The Publishers League

November 21, 2010

Wine Can Be Healthy

Filed under: Food and Drink — Tags: , — damon @ 11:14 pm

There was a turning point in my life (I think it was called marriage) where I suddenly started taking better care of myself. Instead of sitting around I would go to the gym and instead of drinking lots of carbonated drinks I started drinking health drinks instead and I have to say, after a few years of that I feel a lot more energetic and healthier as a person.

One of my vices that I wasn’t willing to give up though was my wine. I mean, you can’t go all healthy and not have some sort of guilty pleasure, can you? I believe that life is all about balance so I know that I am not doing too much damage. Anyway I don’t drink very much anyway.

It turns out that wine isn’t really much of a vice as it is and if consumed in moderation if can actually be quite good for you and just my luck it appears that red wine (my favourite) is really good. The reason behind this is the large amount of antioxidants contained within the drink.

Oxidation is a naturally occurring process that happens in the body and it damages cells and many people believe that it is a major cause of ageing. Antioxidants fight against oxidation and can help slow the effects of ageing. Scientific studies also believe that it can help to slow down the growth of cancer too.

Along with tea, fruit and chocolate, red wine also contains polyphenols which can help to reduce blood clots and also keep healthy cholesterol levels by increasing the HDL levels.

Now that you know wine is good for you I wouldn’t want to hold you back from keeping yourself healthy now would I? If you are looking for a place to get your wine then I would thoroughly recommend reading more information about the 4 Seasons Wine club. These guys have a wealth of experience and a selection that can satisfy anybody’s needs so go ahead and feel good about yourself.

November 3, 2010

The Benefits Of Using A Citrus Juicer: Electric Vs Manual

Filed under: Food and Drink — Tags: , , , — damon @ 1:51 am
Nelson juices
Creative Commons License photo credit: skyfaller

No matter what type of citrus juicer you decide to purchase, you will still be able to enjoy fruits in the form of juice. Many people do not like to peel the rinds and remove the pith, so they do not get to have fresh oranges. The rind is the hard covering on the outside of fruits such as oranges, lemons, and limes. The pith is the white thread-like substance attached to the fruit itself. The type of juicers that you can choose from is either a manual juicer or an electric one.

Manual citrus juicers are used by hand and do not require a plug in outlet or batteries. This is simple for the type of people that want control over how fast the juicing is and how much pressure is being used to juice the fruits. Many people do not choose to use a manual juicer because of the fact that it takes so long to squeeze or crank a juicer by themselves.

Manual citrus juicer machines can be chosen as a crank style juicer or a press style juicer. The crank style juicer uses a handle at the top of the juicer to move the fruit through a container and comes out into a container at the bottom of it. If you go with the press style juicer, all you have is a cone at the top, a plate at the bottom, and a means of pushing the fruit through to the bottom of the cone. Each style makes sure that you get a good amount of juice, even if you do not get all of it.

Electric citrus juicers can be overpowering and lose a lot of the possible enzymes and vitamins as well as juice itself while in the juicing process, even though this is a faster way to receive fresh juice.

October 26, 2010

Experimenting with Quinoa!

Filed under: Food and Drink — Tags: , , , , , , , — damon @ 7:27 am
Tomyum Steamed Trout, Kai Lan, Tri-Colour Quinoa
Creative Commons License photo credit: avlxyz

Have you ever tried quinoa?  These tiny seeds offer a rich source of complete protein and taste wonderful.  When cooked, they are fluffy and slightly crunchy with a nutty flavor.  Native to South America, quinoa is a relative newcomer to the diets of people in most other parts of the world.  It has been cultivated for almost 6,000 years, and was once referred to as the “gold of the Incas”.  In fact, at one time quinoa was valued in the Incan culture far more than gold.

Although you will often hear quinoa referred to as a whole grain, it is in fact a seed that is closely related to spinach and chard.  What makes quinoa unique from a nutritional standpoint is that it is one of just a handful of plant based foods that offer a complete protein source.  Most all vegetarian foods are short on at least one of the essential amino acids, but quinoa has them all.  It is especially high in lysine, which is an amino acid that the body requires in order to repair cells.  In addition to being high in protein, quinoa is rich in calcium, manganese, magnesium, iron and copper.

One reason that so many people enjoy quinoa is that it can be prepared in so many different ways.  Perhaps the most popular way that it is enjoyed is in a quinoa salad.  People who enjoy oatmeal and other warm cereals in the morning often enjoy either preparing quinoa instead of their favorite cereal or combining it with a whole grain.  Quinoa and oatmeal are particularly good together because the crunchy texture of the quinoa works well with the creaminess of the oatmeal.  If you have favorite black bean recipes that include rice, it is very easy to substitute quinoa for the rice.  In fact, most nutritional experts agree that this is a great way to improve the nutritional quality of your meal.

September 30, 2010

Try Cooking with Quinoa!

Filed under: Cooking Tips,Food and Drink — Tags: , , , , — damon @ 1:36 pm
quinoa cake
Creative Commons License photo credit: Justin and Elise

Even though there are many people in the western world that have never heard of quinoa, it has actually been cultivated for almost 6,000 years.  Although it is not uncommon to hear quinoa be referred to as a grain, it is actually a seed that is related to chard, beets and spinach.  It has gained such popularity, thanks to its impressive nutritional content.  Not only does quinoa provide your body with the good kind of carbohydrates – ones that burn slow –  it is also one of the best plant proteins that you can find.  Most vegetable based foods are short on at least one of then nine amino acids that we must get from foods.  For example, very few grains contain the amino acid lysine, which is critical for cellular repair.  However, this is not the case with quinoa.  It has all nine of the essential amino acids that you need to survive.  This is why you may hear of it refereed to is a complete protein.

A one cup serving of cooked quinoa has 8 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber.  With just 220 calories, you can see why anyone who is interested in improving their health could benefit from adding quinoa to their diet.

It is easy to find a quinoa recipe for any meal.  To start your day off right, try a warm breakfast cereal made with quinoa and oatmeal.  Or, if you prefer yogurt and fruit in the morning, you can toast quinoa and use to to make a warm crunchy topping.  Later in the day, you may want to try a quinoa salad or add it into your favorite stir fry recipe.  Believe it or not, quinoa even works great as a snack.  I like to make a quinoa tabbouleh and my favorite hummus recipes and serve them with warm whole wheat pita bread.  The serving options are endless when it comes to quinoa.

August 25, 2010

What Everyone Should Know About Silicone Bakeware

Filed under: Cooking Tips,Food and Drink — Tags: , , , , — damon @ 6:51 am
tin
Creative Commons License photo credit: ms.Tea

Now, you too can bake like a pro with silicone bakeware! This space age material has been around for over 50 years, and is the brainchild of the aerospace industry. Scientifically proven to have fantastic thermal and conductive properties, silicone can endure temperatures between 130 degrees Celsius and 260 degrees Celsius. The eighth most common element in the Universe, silicone really delivers when it comes to baking.

Bakeware made of silicone can move from oven to freezer without difficulty. They are flexible and easy to use. While their flexibility does take some getting used to, bakeware made of silicone is easily rolled and nested for storage. Because of their lightweight and pliable characteristics, silicone needs to be supported by standard solid baking sheets. Also, time needs to be monitored carefully until you become familiar with the necessary temperature adjustments to assure even cooking throughout your baked items. Unlike their metal counterparts, silicone cools very quickly though, using oven mitts to remove baked goods from the oven is a must. Once removed from the oven, handling the silicone with your bare hands is possible. Dishwasher safe, silicone is easy to clean. You will want to make sure you keep sharp items way from your silicone kitchen bakeware due to the fact that it will cut easily. Also, make sure that your bakeware is rolled out completely and that all compartments are shaped correctly before filling, as your baked goods will take on the shape, dimples and all, of your silicone, making for some very oddly shaped baked goods.

You can find a wide array of silicone bakeware online, at your local retailer, and in your local kitchen gifts specialty store. Prices range from around $8 on upwards, depending on what you are seeking. They are fun to use and come in a wide choice of colors, which range from blue and yellow to white and red. Because this fantastic bakeware can be used in the microwave, or in the oven, it is extremely versatile and popular with home cooks. Made with food-grade silicone and FDA approved, you will have no worries using these baking tools. So, if you have never tried baking with silicone pans, try them, you will not be disappointed.

August 10, 2010

Two Seriously Delicious Chocolate Cake Recipes

Filed under: Cooking Tips,Food and Drink — Tags: , , — damon @ 9:57 am
Devil's Food Cake
Creative Commons License photo credit: megan.chromik

Looking to indulge your tastebuds? Here’s a couple of ripper chocolate cake recipes you can make at home. Enjoy!!

Chocolate “diplomatic cake”

Ingredients for six people:

700gr (1½ lb) dark chocolate
500ml (17 fl oz) double cream
240gr (8½ oz) sugar
170gr (6 oz) flour
70gr (2½ oz) potato flour
120gr (4 oz) butter, melted and cold
100ml (3½ fl oz) rum, diluted in 100ml water
6 eggs
cocoa powder
Cocoa-based liqueur
a pinch of salt

Directions:

For the discs
Preheat the oven at 200ºC (392ºF)
Melt 100gr (3½ oz) of chocolate on a very low heat. Beat the eggs with salt and sugar until foamy, add the flour, the butter, and the melted chocolate. Mix well until completely blended.

Grease 6 12cm diameter ramekins, and pour in the mix (keep aside two tablespoons). Bake for 20 minutes.

Once out of the oven, let it cool for 10 minutes, then cut each sponge lengthwise into two discs. Dip them in the rum.

For the chocolate mousse:
Melt the remaining chocolate, mix it to the cream and the remaining cream, whisk it until it doubles its volume.

Spread the mousse on the top of six discs, then put a disc on top, another layer of mousse, and dust with cocoa powder.

Not enough chocolate in this recipe? Dip these cakes in a chocolate fountain then!

Mascarpone cheese and chocolate cake

Ingredients for six people:
For the sponge:
230gr (8 oz) flour
180gr (6½ oz) sugar
60gr (2 oz) bitter cocoa powder
2 glasses of milk
1 tsp of baking powder
caster sugar for dusting

For the filling:
255gr (9 oz) mascarpone cheese
2 cups of espresso coffee
3 tbsp sugar

Directions:
Preheat the oven at 160. Mix the cocoa powder with lukewarm milk, add sugar, and the flour and baking powder, one tablespoon at the time. Mix well before adding the next one.
Bake for 15-20 minutes. The cake will have to form a thin crust on the surface, but will have to remain soft, almost wet inside.
Once out of the oven, let it cool on a rack.
In the meantime mix together mascarpone cheese, sugar and coffee, until soft and creamy.
Cut the sponge into two discs, lengthwise and spread the mascarpone cream all over one of them. Put the second disc on top, and dust it with caster sugar only right before serving.

Italian coffee, mascarpone cheese, eggs and cocoa are also the main ingredients of tiramisu. There are infinite variations, I recommend this spicy tiramisu recipe.

August 2, 2010

MRE Meals: Good For Flooding Emergencies

Filed under: Food and Drink,Health & Fitness — Tags: , , , — damon @ 5:36 pm

Creative Commons License photo credit: digitizedchaos

Flooding is one of the natural disasters that people should be prepared for in case their the area they live in is subjected heavy rain waters. They should be aware of the things to do in cases like these and how they would survive. MREs (meals ready to eat) can be helpful to families because it can be essential in saving their lives when food is scarce and they need nutrients to survive the calamity. This article will inform the readers how MRE meals can save people’s lives and how to prepare in emergencies such as flooding.

There are things a family needs to do in order to survive flooding emergencies. One is to get free sandbags even before they see the signs of possible flooding in their area. This is to prepare them for the worst case scenario and to decrease flooding. They should also watch local television and radio stations for news and updates. They should avoid their garages if water ever goes into it because many toxic chemicals are stored in the garage and it may be detrimental to their health. They should not try to pass through a flooded road because they might get stuck due to traffic which would be of no help to the family.

They are times when flooding will reach critical levels and the government would then ask people to evacuate the area. Remember to unplug all electrical appliances to avoid electrocution. Moving water is dangerous and can wash you away and cause drowning. Do not try to move around and just go to the highest part of your house and wait for rescuers there.

Do not forget to bring emergency MRE meals with you and put it in a plastic container or in your backpack in case rescuers will not be able to rescue you immediately. Sometimes it takes them many days to be able to find you so always be prepared in disasters like these. Also put water in your backpack so that you will not get dehydrated.

Take care of the children in this type of emergency and tell them to be calm because they might panic. Tell them that everything is going to be alright and they should stick together so that the family can help each other out in case someone needs something.

A family can be prepared in case they experience flooding by listening to the radio and following the instructions stated in this article.

July 15, 2010

Making Juice At Home

Filed under: Food and Drink — Tags: , , , — damon @ 11:20 am
Suco de frutas vermelhas
Creative Commons License photo credit: Roberto Berlim

When you are trying to improve your diet, one of the easiest and best ways to start is by making fresh juice. It is not always easy to eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, and by turning these foods into a delicious and easy to consume beverage, anybody can easily double or triple their intake of fresh foods daily.

When you are looking for a juicer machine, you will be amazed at how many different models are available. Although it is easily possible to find a juicer for a round $100 from a local department store, it is sometimes worthwhile spending extra money on buying what is known as a masticating juicer. Masticating juicers have several distinct advantages, as we will see below.

First of all though, what is a masticating juicer? Basically the term masticating describes how these juicers extract juice, and the word itself is the scientific term for chewing. Instead of using a spinning blade to shred the ingredients (as conventional juicers do), masticating juicers use a slowly turning auger, or a system of gears, to physically crush all the ingredients that you want to juice.

Why is this better? The beneficial constituents of juice, such as living enzymes, nutrients, and vitamins, are very sensitive to 2 things – heat, and contact with oxygen. Conventional juicers can make a lot of juice in a short time, but the high-speed processing both creates heat and aeration. As a result, the juice made with conventional juicers can be of lower quality.

A masticating juicer, however, does not generate heat or cause any frothing, since the extraction is performed at a slower rate. Overall juice production can be slightly slower, but the slow speed system lends itself to various other functions also.

Many popular masticating juicers such as the Angel juicer can be used to do things like cold press seeds such as linseed and flax, to make your own seed oil. Another function is to make nut Butters from peanuts or cashews, and even make your own soy milk.

Although masticating juicers are more expensive than conventional juicers, they can be great if you are into making all your own foods at home. If you consider that you will be buying fewer processed foods and making more of your own, the higher purchase cost can be justified and the additional expense recovered over a period of a few months.

May 18, 2010

Why Masticating Juicers Are The Best Option

Filed under: Food and Drink — Tags: , , , , — damon @ 4:26 am
Zumo de naranjas sanguinas
Creative Commons License photo credit: La.blasco

Masticating juicers are known to be one of the best types of juicers to choose from. They provide you with the highest levels of nutrients and the juices they provide tend to be rich in flavor. For this reason they are slightly more expensive to buy than say the average lemon juicer, but if you are on a health mission then it would be worth spending a little more money.

How Masticating Versions Differ from the Average Juicer
You mainly have two options when it comes to buying a juicer. You can either opt for the centrifugal juicers or masticating ones. Centrifugal juicers are the cheaper option and for that reason they do tend to be the most popular. They work by simply grating vegetables and fruits and extracting the juice from broken cells. The juice is literally spun out into the glass and therefore it mixes with the air. Juice from this type of juicer tends to be watered down slightly and it also produces quite a lot of waste.

The masticating variety on the other hand breaks up a lot more of the vegetables and fruit. The juice is pressed through a nose cone that has a small opening. Comparing them against the centrifugal variety, masticating juicers can extract up to five times more nutrients. This makes them much healthier for you and that is why you should spend a little more when choosing the best juicer to suit you.

In order to find the best juicer and save money it would be a good idea to buy online. You can find every single different type of masticating juicer online and you can easily compare prices. Look at around five different stores to see the difference in price. It is possible to find reasonably priced masticating juicers if you shop around.

May 6, 2010

Problems with Electric Meat Grinders

Filed under: Cooking Tips,Food and Drink — Tags: , , , , — damon @ 6:03 am
The Grind
Creative Commons License photo credit: klwatts

Buying an electric meat grinder is a great idea. You can make your own ground meats, burgers, sausages and meatballs safe in the knowledge that you know exactly what is going into your food and that all the ingredients are good for you. You can reduce the fat and salt content to improve your health, and live additive free. Electric grinders do have their problems, however, but nothing that you can’t deal with. Here are the things you might encounter when you own one.

1. You Have to Cut Up the Meat

Many are under the impression, before buying a meat grinder, that you can just push big steaks into the grinder and it will come out as ground beef. Unfortunately you have to cut up the meat into one inch chunks and remove any bones and obvious gristle before you process it.

2. They are Noisy

Electric meat grinders are not quiet machines so don’t run the machine if you have a sleeping baby or want to watch your favorite TV show!

3. They Get Clogged

All meat grinders will clog up at times especially if you don’t remove tough tendons or you have processed a lot of fatty meat. Always choose a grinder with a reverse switch so that you can release any meat clogging the blades. If that doesn’t work, take your machine apart (which is easy enough to do) and unblock it.

4. Blades Can Rust or Go Blunt

If you choose steel blades, they stay nice and sharp but they can easily rust if you do not wash and dry them carefully. You can buy an electric meat grinder with stainless steel blades instead if you prefer and you will have fewer problems with rust, however these will go blunt faster and will need to be sharpened or replaced!

5. Clean Up Can Take Time

If you process a lot of meat you will find that everything will be very greasy after you are finished. No matter how much meat you processed, you will need to clean your machine carefully to avoid contamination from raw meat, especially if you use it for grinding other food stuffs.

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