Flavored Water

Fruits and vegetables 'can cut child cancer risk'

2010-05-11T00:27:00.000-07:00

Children should eat more fruits and vegetables to reduce the risk of cancer in later life, a charity has said. The newest published Health Survey for England (HSE) for 2008 suggested that four in five children are not eating the recommended amount of fruit and vegetables.

Now the World Cancer Research Fund has warned that this could lead to raised risk of them developing cancer in later life.

“The fact that only a fifth of children are getting enough fruits and vegetables is a concern because it is important that we encourage children to get into healthy habits as early in life as possible,” the Daily Express quoted Nathalie Winn, nutritionist for the WCRF, as saying.

“This is because scientific research shows that eating a plant-based diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains and pulses possibly reduces the risk of a number of types of cancer later in life,” Winn added.

The research shows that, on average, boys aged five to 15 eat 3.1 portions of fruits and vegetables while girls have 3.3 portions a day, according to the Health Survey for England 2008.

Special cakes on mother’s day

2010-05-04T22:54:00.001-07:00

Don’t you think a gift which is as sweet and cute as your mom will make her mother’s day? It is among the most excellent mother’s day gifts. On this special day, she will love to get a packaged set of yummy cakes in four which is lovingly made using the hand with flowers. Each of the four has 3 layers of somewhat wet cake and three layers of pleasant-tasting butter cream. You will receiver up to 16 cakes in 6 varieties of flavors. The 6 variety of flavors are raspberry, vanilla-orange, salmon pink, chocolate, vanilla-orange chocolate hazelnut and lemon.

A layer of jam is added which will match and develop the flavors of the fruit while the dark chocolate enhances the flavor of the chocolate cake. The cakes are delivered in a chilled state for greatest freshness and it can stay close to 14 days when kept in the refrigerator. It is a delicious and exclusive present for mother’s day which will be enjoyed by your mom.

Guides to few common herbs and spices help you to create flavorful meals without added salt

2010-04-29T00:40:00.000-07:00

Basil - Bright, pungent flavor. Use in pesto, sauces, salads, meats, fish and soups.
Bay leaves - often used dried for most flavor. Use in sauces, soups or pickling solutions.
Thyme - A minty, tea-like flavor. Used to create bouquet garni with parsley and bay.

Cardamom - Tastes like ginger with a hint of pine. Used highly in curry powder, but also enhances the flavors of squash, pumpkin, potatoes and pastries.

Cayenne - Hot, peppery flavor. Used frequently in Creole, Cajun, Spanish, Mexican, Szechuan, Thai and East Indian recipes.

Cinnamon - Sweet and aromatic. Versatile spice complements a large variety of foods and other spices.

Coriander leaf or seed - Fresh coriander leaves, also known as cilantro, bear a powerful resemblance to Italian flat-leaf parsley, but with a stronger, distinct scent.

Cumin - Powerful peppery flavoring with small citrus overtones. Essential spice in the cuisines of Mexico, India and the Middle East.

Dill - Leaves have a soft, sweet taste. Both the leaves and the seeds are used to make flavor food.

Fennel - Mild licorice flavor. Use in soups, salads, fish and vegetable dishes.
Ginger - Fragrant, pungent and hot. Can be used fresh, dried or in powder form.

Marjoram - Member of the mint family. Similar to oregano but fewer pungent. Use in salads, fish, meat, vegetable, poultry and egg dishes.

Mint - with more than 25 varieties, flavors range from cool to sweet or somewhat menthol.

Nutmeg - Seed of an apricot-like fruit resident to Indonesia, with a cinnamon-like and peppery taste.

Oregano - Also from the mint family, related to marjoram but stronger with an earthy, aromatic flavor.

Parsley — most general types are curly or Italian flat leaf. Mildly fresh aromatic flavor.

Cooking with flowers for better health

2010-04-20T00:04:00.000-07:00

Flowers please our eye and our sense of smell, their oils are used in aromatherapy and many flowers themselves have medical benefits as dietary therapy.

Chinese were cooking with flowers thousands of years ago and flowers, such as the special Chinese rose, are main ingredients in the cuisine.

"Drink the dew of magnolia in the morning, and eat the falling petals of chrysanthemum at night," wrote Qu Yuan in his well-known poem "Li Sao" ("The Lament") about a nobleman's life in the Warring States Period (476-221 BC). Magnolia and chrysanthemum symbolize nobility and integrity.

However, flower cuisine didn't become famous until the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907). It first became popular among the nobility, particularly women who used flowers to improve their complexion.

Various flower cuisines were invented, including cakes, soups and dishes. Apart from adding scent and flavor, some flowers are rich in nutrition, including minerals, vitamins and micronutrients. Some people believe that eating beautiful flower helps to make them beautiful.

Practical foods to eat for good health

2010-04-14T23:23:00.000-07:00

1. Blueberries : Why you should eat more: Blueberries are packed with antioxidants, which help protect the body from disease; they are high in potassium, fiber and vitamin C, all for about 80 calories a cup.

2. Quinoa : What it is: It looks and cooks like a grain, but it's actually the seed from a leafy plant closely related to spinach. Why you should eat more: Quinoa is a good source of complete protein than the foods it can stand in for, like rice.

3. Seaweed : What it is: More seaweed eaten in this country is nori, best known as those dried, dark-green sheets used in sushi rolls.

4. Walnuts : Why you should eat more: Unlike other nuts, walnuts are high in omega-3 fatty acids, the kind related with fish like salmon and sardines.

5. Kefir : What it is: A fermented dairy product drink, it is a kind of cross between buttermilk and yogurt. Once available only in health-food stores, it's in many mainstream grocers, often near the soy milk.

6. Apples : Why you should eat more: They're not flashy, but the often-overlooked apple is high in fiber (4-5 grams per apple) and lower in sugar content on the glycemic index than fruits such as grapes or bananas, so they'll hang around in your stomach a while longer, making you think full longer.

7. Chiles : Why you should eat more: The capsaicin in chiles, which makes them hot, also is believed to have a thermogenic effect - some studies have suggested eating them can raise your metabolism rate and help burn calories. A bonus: Chiles adds a ton of flavor for little caloric cost.
8. Lentils : Why you should eat more: A good, low-cost source of protein popular in world cuisines, particularly Middle Eastern and Indian, lentils also provide high levels of folic acid.

9. Eggs : Why you should eat more: Eggs have had a firm time shaking that bad reputation they got in the ‘80s, when cholesterol was a buzzkill. Eggs are also considered an anti-inflammatory food, meaning they can assist reduce bodily inflammation thought to lead to chronic disease including stroke, heart disease and diabetes.

10. Romaine lettuce : Why you should eat more: All greens are good for you, and the darker the better. They are natural antioxidants and provide a plethora of minerals and vitamins, especially vitamins A, K, C and foliate.

Arabica coffee disease on the rise

2010-04-06T22:24:00.000-07:00

COFFEE berry disease and leaf rust which often affect Arabica coffee, are on the raise, the National Crops Resources Research Institute has said.

Speaking to journalists recently, the head of the Coffee Research Centre at Kituza in Mukono, Dr. Africano Kangire, disclosed that the diseases are affecting yields and require agent attention.

In Uganda, Arabica coffee crop constitutes 20% and Robusta 80% Arabica is grown in highland areas including Nebbi, Kasese, Mt Rwenzori and Elgon, while Robusta grows better in low areas.

“The coffee industry is faced with challenges including global warming that has resulted into drought in a few areas. If global temperatures raise, Uganda would lose up to 80% of Robusta coffee,” Kangire said.

Diabetic’s diet for all

2010-04-05T00:10:00.000-07:00

On a diabetic diet, it is main important to eat three meals per day in order to keep your blood sugar on a more even keel. Have you ever notice that you are hungrier by mid-morning or lunch after you have eaten breakfast? That's because your metabolism revs up by eating breakfast and you are burning more calories just by eating. Breakfast can be as easy as an 8-ounce glass of 1-percent or nonfat milk. Don't be afraid to eat a small mid-morning snacks if you are hungry; this will keep you from being very hungry by lunchtime and help you to choose a healthier lunch. For your "9-inch" dinner plate, try filling half with non-starchy vegetables, a quarter with carbohydrates and a quarter with lean protein (and no cheating by using a huge plate). If after eating dinner you find you are still ravenous, have another serving of lean protein or vegetables.

Starchy vegetables (which count as carbohydrates) include peas, corn, beans and potatoes. There are many non-starchy vegetables to choose from, onions, and mushrooms, tomatoes, including spinach, carrots, broccoli, red/green/yellow/orange bell peppers, celery, cucumbers, green beans, asparagus, lettuce, eggplant and squash.

Carbohydrates (carbs) are contained in many foods and drinks, but the good kinds to eat contain nutrients in addition to carbs. The best carbs to choose include beans, fresh or unsweetened frozen fruit, skim or 1-percent milk, plain oatmeal or cream of wheat, plain or light yogurt, pasta, rice, barley, quinoa, bread, bran cereals, soy crisps, 94-percent fat-free popcorn, pita bread and small tortillas. The main thing to keep in mind is that eating the "good" foods listed above leaves small room left for the "bad" ones.

Maple syrup flavor baked beans

2010-03-25T04:00:00.000-07:00

Beans are versatile, and inexpensive, delicious source of protein and vitamins.
Simple ingredients and slow cooking bring out the best in these essential legumes.

White beans come in a number of sizes ranging from small "pea" beans, great northern and navy to larger, "meatier" cannellini beans often used in Mediterranean bean dishes.

Most Boston-style baked beans contain molasses and brown sugar for sweetness.

Substituting maple syrup for the molasses results in a exclusive and incomparable flavor and aroma.

Orange - The universal super fruit

2010-03-23T23:34:00.000-07:00

The orange is cultivated in many parts of the world, the Middle East, Africa, South-East Asia, Brazil, and the United States. Orange juice is the only super fruit product traded on the New York Stock Exchange as a commodity in worldwide trade. Orange juice is also the most famous among all juices.

The orange, citrus sinensis, is a member of the citrus family (lemon, lime, mandarin, grapefruit, tangerine, kumquat). The fruit itself comes in different varieties and diversity in tastes and has several uses. Its variations range from navel orange, blood, Persian, and cara cara navel to tangerine and mandarin.

Orange’s merits led it to be named super fruit. It contains most necessary nutrients needed to maintain good health. The fruit and its peel are rich in vitamins A (through its precursor beta-carotene), Bs, and C, important minerals, both soluble and insoluble fiber, and phytochemicals, both soluble and insoluble fiber, like carotenoids and polyphenols in the deep orange pigment.

Tangy fruits help stay slim

2010-03-22T23:36:00.000-07:00

Munching on tangy fruits can aid you stay slim, reveals a new study. The study conducted on mice showed that the juice of the blood orange stopped them from piling on weight when fed a high-fat diet.

However, those fed with sweeter oranges gained significant amounts of fat.

The fat-busting powers of the fruit, grown in Italy and the US, may be partly due to its high levels of anthocyanin.

This red pigment that gives the orange its deep color is a type of antioxidant, a natural chemical that helps ward off disease.

The juice damages the skill of cells called adipocytes to accumulate fat. Adipocytes are found typically around the waistline and absorb fat from food to store as energy.

Make to modify basic vinaigrette

2010-03-19T05:01:00.000-07:00

• Rub the bowl with garlic before mixing the dressing, and add thinly chopped shallots.

• Add your preferred herbs, preferably fresh. The more pungent herbs, such as thyme and rosemary, should be used carefully.

• Mix in cumin, coriander or curry powder, fennel seeds or other spices. Try to match the flavors with those in your salad or in the entree.

• For another complement to the rest of your meal, mix in a few teaspoons of pan juices or broth from your main course.

• Add a few crushed juniper berries. To build on this flavor, add a teaspoon or so of gin.
• Alternate lemon juice for some of the vinegar.

• Add the grated zest (colored section of peel) of a preferred citrus fruit. For a more pronounced citrus flavor, substitute the fruit juices for some of the vinegar.

• Substitute a tart or acidic fruit juice, such as tart cherry or, cranberry for some of the vinegar.
• Complement Asian-style meals by adding grated ginger or crushed lemon grass.

Is there arsenic in your apple juices?

2010-03-17T23:16:00.000-07:00

Apple juice definitely sounds healthy, doesn't it? It's a popular choice for many parents who serve it up as a healthy alternative to sugary drinks and sodas.

In 2006, the federal government lowers the limit for arsenic in drinking water from 50 ppb to 10 ppb. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has established no such border for fruit juices, but has told companies that it views 23 ppb as a "level of concern."

Arsenic is a naturally occurring substance, and experts say it can't be completely avoided in the food and water supply. It is also found in pesticides that will apply to apple orchards. Arsenic has been linked to cancer when consumed at high dose in drinking water over a lifetime, and has been linked at lower dosages to diabetes, organ injure and hormone system changes.

Enjoy these fruits for your health

2010-03-16T21:04:00.000-07:00

1. Banana. The banana is nature’s wonder fruit and the great fast food. Its high potassium content prevents cramps and gives immediate energy with its easily digestible starch.

2. Apples. Apples are an outstanding source of pectin, which is a soluble fiber that can lower blood cholesterol and sugar levels.

3. Citrus fruits like oranges, calamansi, suha (pomelo), dalandan, and lemon. The overflowing amounts of vitamin C in citrus fruits are the basis for their high ranking. It also protects the heart and improve the immune system. That’s why it’s good for prevent the colds.

4. Strawberries. Strawberries are believed to assist fight cancer, gout, arthritis, and anemia.

5. Papayas. For people who are constipated, eating papayas every day could help regulate their bowel movement.

6. Grapes. Grapes contain main ingredients such as tannins, flavonoids, and anthocyanins.

7. Watermelon and melon. Melons have long been used by usual medicine as a cure for kidney and bladder problems.

8.coconut: Coconut water, on the other hand, is good for kidney stones and purification one’s digestive tract.

9. Avocados. Avocados are rich in healthy monounsaturated fats, which means it is useful in prevents the heart disease and stroke.

10. Pineapple. Pineapple contains the unique enzyme bromelain, which might help in digestion and reducing inflammation in the body.

11. Nuts. Though not exactly a fruit, nuts are considered nutritional superfoods, packed with minerals, protein, and fats.

And so, this hot summer, keep in mind to drink eight to 10 glasses of water a day and consume more of these super fruits.

Teens who drink fruit juice have more healthier diets

2010-03-15T03:25:00.000-07:00

A new study has shown that teenagers who drink 100 per cent fruit juice have more nutritious diets generally compared to non-consumers.

The findings revealed that teens between the age group of 12-18 who drank any amount of 100 per cent juice had lower intakes of entire dietary fat and saturated fat and higher intakes of key nutrients, including Vitamins C and B6, folate, potassium and iron.

Those who drank greater than six ounces of 100 per cent juice a day also consumed more whole fruit and less added fats and sugars. Milk consumption was not affected by juice drinking.

Is fruit juice the well answer?

2010-03-12T05:15:00.000-08:00

Breakfast is usually considered as the most important meal of the day. At breakfast time, most of us put some calories in our body and we are prepare to start the most active part of our day.

But the always-famous combination of breakfast cereals with fruit juices and toast has now become a taboo with the nutritional inventions. With the 'low-carb, low-glycemic index' food choices, cereals as wheat flakes are preferred over cornflakes, white bread is substitutes by whole wheat bread with low-cal butter, and fruit juices by whole fruits.

With the promotion of fruit juices as a health drinks, one has to realise that...

• All that is healthy is not low-calories.
• Fruit juices are caloric dense, also they are limited for medical conditions like diabetes.

• A glass of juice a day is not complete nutrition. Also, its introduction in your diet must be well understood. If an individual is aiming at fat loss, fruit juice is absolutely not the answer.

• Substitution of fruit juice with a whole fruit has lot more benefits.

• It's good to be health-conscious, but with the correct advice. Half knowledge is most horrible than no knowledge.

Few tips to do with lemons

2010-03-10T22:33:00.000-08:00

Woman's Day magazine suggests a number of uses that bring a whole new meaning to the phrase "turning lemons into lemonade."
Among them:

• Improve flavor: Add lemon to your green tea to reduce the drink's bitterness and assist your body's absorption of antioxidants.
• Get fresh: Use a lemon as an all-natural deodorant for your armpits and feet.
• Sooth sunburn: Mix lemon juice and cool water and softly apply to your skin. It will help your body recover more rapidly from a mild sunburn.
• De-stain your laundry: Squeeze lemon juice on an ink stain, let sit overnight, then launder as common. Repeat if essential before drying.
• Clean your pots: Make a paste of lemon juice and salt, and rub it on copper to take away oxidation. Rinse well and dry.

P&G recalling 2 flavors of its Pringles

2010-03-08T23:09:00.000-08:00

Procter & Gamble said Monday it is willingly recalling two flavors of its Pringles potato crisps in response to a recommendation from the Food & Drug Administration.

P&G is recalling Pringles Restaurant Cravers Cheeseburger potato crisps and Pringles Family Faves Taco Night flavors as part of an industry ingredient recall to defend consumers from potential salmonella exposure. P&G said there have been no reports of salmonella-related illness in relative to these products.

P&G said a seasoning used in these two products contains hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP) manufactured by Basic Food Flavors, Inc., which has willingly recalled several lots of the ingredient because of potential salmonella exposure.

As a result, the FDA recommended that food manufacturers recall some products containing HVP manufactured by Basic Food Flavors, specially Pringles Restaurant Cravers with a "best by" date of Feb. 2011 and April 2011 and Pringles Family Faves with a "best by" date of May 2011, April 2011 and March 2011.

How To slice traditional Fruits And Vegetables?

2010-03-05T01:48:00.000-08:00

Fruit and vegetable carving is a venerable tradition that has been passed down from ancient period. Fruit and vegetable carving is considered one of the admired crafts. Waterproof marker carving helps in making food offerings nicely. Fruit and vegetable carving is a extremely cultivated art. Not only because of the taste and aroma but also the visual appeal of the dish is significant. Serving food attractively is a skill that has been accomplished for centuries all over the world. Food presentation has been elevated to the status of an art which needs years of study and practice.

You can try carving on either vegetables or fruits. Among vegetables the commonly used are carrot, Chinese radish, eggplant, tomato, cucumber, spring onion, chile, radish etc... Fruits include apple, canteloupe, guava, watermelon, jicama, pineapple, papaya, mango, rose apple, ju waterproof marker jube etc...

Tips of nutrition diets with flavor

2010-03-03T23:27:00.000-08:00

Dieting doesn't have to mean giving up taste - and that's for true, nutritionists say.
A few tips:

Wait to remove skin. Cooking chicken without its skin can leave the meat too dry. Take the skin off once the meat is cooked and rub on spices for extra taste.
Substitute meats. Try ground chicken or turkey instead of beef and Canadian bacon in place of normal strips. Use additional flavorings and vegetable toppings to boost the flavor of meat dishes.
Flavor your water. In place of lemonade, squeeze some clean lemon into a glass of water. For a lower-calorie ''juice,'' stir in a sugar-free mix such as Crystal Light.
Cut the fat in recipes. Most baked goods do well with a third to a half less oil, butter or margarine. Make regular cutbacks and experiment with healthier ingredients such as applesauce or fat-free sour cream. Also use nonstick pans and cooking spray.
Buy reduced-fat dairy. These versions of cheese, milk, sour cream and buttermilk taste good and will work in most recipes.

Giving fruits and vegetables to school-age kids just makes intellect

2010-02-26T02:37:00.000-08:00

We all know diet and nutrition are directly linked to health, and we’re frequently told we can help make that link by eating plenty of fruits and vegetables.

Yet, as a population, we seem to be getting fatter and unhealthier - a trend that is most disturbing in young people as we see childhood obesity rates march steadily upwards.

South of the border, where obesity rates are evenly troubling, U.S. first lady Michelle Obama has taken up the cause. She recently unveiled a program called Let’s Move, a national public awareness campaign against childhood obesity that focuses on four areas - helping parents make better food choices, serving healthier food options in schools, making healthy food more available and reasonable, and encouraging children to exercise more.

It’s presently being run in two regions in Northern Ontario and is designed to promote awareness and increase the consumption of fruits and vegetables by elementary school kids. The Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association looks after buying and distributing fresh fruits and vegetables to northern Ontario schools, and this year, around 12,000 students from more than 60 schools are participating in the program.

Quick pretty chocolate cookies

2010-02-25T02:35:00.000-08:00

The most delicious feature about a simple chocolate cookie is its taste and appearance. As it bakes, cracks form in the top of the cookie revealing dark chocolate cracks across the surface of the cookie.

Mix the eggs and the white sugar and mix them well.

- Then add the melted butter and chocolate after they cool down a small. Later add the baking powder, flour, nuts and salt and stir to combine.

- Chill the batter for a few hours or overnight, so that it will be simple to handle for the next step.

- Roll the dough into little balls of 1 to 2 tablespoons of batter each. Then roll each ball of batter across a plate dusted with the confection sugar to cover the complete ball.

- Place each ball on a grease cookies sheet and bake in a slow oven (300 degrees) for 18-20 minutes.

- You want to be careful about discoloration of the confection sugar coating. Check out how the cookies make bigger and crack to give that pretty chocolate design! Serve warm.

Vodka with different special flavors

2010-02-23T23:00:00.000-08:00

Humans have been making and drinking alcohol for hundreds of years. But the earliest spirits weren't exactly smooth or even palatable. (Drinkers must have been pretty cold or sweet thirsty to have reached for a glass.) Back in the day, to make drinks tastier our Eastern European comrades began flavoring vodka with anything and everything they could find, including herbs, vegetables and fruits. Just as vodka amplifies flavors in a cocktail, it's the perfect neutral base for making infusions. (It's no wonder liquor store shelves are filled with dozens of different types of vodkas.) But flavoring vodka is incredibly easy and allows you to be wildly creative.

Start by filling a sealable glass jar half-way with seasonal sliced fruit, herbs or vegetables. Try these flavors for different seasons:

Winter: kumquats, Meyer lemons, blood oranges, tangerines and guava.
Spring: cherries, kiwis, strawberries, plums and apricots.
Summer: raspberries, blackberries, blueberries and peaches.
Fall: apples, pears, rhubarb and persimmons.

National Margarita Day

2010-02-22T22:44:00.000-08:00

National Margarita Day! - All the drinkers have the reason to go out and celebrates today a glass of Margarita because today is the National Margarita Day.

Margarita is a delicious adult beverage that features tequila, sour mix, and salt. For those that enjoy fruity flavors, other popular margaritas feature fresh or frozen strawberries, pineapple, bananas or other fruits. Once the drink is made, bartenders typically add a ring of salt (or sometimes sugar) to the rim of the margarita glass for even more flavor.

The Margarita drink is what women typically asks for when they’re in a bar having a good time. So to all, Happy National Margarita Day! Cheers!

How do you make a vegetable stock that's as a best as a meat stock?

2010-02-17T23:01:00.000-08:00

The main qualities of a good meat stock rich mouthfeel derived from the collagen in the bones and a deep, savory flavor - are the two most complicated things to achieve in a stock made from vegetables alone.

Flavor-wise, the main problem with most vegetable stocks is the cloying sweetness released by the sugars in the vegetables. The best way to balance sweetness is with acidity, we have to add some white wine and tomato paste (which also acts as a thickener).

Try infusing your vegetable stock with a handful of dried up mushrooms after it simmers for an hour. Add a pinch of salt and a pinch of cayenne, and you will end up with a vegetable stock that can rival a good meat stock for full-bodied flavor.

Orange juice, sugar prices increase on falling supply

2010-02-16T04:58:00.000-08:00

Sugar and orange juice prices rose Tuesday (feb10th) after the Department of Agriculture's most recent report predicted smaller supplies of the crops than previously estimated.

Grains were small changed after the report, which showed supplies for those commodities in line with expectations, said Frank Cholly Sr., a senior market strategist at Lind-Waldock.

The USDA cut its forecast for the 2009-2010 orange harvest by 3 percent from last month's estimation. Freezing temperatures in Florida in early January damaged some of the crop.

Florida produces more than 70 percent of the nation's whole orange crop. Analysts say it might still be months before it is certain how much of the crop was ruined.

The USDA said sugarcane production was down fractionally from its January estimate, but supply was unchanged. Pressure on supply is not probably to improve until April when Brazil's crop starts to get harvested.

Cranberry juice boost up your heart health

2010-02-15T04:10:00.000-08:00

Researchers in London calculated the cardio-protective potential of cranberry juice and found it may assist lower blood pressure and help promote heart health.

Researchers at Queen Mary University of London compare with the cardio-protective potential of cranberry juice and that of red wine, cocoa and green tea and found that oligomeric procyanidins were present in regular and light cranberry juice cocktail.

"Red wine has long been associated with heart health, but this new study demonstrates that cranberry juice is a very promising alcohol-free alternative," Corder, author of "The Red Wine Diet," said in a statement. "We have now recognized oligomeric procyanidins as the specific compound in cranberries that can boost the health of blood vessels, helping to prevent blood vessel constriction - a leading cause of high blood pressure."

Valentine’s Day brings ‘sweet lovable treats’

2010-02-11T23:30:00.000-08:00

Valentine’s Day, Candies in the form of hearts, flowers and emblems of love adorn most of the treats in nowaday’s candy markets during the holiday. Two businesses in Enterprise ensure their customers have those sweet treats as a romantic gift of love.

The mixture of the history of Valentine’s Day and sweets date back to the 4th century BC when plentiful feasts were arranged to pair men and women.

In the 1800’s, doctors normally suggested that their lovelorn patients eat lots of chocolate to soothe their nerves and calm their emotions. Chocolate and sweets date back in so far as the Aztec empire, and were used in the pursuit of love.

Delectable chocolates Valentine’s Day gift baskets, mugs filled with candies and even Fudge-Mail Valentine’s Day are available as a special touch for the holiday.

Make your party super with a fresh avocado

2010-02-10T00:53:00.000-08:00

Fresh avocado cultivation began over 10,000 years ago mostly in tropical areas. Throughout history people has loved eating avocados in many different ways. One of those ways has only been in recent times discovered since the invention of the electric blender.

Slice the fresh avocado lengthwise, wounding around the pit. Twist the halves in opposite directions. Do not take away the pit unless you intend to use the whole avocado at once. Few people even like blending the pit in their smoothie.

A fresh avocado will dim after it has been cut open. Place plastic wrap over any unused portion of the avocado and keep cold. You can also spread lemon juice on the unused half to stop further oxidization. Refrigerate entire avocados only if you want to stop the ripening process.

Benefits:

Avocados offer a generous supply of healthy fats, , alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, vitamin A and vitamin E.

Few steps for healthier kitchen

2010-02-05T02:22:00.000-08:00

1. Shop the perimeter of your home grocery store. Say goodbye to processed foods such as canned goods and frozen meals. These items are frequently very high in sodium and simple carbohydrates.

2. Use clean herbs to add flavor to your cooking rather than salt. Replace butter with olive and vegetable oil, which are together healthier and tastier. Instead of serving butter with bread, try olive oil topped with clean thyme or basil.

3. Stop frying your foods. Baking, broiling and grilling are much healthier options. Great welcome fish and chicken into your diet. While both are low in fat, fish contains omega fatty acids, which are significant in lipid management.

4. Limited red meat and pork. They are higher in fat and speed up the atherosclerosis process, or hardening of the arteries, which lead to heart disease.

5. Enjoy clean fruit for dessert rather than high-calorie options like cake or ice cream.

6. If you drink alcohol, limit yourself to one drink per day (12 oz. beer, 1.5 oz. of 80-proof spirits or 4 oz. glass of wine).

How to make sweeter without Sugar

2010-02-02T23:12:00.000-08:00

Although the only actual solution is to wean yourself off sweets altogether (at least to a degree) there are other ways to quiet your sweet tooth without going the refined sugar route. Here are a few ideas, many of which are huge for baking.

Honey Made up of a combination of fructose, maltose, glucose, and sucrose, honey is as much as 50% sweeter than sugar and has an individual flavor that can vary depending on location, time of year, and the bee’s diet. Honeys also offer some nutritional benefits in the form of vitamins, antioxidants, minerals, and other nutrients.

Maple Syrup actual maple syrup contains magnesium and zinc and comes from sugar maple trees. It's boiled down to the desired thickness and is typically about 60% sweeter than traditional table sugar.

Raw Sugar If you must have sugar then go for raw sugar, or sugar that has not been refined and still maintains its nutritional cost. Tastes very much like brown sugar (basically it is, although even less processed).

Quick ideas for healthy foods to fight the flu

2010-01-28T22:52:00.000-08:00

Red peppers: Pound for pound, red bell peppers have two times as much immune-enhancing vitamin C as an orange.

Yogurt: It contains good bacteria called probiotics that line our intestines and defend our body against invading germs.

Green tea: It contains an immune-boosting chemical called epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). To obtain the most health benefits from this hot drink, steep tea in boiling water for about four minutes.

Almonds: Almonds are an outstanding source of the disease-fighting antioxidant vitamin E.

Brazil nuts: Brazil nuts contain selenium, an antioxidant that may assist protect us against conditions such as colds, flu and even cancer.

Sweet potatoes: It beta carotene content make them an immune-enhancing food.

Oysters: It contains more zinc than any other food. Zinc is a mineral that keeps our immune systems strong.

Enjoy flavored water with different flavors

2010-01-27T22:50:00.000-08:00

You need to drink more water but hate the taste. Water becomes tastier with the help of There are various ways to flavor your water. There are three ways to make flavored water with different flavors.

• Home made
• Add few drops of your favorite flavors in the water
• Buying branded flavored water from departmental or store.
Few steps to make flavored water at home
• Fill a bottle with water
• chop up the fruit. Some suggestions are Orange & Cucumber slices, Cucumber & Lemon slices, frozen grapes, frozen berries. Mint leaves could be added in any of these combos.
• Add fruits to the bottle. Let the fruit sit in the water at least 20 minutes before drinking to allow flavoring to free.

It sweet much melts in your mouth

2010-01-27T00:58:00.000-08:00

Chocolate and mushrooms. The combination doesn’t immediately ring factual, like old-school blends of the elixir with mints, peanut butter or hot pepper. But lately, amid a whirlwind of experimentation in which pioneering chocolates are successfully marrying the polygamous partner with bacon and cheese, the earthy offerings of fungi are also proving to be a perfect match.

Chocolate is also said to be effective at masking the funky feel of magic mushrooms -making a psychedelic trip a yummy one, too.

Of course, there is another kind of truffle: the tuber belongs to the mushroom family. And it is possible, although unusual, to find truffle-truffles.

Unlike the differences between, say, a Caramilk and a KitKat, the highs and lows that comes with these experiments are as strong as the tastes.

A new flavor for your storeroom

2010-01-20T23:05:00.000-08:00

Grains of paradise: These peppercorn-like seeds are part of the ginger family and can be used wherever you would like the sweet tone of cardamom paired with a peppery bite.

Apricot preserves: Because they aren't tart or cloying, the preserves are perfect when you want to add a touch of fruitiness.

Almond or walnut oil: Nut oil allows you to subtly add flavor without the crunch. Use it for sautéing summer vegetables or whisk it into vinaigrettes to add a wealthy, nutty note.

Crystallized or candied ginger: These small golden nuggets are nothing more than chopped ginger that simmers and steeps in sugar syrup, which tones down ginger's harshness and brings out its sweetness.

Flaky sea salt: Fleur de sel and Himalayan rock salts may get the buzz, but the clean, sharp taste and crackly mouth feel of a flaky sea salt is all you want to punch up some basic dishes.

Espresso powder: No, not for making instant espresso. This really is an essential, oft-overlooked baking ingredient.

Coconut milk: The milk itself is precious in sauces, curries and puddings, but if you chill the can, the fat solids will accumulate at the top and become white gold.

Five Unique uses for peanut butter

2010-01-19T04:43:00.000-08:00

Well, most people use peanut butter for sandwiches, but who knew the stuff can help you with household tasks, too! Here are 5 ways you can also use the nutty spread:

1) Pet medicine. If you want to give your dog or cat a pill, hide it in peanut butter. They like the taste.

2) Gum remover. Your child has chewing gum in her hair? Before you can reach for the scissors, trying rubbing the spot with peanut butter.

3) Butter replacement. Add peanut butter to recipes that call for butter. It adds unique, nutty flavors.

4) Price-tag removal. Rub a few peanut butter on the sticky glue residue and - voila! - It’s gone!

5) Air freshener. Did your just-fried fish leave a stinky, smell behind? Warm a few peanut butter in the pan to erase the lingering odor.

Focus on flavor – don’t focus on health benefits

2010-01-13T02:42:00.000-08:00

There are different things about which tea has different health benefits, and which outweighs what. The thing we like to say here are that you shouldn’t focus so much on which one is the best; just consume it. You can know, if you’re drinking tea, it’s good for you. If you’re drinking a green tea, it’s good for you. If you’re drinking a black tea, it’s fine for you. They all have catechins and polyphenols and all the antioxidants and the free-radical killers and all that stuff that benefits your body. We do not really discuss the health claims; we just like to speak about why it tastes good, and how it can make you feel from a more emotional standpoint.

Like wine, temperatures, regions, and preparation on the producer’s end can really affect the outcome for tea. But with tea, the consumer has ultimate control over how it’s going to taste.

CRUNK!!! Energy Drinks add Mango-Peach flavor

2010-01-11T22:24:00.000-08:00

CRUNK!!! Energy Drink expands its product portfolio heading into 2010 by initiation its fourth flavor, CRUNK!!! MANGO-PEACH. The new flavor, packaged in a clear orange 16-ounce effervescent can, follows the success of the original CRUNK!!! And LOW CARB SUGAR-FREE pomegranate variety, CRUNK!!! CITRUS, as well as, the brand's popular CRUNK!!! MANGO-PEACH is made with natural fruit juices - combine the full-bodied flavor of ripe tropical mangos with the subtle sweetness of clean peaches.

CRUNK!!! Energy Drink is one of the best growing energy drink companies in the United States. Crunk was founded in 2004 by the late industry legend Sidney Frank, the visionary marketer of Jagermeister and Grey Goose Vodka brands. Crunk was formed by Sidney to be a "better tasting, better for you" energy drink built on: a premium formulation with natural ingredients, stupendous flavor profile, and exceptional performance with "no-crash".

Vietnamese cinnamon is at full strength and stronger

2010-01-07T22:50:00.000-08:00

Cinnamon comes in two common varieties - Ceylon and cassia - and both come from the inner bark of a tropical evergreen tree. Ceylon is lighter in color and considered milder in flavor than cassia, which is dark reddish with a bittersweet flavor. Most grocery store cinnamon is the cassia variety.
The cinnamon is called Vietnamese Extra Fancy Cinnamon and is described as being "the richest, strongest, and sweetest cinnamon around." Because it's so strong, for most recipes, cutting the amount called for by one-third. But it's OK to use it at full strength too.

Have a quick breakfast makes healthy food

2010-01-05T22:54:00.000-08:00

Lemons, oranges and limes bring a lot of flavor and balance to dishes of all kinds, and not just with their juice. The actual punch is in the zest. Use a mixture of juice and zest in marinades for chicken and shellfish and for salad dressings that go simple on the oil. The zest, mixed with a little olive oil and a pinch of salt, also dresses green vegetables well. Try orange taste with steamed broccoli and julienned Brussels sprouts, lemon and/or lime zest with green beans or grilled asparagus. Lemon or orange zest mixed with ricotta and some brown sugar and then topped with slice strawberries makes a quick breakfast or dessert.

Put diets on hold to celebrate New Year

2009-12-31T02:39:00.000-08:00

You can forget the weight loss diet for a slight longer. The holiday season is not yet over. Get those party hats prepared because it will soon be time for a New Year’s celebration! And what better way is there to welcome in the New Year than with more excellent taste treats?

You only require two ingredients for Bacon Wraps ... bacon and club crackers. A strip of bacon is cut into 3 slices. Each slice is wrapping around the center of a cracker. The crackers are placed on a rack in a baking pan and baked at 300 degrees until the bacon becomes crisp and the crackers get on the bacon flavor. These can be made ahead and stored in a sealed container until snack time.

After all those rich cakes, pies, candies and cookies we enjoyed during the Christmas season, you might not desire anything sweet for your New Year’s celebration. However, if you can do, Coconut Cream Dip is a good choice.

Enjoy and then get ready for that yearly resolution to eat healthier foods in the New Year.

Designing coffee tea flavor

2009-12-29T22:50:00.000-08:00

In our out-of-control merry-go-round lives, a beverage that suggests a buzz or a breather sounds more like a necessity than a luxury. That’s why coffee and tea beverages are still going powerful.
In fact, the combined markets of Japan, North America and West Europe for prepared to drink (RTD) coffee amounted to 3,163 million liters, according to a 2006 report from drinks consultancy Zenith International.

Putting the magical brew of coffee or tea in a bottle takes some actual doing on the beverage formulator’s part.

Caffeine is an issue, too, in both coffees and teas, where levels differ depending on raw materials and processing. “Flavors with an inherent sweetness help mask the bitterness -vanillas for coffee, peach and pear for teas.”

Mighty milk with tres leches cake

2009-12-28T22:34:00.000-08:00

Tres Leches Cake, three milk, or sometimes four milk, soaked cake, is a Latin dessert staple that is comparatively new to food culture.

This rich sponge cake is made with sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, entire milk and sometimes, heavy cream and is similar to the Italian dessert, tiramisu, in that both are liquid-filled, layered sponge cakes, softly iced. Most tres leches cake isn’t soaked in alcohol, but somewhat, milk.

The induction of the tres leches cake to the pantheon of delicious desserts might have come after WWII when Nestle set up an operational plant in Mexico.

Pure Vegetables, the overlooked pleasure of a Christmas feast

2009-12-23T22:51:00.000-08:00

Cauliflower and potato gratin is easy and satisfying as a side dish at the Christmas feast or as a light main the rest of the year. It's perfectly easy to make as Roast split squash until its tender, then spoon the pulp into a food processor and puree it with the rest of the ingredients.

The big bang captures too much of our attention at Christmas. As kids (and maybe even later), we directly go for the biggest packages under the tree, ignoring the more apparently modest stockings by the fireplace. The adult equivalent of that comes at the table, where we'll plan for weeks the massive roast that will be the centerpiece of Christmas dinner, the spectacular desserts that will cap it, or the wonderful wines that will make everything flow, and then wake up that morning thinking, "Oh shoot, maybe we ought to have a vegetable too."

Tasty eating with different flavors

2009-12-21T23:43:00.000-08:00

Besides festive sweaters and gifts galore, the holidays also bring about many delicious traditions. One of these traditions date back over 350 years - the candy cane. Its unique shape allows it to be evenly as cool to decorate with as it is to eat during the holiday season, and its traditional mint taste has made the peppermint flavor synonymous with the Christmas season.

Mint has since recognized itself as a classic flavoring component in a variety of dishes. While there are over 30 different species of mint, the two most general are spearmint and peppermint. Peppermint is the more pungent of the two and, of course, is mainly noteworthy during the holidays via the popularity of the candy cane. Yes, peppermint is considered as necessary to the Christmas season as pumpkin is to Thanksgiving. Nowadays, candy canes are available in all sorts of flavors and sizes, but even the quintessential peppermint candy cane had an attractive and debatable heritage.

Coffee helps to reduce diabetes risk

2009-12-17T22:51:00.001-08:00

Drinking coffee helps to reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to a meta-analysis in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

The analysis of 457,000 subjects participating in about 3 dozens of studies found an inverse association between coffee consumption and risk of type 2 diabetes.

Specifically, for each additional cup of coffee consumed every day, the diabetes.
Risk was reduced in the drinkers compared to those who did’nt drinks, the researchers found.

Great time to have a beverage tea

2009-12-14T23:40:00.001-08:00

Tea ranks second only to water as the planet’s preferred drink. It transcends each border, from jungle to desert to big city. In some cultures, Tea is a ritual.

Despite its broad variety, all tea begins the same, as green leaves. Processing determines its fate, from black to white to smoke to flavored. The worth depends on the skill of the tea maker.
As leaves are picked, they were immediately begin to oxidize (wilt and decompose). This is fermentation, and how far it goes determines tea flavors. Packaging is dangerous. Tea left in air ultimately produces a fungus that causes bitterness.

In the United States, it is strictly a beverage. Elsewhere it is that plus a condiment, used in the flavoring of food.

One of the reasons rice tastes good in Chinese restaurants is it may be cooked in excess tea. The teas produce a delicate flavor. Try Oolong tea with Basmati rice.

Have your traditional Christmas cake

2009-12-12T00:36:00.000-08:00

The Christmas cake, as we know it today, is the coming together of two customs in Victorian times: plum porridge and a boiled fruit cake made from the best milled flour, which for centuries had been a festive staple in rich households.

The making of the cake was a family affair with small rituals attached. Everyone would take turns stirring the mixture, before the cake was baked and then fed with alcohol in the accumulate to the big day. Well, the tradition goes on still today as the ‘Cake Mixing' or the ‘Fruit Soaking Ceremony'. Fruit soaking for the traditional Christmas cake is a ceremony which has been in fashion since early Victorian times in Europe, bringing cheer to all those involved in it. The Christmas cake is a must in every house and there is a tale behind its making. The story goes that in the early days people used to eat an easy porridge on Christmas Even after a day of fasting. They then added dried fruits and spices to create it special for Christmas.

Tejocote is no longer prohibited fruit

2009-12-09T02:18:00.000-08:00

Tejocote, a peculiar crab-apple-like fruit that most people have never heard of but that is a crucial ingredient in ponche, the hot fruit punch emblematic of the holidays. Once the most smuggled fruit on the Mexican border, tejocote is prohibited no more.

Cheap and abundant in the Mexican highlands, tejocote (pronounced te-ho-COT-e) can’t be imported to this country because it can harbor exotic insect pests that would devastate American agriculture. So devotees of real ponche have had to resort to frozen or jarred or even smuggled fruit;

Tejocotes are also used in Christmas pinatas; for making jellies, jams and fruit cheese; for candying, such as for toffee apples; for extracting profitable pectin; and also for weaving into necklaces.

What is ‘flavored water’ and ‘sweetened flavored water’?

2009-12-08T00:33:00.000-08:00

“Flavored Water” shall mean *Purified water containing Natural Flavors or Nature identical Flavoring Substances not more than 0.02 ~0.05% derived from extracts of Herbs, Fruits or parts of Plant origin, flavor concentrates in minute traces, individually or in combination. It contains No color, no more of flavor, No sweeteners, no Carbonated gas and no calories. It gives Calories: 0, Total fat 0g, Saturated fat 0g, Total carbs 0g, Sugars 0g, Trans fat 0g, Protein 0g.

“Sweetened Flavored Water” shall mean *Purified water containing Natural Flavors or Nature identical Flavoring Substances not more than 0.02 ~0.05% derived from extracts of Herbs, flavor concentrates in minute traces, Fruits or parts of Plant origin, singly or in combination with added artificial sweeteners permitted under PFA Rules, 1955.

Nut salad and dried fruit makes a sugar-free for vegetarians

2009-12-07T01:31:00.000-08:00

In the winter months when clean locally grown fruit is in short supply, this vegetarian-friendly fruit salad is not only healthy but delicious as well.

If you don't like green tea, replace it with unsweetened orange, apple or grape juice.
Add a few clean raspberries or strawberries (if in season) to liven up this salad. Dried Fruit Salads with Green Tea 500 ml (2 cups) hot brewed green tea 300 ml (1 1/4 cups) mixed dried fruit (apricots, figs, prunes and dates), diced 75 ml (1/3 cup) almonds, walnut halves, sesame seed or sunflower seed.

In a heatproof bowl, pour hot green tea over fruits. Cover and keep cold for at least 4 hours, until chilled, or overnight. To serve, spoon into serving dishes and shake over with nuts or seeds or both.

Coffee bean harvesting using stripping method

2009-12-03T23:06:00.000-08:00

In Brazil, harvesting the same coffee tree several times is less cost effective than separating and disposal the unripe or overripe cherries. Therefore, Brazil naturally harvests using the stripping method when 75% of the coffee crop is perfectly ripe. Stripping is possible and cost effective in Brazil due to the uniform maturation of Brazilian coffees. In stripping, the coffee beans are pulled from the tree and drop to the ground where they are caught by sheets. The beans are removed from tree debris by tossing the coffee in the air allows the wind to carry away sticks and leaves. The coffee is then put in 60 L green baskets, which is the tool are measurement used by coffee producer to determine wages. Some coffee estates, such as Fazenda Monte Alegre in Sul de Minas Brazil, have a computerized system to determined wages for picking coffee beans. This system accounts for the amount of coffee collected from each person, the difficulty of the coffee harvesting conditions, and the production of the area being harvested.

Have a great cup of coffee in your home

2009-12-02T22:29:00.000-08:00

The heart of a gourmet coffee drink is the espresso shot, flavored with milk-stuff, sugar-stuff or spice-stuff or blend with ice or foam. It was Achille Gaggia who invented the modern espresso machine in 1938, which use pressure to extract the best flavor and aroma from ground beans.

The signature of an ideal shot is the crema, the ephemeral golden foam of oils, proteins and sugars floating on the ebony slurry of extra virgin extraction. You only get that when properly chosen and roasted beans are properly ground and pressed and then properly heated and pressurized water is forced through the coffee during the proper 20-25 second window.

Pear can add add flavor to famous dishes

2009-12-01T23:21:00.000-08:00

Although pears are both gorgeous and bountiful, you may not fully appreciate the fruit if you are only serving them as a snack.

Pears’ distinctive flavors are evenly delightful as ingredients in entrees.

Depending on the variety you decide, a pear will infuse your dish with a hint of spice - imagine cloves or nutmeg - or a suggestion of honey. Use this pear in an entree salad, top with a curry dressing.

Comice, heavy-bottomed pear, a squat, is valued for its balance of sugar and acid. It’s a wonderful accent to sugary potatoes or winter squash in a puree.

Cooking with mandarin

2009-11-26T22:59:00.000-08:00

Mandarin is the blanket term for every “easy peel” citrus. The three main kinds are Clementine, Satsuma and Tangerine, but there are limitless hybrids.

Although mandarins look gorgeous, they keep best in the fridge. Take out a few at a time to top up the fruit bowl, so they were at room temperature when you eat them.

The skin of a very fresh fruit will spritz oil when it is peeled, and the fruit will be juicier. Like oranges, the skin is wax, so wash it well in hot water before using it in cooking.

Clementines sold with their leaves are pretty, and shiny lithe leaves are proof that the fruit is fresh. Add a well-washed leaf to beef casseroles or oriental dishes for a citrus-bay leaf flavor.

Pure Chocolate – Food of the gods

2009-11-25T23:35:00.000-08:00

Rich, decadent and addictive, chocolate has got to be one of the most delicious and seductive food on earth. Even if you don’t want another reason to indulge in its dark sweetness, a trip to “Chocolate: the Exhibition” will give you one and many more.

You will learn that chocolate is called the food of the gods because the plant’s botanical name, Theobroma cacao, literally means “food of the gods.” But you can credit the Aztecs for inspiring chocolate’s stature to that point. Between the 13th and 16th centuries, they valued the cacao seeds like money. To them, chocolate was a luxury, a drink for warriors and nobility, used in ritual and ceremonies. You could buy tamale for just one cacao seed. So it looks like gold was not the great discovery in 1512 by Cortez, the Spanish Conquistador. It was a chocolate.

Winter cooking - grilling season

2009-11-24T23:34:00.000-08:00

The bold, single flavor of grilled foods is more popular than ever - from steaks (the hands down favorite), burgers and chicken, to grilled vegetables and appetizers. And while grilling is naturally thought to be the quintessential summer cooking activity, an increasing number of Americans are firing up their grills year-round.

Even children's taste has evolved. They have learned to enjoy flavors that frequently accompany grilled foods; International Flavors and Fragrances Group data shows that "classic" children's flavors now include sour cream and onion, buffalo, and honey-mustard.

Singaporean food flavors

2009-11-23T23:28:00.000-08:00

In Singapore, foodies are not simply a group of folks from the more-affluent parts of the population. Every socioeconomic level within this little city-state, which comprises only 246 square miles - and is home to over 100,000 registered hawker food stalls - has a keen interest in food.
This provides a platform for one of the most-dynamic, multiethnic and pervasive food culture around. We could look to Singapore for more than just what is delicious - we can learn how to improve our food quality, raise foodservice turnaround and get ideas on how to create collective eating arenas for food.

Chinatown is one of the only places you can still eat on the street - accurately. In the evening, the road is closed to traffic, and the tables come out. Chinese cuisine can be found all around the island: Fine-dining restaurants, casual eateries and stalls within the hawker centers churn out real Chinese cuisine from all around China.

Holiday Flavor Added at Tasti D-Lite

2009-11-19T23:14:00.000-08:00

During the month of November, Tasti D-Lite has featured a mixture of old and new fall flavors - Apple Pie, Caramel Apple, Pumpkin Pie, and new Pumpkin Cheesecake - as a complement to its daily rotation of more than 100 flavors of frozen desserts. Adhering to Tasti D-Lite's mission of offering lower-calorie treats, each of these featured flavors have between 70 and 90 calories, 1.5 grams of fat, and 14 grams or less of carbs, plus 5 grams of protein, per 4-fluid-ounce serving. These flavors will also be available in the chain's increasing line of cakes and pies, which will be promoted at 20 percent off at participating locations during the month of November.

In December, Tasti D-Lite will focus on two extra holiday flavors: Eggnog and Peppermint.

Pasta sauce with flavor

2009-11-17T23:17:00.000-08:00

The point of a pasta sauce is to improve the flavor of starchy noodles, not emulate it. But the demands of current food processing can play havoc with the sauce’s flavor.

To start with, product designers need to add stabilizers and texturizers to improve pasta-sauce performance - ingredients that not only contribute to the way flavors are perceived by altering texture and mouth feel, but may actually result in chemical interactions that bind flavor volatiles. The relationships between stabilizers and flavor chemicals could be complex - different stabilizers can have a different effect on the same flavor compounds and vice versa. Other elements of the sauce, such as fat content, can also affect flavor release. Often, a pasty or floury sauce is the result of over-determined attempts at stabilization.

Development of american peanut butter

2009-11-16T23:24:00.000-08:00

Americans are concerned about one of their major beloved treats: peanut butter. In March 2009 over 15,000 tons of peanut butter made by the Peanut Corporation of America were recalled, along with other thousands of products, from brownies to ice cream to cereals, and even dog treats that controlled peanut butter. The situation was not singular - cases of product contaminated with salmonella were reported since 1985, and instead of declining, the instances only grew: from 168,000 cases in 1985, to 224,000 in 1993 and over 300,000 in 2008 - and products containing infested peanut butter are amongst the major causes in this development.

Peanut butter is a main aliment for children’s menus in schools and kindergartens as well; many households cannot imagine breakfast without it and many charity organizations, including the Salvation Army, count peanut butter as a main ingredient to feed the poor. But the FDA didn’t make any current updates on the recalls, and the industry keeps quiet about the case - so the consumers are obviously worried that another salmonella outbreak will follow if the U.S. Food and Drug Administration don’t get funds for inspections.

Fortune cookies – American Traditions

2009-11-16T01:09:00.000-08:00

Fortune cookies have been an American traditional since the early 1900s. The original fortune cookie has a bland almond or vanilla flavors and have become an American icon through the last century. Traditionally, fortune cookies contain messages to expect your future, always in vague terms, or provide a bit of common-sense wisdom. In recent years, the fortune cookies have become a tool for marketers in an array of industries - and even in Hollywood.

In 1988, Mike Fry invented the flavored, colored fortune cookie and since that time, his company FancyFortuneCookies has thoroughly experimented, tested, tweaked and perfected each flavor and color formulation to create the most delicious fortune cookie possible. This continual process has given them the insight essential to formulate over 25 one-of-a-kind color and flavor combinations specifically created to match logos, corporate colors or event themes.

Flavor food with cinnamon

2009-11-12T23:04:00.000-08:00

Cinnamon, an ancient spice used as a cologne and love potion for rich Romans, comes from the bark of the tropical evergreen. Its aromatic scent makes it a good ploy for real estate agents - heat a pan of cinnamon water in an oven to perfume the kitchen during open houses. Along with selling house, cinnamon is diabetic-friendly as it desensitizes the liver lowering blood sugar levels, induces sweating to detox with the flu and colds, and jazzes up the whole thing from oatmeal and baked apples to stews and lasagna.

Cardamom, one of the world's expensive spices behind saffron and vanilla, is a first cousin to ginger. A native to India, these dried aromatic seeds perk up a cup of joe, curry and chili dishes, burgers and pie crusts. Cardamom is also a great digestive aid in case you' have OD'ed on those curry and chili dishes. A pinch is plenty, as this spice is quite strong.

Drink a healthy cup of traditional tea

2009-11-11T22:17:00.000-08:00

Tea, the second most generally consumed beverage worldwide (after water), has been regarded for thousands of years as a key to well-being. Now we are finding out much more about the many health benefits found in the different variety of this popular drink made from God’s plants and herbs.

Traditional teas are black, green, white and oolong - are made from the plant camellia sinensis, and all contain high levels of antioxidant polyphenols. Actually, tea ranks as high as or higher than many fruits and vegetables in the ORAC score, a score that measures antioxidant potential of plant-based foods.

Black tea, the kind most Americans and Europeans drink, has the maximum caffeine content, and the strongest flavor.

Herbal teas: Made from herbs, fruits, seeds, or roots steeped in hot water, herbal teas have lower concentrations of antioxidants than green, black, white, and oolong teas. Their chemical compositions vary widely depending on the plant used, but two of the most general and beneficial herbal teas are hibiscus and chamomile.

The popular brown butter sauce

2009-11-11T00:53:00.000-08:00

As the sauce bubbles away on the stove, a sugary scent reminiscent of roasting almonds fills the room. Step closer to the pan and you will see that it's not a milky, nut-infused topping but instead a thin, golden-brown liquid. Another whiff of the warm nuttiness says you that neither vegetable nor chicken stock or even beer simmers in the pan. Instead the sole ingredient of this aromatic, rich sauce is butter.

Brown butter sauce is popular with cooks not only for its versatility but also because it is so easy to prepare. All you require is a pan, a burner and unsalted butter. Once the sauce is completed, it can be used immediately or stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

Before serving the sauce, some cooks strain it in cheesecloth or a well mesh sieve to remove the dark specks. Others believe that the flecks of brown add color and reinforce the notion of "brown butter," and so forgo strain and present the liquid as is. With no hard and quick rule, proper presentation rests in the cook's hands.

How vanilla is formed?

2009-11-09T02:13:00.000-08:00

One flavor many cooks frequently forget to try is vanilla, which has a heady, aromatic taste combined with sweet, fruity and floral scents. Vanilla beans are grown in mainly four locations around the world - Madagascar, Indonesia, Mexico and Tahiti - and each variety of beans can be used to enhance both sweet and savory flavors.

Vanilla’s flavor and fragrance are so enveloping throughout American life, it is often assumed to be a common, easily grown ingredient. However, that assumption couldn’t be further from the reality. The vanilla bean is the second most expensive spice in the world, second only to saffron, and it is so expensive because it is so difficult and time-consuming to grow and ferment.

Vanilla actually is produced by an orchid (Vanilla planifolia) native only to Central America - the only orchid of around 20,000 varieties that bears anything edible. In order to produce the vanilla bean, the orchid wants to be pollinated by stingless Melipona bees, also only found in Central America, and the orchid flower only opens for less than a day. If not pollinated during that time, the flower will fall off and no vanilla beans will be formed.

Oolong tea offers ‘beauty’

2009-11-04T23:26:00.000-08:00

”Oriental Beauty” is the type of oolong tea. The features it possesses are just as beautiful as its name suggests, while all those features came about during an accident.

In another story, Oriental Beauty was initially called “Puff Tea.” At that time, a farmer's tea garden was injured by insects. He couldn't reconcile himself to the idea of suffering a big loss, so he took his tea into the town for sale. Unexpectedly, his tea was favored by many peoples because of its unique fragrance. After he returned, he shared his experience with the insect-injured tea; the villagers quickly dubbed it “Puff Tea.”

The fermentation level of Oriental Beauty is the deepest among oolong teas, so its tea water turned darker, or amber-colored. In addition, the tea leaves are tremendous, with five colors you can see by looking carefully - red, yellow, white, blue-green and brown. Therefore, some people also call it as “Five-color Tea.”

Life of coffee flavors

2009-11-04T02:35:00.000-08:00

Coffee gives untold legions reasons to perk up in the morning, stay up late at night and just sit to enjoy the intimacy coffee lends to conversations both serious and silly.

It is a universal language served up in the container of choice and in the setting of selection at whatever temperature one desires.

Coffee has steadfast friends, with more than half of the nation's adult population consuming it every day.

Numerous varieties from more than 70 producing coffee nations, in addition to an array of syrups, keep coffee from ever becoming boring.

In many ways, coffee is like ice cream - there is a flavor out there, somewhere, which almost anybody will like and appreciate.

Caramel apples for this Halloween treat

2009-10-29T00:07:00.000-07:00

Caramel apples were a general Halloween treat. But now it seems that packaged candy is what goes into trick-or-treat bags, and caramel apples are relegate to the gourmet-food.

America's Test Kitchen gives some tips for successfully dipping apples:

• For the caramel coating, melt together soft caramel candies and a little heavy cream, this will enable the caramel to coat the apples smoothly.

• Coat the apples with caramel by spoon the hot caramel over the apples. It will flow easily around the apple to make a thin, uniform layer. Roll the freshly coated apples in the candy fast so the candy will stick fast.

• Candy bars with crunchy cookies, caramel or toffee are the good match for the flavors of the apple and caramel.

• Choose smaller, tart apples for the best flavor and part of caramel to apple. Granny Smiths or McIntosh apples offer a tart bite that cuts through the richness of the caramel and candy.

• Caramel apples keep 2 weeks refrigerated and covered.

Origins of coffee flavors

2009-10-28T00:16:00.001-07:00

The origin of coffee was explained in a legend about the "flying goat." It is said that a goat rancher discovered the effects of coffee after notice that when his goats ate the cherries of a specific plant, they gained high quantity of energy causing them to "dance" or "fly." Some of the different process of drying the beans was also discussed.

There are basically two major ways to process the beans. They are either the dry or natural process, which allows the flavor of the cherries to come out more distinct in the final product. The other is by washing the cherries off of the beans. Each of the numerous countries where coffee is grown has their own way of doing it, and each of them believes their process is the best. These two processes finally lend themselves to specific descriptions of the coffee flavor, naturally resulting in an "earthy" or "dirty" flavor, and the wash having a "clean" taste.

Know about torani pumpkin pie syrup

2009-10-26T02:25:00.000-07:00

The holiday drinks that crowd coffeehouse menu this time of year cheer and embolden us. Yes, embolden. Do we dare try and make a tasty caramel apple martini or pumpkin whipped cream pasta at home? We do dare, in truth.

And we'll likely begin with Torani's Pumpkin Pie syrup. You knew Torani did Vanilla and Hazelnut. Even our most favorite flavor name yet, Orgeat. But the Italian syrup maker also puts out the fall/winter flavors like Gingerbread, Pumpkin Pie and Shortbread.

Shortbread! Oh wonders do not finish. What kind of knock-the-guests'-socks-off cocktail can we build with that? Shortbread-tinis for everybody.

Health benefits: More spice, less fat

2009-10-23T01:29:00.000-07:00

What’s a spice? A spice may be the bud (clove), rhizome (ginger), bark (cinnamon), berry (peppercorn), aromatic seed (cumin), or flower stigma (saffron) of a plant.

Nutrition research supports new reasons to season dishes with herbs and spices including cinnamon, oregano, ginger, red pepper and yellow curry powder. Blueberries, pomegranates and other deeply colored fruits might be famous for their high antioxidant content; but it turn out that some spices rank really high, too.

One teaspoon of cinnamon has the disease fighting antioxidant control of a full cup of pomegranate juice or half cup of blueberries. The specific kind of antioxidant compounds found in cinnamon called polyphenols have been shown to help regulate blood sugar levels and fight inflammation which can raise risk for heart disease and diabetes.

Of course one of the best ways that spices can give to the enjoyment of a healthy diet is by taking the place of other seasonings that are high in fat, sugar or salt. Herbs and spices are classified as salt-free and calorie-free.

Familiar flavor of caramel apple cupcakes

2009-10-21T00:20:00.000-07:00

Caramel Apple Cupcakes get you back to your childhood with the flavors of a fall festival treat.

The cupcakes are a snap to prepare with the assist of packaged cake mix, canned apple pie filling and dulce de leche sauce. They are a great ending to a casual autumn gathering or a school's fall bake sale.

Look for dulce de leche sauce (sweetened milk cooked down to a thick caramel) with the ice cream sauces in the superstore. If you can't locate it, substitute a jar of thick caramel sauce. The great choices are usually labeled "hot" caramel sauce.

Great way to use of light coconut milk

2009-10-20T03:11:00.000-07:00

By adding tropical flavors to the traditional bird, the result is a soup that is big on taste and still maintains the nutritional worth of the turkey.

Coconut milk provides the essential tropical flavor to the soup.
Coconut milk is somewhat high in saturated fat and must be used sparingly simply for its flavor. The use of light coconut milk provides flavor with lower saturated fat content.

Lemongrass is regularly used in combination with coconut milk. The narrow foliage of lemongrass ranges from blue-green to gold and the flowers are white, green or cream. Underutilized in American cuisine, lemongrass has long been related with savory Thai, Vietnamese, Indonesian and Cambodian cooking.

The lime and ginger finish the layers of tropical flavors.

Some people swear by soda made south of the border

2009-10-15T00:07:00.000-07:00

You're probably familiar with the flavor of the most popular soft drink in the world: Coca Cola. But few people insist a version of the soda that's hard to find around here tastes better than the rest.

Most Coke sell in the U.S. is sweetened with high fructose corn syrup, but bottlers in Mexico still use cane sugar. The majority of American bottlers switched away from cane sugar in the 1980s.

The Coca-Cola Company says there is no noticeable difference in taste between the two, while fans of Mexican Coke beg to differ. "I think it has a lot cleaner flavor,".

Additionally, Coke made with cane sugar is extensively available around Passover, and Pepsi recently launched a cane-sugar-only formula called Throwback Pepsi.

Tips to cook in healthy oils

2009-10-14T00:10:00.000-07:00

Grapeseed oil: Extracted from the seeds of grapes, and naturally imported from France, Italy, or Switzerland, this oil also has a high smoke point, which makes it good for sautéing or stir-frying.

Avocado oil: Pressed from the fleshy pulp surrounding this nutty-flavored oil, the avocado pit, like olive oil, is rich in monounsaturated fats. This also delicious in vinaigrette dressings or drizzled over vegetables.

Nut oils: The good thing about nut oils, such as almond, macadamia, hazelnut, peanut, pecan, pistachio, and walnut oils, is that they provide the same monounsaturated fats that are found in the nuts themselves (but they don't contain the fiber). Nut oils can go rancid fast, so store them in the refrigerator to keep them fresh.

Pumpkin seed oil: Made from roasted pumpkin seeds, this very flavorful, dark green, opaque oil is good to use in combination with lighter oils for sautéing or in salad dressings. It could also be used undiluted to add a distinctive flavor to fish or steamed vegetables.

Safflower oil: It contains more polyunsaturated fats than some other oil. The oil also has a high smoke point, which makes it fine for sautéing or stir-frying. You could mix it with more flavorful oils for heart-healthy salad dressings, too.

Most variations of coffee drinks

2009-10-13T00:16:00.000-07:00

You can see most of these drinks contain two main ingredients - espresso and some form of milk. It is mostly in how the milk is prepared that differentiate one drink from another.

Espresso: The foundation of all espresso-based drinks, as well as a drink into itself, espresso is a small dose (generally 1 to 2 ounces) of concentrated coffee, hopefully containing all of the good and tasty elements of the coffee bean while leaving the less desirable qualities, such as bitterness, behind.

Latté: Espresso with milk steamed on 150 or 155 degrees. Some people will ask for an "extra hot" latté, but the milk must be steamed no higher than 170 degrees or it will scald and ruin the flavor of the drink. The milk in a latté also may be very little foamed as well as steamed. A latté made with steamed milk only a few times called a Flat White.

Cappuccino: Espresso with milk that is both steamed and foamed, making a creamier and a bit sweeter drink than a latté. A cappuccino is not the powdered drinks that comes out of a gas station coffee machine. Real cappuccinos require a level of skill and attention in properly preparing the milk that can only be accomplished by a human being, so far.

Beneficial special effects of fruits and vegetables

2009-10-12T03:36:00.000-07:00

Fruit and vegetables are a good source of some vitamins: such as orange, tomato and kiwi vitamin C and folate, carrots, apricots, green leafy vegetables of pro-vitamin A, legumes and Grains thiamin, niacin and folate. They are also an excellent source of minerals (green leafy vegetables, calcium and iron, the potato and tomato potassium), although the absorption of the latter is generally lower than that of the same mineral content in food source animal. Because they contain substances that act protected the beneficial effects of consumption of fruits, vegetables and legumes also depends on the fact that some of their components play a protective action, mostly of type antioxidant, which is expressed by counteracting the action of free radicals, which are capable of changing the structure of cell membranes and genetic material (DNA), paving the method for premature aging and a whole series of reactions leading to various cancers. This protective action, plus the previously mentioned components (vitamins and minerals), was also held by other components, which, although present in relatively small amounts, are also very active from the biological point of view through several mechanisms: the largest of these is precisely what an antioxidant.

Among the different classes of antioxidants present in fruits and vegetables the most familiar are:

- Ascorbic acid (vitamin C). - Carotenoids . - Phenolic compounds . - Tocopherols (originate in oil seeds and green leafy vegetables).

Difference between vanilla extract and vanilla beans

2009-10-09T00:38:00.000-07:00

Vanilla is available in many forms, including powders and pastes, but the most common is liquid extract. Naturally derived extract is amber in color, nuanced taste, with a robust, a rich composite of more than 200 flavor compounds in vanilla. Imitation extract contains chemically synthesize vanillin, the primary flavor compound. Because the other compounds are missing, the artificial version lack complexity and has a bitter aftertaste. Vanilla is used in small quantities and has a long shelf life, so it is worth buying the actual thing.

Even though extract is suitable in most dishes, vanilla beans lend a purer taste. Use beans in foods where vanilla is the defining flavor, such as ice cream and custard. Split the pod lengthwise, and scratch the seeds into a dish; the contents of one bean are equal to about 1 tablespoon of extract. Use the empty pod to infuse sauces and other liquids.

Cadbury Chocolate discards Kraft's $16 Billion Offer

2009-10-07T02:02:00.000-07:00

A member of the family that founded the British chocolate company Cadbury has spoken out about a possible conquest by the American food company Kraft. Cadbury's management recently rejected a $16 billion suggest from Kraft. Felicity Loudon said she feels ''particularly saddened by the possibility of one of the last remaining British icons disappearing into an American plastic cheese company."

And today's Last Word in business comes from a Cadbury. A member of the family that founded the British chocolate company has spoken out about a possible conquest by the American food company Kraft. Cadbury's management recently rejected a $16 billion offer from Kraft and discussion continuing.

On oct 5th, Felicity Loudon, whose grandfather Egbert Cadbury was a managing director of the company, made clear her distaste for the possible deal. She told a British newspaper that as a Cadbury, she feels quote, "particularly saddened by the possibility of one of the last remaining British icons disappearing into an American plastic cheese company."

Great time to have fruit smoothies

2009-10-06T00:32:00.000-07:00

Fruit smoothies are a great way to satisfy hunger pains and boost energy without resorting to an luxurious latte.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention adamantly suggest eating five servings of fruits and vegetables per day to maintain good health. But if eating five oranges a day does not sound appealing, there are other ways to figure in the fructose.

When choosing a fruit smoothie - and there are plenty of places to grab one on and off campus - the most important decision is to select a nutrient-rich drink. A fruit smoothie must foremost contain adequate amounts of fruit. And the fresher, the better.

To make a smoothie, for instance the famous strawberry-banana, Doan blends four or five regular-sized strawberries and one banana with 1/2 cup of crushed ice. The simplicity is key here, as the fruit is fresh and sugary enough to not require any added ingredients.

International flavor of world food day

2009-10-02T03:13:00.000-07:00

World Food Day will be held at the Townsville Multicultural Support Group grounds on October 16, and will involves refugee and migrants showcasing healthy and affordable traditional foods during a taste testing event at lunch.

The Townsville Multicultural Support Group, in partnership with Queensland Health (Health Promotion Unit) and Townsville City Council are holding the occasion to promote the theme ‘Healthy Food is Affordable’ for World Food Day.

The event will complement a program in which up to 14 refugees and migrants are participating in education sessions, conducted by Naomi McGrath, on adopting a holistic, Community Nutritionist with Queensland Health, healthy lifestyle as part of the Eat Well Be Active Community Partnerships Program funded by the Department of Communities.

The magic of tasty marinades

2009-09-29T03:08:00.000-07:00

It's one of those culinary terms that evoke an aura of kitchen mystique, as if throwing together a bunch of liquids, flavorings, herbs and spices will magically transform meat, seafood or even vegetables into tender dishes full with flavor. It sounds almost like a kitchen spell - albeit without the dramatic incantation or the smoke (better save that for the grill).

Unfortunately, in the real world, marinades have their limits. Contrary to famous belief, a marinade will not tenderize meat. But that's all right; it could still impart great flavor. Basically, a marinade functions as a "dressing" for meat. Like a salad dressing, it's naturally composed of an acid (vinegar, citrus juice or wine) and a little oil, with herbs and aromatics added to punch up the flavor.

FDA banned flavored cigarette

2009-09-24T02:23:00.000-07:00

Tobacco companies can no longer sell candy-, spice-, or fruit-flavored cigarettes in the United States, regulators said, acting to implement a ban signed into law in June by President Obama.

Making, selling, rolling papers, or shipping cigarettes, or filters with flavors such as clove, cinnamon, and strawberry may result in sanctions as of Tuesday, the Food and Drug Administration said in a letter to makers led by Altria Group Inc. and Philip Morris USA.

Menthol, the most famous flavored cigarette and the one preferred by blacks, was allowedCongress gave the FDA power to control the $80-billion-a-year tobacco industry after a decadelong fight. The law bans most flavored cigarettes, advertising to children, and the introduction of products without scientific review. to stay on the market over objections from seven former U.S. secretaries of Health and Human Services.

Asian style pasta dish gets rich flavors

2009-09-22T02:41:00.000-07:00

This Asian-style pasta dish gets rich flavor from a sauce made with milk infused with cilantro, lemon grass and ginger.

To get the best flavors out of the lemon grass, bruise it first. The easier way to do this is to pound it gently with a rolling pin.

In a little saucepan over medium, heat milk until warm. Reduce heat to low, add cilantro, ginger and, lemon grass then gently simmer for 20 minutes. Remove from heat and put aside. After 15 minutes, in big saute pan over medium-high, heat peanut oil. Add garlic, onion, thyme and mushrooms, then saute until tender. Add mirin to deglaze pan, using a wooden spoon or rubber spatula to scrape up of any bits stuck to pan.

Strain milk mixtures into pan, discarding cilantro, lemon grass and ginger. Simmer for 5 minutes. Add soba noodles and cook, stirring regularly, until tender, about 3 minutes.

The latest Bacon-Flavor Brews

2009-09-21T05:22:00.000-07:00

Nothing permeates the air and causes a knowing in one's stomach quite like the sweet scent of sizzling bacon. So it's easy to understand why cooks across the country put bacon on sandwiches, crumble it on top of baked potatoes and also wrap meat in it. The newest bacon craze comes not as a meal, but as a brew.

The beer can be made by some different methods. One of them involves mixing aged ale with lumps of bacon fat, freezing the fat into a solid and then filtering it out so the beer retain the salty-smoky flavor sans visible chunks. Another method involves suspending oven-dried bacon in pale ale.

But however you make it, the majority would agree that bacon and beer are two great tastes - if they taste great together, even better.

Patience also comes in handy while you are waiting for the ice cream to freeze!

2009-09-18T00:39:00.000-07:00

There is nothing like fresh-churned homemade ice cream. It's cool, but melts in your mouth, creamy and smooth, and when compared to a grocery store variety, has a richer, cleaner, more pure taste. To make ice cream you want an ice cream maker and a little skill, but most of all, it requires patience. Many recipes are egg-based, and one of the steps involves tempering a ribbon-like egg yolk and sugar mixture with temperate milk. If you are not patient, the eggs will scramble. Patience also comes in handy while you are waiting for the ice cream to freeze!

It's a flavor that can be enjoyed in every season, is loved by all, and pairs with a variety of desserts.

Angel's Island Coffee named as best brew in northeast Alabama

2009-09-17T00:39:00.000-07:00

The black-colored swill the business serves in the break room isn't really coffee.

Angel's Island Coffee, that is, which has been named as best coffee in northeast Alabama, Located in a funky orange building on South Memorial Parkway just south of Martin Road, Angel's Island has been pumping out a better-tasting brew for more than two years.

Angel's Island offers a variety of pick-me-up beverages including espresso, lattes and cappuccinos. And now about any drink can be jazzed up with one of more than 35 flavors (toasted marshmallow coffee, anyone?). Angel's Island also serves smoothies made from fresh-cut fruits.

Sip a good cup of green tea

2009-09-15T21:51:00.000-07:00

It is believed to helps people who are suffering from heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, infections, impaired immune functions and cardiovascular diseases. The benefit of green tea also involves treating high cholesterol and improving the cholesterol rate in the body.

By drinking suggested amounts of green tea, the body is cleansed from toxins and this improves your health and lifestyle as well. You will feel relaxed, full of energy, healthy and even develop a good outlook in life once you drink a good cup of green tea.

Green tea is rich in EGCG or epigallocatechil gallate which is a great anti-oxidant. This element help in lowering cholesterol levels, balances them, and prevent the abnormal formation of blood clots in wounds. This problem of blood clotting, also known as thrombosis, regularly leads to heart attacks and stroke.

A stone fruit makes delicious and nutritious lunch

2009-09-09T01:44:00.000-07:00

Summer is the season to enjoy the freshest and most tasty stone fruits. Stone fruits are characterized by a fleshy outer exterior bounded by a hard pit or seed that resembles a stone. They are also filled with necessary nutrients like dietary fiber and vitamins A, C, and E. You will surely become an ACE in nutrition if you incorporate these fruits in your diet.

The best places to enjoy such abundance in harvest are at your local farmers' market. The sun must bring out the obviously sweet and juicy flavor of these bright and delicious fruits. They seem to be cheery.

A perfect lunch on a nice, summer day is a salad with some sliced or cubed stone fruit of your opiniun, layered on some salad greens with light vinaigrette. You could even add some leftover roasted or grilled chicken and some toasted nuts for crunch.

How to use a blade grinder for best coffee flavor

2009-09-08T01:57:00.000-07:00

The trick is grinding the darned thing. A look for of Amazon yielded over 600 coffee grinders, 500 of which were blade grinders. This is no shock. Blade grinders are more reasonable. However, they were also a tiny bit trickier if you care about the coarseness of your coffee.

Coarseness of the grind is important so you could extract the most flavors and the least bitterness from your coffee. If you use the mistaken grind, you run the risk of canceling out the advantage of grinding the beans fresh.

Kenneth Davids, one of the leading coffee experts, offers this simple advice: "In general, grind coffee as fine as you can without clogging the holes of the brewer or turning the coffee to mud. The finer the grind, the more contact there will be between coffee and hot water, and the faster and more thoroughly the essential oils will be released, without activating harsher, less-soluble chemicals."

Apples sweetened Rosh Hasana

2009-09-07T04:13:00.000-07:00

Stroll through the farmers’ market, and you can feel fall approaching. As we say goodbye to summer’s heat, those achingly soft, sweet, dribble-down-your-chin melons, peaches and plums give way to fall’s bounty of apples: cool and crisp as an autumn’s day.

Dipping apple slices in honey, Jews the world over begin the festive meal of Rosh Hashana, as we ask God to renovate us for a good and sweet New Year.

Everything on the holiday table reflects this wish. Dishes are sweet, fruit-laden and round in appearance. No bitter flavors and sour for this holiday!

Apples belong to the rose relations of plants. Approximately 10,000 different varieties produce in the world, over 7,000 of them in the United States. But why do we all eat apples for the Jewish New Year? Some rabbis compete that when Jacob disguised himself as Esau in order to trick his father, Isaac, into blessing him as the first-born, Isaac - who was blind - noticed a sweet smell emanating from Jacob. Isaac likened the smell to a field blessed by God, which later commentators taken to be an apple field. Because this incident is said to have occur on Rosh Hashana, the apple became an appropriate choice for the holiday.

Steps to reduce sugar in your daily diet

2009-09-04T02:08:00.000-07:00

1. Change your drinking habits: Drink flavored water or put a lemon or lime in ice water. If you need a sweeter drink, try iced tea with artificial sweetener. Place a pitcher of Crystal Light in the refrigerator.

2. Practice dessert portion control: Portion organize is key. Use pudding cups, fruit cups, Jell-O cups and ice cream bars. If you need to do buy larger quantities, get sorbet, sherbet or low-fat ice cream. A 100-calorie dessert is a fine goal. Limit dessert to one time or twice weekly.

3. Choose good cereals: Avoid extreme sweetened cereal; some have 12 grams of sugar per serving and add strawberries or half a banana in lieu of sugar, or lightly sweeten a cereal with a teaspoon or less of sugar.

4. Bake with less sugar: Reduce sugar by up to one-third without any substantial taste difference. Or use products that join Splenda or Equal with sugar for baking.

Method of Strawberry soup

2009-09-02T22:20:00.000-07:00

1. Separate out a part of the prettiest strawberries. Quarter or slice them and toss in a large bowl with the sugar and 1 tablespoon of the lemon juice. Cover and keep cold for 1 hour or longer.

2. Place the remaining strawberries in the bowl of a status mixer fitted with the paddle, or in a food processor fitted with the steel blade. If using the mixer, turn on at medium-low speed and squash the berries to a coarse puree. If using a food processor pulse to a coarse puree. Add the remaining orange juice, the lemon juice, the honey and the rose water and beat together. Taste and add more honey if preferred. Cool until ready to serve.

3. Just before serving, mix the quartered strawberries with the juice that has accumulated in the bowl into the crushed strawberries. Measure into bowls, top with chopped or slivered mint, and serve.

Is it possible that the potatoes cross-pollinated with tomatoes?

2009-08-27T23:44:00.000-07:00

No, Tomatoes, eggplants, peppers and potatoes are in the Solanaceae or nightshade family, which are self-pollinated.

Under favorable weather conditions, potatoes produce fruits. The green fruit that is observed is really the true fruit of the potato that contains many small seeds. The fruit, although it looks like a small tomato, is poisonous and must not be eaten.

Although they have seed, potato fruits should not be saved for seed because progeny does not come true.

The best way to handle them is to remove these fruit once you see them. That way the plant is not putting energy into produce the seeds and can focus on making better potatoes.

Removing them right away also removes the temptation of children or trainee gardeners to eat the poisonous fruit.

Asian noodle salad is loaded with full of flavor

2009-08-26T01:43:00.000-07:00

Pasta salads have traveled a long place from mayonnaise-soaked macaroni salad. In the last few decades, pasta salads have becomes colorful and fresh.

Pasta varieties now include whole wheat, cellophane, egg, soba and the standard semolina. Look in the Asian grocery aisle to locate the Chinese-style wheat noodles called for in this recipe. These noodles have a small give to them so they can be mixed without breaking. If it’s unavailable, use dried linguine.

Dark sesame oil is enriching with rich and nutty peanut butter to form the base of the Asian-style dressing. Fresh lime juice and spicy Chile paste to add a jolt of flavor. You could tame the heat by reducing or omitting the Chile paste.

A colorful sprinkling of shredded green and orange carrots and white bean sprouts complete this satisfying main-course salad.

How can you reduce the calories by hundreds!

2009-08-25T01:38:00.000-07:00

Most people identify that black coffee has about zero calories. Add a few ice cubes to cool it off and you are not adding any more.

How can you reduce the calories by hundreds!

1. Milk: First, take the milk that's used, whether it is heated or foamed. For every eight ounces of entire milk in your beverage there are about 9 grams of fat - close to 80 calories just from the fat! Non-fat milk (formerly called skim) has virtually zero fat grams, so you can save 80 calories. And remember, that is for eight ounces - many of these drinks are using 12 ounces of milk, saving you up to 120 calories.

2. Syrup: Now, look at the syrup that flavors your coffee – such as hazelnut, vanilla, caramel, or chocolate. Many coffee bars put three or four squirt of sugary syrup in. So, how can you reduce the calories? They regularly offer sugar-free varieties of any flavor. You could save up to 80 calories by reducing the sugar in the flavored syrup.

3. Cream: Finally, most coffee drinks - whether cold or hot - are topped with a rather large dollop of whipped cream. This can easily be adding more than 50 calories, depending on how generous the barrista! So, ask for less or do without, and save a number of more calories.
You have now found three ways to reduce the calories in your coffee drink: less fat in the milk, less sugar from the syrup (by using sugar-free or reducing the amount), and less (or no) whipped cream.

Advertising against Soda Tax Debut

2009-08-24T03:55:00.000-07:00

Despite the fact that there is not a current congressional proposal to tax soft drinks, this week, the American Beverage Association (ABA) launched a $2 million ad campaign against a soda tax, USA reports on august-19. The ABA ads portray a sugar-sweetened beverage tax as a tax on “simple pleasures.”

In July, the ABA joined with the Grocery Manufacturers Association and the National Restaurant Association to start the 110-member coalition Americans against Food Taxes, of which NACS is a member. While no healthcare bills being debated contain a tax on soda, proponents desire such a tax on all sugar-sweetened drinks, including fruit and energy beverages, as part of the fight against obesity.

Choose the best common fruit

2009-08-21T02:27:00.001-07:00

For something that seems so simple, buying fruit can be extremely complex. If you look around in any grocery store’s produce section, you’ll notice people sniffing, squeezing, and examining their fruit very carefully. Apples - A ripe apple will be firm and intensely colored. Depending on the variety, there should also be a somewhat rosy tone. Blueberries - Look for blueberries that are dry, firm, and brightly colored. Pass up those that are moist, watery, or dull in color. Cherries - Look for a bag full of purplish cherries, mostly dark, filled in with a few bright red ones. The darker the cherries, the sweeter they’ll taste.

Oranges - When looking for a ripe orange, no need to worry about color. Oranges with green or brown patches can be just as ripe. For the best flavor, heavy orange with a thin, look for a firm, smooth skin. Pears - Most pears in the supermarket are not yet ripe, so prefer those that are firm, but not extremely hard, and free from dark soft spots. Plums - The best plums are those that yield somewhat to pressure and have a deep color and semi-soft tip.

Ginger syrup is the hot new cocktail flavor

2009-08-20T02:07:00.000-07:00

Move over, ginger is spicing up drinks all over town. Cocktails flavored with ginger have migrate from Asian fusion restaurants such as Shinsei and Asian Mint to Latin restaurants like La Duni and Masaryk Modern Mexican Kitchen. One of the most general cocktails is a boozy ginger limeade made with ginger-infused simple syrup. Equally Dragonfly and Shinsei spike theirs with Hangar One Kaffir Lime Vodka. At Masaryk, gingery simple syrup gives additional kick to a margarita and a kid-friendly lime agua fresca.

Ginger syrup even match up with green tea. It's easy to create your own ginger syrup. Since it keeps for up to two weeks in the refrigerator, you can have it on hand for flavoring a large variety of drinks – even soda water.

Method for Irish cream parfait

2009-08-19T02:23:00.000-07:00

1. Lightly grease a 1-litre pyramid-shaped terrine or loaf pan and line with plastic wrap, leaving plenty suspended.

2. Melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a pan of simmered water (don't let the bowl touch the water). Remove the bowl with stir until smooth. Set aside.

3. Heat custard in a pan over average heat until just below boiling point. Mix with chocolate and leave to chill. Stir in Baileys.

4. Whip cream to soft peaks, and then fold into custard mixture. Place in terrine, cover with overhanging wrap, then freeze for at least 6 hours or overnight until solid.

5. To serve, turn out parfait onto a plate, remove wrap and slice thickly. Dust with garnish and cinnamon with fairy floss.