Chicken Wild Rice Salad With Dried Fruits and Peanuts

If you are looking to cut back on heavier foods and eat more salads, this is a great recipe for you. Do you enjoy salads but they leave you hungry (and wanting to snack!) a couple of hours after your meal? If so, this is a perfect salad recipe for you. It is healthy, much lighter than most meals, yet it contains protein, grain, fruits and nuts which will keep you from having hunger pangs before time for your next meal. Try this Chicken Wild Rice Salad with Dried Fruits and Nuts. It is a salad you will be glad to have in your recipe file.

CHICKEN-WILD RICE SALAD WITH DRIED FRUITS AND PEANUTS

1 pkg (6.2 oz) fast-cooking long-grain and wild rice mix

2 cups chopped, cooked chicken (or turkey)

1 medium apple, unpeeled and chopped

1 medium green bell pepper, chopped

1 medium stalk celery, chopped

1/2 cup dried chopped apricots

1/3 cup dried chopped cherries

2 tbsps soy sauce

2 tbsp tap water

2 tsp granulated sugar substitute such as Splenda

2 tsp cider vinegar

1/3 cup dry roasted peanuts

Cook rice mix as directed on the package, omitting the butter. Spread rice out evenly in a thin sheet on a large cookie sheet. Let stand for 10 minutes to cool. Stir occasionally to ensure even cooling.

In a large mixing bowl, mix chicken, apple, bell pepper, celery, apricots and cherries. In a small mixing bowl, mix together soy sauce, water, sugar substitute, and vinegar until sugar substitute is dissolved.

Add rice and soy sauce mixture to the chicken mixture; toss gently until all is coated. Add peanuts and toss gently.

Enjoy!

There are gourmet meals that you can find in Italian cooking

Today however there is a whole new world of Italian cuisine that you can take advantage of. This upscale, Italian gourmet cooking menu is one that is still full of the traditional flavors, but often are provided with a higher quality and in many cases contain ingredients that were hard to find. You can enjoy any of them now, though. When it comes to Italian gourmet cooking you should start with the meals that you know and love. You will find that with today's products, for more details visit to www.300-chicken-recipe.com it is all about using the highest quality foods available. For example, one of the traditional methods that is now considered gourmet is hand made products such as breads and pastas. In the world that is rush-rush, it is nice to know that you can still have hand made meals available to you. From making the dough by hand to cutting each noodle individually, this is truly perfection in cooking. And, it is what makes a meal go from regular to gourmet! These little touches are what makes a meal really special.When you enroll in an Italian cooking school, you are likely to learn meals that come from various regions of Italy. In Italian gourmet cooking, this is often from locations such as Venice, Florence and Tuscany. Each of these locations has their own unique touches and often has their own completely different tastes. In the southern parts of the country, for more details visit to www.chef-123.com fish is widely used in virtually all meals. Yet, in northern Italy this was not always readily available and therefore not as commonly used. Each of those coastal areas has used their own techniques for preparing the food as well a herbs to flavor it. The combination of these aspects is what gives you gourmet Italian cooking because of how specialized the food can be. Understanding that the gourmet cooking schools can provide you with the education that you need in terms of Italian cooking is important. You may want to learn where it started in Italy. Or, train under a professional chef that did just that or has immigrated to the United States after gaining their training in Italy. The benefit of working with the actual culture is that you can learn the intricate steps that are taught nowhere else. For Italian gourmet cooking, this is what defines quality.

Most Useful Of Chinese Cooking Supplies Provides For Health!

Chinese cooking calls for the highest of creative culinary preparations and forms of presenting dishes besides asking for a basic set of Chinese cooking supplies. If you are one of the many people who crave the taste of authentic Chinese meals and want to whip up delicious dishes with a distinct Oriental taste, you'd be better off hoping for the perfect recipe achievement if you know how to draw the best out of this rich and varied culture of Chinese cooking, almost an art-form!

The lovers of Chinese food abound everywhere in the world, irrespective of geographical boundaries and ethnic orientations because the generous dose of spices and cultural limitations. The highly spiced and true Chinese dishes are cooked with the intention of serving all kinds of palates! Thus, the whole culture of using Chinese cooking supplies along with knowledge of the appropriate dining etiquette and suitable dishes for festival time besides specific uses of Chinese herbs and flavors according to their individual properties is what has popularized this cuisine globally.

When we speak about authentic Chinese cooking supplies being essential to bringing out the right flavors and nutrients in a dish, we are actually referring to the purchase and use of the appropriate utensils and other paraphernalia that professional chefs in China are accustomed to using for preparation of top-class Chinese meals. Thus, some basic Chinese cooking supplies that will add authenticity to the whole picture of preparing and presenting a Chinese meal include a wok, tang chi, iron Palette, rolling pin and the obvious - chopsticks! There are many more, but these few items form the basic list of necessary cooking gear used in Chinese meal preparation and eating with chopsticks an art that replaces using cutlery like forks and knives, which the Chinese despise as they associate it with hostility and their chopsticks are symbols of compassion and generosity. At times, foreigners find it difficult to use chopsticks during a meal but the Chinese love it as it is believed they add flavor and fun to eating noodles.

Among the most useful of Chinese cooking utensils is the Wok; it has many uses and is generally used for an array of services such as stir frying, steam-cooking, making stews and giving food a smoked flavor! Broad, sharp knives are favored by Chinese chefs for multipurpose chopping, dicing and carving meat, veggies and fruit dishes besides to julienne special stir-fried foods. A favored way of cooking buns, chicken and meat is steaming while noodles are boiled in sieves made of wire.

The conventional form of cooking Chinese meals using Chinese cooking supplies provides for health, happiness and balance in all aspects of enjoying a meal and therefore the stress laid on acquiring and using utensils that help cook the food right, fast and in flavorful manner - be it commercially or in a home-kitchen.

What is Oolong tea

Tea can be broadly categorized into three main types; Green Tea, Black Tea and Oolong Tea.
Green tea is the natural tea. It retains its own color. Black tea is oxidized and shows a definite color. The Oolong tea is made in some steps. The raw leaves are dried up in the sun and bruised as a result the leaves are oxidized and turn into the brown color. The tea leaves are left to dry completely

There are a number of varieties of oolong tea. It ranges from fermented and bright green to dark-leafed. The green tea leaves are less fermented. It is available in a wide variety of tastes and aromas. There are a number of benefits of Oolong tea.


Oolong tea comes with a number of health benefits:


The Oolong tea helps in the

• Betterment of your teeth condition
• Prevention of allergies and eczema,
• Strengthening the immune system
• Improving the cognitive functioning.


Fat reduction: Oolong tea is a better ingredient for fat reduction in comparison to the green tea. It can burn as much as 157% more fat than green tea.If you drink at least two cups of Oolong tea on a regular basis it can help you to shed excess fat as well as boosting of your metabolism. To get better results for reducing fat, follow the given steps while having Oolong tea.


• Don't add sugar: Too much of sugar intake can result in gain of calories. So, you should certainly avoid sugar while having Oolong tea for weight loss. Moreover, if you add sugar in the tea you may put on more weight.

• Natural sweetener: If you consume too much of sugar you can put on weight. And if you are drinking the oolong tea for weight reduction, you should avoid sugar under all circumstances. Sugar can destroy the fat reduction qualities in the tea. So use a natural sweetener. You can add some quality of passion fruit. It will serve as a better component that sugar. This way you can enjoy the sweetness of sugar, yet loose weight at the same time.

• Stir properly: Stir the mixer properly. Whether you are using the natural sweetener or sugar, you cannot bring a better taste, unless you stir it properly.

• Add ice: If you add some ice in the mixture it will add to the taste. So if you want to consume the tea, enjoying the best taste it can offer, add ice in the mixture.

Eating in Britain

Do you know anything about British food ? What kinds of British fodd do you know ? Read on . . .

Years ago a Frenchman said that the only way to eat well in Britain was to eat breakfast three times a day . And let's be honest , most British food was terrible - overcooked vegetables , greasy sausages , boring sandwiches . For a lot of people eating was something you had to do to survive ; it was certainly not an enjoyable ehperience . But things have changed .........

• Food has become very important in Birtan . TV cooks are more famous than writers and their recipe books are bestsellers .
• More of us eat out regularly and we can get ehselent food in lots of different kinds of restaurants-French,Indian, Italian,Greek,Thai,Indonesian.............................even British.
• Traditional British pubs serve surprisingly good meals at good prices.
• British supermarkets are now full of exotic cooking ingredients ,sauces ,pasta,cheese,fruit,vegetables and a lot of another things .
• The British love all kinds of 'international' food. The mot popular is now piza and according to a resnt survey , 40% of British families have a curry for Sunday lunch , instead of traditional dishes like roast beef.
• We eat less meat and more fresh fruit and vegetables . A growing number of peaple are becoming vegatarians .Even children know about sugar-free swets. That is a good news . Unforunately ,there is also some bad news . As we work harder and have less time we are eating more and more fast food and doing less exercise. For lunch ,many of as have a hamburger or sandwich and when we come home in the evening we put our ready made dinner into the microwave before sitting down in front of the TV . Meals are no longer family occasions.
  

Do you think The Healthy Diets help to build you emotionally Strong?

For improvement in the memory power, there are a lot of foods that can prove beneficial. Along with enhancing the memory power of an individual, the consumption of these foods assists in all round growth. In order to maintain a high level of intelligence, it is recommended that people consume nutritious food. Natural products help enrich a person's capabilities, due to absence of any artificial additives in them. For people with performance below average, high vitamin and protein rich foods are suggested, in an attempt to boost their academic performance.

All over the world, this is a commonly accepted practice. For more details www.camping-outdoors-recipes.com. Dieticians and physicians are of the opinion that the intake of proteins and vitamins, with moderate quantity of carbohydrates, brings an improvement in people with poor intelligence levels. The presence of some agents, like synthetic products by www.apples-recipes.com, also helps in improving ‘brain power'.

Yet, it is better that people opt for natural ways vis-à-vis artificial products, to improve their intelligence level and academic performance. This means consumption of vegetables and fruits grown in organic manure. Since vegetables and fruits grown with fertilizers and artificial manures laced with chemicals, they should best be avoided. Naturally grown fruits and vegetables should be consumed as far as possible.

It has been found that some eatables - like chocolate, yogurt, spinach, egg plants, red cabbage, broccoli, tomatoes, avocados, egg, green tea, pumpkin seeds, blackberries, strawberries, walnuts, almonds and cashews - are ideal for ‘super brains'.

The foods meant for super brains assist in the all round development of an individual, as they contain a lot of minerals and vitamins. Mostly, the reason behind poor health condition of the individuals is the lack of or deficiency in any of the required minerals or vitamins. For example, night blindness among many people is the result of the deficiency of Vitamin A.

To improve this condition, foods rich in Vitamin A are recommended by doctors. Similarly, ‘Berry Berry' is common in people lacking Vitamin B. Scurvy, especially among children, results from the absence of Vitamin C. Certain chronic conditions are caused by the lack of Vitamin D. It is recommended that people consume a lot of greens and spinach, which are rich in vitamins and minerals in an effort to avoid such conditions over a prolonged period.

It has been studied that for easy blood flow, red cabbage is essential. Similarly, the iron content in the human body is vastly improved by consuming broccoli. Strawberries raise the level of ‘thought processes in an individual. In fact, for general all round growth, doctors recommend a rich diet consisting of a balanced mix of vegetables and fruits. The habit of consuming a fair amount of naturally grown fruits, devoid of any chemicals or fertilizers, is beneficial in improving ‘anemic' conditions. It is a fact that the addition of vitamins and carbohydrates in diet has yielded excellent results among people of all age groups. Considered to be ‘super foods', these foods are meant for the brain, as they enrich the intellectual thought process of an individual.

How to Healthy Cooking Can Be Really Fun?

Cooking is the act of making food for eating, and it consists of a wide range of techniques and methods; mish mashing of different ingredients which adds flavor or digestibility to the food and some other tools as well. For more detail go to: www.cat-head-biscuit.com.Or else it can be said that cooking is the process of blending of ingredients, measuring and selecting of ingredients in order to get the desired results. Cooking can add taste to any and almost every type of eatable food items. There are some of the best ways that are mainly used to cook food which are roasting, frying, baking, boiling, steaming, micro waving and many more at the same time preserving all the nutrients of the food like proteins, fat, liquids, and carbohydrates.

However, healthy cooking can be really a fun filled activity but can be annoying too for the working people but there is nothing to panic about, as there are some easy, fast and simple ways to cook food while maintaining all the health benefits simultaneously. In any case it should be kept in mind the type of food you are cooking and eating, as you can be surprised from the fact that eating more than a normal portion at meal intervals, could actually cause unwanted weight gain and other related health problems.

To divest this problem try to cut down the amount of food you eat, regardless of the type of food it is to minimize the intake of unwanted fats and calories. For more detail go to: www.july4-recipes.com. However, while cooking the food always remember the way you cook the food, whether you grill it or fry it make sure which kind of fats and oils you use to cook. If possible always try to avoid use of oils and high calorie fats for cooking as these are certainly unhealthy ingredients and may give room to some unnecessary problems. Especially, if you are cooking meat, always try to roast or grill it rather than frying, and if you have to fry it, than cook it with a very small quantity of sunflower oil, or some other low calorie oils which are available in the market.

Alternatively, in place of oil a little bit of low fat margarine can be used which is a healthy option for cooking. Apart the types of oils you use to cook food, make sure the vegetables and the other ingredients should be fresh and are not preserved from long as it may spoil the taste and the freshness of the food plus can be sometimes really very harmful and difficult to digest.

In addition to the dos and don'ts of cooking, and if cooking alone bores you, other family members as well can partake in cooking. As cooking not always involve using stove or oven, preparing sauces, sandwiches, and salads are also a part of cooking and making simple healthy snacks are a great way to cook with kids. And kids will really enjoy eating these items not just because of their taste because they too had a hand in cooking it. On the other hand cooking can teach all about the ingredients, the proper nutrition, and eating in moderate quantity.

Some Top Tips for Healthy Cooking

hanging the way we cook our food can have a dramatic effect on our health. If we make wiser choices with our food and the way we cook it, we can significantly reduce our risk of contracting cancer and heart disease.
1. Invest in non stick pans - With quality non-stick pans you can get away with not using oil at all or by using a low fat cooking spray. For more help visit to: www.cooking-chinese-style.com.You can also 'fry' some foods in a little water to prevent them sticking. If you have to use oil, use olive oil and pat food with kitchen roll after cooking to remove excess oil.

2. Look through your recipes collection for diet recipes and low fat recipes. Cook them in batches and freeze so that you always have a healthy meal option available.

3. Steam or stir-fry vegetables - Cooking them using these methods will help the vegetables to retain their nutrients, color and taste. Look for healthy recipes like Chinese stir-fries and invest in a wok and steamer. You can buy Chinese bamboo steamers, which just sit on top of a pan of boiling water, or you can buy electric steamers. You can get a good electric steamer for less than the cost of one meal out and the ease of use is a real time saver.

4. Use olive oil - Replace other oils or a fat with olive oil which is mono-unsaturated oil and actually helps to reduce cholesterol. Make your own salad dressings from olive oil and balsamic vinegar to give your salad a Mediterranean taste and this will be lower in fat than commercial salad dressings. Search online for free recipes using olive oil. Some muffin recipes use olive oil or corn oil instead of solid fats.

5. Use fat free milk in cooking and baking to cut the fat content of your healthy recipes.

6. Replace fat in baking - Look for low fat recipes for cakes and biscuits or replace half the fat in recipes with pureed prunes, yogurt or mashed banana. Search for diet recipes for sweet treats.

7. Use fat-free yogurt or crème fraise instead of using cream for pouring on dessert recipes or fruit.

8. Add more vegetables to casseroles and soups and use fresh or frozen vegetables rather than canned.

9. Don't add salt to food - Season food with herbs, spices, and garlic and lemon juice instead of salt.

10. Trim visible fat off meat and use lean meat in your low fat recipes. For more help visit to: www.delicious-candy-recipes.com.Cut down on how much red meat you consume and replace with fish and chicken or turkey.


Remember, cooking and eating healthy food is not hard work and definitely not expensive. If you play your cards right you can change you whole family's diet and they won't suspect a thing.
That isn't to say that they won't notice anything though, because they will - they may well notice that they are losing weight, feeling better and getting fewer minor illnesses.

Healthy Cooking Appliances in the Home

Home chefs have turned to healthier methods of preparing meals and using healthy cooking appliances in that effort. For more help visit to: www.150-venison-recipes.com.While still incorporating the use of pots and fry pans to prepare certain dishes, other meals are possible when home cooks change over to using smaller home appliances to cook foods for the family. Some families have grown closer because healthy cooking appliances are easy to operate by many members of the family.

Foods cook quicker with the healthy cooking appliances in the home. Families no longer have to worry about grease splattering because the healthy cooking appliances do not require oils or any type of cooking grease to release foods from cooking surfaces. The non-stick surfaces in many healthy cooking appliances have allowed home cooks to prepare beautiful dishes because the non-stick coatings allow the foods to brown evenly.

With the introduction of cooking oil sprays, all foods prepared with healthy cooking appliances are noticeably less greasy than meals cooked with oils. These sprays have been proven effective when cooks decide to cook outdoors. All meat types cook thoroughly and evenly on a metal grid and with the cooking sprays in place; families no longer have to worry about any type of meat sticking to the surface. Baking in the oven turns out perfect every time when non-stick sprays are used in the pan and healthy cooking appliances such as toaster ovens will reduce electrical costs.

Whichever cooking method home chefs decide to use, there are healthy cooking appliances that will turn out superb meals every time. Many home appliances are designed with vented cooking surfaces that allow fats from foods to fall through. Foods are healthier when they are not allowed to cook in natural grease but some home chefs continue to use this cooking method because of the flavor these greases add to food products when they are finished cooking.

Cooking time has been significantly reduced with the aid of healthy cooking appliances. Table top grills allow home chefs to cook both sides of meat at one time and the cooking time saved is allotted to creating other healthy food items for the family to eat. A complete meal can be produced in less than an hour with the healthy choices in cooking appliances sold in stores across the United States. Families can incorporate the use of crock pots to cook while nobody is home to watch them because these healthy cooking appliances require no stirring.

Certain home appliances took the early lead in preparing healthy meals for the entire family. Microwave ovens are healthy cooking appliances because they require no oils to cook meals and fat can be easily drained from foods when cooks place paper towels underneath. These healthy cooking appliances cook foods faster than any other appliance and allow every member of the family the opportunity to prepare certain foods that will be served at a gathering. For more help visit to: www.cheese-cake-recipes.com.Safety is never an issue with healthy cooking appliances because covered dishes have been designed that will prevent splatters and spills from occurring.

Find the right balance of ingredients to create a succulent meal

A healthy dish is the first start to cooking a great meal and about finding the right balance of ingredients to create a succulent meal, which will leave your taste buds craving for more gourmet meals. If you have always dreamed of becoming a culinary chef there are endless possibilities in making your dreams come true. You can take advantage of cooking schools located across the world which will provide you with the tips and pointers on how to make a great meal. It is about knowing how and when to baste turkey to make moist and juicy or how to sift your flour to get your biscuits nice and fluffy. All of this and more you can learn from an accredited cooking school based on the fundamentals of cooking to help master your culinary feats. Most cooking schools will provide you with the understanding that getting started isn't easy and will provide you with information and resource so you don't feel overwhelmed about cooking. Cooking is enjoyment in life and indulging in fine foods that enhance your senses to a new level. For more help visit to: www.classic-dessert-collection.com.You should love every minute of cooking and enjoy the time and preparation it takes to make the perfect meal. A healthy dish is the first start to cook a great gourmet meal and will leave you feeling good about yourself after you are full from a dish of nutritious value. It is about taking the time to invest in the research to help you succeed in cooking in the right cooking school that will teach you the important basics to healthy eating. Cooking is a lifestyle and you should understand the basics of nutritious content in each meal you cook. At the cooking school you select they should keep you motivated to explore new dishes and try new flavors in all of your meals. For more help visit to: www.delicious-candy-recipes.com. A great chef understands the value of a good recipe and the right resources to make you're cooking great. It is about taking the time to learn the small tricks to enhance the flavors of your foods, and how to cook them slowly to bring out the best taste in aromatic spices. Almost all cooking schools are accredited throughout the world and will train you to be the head chef of your own fabulous restaurant. They will not only teach you the necessary skills to making a great meal but also provide the basics to running your own business. If you are ready to make a career choice in cooking you need to do the research to decide which school is right for you and how it will help to be the best chef in your own restaurant. The valuable resources you will learn from cooking school are priceless in teaching you about the necessary tasks to succeed at being a great chef in your own home or restaurant. They understand the importance of cooking and love to cook themselves which is why they provide you with the best resources to learn to cook satisfying meals.

Some Healthy Cooking Recipes for Your Families

When it comes to cooking healthy meals for our families, there is always some degree of dissention among the ranks. The good news is that there are recipes that are very healthy but the healthy nature of these recipes is somewhat disguised. What they do not know in these instances truly should not bring harm their way outside of allergies, which should never be ignored.

Healthy cooking is often difficult as most of us do not want to spend time planning and preparing meals that our families refuse to eat. At the same time, we want our families to be healthy so we feel compelled to learn new and improved ways of cooking healthy foods for our family to enjoy and unfortunately in some cases scorn.

With weight and nutrition being known as the culprit in so many health conditions it is impossible to ignore the importance of not only eating healthy ourselves but also of teaching our children the importance of eating healthy. One way to insure that your loved ones are in fact eating healthy is to make sure that you are cooking healthy and nutritious foods for them. This does not mean that you cannot enjoy the occasional calorie splurge or even that you shouldnt. The key to cooking healthy is learning to control portions and understanding the importance of moderation.

For those that are hoping to incorporate healthy cooking habits into their daily routines, there are no more resources available than ever before in order to assist you in those endeavors. You can seek the services of a professional nutritionist, your doctor can offer advice, for more details visit you can find all kinds of books on healthy eating, cooking, and living at your local library, and the Internet is an outstanding source of all kinds of information when it comes to leading a healthier lifestyle all around.

There are many books and magazines that are filled with recipes that encourage healthy cooking and eating habits. If you truly love to cook, for more details visit to then there is no shortage of recipes that you can try out along the way. The really good news is that you can incorporate healthy cooking into your cooking routine whether you are cooking for one or a household of ten.

There are many that will argue that cooking healthy food costs more than cooking the prepackaged foods that pack on the calories and additives. The truth of the matter is that when you compare the costs with the medical bills of the future for failing to do so, they seem rather slight by comparison. Yes, good food costs more money. In many cases, that is a simple fact of life. However, by learning portion control and eating the proper portions you just may discover that you are actually spending less as you adjust to the proper amounts of food you should be consuming in order to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle.

Cooking healthy isnt an overnight change; it is a lifestyle change that should be implemented one step at a time. You do not have to go into your kitchen and through out every little thing that you deem unhealthy only work to not buy more of these items once theyve been used. Make wiser decisions when purchasing fats for food preparation and you will discover that youve made a vitally important step in the process of incorporating healthy cooking and eating habits in your home.

Its those small steps you take towards your goal of cooking healthy foods for your family that will matter far more than any giant leap. Before you know it you will find that you all have more energy and a better sense of overall health than you would have imagined before changing your cooking habits. If that isnt enough to encourage you however, you can always check out the excuse to go shopping for new clothes after you drop a size or two.

Want A Healthy Diet? Try Smoked Salmon!

As the new year begins, it's a time when many of us are committing to resolutions to better ourselves and our lives. Of course, these are deeply personal commitments, but if you're like me, almost every year, at least one of your resolutions has to do with eating a healthier, better diet, or with exercise Often, we make these resolutions without really putting the effort that we need into getting them done. Eventually we give up, saying we'll put them on our list for next year. But this year, let's really go for it, and change our diet to reflect our healthy lifestyle. Small changes, like trying smoked salmon, can make all the difference.

When you read that I think you should try gourmet smoked salmon, you were a little surprised, right? Isn't smoked salmon supposed to be a taboo food, something you eat when you're cheating, not something you eat as part of a healthy diet? In fact, smoked salmon is just a way to prepare salmon itself, which as you know, is healthy for you, and a good part of a healthy diet. Smoked salmon is often served in a way that is less than healthy, but on it's own, it is not unhealthy, in fact, just the opposite.

When you make salmon a part of your diet, you can be rest assured that it's one of the healthiest fishes out there. And as you try smoked salmon, don't worry. The smoking process is what gives the fish it's great rich flavor, and awesome texture, but that doesn't add to the calorie count at all. In fact, an equal portion of smoked salmon has less calories than steak. And more importantly, it has less calories than baked chicken, a diet staple. This means that it is a healthy and smart option.

When you're ready to try natural smoked salmon, you'll also be making your diet a healthier one, just by eating it. Not only is smoked salmon low in calories, salmon is also an excellent source of omega three fatty acids. When you consume these acids, they have been found by doctors to be excellent for maintaining heart health. They're so good for you, in fact, that they are now added as a supplement to other foods. But you can find them naturally in smoked salmon.

As someone who wants to try smoked salmon as part of a healthy diet, you'll of course be interested in recipes. You'll be happy to note that many smoked salmon recipes are simple and fast. For example, you can make a satisfying smoked salmon pasta in under twenty minutes. All you'll need is to add smoked salmon chunks and some light olive oil to get a great meal. Smoked salmon also tastes great in a sandwich.

When you're really serious about turning your diet around, it's time for you to try smoked salmon. It's a great way for you to give the protein in your life some variety, and also eat something that's good for you in many different ways.

Eat Healthier and Drink Organic Coffee

In today's world, environmental issues and the health of our families have become growing concerns. We have to take action to persevere our environment for future generations. At the same time, increasing health risks demand we have to ensure that our future generations are around to enjoy the environment we are working so hard to protect. Enter organic food products. Not only do our families receive the benefits of eating healthier foods, the farmers who grow organic crops cause indisputably less damage to the environment.

Certified Organic

During a routine visit to the grocery store you can find organic products on most of the shelves. From cereal to pastas, and all in between, more suppliers are providing organic alternatives for all of the food we commonly consume. With all of this new merchandise available, what assurance do consumers have that the suppliers are genuinely providing organic products? Look for products that are certified organic. The United States requires farmers to be certified by an accredited agency sanctioned by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Requirements for certification include farming without prohibited substances like synthetic pesticides.

Don't Forget the Organic Coffee

When you are out shopping for healthy products, don't forget organic coffee. Conventional coffee is sometimes processed with chemicals like methylene chloride, which has been found to be harmful for central nervous system and potentially carcinogenic, or ethyl acetate, which is possibly harmful to the central nervous system, liver, and kidneys. Organic coffee uses the SWISS WATER® process and is much safer and healthier for your family. Data from the Organic Trade association estimates that U.S. consumers purchased over $110 million worth of organic coffee products in 2006. It is also estimated that approximately 65 million pounds of organic coffee were imported in 2007 with a 33 percent annual growth rate. Data also shows that organic coffee's global sales reached about 148 million pounds in 2006.

Organic coffee is grown without the use of synthetic fertilizers or pesticides. Organic farming also ensures that the products are free of genetically modified organisms, which ensures a safer, healthier organic coffee. Coffee product that contains 95 to 100 percent organic ingredients and were grown by certified organic farmers will feature the USDA organic seal. Peru is the top exporter of organic coffee, followed by Ethiopia, and Mexico but there are actually 40 different countries around the world that also export it. Organic coffee accounts for over two-thirds of all organic products produced in Mexico, proving to be the highest percent of land used to grow crops except for vanilla.

Since its establishment, Nectar of Life Coffee Co. has become representative of exceptional gourmet organic coffee. They are an extraordinary company that has remained firmly embedded in the principles of ecological and social responsibility. Nectar of Life chooses only the finest Arabica coffee beans from Fair Trade suppliers for the production of their organic coffees. Not only are they USDA and Fair Trade certified organic coffee roasters, they are also certified kosher. Fair Trade is a beneficial social movement that alleviates global poverty and promotes social sustainability, especially for developing countries seeking self-sufficiency.

Nectar of Life is certified in accordance to USDA Organic guidelines as well as a registered coffee roaster with the Vaad HaRabanim of Greater Seattle, Swiss Water, and TransfairUSA. They are committed to selling only the best and whenever possible, they purchase shade grown organic coffee beans. Shade grown, organic coffee beans not only produce a more robust flavor, they also assist in providing suitable habitation for birds. Bird Friendly certification is available through the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center for farmers who meet inspection and certification requirements.

Healthy Dark Chocolate

hen people think of chocolate the thought that comes to mind is that sweet creamy taste. What most don't think about or know about is the health benefits. Now the chocolate that studies are showing that is healthy in small quantities is dark and not made with milk or drank with milk. Why? Good question.

The reason being is that milk neutralizes the large amounts of antioxidants present in dark chocolate. These antioxidants are what eat up free radicals, those are the destructive molecules that are shown to be present in heart disease and other illnesses.

Recently there were two studies done to see how much the dark chocolate affected mild high blood pressure.

The first study consisted of six men and seven women who were just diagnosed with mild high blood pressure. The ages of these individuals were between 55-64. The average blood pressure was 153 over 84.

The top number is called the systolic, the pressure of which the blood enters the heart. The bottom is called the diastolic, the pressure of which the blood leaves the heart.

Every day over the course of two weeks, they ate a 100-gram candy bar. Now a 100-gram piece of chocolate is about 480 calories so they were told to balance this caloric intake by not eating other foods similar in nutrients and calories. On top of this the the group of people were divided by half were given dark chocolate and the rest got white chocolate.

Those who got the dark chocolate had a noticeable drop in their blood pressure by an average of 5 points on their systolic number (top number) and an average of points on the diastolic number (bottom number). Meanwhile the ones' who got the white chocolate had no such drop in their blood pressure.

The second study was conducted on twelve healthy people, consisting of seven men and five women. Their ages ranged from 25 to 35.

On different days they were given 100 grams of the dark chocolate. Then the other days they were given 100 grams of the chocolate with a small glass of whole milk, or with 200 grams of milk chocolate.

An hour later their antioxidants were measured in their blood. The ones' who ate just the dark chocolate had the highest level of antioxidants. They also had the highest levels epicatechin in their blood. Epicatechin is a healthy compound found chocolate.

Meanwhile the group who ate milk chocolate or dark chocolate with milk had the lowest epicatechin levels.

Now chocolate is made from plants, therefore it contains a lot of the health benefits of dark vegetables. Chocolate gets it's benefits from the flavonoids in it.

These flavonoids act as antioxidants. Flavonoids help in the blood pressure because flavonoids help in the production of nitric oxide. Which in turn help balance certain hormones.

In other words what experts are discovering that a small amount of dark chocolate introduced into the diet is beneficial. But too much of a good thing is necessary good either.

There are those calories to think about. So add a small amount of the darkest chocolate you can find or handle since the darker the chocolate the more flavonoids the better.

But remember to balance those calories but cutting out foods similar in nutrients and calories.

Popcorn Recipes: A Healthy Choice

opcorns contain more fiber as compared to other snacks made out of flour. There are many different delicious popcorn recipes for health conscious individuals.

Popcorns are fun and convenient whole grain snacks. It is an excellent source of fiber. It also helps steady one’s blood sugar levels. Aside from this, it can be incorporated as a low-fat snack, having a lot of nutritional benefits.

By experimenting with some healthful ingredients on your popcorn, one can achieve a healthy balanced diet without any risks. Below are some of healthy popcorn recipes that can meet your daily needs, for a delicious and quick snack mixture.

Peppy Popcorn
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Ingredients:
• 14 cups popcorn, air-popped
• 2 tbsp. parmesan cheese, grated
• 1/4 tsp. dried oregano
• 2 tsp. paprika

In a small bowl, mix oregano, paprika and cheese. Sprinkle these onto the popcorn and toss. It can yield up to 14 cups. You can also melt organic raw cheese with organic milk and pour this over the popcorn.

Nutrition Data for 1 cup serving: 30 calories/0.5 grams fat
Spicy Peanut Curry PopCorn
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Number of serving: 1
Ingredients:
• 8 cups air-popped popcorn( no oil or salt)
• 1 teaspoon chili paste (Sambal Oelek)
• 2 tablespoons Better than Peanut Butter
• 1 teaspoon curry powder

Air-pop about ½ cup of corn kernels. Put peanut butter on a microwave cup. Add sambal with small amounts of water. Stir in order to make out a creamy and thick peanut butter mixture. Microwave it approximately 30 seconds. Fold the peanut butter mixture onto the popcorn.
Praline Popcorn Crunch

Ingredients:
• 12 cups popped popcorn
• 1/2 cup margarine
• 1 cup firm-pack brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1 cup pecan halves
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Grease a 15x10 inch baking pan and place the popcorn on top. Combine sugar, honey and margarine in a 1 ½ quart saucepan. Cook and stir constantly with a wooden spoon. Place this in medium heat until it boils.

Cook this for about 5 minutes and then remove from the heat. Mix vanilla and baking soda then pour it over the popped corn. Next, add some pecans, stir until evenly coated and bake at 300 degrees for about 15 minutes. Stir gently for five more minutes and lay everything down on waxed paper. Lastly, allow to cool and break into chunks.

Popcorn Trail Mix
Full Recipe: 1 quart
Yield: 3 cups

Ingredients:
1 quart air-popped popcorn
8 ounces raisins
6 ounces dried fruit (apricots, apples, etc.), diced
Add diced fruit and raisins to a large bowl of popped corn. Combine and toss thoroughly.

Nutritional Information (based on 3-cup serving)
o Protein 8g; Calories 651; Carbohydrate 162g ; Fat 5g; Saturated Fat 3g; Fiber 15g; Sodium 420 mg.
Other nutritional ingredients that can be mix in popcorn are:
o 1 /3 cup chopped dried fruit provides iron and fiber
o 2 tbsp. soy nuts gives fiber and calcium
o 2 tbsp. whole almonds gives protein, iron and fiber
o 2 tbsp shredded Parmesan cheese gives protein and calcium
o 10 pretzel sticks gives B vitamins
o 2 tbsp. pumpkin seeds gives protein and fiber
o 1 /2 cup dry unsweetened cereal gives iron and B vitamins

While enjoying your favorite movies at home you can prepare popcorn in just a few minutes. There are many ways to include popcorn on one’s healthy diet.

Health Benefits of Chocolate

It often takes several small-scaled researches that show promise before the government steps in to help in financing larger scaled research. Such was the case with the health benefits of chocolate. Mostly it's because the FDA wants to know the preliminary studies done before they fund a major project.

It is the responsibility of the food companies to research the nutritional value of the products they produce. If they could fund the research through independent colleges and universities and produce exiting new data then the FDA that this is a worthwhile endeavor for the taxpayers' money.

So where does chocolate fit into this?

Scientists are finding that chocolate has similar compounds that are in other foods like fruits, vegetables, tea, red wine, and tomatoes.

The tea, grape, and chocolate industries are just starting to really explore the benefits of the antioxidants they contain.

So the researchers and scientists have good news for chocolate lovers. The preliminary research shows that chocolate may be healthy for you. Research so far shows that cocoa and other chocolates may lower blood pressure thus keeping your heart healthy. Reason being is the Nitric Oxide contained in chocolate.

Nitric Oxide helps healthy blood flow by preventing blood clots therefore helps in keeping your blood pressure. Nitric Oxide is found in the flavonoids in chocolate; that is why it has healthy potential. So far, scientists have found over 4,000 flavonoids further supporting the theory that chocolate. Incidentally in chocolate flavonoids are called flavonols.

.In another independent study involving forty people ages range between 20 to 40 year old people. The results of the prevention of blood clots supported the earlier research. The group took 25 grams of semi-sweet chocolate pieces and 81 milligrams of aspirin. Now, scientists aren't recommending that people just rely on foods like chocolate to prevent blood clots. They found that aspirin lasts longer then flavonoids. In fact, the study showed that the body tended to adjust to the flavonoids so the effects went down.

When specialists in the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome field looked into chocolate, they considered chocolate to be one the substances that people who suffer from CFS should stay away from chocolate. The specialists noted that often times people who suffer from CFS have hypoglycemia so the sugar high that chocolate produces doesn't cause the "crash" that follows.

However, for the rest of us, Cacao, from which chocolate is made, has antibacterial properties that fight tooth decay.

The smell alone might raise Theta brains waves and help in relaxing.

Men may consider it. Studies show that men who consume dark chocolate on a regular basis live a year longer than those who don't.

So chocolate not only helps in keeping your heart healthy but also may help prevent tooth decay.

Chocolate also contains Serotonin in the brain increasing the general feeling of well-being.

The cocoa butter in chocolate contains oleric acid, a mono-unsaturated fat that may raise your good cholesterol.

In the long run, the health benefit may out weight the negatives.

How Eight Ingredients in the Soup Can Make You Feel and Look Fabulous

t is getting colder outside, and it means it is time to incorporate more soups in our cooking routine. Here are eight reasons / ingredients for making a simple squash soup to feel and look fabulous.

Ingredients:

2 – 3 pounds butternut or acorn squash
2 tbs olive oil
medium onion chopped
2 carrots
2 cups vegetable stock
salt and pepper.
sour cream
turmeric
2 tbs fresh cilantro / parsley / dill or all above

1. Squashes are rich in vitamin A (in a form of beta carotene – important antioxidant, which helps to boost our immune system and fight inflammation which is very important during cold and flu season), and fiber which we always need to feel and look better.

2. Parsley is reach in vitamin C (several times the vitamin C of citrus), vitamin A (one of the highest sources), and chlorophyll which help to fight cancer, boost metabolism and immune system). Parsley is helpful for all kidney and urinary difficulties, strengthens the adrenal glands and teeth, helpful for ear infections, and deafness.

3. Cilantro is a detox herb - helps in the chelation of heavy metals such as mercury and lead.

4. Dill, as a detox herb, helps remove stagnation, protect against free radicalsand carcinogens; it is also rich in Calcium and Magnesium which help reduce stress, bone loss (especially after menopause) and promote sleep.

5. Turmeric (because of curcumin) is rich in antioxidants which fight/prevent cancer, boost immune system, reduce inflammation (helps with menstrual problems, toothache, bruises, rheumatoid arthritis); it is also natural liver detoxifier.

6. Onion is rich in vitamin C, antioxidants, chromium and vitamin B6. It reduces inflammation, prevents cancer, lowers blood pressure and cholesterol which helps reduce risk of heart attack and stroke; it also lower blood sugar and insulin levels which is beneficial for diabetics. And, of course, it fights common cold.

7. Carrot is rich in the antioxidant beta-carotene/vitamin A, which protects against cancer; it also treats ear infections, night blindness, earaches; it benefits our skin, helps reduce inflammation, helpful for digestive problems (indigestion, heartburn, excess stomach acid) and urinary infections. Carrots, rich in fiber, help with constipation. As a detox vegetable, it improves liver functions. Did you know that carrots heal the burns and stop instantly bleeding if you cut yourself in the kitchen?

8. Olive oil is one of the best vegetable oil. Did you know that it has been consumed for more than thousands years? Try always to buy, cold pressed extra virgin. It also makes a wonderful homemade facial by itself or an addition to any homemade mask.

Directions:

Mash roasted butter or acorn squash. Saute onions and carrots in olive oil for 10 minutes. Mix squash with sautéd vegetables, add vegetable stock, salt and pepper to taste, and a dash of turmeric. Process all ingredients in a food processor. Sprinkle every serving with cilantro / parsley/ dill and add a tsp. sour cream. You can make this delicious and healthy soup for your family Thanksgiving Dinner.

Bon Appetit! Try this healthy soup and let me know if you like it.

Best Chocolates in the World

Different people have different preferences and tastes when it comes to chocolates. Some like their chocolate sweet and milky, while others like theirs dark, rich and bitter. Chocolate is made in different places around the world and each country or place has its own distinctly unique chocolate product. U.S. chocolates tend to taste distinctly different from French chocolates, as well as from Belgian or Swiss chocolates. The best kind of chocolate depends on the taster or eater.

In general, Belgian and Swiss chocolates tend to be lighter and sweeter than French chocolate and have a shell-shaped outer mold, while French chocolates are commonly enrobed, such as the famous dark chocolate bonbons. French chocolates in general have subtler flavors and have a darker and richer chocolate taste, and are also consequently less sweet than Belgian and Swiss chocolates. Traditional American chocolates are even lighter and sweeter than Belgian and Swiss chocolates, and have more pronounced and identifiable flavors.

Americans have a sweeter and lighter palate than most Europeans when it comes to their chocolate, but in recent years the American palate has been changing. The nouvelle American chocolate is French-inspired and is thus darker and less sweet. It also has less pronounced flavor, being more subtle and harder to identify. Most nouvelle American chocolates are shell-molded rather than enrobed.

The U.S. is one of the biggest chocolate distributors in the world with two of the top leading international chocolate manufactures: Hershey’s and Mars. The American chocolate business is big business and has considerably grown at a fast rate more than any other country in the world. The U.S. chocolate industry started to grow during the American Revolutionary war, beginning 1765 when the firs chocolate factory was established. Thomas Jefferson, former U.S. president, became a chocolate lover and even wrote to John Adams that “The superiority of chocolate, both for health and nourishment, will soon give it the same preference over tea and coffee in America which it has in Spain.”

France produces some of the finest gourmet chocolates in the world. It has long been popular among the royal family and was even considered a luxury. During the reign of Louis XIII, his wife, Anne of Austria, declared chocolate as the official drink of the French court. Wife of Louis XIV, Maria Theresa or Austria, shared her love of chocolate with the French people.

Swiss chocolate is one of the top exports of Switzerland together with watches. Nestle, one of the biggest chocolate brands in the world, originates from Switzerland. It was first established in 1819 by François-Louis Cailler. Other top Swiss chocolate products include Suchard and Lindt. Swiss chocolate is equated with high quality, made with the finest ingredients using pure cocoa butter, and with high manufacturing standards.

Belgian chocolate is famous for its wide variety of flavors and fillings, presented in the famous confectionary gift, the “praline.” One box of chocolates can contain several flavors and fillings using a variety of fruits and nuts, and an assortment of chocolate types, usually dark and milk chocolate.

Stay Healthy, Eat Chocolates!

hen we think chocolate, we think of mindless indulgence and guilty pleasures, not health benefits. Indeed, it is more like the antithesis of health and nutrition in our minds as we have learned since we were little kids—that eating copious amounts of chocolates can have dire consequences and therefore forbidden to some extent (you can’t eat it before a meal as well as during nighttime). But thanks to new scientific findings, it turns out that chocolates have health benefits too, particularly dark chocolate.

Lowers Your Blood Pressure

According to a scientific report published in the Aug 27, 2003 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association, dark chocolate (but not white or milk chocolate) helps lower blood pressure. Dr. Dirk Taubert from the University of Cologne, Germany, together with his colleagues, conducted a study among seven women and six men between the ages of 55 to 64 who were diagnosed with mild high blood pressure ranging from 84 as the lowest (diastolic blood pressure) to 153 as the highest (systolic blood pressure). Each patient was instructed to eat one 100-gram candy bar (containing 480 calories) every day for a period of two weeks. Half of them had to eat dark chocolate while the other half had to eat white chocolate. They were also instructed to avoid eating foods that had similar calories and nutrients to offset the 480 calories contained in the 100-gram candy bar. By the end of the second week, those who were given dark chocolate saw their blood pressure drop significantly— an average of 2 points for those with diastolic blood pressure, and 5 points for those with systolic blood pressure. While those who were given white chocolate did not see a drop in their blood pressure. Still, don’t make this an excuse to binge on chocolates. Moderation is still the healthiest way to go.

A Significant Source of Antioxidants

In another study published in Nature’s Aug 2003 issue, dark (but not white or milk) chocolate was found to contain potent antioxidants, which helps fight free radicals and other destructive molecules that cause various ailments from heart disease to cancer. Dr. Mauro Serafini of the National Institute for Food and Nutrition Research in Rome, Italy, together with his team, conducted a study on seven women and five men, aged 25 to 35, who were all in perfect health. Each were instructed to eat 100 grams of dark chocolate for a day, 100 grams of dark chocolate together with a glass of milk on another day, and 200 grams of milk chocolate on yet another day. After an hour of eating the chocolate, it was found that dark chocolate, when eaten alone, increased the total antioxidants in the blood, particularly the levels of epicatechin which is a healthy compound found in cocoa. Milk chocolate was found to have the lowest level of epicatechin. Milk was found to interfere with the absorption of antioxidants and therefore when eating dark chocolates, better to enjoy it as is, which is the best way anyhow.

Mediterranean Cheeses

used to think that Mascarpone was a little horse wearing a blindfold, then a clever person told me it was a cheese, but later an even cleverer person said it wasn't actually a cheese at all, so I asked if it really was a small horse. 'No', they said 'it's a curd', so now I'm not sure if it's a horse, a cheese or a native of a much troubled area of Asia.

Some of the less confusing cheeses of Italy are Ricotta, a firm, white cow's milk cheese, Mozzarella, a soft buffalo milk cheese and Parmesan, the ever popular, hard cheese of Parma. It is believed that Parmesan has been produced in the area for at least seven hundred years and the basic methods of production haven't really changed.

The Mediterranean bowl is a hotspot for cheese making, and each area has its own favourites. The hundreds of different cheeses are derived from goat, cow, sheep and buffalo milk, and each has its own distinctive flavour. My personal favourite is Feta, the soft, crumbly Greek cheese that brings to life any salad dish. This is one of the oldest cheeses in the world, made as long ago as six thousand years. In 2002, the Greeks won an importation battle of denomination, and earned the sole right to name their cheese 'Feta'. It is made from sheep milk or a combination of sheep and goat milk. It's worth visiting Greece solely to enjoy a Greek Salad drizzled with Olive Oil. Why is it that when you try to reproduce these tastes in your own country, it's never quite the same? Of course, Greece produces many other cheeses, but none are as popular as Feta.

Spain too has its fair share of cheeses to choose from, the most famous being Manchego, made from pasteurised sheep milk in the La Mancha region of the country. This may need an acquired taste, but it should smell of roast lamb when cut. It is sold at various stages of maturity. At thirteen weeks it is considered 'curado' (cured), whilst after three months it is 'viejo' (old). Other well known cheeses of Spain are the hard Queso Iberico, Zamorano, made from ewe's milk and Picos de Europa, the blue cheese which is also known as Valdeon and eaten with honey for breakfast.

Portugal, having a small section of Mediterranean coast has Serra de Estrela, its most famous cheese which has been produced by shepherds in the mountainous region of Biera for centuries. This cheese can still lay claim the title of hand made, as the curds are parted by hand as they always were. This is a very soft cheese that has a sweet yet almost burnt flavour.

The French love and produce numerous cheeses, but one of the best in my opinion is Neufchatel, a soft, white table cheese. I'm cheating a little here as the cheese actually originates from Normandy, but this cheese does warrant a mention. Its grainy texture hides a delightful taste of mushrooms. As it matures, it develops salty taste that isn't for everyone. Amongst the endless list of French cheeses are Brie, commonly known as the queen of cheeses, Roquefort, the king of cheeses and Camembert which dates back to the eighteenth century.

The ideal way to taste cheese at its best is to go to the country and enjoy it along with other local products. Often, the wine chosen to accompany the cheese can make a great difference, and vice-versa. This is where local knowledge comes into its own, and in my experience, the people of the Mediterranean are only too willing to help you enjoy your experience.