Posts Tagged ‘food and drink’
Pumpkin Nutrition in a Nutshell
Monday, November 9th, 2009Did you know that pumpkins are really nutritious? You may be surprised to learn that these orange harbingers of fall are plumb full of beta-carotene, just like other red, orange, and yellow fruits and vegetables. Pumpkins are also a great source of calcium, vitamin C, and fiber. The seeds and the oil made from them are good sources of zinc and the unsaturated fatty acids that we need to maintain our health.
For the calories you are consuming, pumpkin gives you a lot of nutrition. Even if you ate it for fiber alone, it is known to fill you up so you can naturally curb your appetite without harmful pharmaceuticals. Fiber is also good for your bowels. This squash is also full of potassium.
We all need iron to help our red blood cells oxygenate our bodies. Pumpkin will give you what you need! In addition, the zinc will help prevent osteoporosis. Did you know it can affect the hips as well as the spine? Zinc is also beneficial to your reproductive system… especially if you are trying for a baby.
Lutein and zeaxanthin are important compounds found in pumpkin that help neutralize the free radicals that can damage the lenses in your eyes. This can help prevent macular degeneration and cataracts as you get older. Isn’t it amazing that this simple vegetable can protect your eyes, your bones, and your reproductive system? It is also good for your skin. How many vegetables can do all this and still taste great in both sweet and savory dishes?
When you add more of this healthy food to your diet, it does not matter if you use a canned pumpkin soup recipe or use fresh pumpkin. Both are healthy and full of nutrients your body needs to remain healthy. Pumpkin soup can be prepared so it is low in calories or you can make it rich in cream and other luxurious ingredients. It is a simple food that is elegant and rustic all at the same time.
By adding pumpkin to your diet, you not only add all these fabulous nutrients that your body needs to stay well and thrive, you are making the choice to add a good food to your diet that is mostly overlooked in this country. Instead of regulating pumpkins to the celebration of Halloween and the occasional pie during the holidays, pumpkin should be allowed to take its place in the culinary world and shine.
The versatile pumpkin needs to be celebrated. It is one of the few foods that are equally good in both sweet or savory dishes. Add pumpkin to your menu several times a month using various recipes. Try it as a bread, as a soup or as a roasted vegetable. Do not relegate pumpkins to being a novelty-serving dish. Eat some!
Once you have added more pumpkin to your diet, you will wonder what you did without this delicious vegetable. You will notice that you begin to feel and look better because you are providing your body with important nutrients that it needs. Pumpkin provides you with stronger bones, helps maintain your figure and keeps your insides working properly. Not bad for a holiday decoration.
Why Invest In A Thermal Carafe Coffee Maker?
Monday, November 9th, 2009A thermal carafe coffee maker is perfect if you don’t want to have to brew multiple pots of coffee a day. Traditional coffee machines that have a hot plate underneath the pot may essentially burn the coffee and make it taste as if it were days old. Avid coffee drinkers can always detect when this has happened, and if you are one you are well aware of how unappealing over-brewed coffee can be.
As opposed to using the hot pot to keep coffee warm, a thermal carafe coffee maker has a special carafe (pot) that creates a vacuum, holding the coffee in and keeping it warm until you are ready to drink it. It is very simple, and it is extremely useful for avoiding that burned taste.
One thing to keep in mind that with these types of coffee makers, the coffee is only kept warm by the heat that was initially used to brew it, so it will not get any hotter and after some time it will cool down. Because of this, it is best to only make an amount that you believe you will finish within a couple of hours of brewing.
Many models of these types of coffee makers dispense the coffee straight into thermal travel cups to take with you on the go. These are wildly convenient if you like to brew a cup or two before leaving home for work in the morning and can not stay at home while you are drinking it. If you use thermal cups that have tops, coffee done this way can stay warmer for a longer period of time because of the vacuum that is created, the insulation that the cups are built to have, and the fact that the cup’s top is sealing the steam inside.
It is worth noting that a thermal carafe coffee maker will cost you more than some other types of coffee makers, sometimes by quite a bit. Models that dispense directly into travel thermal cups can be even more pricey, but they are also extremely convenient. If you are a coffee lover, then price is most likely not so much of a matter as long as you have a delicious and warm cup of coffee every time.
Technology is constantly getting better and better, and coffee makers are always evolving just like anything else we use these days. Models with timers, reusable filters, and even professional-style foamers are on store shelves for personal as opposed to commercial use, which was unimaginable fifteen years ago. A thermal carafe coffee maker is just another improvement to an old classic, though it is one of the more no-nonsense and useful improvements. Your coffee’s taste should not be given up just because you can not drink it immediatelyThe taste of your coffee should not be sacrificed for the convenience of making one big pot for a few hours’ worth of drinking. You may never go back after making a pot or two of thermally-warmed coffee.
You Can Buy Wholesale Gourmet Coffee Online
Sunday, November 8th, 2009Coffee lovers the world over are incredibly grateful regarding the fact that they are able to enjoy the benefits of wholesale gourmet coffee. Coffee is regarded as a commodity because it is so highly sought after, and after all, supply and demand rule commercial commodities in this world we live in. All coffee, regardless of where it is grown has to undergo a similar process to shape it into the gourmet coffee we all know and love.
Coffee beans are grown throughout the world, with a few major coffee producing countries bearing the bulk of production. Various agricultural factor influence the flavor of the coffee, but the most essential influence over the flavor of any gourmet coffee is the roasting process. Gourmet coffee must be roasted and ground fresh if it is to be at its absolute best.
It is without a doubt that roasting coffee beans to perfection is an art-form that not just anyone can perform. It would not make good sense to buy a bunch of green coffee beans, fire up the oven to the highest setting and put them in to roast without knowing what you are doing. Best leave this to the people with the know-how, and buy your wholesale gourmet coffee already roasted.
One of the most sought after types of gourmet coffee bean in the world is the “Jamaican Blue Mountain”, it is difficult to get hold of because of the hurricane season typically experienced in the Gulf of Mexico. This makes this particular cultivar, supposedly the best in the world, incredibly expensive and hard to come by.
It has become more difficult to decide which wholesale gourmet coffee beans to buy, and this is because there are such a wide range of coffee varieties available. As far as we know, there are over 6 000 coffee variations known throughout the world. These are all blended from a pool of 25 different varieties of coffee bean with the most commercially imported types being Robusta and Arabica.
The most widely produced cultivar is the Arabica coffee bean; it is an expensive product as the plant is quite delicate. It does account for 60% of the world-wide production of coffee bean for it distinctive delicate flavor and full body, however the plant easily falls prey to frost, disease and pests. Arabica coffee beans form a great base for a blend, but they are also able to be ground and brewed on their own for a delicious cup of gourmet coffee.
The Robust coffee bean accounts for the other 40% of world-wide coffee production. It is a hardy plant which is immune to pests, diseases, frost and many other kinds of unfavorable conditions, and can be grown in virtually any climate. This coffee bean has a flavor which varies depending on which country it is grown, but the most prized Robusta beans are grown in the Sumatra and Java regions of Indonesia.
Things You Should Know For A Good Ribeye Steak Marinade
Sunday, November 8th, 2009Lots of people believe that a tough piece of meat will be made tender by a good marinade, so they buy cheaper grades than they should. Unfortunately, that is not really the case. Good meat has to start out as good meat, and while many marinades taste great, they do not tenderize all that much. Let us look at three major categories of marinade and see how they work.
The major types of marinade are acid, enzyme, and dairy. Overly acidic marinades can actually toughen meat, while overly strong enzymatic marinades can overdo the tenderizing and result in mush. Dairy has been put forth as a tenderizer, but it does not work for every kind of cooking.
One family of marinades relies on vinegar, wine, citrus and similar acids to denature proteins. This will unwind the proteins in the steak you are cooking. Once they run into other unwound proteins, they will bind back together. This happens when we heat proteins, as well. Water molecules start out trapped in this new mesh of proteins, creating a really tender steak. However, if the marinade is highly acidic, the bonds will tighten and the liquid will be squeezed out, actually toughening the tissues. That is bad news.
Because of this, a marinade that is mildly acidic is usually a better choice than one that is extremely sour. A good marinade should be there mostly for flavor, and will tenderize best if relatively week. Stronger marinades are good for tightly grained meats, but those meats are not usually put on the grill.
Enzyme marinades actually have the ability to break down animal tissue, including muscle fiber and connective tissue. Many fruits contain enzymes that can break down protein, but papaya and pineapple are probably the most common. Overuse them, and they will create a mushy, unappealing piece of meat. The same thing happens if you use them too long. This kind of activity is present in commercial meat tenderizers, too.
The last category of ingredients you can use in a steak tips marinade is dairy products. Usually mildly acidic and including yogurt and buttermilk, this is the kind of marinade you will find in a lot of Indian foods, as well as in southern fried chicken recipes.
Steaks can be interesting in this kind of marinade, but you may need to take a look at how you are cooking them, since this is not the most common type of marinade used for them. Try curry flavors along with your marinade for a good result.
A marinade does not have to be complicated if you know what it is likely to do. Knowing your ingredients will help you routinely end up with a great product. Take a while to look at all the different options out there when it comes to marinades, and you will get the one that will work best for your steak, no matter what kind you choose.
Why Invest In A Thermal Carafe Coffee Maker?
Saturday, November 7th, 2009If you don’t want to have to make several different pots of coffee in a day, then a thermal carafe coffee maker could be just what you need. Traditional coffee makers that have a hot plate the pot can burn the coffee and make it taste as if it were days old. Avid coffee lovers can always detect when this has happened, which is a testament to how bad it can actually taste after a while.
As opposed to using the hot pot to keep coffee warm, a thermal carafe coffee maker has a special carafe (pot) that creates a vacuum, holding the coffee in and keeping it warm until you are ready to drink it. It’s nothing fancy, and it is extremely useful for avoiding that burned taste.
The down side to these coffee makers is that the heat they use is the coffee’s own heat from when it was brewed, so the temperature will remain constant and then lower, not go up. Due to this, it is best to only make an amount that you believe you will finish within a couple of hours of brewing.
Many models of these types of coffee makers dispense the coffee straight into thermal travel cups to take with you on the go. These are wildly convenient if you like to brew a cup or two before leaving home for work in the morning and can not stay at home while you are drinking it. If you use thermal cups that have tops, coffee done this way can stay warmer for a longer period of time because of the fact that there are so many techniques these cups use to hold the temperature of the coffee.
The prices for your run of the mill thermal carafe coffee maker are higher than a traditional coffee maker, quite often by a significant amount. Ones that dispense directly into travel thermal cups are even more expensive, but the convenience may be worth the cost to you. If you are a coffee lover, then price is most likely not so much of a matter as long as you have a delicious and warm cup of coffee every time.
Thanks to various advances in technology, coffee makers are getting increasingly better as time goes on. You can find makers with reusable filters, timers, and quick and easy foaming functions on store shelves for personal as opposed to commercial use, something we couldn’t have even dreamed of 30 years ago. A thermal carafe coffee maker is just another improvement to an old classic, though it just so happens to be one of the more practical improvements. Your coffee’s taste should not be given up just because you can not drink it right awayThe taste of your coffee should not be sacrificed for the convenience of making one big pot for a few hours’ worth of drinking. You may never go back after making a pot or two of thermally-warmed coffee.
Wholesale Gourmet Coffee Is Available Online
Saturday, November 7th, 2009Wholesale gourmet coffee might just be the one commodity which maintains the sanity of many coffee lovers the world over. How many millions of people (perhaps billions) who don’t wake up in the morning and the first thing they do is head for the coffee machine? Despite the commercial popularity of gourmet coffee, when these beans are grown and picked, they all have to be processed in a similar way.
What really makes a difference to the flavor of gourmet coffee is the climate it is grown in, the elevation, the cultivar and even the pesticides used to protect the coffee crop. Then of course there is the roasting process, this is an integral part of creating a true gourmet coffee, and there is nothing quite as good as freshly roasted and ground coffee.
It is not always possible, nor feasible to roast your own coffee at home, but it is possible to grind it and brew it fresh and this is what keeps the flavor at its best. Specialty shops are available that will roast your coffee fresh for you, if it is under roasted the coffee will be weak, whereas if it is over-roasted, it will taste burnt, so this is best left to the professionals.
Speaking of gourmet coffee, the most prized coffee bean in the world comes, not surprisingly, from Jamaica. This is the “Jamaican Blue Mountain”, and it is a rare commodity as its production is dictated by the hurricanes present in the Gulf of Mexico. Production is often determined (or not) by these conditions and it is a much sought after bean for coffee gourmands, which of course makes it terribly expensive.
Wholesale gourmet coffee beans are not easy to settle on just one variety; there are more than 6000 known blends world-wide and these are all created from a small pool of 25 cultivars. By not easy to come by, we mean not easy to know which is the best to choose! Basically if you choose a coffee blend with Either Robusta or Arabica coffee beans (unless you can get your hands on Jamaican Blue Mountain), you will be making a good choice.
Arabica coffee beans are the most prominently grown and provide approximately 60% of world coffee production. However the beans are expensive as the Arabica plant is very sensitive to unfavorable conditions such as frost, pests and disease. Arabica provides an excellent base for blends of gourmet coffee and can be used alone. It is a full bodied brew with a delicate flavor.
The Robust coffee plant is far more hardy, and therefore the beans are cheaper, accounting for 40% of the worlds coffee production. The flavor varies depending where in the world it is grown and the Robusta beans from Indonesia (Java … Sumatra) produce the most full bodied coffee and are therefore more sought after.
Making Soup in the Slow Cooker
Saturday, November 7th, 2009There is nothing as comforting as a hot bowl of homemade soup. It warms your belly, making you feel content and cared for. Many consider making soup from scratch to be intimidating, but it is really very easy once you have given it a try. When you use your slow cooker, it is even easier.
What Can You Make?
Almost any kind of soup can be made in a slow cooker. Whether you prefer simpler soups like vegetable beef or lentil soup, or if your favorites include fancier soups like vichyssoise or pot-au-feu, your slow cooker will come in handy. You can even create delicate soups such as trout chowder or crab soup in a slow cooker while you attend to other tasks. If you like ethnic soups like Indian Dal or Italian Wedding soup, they also turn out perfectly in a slow cooker.
No matter what your favorite soup is, chances are you can make it in your slow cooker. If you have leftover ham, throw it in with some navy beans for easy bean soup or with split peas to make some delicious pea soup.
You can even make a clam chowder or cheddar cheese soup. That is the best thing about soup in the slow cooker… you can make all of your favorites. Dumplings, noodles, and all the other ingredients that you crave in the winter can all be done in the slow cooker.
Something New
You can also try a soup recipe that is new for you. Trying new recipes is always fun! A new slow cooker soup will give you something exciting to look forward to for dinner. Have you ever tried a garden cabbage soup? What about deviled chicken soup? Have you ever heard of a cheesy meatball soup or a taco soup? You are sure to find new favorites.
All you need is a little inspiration to create your own slow cooker soups. Why not try making your own recipe? The slow cooker allows for imperfection. A tough piece of meat will be tenderized by the long cooking time. Vegetables and herbs add their flavors, creating a complex broth. Add a little milk or cream towards the end to create a nice creamy soup if you prefer. You are limited only by your imagination.
Traditional soups like chicken and dumplings, beef noodle and potato soup are great, too. For something a little different, mix up the ingredients a bit. Try adding bacon or ham to your potato soup, or put brown rice in your beef soup. Adding a new twist can be a lot of fun.
You can even press your slow cooker into service after the holidays to make your day after easier. Add leftover turkey from Thanksgiving to the slow cooker to make a delicious turkey soup. Add rice, potatoes, or noodles, whichever you like best. Add in leftover vegetables like peas, squash, carrots, or leftover gravy. You will end up with a new way to enjoy the fruits of your labors from before the big day. Slow cookers are a great way to use up these leftover goodies.
Everything You Ever Wanted to Learn About Pumpkin Soup Varieties
Saturday, November 7th, 2009Pumpkin soup can be made with many variations. While you may not think of many off the top of your head, there are many ways to approach this meal besides the classic creamed soup. Easy recipes include a honey roasted pumpkin soup, which is made from pumpkin, onions and garlic drizzled with honey before roasting. It is simple and delicious.
Another easy pumpkin soup variation to try is pumpkin and cheese. This is a simple soup you can make using canned pumpkin puree. Simply add in your ingredients like spices, cream, broth, brown sugar and some grated cheddar cheese. Serve this soup with some fresh rolls or melt some grated cheese on top until it is bubbly and delicious.
Another twist on classic pumpkin soup adds real maple syrup to the soup as well as some Marsala wine. The rich flavors blend together, creating an incredible meal. Be sure and use real maple syrup… the imitation syrups just will not have the same effect on the soup.
Pumpkin soup can be changed according to the cuisine. You can make Thai soup, Haitian soup, Mexican or even Jamaican pumpkin soup. Each of these soups contains pumpkin, yet the spices of the hosting cuisine prevail, adding a new touch to them all.
For a more exotic flavor, try pumpkin ginger soup. Ginger will give this creamy soup a bit of heat and Asian flavor. If you like it hotter you can add some chilies as well. Garnish the soup with a little chopped cilantro and pumpkin seeds. If you like a whiter soup, try using white pumpkin. This soup is not your average pumpkin soup! Serve it as an appetizer for an Asian themed meal or serve it alone.
You can also add specialty ingredients to vary your pumpkin soup. Bacon adds a lot of flavor for a savory soup, while chocolate makes a delightful dessert soup. If you like spice, add some peppers, curry or other hot spices to add some zest to your soup. Mix up sausage and peanut butter with your pumpkin soup for a very delicious, distinctive flavor you will not soon forget. This fast recipe can be put together quickly when you do not have much time.
It is common for fall produce to be used in pumpkin soup. Apples are often added, as are other winter squashes and even sweet potatoes. These ingredients will give different levels of flavor to your soup and make it more complex. Add some herbs to create more of a savory flavor. In the heat of summer, make a chilled pumpkin soup that will keep you cool as a cucumber.
No matter what changes you make to your pumpkin soup, you will be eating a delicious, rich soup that will fill you up. The velvety texture feels good in the mouth and the cream gives you a satisfying taste. Even if you do not have a lot of time you can make pumpkin soup. Simply make it in the crockpot and let it cook while you are busy.
Pumpkin for Every Occasion
Friday, November 6th, 2009In some parts of the world, the word ‘pumpkin’ refers to any winter squash, such as acorn, butternut, or Hubbard. In the United States, ‘pumpkin’ refers specifically to a certain kind of squash with an orange skin and orange flesh. It is most commonly used for Halloween decorations and to make pumpkin pie during the holidays.
Both the seeds and flesh of the pumpkin are edible and can be used in many recipes. The seeds are full of zinc, which is a mineral that is necessary for good health. Add the roasted seeds into cereals, snack mixes, breads or just eat them as a snack. If you have tasted pumpkin pie and butternut squash, you have a general idea how the pumpkin flesh will taste. This vegetable can be made into both savory and sweet dishes your family will love.
Roast a whole pumpkin when you want to make a big impression. Use pumpkin to make seasonal sweet breads everyone will rave about. Drop in a few cranberries to add more holiday flavor. Use pumpkin butter on your toast in the morning or add some to your granola and yogurt in the morning. Drop in a few toasted seeds while you are at it.
Make pumpkin into cupcakes, muffins, and cakes. Pour the batter into a jellyroll pan to make a flat cake. Use cream cheese filling and roll it up for a yummy pumpkin roll. Pumpkin cheesecake is a common fall offering in many restaurants and grocery stores. Try making your own instead… it is not difficult. Use pumpkin in cookies and puddings to add more of this tasty vegetable to your diet.
Try a pumpkin soup recipe for yet another delicious way to use this versatile food. Pumpkin soup can be made so it is creamy or spicy. Try it roasted for a delicious sweet flavor. Use it as an appetizer for a formal meal or as a complete meal. Improve your presentation by adding a dab of crme fraiche on top or try sprinkling on some toasted pumpkin seeds for a little crunch.
Add pumpkin chunks to your pasta or rice dishes. Pumpkin risotto is delicious. Pumpkin filling can be added to homemade ravioli for a new twist on pasta. Make it as a vegetable side dish by mixing it with other vegetables like fennel or peas. Add it to polenta and cover with cheese for a new taste. These savory dishes are full of beta-carotene and other vitamins. They are a great way to add these essential nutrients to your meals in a flavorful way.
Have pumpkin for breakfast by making pumpkin pancakes, muffins, scones, or donuts. This versatile vegetable easily makes the transition from savory to sweet without a problem. Serve the pancakes with a whipped cream topping or maple syrup. You can even add cooked crumbled bacon to the batter before cooking the pancakes.
Pumpkin ice cream, pie, and tarts can also be a great way to end a meal. They are not as sweet as cakes and cookies. This is a great way to add the flavor of pumpkin to your meal and celebrate the fall season.
Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Rice In Mexican Cooking
Friday, November 6th, 2009One of the most widely grown crops in the world, rice is the most important dietary staple in much of the world. It is actually the most commonly eaten grain on earth and is the basis of the traditional diet in eastern and southeastern Asia, much of Africa, the Caribbean and the region known as Latin America, spanning South, Central, and parts of North America. While rice is grown in the US and is indeed a common food here, it is in Mexico that North America can be said to truly have a culinary tradition including rice in an important role. It is second only to corn in its importance to Mexican cooking and there are far too many Mexican rice recipes to list here.
As central as rice is to Mexican cooking, it is a relatively recent arrival in the grand scheme of things, having arrived in what is now Mexico with colonists and explorers from Spain and Portugal. The peoples of the new world took to the new grain with enthusiasm and rice was soon one of the most important staples in the Mexican kitchen. Some of the dishes, which are now considered to be traditional Mexican rice recipes date from the early days after rice, began to be cultivated in the Americas.
Traditional Mexican Rice Recipe
One of the best known and most popular of all Mexican rice dishes is arroz con pollo, which is also among the most popular Mexican chicken recipes. The name means “rice with chicken” and is the Mexican version of a classic comfort food combination.
This dish is a Mexican adaptation of a Spanish recipe, with some ingredients, which are native to the Americas. Tomatoes are a common ingredient in arroz con pollo, as is oregano – and in Mexico, cooks prefer to use the stronger-flavored Mexican oregano instead of Greek oregano as cooks would use in Europe. While the Spanish influence is undeniable, these small changes have made this very much a Mexican rice recipe.
Spanish Cuisine Becomes Mexican In The New World
Once rice was introduced to the Americas, cooks began adapting Spanish recipes to the ingredients, which were locally available. Before long, many of these dishes became traditional Mexican rice recipes. For instance, paella. We usually think of this dish as being the epitome of Spanish cooking, but it is a certainty that in Mexico, cooks were making rice and seafood meals which predated its arrival in Valencia.
Of course, even Spanish paella happens to have a slight Mexican accent due to the inclusion of tomatoes and quite often, bell peppers – both of which are native to the Americas and were brought back to Europe from the new world! Needless to say, this is also a very popular Mexican rice dish with many regional variations being found throughout Mexico, especially in coastal regions of the country.
Lightly seasoned Mexican rice is another of the better-known Mexican rice recipes. This rice is served as a complement to a wide variety of Mexican dishes, particularly beans. This is a dish, which is quite similar to Spanish rice; and just as with paella, this rice actually contains some new world ingredients.
Rice has become almost as important of a dietary staple in Mexico as it is in much of the world. It may not have been in the Mexican culinary repertoire as long as corn or chilies, but it has found a happy place in this one of a kind cuisine and if you enjoy any of these wonderful Mexican rice recipes, you are certainly glad that it made its way over to the Americas.