Smoothies have come to replace breakfast for a lot of people. The reason is pretty simple, morning is the busiest part of everyone’s day. You rush around getting ready for work and to start your day. Most often, the one thing that takes a beating and that is often neglected is breakfast. So, if you find yourself missing on some solid breakfast, despair not. Grab some yogurt and make some smoothie for yourself to have it on-the-go.
Many smoothie recipes call for yogurt. This is because yogurt smoothies are the healthiest of the lot with their rich probiotic content. Also, when you add your preferred fruit or vegetable, you get all the vitamins and energy essential for your body. Yogurt smoothies can also help you get rid of your hunger pangs and cravings. You can gulp down on these delicious yogurt smoothies. Use these awesome yogurt smoothies recipes to make something healthy and take it along with you.
Since mornings are rushed, you can make these smoothies at night and store in the fridge. In the morning, grab some yummy yogurt smoothie on the way as you go about your day.
Dining with your friends and family is always a pleasant experience. A fine dining is always the safest choice when you wish to go on a date or take your family for dinner. The ambiance is calm and you are supposed to dress appropriately. You would definitely enjoy the calm dining experience and relish the food served to you. If you are the adventurous kind or love experimenting with new places, then you might not want limit this inquisitive nature of yours just to trekking or visiting new places. You can extend this eagerness of trying new things to your cuisines as well and not limit yourself to a fine dining.
People have become very creative these days and it knows no limits. You would find yourself face-to-face with various innovations that has gripped the imagination of various restaurateurs. Their restaurants are not just fine dining restaurants anymore, they are governed by various themes. Here are some of the best and quirky themed restaurants that is now on everyone’s wishlist.
These different themed restaurants take some getting used to but have garnered a lot of fan-following in recent times. So, give in to your adventurous side and make a dash to either of these restaurants.
Sweet, succulent and a globally loved delicacy, lobsters are enjoyed universally despite their high price. It is a lesser known fact though that lobsters in the 19th century used to be a poor man’s food! The turn of the century saw a shift in the public opinion and lobsters became a prized possession of the fishermen. Now lobsters are hunted, at times killed and sold at highly competitive prices. Lobsters are not only expensive but also intimidating. All lobster lovers who enjoy the white and firm meat often are unable to muster up the courage to cook lobsters at home! This is mostly due to its intricate and complex frame and often due to the repulsion of cooking a lobster that is alive. What is unknown to many is that lobsters can be cooked easily by boiling.
That’s right, boiling is the most popular, easy and healthy method of cooking any and every food. However firm a vegetable or meat may be, boiling makes every food item tender and easily edible. Boiling lobsters too, is a great way of preparing any lobster recipe. The goodness of boiling is not merely restricted to making the meat tender. When it comes to lobsters, boiling makes lobsters easier to pick and clean. Boiling also helps in easily pulling off the meat from the shells when they are cracked. Boiling makes lobsters more convenient to eat and helps retain the flavor of the meat. Boiled lobster is a healthy source of protein, vitamins and minerals when enjoyed in moderation.
Boiling a fresh, dead or alive lobster in sea water is considered the best way to retain its characteristic ocean flavor. It also helps to evenly cook the meat. Those who do not have access to ocean water can use sea salt while boiling lobster. While boiling the lobster, you must make sure that the pot used to cook lobster is large enough so that the lobster is completely submerged in the water. It is also important to note that the lobster is not crammed so that it can be stirred at a later point. To boil, you must place adequate water in a pan and add two spoon full of sea salt and bring the water to a rolling full boil. Once the water is boiled, place the lobster into the pan and bring it back to a boil. You can also poach and parboil the lobster. This is done by simply blanching the lobster into half and repeating the boiling process!
You can also steam lobsters if you have a steaming pot or dish! Steaming the lobster is known to enhance the flavor and bring out a more tender meat. Steaming unlike boiling, cooks the meat slower. You can also avoid overcooking the meat if you steam it.
You can choose any of the boiling or steaming methods mentioned above and add the flavor of your choice to make a delectable lobster dish! You could also store the boiled lobster and make different kinds of recipes out of them. If you are not too inclined to cook elaborately, you could just boil the lobster and season it with some freshly ground pepper and lemon and enjoy your healthy meal with a tasty dip!
The world would be less interesting if everything in it didn’t have a story about it. These stories or legends have a certain appeal to it. Once you are familiar with it, you would start seeing the object in a different light altogether. These stories would give you an insight into what makes it what it is!
Even your food and beverages have ancestors you can trace it back to. When you are sitting in a bar and sipping on some margarita, did you ever give it a thought about how it originated? Well, everything evolves and your favorite drink too has evolved. What was a simple margarita back then has been modified and now when you surf the internet for various margarita recipes, the list is endless.
The origins of margarita is a bit murky as there are many stories behind it. One such popular belief is that it was invented by Carlos Danny Herrera at his restaurant Rancho La Gloria near Mexico. He had created this drink for the vivacious Ziegfeld dancer, Marjorie King. The story states that Ms. King was allergic to all sorts of spirits other than tequila. So, Herrera tried making a special drink for his customer with tequila, lime, and some salt. And this is the recipe of the first ever margarita.
The second popular story is quite different. According to it, it was not some bartender who came up with the margarita recipe. Instead, it was a Texas socialite, Margaret Sames a.k.a Margarita Sames. It is believed that she had randomly mixed some spirits together and concocted this widely popular drink. However, if you wish to have a professional opinion, then the famous cocktail historian David Wondrich has something to say. After much research, he came to the conclusion that the margarita has evolved from a cocktail called daisy. Daisy was a mixture of citrus juice, alcohol and grenadine served with shaved ice. After a period of time, the Mexican tequila daisies became popularly known by its Spanish name margarita.
There are a lot of assumptions about how the famous drink came into existence and these stories give you something to ponder on. If you wish to try your hand at making the original margarita, pour some tequila, Cointreau and lime juice in a cocktail shaker with some ice and shake it vigorously. Strain the drink into a martini glass and soak half the rim in water and half of it in salt. Add a lemon wedge on the rim and there, your original margarita is ready to serve. You can look up different margarita recipes on the internet and become a savvy bartender at your house parties!
Maintaining a low cholesterol diet can be a challenge, especially if it means cutting down on your favourite foods. However, if you have set your mind to nourish a healthy heart, there are many alternatives, which can delight your taste buds and cut down the level of LDL or bad cholesterol in your bud. And remember, you do not need a doctor’s prescription to switch over to a low-cholesterol diet. Planning and maintaining a healthy diet will eliminate the need for extreme measures or visits to the doctor.
Control portion size
Overeating can cause an increase in your cholesterol level. It’s all about the proportion. Also, a lot of people each more to finish off their leftover food or whatever extra lying on the table. Not wasting food is a good idea; however, in such cases one should distribute it to the needy. Once you learn when to stop eating, you can be assured of good heart health as well.
Limit your intake of saturated fats
Although there is no conclusive proof that intake of saturated fats can lead to heart disease, they do push up the level of bad cholesterol. On the flip side, they also contribute to the good cholesterol and cut down the level of triglycerides. The bottom line here is to reduce the intake of saturate fats including meat, milk, and cheese. You can replace them with low-fat alternatives or stick to minimum weekly intake in case of meats.
Get rid of trans fat
Your body can certainly do without trans fat in any form. They clog the arteries, push up the levels of triglycerides and can add to your weight. Trans fats including hydrogenated oils, processed food, bakery products, chips and other similar snacks, and carbonated drinks might be good to taste but not for health.
Include fresh fruits
Any healthy diet plan should include at least five servings of fruit per day. Whole fruits are much more nutritious than fruit juices. You can eat them as such or mix up a salad of three or more. Save this healthy snack for your mid-morning hunger pang.
Add soluble fibre to your diet
Fibre can help you to cut down the bad cholesterol in your body. Our body cannot digest these fibres but as they care eliminated from the body they carry toxic wastes along with them. You can include fibre in the form of oats, brown bread, brown rice, barley and whole fruits. Beans and lentils are also a good soluble fibre, and are good for heart.
Include sea-food in your diet
Omega-3 fatty acids found in sardines, herrings and salmons can down the levels of bad cholesterol in your blood.
Replace red meat with healthier alternatives
Protein is essential for our bodies, animal protein, especially red meat can cause more harm than good. You should look for alternatives like skinless chicken and fish.
Drink plenty of water
Water is functioning of the various organs in our body. It aids digestion, boosts our metabolism and helps in functioning of the heart.
Adopt healthy snacks
Nuts are excellent for your overall health. They fill you up while lowering your cholesterol. So, make sure to include a handful of nuts in your diet like walnuts, almonds and cashew nuts are all good for your heart.
Cut down on salt and sugars
Cutting down on these white foods promote a healthy body. Lowering the level of salt controls your blood pressure and controlling sugar intake guards you against Type-2 diabetes.
Vegan is the latest food trend of 21st century. Not only it’s light on the stomach but, it is also a great initiative if you are planning to quit meat once and for all. You don’t need to always rely on diners every time you crave for some vegan food. You can always prepare them at home. Let’s go through a three course meal that are exclusively for vegans.
Soup:
A simple yet filling soup that you can prepare at home is the lentil soup. Easy to prepare, it requires less than half an hour of your kitchen time. Boil and pressure cook brown pulses (or pulses of your choice) for 5 to 10 minutes. Keep the consistency (thick or watery) as per your requirement. Add 2 table spoons of olive oil to a pan, once heated add finely chopped onion and garlic to the oil and cook them brown. Blend tomato in a mixer and add it to the pan, add kosher salt, pepper of your choice and cook it till it starts to form bubbles. Mix both, the pressure-cooked pulse and the gravy in a pot and cook it for another 5 minutes, serve hot in a bowl.
Appetizer:
Cut a cauliflower into small pieces, wash them thoroughly in hot water and set them to dry. Add half teaspoon of smoked paprika, garlic powder and salt and mix them well. While you do this, preheat the oven for 15 minutes. Sprinkle the mixture on all sides of the cauliflower pieces and set them on baking sheet laid on a baking tray. Bake them for 10 mins, change the sides of the florets and bake them for another 10 minutes until you see them turning brown. Serve them with cream cheese sauce or a dip of your choice.
Main course:
Missing the old BLT sandwich? Those slices of bacon stuffed between slices of vegies and bread. The sauce and the slices of cheese would make it more irresistible. Well, fret not, you can still treat yourself with an all-vegan BLT sandwich. Take two slices of multigrain bread, apply vegan mayonnaise (available in stores) on either side of both the slices. Cut tofu into thin slices and drain-press them well add the slices into a margination of half table spoon soy sauce, two tablespoon tomato paste, one tablespoon liquid smoke and keep them set for couple of hours. Once set bake them in an oven at 400 degrees for 8-10 minutes. Place the tofu slices between veggies of your choice (add jalapenos if you want to make your BLT a bit spicier) place a slice of cheese and cover with the slices of bread and grill them to perfection.
Buffalo meat also known as bison, has emerged as a popular red meat variant in the past few decades. It is a yummy alternative to beef, and is a bit expensive too. But if comparisons are drawn, bison is a healthier red meat option. Packed with proteins and essential nutrients, the buffalo meat has less calories and fats as compared to beef.
The animal from which this leaner red meat is acquired is void of any external hormones, steroids or antibiotics for growth and enhancements, unlike the cow. These buffalos raised on the farm are left to graze the grass freely, i.e. it isn’t excessively domesticated, making its meat richer and highly nutritious. This also helps the environment as it naturally curbs the overgrowth of pastures.
In terms of flavor, buffalo meat is mildly sweet, and denser as well. If you are considering to try or switch to buffalo meat, there are many recipes that you can attempt with it. One of the recipes that you can try with the bison meat is the recipe of buffalo burger.
But why start off with a burger? Because a burger is fuss free and familiar part of our diets. It’s fun, easy to make and even easier to gulp down. You can serve this burger for family and friends during the weekends, or just simply whip it together if you are super famished.
Here’s how you can make a simple but a delectable buffalo burger.
So, for a buffalo burger recipe all you need is grounded buffalo meat, seasoning of salt and pepper, sliced onions and celery stalks and some blue cheese. Firstly, you will need to make patties out of the meat by mixing the buffalo meat and the seasonings thoroughly. If you like you can also add some eggs in the patty mixture. On a pan gently saute sliced onions in butter, with chopped celery and the crumbled blue cheese.
After cooking these ingredients properly, grill the bison patties in another pan in olive oil. Grill them for around 5 to 7 minutes. Remember not to keep them in the pan for too long, as they can get excessively dry. Aim for a medium rare, and then toss them on the grilled buns, add the mixture of caramelized onions and celery. Then slowly incorporate the lettuce leaf, and a tomato slice. You can also add Worcestershire sauce or mayonnaise if you like.
Apart from the juicy buffalo burgers, there are many other recipes that you can experiment with, using the buffalo meat. You can make soups, pastas, kebabs, steaks, meatballs, tacos, pizzas, etc. Check out various cooking websites that can help you with amazing ideas to incorporate buffalo meat in your daily diet.
While on Television, you might have often drooled on food channels airing various restaurants across the United States showing their best-selling and irresistible delicacies, which would make you go bonkers and urge you to try them then and there. But you can’t since you live far off from the place. No need to put a lid on your cravings anymore, you can try preparing many of those delicacies in your own kitchen.
To prepare a vegetable salad with Italian dressing, you will need, half cup Italian salad dressing, three tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese, one tablespoons sugar or equivalent substitute, one raw egg or egg beaters equivalent or two tablespoons mayonnaise and one fourth cup olive oil.
Combine the above-mentioned ingredients (sans olive oil) and place it on the top of a double boiler over simmering water. Add the dressing mixture and olive oil and whisk continuously until the mixture is thick and heated through. Remove it in a container and chill for several hours before using. Cut the vegetables of your choice and mix them well with this dressing with an additional dash of olive oil. Relish it with a side of baguette.
We have always wanted to make burgers the way they prepare at diners and food trucks. They innovate in a way that makes those recipes even more relishing. Take for example cheese filled Burgers, they are nothing but ordinary burgers which have their patties center filled with cheese. Here’s how you prepare them;
For ingredients, you will need, half a cup of finely chopped onion,1 tablespoon ketchup, one teaspoon prepared mustard, one fourth teaspoon salt, a teaspoon pepper, half pound lean ground beef, one fourth cup finely shredded cheddar cheese, two hamburger buns, split Lettuce leaves and tomato slices and other veggies of your choice.
In a small bowl, combine the first five ingredients. Crumble beef over mixture and mix well. Shape into four thin patties. Sprinkle cheese over two patties; top with remaining patties and press edges firmly to seal. Grill, covered, over medium heat for six minutes on each side or until a meat thermometer reads 160°C and juices run clear. Serve on buns with lettuce and tomato if desired.
The diaphragm muscle in our body is responsible for separating the chest cavity from the abdominal cavity. Hiccups are a result of this muscle spasming and contracting while the vocal chords suddenly stop the intake of air through the cavity.
A full stomach is normally the number one reason causing hiccups, which can be due to overeating, consumption of more alcohol than what your stomach can handle. Even smoking, changes in temperature which can be due to consumption of something cold followed by something hot. Hiccups can also be the cause of sudden emotional change or stress or excitement.
The duration of hiccups is uncertain. It can last anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours. Persistent hiccups have known to last for more than forty-eight hours, and there is a rare condition which causes hiccups to last beyond a month. This condition is referred to as intractable hiccups which can all lead to exhaustion, weight loss, and even insomnia.
However, the main question that arises is how to stop hiccups?
Hiccups are not a very severe condition and usually go away on their own after a couple of minutes or so. This is of course excluding persistent and intractable hiccups. However, when somebody asks how to stop hiccups, medical professionals recommend the following easy methods and ways to cure hiccups.
Have something sweet: Although not very effective, swallowing a spoonful of sugar can help irritate the esophagus causing the nerves to reset which will stop the diaphragm from spasming, thus curbing hiccups.
A spoonful of vinegar: Vinegar has a sour taste, just a teaspoon of vinegar will do fine. However, when it comes to finding a more effective remedy on how to stop hiccups, peanut butter might just work.
Peanut butter: A perfect combination of something sweet and sour, but more importantly sticky. A spoonful of peanut butter will take some time to gulp down and will give your jaw muscles a nice workout while trying to scrape it off those tough corners. This unusual exercise will help interrupt your breathing patterns and will help bring hiccups under control. Peanut butter is a classic solution on how to stop hiccups, having proved quite effective time and time.
Brown paper bag: Breathing deeply in and out of a brown paper bag is one of the ways to cure hiccups. This exercise will increase the carbon dioxide levels in your bloodstream thus forcing you to draw in more oxygen to stop spasming the diaphragm.
The kitchen is one of the most important parts of the household. It is where you would cook a delicious meal. It must be constructed with the quality fittings and fixtures. A kitchen sink is one of the most important components in the kitchen. Thus, it is essential to take care of the kitchen sink as well. There are a number of varieties available for kitchen sinks in the market today. From indoor to the outdoor kitchen sink and a variety of kitchen faucets, you have a wide variety to choose from. Find below some of the most commonly installed kitchen sinks in every household today.
Apron Kitchen Sinks
Apron kitchen sinks are also known as farmhouse kitchen sinks. The front wall distinguishes this kind of sink from others. The counter and the sink front are the same. Apron kitchen sinks are generally single large basins. The most popular kind of installation is the level and integrated one with the counters. Sometimes, they are installed to create a country style as well. It is on top of a freestanding table or a cabinet on their own and not encased by counters. The best part about apron kitchen sinks is that they can hold big baking pans and casserole at ease. Since there is not much room between the edge of the counter and the sink; people can get closer to the latter, which helps in avoiding fatigue.
Cast Iron Sinks
Cast iron is probably the oldest material used for making kitchen sinks which is still a popular choice. The glossy, bright enamel finish appeals to homeowners because they last really long. As the name suggests, this kind of sink is manufactured by casting iron. Bare rods will get rusted, thus cast iron sinks are topped with thick porcelain enamel finish. The tough enamel finish resists scratches and stains.
Drop-in Kitchen Sinks
Drop-in kitchen sinks are also known as top mount kitchen sinks. This is one of the most common types of kitchen sinks which are installed from above. Generally, a hole is made into the counter material and the kitchen sink is dropped inside from above. The rim of the sink is then sealed with silicon. Drop-in kitchen sinks are easy to install since not much needs to be done especially if the hole is already cut in the counter.
Stainless Steel Sinks
Stainless steel sinks are the first choice for many since they are sturdy as well as inexpensive. Moreover, they are easy to clean. They would not scratch easily and fits well on most countertop surfaces. It is better to opt for the slightly thicker variety since they are supposed to last long.
Undermount Kitchen Sinks
Undermount kitchen sinks are attached to the counter’s bottom side. It makes use of the base structure of the cabinets in order to get support. This gives a consistent look on the countertop. While this is made keeping in mind solid surface countertops, they can be installed on composite or marble surface as well along with others.
The term breakfast’ literally stands for breaking the fast which is the long duration gap after dinner. When you are having the first meal of the day, it is for you to ensure that you are eating a healthy and nutritious meal. Cereals, high fiber ones especially, loaded with minerals, vitamins, and proteins, are the best way to start your morning. They are quick to make and is common among children, working people as well as athletes. There are many types of cereals available in the market. Before choosing, it would be wise to check which one would be healthy and tasty at the same time. It is not that you will have cereals in all the meals throughout the day, but only in the breakfast, so ensuring the best high-fiber cereal is essential. If you incorporate the high-fiber cereals in your daily routine, you would soon get results in your high-fiber diet.
The following are some of the cereals that are rich in fiber and make a healthy and tasty breakfast!
Kellogg’s raisin bran: It is a favorite cereal among most people. Most importantly, it is high in fiber as well as protein and is low in fat. They have tender sugar-coated raisins that taste delicious. It has a high sugar content rate, so consumption must be limited.
Kellogg’s all-bran buds: It holds as much as 36 grams of fiber in one cup, the highest rate of fiber content among all cereals. It also provides B-6 and B-12 vitamins along with 6 grams of protein per cup. It tastes excellent, but the sugar content is 24 grams per cup which is a bit high.
General mills fibre one: The fiber content is 28 grams per cup of the cereal. It has no sugar in it, which is an additional benefit if your aim is to reduce weight and control sugar intake.
Cascadian farms hearty morning: It contains granola, whole grains, and barn. With 8 grams of fiber per cup, it keeps you, as the name suggests, hearty till late afternoon or till lunch.
Grape nuts: It contains 14 grams of fiber and is equally rich in vitamins and proteins. It tastes great and is a quality product.
Familia Swiss muesli: It contains 10 grams of fiber and is a very healthy cereal to begin your mornings with, as they are rich in protein as well, weighing 12 grams per cup. However, the sugar content of this cereal is on the higher side. Thus consumption should be moderate and not over the board.
Cascadian farms multi-grain squares: As the name suggests, it contains various grains like corn, rice, and whole wheat. They are high in fiber and also in protein. The cereal comes in small squares, which are an additional attraction if you want your kids to have cereals.
Add your favourite cereal to a bowl of milk and ensure a nutritious breakfast every single day.