12 Holiday Favorites That Fatten Your Waistline
May 23, 2008
12 Holiday Favorites That Fatten Your Waistline
by: Donna Monday
It’s once again holiday season and like all good holidays, there’s plenty of tasty food being served with loads of calories and fat. The most fattening foods are often our favorites to eat during this special time of year. If you’re watching your diet, you’ll have to do a little research on how much fat is in certain types of foods, then plan a strategy for how you’re going to eat as healthy as possible, while limiting your fat intake.
To get you started, here’s a list of 12 of the most fattening foods commonly served at holiday parties and dinners:
Almond Kulfi (Indian Desert): 363 Calories, 21 grams fat
Apple Pie: 552 Calories, 25.6 grams fat
Cheeseball: 421 Calories, 39 grams fat
Christmas Pudding: 344 Calories, 18.4 grams fat
Churros Con Chocolate (Spanish Desert): 553 Calories, 54.3 grams fat
Creamed Corn: 330 Calories, 27.5 grams fat
Eggnog: 335 Calories, 20.9 grams fat
Jule Kake (Norwegian): 519 Calories, 18 grams fat
Melkkos (South African): 682 Calories, 29.6 grams fat
Potato Latkes: 319 Calories, 18 grams fat
Sweet Gourmet: Baking Chocolate Guide
May 22, 2008
Sweet Gourmet: Baking Chocolate Guide
by: Donna Monday
Several types of chocolate may be used when baking cookies, pies, cakes, bars, and other sweet treats. The amount of cocoa butter and sugar can affect the texture and taste of chocolate—from bitter to very sweet. Below is a quick guide to the most popular kinds of chocolate used in baked goods.
=> UNSWEETENED CHOCOLATE - Unsweetened chocolate contains nothing but pure chocolate and cocoa butter. There’s no sugar added. This chocolate is dark in color and has a strong flavor.
=> UNSWEETENED COCOA POWDER - Unsweetened cocoa powder is pure chocolate that’s had a majority of the cocoa butter removed.
=> SEMISWEET AND BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE - Semisweet and Bittersweet chocolate contains at least 35% pure chocolate. Cocoa butter and sugar have been added. This type of chocolate is often used in cookies and can be used interchangeably.
=> MILK CHOCOLATE - Milk chocolate contains at least 15% of pure chocolate, and is mixed with cocoa butter, sugar, and milk solids. It has a creamy texture and is often used to make chocolate candy.
Ten Vital Reasons To Use Real Extra Virgin Olive Oil
May 21, 2008
Ten Vital Reasons To Use Real Extra Virgin Olive Oil
by: Kelly Martinez
Extra virgin olive oil is very special and unique. This is something that people along the Mediterranean, as well as gourmets everywhere, have known for a long time. Thomas Jefferson is even said to have considered the olive tree as ‘surely the richest gift of Heaven’. Well, recent studies show that President Jefferson might just have been right.
Here are 10 reasons why real extra virgin olive oil should be a part of everyone’s diet:
1 - Olive oil protects against heart disease - “Olive oil’s heart effect located”
‘Scientists say they have pinpointed the micronutrients in olive oil that make it a good heart protector.’ ‘Virgin or extra virgin olive oils are best because they have the highest phenol content, the Journal of the American College of Cardiology reports’ - Hospital Universitario Reina Sofia, Cordoba (Spain)
2 - Alzheimer’s - “How you can take brain health to heart”
‘Studies have shown that high intake of saturated fat and cholesterol clogs the arteries and is associated with higher risk for Alzheimer’s disease. Use mono and polyunsaturated fats, such as olive oil. - Alzheimer’s Association
Do you own an AGA or RAYBURN cooker ?
May 20, 2008
The Cooker-rail….
This is a novel way of increasing the drying area for people who like to dry delicate hand washed items of clothing from their range cooker.
It consists of Hi-tech glass filled injection moulded end pieces pressed firmly on to a high quality stainless steel tube, the mouldings designed in such a way as to clip on to the existing hand rail of the cooker. The design has been evolved from the making of numerous wooden models, and having these evaluated by Friends who used them over a period of a few months.
It is neat and tidy, and looks as though it came supplied with the cooker. A second rail can be clipped on to the first, giving further hanging space, and the combined rails fold upward and forward towards the cooker front to leave access to the hob lids and the oven fronts.
It is very important that the openings to the burner chamber be completely free, and hanging any clothing on our rail ensures that this is complied with.
As cooker models have slightly altered over the years, the manufacturer makes the cooker-rail up to your exact dimensions,and requires an accurate measurement of the distance between the mounting brackets with carry the existing hand rail.
Weight Loss Recipe: Chicken Tikka
May 19, 2008
Long term weight loss isn’t about hunger, misery and crash dieting. It’s a whole new way of learning to prepare nutritious food that your body needs and enjoys. “Chicken Tikka” is one of a range of hunger fighting, low fat recipes to assist you keep your weight under control. This irresistible, no-hassle meal will help you reach your weight-loss goals - while making mealtime a real treat.
Variety is an essential element of any successful health program. If you get bored with foods, you’re much more likely to abandon your program altogether. Each main meal should be accompanied by an exciting range of colorful vegetables.
Chicken Tikka (serves 4)
Ingredients 200g low-fat natural yoghurt juice 1 lemon 1 teaspoon finely chopped or minced ginger 1 teaspoon finely chopped or minced garlic ¼ teaspoon dried coriander ½ teaspoon powdered turmeric 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper ¼ teaspoon garam masala 4 skinless chicken breasts
This is simple to make and superbly fragrant. All you need to add is either rice or pasta and serve with steamed vegetables or crisp salad.
How to Cook Turkey on Natural Gas Grills
May 19, 2008
How to Cook Turkey on Natural Gas Grills
by: Mike Wolderbaum
The holidays bring with them thoughts of carving and serving delicious turkey dinners to your family and friends. Tradition has its fans, but perhaps this year you’d like to try a twist to your turkey recipe. If you have a gas grill and enjoy the smoky flavor of grilled meats, why not try grilling your turkey this year? It’s not only possible, it is rather simple. And it delivers a delicious flavored bird to your table. Plus, having the turkey on the grill instead of the oven leaves you with all the room you need to prepare the rest of your dinner in less time.
When you are ready to buy your turkey, the first thing to consider is the size of your grill. You don’t want a bird that is so enormous that it can’t fit on the grill rack. Ideally, the turkey you select should sit on the grill and the lid should close without touching the bird. If this isn’t possible, don’t worry, you can still grill your turkey. You’ll need some heavy duty aluminum foil and either a V shaped grill stand or another metal cooking instrument that you can safely use to prop open the lid of the grill.
Mother Was Right
May 18, 2008
Mother Was Right
by: Dianne Ronnow
Eat Your Fruits and Vegetables. It is almost impossible to get too much of these foods. They are full of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and phytonutrients, as well as high in complex carbohydrates. And fruits and vegetables are an important source of fiber, as well. Even the much maligned potato, eaten baked with the skin on, is full of vitamins C and B6, potassium, and nearly 5 grams of fiber!
When eaten raw, the enzymes that most vegetables and fruits contain help the body process foods better. Enzymes are an essential part of our diet, and if it is not found in food, the body must draw from its store of energy to produce enzymes for digestion, instead of other important jobs, such as fighting disease.
Phytochemicals are nutritional substances that recently have been in the news frequently. These are naturally occurring chemicals in plants that are thought to possess disease-fighting properties and play a potentially important role in fighting cancer and heart disease. Recent research demonstrates that they stimulate enzymes that breakdown carcinogens into harmless substances, and appear to be particularly protective against stomach and intestinal cancers.
Weight Loss Recipe: Apricot Chicken
May 17, 2008
Just because you are watching your weight, doesn’t mean the whole family can’t enjoy your health enhancing meals! The kids will love “Apricot Chicken” and you will love it because it is so low in calories and fat!
Long term weight loss isn’t about hunger, misery and crash dieting. It’s a whole new way of learning to prepare nutritious food that your body needs and enjoys. “Apricot Chicken” is one of a range of hunger fighting, low fat recipes to assist you keep your weight under control. This irresistible, no-hassle meal will help you reach your weight-loss goals - while making mealtime a real treat.
Variety is an essential element of any successful health program. If you get bored with foods, you’re much more likely to abandon your program altogether. Each main meal should be accompanied by an exciting range of colorful vegetables.
Apricot Chicken (serves 4)
Ingredients 2 cups (460g) solid pack canned apricots (or canned puree apricots) 4 skinless chicken breasts 1 large onion, chopped coarsely ground black pepper, to taste 2 sage leaves, finely chopped or ½ teaspoon dried sage 1 sprig thyme, chopped 1 tablespoon fruit chutney 1 tablespoon cornflour (cornstarch) 2 tablespoons water 1 tablespoon finely chopped chives or mint for garnish
The New Cuisine: African Food Today
May 16, 2008
The New Cuisine: African Food Today
by: Dylan Miles
Today, African food is the most diverse cuisine on the planet, a true “melting pot” of foods and flavors. Africa’s history is rich and so is its cuisine. With influences from so many other countries, Dutch, English, Asian, and Indian, Africa’s new cuisine is the newest global food trend.
The Mediterranean has a place in African foods with its influence of olive oil, olives, and pasta. Rich African stews are infused with elements from both the East and the West. Using little meat, but an abundance of vegetables, African stews have become a gourmet trend.
Southern African cuisine is reminiscent of the East with its sosaties, which are like kebabs, bobotie, which is a curried minced dish, and bredies, which is a type of casserole dish.
It’s all about spice
Africa is all about spice: hot and spicy seasonings characterize the African cuisine. Close your eyes and you’ll be able to recognize the Ethiopian seasoning mix, Berbere, which is a combination of chilies, chives, tarragon, coriander, cardamom, fenugreek, and garlic.
Uses of Mirror Tinted Contact Lenses
May 15, 2008
Mirror tinted contact lenses have become a topic of interest among many Americans. This is because the market for crazy contact lenses has continued to grow and be popular, so, as a result, contact companies are continually faced with making the next best thing. What is the next best thing you might ask? Mirror tinted contact lenses of course. Of course a significant amount of research and technology will be used in creating these contacts, however where there is demand the contact companies will be sure to supply. The technology for mirror tinted contact lenses would have to be similar to a one way mirror. That is, the contact reflects on side and allowss the wearer to see through the other side. Certainly this is not an easy creation, but definitely a unique and fun one.
You might wonder who would want contact lenses that reflected everything in their line of sight. The answer is there are many people who would want them for every day wear purposes and then people who would like them for concerts, Halloween or other similar activities.
