutt temple in Udupi, Karnataka, has led to the Udupi style of vegetarian cooking. The variety of dishes which must be offered to Krishna forced the cooks of the temple to innovate. Traditional cooking in Udupi Ashtamatha is characterized by the use of local seasonal ingredients. Garam masala is generally avoided in South Indian cuisine.
The dosa, idli, vada, bonda, and bajji are typical South Indian snacks.
South Indian cuisine is not limited to the above snacks, which are very popular. Andhra, Chettinad, Hyderabadi Nawabi, Mangalorean, and Kerala cuisines each have distinct tastes and methods of cooking.
Great Gourmet Coffee
The Ways of Making Great Gourmet coffee
1. Use high-quality gourmet coffee beans, freshly roasted and ground just before brewing.
2. Always use the correct grind for the method. If your gourmet coffee is too bitter and muddy, the grind is too fine; if the brew lacks flavor, the grind is too coarse.
3. Always use freshly drawn cold water.
4. Never guess amounts. Use the correct proportion of gourmet coffee and water (two level tablespoons per six ounces cold water for regular-strength gourmet coffee), preferably measuring both. I f gourmet coffee is too strong or weak, change grind and/or blend, not proportion of gourmet coffee to water.
5. Make sure the gourmet coffee maker is scrupulously clean and thoroughly rinsed. Gourmet coffee quickly picks up off-flavors during the brewing process.
6. For best results, always brew at least three-fourths of the gourmet coffee maker's capacity. Most large gourmet coffee makers do not make one or two cups satisfactorily.
7. Never guess when timing. Use the clock.
8. Remove the grounds from the brew as soon as the brew cycle is completed to prevent bitterness. Also for that reason, never rewet grounds.
9. Serve gourmet coffee immediately after brewing. (With drip methods, stir the brew before serving.) Gourmet coffee is at its best when just brewed.
10. If gourmet coffee must be kept warm, try to hold it at 180 degrees to 190 degrees farenheight. Brewed gourmet coffee stays palatable for twenty minutes, drink able for one hour maximum. The longer it is held, the less desirable it becomes.
11. Never reheat cooled gourmet coffee; it breaks down in flavor. Never allow the brew to boil; its flavor turns bitter.
Gourmet coffee 101:
Q. What's the difference between specialty gourmet coffee and why does it cost more than regular gourmet coffee?
A. Specialty gourmet coffee is a different species of gourmet coffee called Arabica. Arabica beans are picked and processed by hand, then freshly roasted to ensure consistent top quality. As a result of the special care and time required to harvest and process Arabica beans, the gourmet coffee is more expensive than the lower quality commercial beans. Commercial-grade gourmet coffee is usually machine picked and processed, and made from lower grades of gourmet coffee called Robusta.
Q. What's the difference between French Roast and regular gourmet coffee?
A. French Roast is a particular style of dark roasting that results in a dark , oily bean. French Roast is stronger and more flavorful than regular gourmet coffee.
Q. Which gourmet coffees have the least amount of caffeine?
A. Dark roast have less caffeine than light roast. That's because as gourmet coffee beans are heated at high temperatures, the caffeine evaporates. The longer the beans are roasted, the less caffeine they have (although the difference in caffeine content between roast is relatively slight). I f you want to cut down on your caffeine consumption but don't like the taste of decaffeinated gourmet coffee, try a dark brew. Or try a split shot espresso drink or a half decaf/half regular brewed gourmet coffee. NOTE: Arabica beans contain approximately half the caffeine of the lower-grade commercial gourmet coffees made from Robusta beans.
Q. Is drinking decaffeinated gourmet coffee harmful to your health?
A. There is no proven health risk associated with drinking decaf gourmet coffee. Methylene chloride, the chemical used to decaffeinate gourmet coffee, vaporizes at 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Since temperatures in the roaster reach in excess of 400 degrees Fahrenheit for several minutes, it is safe to assume that any residue burns off during this process. If you're still concerned, you can order a Swiss Water Process decaf, which is not treated with any chemicals.
Q. Is gourmet coffee fattening?
A. Gourmet coffee is 98% water and therefore has virtually no calories. Calories and fat come from the sugar and milk you add.
Q. How is gourmet coffee harvested and processed?
A. Gourmet coffee trees produce fruit known as gourmet coffee cherries. Inside the sweet, gummy pulp of each cherry are two flat, green gourmet coffee beans that lay against each other. Once the gourmet coffee cherries have been picked, the outer hull of the fruit must be removed to get to the beans. There are two methods used to extract the beans: the wet method and the dry method. The wet method requires a large supply of fresh water. A machine strips away the outer layers of skin and cherry, leaving the beans enclosed in a sticky inner pulp. The beans then are soaked for 24 to 72 hours in fermentation tanks to remove any remaining pulp. Gourmet coffees processed through the dry method generally have lower acidity and deeper, more complex flavors.
Q. How is gourmet coffee roasted?
A. Roasting is a fine art, requiring a delicate hand, split-second timing and an ability to judge when the gourmet coffee bean is at its peak of flavor. First, the roaster drops the green beans into a drum filled with hot air, causing the temperature inside the drum to drop. Then the roaster heats the beans until the water in the beans begins to steam, making the beans swell and audibly pop. The heat causes complex polysaccharides to break down into starches and then sugars, which caramelize. Aromatic oils within the beans boil to the surface, giving them an oily appearance. The expansion of oils causes a second audible "crack". Along the way, the beans darken from their original green to a rich chestnut brown. The longer the beans are roasted, the darker they become. Roasts are classified as light, medium, dark and darkest. Despite the current vogue for dark roast, they are not necessarily better. Some single origins are better suited to a light or medium roast.
1. Use high-quality gourmet coffee beans, freshly roasted and ground just before brewing.
2. Always use the correct grind for the method. If your gourmet coffee is too bitter and muddy, the grind is too fine; if the brew lacks flavor, the grind is too coarse.
3. Always use freshly drawn cold water.
4. Never guess amounts. Use the correct proportion of gourmet coffee and water (two level tablespoons per six ounces cold water for regular-strength gourmet coffee), preferably measuring both. I f gourmet coffee is too strong or weak, change grind and/or blend, not proportion of gourmet coffee to water.
5. Make sure the gourmet coffee maker is scrupulously clean and thoroughly rinsed. Gourmet coffee quickly picks up off-flavors during the brewing process.
6. For best results, always brew at least three-fourths of the gourmet coffee maker's capacity. Most large gourmet coffee makers do not make one or two cups satisfactorily.
7. Never guess when timing. Use the clock.
8. Remove the grounds from the brew as soon as the brew cycle is completed to prevent bitterness. Also for that reason, never rewet grounds.
9. Serve gourmet coffee immediately after brewing. (With drip methods, stir the brew before serving.) Gourmet coffee is at its best when just brewed.
10. If gourmet coffee must be kept warm, try to hold it at 180 degrees to 190 degrees farenheight. Brewed gourmet coffee stays palatable for twenty minutes, drink able for one hour maximum. The longer it is held, the less desirable it becomes.
11. Never reheat cooled gourmet coffee; it breaks down in flavor. Never allow the brew to boil; its flavor turns bitter.
Gourmet coffee 101:
Q. What's the difference between specialty gourmet coffee and why does it cost more than regular gourmet coffee?
A. Specialty gourmet coffee is a different species of gourmet coffee called Arabica. Arabica beans are picked and processed by hand, then freshly roasted to ensure consistent top quality. As a result of the special care and time required to harvest and process Arabica beans, the gourmet coffee is more expensive than the lower quality commercial beans. Commercial-grade gourmet coffee is usually machine picked and processed, and made from lower grades of gourmet coffee called Robusta.
Q. What's the difference between French Roast and regular gourmet coffee?
A. French Roast is a particular style of dark roasting that results in a dark , oily bean. French Roast is stronger and more flavorful than regular gourmet coffee.
Q. Which gourmet coffees have the least amount of caffeine?
A. Dark roast have less caffeine than light roast. That's because as gourmet coffee beans are heated at high temperatures, the caffeine evaporates. The longer the beans are roasted, the less caffeine they have (although the difference in caffeine content between roast is relatively slight). I f you want to cut down on your caffeine consumption but don't like the taste of decaffeinated gourmet coffee, try a dark brew. Or try a split shot espresso drink or a half decaf/half regular brewed gourmet coffee. NOTE: Arabica beans contain approximately half the caffeine of the lower-grade commercial gourmet coffees made from Robusta beans.
Q. Is drinking decaffeinated gourmet coffee harmful to your health?
A. There is no proven health risk associated with drinking decaf gourmet coffee. Methylene chloride, the chemical used to decaffeinate gourmet coffee, vaporizes at 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Since temperatures in the roaster reach in excess of 400 degrees Fahrenheit for several minutes, it is safe to assume that any residue burns off during this process. If you're still concerned, you can order a Swiss Water Process decaf, which is not treated with any chemicals.
Q. Is gourmet coffee fattening?
A. Gourmet coffee is 98% water and therefore has virtually no calories. Calories and fat come from the sugar and milk you add.
Q. How is gourmet coffee harvested and processed?
A. Gourmet coffee trees produce fruit known as gourmet coffee cherries. Inside the sweet, gummy pulp of each cherry are two flat, green gourmet coffee beans that lay against each other. Once the gourmet coffee cherries have been picked, the outer hull of the fruit must be removed to get to the beans. There are two methods used to extract the beans: the wet method and the dry method. The wet method requires a large supply of fresh water. A machine strips away the outer layers of skin and cherry, leaving the beans enclosed in a sticky inner pulp. The beans then are soaked for 24 to 72 hours in fermentation tanks to remove any remaining pulp. Gourmet coffees processed through the dry method generally have lower acidity and deeper, more complex flavors.
Q. How is gourmet coffee roasted?
A. Roasting is a fine art, requiring a delicate hand, split-second timing and an ability to judge when the gourmet coffee bean is at its peak of flavor. First, the roaster drops the green beans into a drum filled with hot air, causing the temperature inside the drum to drop. Then the roaster heats the beans until the water in the beans begins to steam, making the beans swell and audibly pop. The heat causes complex polysaccharides to break down into starches and then sugars, which caramelize. Aromatic oils within the beans boil to the surface, giving them an oily appearance. The expansion of oils causes a second audible "crack". Along the way, the beans darken from their original green to a rich chestnut brown. The longer the beans are roasted, the darker they become. Roasts are classified as light, medium, dark and darkest. Despite the current vogue for dark roast, they are not necessarily better. Some single origins are better suited to a light or medium roast.
Tuesday, 13 October 2009
Simple Chicken Recipes Info
Chicken recipes are healthy, economical, and easy to prepare. The recipes are so popular because chicken is not only versatile, but incredibly tasty. Chicken recipes can be served with many different types of side dishes. Chicken recipes are probably the most sought after recipes, for meat dishes. Chicken provides an excellent source of protein, and has less fat than all other types of red meat. Chicken is an easy to cook, inexpensive, versatile, high-protein and low-fat food choice that goes well with other foods.
Chicken can be cooked in many different ways, including baking, frying, poaching, grilling and more. Chicken is low in fat, especially when baked because of the lack of added fats, and it is found in practically every cuisine in the world. Chicken bakes as well as it fries, broils, or grills and you can get really creative with toppings, stuffing and flavourings for baked chicken recipes. Chicken is a heart healthy food which also tastes wonderful and as a bonus fried chicken recipes are very economical to make. Chicken can be prepared in a variety of mouth watering dishes in different cuisines across the globe.
Chicken and a crock pot make wonderful partners. Chicken is not only great tasting but a good choice for a heart healthy diet. Chicken soup is truly food for the soul, and more of it just means that much more nutrition. Chicken dishes is not only limited with main entrees, but chicken meat can also be added to salads to make it more flavourful. Chicken salad is one of the most refreshing and light meat salads. Chicken casseroles are another good choice for the busy modern family they can be made up before hand frozen and pulled out when needed placed into a hot oven and in a short order deliver a scrumptious meal to your table. Chicken casserole makes a healthy meal since chicken is low in fat and chicken casseroles often have plenty of fresh vegetables added to them.
Chicken stew is the perfect healthy heart meal because the combination of chicken, vegetables, rice, and some kind of juice or gravy is not only delicious but also low in fat, high in flavour and good for your health. Chicken soup recipes and chicken stew recipes are especially popular and knowing that such delicious foods are also part of the healthy heart diet makes eating a true pleasure. Chicken recipes allow you to give your family a delicious and healthy meal.
Roast chicken is not only an easy dinner to make, but when you cook it with the vegetables in the same pan it's absolutely effortless.
Baked Roasted Chicken:
Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter
2 Tablespoons dried rosemary, crushed
2 Tablespoons minced fresh parsley
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 whole roasting chicken (5 to 7 pounds)
8 small red potatoes, halved
6 medium carrots, cut into 2 inch pieces and halved lenghtwise
2 medium onions, quarted
Directions:
1. In a small saucepan, melt butter. Add rosemary, parsley, garlic, salt and pepper.
2. Place chicken with breast side up on a rack in a roasting pan, tie drumsticks together with cooking twine.
3. Spoon half of the butter mixture over chicken.
4. Arrange vegetables around chicken, drizzle remaining butter mixture over vegetables.
5. Cover and bake at 350 F for 1 1/4 hours, basting every 30 minutes.
6. Uncover, bake one hour longer or until a meat thermometer reads 180 degrees, basting occasionally.
7. Cover and let stand 10 minutes before carving.
Chicken can be cooked in many different ways, including baking, frying, poaching, grilling and more. Chicken is low in fat, especially when baked because of the lack of added fats, and it is found in practically every cuisine in the world. Chicken bakes as well as it fries, broils, or grills and you can get really creative with toppings, stuffing and flavourings for baked chicken recipes. Chicken is a heart healthy food which also tastes wonderful and as a bonus fried chicken recipes are very economical to make. Chicken can be prepared in a variety of mouth watering dishes in different cuisines across the globe.
Chicken and a crock pot make wonderful partners. Chicken is not only great tasting but a good choice for a heart healthy diet. Chicken soup is truly food for the soul, and more of it just means that much more nutrition. Chicken dishes is not only limited with main entrees, but chicken meat can also be added to salads to make it more flavourful. Chicken salad is one of the most refreshing and light meat salads. Chicken casseroles are another good choice for the busy modern family they can be made up before hand frozen and pulled out when needed placed into a hot oven and in a short order deliver a scrumptious meal to your table. Chicken casserole makes a healthy meal since chicken is low in fat and chicken casseroles often have plenty of fresh vegetables added to them.
Chicken stew is the perfect healthy heart meal because the combination of chicken, vegetables, rice, and some kind of juice or gravy is not only delicious but also low in fat, high in flavour and good for your health. Chicken soup recipes and chicken stew recipes are especially popular and knowing that such delicious foods are also part of the healthy heart diet makes eating a true pleasure. Chicken recipes allow you to give your family a delicious and healthy meal.
Roast chicken is not only an easy dinner to make, but when you cook it with the vegetables in the same pan it's absolutely effortless.
Baked Roasted Chicken:
Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter
2 Tablespoons dried rosemary, crushed
2 Tablespoons minced fresh parsley
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 whole roasting chicken (5 to 7 pounds)
8 small red potatoes, halved
6 medium carrots, cut into 2 inch pieces and halved lenghtwise
2 medium onions, quarted
Directions:
1. In a small saucepan, melt butter. Add rosemary, parsley, garlic, salt and pepper.
2. Place chicken with breast side up on a rack in a roasting pan, tie drumsticks together with cooking twine.
3. Spoon half of the butter mixture over chicken.
4. Arrange vegetables around chicken, drizzle remaining butter mixture over vegetables.
5. Cover and bake at 350 F for 1 1/4 hours, basting every 30 minutes.
6. Uncover, bake one hour longer or until a meat thermometer reads 180 degrees, basting occasionally.
7. Cover and let stand 10 minutes before carving.
Eating Fruits and Vegetables to Stay Healthy
Dietary experts recommend that every person should eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables every day. The importance of fruits and vegetables to a healthy diet has been known for quite some time, but studies have shown that very few people eat the amount of fruits and vegetables recommended for a healthy diet.
That's a shame, since eating a sufficient number of fruits and vegetables just may be the single most effective thing you can do to improve your overall health. The five a day approach to healthy eating may be the single most important strategy you can adopt for a healthier lifestyle.
The many health benefits of eating fruits and vegetables have been established for quite some time now. Study after study has shown that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables lowers the risk of certain cancers, heart disease and other chronic diseases and conditions. Some studies have suggested that as many as 35% of cancer deaths can be attributed to diet, and that diets high in fats and low in fruits and vegetables contributes to unnecessary cancer deaths.
Fruits and vegetables have a lot of advantages besides just their nutritional importance. For one thing, they taste great and add a great deal of variety to everyday meals. Fruits and vegetables come in such a wide variety of colors, textures and flavors that they can be used in virtually every meal. Those seeking to maximize their consumption of fruits and vegetables should get into the habit of using fruits in salads, as toppings and as garnishes.
In addition to their great taste, fruits and vegetables are packed full of many essential vitamins and minerals, including many micronutrients that are not included in packaged vitamin supplements. For instance, foods like butternut squash, pumpkins, carrots, mangoes, peaches, pawpaws and green leafy vegetables are rich in beta carotene. Beta carotene is vital for healthy skin and eyes.
In addition, most varieties of fruits and vegetables contain vitamin C, another important vitamin and a strong antioxidant. Good sources of vitamin C include Brussels sprouts, citrus fruits, strawberries, broccoli, nectarines and kiwi fruit. Many fruits and vegetables, including spinach, broccoli and avocadoes, are also good sources of vitamin E, another excellent antioxidant.
Men and women alike should always strive to eat a healthy diet, but women have an extra incentive to get all the nutrition they need. Proper nutrition is essential to a healthy pregnancy, and some of the baby's biggest nutritional needs happen before the pregnancy is discovered. Folic acid is perhaps the best known essential nutrient for pregnant women. Folic acid has been proven effective at preventing a variety of birth defects, including Spina Bifida. Good dietary sources of folic acid include Brussels sprouts, broccoli, spinach and oranges. In addition, due to its importance to women of child bearing years, many common foods such as cereals and breads, are supplemented with folic acid.
In addition to their importance as source of vitamins and minerals, fruits and vegetables also provide essential dietary fiber. Adequate fiber in the diet is important in preventing heart disease and some kinds of cancer.
Another great feature of fruits and vegetables, especially to those watching their weight, is the high nutrition, low fat, low calorie nature of these foods. Fruits and vegetables contain very low levels of fats, and a diet low in fat can be quite effective for long term weight loss. In addition, fruits and vegetables contain no cholesterol, and they are lower in calories than many other types of foods.
With all these things going for them, it is no wonder so many dietary experts recommend eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables. Not only are fruits and vegetables delicious and nutritious, but they can be quite inexpensive as well. Buying fruits and vegetables that are locally grown, and that are in season, is usually the most cost effective way to get the freshest fruits and veggies at the lowest possible cost.
This buying strategy also helps to ensure a steady stream of new fruits and vegetables every month, as some go out of season while others are just coming in. Trying a variety of different fruits and vegetables, including some you may not be familiar with, is also a great way to create exciting new dishes and prevent yourself from becoming bored with the same old diet. Whether your goal is to lose weight or just increase your level of fitness, it is hard to go wrong with a diet rich in fruits and vegetables.
That's a shame, since eating a sufficient number of fruits and vegetables just may be the single most effective thing you can do to improve your overall health. The five a day approach to healthy eating may be the single most important strategy you can adopt for a healthier lifestyle.
The many health benefits of eating fruits and vegetables have been established for quite some time now. Study after study has shown that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables lowers the risk of certain cancers, heart disease and other chronic diseases and conditions. Some studies have suggested that as many as 35% of cancer deaths can be attributed to diet, and that diets high in fats and low in fruits and vegetables contributes to unnecessary cancer deaths.
Fruits and vegetables have a lot of advantages besides just their nutritional importance. For one thing, they taste great and add a great deal of variety to everyday meals. Fruits and vegetables come in such a wide variety of colors, textures and flavors that they can be used in virtually every meal. Those seeking to maximize their consumption of fruits and vegetables should get into the habit of using fruits in salads, as toppings and as garnishes.
In addition to their great taste, fruits and vegetables are packed full of many essential vitamins and minerals, including many micronutrients that are not included in packaged vitamin supplements. For instance, foods like butternut squash, pumpkins, carrots, mangoes, peaches, pawpaws and green leafy vegetables are rich in beta carotene. Beta carotene is vital for healthy skin and eyes.
In addition, most varieties of fruits and vegetables contain vitamin C, another important vitamin and a strong antioxidant. Good sources of vitamin C include Brussels sprouts, citrus fruits, strawberries, broccoli, nectarines and kiwi fruit. Many fruits and vegetables, including spinach, broccoli and avocadoes, are also good sources of vitamin E, another excellent antioxidant.
Men and women alike should always strive to eat a healthy diet, but women have an extra incentive to get all the nutrition they need. Proper nutrition is essential to a healthy pregnancy, and some of the baby's biggest nutritional needs happen before the pregnancy is discovered. Folic acid is perhaps the best known essential nutrient for pregnant women. Folic acid has been proven effective at preventing a variety of birth defects, including Spina Bifida. Good dietary sources of folic acid include Brussels sprouts, broccoli, spinach and oranges. In addition, due to its importance to women of child bearing years, many common foods such as cereals and breads, are supplemented with folic acid.
In addition to their importance as source of vitamins and minerals, fruits and vegetables also provide essential dietary fiber. Adequate fiber in the diet is important in preventing heart disease and some kinds of cancer.
Another great feature of fruits and vegetables, especially to those watching their weight, is the high nutrition, low fat, low calorie nature of these foods. Fruits and vegetables contain very low levels of fats, and a diet low in fat can be quite effective for long term weight loss. In addition, fruits and vegetables contain no cholesterol, and they are lower in calories than many other types of foods.
With all these things going for them, it is no wonder so many dietary experts recommend eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables. Not only are fruits and vegetables delicious and nutritious, but they can be quite inexpensive as well. Buying fruits and vegetables that are locally grown, and that are in season, is usually the most cost effective way to get the freshest fruits and veggies at the lowest possible cost.
This buying strategy also helps to ensure a steady stream of new fruits and vegetables every month, as some go out of season while others are just coming in. Trying a variety of different fruits and vegetables, including some you may not be familiar with, is also a great way to create exciting new dishes and prevent yourself from becoming bored with the same old diet. Whether your goal is to lose weight or just increase your level of fitness, it is hard to go wrong with a diet rich in fruits and vegetables.
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