Food & Drink

Putting Taste Into Health Bars

2007-12-27T14:33:00.001-08:00

by: Suzanne Boase

I met the managing director of Desire Tree International, Biddut K. Roy, and discovered the wonderful taste of their health bars (also known as nutrition or energy bars) under the trade name of "Wonderbar".

In my conversation with Mr. Roy, I asked how he became involved in manufacturing such a wonderful food product. Mr. Roy replied, "I grew up preparing and serving healthy food to others...it is traditional as well as a good deed so my inclination was there."

He further explained, "As for manufacturing food items, several years ago I took care of a business for friends and later I felt inclined to do something with my own team--with the scope to develop and grow a unique company.

I was disappointed that many "energy bars", "health bars" or "nutrition bars" in the market are too bland for the consumers to be inspired about. Even parents expressed that they cannot get their children to eat them. Knowing this, our team wanted to make natural, healthy, tasty and nutritious health bars."

Formulating the Wonderbar

I sampled several Wonderbars made by "Desire Tree International" and WOW!, the products are very tasty and satisfying. The combinations are excellent with fresh nuts and dried fruits carefully prepared and packaged. An excellent product!

Mr. Roy went on to tell me, "My new partners and I worked for weeks and months formulating the product with different combinations of ingredients. We use only the finest, highest quality ingredients that are natural, free of chemical additives, without GMO, free from allergy causing substances as well as no added sugar.

We looked at many sweeteners and decided that honey would be the best ingredient. It is energy giving, naturally healthy, plus the taste is great. We worked with food nutritionists and studied necessary food guideline information to work out the food value, prepare and print wrappers, boxes, and acquire machines for proper mixing. We rented a suitable premise, registered our company and took care of the many details required to open our licensed company, "Desire Tree International."

After extensive preparations were made, we were finally ready with a line- of products in eight flavors: cashew almond pineapple, almond apple cranberry, pistachio apple, hazel date almond protein, almond apple ginger, pumpkin seeds sesame raisin, and macadamia pineapple. You can visit our website and check out our tasty and pleasing product choices at: http://www.wonderenergybar.com."

Entering and establishing Wonderbar Nutrition bar in a crowded market:

Biddut was very down to earth in letting me know the struggles of trying to establish the product in today's market. He said, "I knew that trying to market our product was going to take a lot of work. We started telephone marketing to health stores and participated in some health products shows but we were not getting anywhere fast. People told us our product is very good--some say it was the best in the market, although we had limited budget to work with. It was an uphill battle and I realized having a product is not a formula for success. It is one thing to have a great product but to be able to enter the market and compete with established brand-name products is success.

We kept sending samples to major stores, distributors, chain stores and building our direct sales. Finally, COSTCO Wholesalers approved our product for in store roadshows. People sampled our products and started buying from day one. That gave us a big break."

Encouraging Feedbacks

Biddut showed me many favorable responses he has been receiving from happy and satisfied customers who have sampled the company's products.

"It's the absolute best food bar I've ever eaten. Keep up the good work!"

"I bought a box of your bars this past weekend at Costco. They're fabulous! I love how fresh they are. I have tried 3 flavors so far and like them all."

"As soon as I tried the first bar, I loved it. This is by far the best fruit and nut bar I have ever tasted. Thank you so much for such a great product!"

"I just tried your Pumpkin Sesame Raisin Bar today for the first time and Loved It!!! Congratulations on a Great Product!"

"These macadamia pineapple bars are AWESOME! I love the crunchy factor and also that I can truly taste the goodness!"

"Those Wonder Bars are the best bars in existence today. Can I sell them on my website?"

It is very satisfying

Biddut said, "It is very satisfying to know people have received valuable food and loved it. Since they are inspired, I am sure they will also tell others."

"Please check it out for yourself. I assure you, Wonderbars are an excellent product." http://www.wonderenergybar.com.

Thai Recipe by thairecipe-sushirecipe

2007-12-27T14:30:00.001-08:00

by: Eugene Yeng Aik Ngin

The country of Thailand boasts some of the most beautiful physical features of any country on the planet. Those who travel to Thailand and experience Thailand's culture are in for an adventure of a lifetime and a cultural experience that they will not soon forget. Due to the millions of western tourists flocking to its shores every year, Thailand has been able to make an impact on our western culture. Many aspects of Thailand's culture are showing up in the USA and in Europe. Thai boxing and Martial are as well as artworks, crafts and food are some of the most popular parts of Thai culture and have managed to make their way across to gyms, galleries and kitchens of the west.

Among the many valuable cultural contributions Thailand has made around the world, one of the most important and widespread is Thai food and Thai recipes. Thai restaurants with their delicious Thai recipes are all the rage and you don't have to travel very far to experience the culinary extravaganza of Thailand. Thai cooking and Thai recipes are also growing in popularity. Many local colleges and night schools are offering more and more courses in Thai cooking teaching us how to prepare for ourselves some of the best Thai recipes. In this article, we will bring the Thai cooking to you with 2 very healthy and simple Thai recipes that are simple and easy to prepare. All you need are very basic ingredients and equipment to prepare these 2 Thai recipes.

Contrary to popular belief, not all Thai recipes are hot and spicy. Thai cooking and Thai recipes offer a wide range of dishes ranging from very mild to very hot. It all depends on what you own individual tastes are. This first Thai recipe is a very mild and simple noodle dish that is both tasty and healthy. Pad Thai noodles are a staple Thai Recipe. They are an excellent well balanced meal containing noodles, chicken, prawns and egg, all fried in a wok. For 2 servings you will need the following list of ingredients.

100g of wild rice noodles
100g of chicken breast, finely chopped
3 sliced shallots
2crushed garlic cloves
¼ teaspoon crushed dried challis
2 tablespoons of Thai fish sauce
1 tablespoon of granulated sweetener
Juice of 1 lime
150g of bean sprouts, rinsed
60g of small prawns
1 beaten egg
2 spring onions chopped
2 inches of finely chopped cucumber
½ red chili sliced and de seeded
2 tablespoons of fresh coriander
15g of salted peanuts

To begin this Thai recipe, soak the rice noodles in boiling water for approximately 5 minutes unless otherwise indicated on the package. You need to stir, separately the strands and when finished drain and rinse in cold water.

Heat either your cooking spray or oil in your wok until it starts to smoke. Then add the chicken, shallots, garlic and crushed chilis. Fry and stir for 3 minutes.

The next part of this Thai recipe is to mix the fish sauce, sweetener and lime juice together and pour it into the pan. Soon after, add the bean sprouts and well drained noodles. Cook everything together for 1 minute and then add the prawns. Cook the prawns with everything else for a further 1 minute.

Next drizzle the egg over the noodles and leave it to set for about 1 minute. The garnish ingredients need then to be mixed. Once mixed, add half to the pan. Mix everything together one last time and then serve in warmed bowls. You may choose to top the remainder of dish with the remainder of the garnish.

This Thai recipe is both tasty and healthy. This Thai recipe serves 2 people with less than 450 calories per serving. This Thai recipe also allows for a vegetarian option. You can use Tofu in place of the chicken as well as substituting a light soy sauce for the Thai fish sauce.

The second Thai recipe that we will discuss is usually served in Thai restaurants as an appetizer. These are Thai fish cakes. This Thai recipe only takes about 20 minutes to make and have a mild 118 calories per serving. For the dipping sauce you will need the following:

2 tablespoons of soy sauce
1 tablespoon of granulated sweetener
1 ½ inches of diced cucumber

For the main Thai recipe, you will need:

Grated Zest and juice of 1 lime
2 tablespoons of fresh coriander
1 red chili deseeded and finely diced
1 inch of ginger root, peeled and sliced
1 stalk of lemongrass, chopped roughly
1 tablespoon of Thai fish sauce
400g of skinless Haddock fillet and diced
1 egg white
60g of green beans, trimmed and sliced
Cooking oil

First mix the sweetener, soy sauce and cucumber with 1 tablespoon of lime juice and 1 tablespoon of coriander and half the diced chili. Mix the lime zest and juice in a food processor with the remaining coriander and chill, lemongrass and fish sauce.

Blend all of these together until finely chopped. Then add the fish and pulse together until well blended. Place the mixture in a bowl and stir in the egg white, corn flour and beans. Stir all of this tougher until finely combined.

Dampen your hands and shape into fishcakes. This Thai recipe should make about 12 fishcakes. Heat your frying pan and oil of your choice.

Cook the fishcakes in 2 separate batches for about 2 ½ minutes on each side. When finished serve with the cucumber dipping sauce from the first part of the Thai recipe.

This Thai recipe makes a delicious and healthy snack or meal. Thai recipes are all the rage in the art of cooking these days. Thai recipes are tasty, flavorful and healthy. Thai recipes are also easy to vary for lovers of other meats or for vegetarians. Try a Thai recipe today, you won't be sorry.

To read more please visit http://www.thairecipe-sushirecipe.info

The Best Food Cuba Has To Offer

2007-12-27T14:24:00.000-08:00

by: Emma Lelliott

Cuba is famed for its beaches, diving, lifestyle and dancing. But one aspect of the Cuban holiday which is often overlooked is the Cuban cuisine, which is unfortunate because the mixture of cultures combine to make a truly unique combination of flavours and textures. The country’s cultural influences are so diverse as to create a unique flavour to the food – a mix of Spanish, Chinese, African, Portuguese, French and Arabic.

Yet these global influences are completed by indigenous local food stuffs – yucca, malanga and boniato are local root vegetables routinely used in Cuban food. The main meats used in Cuban cuisine are chicken, pork and beef (though the latter is subject to rationing as government property, so is harder to find) usually marinated in citrus juices and slowly roasted until tender. It’s simple, but delicious, and something that will see you hunting out the best restaurants throughout your Cuban holiday.

Cuba is also home to even simpler snacks and light treats. Masitas de Puerco Fritas (lightly fried pork cuts, slow cooked until tender), Pinchos (kebabs) and Fritas (the Cuban hamburger, spiced with shoestring potatoes and onion) all put this country’s fast food to shame not only in terms of value, but flavour. So below is a quick list of some of the dishes to look out for while enjoying a holiday in Cuba.

A quick note of warning for vegetarians, before I begin though: You’re likely to be considerably less gushing about Cuba’s food than your carnivorous friends. The concept of vegetarianism for ethical, health or religious reasons is virtually unheard of. You should still be able to find something, either from the large quantities of local fruit or the handful of rice and bean dishes available, but Cuban cuisine is unlikely to be a highlight of your vacation.

Chicharrones

These are hot thick belly cuts of pork with skin, a layer of fat and meat. The flavours and textures to combine for a tasty (though not necessarily good for you!) snack. You may find these sold in Cuba’s markets and cafes, and are the perfect antidote for a growling stomach while exploring.

Masitas de Puerco Fritas

As mentioned above, these are pork chunks slow cooked until tender and then fried lightly in their own oil. Often these are served with sliced onions and ‘mojo’ sauce. Surprisingly filling for something considered a lighter snack!

Arroz con Pollo

This chicken and rice dish is actually popular throughout Latin America – its principally made up of rice, chicken, vegetables, herbs and saffron. It’s not a million miles from Paella, but in Cuba, the dish has a slight variation whereby it includes garlic and tomato – it can be highly spiced, but not spicy hot. This one is worth trying for the authentic Cuban experience, as it’s a popular Sunday lunch dish on the island.

Moros y Cristianos

This dish translates as “Moors and Christians”, and its name is supposed to hark back to times when Moors and Christians lived alongside each other on the island. The basis of this recipe is black beans (the Moors) and white rice (the Christians) and the dish is found throughout the Caribbean. Of course, the Cuban version is delicately spiced giving it a unique localised flavour.

Ropa Vieja

Don’t let the Spanish translation of this put you off (“old clothes) – Ropa Vieja is one of the more popular dishes in the Caribbean, and as ever the Cuban version leads the way in terms of delicate spicing. The basis of the dish is shredded beef, vegetables in a sauce (usually tomato based). As with much Cuba cuisine, local belief is that it tastes better on the day after preparation, when the flavours have had greater opportunity to mingle.

Cuban sandwiches

These make a wonderful lunch food – and were made popular on the island in the 1930s with sugar cane workers. Using Cuban bread (similar to French and Italian loaves), the sandwich is lightly toasted and typically contains roast pork (sometimes marinated in garlic or citrus), ham, dill pickles and swiss cheese and mustard. Once you have had one of these you will crave them for the rest of your days!

Costillitas

These are mouth-watering babyback ribs, marinated in typical Cuban fashion with citrus, garlic and herbs and then cooked slowly for the best part of an hour to guarantee tenderness. They are then typically served with black bean and rice.

I’ve barely scraped the surface of Cuban food and drink here – the beverages, for example are unique and the deserts (unsurprisingly for an island with so much sugar cane) are some of the sweetest I’ve ever tasted. Hopefully this should convince you that a holiday in Cuba can be just as focussed on the food as a vacation in one of its more culinary renowned holiday rivals.

Coffee: What Are The Health Benefits?

2007-12-27T14:23:00.001-08:00

by: Aaron Matthews Morgan

If you are a coffee drinker, you no doubt have asked yourself how much coffee is it safe for you to consume on a daily basis. This is not surprising since so much has been blamed on coffee. Heart disease, cancer, osteoporosis, you name it. At one time or another, coffee has been made to blame. Coffee has joined the ranks of red wine and chocolate as a guilty pleasure that may actually be good for you. As much as it is a great way to get that fix in the morning, recent studies have shown that coffee has been found to be rich in antioxidants and contains hundreds of pain-relieving and anti-bacterial compounds. Although one should not drink coffee with wild abandon, it's comforting to know that maybe that cup or two in the morning may be good for you. Here is a statistic to ponder: did you know that there are over 160 million coffee drinkers in the Unites States alone? In terms of consumption, the average American consumes 8.8 lbs. of coffee per year. But consider this: the world leader in terms of consumption is Finland which comes in at nearly 30 lbs per year. That's a lot of coffee!

Another statistic is that there have been well over 19,000 studies done to analyze the effects of coffee. Now, studies can often be skewed to show whatever the author wants, but here is what is generally agreed: consuming 2 to 3 cups of coffee per day is often considered more beneficial than harmful. Recent studies have shown that moderate coffee drinking can reduce the risk of colon cancer (due to it's ability to keep you regular), gallstones, cirrhosis of the liver and more, due to the fact the it is loaded with healthy antioxidants. So loaded, that studies have implied that coffee contains higher levels of antioxidants compared to other commonly consumed beverages, such as tea and fruit juice. Coffee has joined the ranks of red wine and chocolate as a guilty pleasure that may actually be good for you. As much as it is a great way to get that “fix” in the morning, recent studies have shown that coffee has been found to be rich in antioxidants and contains hundreds of pain-relieving and anti-bacterial compounds. Although one should not drink coffee with wild abandon, it's comforting to know that maybe that cup or two in the morning may be good for you. Several studies are also being conducted on Parkinson's and diabetic Patients. Research has shown that just one cup of coffee per day can halve your risk of Parkinson's, the brain disease that causes tremors and affects movement. Caffeine may protect the brain cells typically lost to Parkinson's disease. However, it has been noted that women on hormone therapy do not seem to benefit. It is felt that Estrogen may dilute the effectiveness of caffeine. It has also been found that if a woman drinks three cups of coffee a day, she can reduce her risk of Type 2 Diabetes by twenty to thirty percent. Coffee may help promote the delivery of insulin to the tissues. Experts believe that coffee's antioxidants, such as chlorogenic acid and caffeine acid, deserve the credit. There are also on going studies that are producing favorable reports on coffee helping to fight Alzheimer's due to the caffeine stimulating the cognitive area of the brain. This is just the tip of the ice berg.

People with asthma who drink coffee can have up to 25 percent fewer symptoms because one of the compounds in coffee - theophylline - acts as a bronchodilator. A recent Brazilian study showed that consumption of coffee promotes better sperm mobility - and now studies are in progress to determine whether caffeine can help infertile men. Coffee contains polyphenols, substances that may reduce the risk of cancer and coronary artery disease. Caffeinated coffee, as opposed to decaffeinated coffee, makes you a better thinker. Studies have shown that coffee keeps you focused, particularly when you are doing not-so-pleasant work. A researcher with the U.S. Army stated caffeine improved scores on a range of cognitive tasks, such as decision making, learning, and attention in the sleep-deprived. Coffee can also boost your mood, probably by making you feel more energetic. A little known fact is that coffee contains antioxidants which have been shown to imporve oveall health. Here is a short list of some benefits which have been shown to be present in coffee:

Reduce symptoms of Parkinson's Disease

Antibacterial ingredients

Reduce the risk of developing gallstones

Preserve mental accuity

Reduce risk of developing type 2 Diabetes (if you have diabetes, reduce your consumption

If you are free of hypertension, coffee will not likely produce it

Headache relief

Reduce the risk of some types of cancer

Improve physical endurance

Does Coffee Have Any Antioxidant Benefits?

2007-12-27T14:21:00.001-08:00

by: Aaron Matthews Morgan

Before we get all excited over the recent news about coffee being our new antioxidant, we need to take a look at the entire picture. Is there truly a coffee antioxidant? If there is, how exactly is coffee an antioxidant? Does it become the antioxidant when it's heated? Does the coffee antioxidant benefit everyone? Are there still dangers to drinking coffee? How much coffee is good for us and when does it become bad for us?

Brewed coffee contains many antioxidants and consumption of antioxidant-rich brewed coffee may inhibit diseases caused by oxidative damages. Antioxidants are said to be an inhibitor of certain types of diseases. However, coffee beans are not all a like. Not all coffee beans are of the same quality or even the same make up. Sort of like comparing tennis shoes to sandals. Both go on your feet, but they are not made up of the same components. You can actually break coffee down into several different water-soluble components. The dietary fiber derived from roasted coffee silverskin. This is one component of the coffee bean that has high antioxidant content. This is how the scientists find out about the antioxidant benfits of coffee in their studies. What they do in fact is the break down the coffee beans into different components. They filter out the components that the coffee antioxidant is found in, and then they test lab rats in a variety of experiments to determine how well they survive with or without the various additives in their diet. When they discover something really swell, like a coffee antioxidant, our culture of coffee drinking addicts suddenly becomes a feverorish mob.

For years and years we've heard bad things about coffee. For example: it's bad for your heart, increases blood pressure, may cause breast cancer, probably keeps you awake at night, and my personal favorite, has a poisonous gas when brewed.When the world of coffee addicts even gets a tiny hint that coffee could have something beneficial, believe me they don't just drink more coffee, they try to get everyone to join them. So, here we now have scientific studies proving to us that coffee has antioxidants.

Researchers have identified several compounds in coffee that create a coffee antioxidant. Why would this be of interest to us? Because scientific studies are showing that antioxidants may help prevent cancer. You see the connection here. However, until human studies are done, science cannot state exactly how much coffee must be consumed in order gain this protection against colon cancer or any other type of cancer. Before the coffee is roasted the antioxidant benefits are varied. However, once the coffee is roasted and served as a drink things get evened out. They all seem to have the same degrees of antioxidants.

Some studies suggest coffee having other benefits such as added fertility in men and some benefits for those suffering from diabetes. You'll have to read those studies on your own. The fact that a coffee antioxidant exists may be true, but the reality is that coffee can be just as harmful if your body doesn't like it, if you consume too much, if you have high blood pressure, and if it keeps you awake at night. Is there truly a coffee antioxidant? Yes, but the actual amount needed to be consumed in order to receive the anti-cancer benefits by humans is unknown. How exactly is coffee an antioxidant?

Coffee alone isn't the antioxidant, it's several different components that are part of the coffee bean. Roasting and heating the coffee changes the total antioxidant output. Does it become the antioxidant when it's heated? It seems that although some coffee beans like green coffee beans may be higher in antioxidants that other more common beans, once they are roasted and heated for consumption, the results are the same regarding the antioxidantal benefits. Does the coffee antioxidant benefit everyone? Honestly, this is NOT a question easily answered. In fact, the truth is it is still unknown just how beneficial coffee antioxidants are for humans. Are there still dangers to drinking coffee? Yes, of course there is. If you have high blood pressure and you have seen how coffee enhances this problem, you know it's bad for YOU personally. If you can't get proper sleep or you drive everyone around you nuts because you can't sit still or shut-up, you know coffee is bad for you.

Use common sense and listen to your body. Coffee is not good for everyone and unknown just how good for anyone. How much coffee is good for us and when does it become bad for us? Again drink coffee in moderation, pay attention to your own body. Exercise and good eating habits are a far better way to get healthy than drinking 10 cups of cappuccino a day. All things in moderation. After reading everything about this new thing called a coffee antioxidant I have decided that there are better ways of getting antioxidants into my blood.

Coffee may have many benefits, but so does water and it is possible to drown from drinking too much water. Yes, I know, you have to really drink a lot to accomplish this, but it's the principle of the matter. Too much of anything is not a good thing.

Wine Tasting 101 - Quick Terms To Enhance Your Tasting Enjoyment

2007-12-14T12:15:00.001-08:00

by: Jennifer de Jong

Wine is a wonderful beverage with many different facets. Some people only drink wine on special occasions, but if you are like me you enjoy trying as many new wines as possible as often as you can. In order to increase your enjoyment and wine drinking satisfaction there are a series of terms and techniques you should become familiar with. Wine comes in different taste, color and ingredients. Tasting more and more of wines will make you more aware of your specific taste and preferences and the specific characteristics of the different varietals. Tasting wine is a sequence of event that enhances the enjoyment of imbibing. Wine can be an intimidating subject, but becoming familiar with the following terms in regards to the taste, flavors, and ingredients of wine will break down the "snob factor" associated with wine and start you on the road to becoming a true connoisseur. The following are some basic wine words to become familiar with.

Sweetness

The degree to which a wine tastes sweet. Sweetness is tasted on the tongue. Residual sugar also can change the viscosity of a wine, making it richer. The impression of sweetness comes from either sugars, or alcohol, or both, and can be altered in relationship to the presence of acidity. The sweetness of the wine can be determined by the amount of fermented sugar and fruit added to it.

Acidity

The next flavor tasted in wine is the feel of acidity. The acid taste can be felt to create taste and freshness in the flavor established. The taste of acidity creates freshness, crispy and zest in a balanced manner. Most of the drinkers prefer acidity taste of wine to come up with the purpose of having the wine. It helps the people to enjoy the taste and make it meaningful. The characteristic of wine differs in each kind of taste and flavor mixed. The degree to which a wine has sourness, or tartness, a taste perceived on the tongue. Derived from natural grape acids, primarily tartaric and malic, but may also include lactic and acetic from microbial action, whether intentional or otherwise. A compound present in all grapes and an essential component of wine that preserves it, enlivens and shapes its flavors and helps prolong its aftertaste. There are four major kinds of acids--tartaric, malic, lactic and citric--found in wine. Acid is identifiable by the crisp, sharp character it imparts to a wine.

Alcohol

Essential component of wine which gives a sense of sweetness, especially in dry wine, and contributes to body and length of finish. Can be noticed as warmth in the back of the throat. Big is a term used often to describe a wine high in alcohol, usually also heavy in body. Too much alcohol in a wine makes it hot. Its affects run from the obvious to the not so obvious. Alcohol doesn't just provide the kick it gives texture ("body"), flavor (roundness and sweetness) and vinosity (makes it smell and taste like wine) as well as providing balance and a certain chemical and physical stability to wines. The primary alcohol is known as ethyl alcohol or ethanol, but there are dozens of other so-called "higher" alcohols which though in minute quantites provide hundreds of flavors.

Fruitiness

The fruitiness can be tasted more in wine, because it is product which extracted from rich grapey fruits. It comes in crispy, freshly and tasty flavors. Tasting term for wine which has retained the fresh flavor of the grapes used in its fermentation. Not to be confused with sweetness. A wine can be fruity and not sweet.

Structure

Related to balance; all of the in mouth basic impressions of sweet, sour, salty, bitter, along with alcohol, body, etc., but in absence of the more complex, organoleptic impressions detectable by the olfactory bulb. In other words, everything but the aroma.

Body

The impression of weight or fullness on the palate; usually the result of a combination of glycerin, alcohol and sugar. Commonly expressed as full-bodied, medium-bodied or medium-weight, or light-bodied.

Understanding these basics will help you to figure out the style of wine that suits you best and will help you to be a much more educated consumer. Soon you will be able to taste a wine and by using these wine basics you should be able to narrow down the type of wine you are drinking without even looking at the label. Your friends will be impressed and your wine confidence will be sky high. CHEERS!

Fun, Healthy, Delicious Food – Can You Really Have it All?

2007-12-14T12:12:00.000-08:00

by: Sahar Aker

Is there really such a thing as food that is fun, healthy, and delicious? So many people think grub that’s good for you automatically takes all the fun out of eating. After all, healthy food can’t possibly taste good, can it? Of course it can!

I have been busy gathering some ideas for fun, healthy, delicious foods to share with you. If you have kids, these are recipes I think they’ll like too. And here’s another bonus – they are all easy to make:

• Have you seen those “Flatout Mini” soft wraps? I love these! They are small-size wraps that are low in calories, convenient, and very versatile. Try this easy recipe – all you need are the wraps, cooking spray, Mrs. Dash, and Parmesan cheese. Cut each wrap into 16 wedges and place on a cookie sheet coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle with a little Mrs. Dash and a bit of Parmesan. Bake at 350-degrees for about ten minutes or until lightly brown and crisp.

• Fruit kabobs – This is a fun alternative to a plain old bowl of fruit. Just pick a few of your favorites – maybe apples, pineapple, bananas - and cut them into chunks. Slide the fruit onto a skewer. Next, roll the skewer in a plate of nonfat yogurt… then roll again in a plate of shredded coconut. Voila! A fun, healthy, delicious snack!

• Sandwich kabobs - Cut whole-grain bread, low-fat cheese, and your favorite deli meat into cubes. Slide them onto skewers along with some veggies like grape tomatoes, lettuce, pickles, and olives. Dip into fat-free or low-fat Italian dressing.

• For a quick mini-pizza, top an English muffin (go for the whole grain ones) with spaghetti sauce and a little shredded low-fat mozzarella. Broil until the cheese melts.

• Pop a frozen waffle or pancake into the toaster and top it with warm applesauce and cinnamon. Too easy, huh?

• Freeze some grapes, bananas, cherries, or maybe peaches and blend with yogurt for a fruit smoothie.

• Yogurt pops – fill paper cups with your favorite non-fat or low-fat yogurt and put a popsicle stick in each cup. Freeze and enjoy!

• Creamy Coolwich (from Nabisco World) - put 2 tablespoons of sugar free Cool Whip in between graham cracker squares. Place in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze for three hours or until firm. Yum!

• Blueberry Cracker Bites (from Kraft Foods) – spread 1 teaspoon light cream cheese on a reduced-fat Ritz cracker and top with 5 frozen blueberries. Too fun!

So, you see – healthy foods can be fun and delicious.

Now, I am a firm believer that the key to a successful, healthy lifestyle is to choose fun good-for-you foods and exercises when you can. It’s a tough enough fight out there whether you’re trying to lose or maintain weight. But enjoying the journey is half the battle.

Find Delicious Food Recipes Online

2007-12-14T12:09:00.001-08:00

by: Ross Josephs

Humans like variety. Whether it is everyday dressing up or the food we eat. We especially like to experiment with food to satisfy our taste buds. The same food everyday diminishes our appetite for that food. We always prefer to have variety in what we eat.

In this Internet era, our day begins and ends being online. It is quite easy to go online in search of gratifying your appetite for an exquisite evening.

Just imagine after a long & hard day; you get home and mmmm, what an aroma?

These exquisite recipes are just a few clicks away from you in the times of Internet. There are thousands of varieties of recipes available. We are going to list and discuss few websites that allow adding and viewing recipes for your ready reference.

A number of online sites share recipes online, where you can find the best recipes along with tips. Online recipes are easy enough to understand and the ingredients are easy to find. Besides you can easily copy, print, or email the recipe. They provide methods of cooking as well as the ingredients, standard serving instructions etc.

Recipe sites can help you in all kinds of food you prefer whether it is dietary food or pregnancy time food, even child food or food for week! You can use the ingredients you've at home and can find a recipe based on it.

Some of online sites ask you to purchase their cookbooks while some of them ask you to register and log in to the site to view their recipes. If you find the cookbook to your interest, click to download it. Some sites may charge you for downloading the cookbook. Many users simply copy the recipe and save it in their computer.

http://www.allrecipes.com

Allrecipes.com has more than 40,000 free recipes. All recipes are created, tested, reviewed and approved by users worldwide. This site has a popular collection of recipes in sections like appetizers, Mexican, Italian, chicken recipes, soups and stews and many more.

Allrecipes.com allows its users to create an online recipe box where they can manage private recipes, submit recipes and photos, post recipe ratings and reviews, create shopping lists, and more.

The distinguishing feature of this site is that of creating a cookbook. You can publish your favorite recipes in your personalized cookbook.

http://www.canadianliving.com

Canadianliving.com is an interactive site for Canadian families featuring food, nutrition recipes and family information.

Canadianliving.com has a categorized section in their menu. It also gives out timely ideas, real solutions for a healthy lifestyle, tips, and great recipes.

Canadianliving.com provides a personal Recipe Box where users can save their favorite recipes from the recipe menu, or add their personal recipes to share with the world. You can also join online forums, where you can chat and discuss with other readers.

http://www.kraftfoods.com

Kraftfoods.com is one of the great online recipe cookbooks. This site has different varieties of recipes to prepare food items that attract food lovers. Kraftfoods.com provides tips to prepare quality, nutritious and healthy foods. Beside all this they have introduced how prepare food from their own special products, like Kraft cheese.

They have categorized recipes into dinner, food and family, healthy living, delicious cereals and cereal bars for the convenience of users.

To help lovers of cooking Kraftfoods.com has a section known as cooking school where there is an extensive collection of cooking videos, tips, and more.

Kraftfoods.com allows storing all favorite recipes in one spot. Just sign up for free and get your own personal recipe box to store your favorite recipes from the Kraft Kitchens, or a favorite from other online recipe cookbooks.

Kraft foods invite its viewer to post their recipes and share their secrets of making delicious food.

http://www.food.yahoo.com

Yahoo is mainly known as search engine. It has a special section on food where recipes are also featured.

Yahoo food's recipes section features articles and blogs on food recipes. The Yahoo recipes section has functionality to filter by ingredient, meal, cuisine, occasion, diet, dish, taste, method that help visitors to find recipes.

Yahoo food features a home food section where you can find recipes according categories: Everyday, Special Day, Recipes, Blogs, Restaurant and Cook. It's the best way to find recipes every day and on special occasions.

This site also has Food Videos with reviews and recipe of the day. Yahoo foods allow you to send email from the site and also to take a printout of each recipe.

http://www.g2bux.com

There are so many amazing and delicious vegetarian and Non Vegetarian recipes on the Web, you could spend days scouring every cyber corner and barely scratch the surface of what's out there. Wouldn't it be great if there were one place on the Net where you could access those thousands and thousands of recipes? Well now there is! G2bux Recipes, it's the Best of the Net Recipe Collection. Now everyone can use the Internet to make living delicious and easy!

Each month hundreds of new recipes are added by genuine users here on G2bux recipe section from variety of corners around the world. Do you have a favorite recipe you'd like to add? There is a provision to post it and it will be listed on your recipe list instantaneously.

G2bux allows sharing of recipes, cooking tips, and serving suggestions. Visitors can search recipes by tags. This is a good feature and it saves time.

G2bux also has a feature to send recipes to a friend and allows users to share the link of a particular recipe with your friends by mailing them. You can post a comment on each other's recipe. Above all, G2bux gives 2 G2bux Points for each recipe you add.

How to Make Your Kids Love Filipino Food

2007-12-14T12:06:00.001-08:00

by: Carlo Villamayor

Feeding kids can be tricky: let them pick their food and they’ll choose junk, give them healthy food and they won’t touch it. If you’re a parent, you’re probably familiar with the tantrums that come with every meal. But it doesn’t have to be that way, especially if you know your Filipino food. Our dishes are naturally healthy and flavorful, so there’s sure to be something your kids will love.

If they’re really picky, you can always tweak the old Filipino food recipes to match their tastes. Sometimes all it needs is a little extra spice or a change in presentation. Still confused? Here are some things you can do to make your kids love Filipino cuisine, plus some recipes you can try.

Plan your meals together

Have your kids help you with your weekly meal plan. You can choose dinner one some days and let them decide the rest of the week. To help them make healthy choices, let them pick Filipino cooking recipes from a cookbook. The point is to make them feel involved. If they know they’re helping put the meals together, they’ll be more open to your ideas.

When planning your meals, make sure to keep the right balance between your choice and your child’s. Don’t plan for a meat dish the day after they choose pork chops or pot roast. Since the point is to give them control, try not to limit them with your own choices. Let them take their pick first, then add in your own picks to fit around them.

Suit their tastes

Take your cue from the junk foods your child likes. Does he always pick cookies and candies, or does he seem to like salty chips and crackers? If they have a sweet tooth (most kids do), sweeten up your old recipes or serve them sweet dishes such as tocino for breakfast or ginataan for afternoon snacks. If they like things a little spicy, add a couple of chilies to your soup or let them season to their own taste.

Some kids have constantly changing preferences, which might make it a little harder. If your kid likes sweets one day and barbecue the next, stock up on sauces and dips. That way, when they don’t like the food, they can always grab their favorite sauce and turn it into something they like. Here’s a quick dish that’s easy to customize to any child’s tastes.

Barbecue Meatloaf

Ingredients:

½ kg sausage, minced
½ kg ground beef
1 c bread crumbs
2 tsp curry powder
2 onions, chopped
1 egg
½ c milk
1 c water
salt, pepper and parsley

Sauce:

¼ c Worcestershire sauce
½ c tomato sauce
2 tbsp vinegar
2 tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp coffee powder
½ c butter
1/c packed brown sugar

Procedure: in a bowl, combine the beef, sausage, breadcrumbs, curry powder, onions, salt, pepper, and parsley. Lightly beat the egg and add to the mixture. Add the water and milk and mix well. Grease a baking dish or loaf pan, then pour in the meat mixture. Bake on moderate heat for about 30 minutes or until the meat is just done. Meanwhile, mix all the sauce ingredients and boil together until thick.. Pour over the half-cooked loaf, leaving some for basting, and bake for another 45 minutes. Baste once in a while.

Be creative

Most of the time, presentation makes all the difference between foods that children love and foods that go uneaten. Make your food more appetizing by garnishing with their favorite foods, such as cheese slices or hot dog bits. You can even let them design the garnish themselves. Look for Filipino recipes that can accommodate colorful ingredients such as peas, bell peppers and corn kernels. You can even add a bit of food color if the recipe allows.

Fruits make great garnishes for Filipino desserts recipes. Just cut up one of their favorite fruits and layer it over ice cream, cakes, or pies. Better yet, serve a variety of fresh fruits for dessert—it’s healthier, and it doesn’t take much preparation time.

Make trade-offs

If your child is being particularly difficult, try giving them incentives in exchange for eating healthy foods. During meal planning, for example, you can let them pick dessert if they promise to eat their vegetables. Alternatively, you can keep a stack of their favorite desserts and give it to them when they eat right. Don’t overdo it, though—they may get used to getting treats and only eat healthy when there’s something in return.

Hot White Chocolate From The Ancient Cacao Bean

2007-12-14T12:03:00.001-08:00

by: Dean Forster

There are almost endless possibilities when it comes to choosing and buying chocolate. There are as many chocolate assortments on the market as many people's tastes for this treat. The term chocolate includes a number of foods that are produced from the seed of the tropical cacao tree, native to lowland tropical South America. People used to drink liquid chocolate beverages as back as 3000 years ago by the native Mayans and Aztecs. Chocolate is also associated with the Mayan god of fertility. A lot of the hot white chocolate consumed today is made into bars that combine cocoa solids, fats like cocoa butter, and sugar.

White chocolate is a special chocolate type. One of the first things you should know about it is that although it is called chocolate, white chocolate isn't really chocolate at all.

Yes, the white assortment comes from the same cacao plant, but it turns white because of a different production process. White chocolate was first made in New Hampshire after World War I and of course, hot white chocolate first appeared back then but only with isolated requests. Hot white chocolate isn't as popular as generic hot chocolate is, but it has way more demand than it had in those days.

Chocolate is made from useable items extracted from the ancient cacao bean. While dark chocolates use the cocoa powder ground from the seeds, the versions of white use only the butter. Actually, this is the reason for which the hot white chocolate has that very light color. White chocolate contains neither chocolate liquor nor cocoa solids. Because of this fact, the lack of chocolate syrup from its creation process, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not even consider white chocolate at all to belong to the chocolate family. Some people also state that hot white chocolate hasn't got anything to do to hot chocolate in anyway.

To create this delicious treat, producers use cocoa butter, milk solids, vanilla, sugar and lecithin; these being its main ingredients of course, for hot white chocolate, all of these are powdered (or should be). If real, natural cocoa butter is used, the result is a better tasting, higher quality product. Other producers will not use natural cocoa butter, but vegetable fats (these products are known as confectioner's coating or summer coating). Doing so, they end up with a lower quality chocolate product. If you read on the chocolate bar that vegetables fat has been used, you would better buy another assortment, made using real cocoa butter. It will simply taste better.

When they are made with natural cocoa butter, white chocolates have an ivory color. They are a tasty combination of cream and vanilla and no producer making white chocolate using vegetable fat will ever manage to match it in taste. You can also distinguish white chocolate made using cocoa butter from that made using vegetable fats by their consistency, taste and ability to be stored. White chocolate can be stored for many months before it expires. You can find out more about chocolate including recipes at http://www.gourmetdarkchocolatetruffles.com

White chocolate is very delicate by nature. It melts quite easily and it will scorch even easier. White chocolate can also be difficult to work with. When melted, the cocoa butter can split and create an oily compound that can be recovered by re-emulsifying.

If you want to melt white chocolate in your kitchen for making other treats (such as ganache or chocolate fondue), take care and slow the entire process down to be sure you do not ruin it.

White chocolate is usually used for decoration of milk or dark chocolate confections.