Nov 23 2010

Try This Cranberry Almond Quinoa Recipe!

Tag: Food & DrinkJanice @ 6:43 pm

If you’re familiar with quinoa, you’d know how easy to make a lot of recipes out of it. Quinoa is a very popular grain, but its ability to be used in a lot of dishes is only one of the reasons why. This is because quinoa is also a very healthy food, even when compared to rice. In fact, it was dubbed as the super grain, giving you an idea of the benefits your body can get from it. Quinoa can be used for breakfast, lunch or dinner, which means you can have it ay anytime of the day. If you want to know how to cook quinoa for a very delicious cranberry almonds quinoa recipe, read below.

CRANBERRY ALMOND QUINOA

To make the dish, you will need: one half cup of quinoa, half cube chicken stock, sea salt, a pinch of cinnamon powder, one fourth cup flaked and roasted almonds, one fourth cup of dried cranberries and a cup of boiling water.

Once you have everything, you need to soak the quinoa in cold water for about two hours first. Rinse it several times so as to make sure that it won’t be bitter when you cook it. Get a non- stick pan, heat it up and then pour the rinsed quinoa. Stir fry it and wait for it to dry before you add the roasted almonds and the dried cranberries. Pour the cup of boiling water, the chicken stock and the cinnamon powder. Mix it a little, and then add the salt. Cover the pot, and let the dish simmer while mixing every once in a while for about twenty minutes. Turn the flame off, but let the dish stand for about five minutes before transferring it into a plate. Serve while the quinoa is hot, and you can also eat it with a slice of fish or a little meat.

Tip: Double the quantity of the quinoa and the other ingredients when you cook, and then keep half of it in the fridge. Microwave the dish so you have a ready meal whenever you are in a hurry.


Nov 19 2010

What are coffee pods good for?

Tag: Food & DrinkJanice @ 12:02 am

Coffee pods are revolutionized coffee products that will take your coffee drinking experience into the next level. Coffee pods are measured quantities of roasted ground coffee kept in a packet. The reason for this is to preserve the quality, aroma, and flavor of coffee. Coffee pods look similar to tea bags. But, tea bags are square in shape while coffee pods are circular.

The primary concept behind the crafting of Douwe Egberts Senseo coffee pods are, this coffee product guarantees the drinkers with convenience in coffee making. Coffee drinkers can brew coffee in an instant through a coffee pod, with less hassle and without undermining the quality of coffee it contains. The average size of a single coffee pod is 44mm and it weighs 6.8g to 7.0 grams. But the size can vary depending on the capacity of the coffee machine. It can increase as much as to 62mm and it can weigh up to 9 grams.

For a brief history, in 1996, Illy Caffe was the first coffee manufacturer to conceptualize the bringing to the public market of the Phillips Senseo coffee pods. The traditional way to use coffee pods is to dip the pod in a hot water contained in a coffee cup. Let it seep through for a few minutes then, there you have it—a succulent fresh coffee drink. Or, nowadays, coffee pods are placed in a coffee maker adaptor. Coffee machine or makers have coffee pods adaptor if one opts to use a pod instead of coffee grains. In fact, this feature is called a ESE format. It is a developed system contained in most leading coffee machine manufacturers. Before you purchase a coffee machine, look for an ESE format logo. Through an ESE format coffee machine, you can definitely use a 44mm coffee pod. The following are a few of the innovative coffee machines that use the ESE format: Keurig, Senseo, Melitta, Bunn, Mr. Coffee Home Café, Cuisinart, Wolfgang Puck, Tully’s K-Cups, Timothy’s, and Tassimo.

However, it is true that some people opt to have adjusting taste of their coffee. Some either want a strong coffee or a little creamier or add an extra flavor. But since a coffee pod is a single-serve enclosed pod, adjusting of taste cannot be done. So, coffee manufactures came up with a brilliant idea of concocting different coffee flavors of coffee pods. The varieties of flavors are: French Vanilla, Hazelnut, Irish Cream, Cinnamon, Mocha Cinnamon, Blueberry, Brownie Toffee Crunch, Caramel Fudge, Mint, Swiss Chocolate Almond, Chocolate Raspberry, Kahlua Crème, and Decaffeinated.
See how convenient coffee pods are. So, try one and get it from the leading supermarkets around your area.


Nov 17 2010

What Is A Raw Food Diet About?

Tag: Food & DrinkJanice @ 6:02 am

The idea of a raw food diet has gathered quite a following in recent years. The main idea of raw foodism as it is called, is to eat uncooked and unprocessed food. Foods eaten do not pass heat beyond 118ºF so that all the nutrients and vitamin compounds are kept intact. Going on one of these diets is a lifestyle much like vegetarianism; it is not a weight loss program although raw foodists insist that it can lead to a leaner body, higher energy, better digestion and healthier skin. Sticking to a pure raw diet can have some malnutrition risks so food intake needs to be monitored correctly to ensure a balanced diet.

The raw food diet mostly consists of fruits, vegetables, grains, seeds, sprouts, nuts and certain weeds. They also refrain from processed drinks and use juicer machines to make fresh vegetable and fruit juices. When it comes to eating meat, there are some raw food purists who do not eat any meat at all regardless of how it is prepared. They say that there are certain parasites in raw meat and fish that actually contradict the raw food diet. They are able to get their protein from other sources such as seeds and nuts. There are, however other raw food enthusiasts who are more open to eating raw meats and fish, eggs and unpasteurized dairy products.

Preparing raw food can be a bit of work, there is a lot of peeling, chopping and slicing involved. Since the food is not cooked, raw foodists use other tools in preparing their food. A dehydrator is often used, it blows warm air not more than 118ºF to keep vegetables crunchy and dry fruits. Things like a juicer machine, blenders and home food processors are also used for fast and easy preparation.

The raw food diet is not for everyone, it is not advisable for people with calcium deficiency, pregnant women and children. Some known side effects are mild headaches, nausea and lower bone mass.


Nov 13 2010

The All Time Favourite Dessert, Ice Cream

Tag: Food & DrinkJanice @ 6:52 am

The frozen dessert that is made out of cream and butterfat, a little milk and sugar is called Ice Cream. These basic ingredients and then usually mixed with flavouring or fruit. There are plenty of flavours around, such as chocolate, vanilla ice cream, caramel, strawberry, honeycomb, rum and raisin, macadamia … an unlimited combination. Nearly all good ice cream contains sugar but there are some that use other sweeteners. Probably the first thing people think when dessert is mentioned is some lovely, creamy ice cream – everyone loves eat. These ice creams are favourites no matter what age and there is a favourite for children right up to the elderly.

There are so many fantastically delicious and rich flavours and varieties available, just look at your local ice cream display. But read the label as sometimes there is artificial colouring and flavour added in place of good natural ingredients. Now with summer coming up, the sales of ice cream soars because people love the instant cool refreshment that it gives you each lick at a time. The biggest seller is the vanilla ice cream , it has around 35% of the sales, that would be because it’s not just a great flavour but it goes with so many things like in milkshakes and with apple pies.

Making ice cream at home is always a concern that maybe it won’t work out, such as the creamy texture won’t be right. All you need to make sure is to stir the mixture slowly while it cools and freezes, this makes it creamy and smooth because large ice crystals don’t form. Once you have that perfected try some a little more adveturous , have a go at a mochi ice cream recipe. Another thing you want the ice cream to have would be a nice appetising colour – you want it to look like the flavour it is meant to be such as a pale pink for strawberry, light green for mint and a dark brown for chocolate – looks nice and makes it look natural.


Nov 09 2010

Get Ready for the Best Espresso Experience

Tag: Food & DrinkJanice @ 6:52 pm

If you want an exceptional cup of java, start with Italian espresso coffee beans. These deep brown beans produce a coffee with rich bold flavor. The finely tuned roasting technique used on the beans creates an Italian blend with no acidic overtones. Coffee lovers buy this blend in whole bean packages. Experts recommend you grind the beans immediately prior to brewing for best results.

The Beans

Start with quality beans and the end product is a great cup of espresso. A satisfying espresso experience means the first step was the perfect blend. Arabica beans, which are famous for rich flavor and lower caffeine contents, are popular for Italian espresso. Often Robusta beans, which notably have a stronger taste, form a great combination with Arabica.

Italian Espresso Pods

You can also obtain Italian espresso pods. This pre-packed convenience driven product makes a single serving. Save time on grinding and measuring. Beans are ground and put into special packaging that maintains freshness. Sealing in a foil pouch ensures the pods from oxygen exposure. Manufacturers claim an 8 to 12-month shelf life.

The Espresso Experience

For coffee aficionados, not only is the blend important when drinking espresso, so is the cup. There are several factors to consider when searching for the best espresso cups. Durable construction and a well-designed handle are important. Heat retention is definitely another consideration. Depending on your budget, pricing is a factor. Eye appeal counts too. Finding the best style at the right price for the espresso experience is part of the package.

Double Espresso Cups

When you want to linger over an Italian espresso, think double. Cups constructed with double walls keep this wonderful elixir warmer longer. These double espresso cups come in various designs and colors. Another feature of these cups involves more coffee. You can get a double shot into your cup. Double walled and double shots might be your choice for the best in espresso cups.


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