Thursday, December 29, 2011

How Improving Your Cooking?

Cooking is more than just a chore. It can be a very fulfilling experience. When you make a meal you are putting your work and your concentration into something, and with just the right amount of experience, equipment, and ingredients can make something fairly magical.

Anybody can learn to make themselves at least a few nice meals and it is irrelevant whether you prefer to eat simple or have a complicated palette. The key to eating well is you knowing what to do with what you've got.

How can you expect to learn how food is supposed to taste when all you do is scarf it down? When you eat your meals, savor every bite. Just because something is hot off the grill or freshly baked from the oven doesn't mean it needs immediate ingestion. Observe it. See how it was prepared; look at the spices on it, the color, and the texture of the cut. Bite it and let the flavor stay for a bit before you wash it down with a drink. Take note the freshness of ingredients. Try and replicate this.

Make sure when you cook that your major kitchen appliances are working properly. Know how to use them or learn how to if you still feel worried. The better you can control things like heat on electric or gas ranges the better the results you will get. Become comfortable timing meals. Are you familiar with all the special features? Some of the more professional grade brands like Viking and Wolf kitchen appliances will have special settings for the type of meals you intend to make, and may make setting temperatures easier. While you're at it get yourself some good kitchenware: mixing bowls, measuring cups for both dry and liquids, whisks, cutting boards, stainless steel knives, etc. A better equipped kitchen will make cooking easier.

Sunday, December 25, 2011

How A Beginners Guide to Being a Vegetarian?

Technology is a sign of development and a symbol for modern prosperity, but because of these advancements, we cannot deny the fact that too much will also increase health risks such as cancer and other dangerous diseases. Like for example, the tendency for a free radical to initiate cancer increases because of the development of new cosmetics or food that is sprayed with some pesticides or supplements that can harm people when eaten.

Because of this reason, people tend to be more health conscious and they want knowledge about the new things that the human race developed. So, consumers looked for alternatives wherein they can reduce their exposure to these health risks and that they want something that could give them longer life. With this pursuit of looking for a better lifestyle, some people turned to being a vegetarian. They chose to be and more or less, you chose to be a vegetarian because of health benefits and vitamins that you could get. I myself loves vegetables and as a matter of fact, my meal isn't complete without it.

For a vegetarian, the heart of their diet is of course Vegetables. Some found these distasteful especially on the part of the kids. Kids surely loves meat! But parents, let's think of its health benefits and other betterment that it could give to us. Today, many culinary schools, restaurants and chefs made new and delicious vegetable dishes that some of which already tastes like meat!

There are a huge array of vegetables, and all of which are full of vitamins and nutrients that helps the body to become healthy. As a matter of fact, eating vegetables can also fight aging because it also contains anti-oxidants that protects your skin from UV light and radicals present in our surroundings. In addition, eating vegetables also helps you lose weight. Now, we're already talking about diet and aging! I knew it! People should love this piece of art created by our Holy God.

Vegetables does not only give you youth and great body but also boosts your immune system and improves your overall health. There are a number of health studies that show people who choose to be a vegetarian are likely to improve their health and longevity. Once study shows that, vegetarians experience a 30 per cent (30%) less heart disease, upto 40 per cent (40%) less prone to cancer and 20 per cent (20%) less premature mortality. It also shows that, people who have a good diet as a vegetarian have a decrease in blood pressure and circumstances of obtaining obesity and diabetes are reduced (Parragon Books Ltd, 2005).

While eating vegetables is good, having a balanced diet tops it all up. This includes eating fruits, eggs, dairy products,,nuts, seeds, lentils and pulses. A healthy diet can be achieved by careful planning and proper combination of foods. Though this method is quite difficult, you can get the hang of it through reading, practice and experience.

Saturday, December 24, 2011

In Home Wedding Cake Baker Vs Commercial Shop

My spouse and I owned a successful full service bakery in Cincinnati, Ohio fifteen years ago. We mass-produced cookies, cupcakes, coffee cakes, Danish pastry, donuts and even fresh-baked breads. It was among the last of the dying breed of old world style bakeries. And that is a shame. But now, bakeries specialize in only a few items and some, only cakes. Now my question to you is this: Are in-home-cake bakeries as good as commercial cake shops? Well let me give you some quick reasons why:

1) Cleanliness. Let me just say cleanliness depends on the person baking the cakes, not the location of the bakery. A meticulously clean person will be so whether at a commercial site or their home. I, for example am obsessively compulsive about the cleanliness of my work area and the cakes I produce. But that's how I am whether I produced cakes from a shop or from my home.

2) Quality. Anyone in business outside of their home has overhead costs for building space and commercial equipment. So naturally, they try to save on costs of goods and ingredients. Home bakers have an advantage of not having this extra expense. In addition, they often limit their number of cakes so they can focus on quality. As for me, I am fanatical about good taste and the best of the best ingredients. I know this sounds like a commercial, but its true. At our shop our passion is to make our brides and her guests fall in love with our cake!

3) Focus. In home bakers can focus on the business of cake baking and designing. They have none of the trappings that come with running a commercial shop. These things are not a distraction for the home baker. They usually limit the number of cakes they do in a given week in order to perfect each one and they tend to handcraft their cakes and forgo shortcuts that lend to mass production.

So if your in the market for a wedding cake, think twice before you shy away from a baker who works out of their home. Don't hesitate to interview them at their home. Sample their product and get a feel for their working environment. Believe me when I say, an in home bakery can compete with any commercial shop or grocery store producing wedding cakes, and I'm pretty sure we'd win by a long distance!

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Who Thought White Was The Best Colour To Wear In A Kitchen?

There are thousands of chefs throughout the land cooking many different dishes from their own cuisine in various different countries, all of which have their own way of doing certain tasks. One thing remains the same however and that is the white chef uniform, but why white?

Have you ever asked the question that I always think when I see a chef? "Why do they wear white"? That is the one colour of clothing I try to avoid wearing if I am cooking in the kitchen. This may be a rare occasion as I only tend to bake, but still, how can it be a practical colour? Chefs do have good reasons for wearing white and one of those reasons is the same as why you should wear it on holiday, it reflects! White is the best colour for reflecting heat and kitchens get extremely hot with all the pans, ovens, body heat and tempers around!

Wearing long sleeves in a kitchen also sounds like it would be a bit of a nightmare but the white material allows your skin to breathe so you can still let out your body heat and prevent yourself from getting burnt which would really hurt and be a lot worse than being hot for a few hours a day. Chef's clothing has a lot more secrets behind it than just being a white jacket and hat and it is interesting to learn about. Without these jackets, cooking could be a lot harder and hold potentially a certain element of danger. Chef's hats also have a hidden message behind them. The different height of the chefs hats determine what rank they hold in the kitchen, so even if you feel silly wearing a hat, the higher it stands the hat the more authority they hold!

If white is not your colour and washes you out, you may not be keen on the standard uniform, although your bright red face from the heat of the kitchen may actually off-set it! A chef's uniform is one of the most easily and well-recognized uniforms in the world and has been around for many, many years. Recent chefs have decided to jazz up their outfits by wearing bright coloured trousers and coloured kerchiefs in their pockets, but one thing that will always remain is the style as it is created to make sure that you are as hygienic as possible.

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Where Do You Get Your Pizza?

Pizza is a popular dish that is enjoyed by nearly every American at one time or another. Some families feast on it weekly, while others save it as a special treat for birthdays and other celebrations. Since it is not particularly expensive, many families opt to make it at home and customize it to their liking. No matter where you live, you can get your pizza from a few different types of places.

Pizzas can be purchased at your local grocery store. Some carry fresh ones that can be baked at home. Most carry frozen pizzas, and you may be surprised at how tasty these can be. If you are up for making your own pizza, you can purchase the necessary ingredients and head home to use your own oven.

Most people choose to get their pizzas from restaurants, but even these can vary quite a bit. Pizzerias vary dramatically, from the mom and pop shop to the gourmet pizzeria and just about everything in between. Family-owned pizzerias feature tried and true recipes that have been passed down for years from one family member to the next. It is highly likely that all the members of the family are working there on the weekends and that the pizzas taste like a slice of heaven. Gourmet pizzerias offer a little more "class" and upper-scale flare to their pies. Here you are likely to find unusual ingredients and a heftier price tag as well.

Another popular type of pizzeria is the buffet. Buffets are great when you are feeding a big family or sports team, because everyone can get something they like without the fuss. Another benefit to a buffet is that they are usually "all you can eat" so no one goes away hungry. Pizza buffets often offer unusual combinations in conjunction with traditional favorites. If you have someone with you that prefers a salad or pasta instead, that is usually available as well.

Regardless of where you choose to get your pizzas, do not be afraid to try something different once in a while. If a new topping or sauce is featured, give it a try and see if you like it. In the mid-1990's, one pizza chain started stuffing the crust with mozzarella cheese. This fad caught on because so many people enjoyed it. Some restaurants add chicken and BBQ sauce to their pies while still others feature flavored crusts and dipping sauces.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Food Storage Tips for Beginners

Storing provisions in times of excess is a smart way to plan for the future and protect your family in the event of a food shortage or crisis. There are different methods of storage available, and each have their own advantages. Research each type of food storage method and decide what's best for your family.

The first type of food storage is freezing. Freezing simply involves carefully wrapping the victuals or sealing them in a freezer-safe container and freezing it. Food stored in the freezer lasts variable amounts of time, and all different types of sustenance can be frozen. Some items, such as celery and lettuce, don't retain their taste or texture after being frozen. Storing food in the freezer requires energy to run the freezer, and is impractical as an emergency food supply.

Another method of food storage is canning. Canning is simply the process of packing items into cans or jars and heating the contents until all potential bacteria is killed. The jars are sealed to keep the food fresh. Canned foods last for years before spoiling, though the quality of the edible items declines after several years. The downside is that it can be costly to buy the necessary equipment and canned foods take up a lot of storage space.

Finally, there is a method of food storage called freeze-drying. Freeze-dried food is simply food that has had most of it's water removed. Removing the water makes the food more compact and lightweight, making freeze-dried food highly portable. Many people are unfamiliar with freeze-dried food and the benefits it offers.

Freeze-dried food can last up to 25 years. This is far longer than canned foods and frozen foods last, even under ideal conditions. The freeze-dried items can be stored away and forgotten abut until it is needed.

Freeze-dried items retain their taste better than with other methods of food storage. The quality of the freeze-dried morsels depends on the quality before the water was removed.

Unlike heavy jars or frozen containers, freeze-dried cuisine is lightweight and easy to move. This method of food storage produces such light weight fare that you can even backpack easily with a days supply of food. Water gives food most of its weight and freeze-drying removes the water from edible items, making it lighter.

Freeze-dried food is easy to prepare compared to other methods of food-storage. Most foods can be prepared in just a matter of minutes, and the process is so simple, even a child can do it!

Monday, December 12, 2011

How The Truth About Alkaline Water?

The cliché says water is essential to life, but apparently not all types of water are good. According to modern knowledge, much of the water people drink today is acidic. Bottled water sold is said to be acidic or just neutral. Now, there are certain types of organizations and companies that specify a certain type of water is most recommended. They call it alkaline water, or alkaline H2O, which has been causing some buzz lately due to some effective promotional methods. But what exactly is alkaline water?

A Product of Electrolysis

According to a company that produces the "miracle" water; plain water can be converted to alkaline H2O through electrolysis. They have machines that pass electric currents through the water to separate it to its component ions: hydrogen ions and hydroxide ions. This results in two kinds of water, one is acidic and the other one alkaline.

Healing Benefits

Producers of the "healthy" water do not promise to cure your illnesses with their water, but they do assert that alkaline H2O is good for your health. Surveys in different communities discovered that tap water's pH is around 7.2, which is neutral. This is good, but they say that water with higher pH is the better alternative.

There are no specific health benefit claims. If you check out websites of alkaline H2O health benefits, you may come across sites that state alkaline H2O has antioxidant properties. There are even videos on the Internet that demonstrate the antioxidant properties of alkaline water. Some people dismiss these demos as promotional gimmicks. Then again, there are alkaline water drinkers who testify that their arthritis or diabetes was gone after months and years of drinking the miracle water.

Cost of Ionizers

One drawback of the so-called miracle water is that it is expensive to produce. Although you can buy alkaline H2O, as it is available in different stores, many people opt for ionizers. These are machines that transform ordinary water to alkaline water. The cost of the machine is more than a thousand dollars.

The good thing about ionizers is they can provide a homeowner with a steady supply of alkaline H2O. There is no need to buy alkaline water from suppliers. The main inconvenience is the cost of the machine, which also need to be maintained.

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Various Benefits of Portable Ice Makers

Summers are quite fun but they can be extremely exhausting at times and you need help to survive them by the help of juices, ice cream etc. Many people find that the refrigerator, where they store all their drinks and confectioneries at a cold temperature, is their savior in the summer months. In a similar fashion, people have freezers where they keep their drink and other materials chilled and use them to make ice which can be used as a coolant for drinks. They believe that they can easily beat the summer heat with a simple freezer of refrigerator but they do not know what they are missing.

Freezers are pretty handy as a device but they are large bulky and heavy and pretty much stationary. To overcome the limitation of a normal conventional freezer, portable ice makers were developed so that ice could be produced separately and easily. These devices while not very convenient to carry around do offer some mobility in the form of being smaller and more compact when compared to freezers. Portable ice makers are not very heavy and just require a flat surface to be placed on, and an electrical connection but not of the same voltage as a full size freezer.

These machines need to be provided with water and the machine should be turned on once the electrical power supply connection is deemed safe. After the machine has been running for a few minutes it will start producing ice. The ice produced by these machines is not as compact as the one produced by a full size freezer but is serves the purpose. Unfortunately the ice once made has to be used or it will melt again. However, many portable ice makers have the ability to use the water produced by the melted ice to make more ice.

Portable ice makers are especially handy if you are planning to have a picnic or an outdoor event where an electrical supply will be available. Similarly, if there is a sports event with many people participating such as soccer, then a portable ice maker is ideal and bound to be the most valuable and popular thing on the ground. These machines also make the perfect addition to an annex or a summer home.

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Is Drinking Olive Oil Healthy For You?

Olive oil is an integral part of the Mediterranean diet which has been recognized as one of the healthiest in the world. No self-respecting Spaniard, Greek or Italian table would be complete without olive oil for salads and chunks of fresh bread.

Why anyone would simply want to drink olive oil when it enhances the taste of salads and improves the flavour of any dish is a mystery, but if you want to you can drink it. However you should only have one or two tablespoons of it a day as it has a laxative effect.

Research has shown that the best type of olive oil is the extra virgin oil which comes from the first pressing. Others from later pressings are healthy, but the extra virgin is by far the healthiest. You should buy it in a dark glass bottle as it deteriorates in sunlight so should be stored in a relatively cool dark place. You can store it in the fridge too as this doesn't detract from its taste or medicinal value. Extra virgin olive oil may be a luscious dark green or even a pale yellow; it depends on where the oil originated, the soil the olive tree grew in, and the particular climate of its area of origin.

There have been many research studies into olive oil and its health benefits, because of its importance in the Mediterranean diet, and it has been found to have heart protective properties as it can lower cholesterol levels and high blood pressure, and prevent hardening of the arteries. Olive oil consists of 75 per cent oleic acid which is an Omega-9 fatty acid and it now seems that this is able to decrease high blood pressure. With a decreased blood pressure rate you will lessen the risks of strokes and help lower your risk of heart disease.

Also, according to the Diabetes Care scientific journal, a diet rich in olive oil can reduce the risk of Type II diabetes which is becoming more prevalent today. Monounsaturated fats such as those found in olive oil may benefit insulin levels and help control blood sugar levels it is believed.

Having olive oil in your diet can also help with depression, (as can the herb, borage) as polyunsaturated fats such as those found in it, fatty fish and some vegetables, are associated with a lower risk of suffering from depression.

A phytonutrient in this oil, oleocanthal, has been found to imitate the effects of the pain-relieving drug, Ibuprofen, on inflammation. This can in turn reduce the risks of contracting breast cancer and its recurrence.

Squalene and lignans (such as those found in flax seeds) also found in this Mediterranean oil are currently being studied to find their possible effects on cancer; for example, vitamin E which is found in this is known to lower cancer risks.

Perhaps the group which benefits most from consumption of olive oil is that of post-menopausal women, as they are at risk from osteoporosis, which is basically a decrease in bone mass leading to having brittle bones which break easily if you have a fall. When tested on rats in the laboratory it was found that their bone mass improved when they were given daily doses of the oil.

Saturday, December 3, 2011

What a Juicing Diet Can Do?

eing overweight can lead to a number of medical conditions and illnesses. If you want to reduce your health problems, you have to find a way to stay fit. Do this by learning vegetable and fruit juice recipes. A juicing diet can make you feel more energized and motivated.

It is important to consult a nutritionist or a health professional before attempting to undergo major changes in your diet. While it is true that vegetables and fruits are good for the health, not all of them would suit your health condition. For example, if you have diabetes, you want to lessen your intake of bananas, mango, watermelon, strawberries as well as sapodilla and pineapple. These fruits are still beneficial for the health but you should minimize eating or drinking them if you have high blood sugar.

In your juicing diet, it is best to incorporate fruits and vegetables that are low in sugar and carbohydrates like celery, carrots, spinach, beets as well as apple and coconut. You can also try tomato juice but avoid it if you are acidic or if you are on fasting. Remember to drink lots of water to help you through the juicing diet. In order to make the juices more flavorful, you can try adding ginger, garlic, bits of salt, honey and other spices in order to make it taste better.

When on a diet, it would be best to replace carbonated drinks including coffee or tea and turn to fruit juices and vegetable juices instead. This will help you lose weight because they can rid the body of toxins and wastes.

You can try this vegetable broth recipe as a part of your juicing diet:

2 to 3 liters of water 
3 potatoes 
2 onions 
4 carrots 
4 garlic cloves

Chop all of the ingredients and then add them to water. Make sure to cover and let it simmer for 30 minutes and then drain the vegetables. You can also add cayenne pepper or Worcestershire sauce to taste.

This recipe is good to eat before or after a work out because it provides energy and can help brain function better.

You can also try these super juicing diet recipes:

Ingredients: 1 lime, peeled 
3 apples 
1/2 pineapples 
1 cucumber 
1 ripe avocado 
1 oz. of fresh wheatgrass or wheatgrass powder 
Add 1 level of tablespoon of spirulina

Another great recipe that you can share with family and friends:

1/2 pineapples 
1 stick of celery 
1 cucumber 
Some spinach leaves 
1 peeled lime 
3 apples 
1/4 avocado

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

How to Go Green in Your Kitchen?

If you want to be green in your kitchen, of course you will start with trying to be green in what you eat. But there are a number of things you can do in the areas of food prep, cleaning, using green equipment and staying away from bad chemicals that can make your kitchen healthier for everyone. Below are a few pointers.

Choose Long-Lasting Cookware

You should select utensils and cookware that will last a long time. First of all, this means that you should stop using Teflon-coated pots and pans. There already is a big debate about whether or not non-stick surfaces are unhealthy. The other thing to be aware of is that Teflon just does not last very long. We recommend that you choose a skillet made of steel or cast iron. It is true that a cast iron skillet is more expensive, but it lasts a long time.

On a similar note, you should choose utensils that will last a long time. Spoons made of wood will degrade and rot rather fast. Plastic melts if you leave it on your stove. You should try to buy higher quality metal utensils that last, and also buy higher quality knives that you can sharpen, rather than throw away when they get dull.

Gas or Electric?

This can be a tough choice. Natural gas is of course a fossil fuel, but most electricity still comes from power plants that burn coal. Many cooks like gas better because it is much easier to control the temperature. Gas also means that you have heat that is on instantly, and no heat is wasted when you are finished.

As far as electricity goes, the best ones are those that use induction parts. These will transfer all of the energy right to the pan. This leaves your cook top fairly cool and will use only half or so of the energy of a regular stovetop. You have to keep in mind that a stovetop with induction elements means you must use cookware made of metal. You cannot use aluminum or glass.

Another good choice for electric is to use a stovetop with a ceramic glass surface. These give heat right away and will respond fast when you change the temperature. They are easy to clean, too. However, they only work at the highest efficiency when there is a good amount of contact with the glass surface and the bottom of the pan. Much energy is wasted if the bottom of the pan is round at all.

Regular electric coils are the worst when you are trying to stay green in the kitchen. They waste a LOT of energy. If you do go electric, try to buy the most efficient energy-wise unit that you can afford. You also can buy green power to support renewable energy.

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Why You Should Choose A Vegetarian Diet?

There are many benefits that people can derive if they resort to a vegetarian diet. Meat-based meals are very tasty, but these are not for everyone. The reason is that many people get sick in the long run if they eat meat excessively and this will manifest in the form of elevated cholesterol levels, growth of certain cancers, and high blood pressure. Those who prefer a vegetarian diet do not have such problems and scientists have also discovered that vegetarians are less prone to cancer. Furthermore, vegetarians are not overweight or do not need to be on "a diet" to lose excess poundage.

Many people are now turning to a vegetarian diet because they want to live longer. Incidentally, there are a number of ethical reasons that have spurred people into becoming vegetable lovers. First, food wastage is a problem in many countries and there is an excess supply of grains and soybeans. These are used to feed livestock and one can imagine if people learn how to eat these things. Moreover, starvation can be eradicated in many countries if vegetables are used more often in their diets. Sadly, this is not the case and plenty of food are not used properly or ended up being thrown away as waste.

Another fact that many people overlook is that livestock excrement is produced thirty times more than humans can produce. Since there is a need for meat products, the overproduction of these animals that feed the population can have a possible disastrous effect to the environment. To illustrate this point, cows emit a huge amount of methane gas towards the atmosphere and this contributes to global warming. Also, feed animals are not treated humanely especially when they are being killed in slaughterhouses. For these reasons, it is not surprising that a vegetarian diet is something that many people now prefer because it contributes very much to their well-being.

A great majority of vegetarians do not eat meat, poultry or even products from the sea. Some people do eat fish or chicken sometimes, but they stick to their vegetarian diet. People may wonder what vegetarians eat and they will find that majority of them will consume fruits, dried beans, nuts, seeds, peas and grains to name a few. These vegetarians get all the nutrients they need under a vegetarian diet, but they have to eat various foods in order to get the much-needed nutrients for their bodies.

Friday, November 25, 2011

Chinese Food Comes To America

There are several versions of the story of how chop suey originated in America. According to one, some hungry miners in San Francisco were looking for a place to eat late one night. All the restaurants were closed except for a Chinese restaurant where only Chinese ate. At this time few Americans had ever had the courage or foresight to try Chinese food. The miners demanded to be fed, and the chef took what was left over, put it together with sauces and served it. The hungry miners enjoyed the meal so much that they wanted to know what the dish was called. The only name which the 'chef could give the leftovers was "chop suey" which means hash. The miners came back for more and the news spread and soon all Chinese restaurants served chop suey for Americans.

The other story of the origin of chop suey is told about His Excellency Li Hung-Chang, the premier of China who visited this country on a good-will tour in 1896. Many ban­quets and receptions were given in his honour and in order to reciprocate he brought his own chef to entertain his hosts. But the premier being a wise man wasn't sure that his guests would enjoy such Chinese delicacies as bird's nest, shark's fin, bear's paw and others. He therefore had his chef prepare American meats and vegetables in the Chinese man­ner with the appropriate sauces and chopping. He named it "chop suey" because it was a combination of chopped mixed foods.

Once Americans were introduced to Chinese cooking, even though it was only Chinese-style American food in the be­ginning, they kept coming back for more and so created a greater and greater demand for Chinese food. The more ad­venturous Americans went down to the Chinatowns and ate at the restaurants which only the Chinese had patronized. Authentic dishes became popular.

One of the early peaks in the Chinese restaurant business was reached in the early twenties, coinciding with the Mah Jong craze. Two brothers named White had introduced the game with simplified rules to the English-speaking clubs in Shanghai, where it became popular. The game met with such success in America that by 1923 the Chinese makers of Mah Jong sets could no longer keep up with the demand and American manufacture was in full swing. A Mah Jong League of America was formed.

The Roaring Twenties and the age of prohibition brought with it dozens of huge, magnificent Chinese restaurants with dance floors and entertainment. In the larger cities where night-clubbing was prevalent, it became a fad to eat down in Chinatown at some wee hour in the morning after a whole evening of night clubbing. The Chinese-restaurants were among the few open at this time of night. It was a romantic idea to wander through the little streets of Chinatown at some unearthly hour and then sober up with fine Chinese food.

Thursday, November 24, 2011

How To Buy Ingredients Like The Paradoxical French?

When we set out to buy ingredients for our family's meals many of us these days tend to be significantly more conscious of the things which are good for us, and those which are not. Cutting out certain ingredients and replacing them with others is obviously a great way forward, and it is often the ingredients which we buy which have a huge effect on our family's health.

However, if you do buy ingredients and not just ready meals, then the chances are that you're already off to a great start. But one of the 'facts' which you may well have kept in mind when buying your ingredients may well be wrong.

When you choose meals and ingredients for recipes you will often look out for 'saturated fat', and avoid it. After all, medical evidence has clearly proved the fact that saturated fat is closely linked to heart disease. So cutting out your saturated fats will lead to a healthier heart, which has to be good news, right?

The problem though is the French. Let me explain. The French are well known for having a diet rich in saturated fats, including a significant amount of butter (they seem to cook everything in it!), massively more cheese (well, we all knew that!) as well as other dairy products. Yet at the same time the number of incidents of coronary disease in France is much lower than most other countries, including both the US and the UK. So what's going on?

The fact is that nobody is entirely sure, as there doesn't seem to be any one factor which could account for the paradox. But there are several smaller factors which are almost certainly contributing significantly towards this healthier diet. So here are a couple of ideas you can bear in mind when you're planning to buy ingredients for your brood.

First of all, red wine seems a good idea. Only in moderation of course, and certainly not for the children, but it is believed that a component of red wine called resveratrol could contribute towards longevity, cancer prevention and even reducing the effects of aging.

Secondly, buy fresh fish. Having fish three times a week has such a positive effect that it virtually counters those puddings!

Thirdly, forget avoiding the full fat and no fat products. Most of these have a massively higher concentration of sugar. Full fat products usually have little or no added sugar, and are therefore likely to be healthier.

Monday, November 21, 2011

How Become Professional Catering Services?

Do you have a big event coming up? Are you inviting a lot of guests? You may want to liven up the party with a professional catering service.

Professional catering services offer you the option of filling your guests' bellies with happiness. You can make a great impression on your guests by ordering food to either leave out for them or be served to them leaving them impressed and satisfied.

Whether you are holding a family gathering, a work-related event or even a celebration such as a prom, it is always appropriate to have a catering service and come take care of the food situation for you.

Catering services give you a wide selection of foods whether your taste is simple and common or you have a more delicate palate with an interest for more exotic foods. You may order hors deurves to be passed about the party the entire night. The catering service can be hired with a well groomed wait staff so your food can be served with class, or it can be put out buffet style for your guests to grab as they please throughout the night from a food table or tables.

Sit down dinners are equally available in many different ways for you to choose from. You can have the dinners come in heated trays and platters of buffet style display tables of food, or the dinners can be ordered and served individually at the tables at meal time.

They will have services available for breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner and cocktail parties and menu items to match. You will be able to choose more than one item so your guests will have a variety of flavors to enjoy throughout the hours of the party. Whether it is a main course or finger foods you are guaranteed to find matches that will be a hit with your bunch of people.

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Guide in Choosing a Water Lonizer

Alkaline water is the recommended type of water because of its detoxifying and acid-neutralizing properties. It helps the body to detoxify to its cellular level and improves the ability of your immune system. But you cannot have healthy water without having a machine that changes the ionic nature of water quite a bit. How will you choose the right water ionizing apparatus when there are several of these machines on the market? Here are some tips to help you.

1. Check the reputation of the seller. There are only a few reliable alkaline water machine sellers on the planet. These companies have made it long enough because of the quality of their machines and their good consumer relations. It's easy to find them because their websites appear on the first page of Google when you look for them.

2. Know how their machines work. A water ionizer works through the principle of electrolysis. Water with some ions is subjected to electric currents that separate molecules to hydrogen and hydroxide ions. Such dissociation occurs at the electrodes. Hence, it is important to check the number of electrodes. How many electrodes does the machine have? The surface area of the electrodes is also essential to the efficiency of the apparatus. A water ionizing device with 3 big plates is often the one recommended. Make sure the electrodes are made of titanium plates coated with platinum. Otherwise, do not buy the product.

3. How much water can the machine produce? A cheap machine that takes a long time to produce a glass of water is just plain useless. Read the description for the water ionizer and see the rate at which it produces water.

4. Ask about the warranty period. While a one-year warranty for the alkaline water maker is okay, note that there are manufacturers that put a 5-year warranty on their machines. A good ionizer should last for about ten years, though.

5. The pH of water the machine produces is another consideration you need to make. Ideally, alkaline water should have a pH range from 8.5 to 9.5. Anywhere higher than this range makes water harsh to the body, while a pH reading lower than 8.5 means inadequate ionization process.

6. Check out the filtration mechanism of the water ionization apparatus. Modern ionizers are equipped with a water treatment system. Unwanted minerals from your tap water shall be filtered out before passing through the electrolysis system.

7. Make sure the device is easy to use. Good water ionizers are those that can be operated by simply pushing a few buttons. It's frustrating to check the manual each time.

8. Compare prices of different brands of machines. Indeed, water ionizers have different prices, depending on the functionality and speed of operations. However, these machines are really pricey. The high price of these machines prevents many customers from buying them.

9. Look at the demos. The best way to understand the product is by watching the demos for it. Such demos actually provide usage instructions.

10. Read product reviews. Product descriptions and demos alone are not enough to decide whether you should buy the apparatus or not. You should read testimonials about the product to know its qualities and flaws.

Friday, November 11, 2011

Natural Meats Are Back and How in Evolution We Eat?

Natural meats would have been an un-natural phrase 20 years ago; and though meat has long been the center of every meal the world over, yet in some countries such as America this staple has a darker side and more unfavorable future in its present state. The light of a new day in the consciousness of many Americans has dawned, revealing the under belly of what we always thought was good. "Healthy meats are changing the way people eat and see what was always there". I will point out some differences in industry standard beef and natural beef. 

Natural beef is not injected with hormones as most beef is as the standard practice.
Healthy beef is not subjected to hormones that make the animal grow more muscle in a shorter period of time; most beef we consume receives hormone injections.
All-Natural beef does not receive injections to ward off insects and naturally occurring pests in our environment.
People are ready for healthy meats for the most part, but some people don't believe the idea that the foods we consume such as meats can have such an adverse effect on our health or quality of life, even though there is ample evidence to support this idea. More often than not we believe what the crowd on the right is telling us to believe. The numbers of people in the US that are obese have cancer and other chronic health conditions are staggering. It makes good sense to correlate our health to what we consume on a daily basis.

Consumers have the reins in their hands, the industry will respond to what the market wants; but that takes awareness. We as buyers have to understand and demand the products and production methodology that is in unison with our future health picture. The evidence shows that have not been the driving force in meat production at all in our country; but the call to produce more end sales faster and larger animals to pad the stockholders portfolio. This seemed to work for everyone; meat prices fell as production became cheaper and more people were able to put "good meat on the dinner table".

We have come full circle in the minds of many people; they want to get back to natural meats and healthier foods without all the enhancers that have turned their reality upside down. The market believes as well; "meat industry leaders are running" to get ahead of consumer driven need for healthy meats. People are beginning to think past today and their lifetime to see how these things affect our children and our neighbor's kids. It may be too large a leap to ask the industry to have a conscious but we can however; appeal to the business logic in the powers that be.

In the end we as individuals have to decide where we stand; this may not be as noble a cause as the constitution, yet it is a cause for prudent thought, consideration and action on the part of everyone around us. "We are what we eat" is a true saying and when we decide on healthy foods others will take note; change comes one mind at a time. Health is not everything, but it's pretty high up on the list for many. Eat naturally and live.

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Four Cities For Restaurant Lovers In North America

There are a number of bragging rights a city stands by; having the most sports teams, the best shopping, and the highest job rate. One field that continues to draw attention from travelers and residents is where the most restaurants exist per capita. It's a claim that many cities make, but only the certain few can actually stand by with bragging rights.

According to the National Restaurant Association, California stands tall in this category with an incredible number of 87,225 restaurants for residents and visitors to choose from.

Although impressive in its own, New York State is far behind with 58,027 restaurants.

Texas follows with 53,631 along with Florida (41,901) and Pennsylvania (31,466).

All of this is impressive, especially considering there are 0.4 restaurants per 100 people in the United States.

But which cities have the most restaurants to choose from? When looking at cities with more than 100,000 people, you may just be surprised as to what makes the list.

Topping the list is a city of 744,230 people with a claim of 2,662 restaurants within the city... San Francisco.

When strictly looking at San Francisco, there are 279 people for every restaurant. But when looking at the metro area as a whole, the number of restaurants climbs to 4,300.

The next two cities in North America are actually not in the US, but in Canada. First up is the relatively small city of Winnipeg, a city full of French toast, perogies and sauerkraut, and Vietnamese imperial rolls.

Some sites say Winnipeg has 900 restaurants in total, but in reality there are only 478. Compare this to the 619,544 population and you find one restaurant per 1,296 Canadians.

As you drop to the next city, you head over to Vancouver Island and capital city of British Columbia with Victoria. With just 335,000 within the city, there is an amazing variety of 265 Italian, French, Greek, East Indian, Vegetarian, German, Dutch, Mexican, Chinese and other restaurants in Victoria BC to choose from. That means there is one restaurant for every 1,264 people.

Friday, November 4, 2011

Food Additives-What They Are and Why They Are Used?

There are thousands of different substances that are being added to foods. Their purpose usually falls into one of four different categories. They keep, replenish or enhance nutrients, retain a product's freshness or overall quality, help in processing or preparing the food or make the food appear more attractive.

After testing the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) determines how additives can be used in foods. About 25% of these additives have been used for so long and without any harmful side effects that they are considered harmless by the FDA. Most of the additives used in the United States are common items that are easily recognizable on the packages. These include pepper, salt, sugar, colorings and dyes, baking soda and citric acid.

Those additives that replenish or enhance nutrients attempt to replace vitamins or minerals that are lost in processing. Thus, the idea that raw fruits and vegetables are better than cooked foods is true. Cooking can and does deplete nutrients. Food processors want to enrich their products with additional items that may never have been there to begin with in order to use strong selling words like "fortified" or "enriched." A good example is common salt, which is fortified with iodine or flour which is enriched with vitamins.

Other chemical-sounding nutrients that are added to foods include beta carotene (converted to vitamin A in the body), niacinamide (vitamin B3), riboflavin (vitamin B2) and tocopherols (vitamin E). Unless you have an allergic reaction to these vitamins, having them added to the foods that you eat is no more harmful than taking supplements. That is why it is important to watch what you are eating, so you know whether or not extra vitamins and minerals are really necessary. You can do harm by ingesting too much of a good thing.


Additives used in processing or food preparation include emulsifiers, thickeners and stabilizers. These provide consistent texture (diglycerides, various gums, modified food starch, polysorbates, propylene glycol, sorbitan monostearate and cellulose). Leavening additives control food volume (calcium phosphate) and pH agents control acidity (acetic, lactic, phosphoric or tartaric acid and ammonium alginate). Some additives retain moisture (glycerine) and some anti-caking agents keep powdered substances from clumping together (iron-ammonium citrate, mannitol, silicon dioxide). This is the price we pay to keep our food looking its very best.



Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Tips Cooking for Home Cooks

Cooking is a very enjoyable activity for most people because aside from tasting delicious dishes, seeing the happiness and satisfaction on your loved ones' faces once they have tasted your dish is truly priceless. Although most of us cannot cook at home all the time maybe due to work or any other activity, we always try to serve our family with good food whenever we have the chance. Hence we have the terms 'weekend chefs' and 'home cooks'. Here are some tips that can help improve your cooking skills and the quality of your dishes.

Prioritize Safety

More than anything else, safety should be your main concern. A lot of accidents happen in the kitchen so you should do your part in preventing them. As much as possible, keep little children and pets out of the kitchen. Knives and other kitchen tools must always be kept in their respective storage places after usage. Never leave them scattered around the kitchen. Remember to always turn ovens, stoves, gas valves, and other kitchen appliances off as soon as you are done using them. Also, clean spills immediately.

Practice Mise en Place

Mise en place is a French term that translates to "to put in place". This states that you have to prepare everything you will need before starting to cook. Make sure that you have all the ingredients, tools, and appliances that the recipe calls for. Realizing that you lack a few important ingredients while in the process of cooking can be very frustrating. To save time and maintain the quality of your dish, it would be advisable to practice mise en place.

Use Fresh Ingredients Whenever Possible

The ingredients make the dish and only the freshest ingredients are the best ingredients. When combined with the proper techniques, they yield dishes that stand out from the rest. Do not expect bad ingredients to do some kind of magic in your pot and give out exceptional dishes. Moreover, fresh ingredients still have most of their nutrients and they were not treated with chemical preservatives, so you can be sure that they are good for your family's health.