Put diets on hold to celebrate New Year

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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’?

“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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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’

”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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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

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

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

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.