Chia Seeds For Stamina

On 09.08.10, In Food and Drink, By Stevie Wonder

You do not have to be a long distance runner or an endurance athlete to benefit from the effects of chia seeds.  Anyone who exercises or takes part in any sport will find their stamina and endurance improved when they introduce chia seeds into their diet.  If you go for a daily walk, swim, go through a regular exercise routine, or participate in a sport of any kind, it only makes sense to give your body the help it needs to get the maximum benefit from your workout.

When you use your body in any kind of exercise, your muscles and organs will require energy.  This is usually supplied in the form of carbohydrates that are taken into your bloodstream and delivered to your muscles.  Unfortunately, all too often, the energy supply is depleted before the exercise is finished, and can leave you feeling tired and weak.  Chia can help to improve your endurance because it will help to keep the carbohydrates from being absorbed too quickly.  You might consider that the chia will ‘ration out’ the nutrients as your body needs them.  As the absorption of the carbohydrates is slowed, it means that you will be able to exercise longer.

Chia seeds can be eaten whole, or they can be dissolved in water to make chia seed gel.  You can mix this with almost any beverage before you begin to exercise.  That way, you will be sure that the benefits of chia will be there when you need them.

Another cause of fatigue when exercising or participating in a sport is dehydration.  Even if you do not suffer the effects of extreme dehydration, which can be life-threatening, any degree of this condition will affect your ability to continue in and enjoy your activity.  Chia can also help to prevent dehydration, as well as keeping your stamina at a higher level.  Chia seed will absorb 10 times, at least, of its weight in water.  When you eat chia seeds, or drink chia gel in a beverage, you will find that the water is not released into your system immediately.

As you exercise, the chia will slowly release water into your system as needed.  Rather than having all your water used up right away, the chia will keep you hydrated for a much longer time.  Small amounts of water being added to your system will help to prevent dehydration and keep you going longer. Whatever you do for exercise or sport, utilizing the power of chia will greatly improve your endurance and stamina.

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Fast Food-Some Healthy Options

On 08.28.10, In Food and Drink, By Stevie Wonder

With so much consumers avoiding fast food due to the high amount of calories and fats present in them, the fast food companies have come up with a few healthier options to get the customers back. So, with this option, you can now potentially add it to your diet without the risk of gaining extra weight. Eating fast food on a daily basis is still not a good idea and should be avoided. There are a number of fast food restaurants that have come up with deals that restrict your calorie intake. Even if you eat a burger that is unhealthy, you can still restrict your calories by avoiding the fries or drinking water instead of soda. Another way to restrict your calories is to survive from the mayonnaise in the sandwiches. Eating fast food regularly is a discouraged idea; still it can be incorporated to a healthy eating plan. Various nutritional plans can tell you how to stay healthy even if you are eating fast food.

There are a number of fast food restaurants that are providing you food which is healthy. The top fast food restaurant is the McDonalds. Over the recent years, McDonalds have gained reputation in the list of fast food restaurants. Like other restaurants, McDonalds has also come up with a plan that offers food alternatives that are healthy and nutritious. McDonalds is now offering you Grilled Chicken Classic Sandwich without mayonnaise, Plain Hamburger, Bacon Ranch Salad with Grilled Chicken and Side salad instead of fries. These are some of the alternative foods that are healthier.

Another of the top names amongst the fast food chains is KFC. KFC is now offering you some of the meals that are low in calories and fats and are a bit healthy. Eating these menus is a sure way to live a better and healthier life. You can receive free fast food coupons for your healthy meals.

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Three Hot And Cold Chocolate Recipes

On 08.22.10, In Food and Drink, By Stevie Wonder

Chocolate Salami

  • 2 eggs
  • 80gr (3 oz) butter, softened and diced
  • 100gr (3½ oz) sugar
  • 70gr (2½ oz) bitter cocoa powder
  • 1 packet of rich tea biscuits, broken into small pieces

Beat the eggs with sugar until you get a smooth cream, add the butter, and stir with a wooden spoon until blended. Add the cocoa and the biscuits and mix until you get a semi-hard cream.
Grease a aluminium foil with butter and place the chocolate and biscuits mix on it. With your hands, shape into a sausage-roll, close it with the foil, and put it in the fridge for a couple of hours before serving.

Hot Chocolate sauce

Ingredients:

  • 2 egg yolks
  • 2 tbsp sugar
  • 200gr (7 oz) dark chocolate, chopped
  • 1 glass of milk

Mix the egg yolks with the sugar until smooth and foamy. Add the milk and the chocolate. Put it on a low heat, and keep on stirring until the chocolate is completely melted.

If you double the quantities, this chocolate sauce can easily be used with a small chocolate fountain.

Chocolate and biscuits cake

  • 350gr (12½ oz) rectangular rich tea biscuits
  • 150gr (5¼ oz) butter, softened
  • 3 egg yolks
  • 75gr (2¾ oz) caster sugar
  • 50gr (1¾ oz) dark chocolate
  • 1 glass of milk
  • 50gr (1¾ oz) toasted hazelnuts, coarsely ground
  • 1 tbsp bitter cocoa powder

Directions:

In a casserole, melt the dark chocolate with half glass of milk. Work the egg yolks with the sugar until smooth and pale yellow, add the melted chocolate.

In a separate bowl, work the butter with the cocoa powder, add them to the casserole and mix well. Break 50gr (1¾ oz) of biscuits in small pieces and add them to the casserole, also add the hazelnuts and stir.

Line a plum cake tin with aluminum foil. Dip the remaining biscuits in milk, spread a layer of cream on them and repeat the operation alternating biscuits and cream. Finish with a layer of biscuits and dust with cocoa powder. Keep it in the freezer for 30 minutes before serving.

This recipe is very similar to the one for Italian tiramisu. Try this very light tiramisu ricotta and let me know what you think!

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The Early Scotch Whisky Distillers of Pennsylvania

On 08.18.10, In Food and Drink, By Stevie Wonder

Back in the last half of the 18th Century, the Scotch whisky distillers of Pennsylvania did not always see eye to eye with George Washington, the first President of the United States. In fact, they came out to protest the tax on whiskey, which had become a law in 1791. In 1794, one group of Pennsylvania residents tried using violent means to object to that tax. Washington led a militia into the western region of that Keystone State, and put a halt to that Whiskey Rebellion.

After putting down that Rebellion, the President journeyed east, stopping in York County. Because a number of County residents wanted to demonstrate their feelings about the hated tax, they looked to local members of the militia. As a result, some of those members refused to march with the Commander-in-Chief.

That refusal was seen as the failure to perform a job responsibility. Consequently, those who had participated in that refusal were fined by the Court of Appeals. Later, a replacement for the whiskey tax proved more popular among the whisky loving people of the Commonwealth. However, that tax stirred up the anger of those County residents with a German ancestry.

The new levy on glass panes reminded those with German ancestry of similar taxes in their homeland. Therefore, they many of those unhappy Germans abandoned their support for the Federalists. They refused to support an ideology that favored a strong central government. Instead, they supported the Democratic Party, which sided with the ideas of Thomas Jefferson.

Were there any Scotch whisky distillers who had come to Pennsylvania from Germany? If so, how did they feel about the two different taxes? Unfortunately, the documents available to the local historians do not provide the sort of information that could shed a brighter light on the topic that is the focus of those two questions.

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Espresso Pod Machines Are Fun And Easy To Use

On 07.23.10, In Food and Drink, By Stevie Wonder

Whilst sitting in a cafe and enjoying a beautiful espresso generally we think that the preparation of the drink is easy, and a luxury you would like to enjoy at home.

In the past this just wasn’t practical as the machines were large and ungainly and the grinding of coffee was not only messy but also very noisy. It was also difficult to achieve the right quantity of ground coffee to make exactly the drink that you wanted. That is why most people only enjoyed a cup when they were out. However the times have changed and now there is a new style of machine which is small, compact, streamlined and lightweight that will produce the loveliest cup every single time you use it.

The answer is to buy a espresso pod machine. Not only are they attractive to look at and will add an air of sophistication to any home, but they also do exactly what you want it to. It makes fantastic coffee without any of the mess.

Gone are the days of randomly grinding coffee and hoping you make the right amount. Not to mention the excess covering the work surfaces and requiring cleaning and wiping down after every use.

Now you simply select the strength of coffee you would like and put the pod directly into the machine. Once you have switched it on you just have to wait for the beautiful aroma to fill the house before you sit back and enjoy the perfect cup of coffee.

Not only that, but all you need to do once you have made the drink is to remove the pod and throw it in the nearest bin. No mess, no fuss, just coffee.

So, in short, if you want a fantastic drink every time then invests in one of the new machines. Consider a great machine like Delonghi EC155 espresso or Gaggia classic espresso.

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Enticing Lunch Recipe Full of Fat Burning Foods

On 06.23.10, In Food and Drink, By Stevie Wonder

This article is about one of my favorite lunch time recipes. It is healthy, super tasty, easy to make and it includes lots of fat burning foods to help you burn off some fat. Fat burning foods may speed up your fat loss and they can also help you to eat less and have less cravings. Here’s the recipe, I hope that you enjoy it too. You can also have it for dinner instead of for lunch.

Chicken salad nicoise

I love the eggs in this recipe. It increases the protein contents and makes it more delicious than just a normal chicken salad.  If you include this recipe in your diet on a regular basis, you will not only become healthier, but you may also lose some weight and fat (if you also exercise regularly).

Info

Serves: 2
Number of fat burning foods: 4 (chicken, yogurt, tomatoes and olives)
Calories per serving:333
Fat per serving:11g

Ingredients:

2 skinless chicken fillets
100ml fat free plain yogurt
1 clove garlic, peeled and finely chopped
Assortment of herbs (like parsley, mint and chives)
200g canned green beans, chopped
3 eggs
2 little gem (or other) lettuces
12 cherry tomatoes, halved
1/4 cucumber sliced
1/2 red onion, peeled and sliced
6 olives, pitted

Instructions:

Combine the yogurt, chopped garlic and the herbs in a bowl, chill until ready to serve. Hard boil the eggs for about 8 minutes. Leave to cool, shell and quarter. Cook the chicken breasts until done. Place the lettuce in a bowl with the beans, the tomatoes, cucumber, onion, eggs, chicken and olives and add the yogurt dressing.

Hopefully you have also enjoyed my lunch time recipe. It contains lots of fat burning foods to help you lose more fat. If you want to lose weight with the help of a diet, please avoid fad diets like the 1000 calorie diet and rather go for healthier diets.

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Making Or Finding Clam Chowder Soup

On 06.07.10, In Food and Drink, By Stevie Wonder

There is nothing better than a hot creamy bowl of clam chowder on a chilly winter night.  There are different variations of clam chowder. There is the creamy “New England” style , or the thin red. Rhode Island and Connecticut are great places to get home made clam chowder. If though, you do not want to go out to get your warm bowls of delight, you can make it right at home or get it at applebees restaurants.

There are numerous recipes out there for your choosing. There is the easy “crock-pot” recipes and the slow cooked chowder. The slow cooker recipe is a great one for families on the go. You will just combine all of your ingredients, set your pot on low for 6 hours, and you are done.  The ingredients consist of: cream of celery soup, minced clams, frozen hash browns or fresh new potatoes, chopped celery, salt and pepper, and a little Italian seasoning. Throw everything in and you are done. When you get home later that night you will have a perfect hot bowl of creamy clam chowder waiting for you.

.Another great source of excellent chowder recipes is “thefoodnetwork.com” You are able to choose if you want an easy or intermediate recipe. Paula Dean and Rachel Ray will never disappoint.  Barefoot Contessa also has a wonderful recipe. It includes the following ingredients: 12 tablespoons unsalted butter, 2 cups  yellow onions, 2 cups celery, 2 cups medium diced carrots, 4 cups peeled  potatoes, 1 ½ teaspoons minced fresh thyme leaves, kosher salt, ground pepper, 1 quart of clam juice, ½ cup flour, 2 cups of milk, 3 cups diced clams. If you are not into doing all this cooking yourself, applebees coupons can be found for clam chowder and the best part is you don’t have to cook it yourself ad someone brings it to you.

The directions are: melt the butter, add onions and heat over medium low heat until clear. Add celery thyme, potatoes, carrots, pepper, and salt for 10 more minutes. Add clam juice and bring to a boil, let simmer about 20 minutes. In a smaller pot melt 8 tablespoons of butter and whisk in flour, cook on low for 3 minutes constantly stirring. Add clams and milk and heat for only a few minutes. Serve hot. It takes approximately 45 minutes and serves 8 people.

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Chopsticks Are Not a Requirement of a Sushi Set

On 05.24.10, In Food and Drink, By Stevie Wonder

While most people probably associate chopsticks as a necessity in eating food from Asia, one of these types of food actually don’t require them – sushi.  Sushi is a familiar food at this point, but many people will probably be happy to hear that it is ok to eat sushi without using chopsticks; in fact the first iteration of modern sushi was actually created as a fast food that could be eaten with one’s hands.

A normal sushi set that you will find in a sushi restaurant probably consists of a medium sized plate, small dish for soy sauce, and pair of chopsticks. Some additional items you might see are a chopsticks rest, small salad or rice bowl, and accompanying sake set. While you will always see the chopsticks with the set, keep in mind that eating with your hands isn’t necessarily considered poor manners.  However, with a little practice you will probably find that using chopsticks is pretty straightforward and the main block to using them is probably mental.

If you do plan on using them, a good basic way to start is by laying one stick on the part of your hand between your thumb and index finder, with the narrower end running towards the tip of your fingers. Rest the narrow end on the inside of your middle finger (the position of this chopstick can change with practice and depending on preference). For now this chopstick will remain stationary. Then pinch the second chopstick in between your thumb and index finger in a way that allows maneuverability of this top chopstick.  You can practice your new skill by picking up small objects – keep in mind that in addition to getting used to the new motion required by the chopsticks you will need to develop some new muscles in your hand.

It might take some practicing (probably will) but you will probably find that it’s not as difficult as you had imagined. In fact, it might end up being your Sushi Set Salvation instead of the one part of the set that you are worried about.  Either way, hopefully you will be enjoying some tasty sushi.

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Why Choose to Use Ice Cream Makers When Making Ice Cream?

On 05.10.10, In Food and Drink, By Stevie Wonder

As an ice cream lover, it would be a lot better to know more about ice cream making. It can be a form of recreation during vacant times or to produce ice cream for family consumption. Better yet, it can be a business venture.

Several styles of ice cream makers are available if you are considering ice cream making. In the process of ice cream making, you need to have one ice cream maker that varies in size. You can opt for inexpensive hand-cranked tubs to more expensive models with compressors as long as they can function and do the job well.

Inexpensive and bulky quantity ice cream makers do require more number of pounds of ice and rock salt for each batch. It is bulky and it requires a large space. Also, proper handling of the equipment is needed to keep the surrounding clean.

On the other hand, smaller countertop models like the Cuisinart ice cream maker or La Glaciere is also a good option since it is simple to use and easy to clean. Through this type of ice cream maker, you don’t have to worry about the space as well as the mess that it would cause and the additional expenses for rock salt and ice. You just have to freeze the 1- to 1 1/2-quart bowl; then pour the ice cream mixture in, and turn it on.

If you prefer to use the traditional way of making ice creams than using Cuisinart ice cream maker, these tips will help you use ice and rock salt.

  • Still Freezing – Freeze the mixing bowl with the ice cream mixture in the freezer. During the freezing process, take it out a few times and occasionally mix it using a hand mixer or pulse with a food processor.
  • Rolling Can Method – in this process, you can put your ice cream mixture in a 1-pound coffee can. Seal the can well with top and tape, and place it in the center of another 3-pound coffee can. Once inside, layer ice and put rock salt in the space between the cans. Again, seal the large can and place it on its side on the ground or floor. Roll back and forth with your feet for about 10 to 15 minutes. Then, take the small can out, wipe the rock salt and water off, and stir. Repeat the process of sealing, rock salt, ice, and rolling.
  • Plastic bag method – just like with the rolling can method, rock salt and ice are needed. Use a 1-pint well-sealed plastic freezer bag in a 1-gallon sealed plastic bag and shake until frozen.

With the existence of ice cream makers, it is but more convenient to use the likes of Cuisinart ice cream maker. Tips in using ice and rock salt are available but the process is too tedious and inconvenient. But whatever way you choose to make your ice cream, make sure you enjoy doing so.

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Quinoa Recipes : How to Cook It Perfectly

On 05.06.10, In Food and Drink, By Stevie Wonder

As much as it drives my family crazy, I have to admit that I am a perfectionist in the kitchen.  I am just not content unless everything is perfect!  Preparing a dish that is mediocre drives me crazy because I don’t enjoy eating it and I end up feeling like I wasted my time.

One of my favorite dishes to prepare is quinoa.  Quinoa is not only one of the healthiest foods you could ever hope to find, it is delicious.  Because quinoa tends to take on the flavors of the ingredients that you cook it with, it is important that you select only the best quinoa recipes. If the recipe you choose is not up to par, you will end up with a bland dish.  (Cooking quinoa by simply putting it in boiling water is about as interesting as cooking plain pasta!)

UncookedQuinoa

One thing you need to know, however, is even some of the best quinoa recipes will yield a sticky quinoa.  I don’t know about you, but to me quinoa needs to be light and fluffy.  Fortunately, I have figured out how to cook quinoa perfectly!

Here’s the deal – most quinoa recipes will call for a 1 to 2 ratio between the quinoa and liquid.  If you were cooking two cups of this magnificent seed you would put it in a pot with 4 cups of liquid and bring it to a boil.  Once you were boiling, you would reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for around 15 minutes.

While this does work, if you want fluffy quinoa you need to use less liquid, lower heat and cook longer.  What works the best is using a 1 to 1.25 ratio of quinoa to liquid.  Bring to a simmer and then reduce to low.  You will need to cook covered for around 35 minutes, or until all of your liquid is absorbed.

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