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How to Watch Your Waistline

2011-08-04T09:58:00.000-07:00

The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute recommends maintaining a healthy weight to improve your overall health. Too much belly fat increases your risk of heart disease, diabetes and certain types of cancers. A few lifestyle tweaks can help you reduce belly fat and leave you with a slimmer waistline.

Track the calories you consume each day by logging them in a journal or at an online calorie counter. Use that information to keep within calorie guidelines for your weight and activity level. For example, a 140-lb. female who exercises three days per week should consume between 1,410 to 1,763 calories per day to maintain a healthy weight.

Exercise three to five days a week to lose belly fat. Cardiovascular exercises such as aerobic classes, walking or jogging burn excess calories. In many cases, belly bulge shrinks first when you begin a consistent exercise routine.

Maintain a healthy diet by consuming lean protein, such as fish, chicken and low-fat or fat-free cuts of beef. Replace white bread and refined sugars with complex carbohydrates such as fruits and vegetables. Always read nutrition labels to track caloric intake and reduce the amount of calories you consume or trim your portion sizes if you are trying to lose belly fat.

Avoid eating after 8 p.m. when your metabolism slows down. If you find yourself hungry late at night, have a filling snack of an apple or banana. Or drink a glass of water if hunger strikes at night.

Decrease your stress level. High stress causes cortisol levels to rise in your body, which can lead to an increased appetite. It also causes the food you eat to turn to fat that settles in the waistline area. Cardiovascular exercise helps reduce stress as well as a peaceful yoga session.

3 EASY WAY TO KEEP YOUR WAIST LINE SMALL.

2011-08-04T09:49:00.000-07:00

Dieting and exercise—two dirty words hated by most. While no, diet and exercise isn’t really something one trying to lose weight finds enjoyable, they are the safer alternatives to undergoing cosmetic surgery and consuming diet pills.
Not only are these drastic measures to lose weight expensive, but they can ultimately result in death. However, if you want to lose weight but aren’t truly prepared to go full throttle at the gym or go cold turkey on your favorite foods just yet, there are some small and most importantly natural things you can do to help you start battling the bulge sans dieting and exercising. Continue reading to figure out what those things are.

1) Control Stress LeveLs

First and foremost, one of the easiest ways to lose or maintain your weight is to find ways to release build up tension and stress. This can include taking a few days off of work to go on a vacation, heading to the spa, doing some retail therapy or simply getting away from the kids for a few hours. This is said because when one is stressed, your coritosol levels in your body increases.

This special hormone is what triggers emotional eating and in short makes you crave salty and sweet foods—foods that are known to pack on the pounds. Ironically exercising does in fact help relieve stress, but other options can be as simple as taking a hot steamy bath, mediating or crying. Yes, when one cries feel-bad chemicals are flushed out of the system and in-turn improves one’s mood.

2) Move Around, A lot

While most don’t like to exercise, sometimes the things that we find most enjoyable are in fact forms of exercising. For example, dancing in stiletto heels is an excellent way to simultaneously have fun, get that heart rate going, and tone your legs. There are numerous other ways to keep yourself active and have a blast while doing it. For example activities can include swimming, playing a sport with your friends or kids, riding your bicycle or even something as minor as taking a stroll in the mall. The trick is to move as much as possible.

3) Minimize Portion Sizes

This doesn’t mean you have to stop eating your favorite foods entirely, but reducing the portion sizes can help you maintain your weight substantially. A good way to trick yourself into believing that you are eating your normal portion size to simply place the food item on a smaller plate. To keep it up a notch, try placing the food item on blue plate as well—studies show that the color blue (and other dark colors) acts as a natural hunger suppressant and can curve one’s appetite while bright colors such as red have the reversed effect.

DIETING MADE EASY FOR MEN.

2011-07-19T10:07:00.000-07:00

Two major factors are important in shedding inches off your waistline: a proper diet and a good exercise regimen. You can read more on how to improve your exercise routine and apply some easy nutrition tips, such as the ones below, in our fitness tips channel.

Improving your eating habits doesn't necessarily mean that you'll have to undergo draconian deprivations and scrutinize your diet for every calorie that is over the limit. Simply make a few minor adjustments in your eating habits and watch them payoff within weeks. Here is AM's guide to dieting made easy.

dieting made easy

The good thing about these dieting made easy tips is that you can lose weight without letting all of your snack-eating friends know that you're watching your food intake. Furthermore, the next time you go out on a date, she won't be turned off by thinking you're a pickier eater than she is for requesting the low-calorie menu or your salad dressing on the side. Read on, follow these simple weight loss tips and watch your waistline undergo some noticeable improvements.

Choose juices with pulp

Most of us don't like drinking water all day long. We find that it lacks flavor and that it simply doesn't quench our thirst as well as soft drinks or juices do. So, if you're a big juice drinker, replace pulp-free fruit juice with juice that is rich in pulp. The reason is simple: Juice with more pulp will fill you up more quickly than processed juice. Becoming full faster means that you'll consume less juice by day's end, thereby reducing the amount of excess calories.

Pulp is loaded with fiber, an essential nutrient that your body not only needs, but will make you feel a lot more full throughout the day. More pulp can also help prevent insulin spiking, which usually results in an energy crash that comes from strained juices. As a rule of thumb, drinking juice with extra pulp will reduce your total juice consumption by one-fourth.

Choose whole wheat breads

The same principle can be applied to bagels or bread. Instead of buying white bread, stick to whole wheat. The added fiber in whole wheat bread will kill your appetite quicker than if you were eating white bread. Therefore, instead of eating two portions of the processed version of the bread, you might only eat one, resulting in a cut in your caloric intake. Products containing whole wheat are also believed to keep blood-sugar levels stable over a longer period of time. To make this dieting made easy tip even more effective, cut your portions in half and eat them over a longer period of time.

THE 30- MINUTE FITNESS BLITZ...

2011-06-07T23:54:00.000-07:00

Think you don't have time to work out? You do. It's the intensity of your workout that's key. A short–burst, high–intensity workout boosts your metabolism and tones muscles. Get moving with this 30–minute "quickie" routine that includes cardio training and resistance training for each major muscle group.

If you're new to exercise, over 40, have a health problem, or take regular medication, check with your doctor before starting a fitness program.

Beginner Squats: for Thighs

If you're new at this, get started with a beginner version of squats using an exercise ball. Stand against a wall with the ball at your low back, feet hip–width apart and out in front. Slowly lower your body by folding at the hips and bending the knees, dropping glutes toward the floor; slowly move back to the starting position. Your knees should remain over your heels. Perform 10 challenging repetitions.

Squats: for Thighs

Once you're ready, try squats without an exercise ball. For good form: Keep your feet shoulder-width apart and your back straight. Bend your knees and lower your rear as if you were sitting down, keeping your knees over your ankles. To target more muscle groups in less time, add an overhead press at the same time. With a dumbbell in each hand, rise from the squat position and push weights overhead, palms out. Really focus on good form. Perform 10 repetitions.

Forward Lunge: for Thighs

Standing with feet hip–width apart, take a big step forward with one leg, then lower your body toward the floor, front knee aligned with ankle, back knee pointing to the floor. Return to the starting position, and repeat by stepping forward with the other leg. For more challenge, hold a free weight in both hands and complete the lunge with a rotation in the torso, twisting the body toward the forward leg. Perform 10 repetitions on each side.

Romanian Deadlift: for Hamstrings

To perform a deadlift holding a body bar or free weights, stand up straight with feet hip–width apart. Fold at your hips, moving the hips backward as you lower your upper body parallel to the floor. Keep the legs straight without locking the knees, and keep the back level and the spine in neutral. Lower the weight to just below your knees, then slowly return to the starting position. Perform 10 repetitions.

The Bridge: for Hamstrings

The bridge works the glutes (butt), hamstrings, and core. Lying on your back with knees bent and feet hip-width apart, peel your spine off the floor, starting at the tailbone, forming a diagonal line from knees down to shoulders. Slowly return to the starting position. For an extra challenge: Target your triceps by holding light weights, lifting your arms ceilingward as you raise your hips, see right. Bend your elbows to lower the weights towards the floor. Perform 10 repetitions.

Push-Ups: for Chest & Core

Let's move to the upper body. Push-ups strengthen the chest, shoulders, triceps, and core muscles. Lying face-down, place hands a bit wider than your shoulders. Place toes on the floor, creating a smooth line from shoulders to feet. Keeping core muscles engaged, lower and lift your body by bending and straightening your elbows. Too hard? Place knees on the floor instead of toes. To boost the workout, add an exercise ball under the hips, knees, or feet. Perform 10 repetitions.

Chest Press: for the Chest

Instead of push-ups you can try the chest press with weights. Lie face-up on a bench, with knees bent or feet on the floor, spine relaxed. Press a body bar or free weights from your chest, see left, toward the ceiling. Extend your arms but don’t lock the elbows, and move slowly in both directions, keeping shoulder blades on the bench. For an extra challenge, do the chest press with your head and upper back on an exercise ball. Perform 10 repetitions.

Bent-Over Row: for Back & Biceps

The bent-over row works all the major muscles of the upper back, as well as the biceps. Begin the exercise in a bent-over position with your back flat, one knee and one hand on the same side of the body braced on a bench. Hold a free weight in the other hand with arm extended, see left. Lift the weight toward the hip until the upper arm is just beyond horizontal, see right. Then slowly lower weight to the starting position. Perform 10 repetitions.

Shoulder Press: for Shoulders

A shoulder press works the shoulder muscles and can be performed standing or seated. For extra back support, use a bench with a back rest. Begin with elbows bent and weights at shoulders, see left. Slowly reach toward the ceiling, keeping the elbows under the hands and the shoulders away from the ears; slowly lower back to the starting position. Perform 10 repetitions.

Cable Pull Down: for Upper Back

For the last upper body exercise, do the cable pull down, which works the upper back. Using a cable machine, sitting straight with a neutral spine, grasp the bar with arms extended, see left. Slowly pull the bar down past the face and toward the chest. Only go as far as you can without leaning back, and control the weight on the way back up. Perform 10 repetitions.

Bicycle Crunch: for Core & Abdominals

Lying on your back on the floor, fold knees toward the chest and curl the upper body off the floor. With hands behind head, slowly rotate upper body to the right while drawing the right knee in and reaching the left leg out. Then rotate left and pull the left knee in and extend right leg out. Focus on bringing the shoulder toward the hip (rather than the elbow to the knee), and keep the opposite shoulder off the floor. Perform 10 repetitions.

Side Plank: for Core or Abdominals

For another abdominal alternative, lie on your side with a bent elbow directly under your shoulder, and use your torso muscles to lift the body up into a side plank, see above. Then lift the hips higher, then back to the plank, then lower. Do as many as you can with proper form, then repeat on the other side.

Have You Completed 20 Minutes?

Before moving on to the cardio portion of the workout, be sure you've completed 20 minutes of resistance training. If you have, now's a good time for a water break to keep your muscles well-hydrated. If you haven't, go back and start the circuit over again until you reach the 20 minute goal.

Cardiovascular Training

Vary the intensity during your cardio workout. Use intense intervals, taking about a minute to get from moderate speed to intense. Whether you're on the stair-stepper, the elliptical trainer, or the treadmill, do:

• 30 seconds of the highest speed you can tolerate, then 30 seconds of normal speed.

• Then 30 seconds of the stiffest resistance you can handle, then 30 seconds of normal.

Keep moving back and forth between speed and resistance until you've completed 10 minutes.

Frequency of Workout

Perform this 30-minute workout routine every other day, or do it two days in a row if that better suits your schedule. These are not hardcore bodybuilding-style routines where the high degree of muscular overload requires full rest to recover. For a healthy body, work out regularly and eat a healthy diet.

EASTER AND COOKIES...

2011-04-23T13:15:00.000-07:00

Easter is fast approaching and it isn’t complete without cookies. Kids just love them. Be creative with decorating them or ask the children to help you out. They will definitely love that.

Ingredients:

1/3 cup vegetable shortening
1/3 cup butter
2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 tablespoon milk
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Salt
1 cup sifted powdered sugar
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
Milk
Food coloring

Place the butter and the shortening in a large mixing bowl. Beat them using an electric mixer on medium high for 30 seconds or until they become soft. Add half of the flour, sugar, a dash of salt, egg, milk, baking powder and vanilla. Continue to beat the mixture until the ingredients are well combined. Slowly add the remaining flour and mix. Scrape of the sides occasionally. Cover the dough and chill it for 2-3 hours; after cut it in half.
Flour a flat surface and roll out both pieces of dough using a rolling pin until they are 1/8 inch thick. Cut the dough into desired shapes using cookie cutters. Place the cut pieces in a lined baking tray. Make sure they are an inch apart.
Bake the cookies at 375F for 6-8 minutes or until the bottoms are light brown. Let it cool for 1 minute or before transferring to a flat surface or wire rack.
Combine sugar, 1/4 teaspoon vanilla, 1 tablespoon of milk and desired food coloring. Add more milk if needed to reach piping consistency. Decorate the cookies. Let the icing set before serving.

Photo Courtesy Of: Jim Crocker

EATING HABITS FOR DIFFERNT STAGES IN HUMAN LIFE CYCLE...

2011-03-08T07:52:00.000-08:00

There is a general perception that boogers which is also known as “mucus” is eaten by younger kids but you will be shocked to know that this habit is found in big-kids, adults and old people as well. But my main focus is on kids.

Why do Kids Start Eating Boogers?

Eating boogers is known as “mucophagy”

Proper feeding of infant is very important during first year of his life. First year of infant’s life is important for more growth occurs during this time period and base of infant’s health built during this time than any other time period of his life. Breast milk and formula milk is all time needed within

Snacks have become significant part of kid’s diet and they very much like to eat different types of snacks like fruits, cookies, pastries, cake, candies, chips and many others. If kids are just in habit of eating snacks, then their health depends on snacks nutrition whether they are healthy or just fatty and sugary.

In teenage children groom and develop their overall health. So eating habits of are same things as eating habits of children. Teenagers have to maintain their energy for school, sports and being active so they need to eat well and healthy. Some tips for healthy eating habits for teens include:

Never Skip Meal

It is always suggested.

Feeding your new born babies is most important decisions within few days of his/her life. There are no hard and fast rules of new born babies eating habits but there eating habits develop gradually when they come to older age. For new born babies, nothing but breast milk or formula milk is best. Mainly breast

Eating habits of young guys and girls frequently change when they first go to college. However eating habits leave different affects on the health and personality of college students. The term “freshman 15” is directly associated with eating habits of college students. It often happens that college students gain weight in their first year in

In order to accomplish baby food and diet needs first and foremost decision is to feed them with breast milk or formula milk through bottle. Eating is one of sociable habits and pleasures of life that each human being possesses to live. Good eating habits start from mother’s womb. If mother eat sensibly having child

This information regarding ancient Greek eating habits is taken from authentic search from web for you. Eating habits are always remaining very important for human beings. Civilized nations of each age have their own specific pattern of eating, diet and food. When we talk about daily eating of ancient Greeks at home they had four

This information is especially for mothers as your babies depend on you regarding their eating or feeding. You should keep in mind some important points when you go to create feeding schedule for your babies. Feeding the babies is a huge responsibility as you have to understand needs of your babies without their demands or

Eating well is necessary for grooming teenage girls to have good metabolism, strong muscles and mental health. Teenage girls need adequate amount of calories, minerals and vitamins for better puberty growth. Especially calcium and iron is essential at this stage of teenage girls. Calorie requirements for girls vary person to person. But usually a teenage

How I Manage My Weight...

2011-02-09T09:05:00.001-08:00

I finally found what works for me. I'm not so fat and not so thin either. One day I felt I could work on my body shape a bit. I read so many books and practised some exercises too which I developed backache from. Well, all I do now is eat twice or once a day, take my diatery supplement"NONI" exercise 10 to 15minutes morning or evening and here is the killer... NO DINNER... Policy. Guess what, I'm getting the body shape I desire.

Just Think??? How to get rid of fatty stomach...

2011-02-09T08:49:00.001-08:00

I have a problem with my weight my friend once told me. She says "I'm so ashamed to put on fitted clothes because of the fat layers in my stomach and my waist line is also gone." She was saying all these in a weepy voice. Please dear readers, feel free to drop your comments as to help save her situation.

LAUGH OUT LOUD!

2011-02-02T08:02:00.000-08:00

There is something positively satisfying about funny rhyming poems. If the rhythm is as good as the rhyme -- and the subject is funny or even a bit odd -- it's a blast.

Here is one:
Slicing Salami
The strangest, strange stranger I met in my life
was the man who made use of his nose as a knife.
He'd slice up salami, tomatoes and cheese
at the tip of his nose with phenomenal ease.

He'd buy food in bulk at incredible prices
and then use his nose to reduce it to slices.
His wife ran away and I know that he'll miss her.
The woman was frightened that one day he'd kiss her!

NIGERIAN FOODS

2011-01-19T03:48:00.000-08:00

Welcome to this wonderful new year! i will talk about my kind of food this first quarter of the year. If you happen to be a fan for Nigerian food, hang in there for my beautiful and mouth watering dishes.

Nigerian recipes exhibit influences of many tribes and groups as Nigeria culture comprises of a great many number of ethnic groups. As a matter of fact the recipes in Nigeria are quite adaptable and variable. However most of the recipes of Nigeria are quite spicy, as Nigerians have a great preference for chilies.

Rice, maize and lentil are the staple diets of Nigerians. They also enjoy vegetables, fruits and meat. In fact fruits and vegetables are grown in Nigeria in great quantity. Types of meat mainly include chicken, beef, fish and lamb. Nigerians enjoy varieties of soups and stews, which can be both vegetarian and non-vegetarian in nature. In Nigerian recipes, special rice items include jollof rice, coconut rice and fried rice among many other.

Porridge is another favorite among the Nigerians. Nigerians make porridge in a salty and spicy manner with vegetables and meat, which is quite uncommon in other parts of the world. Porridge with vegetables and meat is an exclusive Nigerian recipe. Other popular Nigerian recipes are peanut balls, chinchin and Nigerian stew. Isu, which is basically spiced boiled yams, dodo, which is fried plantains, efo, which is green stew and Iyan, which is pounded yams, are other popular delicacies of Nigeria. Most of the Nigerian recipes are cooked in palm oil.

HOW TO MAKE APPLE CARAMEL...

2010-12-13T08:22:00.000-08:00

Want to make your own tasty caramel apples? Mahalo's guide on how to make delicious caramel apples offers simple recipes for you to follow, whether you're melting caramel candies or have decided to cook up homemade caramel. It's easy to coat apples with caramel and make a delicious treat!

We've all seen great-looking caramel apples for sale, whether at a gourmet grocery store or on a trip to Disneyland. But before you buy an expensive (albeit delicious) apple, think about how easy it is to make them on your own. You just need to heat a few ingredients to the right temperature and then coat your apples. Plus doing it yourself means you can add whatever toppings you like. Read my next write up to learn how to impress your family and amaze your friends with your own tasty caramel apples!

SPECIAL CHRISTMAS RECIPES...

2010-12-08T05:46:00.000-08:00

Do you want to make this Christmas the most memorable yet (for all the right reasons)? If so, then webindia123.com has the solution for you.You will find dozens of tried-and-tested recipes for Christmas dinner, lunch, desert and snack items. Many of these are timeless classics, while others represent riskier, more original creations. These recipes could help to transform any family Christmas get-together into a truly special occasion.
»
    Apple Caramel
»
    Beetroot Wine
»
    Carrot Cake
»
    Chicken Fry Watch
»
    Chicken Masala
»
    Chicken Noodles Soup
»
    Chicken Soup Method I
»
    Chicken Soup Method II
»
    Chicken with Orange Raisin Sauce
»
    Chocolate Cake Method I
»
    Chocolate Cake Method II
»
    Chocolate Cake Method III
»
    Christmas Rice
»
    Cooked Banana In Coconut Milk
»
    Crab Cutlet
»
    Crab Piralan
»
    Crab Soup Method I
»
    Crab Soup Method II Watch
»
    Cucumber Salad
»
    Duck Roast
»
    Duck Roast Watch
»
    Fish Cutlet Method I
»
    Fish Molee Method- I
»
    Fish Mollee Method - II

HANG IN THERE WHILE WE DISCUSS IN DETAILS. HAVE A SWELL TIME AT CHRISTMAS.

WHAT TO EAT TO GAIN WEIGHT.

2010-05-07T00:31:00.000-07:00

Increasing your intake of junk foods and greasy foods is not a good way to gain weight. Junk foods usually contain unhealthy trans fats or saturated fats. Even though you need to increase your calorie consumption to gain weight, those calories should come from foods that are good for you.

Healthy fats include omega-3 essential fatty acids sources like tuna, salmon, flax, and walnuts. Good sources of protein include lean meats, fish, poultry, nuts, seeds and legumes. Healthy carbohydrate sources include fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

It may be easier to eat five or six smaller balanced meals per day rather than eating three large meals, especially if you are not used to eating much at one sitting.

Protein powders and nutritional supplement drinks such as Ensure (compare prices) can be added as in-between meal snacks if you still need more calories. Some protein powders are flavored and only need added water and some others can be blended with your choice of juice or milk to improve the taste.

It would also be a healthy idea to add a small amount of flax seed oil and some psyllium powder to add some omega-3 essential fatty acids and extra fiber.

HOW CAN I BE UNDERWEIGHT

2010-05-07T00:28:00.000-07:00

The high prevalence of obesity and overweight problems in our culture means much more emphasis is placed on losing weight rather than gaining weight. It is easy to forget about people who have the problem of being too thin.

Being underweight can result from eating disorders, chronic diseases, and it is also a concern for athletes and naturally thin people who wish to be bigger, stronger, and more muscular. Elderly people may become underweight. The gradual loss of taste and smell, or the inability to prepare healthy meals, results in becoming too thin.

While being overweight or obese is a well-known risk factor for chronic diseases, being too thin may also increase a person's risk of dying from diseases such as heart failure and cancer. Elderly women who are underweight may become frail, which means they are more likely to suffer from osteoporosis and hip fractures. Being underweight may also increase a man's chance of erectile dysfunction.

FOOD THAT FIGHTS STRESS....

2010-03-24T16:00:00.000-07:00

Dark Chocolate

High in flavonoids, which are lauded for their relaxing properties (chamomile tea is another great source), chocolate also contains phenethylamine, a chemical that enhances your mood. The darker the chocolate, the more healthy substances you're getting in your diet, so look for bars that are 70 percent cacao or higher.

Skim Milk

Turns out that a glass of warm milk really is calming. One study found that women who drank four or more servings of lowfat or skim milk every day were about half as likely to experience stress-related PMS symptoms than those who drank less than one serving a week.

Oatmeal

Carbs help you produce serotonin, a calming hormone that helps fight anxiety's negative effects-which is probably why many of us crave them when we're stressed. Go with the craving and choose healthy sources. Oatmeal is high in fiber, which means that your body will absorb it slowly. In one fell swoop, you'll prolong the serotonin boost, keeping yourself feeling full for longer (and on less) and making sure your blood sugar's in check.

Salmon

Research shows that omega-3 fatty acids-abundant in fish like salmon-can help reverse stress symptoms by boosting serotonin levels, and that an omega-3-rich diet can also help suppress the production of the anxiety hormones cortisol and adrenaline.

Walnuts

They've been shown to help lower blood pressure, which is critical for those whose hearts are already working overtime thanks to high adrenaline levels. In fact, research so strongly backs their health benefits that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration goes so far as to recommend 1 1/2 oz per day.

Sunflower Seeds

A good source of folate, which helps your body produce a pleasure-inducing brain chemical called dopamine.

Spinach

Studies show that magnesium, which you'll find in leafy greens like spinach, improves your body's response to stress.

Blueberries

Their antioxidants counteract the effects of stress hormones like cortisol on your body.

Eat It to Beat It

We all know that tension can wreak havoc on our eating patterns. But the right (healthy!) foods can often help tame mindless munching and cravings and, better yet, actually lower overall anxiety and its symptoms. Eight of our favorites:

STAY YOUNG, TRIM AND HEALTHY...

2010-03-22T15:17:00.000-07:00

If you have any interest in staying and being young, healthy and trim for life. Exercise is essential and having proper eating habits is the only solution. Quick diets and pills don't work: this is a lifetime committment.

Step 1. You will need the following every day: fruit, vegetables, grain, dairy and protein.

Step 2. In the morning prepare a smoothie with protein, several fruits including blueberries, ground flaxseed, plain yogurt and plain soy milk. You will get your total fruit for the day, plus dairy and protein.

Step 3. For lunch prepare a nice salad with as many veggies as possible and use a dressing of olive oil, balsamic vinegar and honey. You can add a bit of cheese or chicken for the protein. You should have protein at every meal.

Step 4. For dinner, a sensible meal. Will be good to give up red meat, it's not healthy for you. A bit of fish or chicken with a veggie and perhaps a potato will be very satisfying.

Step 5. You can have a snack before bedtime but don't overdo. Watch the sugar. Watch the salt and read labels. Stay away from artificial sweeteners, they are full of chemicals. Also avoid trans fat. This clogs arteries and is a killer. Careful with alcohol. Maybe one or two drinks a week of wine and beer, if you must drink at all. Follow this way of eating and you will not only lose weight but will have lots of energy and certainly look and feel better.

Step 6. Exercise 30 min a day 6 days a week.

HOW TO PREPARE AN AFRICAN SOUP- EDIKAIKONG SOUP

2010-03-04T20:32:00.000-08:00

Edikaikong Soup

There are different kinds of African soup. Soups are mostly used as sauce for eating fufu, the most popular staple food in West Africa.
Our soup recipe in this installment is for Edikaikong, a soup original to the Calabar people of South East Nigeria.

Edikaikong Soup

Ingredients:

Edikaikong Soup (Serves Four)

(1) Ugu Leaves (subsitute Spinach) -- 2 Heads (2 standard Packages of Spinach)

(2) Waterleaf -- 2 Heads

(3) Crayfish -- 1 Cup

(4) Dried Fish -- 1 Medium

(5) Giant Snails (escargo) -- 4

(6) Beef or Goat Meat -- 1.5lbs

(7) Kpomo* -- 1 lb

(8) Palm Oil -- 1.5 cups

(9) Onions -- 1 Whole Large

(10) Pepper -- 6 to 10 fresh hot or to taste

(11) Seasoning -- 1 or 2 cubes of beef stock

(12) Salt -- about 2 teaspoons (use discretion)

Preparation:

If necessary wash the ugu leaves. Pluck the leaves from the stem. Discard the stems. Collate and chop the leaves into thin (1/4 inch) slices. Set aside. Do same with waterleaves.
Blend crayfish into coase powder using electric grinder.
If african giant snails are available prepare them by cleaning the meat by rubbing with lemon or soaking and massaging in vineger until all slime is gone and meat is gritty to the touch. Canned escargo is a poor substitute for african giant snails. another substitute for snail may be scallops or any other sea mullusk. However, if any of these are not available, this part of the recipe may be omitted altogether.
Break up the dried fish in a bowl pour in boiling water, add about 2 spoon heaps of salt. Wash the fish in the hot salt water to remove sand and other dirt. Remove fish from salt water and set aside.
Grind peppers to a paste. Set aside.

*Traditionally, kpomo or hide of beef, is also added when preparing Edikaikong soup.

The Cooking:

In a medium sized covered pot, bring all meats (beef, kpomo) but not snails to steam without adding water.
Add beef stock seasoning, 1/4 cup of water and salt, and cook till meat is tender (5 to 15 minutes).
Add waterleaves to meat and beef stock. Stir.
Add the crayfish, stir and let boil until most liquid in the pot evapourates.
Add the snails at this stage so that it will cook just right. Over-cooked snails are leathery, cooked just right, the snails are crunchy and easy to chew.
Add pepper and salt. Stir.
Add the ugu or spinach, stir and allow to boil over (about one minute).
Add the palm oil, stir and let boil for five more minutes.
Turn off heat and serve. Should be able to feed four adults.
African soups are mostly used to eat fufu.

THE BENEFIT OF DIETARY FIBER

2010-03-01T12:28:00.000-08:00

Studies have shown that naturally occurring fiber, which nutrition experts call dietary fiber, can help reduce blood cholesterol levels, prevent constipation and reduce the risk of hemorrhoids and diverticulosis, which causes pouches to form in the large intestine.

This type of fiber comes from the parts of plants that are resistant to human digestive enzymes and may help people feel full, thereby aiding in weight loss. Some studies have also linked a high dietary fiber intake to a reduced risk of colon cancer.

Dietary fiber comes in two forms -- one form dissolves in water, the other doesn't -- and both are found in fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts and grains. But these are foods that Americans just don't eat enough of anymore, says Mian Riaz, director of the Food Protein Research and Development Center at Texas A&M University in College Station.

Women younger than 50 need about 25 grams of fiber per day, and men younger than 50 need 38 grams (the daily values are a few grams lower for adults older than 50). But on average, American women get about 13 grams and men 17 grams, according to a 2005 report by the Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine
Food manufacturers have striven to help consumers fill that gap, identifying and developing a variety of fiber sources to add to everyday foods.

TIPS FOR NURSING MOTHERS

2010-02-23T12:00:00.000-08:00

A nursing mother produces 23 to 27 ounces of milk per day, containing 330 milligrams of calcium per quart. This requires an extra energy expenditure of at least 500 calories per day. Good nutrition is therefore just as important for you as it is for your baby.

The quality of breast milk is only affected in extreme cases of deprivation, or by excessive intake of a particular food. But the quantity of milk depends very much on the mother's diet. Food absorbed by a nursing mother not only fulfills her own nutritional needs, which are greater during the postnatal period, but also enables her to produce milk. A woman who does not feed herself properly may still have a healthy baby, but it will be to the detriment of her own health. If you lack sufficient nourishment, your body will make milk production its first priority, and your needs will go unmet. It is just the same as it was during pregnancy, when the nutritional needs of the fetus were satisfied before those of the mother. In fact, the baby, who weighs only a few pounds, will receive nearly 1,000 calories per day in breast milk!

What does it mean to feed yourself properly while nursing? We can compare a breast-feeding mother to a marathon runner-whose race will last twenty-four hours, not four.

The Basics

Increase your water consumption by one quart per day, so that you are drinking a total of 2.5 to 3 quarts. Nursing women tend to be thirstier anyway, especially during feeding sessions, because part of their water consumption goes directly to milk production. But don't overdo it: too much liquid also can reduce milk production.

Increase your daily caloric intake to 2,500 calories: you can even eat more if you are planning to continue breast-feeding for more than three months (2,800 calories per day). But again, be careful: many nursing mothers are tempted by sweets. Stick to healthy foods instead! Eat more proteins. The basic rule is to eat I gram of protein each day for every pound you weigh.

Spread your caloric intake over five "meals," breakfast, lunch, after- noon snack, dinner, and an extra snack during the evening. Each snack time is also an opportunity to drink water, eat a low-fat dairy product, and a piece of fruit. As your body is continually producing milk, it needs your caloric intake to be regular.

Stay away from tobacco. Nicotine passes directly through breast milk to the baby. if you cannot control yourself, build in a gap of at least an hour between your last cigarette and your next feeding session, so that the nicotine in your system has a chance to decompose at least partially.

Avoid regular consumption of alcohol. Alcohol passes through milk in less than an hour and if the baby consumes it in large quantities it can retard his growth. if you drink an occasional glass of wine or beer, save it for after a feeding session.

Take no medication without first consulting a doctor. Most antibiotics, sulfa drugs, chemical laxatives, and all products containing iodine are contraindicated while you are breast-feeding. Other medications, taken over a long period, can also be dangerous.

Beware of pollutants. Like nicotine, pesticide residue easily passes through mother's milk. If you are nursing, stay away from insecticides (especially in airborne forms such as aerosols or coils). Try to use natural insect repellents such as citronella. Eat primarily unsaturated fats. Sunflower, corn, rapeseed, and olive oil provide fatty acids that are essential for building the baby's nervous system.

Eat food containing vitamin B 9. In Western countries, the only vitamin really lacking in women's diets is vitamin B 9 (folic acid). Birth control pills accentuate a woman's vitamin B 9 deficit, and may also contribute to a vitamin B 6 deficiency. During pregnancy, folic acid is vital to the development of the baby's nervous system. Nursing mothers are well advised to continue taking their prenatal vitamins. Folic acid also can be found abundantly in asparagus, cabbage, corn, chick- peas, and spinach. Many other foods, such as wheat and orange juice, have been enriched with folic acid. Check the package labels.

THE HEALING POWER OF HERBAL TEA...

2010-02-22T23:19:00.000-08:00

Technically speaking, tea is the dried and processed leaves of Camellia sinensis, and includes four main varieties: black, oolong, green, and white tea.

Black tea, produced when tea leaves undergo an oxidizing process that turns the leaves black, has the strongest flavor and the highest content of caffeine—about one third the caffeine you would get from the same cup of coffee. Oolong tea is slightly less oxidized and has less caffeine. Green tea is steamed, rolled and dried immediately after harvest, which halts the oxidation process, allowing the leaves to retain their green color. White tea undergoes the least processing—the young tea buds are picked and then air-dried. All of these varieties have different health benefits, with green tea and white tea leading the pack.

Green tea from Camellia sinensis

Experts believe that flavonoids are the key health-promoting ingredient in tea. These polyphenol antioxidants are present in many foods and plants, including tea leaves, and have been found to help prevent cell damage. Recent research suggests that tea may protect against heart disease and many types of cancer.
Well, herbal tea is not really tea at all, but actually an infusion or tisane made from various leaves, flowers, fruit, or herbs. Herbal tea is sometimes enjoyed for its delicious taste and many times enjoyed for its medicinal properties.

Lemon Verbena herbal tea

While real "tea" boasts many healthy benefits, a major pro to herbal tea is that it is caffeine-free. Also, you can tailor your tea to your needs by selecting herbs and plants that address the health issue you want to target.

The list of tea recipes that follow are just a few combinations to help you heal.

1. Warming tea for cold hands and feet

For a warming tea from head to toe, make cinnamon and clove tea by putting 2 cinnamon sticks and 1 teaspoon of cloves in 3 cups of water and boil for 15 minutes. Strain and drink 3 cups each day. Drink one cup in the evenings to warm your insides, which encourages a good night's sleep.
Specially blended Winter Tea makes use of herbs that expel cold while warming and tonifying your kidneys.

2. Pore-opening tea for combating a cold
This is a traditional Chinese remedy for a "wind cold", which usually occurs during seasonal changes and is often a result of exposure to drafts. At this early stage, Chinese medicine suggests that perspiration is helpful in removing the pathogens from the skin.

Boil one chopped garlic clove, three slices of ginger, one chopped scallion, some basil, and a pinch of cinnamon in 24 ounces of water for five minutes. Drink the tea hot and go to bed. Cover up and prepare to sweat. Sweating opens the pores, releasing trapped pathogens from the skin. Drink at least 3 cups of tea daily until symptoms subside.

For "wind heat" type of cold, which is characterized by high fever, sweating, sore throat, cough, headaches, and a yellow nasal discharge, you would see a Chinese medical practitioner for an herbal blend that is individualized for your needs.
3. Alertness-Enhancing Tea
The next time you need to spice up your concentration, instead of reaching for harsh stimulants like coffee, try the potent yet gentle energizers in your spice rack. Studies have found that compounds in everyday herbs and spices can increase mental function and physical vitality. All these herbs and spices contain volatile oils that stimulate your senses and increase alertness: dill, oregano, cilantro, rosemary, sage, bay, peppermint, ginger, garlic, parsley, cinnamon, onion, chives, garlic and leek. Make a tea from any combination and drink whenever you need a pick-me-up.

4. Herbal Hearing Aid Tea
The traditional Chinese remedy for diminished hearing is to make a tea from herbs that gently restore the ear. Make a hearing aid tea by boiling together for 15 minutes: 4 cups of water, 1 heaping tablespoon each of oregano, cilantro, rosemary, and sage, combined with 1 tablespoon of cinnamon and 3 slices of fresh ginger. Drink three cups a day for three weeks and hear the difference.

5. Stomach-Settling Tea
Ginger has been shown to soothe the digestive lining and balance gastric juices. Make ginger tea by slicing fresh ginger root into 2 inch long slices and boiling in 1 cup of water for 5 minutes. Strain out the ginger and sip the tea slowly. Drink ginger tea as often as you need to settle your stomach and keep nausea away.
Or steep 1 teaspoon each of mint, rosemary, oregano, cilantro, sage, and basil in a cup of hot water. Drink after each meal to soothe and prevent bloating.
Among my patients, a very popular herbal tea is Internal Cleanse Tea, which is specially combined to detoxify, calm nerves, clear the mind, balance emotions, and ease digestion.

Hope you reap the powerful healing benefits of tea! I invite you to visit often and share your own personal health and longevity tips with me.

TERRIFYING DELICACY

2010-02-09T05:44:00.000-08:00

What the hell is it?

What better to wash down your gelatinous lumps of lye fish than a nice chilled cup of dead mice? What better indeed.
Baby mice wine is a traditional Chinese and Korean "health tonic," which apparently tastes like raw gasoline. Little mice, eyes still closed, are plucked from the embrace of their loving mothers and stuffed (while still alive) into a bottle of rice wine. They are left to ferment while their parents wring their tiny mouse paws in despair, tears drooping sadly from the tips of their whiskers.

Do you wince at the thought of swallowing a tequila worm? Imagine how you'd feel during a session on this delicacy.

ANNIVERSARY CHOCOLATE CAKE

2010-01-02T04:00:00.000-08:00

4 sq. (4 oz.) unsweetened chocolate

1/2 c. butter

2 c. sugar

2 eggs, beaten

2 c. flour

2 tsp. vanilla

1 c. chopped nuts

1 1/2 c. milk

Melt chocolate over hot water. Cream butter and sugar together. Add beaten eggs and chocolate. Add flour alternately with vanilla and milk mixture. Add nuts. Bake in two 9 inch square pans in 350 degree oven for 40 minutes or in three 9 inch round pans for 25 minutes. Frost with recipe below.

FROSTING:

1/4 c. butter

2 sq. (2 oz.) unsweetened chocolate

1 egg, beaten

1/8 tsp. salt

1 1/3 c. powdered sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

1 tsp. lemon juice

1 c. chopped nuts

Melt butter and chocolate together. Add egg, salt, sugar, vanilla, lemon juice and nuts.

Enjoy!

TIPS FOR LOSING WEIGHT...

2010-01-02T03:47:00.000-08:00

1. Pay attention while you eat. Many times, we snack while doing other things such as watching TV. Without even knowing it, we have consumed a few hundred extra calories. That may not seem like much, but it adds up.

2. Regulate your meal times. Pick times throughout the day when you can sit down and actually enjoy your breakfast, lunch and dinner. Stick to these this to allow your body to pick up on the times and allow it to get used to processing food at these times.

3. Get in the habit of eating healthily on a daily basis. Eat loads of fresh fruit and vegetables throughout the day. This is certainly going to help with your cravings for junk food and just after a few days you will be feeling much healthier and fitter.

4.Start and finish your eating for the day early. Eat breakfast as early as possible, and finish your day off with an early dinner and a no-eat-after-8pm. Your body is most active during the daytime, which means that it will burn more calories then than at night.

5.Avoid late night snacks as they can prevent you from losing weight. As said earlier, your body is less active at night, meaning that you have a greater chance of turning that slice of pizza into pure fat than burning it as a source of energy.

6.Eat your vegetables. Vegetables, especially raw ones, burn more calories than those packed in the vegetables themselves. Also, the fiber in vegetables gives a sense of fullness.

7.Be honest with yourself. If you know you have a weakness for chocolate chip cookies, buying a two-pound bag to keep in the house may give you more temptation than you can handle; if you know you do not have a lot of energy in the morning, it can be self-defeating to plan on jogging every morning before work.

EATING SMART: A KEYSTEP TOWARDS HEALTHY EATING...

2010-01-01T05:47:00.000-08:00

Healthy eating begins with learning how to “eat smart”. It's not just what you eat, but how you eat. Paying attention to what you eat and choosing foods that are both nourishing and enjoyable helps support an overall healthy diet.

Take time to chew your food: Chew your food slowly, savoring every bite. We tend to rush though our meals, forgetting to actually taste the flavors and feel the textures of what is in our mouths. Reconnect with the joy of eating.

Avoid stress while eating: When we are stressed, our digestion can be compromised, causing problems like colitis and heartburn. Avoid eating while working, driving, arguing, or watching TV (especially disturbing programs or the news). Try taking some deep breaths prior to beginning your meal, or light candles and play soothing music to create a relaxing atmosphere.

Listen to your body: Ask yourself if you are really hungry. You may really be thirsty, so try drinking a glass of water first. During a meal, stop eating before you feel full. It actually takes a few minutes for your brain to tell your body that it has had enough food, so eat slowly. Eating just enough to satisfy your hunger will help you remain alert, relaxed and feeling your best, rather than stuffing yourself into a “food coma”!

Eat early, eat often: Starting your day with a healthy breakfast can jumpstart your metabolism, and eating the majority of your daily caloric allotment early in the day gives your body time to work those calories off. Also, eating small, healthy meals throughout the day, rather than the standard three large meals, can help keep your metabolism going and ward off snack attacks.

TIPS FOR A HEALTHY AND A BETTER NUTRITION...

2010-01-01T05:43:00.000-08:00

Big picture strategies for healthy eating Eat enough calories but not too many. Maintain a balance between your calorie intake and calorie expenditure—that is, don't eat more food than your body uses. The average recommended daily allowance is 2,000 calories, but this depends on your age, sex, height, weight, and physical activity.

Eat a wide variety of foods. Healthy eating is an opportunity to expand your range of choices by trying foods—especially vegetables, whole grains, or fruits—that you don't normally eat.
Keep portions moderate, especially high-calorie foods. In recent years serving sizes have ballooned, particularly in restaurants. Choose a starter instead of an entrée, split a dish with a friend, and don’t order supersized anything.

Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, grains, and legumes—foods high in complex carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins, and minerals, low in fat, and free of cholesterol. Try to get fresh, local produce
Drink more water. Our bodies are about 75% water. It is a vital part of a healthy diet. Water helps flush our systems, especially the kidneys and bladder, of waste products and toxins. A majority of Americans go through life dehydrated.

Limit sugary foods, salt, and refined-grain products. Sugar is added to a vast array of foods. In a year, just one daily 12-ounce can of soda (160 calories) can increase your weight by 16 pounds. See suggestions below for limiting salt and substituting whole grains for refined grains.

Don’t be the food police. You can enjoy your favorite sweets and fried foods in moderation, as long as they are an occasional part of your overall healthy diet. Food is a great source of pleasure, and pleasure is good for the heart – even if those French fries aren’t!

Get moving. A healthy diet improves your energy and feelings of well-being while reducing your risk of many diseases. Adding regular physical activity and exercise will make any healthy eating plan work even better.
Establishing new food habits is much easier if you focus on and take action on one food group or food fact at a time. WELCOME TO A NEW YEAR!

STOP EATING 3 HOURS BEFORE BEDTIME...

2009-12-02T01:31:00.000-08:00

You've probably seen the suggestion of not eating anything after 7 p.m. Well this generally assumes you go to bed around 9 or 10 at night.

If you are a night owl, you may retire a little later so it may seem unrealistic to not eat anything after 7 if you don't go to bed until 12 a.m.

Generally, the rule of the thumb is to not eat anything within 3 hours of your bedtime. So if you do usually go to sleep at 1 a.m. this would mean no food intake after 10 p.m.

The reason you don't want to eat late at night is because your food may not properly digest. This can cause morning gas and stomach cramps.

Some people who complain about bloating never realize that it's from the gas and food particles left over from improper digestion. This can be avoided if you cut down the late night snacking.

Eating late at night also forces your body to use its energy on digestion,. One of the primary functions of sleep is to help you recuperate from the day. You want your body to be as relaxed as possible so you can wake up energized.

Now we all know we have to cheat at some points. It's just not realistic to believe you can refrain from eating late at night every single night. So if you must cheat, then eat something healthy like a piece of fruit or a very small handful of nuts.

EATING YOUR WAY TO GOOD AND HEALTHY HAIR

2009-11-27T04:52:00.000-08:00

In the body’s pecking order, hair is a non-essential organ. If your diet is lacking, nutrients are diverted to higher-priority organs, and hair misses out. The result is hair that’s dry and slow to grow.

Beating this is simple – just make sure you eat a well-balanced diet rich in fruit and vegetables , with at least two servings of protein a day and large amounts of energy-giving wholegrain carbohydrates. This will ensure optimum nutrition for the entire body and your hair will get its fair share. It’ll then grow at its maximum speed (normally around 14mm a month), strength and thickness.As with skin, what you eat affects your hair. Hair follicles rely on nourishment from the bloodstream , but they compete with the rest of your body for nutrients.

You can also help prevent particular hair problems with diet. This doesn’t mean that a good breakfast will beat a bad hair day - hair takes three months to grow, so that’s how long it will take to see the results of any dietary change.

FOOD AND OBESITY

2009-11-25T05:17:00.000-08:00

"Does fast food cause obesity?" The simple answer is no. Consuming more calories from food than the body can burn is what causes weight gain. While environmental factors, such as regularly eating fast food, may increase the risk of obesity, they are not a cause of obesity.

This means that you could eat fast food on a regular basis and not become obese. In fact, you can even lose weight while eating fast food. This, however, requires knowledge of not only how many calories you are burning on a daily basis, but also the calories in the food that you are eating.

DOES YOUR FOOD MAKE YOU GAIN WEIGHT?

2009-11-23T13:37:00.000-08:00

If you associate dieting with hunger or are just concerned that cutting back on your eating would leave you feeling unsatisfied, you shouldn't worry because calories don't count in satisfying your hunger. The amount of food you eat will determine whether you are hungry or satisfied regardless of the caloric content of the food that you're eating. In other words, you can be more satisfied and lose weight by eating larger portions of less dense (fewer calories for the same size portion) foods instead of a smaller portion of more dense food. If you've found that dieting always leaves you feeling hungry, eating less dense foods can help you lose weight without this discomfort.
According to Dr. Barbara Rolls, Professor of Nutrition

CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS WITH A DIFFERENCE

2009-11-18T23:40:00.000-08:00

Christmas cooking is one of those great traditions that brings the family and close friends together. By cooking up a great feast, you're giving your loved ones a wonderful present that will be remembered for years to come.
If you cook together with your family, it can also create special bonds -eg. mothers and daughters, aunts and nieces, grandmas and grandchildren - don't underestimate Christmas cooking!

Food is a major part of Christmas and nothing gets people in the Christmas spirit more then a holiday meal! Meal times are great for gathering friends and family together during the holiday season.

Years ago Christmas was celebrated with a meal of only porridge prepared out of oatmeal. Later onwards people started adding dried fruits and other things to make it more tasty for consumption. Year later, the tradition of baking cakes started in somewhere around in fourteenth century, only the houses of rich people had the ovens to bake the cakes. Baking cakes was the main Christmas dish that they would prepare for Christmas. Other dishes were also prepared for the celebration but they were limited to what the people had at the time.
Lucky for us today, times have changed and the Christmas meal is usually filled with lots of fabulous dishes.

You may get tired of cooking the same dishes each year, and your family may get tired of eating them! Here is a sweet potato dish that works a treat and is so easy to make.
You will need:
- 8 medium sweet potatoes
- 2 tbsp. butter
- 1/2 cup hot milk
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 tsp honey
- 1/2 lb. marshmallows
1. Cook sweet potatoes until tender. You can do this by peeling them first. Then cut them into little chunks. Place a little water in the bottom of the dish and cook in the microwave until they are soft.
2. Mash the sweet potatoes.
3. When smooth, beat in butter, milk, salt and honey and beat well.
4. Turn into buttered baking dish and cover with marshmallows. Bake at 350 degrees until marshmallows puff and become golden brown.
5. Serve as part of a main meal and enjoy!

EATING DISORDER.

2009-10-26T07:40:00.000-07:00

Parents can help prevent kids from developing an eating disorder by nurturing their self-esteem, and encouraging healthy attitudes about nutrition and appearance. Also, if you are worried that your child may be developing an eating disorder, it's important to intervene and seek proper medical care. This is also true if there is any family history of eating disorders.
About Eating Disorders

Generally, eating disorders involve self-critical, negative thoughts and feelings about body weight and food, and eating habits that disrupt normal body function and daily activities.
While more common among girls, eating disorders can affect boys, too. They're so common in the U.S. that 1 or 2 out of every 100 kids will struggle with one, most commonly anorexia or bulimia. Unfortunately, many kids and teens successfully hide eating disorders from their families for months or even years.

People with anorexia have an extreme fear of weight gain and a distorted view of their body size and shape. As a result, they strive to maintain a very low body weight. Some restrict their food intake by dieting, fasting, or excessive exercise. They hardly eat at all and often try to eat as few calories as possible, frequently obsessing over food intake. The small amount of food they do eat becomes an obsession.

Bulimia is characterized by habitual binge eating and purging. Someone with bulimia may undergo weight fluctuations, but rarely experiences the low weight associated with anorexia. Both disorders can involve compulsive exercise or other forms of purging food they have eaten, such as by self-induced vomiting or laxative use.

Although anorexia and bulimia are very similar, people with anorexia are usually very thin and underweight but those with bulimia may be a normal weight or even overweight. Binge eating disorders, food phobia, and body image disorders are also becoming increasingly common in adolescence.
Eating disorders are serious clinical problems that require professional treatment by doctors, therapists, and nutritionists.

FEEDING HABIT IN CHILDREN...

2009-10-19T04:58:00.002-07:00

Ever wonder why some youngsters approach food as an adventure and others insist on mono-meals of Mac 'n' cheese? Turns out kiddies palates don't happen by accident. Studies show that children prefer the flavors they experience early on, including while they're in the womb. A pediatrician is drawing on that research to help get more pregnant and nursing women to eat healthy, varied diets - because doing so will make their babies predisposed to eat what's good for them.

THE 10 GOLDEN RULES FOR EXPERIENCING THE ULTIMATE WORKOUT

2009-08-19T06:28:00.000-07:00

I realised that most people are borthered by how they look and not what they eat. well, these few listed tips can help!
Although there is no “magic bullet” to help you lose weight, build muscles and get in shape, there are many excellent methods that if done properly, in combination with adopting a healthy lifestyle and eating a sensible diet, can be effective. Keep in mind that a diet and exercise regime that works effectively for some, doesn’t always work well for others. However, the motivation and determination to improve your body and overall health as well as the patience to accept that transformations will not happen overnight are essential to any health and fitness program.

Slimtree has consulted with our team of health and fitness experts and compiled our suggestions of the 10 ultimate workout tips. We believe these tips will help you create an ultimate workout plan in addition to enhancing your motivation, endurance and recovery time before, during and after your workout. This is, by no means, intended to be an all-inclusive list of workout tips but we’re confident that, if followed regularly, you will find them invaluable for starting and maintaining your ultimate workout plan.

The key to any safe and effective exercise program is moderation – listen to your body, and be careful not to overdo it!

Take your time and enjoy exercise—avoid making it a chore.

Set reasonable goals – once you’ve attained those goals, establish new ones.

Wear the proper attire for your chosen activity—properly fitting shoes and clothes appropriate for the climate are essential.

Warm up to prepare your body to exercise, even before you stretch--warming up increases your heart rate and blood flow in addition to loosening up your muscles, tendons, ligaments and joints.

Perform stretches slowly and carefully until you reach a point of muscle tension. Hold each stretch for approximately 10-20 seconds, and slowly and carefully release it. Inhale before each stretch and exhale as you release. Never stretch to the point of pain, always maintain control and never “bounce” as you stretch.

Drink enough water to prevent dehydration, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Drink one pint of water about 15 minutes before you start exercising and another pint after you cool down. Have a drink of water every 20 minutes or so while you exercise.

Complete the final phase of your exercise routine with a cool-down period. This should take twice as long as the warm up. Slow your motions and lessen the intensity of your movements for at least 10 minutes before you stop completely.

Schedule regular days off from exercise. Many workout plans recommend three to five days of cardio and two to three days of strength training as a general guideline.

Rest when you're tired, feel fatigued or experience soreness or pain.

Have fun, take your time and enjoy your workout! Most importantly, consult with your physician about any exercise program to ensure that it’s safe for you.
visit www.slimtree.com for the full article.

EATING LESS: DIET TIPS

2009-08-07T10:53:00.000-07:00

Eat less. More often. Rather than eating large meals, chop up your eating into smaller portions throughout the day. I found myself eating 3 meals most days and having a snack around 3pm as well as another in the evening. That was enough to keep me from feeling hungry while still eating less in total.
Don't eat right before going to bed. I've read this numerous times and don't get why it works, but it does. I set a limit of 3 hours. So I planned to go to bed at midnight, I wouldn't eat past 9pm.
Brush your teeth early. For whatever reason, I won't eat when my teeth still feel clean. By brushing them several hours before bed, it was easier to accomplish #2.
Kick the sugar habit. If you drink sugared soft drinks (I used to be a Mt. Dew and Coke fan), replace them either with their diet counterparts or water. This can make a very, very big difference.
Eat vegetables before the main course. Whenever possible, I'd make sure to have an ample serving of a vegetable (you get very few calories for the amount you eat) before eating the denser main course--often a meat or fish. You'll need less of the dense stuff to be happy.
Update your spreadsheet daily. Keeping a running count will help you ration out the rest of your daily calorie allowance, which we'll talk about tomorrow.
Get used to leftovers. When you eat out, expect to take some of your meal home. If you eat standard restaurant portions, you'll almost certainly overeat.
Shop with calories in mind. When you're at the grocery store, spends some extra time reading the labels and nutritional information. You'll probably end up changing your shopping habits along the way.
Slow down! When you eat fast, you end up ingesting more food before you body has a chance to figure out that it's satisfied (not full).
Drink more water during the day. This is fairly generic advice, but definitely seems to help.
Trick yourself with gum. Sometimes we eat out of habit or because it just feels good to get some flavor in your mouth and chew for a while. Find yourself some sugar-free chewing gum and use it when the urge strikes.
Reduce the amount of breads, chips, crackers, and salty snacks you eat. A lot of starchy and/or salty food make you want to eat and drink even more. This comes straight out of Atkins diet culture.
Today's installment of the diet plan is a dose of tips I've learned that make it a bit easier to eat less without feeling hungry. So, without further delay, here are my collected tips. Feel free to add your own in the comments.

WAYS TO MAKE HEALTHY FOOD CHOICES WHEN PREGNANT.

2009-08-07T09:55:00.000-07:00

Being pregnant, and a teenager, doesn’t mean eliminating your favorite foods from your diet. However, pregnancy does mean that you are providing nutrition for two. Both you and your baby are dependent on what you put in your mouth for nutrition. By learning to make healthy food choices you can increase your baby’s chance of being born healthy.
Most teens eat lots of sandwiches and hamburgers. Be sure to put lettuce, tomatoes, and other sliced veggies – the more the better – on your sandwiches and burgers when you are pregnant to increase the nutritional value of your meal.
If you are trapped in a “white bread world,” pregnancy is a good time to learn to use only whole-grain breads and rolls.
Pizza is not always an unhealthy choice for pregnant teens. Make your pizza healthier by adding lots of vegetables and extra cheese instead of fat-laden meats such as pepperoni and sausage.
Fruit juices and milk are an especially important component of a pregnant teen’s diet. Sodas and coffee consumption should be minimal during pregnancy.
Eat lots of fresh vegetables and fruits when you are pregnant. Just don’t try to make them “tastier” by adding additional fat such as butter, creams, or sauces.
Always a good idea for reducing fat and particularly important for pregnant teens is to prepare meats by baking, broiling, or grilling instead of frying.
Calcium is vital for the healthy development of your baby and the health of your own growing bones and teeth. Instead of eating ice cream when you are pregnant, try eating more low-fat yogurt and cottage cheese.
Baked potatoes without butter or sour cream are a far healthier choice during pregnancy, or anytime, than french fries.
Instead of eating candy bars or cookies for snacks, try eating fresh dried fruits or raw veggies.
Everyone loves desserts, but traditional desserts such as pies, cakes, and cookies are not a healthy choice for pregnancy. Make dessert time a healthy choice by choosing fresh fruit or yogurt next time.

Food As A Natural Remedy

2009-08-05T05:56:00.000-07:00

Our food can be a source of remedy too. Fruits and vegetables are our natural source of medication. They are safe, taste nicer than any drugs manufactured by man and give us better health in the long run.
It is also very difficult to find fruits that give unwanted side effect like most modern medicine. So, why have we abandoned our fruits and vegetables for something more expensive and harmful ?
Let's make our food our medicine and start learning what these normal everyday fruits can do for us.

THE BENEFITS OF EATING CUCUMBER EVERYDAY

2009-08-05T05:46:00.001-07:00

Yesterday on my from way from the market, i heard a group of ladies having a chat and the core topic ws cucumber. few of them have great appetite for it while others talked about it with feeling nauseated. this drew my attention to it. i qiukly did a search on it when i got home believe me i vow ed to take a bite everyday not for the great taste but or the benefits. enjoy these few words i was able to put together.

Cucumber is a great folk medicine used to reduce heat and inflammation. It can be eaten raw, pickled or used in cooking. This cool fruit is popular among women because it is normally used to help treat tired eyes.i love this fruit because Cucumber can be used for skin problems because of its diuretic, cooling and cleansing property
Another benefit of cucumber is in helping to heal a range of illnesses – including lung, stomach and chest problem, gout, arthritis and tapeworm.
To reduce heartburn or sooth acid stomach, drink fresh cucumber juice. The same applies for people suffering from gastritis or ulcer.

To reduce swelling and soothe the eyes, place a cucumber slice over closed eyes.

Cucumber juice, when taken daily may help to control cases of eczema, arthritis and gout.
to preserve ths gift of nature here are Tips to consider:

1. Keep cucumbers cool or it will be soggy. Either keep it refrigerated or keep it away from direct sunlight.

2. To get rid of the bitterness, cut off the ends and peel the skin.

3. Keep away from pickled cucumbers. There are two reasons for this. Firstly, because pickled cucumber has lost most of its vitamin. Secondly, because pickled cucumber is also high in sodium. You don't want to get sick, do you? So, stay healthy by eating cucumber everyday. it's fun! you will get use to it.

NIGERIA AND FOOD

2009-07-31T04:13:00.001-07:00

I have taken a good look at the foods we have in nigeria and i can truely say, we are blessed. join me and let us talk about our food culture.

Nigeria has a variety of delicious and nutritious food made from fruits, vegetables, meat, and seafood and their preparation depends greatly on the types of the food. Food and drinks in Nigeria is more of geographical location, tribes or ethnic groups. This is so because Nigeria is a big country with more than 250 different tribes and this simply means that the country has more than 200 varieties of local food and drinks. Generally, there are some common food stuff such as rice, beans or peas, plantain etc; that are being eaten all over the country. However, a visit to Nigeria will enable you to experience traditional Nigerian food and no matter what your taste is Nigeria has something for you that will suit your appetite

Nigerian food is typical of that found throughout West Africa, with regional variations. In the north, meat is more popular than in other areas.
There are restaurants of all varieties all over the country offering food such as pounded yam, rice & beans, jollof and fried rice etc. Although there are self-service cafes, mainly in department stores, most restaurants have table service.
To enjoy Nigerian traditional food such as pounded yam, yam flour, meat stew, visit the local restaurants where these food are being served.

An apology

2007-01-15T09:38:00.000-08:00

I have not let you out . i will be back soon!

Importance of vegetables in diet...

2006-09-06T00:27:00.000-07:00

The world is now on a vegetable ride.Have you ever thoought of the reason behind it's green colour?
Vegetables are eaten in a variety of ways as part of main meals and as snacks. The nutrient content of different types varies considerably. With the exception of pulses, vegetables provide little protein and fat. Vegetables contain water soluble vitamins like vitamin B and vitamin C, fat soluble vitamins including vitamin A and vitamin D, and also contain carbohydrates and minerals.

The green colour of leafy vegetables is due to the presence of the green pigment chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is affected by pH and changes to olive green in acid conditions, and bright green in alkali conditions. Some of the acids are released in steam during cooking, particularly if they are cooked without a cover.
The yellow/orange colour of fruits and vegetables are due to the presence of carotenoids, which are also affected by normal cooking processes or changes in pH.
The red/blue colour of some fruits and vegetables (e.g. blackberries and red cabbage) are due to anthocyanins, which are sensitive to changes in pH. When pH is neutral, the pigments are purple, when acidic, red, and when alkaline, blue. These pigments are very soluble in water.
Tags: Leafy vegetable, Vegetable

How to prepare chopped vegetable salad

2006-09-04T23:25:00.000-07:00

For mustard vinaigrette 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard 3 tablespoonssherry wine vinegar 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil 1/2 cup almond or safflower oil Salt and freshly ground white pepper, to taste
For salad 1 tablespoon olive oil 1/2 cup diced fresh artichoke bottoms 1/2 cup diced carrots 1/2 cup diced green beans 1/2 cup diced red onion 1/2 cup diced radicchio 1/2 cup fresh corn kernels, uncooked 1/2 cup diced celery 1/2 cup diced ripe avocado 1/4 cup peeled, seeded and chopped tomato 4 teaspoons grated Parmesan cheese Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste 12 to 15 radicchio "cups"
To prepare the vinaigrette, combine mustard and vinegar in small bowl. Slowly whisk in the oils. Season to taste with salt and pepper, and set aside. Whisk again when ready to serve.
To prepare the salad, in a small skillet, heat the oil. Season the diced artichokes lightly with salt and pepper, and sauté until al dente, about 3 minutes. Transfer to large bowl and let cool.
Blanch the carrots and beans by placing them in a fine mesh basket. Set the basket into a pot of boiling salted water, and cook until al dente, 2 to 3 minutes. Plunge into cold water to stop the cooking process. Drain, cool and add to the artichokes. Add the onion, radicchio, corn and celery.
When ready to serve, dice the avocado and the tomato and add to the other vegetables. Toss the vegetables with the vinaigrette, sprinkle with the grated cheese and toss again. Correct the seasoning, to taste.
Put each radicchio cup on a small cocktail plate. Mound chopped salad into each cup. Serve immediately.
Serves 4 regular portions, or 12-15 appetizer portions.
Via: www.receipegoldmine.com

Tags: vegetable salad, Food

A little secret!

2006-08-10T09:10:00.000-07:00

This afternoon while going a newspaper, I found out that lime and lemon juice has an ingredients that cures Aids! hang on for the detail.

Lobster Salad with Avocado

2006-08-03T13:36:00.000-07:00

My mum and I tried this lovely dish and hmm, hmmm, it was so delicious that I said I would share the recipe with you all.

Recipe for 4 servings;
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced with salt and pepper to taste
4 green onions, thinly sliced
21/2 cups chopped cooked lobster
Avocado skies, tossed with lemon juice
Lettuce leaves.
Ripe olives (optional)

Procedure:
1. Combine the lime juice, olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper in a small bowl.
2. Combine green onions and lobster in a large bowl.
3. Pour lime dressing over lobster mixture and gently combine.
4. Cover and refrigerate at least one hour.
To serve, arrange lettuce leaf. Garnish with avocado slices and ripe olives.

Oatmeal with Apple andCinnamon...

2006-07-21T23:53:00.000-07:00

The New Lifestyle Oatmeal with Apples and Cinnamon provides a delicious hot breakfast that will have you looking forward to mornings again. And, with an amazing 10g of protein and 5g of fiber, the Oatmeal can be used as a shake replacement for breakfast. It provides with:
Excellent protein to carbohydrate ratio.
Provides an amazing 10g of protein and 5g of fiber per serving.
Can be used as a shake replacement for breakfast.
it's also easy to make.

Tags: Oatmeal and Apple, Cinnamon

Gain Muscle Weight not Fat

2006-07-13T12:45:00.000-07:00

To gain muscle weight, there a many important factors you need to follow:
Count and dont change how many calories you are takiing in a normal day.
Starting the day after you counted calories, eat 500 calories MORE then you normally do.
Get into the gym and do a combination of weightlifting (to gain muscle) and cardio (not to much, just to keep your hear ticking over and to trim fat).
At the end of that week, weigh yourself. If you are gaining 1lb to 2lb more a week you are putting on to much fat.
If you find you are not putting on anymore weight then add another 250 calories to your diet.There are supplement products you can get from health shops to help you gain weight such as Protein drinks etc.

Tags: Health, Dieting tips

TWELVE GREAT WAYS TO BURN CALORIES (WITHOUT EVEN REALIZING IT)

2006-06-30T15:53:00.000-07:00

1. Instead of riding elevators or escalators, take the stairs.
2. At the supermarket park farther away from the door as you usually would. Take a couple extra laps around the market too if you have the time.
3. Instead of plopping down on the couch during "Friends", do some house chores or better yet go for a nice brisk walk.
4. If you take the bus or the subway, stand in the aisle and let someone else have your seat.
5. Instead of going out to dinner, go out and walk, rollerblade or play pool (something physical).
6. At work, instead of taking coffee breaks, take walk breaks, and no smoking!
7. If possible once or twice a week, ride your bike to work or to the gym.
8. Instead of sitting back and watching your younger siblings play (or if you are baby-sitting), get on the floor and play with them, at first they may think you are crazy, but they may like it.
9. Instead of letting the dog out to roam the yard, take the dog for a walk.
10. Cut your grass (with a push mower), your parents will love this too.
11. While watching TV, lie on your back and do some leg lifts or some isometrics with your arms while watching.
12. Wash the floors, it burns calories and uses many muscle groups and a clean floor isn’t so bad either! Just be careful of your knees.

Tags: Health, Dieting tips

Strawberry wine making... iy's easy!

2006-06-28T06:30:00.000-07:00

Plan in advance for this easy strawberry wine. It needs to age at least one year.
INGREDIENTS:
7 pounds whole fresh strawberries, (fresh picked, if possible), washed and hulled
2 gallons boiling water
Juice of 1 lemon
5 pounds sugar
PREPARATION:
In a large earthenware crock, mash the strawberries. Cover with boiling water, add lemon juice, and quickly stir for about two minutes. Cover with a clean linen cloth. Let rest in a cool, dark place, stirring daily for one week. After one week, strain the mixture through a double-layer of cheesecloth into a large, clean bowl, discarding strawberry pulp. Combine strawberry liquid with the sugar, stirring to dissolve sugar. Pour into cleaned crock and let stand another week, stirring daily. After the second week, pour the strawberry liquid into 1-gallon glass wine bottles and cork loosely. (May use fermentation locks, if you have them.) Let rest in a cool, dark place for 3 months. When wine is clear and no longer fermenting (bubbling), pour into individual bottles, cork, and age at least 1 year before drinking this delicious strawberry wine. Yield: Approximately 2-1/2 gallons or 40 servings
Tags: wine, strawberry wine

Stawberry fruit...

2006-06-25T10:44:00.000-07:00

Strawberry fruits are aggregates made up of several small fruits, each with one seed called an achene. The flesh of the strawberry is actually an enlarged receptacle, non-reproductive material. They grow close to the ground and spread by sending out runners. Berries are borne in clusters underneath the leaves
Strawberry leaves have three parts and are light green with coarsely toothed margins. After the strawberry flower is pollinated, it becomes the aggregate fruit. I love this fruit because of it's color, shape, flavour and unique aroma. I love baking with strawberry flavour. How about you?

Tags: Strawberry, food

Eaten bad food?

2006-06-22T02:58:00.000-07:00

Food poisoning often occurs after eating a meal in a large, social setting like a picnic, cookout or cafeteria. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, foods in these settings are often prepared early and can be left unrefrigerated for long periods, allowing bacteria to form on the food.

Food poisoning symptoms typically begin within two to six hours after eating contaminated food. Signs of food poisoning are most often vomiting, fever, chills, headache, bloody diarrhea, weakness, and severe abdominal cramps.
Treatment from a doctor is rarely necessary, unless dehydration occurs, says the NLM. To prevent dehydration, drink plenty of fluids, but avoid milk or drinks with caffeine. You should also avoid solid foods while severely nauseated. Antibiotics usually aren't needed.

Via:Health day news.

Tags: Health, Food

Oops! Did you enjoy the lecture?

2006-06-17T00:00:00.000-07:00

9. Warming Beauty ProductsWarming up a hot-oil conditioning pack for your hair takes about 10 to 20 seconds and feels marvelous, as does briefly heating up a facial mask, especially a creamy, moisturizing one. (Stir the mask and test the temperature with your finger before applying to your face.) And if hot wax hardens when you're only halfway up your calf, reheat it in the microwave. It's much less messy than using a double boiler.
10. Roasting GarlicIt takes 45 minutes to roast garlic in the oven but less than 8 in the microwave. Slice off the top of the head to reveal all the cloves. Place the head in a small, deep dish, season with salt and pepper, and drizzle with 2 tablespoons of good olive oil. Spoon 2 tablespoons of water into the bottom of the dish, cover it with plastic wrap, and cook at medium power for 7 to 7 1/2 minutes. Let stand for a few minutes before unwrapping.

Tags: micro wave

Suprising uses for my Micro wave ...(part 2)

2006-06-16T00:00:00.000-07:00

5. Softening Brown SugarKeep the sugar in its plastic packaging, add a few drops of water, and heat on medium for 10 to 20 seconds.
6. Decrystallizing HoneyHoney that has solidified can be brought back to liquid life by uncovering the jar and heating on medium power for 30 seconds to 1 minute.
7. Proofing Yeast DoughsYeast doughs that normally take an hour or more to rise at room temperature can be proofed in the microwave in about 15 minutes. Place the dough in a very large bowl and cover with plastic. Place an 8-ounce cup of water in the back of the microwave with the bowl of dough in the center, and set the power as low as possible (10 percent power). Heat for 3 minutes, then let the dough rest in the microwave for 3 minutes. Heat for 3 minutes longer, then let rest for 6 minutes. The dough will double in bulk.
8. Heating up Health AidsYou use a microwave to reheat your coffee, so why not use it to heat and reheat gel packs for headaches? (Don't do this with a metal-wrapped pack.)

Tags: micro wave

10 surprising uses for my micro wave...(part one)

2006-06-15T06:57:00.000-07:00

Most people purchase the micro wave just for staeming and light warming of food. Now, you can do more.
1. Disinfecting and Deodorizing Sponges: Don't throw out the kitchen sponge that smells like last night's salmon. Soak it in water spiked with white vinegar or lemon juice, then heat it on high for 1 minute. (Use an oven mitt when you remove it.) This will also disinfect any sponges you used to wipe up the juices from a raw chicken.
2. Cooking an Entire Dinner in Under 10 Minutes. We mean braised salmon with green beans and mashed potatoes. Use the microwave for any recipe that calls for braising, poaching, or steaming. Just subtract about three-quarters of the cooking time. Remember to stir liquids often to redistribute the heat, and always take the food out a minute or two before it's completely done, since it will continue to cook.
3. Disinfecting Plastic Cutting Boards: Wash the board well, rub it with the cut side of a lemon, then heat for 1 minute.
4. Making PotatoesWhile the microwave won't give you a baked potato with a crisp skin, it will cook the average russet in about 4 minutes. (The general rule for heating more food is to check for doneness every 30 seconds beyond the regular cooking time.) Prick the potatoes all over with a fork and cook for 2 minutes. Turn them over and cook for 2 to 3 minutes longer. If you're making mashed potatoes, also heat the milk in the microwave before adding it. (Cold milk makes for cold mashed potatoes.)
To be continued.

Tags: miro wave, Cooking gadget

A very special kind of fruit...

2006-06-14T07:59:00.000-07:00

Noni contains xeronine, but, more importantly, it contains its precursor, proxeronine, which is even better. Instead of just supplying the body with the alkaloid, this allows the body to control how much is produced, and the rest is simply discarded. What does this mean for the body overall? First it means that the individual proteins of the body will be better able to do whatever they're designed to do. Scientists have found this most helpful with high blood pressure, menstrual cramps, arthritis, gastric ulcers, sprains and injuries, mental depression, atherosclerosis, senility and pain relief. Xeronine acts as the body's supreme painkiller because it works with endorphins in the body to numb pain and produce feelings of euphoria, he writes in a recent study. This conclusion is backed up by the study conducted at the University of Metz in France and published in Planta Medica in 1990.
Noni should be included as a part of everybody's daily nutrition because it helps us absorb essential nutrients from our diets and supplements. Noni is the missing piece of the health puzzle.

Tags: noni fruit

Chicken Soup and ?...

2006-06-13T02:30:00.000-07:00

While western scientists have only recently begun to admit that chicken soup has curative properties, the Chinese have been treating illnesses with chicken soup for centuries. A warming or yang food, chicken may be combined with a number of other ingredients, from spinach (a cooling food, thought to promote digestion and reduce constipation) to cordyceps, a rare plant grown in Tibet that is thought to increase stamina. And then there's gingko nuts, believed to improve memory. Less well known is that, in traditional Chinese medicine, gingko is believed to have a healing effect on the lungs. In The Chinese Kitchen, Eileen Yin-Fei Lo notes that in the past chicken soup with gingko nuts was prescribed as a cure for coughs.

Tags: Chicken soup

Sponge cake...

2006-06-12T15:36:00.000-07:00

soft Cake, Flour,baking powder, sugar,Egg . The only fat present is from the Egg yolk which is added separately to the white. It is often used as a base for other types of cakes and desserts.
A basic sponge cake is made by beating the egg yolks with caster sugar until they are light and creamy, then carefully sieving and folding the flour and Raising agentraising agent (which may be included in the flour) into the mix. Finally, the egg white are Whisk in a separate bowl until stiff, and carefully folded into the yolk mixture. The combined mixture is poured into the chosen cake tin and baked. As can be seen, this method takes great care to incorporate air in the beating, whisking and sieving stages. This makes a very light product, but is easy to lose the air by banging the mixture before it is cooked, or removing the cake before it has finished in the oven.
Before the mixture has cooled, after cooking, it is still bendy and flexible. This allows the creation of such puddings as the Swiss roll

tags: sponge, pastry

My Favorite Breakfast...

2006-06-11T04:04:00.000-07:00

I love chips very much that I went on hunger strike during the bird flu.well, thank God I'm back to my meal again.
Chips is a kind of meal that one can't refuse. Here is a little secret. When I was a little girl, I had only wanted chips for a meal and nothing more,so, my mum gave me a pet name.So, I have always wanted chips because it can be eaten with chicken sauce, Fish stew, ketchup and definitely vegetable stew. Chips is a very easy to make.You just have to choose you shape and size you desire and get it done.It is also light so dont borther about getting fat.I bet you 'll love it.
Don't you think so?

tags: Breakfast, Chips

All season pot...

2006-06-10T05:52:00.000-07:00

These cooking pots are the best for a simple reason - versatile, really tough and look great whether you're cooking or serving.Ideal for: just about anything - especially, curries, chillies, casseroles, soups and Jamie Oliver's fish pie!
as a child, I realised that my daddy was always demanding for this pot.why? I often asked myself.so,I decided to ask him.He told me that, the soup taste better and the spices are more noticed and felt when such pots are used in cooking.Though it is black but it's the most admired of all. Do you agree with me?

tags: cooking pot

Barley/Whole Wheat Bread is rich...

2006-06-07T05:00:00.000-07:00

Hey! I thought to share this receipe for wheat bread because it's really cool.
3 cups3 cups5-6 cups5 cups1000 mg2 Tbsp2 Tbsp1 Tbsp1/3 cup
whole barley flourwhole wheat flourall-purpose flourwatervitamin Cregular yeastsugarsaltcanola oil
750 mL750 mLup to 1500 mL1250 mL1000 mg30 mL30 mL15 mL75 mL .

How do you make it?
In a separate bowl, combine 1 cup warm water, sugar and yeast. Let stand until yeast becomes visibly active. In a large mixing bowl, combine yeast mixture with remaining ingredients, except for 4 cups of all-purpose flour. Mix together well and let sit for approximately 30 minutes, until a sponge is formed and doubled in bulk. Mix in enough of the remaining flour to produce a soft, smooth dough and knead for 15 minutes (12 minutes by mechanical dough hook). Separate into 4 loaves, cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes in a 375° F (190° C) oven.

tags: Bread, Wheat

mmh!

2006-06-03T18:59:00.000-07:00

Today was my friend's graduation party. It was a beatiful day because it had a beautiful setting and everything around made it wonderful.The blue sky gave a radiant and warmth feeling.Well, I must not forget to let you know that I had a wonderful dessert full of Ice cream made of strawberries and vanilla flavours.
Here is it, you can have a taste of it!

banana, Ice cream

How to make Fried rice...

2006-06-01T05:40:00.000-07:00

One of the most common questions I get as a chef is about making good fried rice. This usually puzzles me because "fried rice" in Asian food is hardly haute cuisine. In fact, it's the very opposite of it. Fried rice is not one single dish. It is more of a way of combining leftover rice with leftover anything else and turning it into a one-dish meal.

This "leftover" philosophy of fried rice also means that there are an infinite range of ingredients and flavours that can be combined to create new and interesting versions of fried rice. From the simple egg fried rice to the Indonesian Nasi Goreng (which translates to "fried rice", incidentally) to the Thai Basil-flavoured Rice, you can make any number of tasty dishes that will fill your belly.

Fried rice is more of a formula than a single recipe. So rather than list actual ingredients and give you a recipe. Few basic things you need to get right to make sure your fried rice comes out great. (But don't worry, a recipe too shall follow.)
Food, Fried rice

Today!

2006-05-31T23:59:00.000-07:00

Today was so interesting that I thought sharing my experience with you. I woke up this morning feeling worn out because I had to go to school. I had bread with corn beef as my breakfast. Getting to school, I was very hungry so, I decided to get a fruit drink called la casera which I ate with donut. The rain was very heavy trying to get me angry but getting home, Okra soup and Eba had been prepared. I ate and ate; in fact, it was delicious. I really enjoyed myself.

tags: Okra, Soup

Five in one Fruit drink...

2006-05-30T07:57:00.000-07:00

Five Alive natural citrus beverage is a delicious citrus blend of five fruit juices and other all natural ingredients. The taste comes from a perfect blend of orange, lemon, grapefruit, tangerine and lime juices from concentrate that's surprisingly smooth. The exhilarating taste of Five Alive wakes you up in the morning and picks you up throughout the day.

FIVE ALIVE FROZEN CONCENTRATED NATURAL CITRUS BEVERAGE CONTAINS PURE FILTERED WATER, SWEETENERS (HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, SUGAR), CONCENTRATED ORANGE AND LEMON JUICES, ORANGE PULP, NATURAL FLAVORS, CONCENTRATED GRAPEFRUIT, TANGERINE AND LIME JUICES.

It should be refrigerated and also it should be used by the date stamped on the package.
The optimum temperature for storing chilled products in your refrigerator is between 33°F and 40°F and freezing cartons or plastic bottles is not recommended.

tags: five Alive, Fruit drink

Vegetable Soup...

2006-05-24T17:59:00.000-07:00

Last night was very different. I ate this vegetable soup which my mummy made and it was very delicious. It contained sausage rolls, tomatoes, potatoes and a very special reciepe which is the vegetable. Guess what? I ate it with yam which gave it a very different taste. Don't be like me, Try it with rice and I think you would appreciate the taste better.

Tags: Food, Vegetable soup

Baked Beans...

2006-05-22T13:59:00.000-07:00

Ingredients1 small onion (diced)1 16 ounce can white beans (undrained)1 16 ounce can navy beans (undrained) 4 slices vegan soy bacon(diced)
1/3 Cup brown sugar1/4 Cup ketchup1 Tbls,
1 Tbls vegetable oil2 tsp Tony Cachere's Creole Seasoning1 ts Liquid Smoke Mesquite 1/2 tsp of Louisiana hot sauce1/8 tsp white pepper.

Preparation:
This is so easy, you all are going to pick up yardage. Start the oil and onions in a medium sauce pan over high heat, add everything else. Cook just to a low boil and place in a covered oven proof dish and back at 350 degrees F until you're hungry... What?

Tags: Food, baked Beans

Dinner set for sushi

2006-05-20T23:59:00.000-07:00

Serve sushi with traditional Asian elegance. The simplicity of this set makes it as charming as it is useful to lovers of sushi. Porcelain dishes are dishwasher and microwave safe. Set includes: two 5" rice bowls, two 7 1/2" square plates, two pairs of wood chopsticks, two 3 1/4" dipping bowls, two chopstick rests. Enjoy your sushi!!!

kitchen utensils, Dinner set

Good Grips Uplift Tea Kettles

2006-05-19T23:59:00.000-07:00

A revolutionary design makes this tea kettle easy-to-use as well as attractive. The spout cap automatically opens when you lift the kettle by the handle so pouring is easy. The large opening allows for easy cleaning and filling. It is very sturdy with a soft-grip, heat-resistant handle for comfort and to give you a good, firm grip. 2-quart capacity. Hand washing recommended.Your dinner would definitely be splendid with a cup of hot in place.

Tags kitchen utensils, Tea kettle

Braised Pork with vegetables

2006-05-15T11:59:00.000-07:00

This is what happens in the kitchen when mum is alone. She comes up a delicious Smokey braised dish with pork shoulder, preserved vegetables and dark soy sauce. I haven't had the chance to get mum to write down a recipe for me but I will. I think it's pretty similar to the other soy braising techniques but this is more savory, less sweet. Paired with some killer home-made chili sauce (spiked with grated ginger, garlic and sesame oil), this is a perfect partner with steamed rice or even rice porridge.

Tags:
porridge
food

Fried Fusili...

2006-05-14T11:59:00.000-07:00

I love planning meals for dinners at home, I also enjoy coming up with a recipe/dish that pulls together what's left in the fridge. I don't know about you but on some days, the meat won't thaw fast enough, and a particular noodle just isn't in stock in my pantry. Watch this…We had leftover ham from our split pea soup night, a new bag of frozen peas, some fresh shitake mushrooms and lots of pasta. So I threw them together - sautéed the onions, diced ham, frozen peas and sliced mushrooms in some samba chili, added the cooked pasta, tossed them together in the wok till they started to look like they were meant to be together. I also seasoned with some ketchup, chili powder, salt and dark soy sauce. It was amazing in its outcome.
Tags:
pasta
food

Buffalo wings, how delicious!

2006-05-13T01:56:00.000-07:00

I have tried this recipe a couple of times and I'm delighted to say that it's only gotten better. The wings were left in the oven to broil and crisp up with flavors of garlic powder, chili powder, onion powder, pepper and salt. While the wings are cooking, I melt butter, add hot sauce, dash of Worcestershire, pepper and a corn starch slurry that is, thickening the sauce helps it adhere to the win. I also made some blue cheese dressing, since I could not find any good one in the store. I also borrowed Meat henge’s recipe wow! Just like my mum says “you’ll never go back to store-bought”.

Tags:
sauce
chicken

Chilled out...

2006-05-12T00:35:00.000-07:00

Waking up this morning, I left so weak that i could hardly lift up my legs off the bed. Then i rememdered i had my meal already made but where? my refrigerator has been stocked so I don't have to make any food when am tired. Get atleast one fridge for a house it's useful.Tags:
refrigerator
food

Do you know that...

2006-05-11T09:18:00.000-07:00

Eat your breakfast. It's the most important meal of the day!" Why are parents always saying that?
Well, imagine you're a car. After a long night of sleeping, your fuel tank is empty. Breakfast is the fuel that gets you going so you can hit the road. It is much more than donuts and coffee. It features Fresh Fruit Salad from locally grown fruit, Yogurt, Bagels, Hot and Cold Cereal, Raisin Bread, English Muffins and Fresh Baked Pastries.Beverage bars not only have coffee, tea, orange and apple juice, but also Cappuccino and Hot Chocolate!If there is one thing that I know how to do, it's make a great breakfast.This is very important because it energizes you for the task ahead.Tags:
chocolate
reciepe
food
Breakfast

Cooking made easy

2006-05-11T02:03:00.000-07:00

Attractive, classic satin Russell Hobbs 10 Cup Rice Cooker can be used for steaming, boiling, simmering, sauting, and braising. Just press the Cooking selector level down and the rice will begin to cook. This 10 cup Rice Cooker will automatically switch to the Keep Warm thermostat control once cooking is complete. Unit includes stainless steel steamer insert, rice ladle, measuring cups, and recipes. The Russell Hobbs Rice Cooker makes up to 20 cups of cooked rice from 10 cups of uncooked rice. Large removable non-stick inner pot makes for easy clean-up. Stainless steel steamer insert allows you to steam vegetables and eat healthy! Vegetables can be steamed in the insert while rice cooks below. The Russell Hobbs Rice Cooker is capable of cooking a variety of rice including wild rice, saffron rice, long grain rice and more.
Makes up to 20 cups of cooked rice
"Keep Warm" thermostat control
Removable non-stick inner pot
Can be used for steaming, boiling/simmering, sauting and braising
Includes stainless steel steamer insert, rice ladle, measuring cup and recipes
Quick Jump to Other Rice Cooker Models

Via:Everythingkitchen.com

Tags: cooking gadget, cooker

Creole fusion ethnic recipe with shrimp...

2006-05-10T14:59:00.000-07:00

I came across this on the net and I thought to share it with you. It's Creole fusion ethnic recipe with shrimp, tomatoes, capers, basil, garlic in a Starport Foods Spicy Mango Creole Sauce

Ingredient List:
1/4 C. Spicy Mango Creole Sauce (Starport 121)
10 oz. Prawn, shelled or un-shelled 16 count
1/4 C. Tomatoes, seeded, diced 1.4"
1 Tbsp. Capers
1/4 C. Basil, sliced
2 Tbsp. White wine
2 tsp. Garlic, crushed
2 Tbsp. Olive oil or butter
Garnish with lemon or lime wedge

Instructions:

1.Butterfly prawns and de-vein, with shell on or off.

2.Remove basil leaves and discard stems, roll leaves into a log and slice basil.

3.Crush garlic and set aside.

4.Heat a pan at medium high heat; add oil or butter then lay prawns (meat side down) and sear about 30 seconds.

5.Add garlic and turn prawns shell side down, cook 3-4 minutes, and then add in tomatoes and sauté 30 seconds.

6.Add wine, then Spicy Mango Creole Sauce. Sauté until steaming hot, then add basil and capers.
Remove when hot, and garnish with lemon or lime wedge

Via: Startpot food.com

Tags: Receipe, Ethnic food

Especially for health concious individuals...

2006-05-05T11:00:00.000-07:00

I observed something which I thought to share with you. Most people try to be fit by just enrolling for gym or exercising on a daily basis for work outs without being conscious of their food in-take. Nutritional administration plays an important roll in everyday life. Enrolling for gym is a wonderful idea but filling the space with junks is terrible. Here is the catch, you can eat a large quantity of meal and yet remain trim. Skipping meal because you want to cut out fat leaves you sickly and unhealthy. So to look good while dieting requires adequate consumption of vegetables, fruits and fluids especially water.

Tags: vegetables, Food, Health, Fruits

An Alfredo sauce with...

2006-05-05T03:50:00.000-07:00

This is a very simple recipe that is delicious and can be prepared in a few minutes even if you can hardly cook at all. Just clean up the kitchen so that no one will know it came out of cans and jars.
It is a creamy pasta dish that is appealing in appearance, fragrance, and taste. There are quite a few good Alfredo sauces available in jars these days. If you are ambitious or willing to really earn your reputation then you may choose to make an Alfredo sauce from scratch. Otherwise, the one in the jar is pretty darn good.Well here is the good news, you can use spaghetti but Linguini adds a classy touch.

Tags: sauce, Fruit

Here are your Soup Tips...

2006-05-04T10:02:00.000-07:00

1. Vegetables added to a soup taste better if you sauté them in a little butter first.

2. Did you know that Lettuce loves fat: Fat can be removed from hot soup by floating a large lettuce leaf on the surface.

3. Eliminate fat from soup and stew by dropping ice cubes into the pot. As you stir, the fat will cling to the cubes. Discard the cubes before they melt.

4. Never over-boil soups as they lose their color .

5. You can camouflage the burnt taste from your soups & Stews by pouring the liquid gently and carefully into a clean pan and flavor it with curry powder or mustard or some chutney.

6. Salty Soup - Place a raw potato in the bowl & it will absorb the extra salt.

7. Thickening for the Soups - Put instant mashed potato and gravies to thicken. Stir thoroughly and Keep on adding as much desired.

8. A cold soup should always be thoroughly chilled. Prepare and refrigerate the day before, if you can. When serving a cold soup, chill the bowls or cups you are going to serve it in. The soup will remain cold longer

9. A liner plate placed under each bowl allows you to serve bowls filled with hot or cold liquid gracefully. Use a salad plate beneath rimless bowls, and a ten-inch dinner plate beneath rimmed bowls.

10. The plate also gives your guests a place to put the spoon when they have finished eating, and helps to protect the table.

Tags:Soup, food

Do you know that...

2006-05-02T18:37:00.000-07:00

Blueberries– the true brain food. They have vitamins that help memory. They're also a great source of Vitamin C and also has more of the antioxidant power you need to fight aging, cancer and heart disease. They taste great with a bowl full of cream for breakfast or in your muffins.A native of North America, and grown in shades varying from light blue to dark purple. There are at least 50 different blueberry types, both cultivated and wild. Blueberries are second only to strawberries in the berry category in the United States. They are great snack items, they can be used for pies, crips, muffins,smoothies, cakes, blue witches brew and many more and also they taste great when added to cereals, salads, yogurts or pancakes. Wild blueberries are smaller and more compact with a brighter blue color than cultivated blueberries, and many think that wild blueberries have a more intense flavor. When buying fresh blueberries, select firm, plump nourished berries in dry, unstained cotainers. Color is the best indicator of blueberry maturity and fully developed flavor, so avoid green and immature blueberries. Reddish berries are not ripe, but may be used in cooking. Blueberries will last up to ten days stored if well stored, and can be keptf frozen for up to nine months. Don't wash berries until you're ready to eat them or use in a recipe, because they'll turn moldy and mushy.

Tags: Blue berries, Fruit.

Cooking Lighter could be a wonderful idea!

2006-04-30T15:47:00.000-07:00

"What I ate last night." No one's that interested, right? BUT I need to make an exception for dinner last night. After a two hour walk along the waterfront in what can only be described as a picture postcard afternoon I "went the extra mile" in the health department and decided to make something special but healthy for dinner.Best of Cooking Light, published by the magazine earlier this year, contains 500 "all-star" recipes. This recipe serves two which is perfect as although I cook for myself more than most, a lot of recipes serve 4, 6 or 8. (When will magazines start reflecting their demographics? half of the US population is single!). I am one woman who will eat leftovers for one, maybe two meals. Also, having grown up in thrifty New England, I hate wasting food. So this recipe looked tasty (it was) and was fairly simple and needed less than 30 minutes from start to finish This recipe is a keeper. It's all in the sauce. Scallops were a good source of protein but if you are watching your pennies you will enjoy the dish without it. Although I'm still trying to reconcile a "healthy recipe" that contains heavy cream.

Technorati Tags: cooking, food Shopping

Best food pairing...

2006-04-26T17:27:00.000-07:00

Some foods are meant to go together. In fact, many of them pair so well that they have become the most classic comfort for life. I realized that it is for good reason that some foods get paired: they taste great together and make such good combinations that it is hard to think of one without the other. These are definitely a few of the best:

Peanut butter and jelly
Macaroni and cheese
Fish and chips (or burgers and fries)
Bacon and eggs
Milk and cookies
Pancakes and syrup
Gin and tonic
Spaghetti and meatballs
Salt and pepper is, arguably, the ultimate combination, though they are seasonings and not exactly "food". Here are some of the runners up from the list above: Butter and toast, cupcakes and sprinkles.

I know there are lots of others. What are we missing?

Technorati Tags: Seasonings, Shopping

Wise Cracker

2006-04-26T16:51:00.000-07:00

This is the WiseCracker. It sounds like the jaws of life for crustaceans. Aside from having a claw cracker and meat pick on the handle, the business end of the WiseCracker is slid into crab shells and expanded, thus splitting the shells open. At least, that's what they say. It's a far cry from a wooden mallet and a nutcracker. It might be worth a try; Amazon has them for about $15. Still, I think part of the appeal of eating crabs, at least blue crabs, is the mess.

Technorati Tags: Gadgets, Shopping

Cakes to dream about...

2006-04-23T21:28:00.000-07:00

Black & Blue Heart
Cake-a-Roni
Caprice de Jacques (drawing)
Caprice de Jacques (cake)
Counting Sheep
Crystal Nostalgia
Dr. Seuss
Sequins and Spangles
Torte of Babylon

Technorati Tags: cakes, pastry

Wine grape species...

2006-04-20T00:00:00.000-07:00

Wine is an alcoholic beverage typically made from fermented fruit, usually grapes. The word comes from the Latin word vinum, meaning vine. Non-grape wine may be called country wine.

Wine grape species
Wine is usually made from Vitis vinifera grapes from Europe. It can also be made from from Vitis labrusca, and hybrids of the two. Vitis labrusca, Vitis aestivalis, Vitis rupestris, Vitis rotundifolia and Vitis riparia are native North American grapes usually used for eating or grape juice but sometimes for wine, like Concord wine. Hybrids of vinifera with other species were originally developed to combine American hardiness and resistance to phylloxera with European flavor. Although only rarely used in traditional wine regions, hybrids are planted in substantial numbers in cool-climate viticultural areas

Tags: juice, wine

Hey friends!

2006-04-13T23:07:00.000-07:00

I would be taking a break for the easter period.Just hang in there i will be back.

Great news for chocolate lovers

2006-04-07T20:11:00.000-07:00

I have great news for all you chocolate lovers out there: research shows that chocolate may not only be good for your health but the environment, too. Sounds like I'm pulling an April Fool's joke, right? But it's holiday season and, in the spirit of the holiday, I mean to be both sweet and true.
If you've read about the child slave labor on cacao plantations in the Ivory Coast, where almost half the world's chocolate originates, you may be surprised to hear that any good could possibly be associated with chocolate. And indeed, if those plantations were the only source of chocolate, I'd be urging you to swear it off altogether.Their is another farm in America.In short, where would we be without them?

Tags: fruit, chocolate

Stair up food menu...Ambrosia's fruit mix

2006-04-05T22:17:00.000-07:00

It’s a dish which can be made with all fresh fruit — true Southern hands would have it no other way. It's equally tasty with canned pineapple, mandarin oranges and maraschino cherries. Some people serve ambrosia as mid-course salad, others after the meal like a dessert. It works both ways, but in meal planning, keep in mind this dish is super sweet with its fruits, whipped and sour cream dressing and shredded coconut.Some diet-conscious folks dress with fresh orange juice instead of the creams,

Technorati Tags: fruit, food, Ambrosia

High yield of juice...

2006-04-03T04:02:00.000-07:00

You get a higher yield of juice by inserting small amounts of fruit at one time.With watermelon, the Samson juices both the hard green rind and juicy pink flesh simultaneously, without any back-up in the hopper. I feed it in long strips. Most low-cost juicers can't handle hard and soft simultaneously like this.

Tags: fruit, wine, juice

Eat raw and discover...

2006-04-03T02:34:00.000-07:00

Enjoy fresh orange or watermelon juice! No junk soda or pasteurized juice... Eat RAW and you'll discover Super-Health and Energy!
With watermelon, you enjoy a rich array of minerals when you juice watermelon rind too, plus the juice is mellower, not so ultra-sweet that it unbalances your blood sugar level..

Tags: fruit, wine

Passion fruit wine

2006-04-01T14:01:00.000-08:00

Distinctively unique, this is the most deserved wine. It has a wonderful lingering finish unlike any wine you've ever tasted. It's sweet, but also tart and tangy. The acidity in this wine balances perfectly with the sweetness to create a very refreshing experience. Great to enjoy with rich chocolate deserts and cheesecakes .

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via; schneblywinery.

Carrot soup

2006-03-18T00:25:00.000-08:00

I love this soup. Dare to try?
2 Tbsp oil3/4 cup chopped onion3 cups ground carrots (chop or run through a meat grinder)1 quart stock (can use bouillon)2 Tbsp tomato paste2 Tbsp barleysalt and red pepper to taste
In a 3 quart pot, sautee the onions in the oil. Add the rest of these ingredients to the pot and simmer for 30 minutes. Puree in blender and return to pan. Then add these ingredients before serving.:
1/2 cup evaporated milk (or double strength powdered milk)1 Tbsp butter

The more Carrot you eat the longer and faster your hair growth
Got any discomfort? enjoy Carrot soup for digestion.

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The Amazing Banana

2006-03-18T00:00:00.000-08:00

Banana a day keeps the doctor away... and the dermatologist...and the psychologist... and if current research can be trusted... death. It seems there's almost no ailment that the banana can't help cure. The word "banan" is Arabic for finger. The banana is unique among fruits. Rather than growing on trees, bananas come from the world's largest herb, Musa sapientium, which is directly related to the orchid family. They are believed to be the first fruit farmed by man. Available all year round, they are currently the most popular fruit in North America

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Okro: The drive behind this vegetable

2006-03-16T04:29:00.000-08:00

This vegetable also known as Okra, Ochro, Okro, Bhindi, Bamia, Bamieh, Gumbo, quimgumbo and even Lady Fingers, is one of our planets most nutritious and mouth-watering vegetables.
Okra traces its origin from what was known as Abyssinia (Ethiopia) spreading right through to the Eastern Mediterranean regions, India, Africa, North America, South America and the Caribbean. Though long popular South of the Sahara and in the Caribbean, it is only now being recognized and sold in non-continental supermarkets around the UK and in other Western Countries.
Hibiscus Esculentus is a small green pod best used as a thickener of soups. Its flavour and texture are unique. For comparison, its taste falls between that of the eggplant and the asparagus.

It blends well with other vegetables such as tomatoes, chilli peppers, spinach, mushrooms and exudes a sticky juice which when added to any liquid will thicken it.

Okra can also be breaded and fried, in which case the juice exudes less.
This unusual vegetable does not only offer a superb taste, but also is nutritious and medicinal. It is a good source of Vitamin C, Folic Acid, essential B vitamins as well as magnesium, manganese and potassium. Okra is also high in dietary fibre.
The ripe seeds of Okra are sometimes roasted, ground and brewed as a substitute for coffee. A close relative to the Okra plant – Roselle is used as a good source of cloth fibre. In countries such as Turkey and Cyprus, the leaves are used in preparing medicinal remedies to soothe and reduce swellings and inflammations.
In some southern regions the seeds are of more value than the pods because of their ability to yield oil. When the pods are ripe, their seeds yield edible oil somewhat equal to other more expensive oils such as olive or sunflower oils.
This vegetable is marketed processed as well as fresh and frozen. Small young pods no more than 3.5 inches long are the most tender and have the most nutritional content. As the vegetable matures, it becomes tough, dry and dull.
Okra can be served raw, or prepared in the several ways: boiled and microwaved.

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Facts you need consider about your Wedding

2006-03-14T18:11:00.000-08:00

Wedding cakes will be one of the main focal points for your wedding. Guests will view your cake as a center point of a reception and many of your pictures will be centered on your cake. Furthermore, your wedding cake can tie together your wedding colors ,the appearance and the atmosphere you've worked so hard to create.

With today's pastry chefs, your choices are limitless. You can dazzle the taste buds with mousse filled cakes or cheesecakes. Others may want to have fruit or pound cake. And of course you can choose the standard chocolate and vanilla. Be imaginative! most experienced pastry chef's can decorate your cake just how you want. Consider also that each tier can be made of a different cake or flavor so everyone can enjoy!

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Agricultural superheroes

2006-03-13T20:45:00.000-08:00

Whole grains—the basis for granola, muesli and other healthful cereals—have emerged as agriculture’s superheroes for their valuable nutritional benefits.
That formerly down-market granola, commonly purchased in bulk in health food stores, would emerge as an upscale specialty food once seemed unlikely. Yet, within the past decade, consumer awareness of the nutritive value of foods perceived to be fresh, natural and minimally processed has increased dramatically.

Whole grains supply a nutty flavor and a satisfying texture to cereal, while also being an important source of soluble fiber and complex carbohydrates—qualities that are important to consumers concerned about heart health and cholesterol levels. Ironically, the now-aging Baby Boomers who drove granola’s popularity in the 1960s are a leading consumer group for making healthful cereals trendy again.
Via:speciality food

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Children of the Rice...Burkina faso

2006-03-12T20:33:00.000-08:00

The 'Children of the Rice' live in the wettest region of Burkina Faso in the Vallée du Kou close to the border with Mali. Along the River Kou, 1300 hectares of the broad valley bottom have been turned into rice fields. Small-holdings have been allocated to local families and to poor farmers who have migrated from the dry-lands of the Sahel in the North of the country.
Each of the families has one hectare, broken up into small paddyfields by a grid of earth dykes. Families either take turns to use the mechanical cultivator or plough with oxen. The rice-planting scheme has been running since the early 1970s and is supported by the Chinese and Burkina Faso governments.

"Our parents came here 28 years ago, when the scheme started," explains Ramata Ouédraogo, aged 24. "We were born here, and everything we know is rice. We’re called moui kamba - the children of the rice. We have students at grammar school and university but most of the children aren’t interested in school.

"The water is always there, throughout the year. We control it, starting and stopping it when we need to. The water’s always there for us. We work every day on the rice, except on Sunday. We’re friends and we work together. The work is hard; there’s no difficulty in sleeping after a day in the rice fields. We sell part of our crop and keep part for ourselves."

Technorati Tags: crop

African 'stock-cubes' are made from néré seeds

2006-03-12T20:13:00.000-08:00

Néré seeds are used to flavour the sauces that accompany every meal of tô or rice. Néré trees are never cleared from farming land because their black seeds are a vital part of every meal. The seeds are fermented and shaped into balls, called soumbala or Maggi Africain (African stock-cubes). When a landowner leases a plot of land to another farmer, the rights of the tree crops go to the tenant. But if there are néré trees on the land the owner will always keep the rights to the crop

A trip to Africa

2006-03-12T19:57:00.000-08:00

Staple foods include sorghum, millet, rice, maize, peanuts, potatoes, beans, yams and okra. Meat is a luxury in the villages, but eggs and fish - from the local rivers and reservoirs - are an important source of protein. Salad vegetables and strawberries grown in market gardens are commonly available in the towns.

Sauces are a mainstay of the Burkinabè diet - for example 'riz gras' is rice mixed with vegetable sauce, meat, and oil and 'sauce gombo' is a sticky okra-based stew. Sauces are usually served with tô (a stiff white porridge made of millet, sorghum or maize flour) or rice, and eaten with the right hand. In Bissa tô is known as wu, and in Mooré it is called sagabo. Specialities include brochettes (meat cooked on a skewer) and chicken dishes. In rural areas bush rat is considered a delicacy.

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Here's a tried and true recipe for a Nepali feast for four tomatoe condiment:

2006-03-12T19:00:00.000-08:00

Heat a medium size sauce pan. Chop up an onion, garlic to taste, and hot chillies, also to taste. Sauté in olive oil until clear. Add a heaping tablespoon of curry and salt to taste. Next, add 4 large (or however many small) chopped tomatoes and melt them down. Cook on low heat until the consistency is of thick tomato paste. For added flavor, chop up some cilantro and add. This is a condiment that flavors the rest of the plate. It may be stored and used when needed. Nepalis call this "peekles", which I don't quite understand since a pickle is a pickle, and this ain't pickles...

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Sweet-and-sour Pork..(yue-style)

2006-03-08T16:41:00.000-08:00

The Recipe
1 lb lean and fat boneless pork
1 tsp salt, or to taste
2 eggs, beaten
3 tbsp plus 1 tsp dry cornstarch
1 medium green pepper
7 oz bamboo shoots
4 cups vegetable oil for deep-frying
4 tsp garlic, sliced
2 tbsp scallions, chopped For the sauce:
4 1/2 tbsp sugar
3 tbsp vinegar
2 tsp soy sauce
2 tbsp tomato ketchup
1 cup(120ml) water
1/4 tsp salt, or to taste
2 tsp cornstarch (cornflour) dissolved in 2 tsp water.
Procedure.
1. Wash the pork and cut into diamond-shaped slices about 1 inch( 25mm) long. Mix with the salt and let stand for 15 minutes, then mix well with the eggs and dry cornstarch.
2. Halve vertically, seed and wash the green pepper. Cut the green pepper and the bamboo shoots into diamond shapes, the same size as the pork. Set aside.
3. Heat the oil in a wok over medium heat to very hot. deep-fry the pork slices until they turn golden brown and float to the surface. Drop the bamboo shoots into the oil and remove immediately, along with the pork. Drain well and set aside.
4. Make the sweet-and-sour sauce in another pot.
5. Pour the oil out of the wok, leaving only enough to cover the bottom, about 2 tbsp, Heat to very hotk, or until the oil surface ripples. Add the garlic and stir-fry. Then add the scallions and green pepper and stir-fry for 1 minute. Add the sweet-and-sour sauce and bring to a boil. Stir the dissolved cornstarch to blend and add to the wok. Cook, stirring, until thickened. Add the pork. Stir to coat thoroughly. Remove and serve.Enjoy!

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Eating Meat the Intalian way

2006-03-07T16:23:00.000-08:00

Italian meat dishes range from rich and hearty to light and simple. Make osso buco for a chilly autumn night, with rich, tender lamb shanks – it may not be quick, but it’s definitely easy. Or bring restaurant favorites home with a fast and simple veal Marsala

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Gateau Breton

2006-03-07T02:14:00.000-08:00

I had several egg yolks on hand so when I came across this yolk-rich recipe from Nigella Lawson's "How to be a Domestic Goddess", it just seemed like a big mistake if I did not jump on it and use up my yolks now. Besides, the recipe is really rather uncomplicated and I am a sucker for slightly pretentious French names, in this case, to what is otherwise just a simple butter cake from the region of Brittany.Preparations were minimal and pretty much proceeded the way Nigella described. Very soon the dough was in the oven and 40 minutes later, the cake was out on the rack to cool. The cake turned out exactly what Nigella tells me, a hybrid between shortbread and cake. Cutting them into 16 squares was just a bit challenging as I was cautious about crumbling the thin layer of crust on the top.Nonetheless, the results were both foodporn worthy and tasted wonderful. It is very rich so I am glad I made them bite-size. To finish, I dolloped each square with a bit of chocolate cream cheese frosting and sprinkled some sugared stars around.
ENJOY!

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cakes
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