Category Archives: food and culinary

Heart Healthy Porridge

The recent addition to my breakfast, Yola Porridge is packed with nuts and seeds and brings a whole new dimension to healthy porridge. Lots of Breakfast cereals have wheat as the main grain. Many people do not realise that a large % of the population have an intolerance to wheat. You could be intolerant and not even know that it does not agree with your body. I myself have a slight intolerance to wheat, if I eat a lot of white bread my body would suffer gut pains. This was bad for my body and as soon as I realised that wheat was my problem. I cut out the bulk intake. My body was functioning perfectly and my pains ceased completely.

Although I had cut bread out of my diet, I found it hard to find a substitute cereal that was wheat free. It was not very hard to find wheat free Granola or Porridge but finding one that I really enjoyed was the main hardship. Till I found this great Irish produce Yola Porridge. Porridge is easy to digest Great for young or old, even great as a slow release of energy for athletes in training. Its Jumbo oat flakes and oat bran combine to ensure a hearty, Low G.I. breakfast.

Yola Porridge

The Nuts and Seeds add great flavour and texture. Almonds, Sunflower Seeds contain a host of healthful nutrients. Just a handful packs a helpful punch of vitamins, minerals and fats, all of which work together to affect your heart, your brain and your waistline. I never get those low points before lunch after having porridge for breakfast. I found myself snacking less and feel much healthier now a days.

I eat porridge for breakfast most mornings, but eating the same thing everyday can become extremely boring. There is an easy way to jazzing up regular old porridge, it’s really filling and super healthy! If you’re avoiding dairy or just want to change things up by all means use almond or soya milk instead. You can add honey, cinnamon, nuts, seeds, fruit, sugar the list is endless. So many things can be added to may porridge more palatable. My personal favourite is adding blueberries, I even arrange them to make a smiley face, which is a bit of fun for the kids too.

Easy Tips to Spice Up Your Diet

I love adding spices to my cooking. Besides some of the well-hyped health benefits, they just make food more interesting. The same ingredients from one dish can be magically transformed into something completely different just based on the spice profile. It can set apart one region’s or even one person’s cooking from another. It separates, say, East coast cuisine from the West, as well as Aunt Emma’s chili from your own concoction. Spices make all the difference.

Now, truth be told, I’m more talk than action. I have over 40 spices in my cabinet, carefully labeled and arranged alphabetically, but honestly they only get touched maybe once or twice a week. Clearly I like the idea of spices, but practically speaking I am not as committed as I let on. I hope that is about to change, both for you and for me.

Recently I had the privilege of traveling to India. Besides the wild colors, bold aromas, and beautiful antiquities, the food is an attraction in its own merit. Oh the food. I wish I could transport myself back there as I write this. The food was so rich, so colorful, so flavorful, and so fragrant. It completely engaged all the senses. You got the sense that food is vitally important. It is not an afterthought but an important and well-planned part of the day. Along with that, the use of spices for creating unique flavor profiles is paramount.

Coming back after two weeks to Seattle, I realized my own diet was really quite bland. Kale salad, while healthy, doesn’t pack any punch in the flavor or the color department. Good ol’ turkey sandwich on whole wheat bread? Pretty boring all around unless you bump it up with some heavy hitting mustard and maybe some tangy arugula and heirloom tomatoes. Even still, on the whole, our food is just drab. No wonder many Indians retain much of their familiar ways of cooking when moving here, and some have even opened Indian grocers to import traditional food items (which I think we can all say we are extremely grateful for!).

Besides taste and cultural norms, there are other reasons to value spice in your life. As I alluded to earlier, there are many health benefits to including more spice in your diet.

Number one is the anti-inflammatory benefit. Many spices have specific properties that allow them to act as potent anti-oxidants. Turmeric is one of the currently most popular and studied examples. Countless research papers have shown turmeric, and its active component curcumin, to have anti-oxidant properties. Other spices that shine as anti-oxidants stars, although far less publicized, include oregano, cloves, cinnamon, ginger, and mustard seed, among countless others.

Number two is that many spices act as anti-microbial agents. In fact, back in the day spices were highly valued due to the lack of refrigeration. Heavy use of spices could kill disease causing pathogens and keep food safe to eat. These properties also apply internally by killing off unwanted bacteria and viruses. A great reason to increase spice consumption during the winter!

Some spices also have other very specific health benefits, such as helping to reduce blood pressure, calming tense nerves, quieting nausea, or easing digestion. They can be used in appropriate doses therapeutically, however by including a wide variety in cooking you are ensuring your body benefits from a broad range of these health-supportive spices.

So returning from India and feeling quite depressed about my “boring” diet, I have become resolved to practice what I preach. I am no longer satisfied with a few dashes of chili powder here or a few shakes of Italian seasoning there. No, I want to re-create that depth and richness I so fully enjoyed abroad in my own cooking at home. Armed with a bagful of new spices (thank you Kerala spice shop and US customs for letting me cart all these goodies home!), I have found new resolve to cook more interesting dishes and significantly ramp up my intake of herbs and spices.

Are you on board with me? If so you might be wondering, how do we get started?

First of all, we need some ideas. And by ideas I mean recipes. I have very little experience with cooking these types of dishes, so recipes and instructions are my best friend. Believe me, I never whizz this stuff up off the top of my head. I am just not that talented in the culinary department.

What ideas do I have, you ask? Curry, curry, curry… for starters. There are so many amazing curry options, and contrary to popular belief, they do not have to be spicy. I have been making mild curries that my kids enjoy, many of which include various types of vegetables and lean meats. Often you can get protein, veg, and healthy fats all in one dish. Add a little rice or roti on the side and you have a complete meal.

Other cuisines to look into include African and Middle Eastern cooking. These also tend to rely heavily on many types of spices. Right now I am eyeing my Exotic Ethiopian Cooking cookbook sitting on the shelf beside me, trying to ready my brain for diving in one of these days. Gear yourself up with a variety of recipes, either from books, magazines, or the internet, and start to catalog the types of dishes you want to attempt.

Next we need ingredients, and by that I mean the actual spices. This is the tricky part! I have found that some spices are exceedingly hard to come by at local grocers. If you can, find ethnic markets in your area and explore. We are blessed with many international communities in and around Seattle, so I am planning some reconnaissance missions in the near future. Otherwise, search online if what you are seeking remains elusive.

Now, once you acquire the spices you need, I strongly suggest you invest in some spice jars and maybe even a label maker to get yourself organized. I squarely have this part down, thanks to Ikea and Amazon. I love to look at my neat rows of labeled, alphabetized jars. I just need to start using them!

Exclusively Festive Food in Festive Seasons

In colorful India we have a huge variety of foods that people consume every day, different food in different time. Starting from North to south we come across thousands of foods across the country. The most interesting part is the dishes prepared in the festive season, it’s almost every day celebrated.

The celebration season is throughout the year in India;

Sankranti it’s a Harvest festival, especial laddu of Jaggery, roasted Sesame seed and roasted peanut are mixed and blended into laddu’s.

Pongal is the South Indian version of Sankrati the first rice of this season is prepared with Jaggery and Raisins.

GudiPadva/Ugadi (Hindu new year) Crushed Neem leaves is consumed with Jaggery, it has magical effect on our belly, it’s taken in a very small portion.

Holi Festival of color, special Karanji a curved shaped Khoya (reduced dry milk) and dry fruits stuffed in a wheat dove pockets and deep fried and Malpua preparation of wheat pancakes in syrup.

Baisakhi harvesting season in Punjab Mustard leaf vegetable and Roti made from Corn flour and special Punjabi Lassi made of Yoghurt, Buttermilk and sugar.

Rakshabandhan A threads relation between Brother and Sister. In this festival sister prepare sweets according to their brother’s choice, e.g., Gulabjamun a mix of Khoya balls, fried in clarified butter and dipped in syrup.

Janmastami The Birthday of Lord Krishna a special powder is prepared by dry ginger powder with sugar powder and coriander powder are blended together and eaten this has a curative effect on our digestive system, Butter and Rock Sugar.

Ganeshchaturthi a special offering to Lord Ganesha is Modak a dry fruit mix with sugar and coconut.

Onam in Kerala it’s the main festival of harvest Aavial,Pachadi, Rassam, payasam are some main dishes.

Muharram Haleem is prepared by the Muslims in India.

Dussehra this is the festival of victory over evil a large range of menu is being prepared all over India.

Diwali is famous for recipes like Laddu, gujiya, Namkeen pare, Chivda, Shakkar pare and hundreds of recipes in this festival.

Christmas a special month of Christians and special Christmas cake and many more dishes are done in India.

The Indians wait all the yearlong to enjoy the festival and the rich food made for this occasion. The food varies from state to state and area to area, the most interesting thing is the food offered to the God is usually sweet; Lots of sweets are consumed during this period, there are some scientific reasons behind the food that are being prepared during this festive season. The climatic conditions and the food consumed are perfect blend to improve our health at festive time. Some dishes are done once in a year during the festive season, people eagerly wait for a whole year. It has great effect on our appetite and digestive system too. The whole arena is full of life and people are more excited during the festival, all castes and creeds enjoy the company of each other. It’s the time when heavenly powers are showered on you and you would not like to miss a chance.

All About Food Ingredients

When you are buying food in your local stores the first thing that you look at is the ingredients.

Function of the food ingredients

The food manufacturers have many reasons why they add the ingredients. Some of these reasons include:

To keep the food safe and fresh: The ingredients used in serving this role are preservatives. They prevent spoilage of the food thus reducing the risk of you suffering from foodborne diseases.

To improve the texture of the food: I’m sure that you have noticed that most of the food you get from your local store has a better texture than the one that you prepare yourself. This is due to the addition of the ingredients. The ingredients added include: thickeners, emulsifiers, leavening agents and stabilizers. The additives give food a light airy texture that feels great on the tongue.

The additives improve taste: Spices, sweeteners, and other flavors enhance the taste of food thus you enjoy eating it.

The additives aid in improving appearance: Natural and artificial food colors improve the appearance of plain foods such as juices, cheese, and yogurts.

Common food ingredients

There are many additives that can be used in food but there are some that are more common than others. The most common additives include:

Flavors: They include both natural and artificial flavors. The most common are: salt, citric acid, butter flavoring, methyl salicylate, vanilla extract and vanillin. The flavors are heavily used in cereals, soft drinks, dressings, yogurt, and bread. The additives provide a bitter flavor that neutralizes the sweet flavors that are common in beverages.

Food colors: Food colors offset the color loss that takes place when the food is exposed to light. They also enhance the colors that occur naturally in food. The most common food colors that you will find in most foods are: caramel coloring, beta carotene, and annatto extract. The additives are common in yogurts, fruit spreads, candles, cheese, snack foods, and pudding.

Sweeteners: They add sweetness to food and beverages without interfering with the original food texture. Common sweeteners are high fructose corn syrup, aspartame, sucrose, honey, agave, and nectar. You will find the additives in dressings, maple syrup, cereals, juice concentrates, desserts, and molasses.

Conclusion

This is what you need to know about the common food ingredients and their roles. While the additives are harmless to many people there are some people that react to them. If you one of the people who are affected by the ingredients you should avoid foods containing them.

Evolution of Eating Healthy

I haven’t always been someone who eats healthy. I was raised in the days of TV dinners on trays, sitting in front of Gilligan’s Island in the TV room with my three siblings. Good nutrition and eating healthy may come easily to some, but for the rest of us, it may be a gradual progression of steps.

My family rarely visited or spoke during dinner. Commercials were reserved for running into the kitchen to get more milk. For variety, we would have canned SpaghettiOs, or Campbell’s soup with grilled cheese. Healthy wasn’t a concept that entered into my mind when eating. The goals were good taste and ease of preparation.

This changed when, at nineteen, I took a class on values clarification. The instructor had us assess what our values were by looking at where we were putting our time and energy, and considering what was most important to ourselves. I realized there was a huge contrast between my desire to be healthy and the food choices I was making.

Many of my peers were making their own granola, yogurt and growing vegetables to eat. The “hip” thing was to be a vegetarian. I wanted to be doing these sorts of things, but instead I was eating junk. So, at twenty I became a vegetarian… and started consuming vast amounts of dairy, wheat, and sugar. This phase was, perhaps healthier than the processed food, but it was still essentially lacking in nutrition.

This period was followed by getting married, having four children and wanting them to be as healthy as possible. I call this the tofu stage. I put tofu in almost every dish I made and packed tofu dogs in the kid’s lunches. I felt proud to be raising 4 vegetarian children in a society full of carnivores. Tofu and dairy competed for my attention. Our family favorites, after tofu, were bean and cheese burritos, and macaroni and cheese. To this day none of my four grown children will eat tofu!

I was, indeed, pretty ignorant about healthy eating. Fortunately for my family, I began teaching kindergarten at the private school that my children attended. The school was part of a spiritual yoga community that provided healthy vegetarian food. Things like, brown rice, steamed veggies, fresh salads, and homemade breads and soups were offered every day. Suddenly, my spectrum of healthy foods had many colors and textures and my kids were exposed to a new way of eating. They loved the healthy new foods and so did I.

This period was followed by divorce and the craziness of single-parenting four children. Time became limited, money was tight and priorities had to change. Once again, healthy food choices gave way to convenience and price. I rarely shopped at the local health food store and often filled in the gaps with pizzas, quesadillas, and canned beans. I assigned a night for each child to cook, and our meals were simple and filling. Flour, rice, beans, and pasta were at the top of the menu. Fresh vegetables cost too much so I bought frozen veggies sincerely thinking I was feeding the kids good food.

Fortunately, my awareness of what is genuinely healthy and nutritional food has changed. These days, my children are all grown and I am living on my own. I can afford to buy and choose what I want, and I have continued to evolve my own diet.

Three-and-a-half years ago, I gave up dairy and gluten to get rid of my eczema problem. Then, just 9 months ago, I gave up sugar and chocolate as well. I now have an awareness of the adverse effects of GMO foods on the body, and have started buying organic as much as possible. I see that I am a slow learner when it comes to health and nutrition. But, gradually over time, I have been able to incorporate improvements into my food choices. This transition is happening bit by bit and I am reaping the benefits of my improved healthier diet. My head is clearer, I have more energy, my health is excellent and I feel good about what I eat. Having moved away from processed food, I find that food in its natural state tastes even better.

5 Tips on Why Mobile Pizza Catering Suits You

Pizza is in fact the most affordable Fast Food you can order. You can eat it with your buddies while watching a film and maybe with you Colleagues at work. Having a mobile pizza catering deal is the best for you.

Here are some tips on why you should consider pizza for a meal or comfort food. Pizza is really one of the popular fast food today:

Fast and Easy

When there is any gathering, all we think about is Pizza. Most especially Hawaiian or Pepperoni pizza. With the fast technology now-a-days you can already check out their web page or search for their phone number. Just tell them your order and in just a few minutes your order will arrive fresh and hot on your door steps, without any delays.

DIY Pizza

DIY or Do Your Own is the new obsession of neither kids nor adults today. You can just mix-and-match your own favorite topping such as, cheese of different kind, sausage and more of the ingredient you want to top your pizza with. Just ask the crew to bake it for you and voila! You have your own enjoyable DIY pizza.

Affordable

You don’t have to go to some fancy restaurants that serve you tiny pieces of pizza just to taste the so called “best pizza in the world” thus, you can always go to a pizza parlor near you and you can have the best-of-the-best pizza with just an affordable price that can satisfy your cravings and for sure you will come back for more.

Customer Friendly

We all know that almost all of us eat pizza, but there are still percentages of people who choose to go Vegan or Vegetarian (in layman’s term) because our authentic pizza is Vegan. Yes, you read it right, pizza is vegan. Every ingredient and even the pizza dough is vegan, so you don’t have to worry anymore on how much weight you will gain while eating one of the best comfort foods in the world and you can always pick out the freshest greens and everything Vegan for your pizza topping.

No more Hard work and Worries

Each and every one of us knows how stressful it is to plan a perfect party for our family or friends, but hiring a mobile pizza catering is one of the best solutions to put down your worries and hard work on preparing every single detail in an event. You don’t have to use a lot of utensils and you don’t have to clean them once the party ended. You can just enjoy entertaining you guests because you don’t have to serve each and every one because an employee is already within the mobile catering.

Plan Your Pizza Fiesta Today

Worry no more, this is the time to gather everyone and enjoy your pizza party. Saving money, time and energy is a guarantee. And for sure, every guest will definitely have their own mobile pizza on their next event.

The Popularity Of Cup Cakes

Normally cup cakes are little cakes that are intended to be served to one individual and they are for the most part made or all the more effectively prepared in modest paper or aluminum mugs. In fact in the earlier hundreds of years these cakes were heated in discrete earthenware mugs or shape and were named after the cups they were set up in. in fact this name has stuck and today a cake that is the extent of a modest tea cup is still called a cup cake.

At present there is also another sort of cake wherein the ingredients were measured in a standard cup rather than them being measured by weight. These were cakes that were called cupcakes as well and they could likewise be heated in independent cup, however they were all the more generally prepared in cake tins like rolls of bread. They were additionally called the 1234 cakes as the fixings utilized were as a part of the measure of 1 measure of margarine, 2 mugs sugar, 3 mugs flour and 4 eggs. Essentially when making the typical cup cake, the formula is like the standard cakes, the main contrast being that they are heated in little compartments and they get prepared speedier as well.

Today the cupcakes in Hertfordshire are an untouched top choice. Like whatever other cake this can likewise be finished with different flavorful creams and fillings that are channeled into an opening in the focal point of the cakes. Cupcakes can be sliced on a level plane through the inside, spread with any smooth blends like margarine cream, whipped chocolate cream or whatever other that suit one’s extravagant on the base half and the top half is stuck over it.

As innovation improved special pans were introduced that resembles muffin tins with heat these cakes. These stove proof pans that have six or twelve melancholies are all things considered made of metal and could possibly have non-stick covering. There are different materials that are likewise used to make these cups. You may utilize separate cake liners that are for the most part round sheets of fluted spread paper or to a great degree flimsy aluminum foil and these liners expel the cake effectively from the tins.

Cupcakes are small and truly look great, are less untidy and they for all intents and purposes melt in the mouth. Actually the idea of these cakes took prominence pretty recently more so since they are amazingly helpful amid festivity time and particularly when you might want to send companions an awesome blessing.

Healthier Dessert Alternatives For Kids

Kids love sweet things. The more sugar, the better! While you don’t want them to lose out on parties, after dinner treats, and that first taste of an ice cream on a sweltering summer’s day, you also don’t want to be giving them sugar-laden desserts after dinner every night either. For those days when the kids are intent on finding something to satisfy their sweet tooth and you’re determined that healthy vegetables are the order of the day, here are some ways to compromise.

Homemade fruit ice lollies are a great way to have fun with healthy, fresh fruit. Get the kids involved by asking them to choose some of their favourite fruits and berries. If they’re old enough, they can help you to chop them up carefully too. You can make tons of different flavours and types of lollies. Try freezing whole fruit chunks in water or fruit juice for a start. Or, you can blend fruit together before freezing. Coconut milk or milk blended with fruit makes for a lovely creamy texture. Some of our favourite fruit combinations are mango and orange, kiwi and strawberry, mixed berry and apple, and raspberry and mint – but use whatever appeals to you!

For an alternative to ice cream that your kids will love, even if they aren’t fooled, chop and freeze some bananas. When the time for ice cream comes, take them out and blend them up in a high powered blender. Frozen banana takes on an entirely different texture. It’s sweet, thick, creamy, and really does resemble banana flavoured ice cream! Add some toppings in the form of melted dark chocolate, strawberries, or whatever your kids’ favourite is. They can get away with a bit of unhealthy topping if they’re not eating real ice cream, after all!

If they’re more into cakes and brownies, there are loads of good substitutions available simply by researching healthier versions of your favourite dessert online. You’ll probably want to keep the fact that your sugar-free chocolate brownies are loaded with sweet potato and avocado secret from the kids, but as long as they taste nice, we promise they won’t mind. Try to serve cakes and baked goods without cream or custard where possible. Strawberries are a good match for anything chocolate or vanilla flavoured, so start serving them alongside dessert and see if your kids eat some.

Sure, sometimes you’ll just have to give in and let them order that bowl full of strawberry ice cream. There’s nothing wrong with that on occasion. For the other days though, hopefully these ideas have given you some inspiration.

Benefits of Dessert Cooking Classes

There certainly will be a lot of benefits to taking candy cooking lessons, especially for those who want to work in restaurants or bakeries. If you feel as if cooking skills are limited, it will be important to start looking for a place in your area you can go to take these courses. The longer you take to do your research, and more will come out of these courses you end up with. Because there are a lot of options for review when it comes to places that offer these classes, you will need to choose the very best one overall.

When you take one of these categories of cooking, you will learn how to make a lot of different things. Skills gained through taking candy cooking class can benefit you both in terms of professional as well as in your personal life. There are many different types of these categories will have to consider, including those that are dedicated just to decorate the cake. If you work in a bakery, it will be important to make sure that you learn as much as possible, so that you can use on a daily basis in your job.

And those who like to bake just for fun and found that with a little bit of a little education and a number of courses, they will be able to turn a hobby into a profession. There is certainly a lot of money in things like bread and cake decorating if you know how to do this well, so that the important thing to consider when trying to determine whether or not to take these classes. There are also there will be a lot of places in your area where you can attend cooking classes candy, so it’s highly recommended that you do as much research as possible to find out what your options are like.

Another advantage to take these classes is that you will be able to meet others who share your interests. If you currently do not have any friends or family members who also love the bike, with a class like this can afford you the opportunity to connect with people on a level that you cannot with anyone currently in your life. People that we share common interests with it is always a good thing, and these layers can help you do just meetings.

You will even be able to find certain categories candy cooking that are held on the Internet, so you will be able to stay at home while learning all kinds of new things. Before taking the final decision on what kind of category you want to take, and you want to go online and look through the various options that are going to have. The more time you spend in doing this research, the more likely it will be that you will take advantage of your time and money when it comes to these categories it.

6 Must Visit Cafes in Chennai

This metropolitan city has an upcoming dining scene. From defined South Indian food to International cafes, you’ll find everything here. So, for all the food lovers out there, it is necessary to experiment and decide which ones are the best.

Today, we’ve done your work for you. Here’s a list of 6 cafes that you must visit if you’re anywhere near or in the city. To grab the best cafe deals in Chennai don’t forget to download the Little App.

1. Shiraz Art Cafe

It is an Iranian cafe, it is located at the Neelankarai beach. It has a perfect ambience and setting on the beach as you can hear the waves touching the shores nearby. They serve an authentic Ghaalieh Mahi Fish with a bit of coriander gravy which is to die for. You must try their Bademjan which is slowly stewed with mutton, tomato and aubergine. On that lazy weekend, you can take advantage of Sunday brunch, a massive buffet of home-style Irani cooking.

2. Lattice cafe

It’s a cute little coffee house which is simple and compact. It has a wooden bistro ambience and will make you feel cozy and comfy. Their sandwiches are a must try along with a cup of hot chocolate. You can try their Savory Wedges with Coffee float and Masala fries if you’re craving for something spicy. French fries and the classic chicken burger are favourites here along with a glass of chocolaty Choco milk shake.

3. Amethyst

This is the place everyone raves about. In the heart of the city, they provide you the greens and delectable continental food. The spread of pastries – velvet reds, choco based, cheese based – is very good and appealing. Don’t forget to have their coffee which is one of the best South Indian coffee to have. The variety goes from hazelnut cappuccino to coffee walnut cake to green tea.

4. Ciclo Cafe

Well this one will surprise you, it has a cycling theme! The spacious and grand interiors give this place a bright feeling. They also have a cycle ‘spa’ and retail zone for posh cycling brands. The cafe has two storeys and is a picture of grandeur and wit. The innovative setting includes chandelier made from cycle chains swings contentedly from the ceiling, there are entire walls of leather-seat hangings, and bicycle parts double up as table legs. Not only the pretty decor but their coffee and quiche is equally amazing.

5. Amadora Gourmet Ice Cream

This dessert parlour is as good as it gets. This place is expensive but worth it. It has a variety of ice creams and coffee, which will confuse you in a good way. Their filter kapi (madras filter coffee) and the watermelon sorbet is a must try. Nutella ice cream is delicious as well. A sandwich here will make your stomach full and happy.

6. Ratna Cafe

If you’re short on cash, but still want quality food, this is the place. This place is famous for its sambhar bucket with idly which you can try with frothing fresh filter coffee made from scratch. The ghee podi idly that’ll arrive at your table will be mouth watering. Ghee roast dosa is your solution for a crunchy tasty dish. They serve North Indian too, like the crispy puri with a scrumptious bhaji.