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

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

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

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’

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.