Raw Gourmet Food - Getting Sexy in the City

Raw Food is not a fad. There are many restaurants serving raw gourmet food. The New York Post stated that "Raw Food is going glam". Manhattan's Raw restaurants are a feature of "Sex and the City". So why not grab a bit of the action and learn how to make something raw yourself?

Gourmet Raw Food - What Exactly is it?

A Raw Food diet consists of more than 50% fruit, vegetables and other uncooked foods. If food is subject to heat above 118 degrees, the nutrients and enzymes are killed, which explains the lovely smells coming from food cooking in a kitchen. These are the nutrients disappearing into the air that you should be eating.

What Food do the Raw Food Restaurants Serve?

Here's the kind of delicious things you may choose from menu if you visited Saf's Restaurant in London.

Spicy coconut soup (Rice noodles, coconut, chili, coriander, cherry tomato, mange tout, button mushrooms and lime zest),
Shitake Dumplings (Wood ear mushrooms, Chinese cabbage, tofu, carrot and caramelized black vinegar)
Chocolate Ganache Tart (Candied pecan crust, pear sorbet, spiced rum and pear compote, cocoa syrup)
Not only does this taste superb, there are so many different colours to make it look fantastic.

How Easy is it to Cook Raw Gourmet Food at Home?

Pretty easy would you believe? The ingredients are surprisingly easy to get hold of. However it would be first useful to get hold of a good Raw food recipe book to tell you where to get the ingredients from and suggest some good recipes. It is important to maintain a balanced diet. Cutting out the bad foods is fine but it is important they are replaced by the correct good foods.

What are the Typical Ingredients?

The main ingredients are fruit and vegetables. Then there are the many nuts - walnuts, almonds are particularly good, as well as seeds - flax, sunflower, hemp and sesame. There is such a wide range of colours in all these ingredients that any meal you make is not only healthy and tastes delicious but also looks extremely colourful on a plate.

How can Eating Raw Benefit You?

Following a Raw diet will lead to huge benefits in your health.

weight will naturally fall off
lose cellulite
reduced cholesterol
reduced blood sugar levels
glowing skin and shiny hair
loads more energy
much better sleeping
...And generally feeling great and more mentally focused.

How to baker absolute absurd ramen

This is an original recipe for a twist on the traditional ramen dish. Prep Time: 10 minutes. Makes 1 serving. INGREDIENTS 1 package of ramen 3 tblsp vegetable oil 1 tsp cumin 1 tsp chile powder 1 tsp dried, chopped jalapeño Dash of curry powder MATERIALS Small pot Skillet Spatula DIRECTIONS 1. Cook the noodles, following the directions on the package. Don't add the spice packet yet. 2. While the ramen cooks, pour the oil in the frying pan. Add more oil as needed to coat the inside of the pan. Heat the oil at a medium temperature. 3. When the noodles are cooked, drain the water from the pot. 4. Add the spices [including the spice packet that came with the ramen] to the oil. Mix them into the oil with the spatula. 5. Add the noodles to the oil and fry for about 60 seconds. If the noodles begin to stick to the pan, add more oil. 6. Serve the pasta immediately; it's best when hot. Enjoy!



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKXwgnFvRW8&hl=en

Chocolate Rasperry Cake

This is a moist chocolate cake recipe, it is a 3 layer cake with 2 layers of raspberry cream filling and topped with a chocolate raspberry butter cream icing. Are you salivating yet?

To make this cake use your favorite chocolate cake recipe or for the inexperienced baker just use 2 dark chocolate cake mixes.

Mix with

8 medium eggs

2 cups cold water

2/3 cup oil

Mix on medium speed until well blended, scrape bowl, mix for 1 more minute.

Pour in equal portions into 3 (10x2 inch baking pans).

Bake at 350 degree preheated oven for approximately 30 to 40 minutes or until done. Cool on rack, remove from pans, level cakes by cutting off rounded tops.

Purchase a good fruitful raspberry pastry filling (H&H) is the best, place about 1 pound of filling in a bowl and add whip cream to it (whip the cream first) now fold them together until you reach the desired flavor and thickness (don't make it too thin).

Use any chocolate butter cream recipe that you like and add to the icing (black raspberry extract) until you reach the desired flavor (if you make the icing too thin just add some more 10x sugar).

Assemble the cake:

On the bottom layer put a dam of icing around the edge and your filling in the center and smooth to level, repeat for 2nd and 3rd layer, decorate as in picture, use shaved chocolate or chocolate jimmies in center of the top.

Vancouver has the Best Chinese Food in the World according to Condé Nast Traveler magazine

www.globaltvbc.com www.concierge.com Vancouver may be hosting the WInter Olympics, but it also seems to triumph in dumpling devouring. Over 38 meals in 12 restaurants, our indefatigable writer beholds the thrill of noodle pulling. (Warning: Don't read this on an empty stomach) Forget about dumpling hunting in San Francisco. Cancel that pilgrimage to Flushing, Queens, for fish ball soup. If it's Chinese food you're after, pack your chopsticks for Vancouver—and say a silent thanks to geopolitics as your plane lands. It was 1997's repatriation of Hong Kong that began the mass influx of Chinese to British Columbia's lower mainland, a migration which continues to this day, fueled in part by Canada's immigrant-friendly policies. Today, almost one in five of Vancouver's two million residents is ethnically Chinese. Combine those demographics with the city's legendary seafood and you have the recipe for an outsize number of extremely good Cantonese, Shanghainese, and Szechuan restaurants. According to local Chinese food critic and writer Stephanie Yuen—who was born in Hong Kong and has eaten extensively there, in mainland China, and in Taiwan—Vancouver is home to the best Chinese food in the world. Period. Perhaps that explains why visitors from Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou have started showing up in Vancouver just to eat the food they so love. Maybe it's time you did likewise. Conde Nast Traveler magazines picks for some great Chinese dishes are: Best seafood: The Golden ...



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyCwVVEVWAw&hl=en

Indian Spices - Used in Cooking and in Medicine

Spices and Indian cuisine go hand in hand. The traditional Indian curry is seasoned with an array of delicious spices. Some of these flavors appear in desserts too, which goes to confirm that `spicy` isn`t always `hot` in the usual sense. It`s no wonder that in per capita consumption of spices, India is at the top.

Indian cooks use lots of seasonings in varied colors and shapes. Black mustard seeds; cinnamon; cardamom; golden turmeric; gingerroot; chilies are among the most common. In many countries the closest you can get to all these spices comes in the form of curry powder, which is a poor substitute for the combinations of spices - called masalas - used in India.

Depending on the particular dish of foods such as vegetables, fish, chicken, and red meat, individual spices are combined right at cooking time. Even different flavors can be extracted from the same spice by roasting it, grinding it, dropping it whole into hot oil, or combining it with other seasonings.

Garam masala is a warm and versatile mix of spices used in a range of Indian dishes. It isn`t all that hot (in the chilli sense), but consists of spices that warm the body, such as cardamom, cloves and cinnamon.

Besides the major division of North Indian and South Indian cuisine, the country's regional cultures, such as Bengali, Goan, Gujarati, and Punjabi, have their own unique preparations. Religious beliefs also affect the taste of the food. Thus, in the state of Gujarat, a person might have a traditional Hindu vegetarian meal, but in the northern part of India he might enjoy a meaty Mogul meal. You could dine on different nights with Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Jain, and Christian families may result in no duplication of meals.

Well Suited to Spices
India produces more spices than any other country-over 60 different kinds. And it exports spices and spice products whole and in powder form to more than 160 countries. South India leads in the country's spice production. Cochin, on the Arabian Sea, provides direct access to the spices that have long thrived in the lush, tropical climate along the Malabar coast.

In the past, black pepper, known as the "king of spices," was the initial prize sought by traders. It originated in the monsoon forests of the Malabar coast in southwest India. Not only was it a food seasoning but it was also a vital preservative for meats and other perishable foods. By adding spices, foods that would otherwise spoil and be useless could be preserved for a year or more without refrigeration.

More Than Just For Food Flavorings
Generations of Indian girls have utilized the bright golden root of a plant related to ginger, called turmeric. A turmeric paste is rubbed on the skin for improving its condition. Today, the perfume and cosmetics industries use oils from allspice, caraway, cinnamon, cassia, cloves, nutmeg, mace, rosemary, and cardamom in the blending of volatile and fixed oils to make dozens of alluring perfumes. These ingredients are also added to soaps, talcum powders, after-shave lotions, colognes, mouth fresheners, and countless other items.

In medicine, spices are also used. Ginger, turmeric, garlic, cardamom, chili, cloves, and saffron are among the spices recommended by Ayurveda, the science of medicine propounded in the Hindu Sanskrit writings, the Vedas. In many Western lands, Ayurveda is viewed as an 'alternative medicine' today. An Indian pharmacy today will likely stock a turmeric salve for cuts and burns, and many other spice products for varying ailments.

Weight Loss Guide to Chinese

You might think you have to avoid Chinese food when on a diet, but that is simply not true. Follow this simple guide to eating Chinese while losing weight and you can still enjoy Chinese dining on any weight loss plan.

Chinese Restaurant Guide

Choosing between a low calorie meal or a high calorie buffet is all up to you. Some Chinese foods are a dieter's delight and others are a nightmare waiting to happen. Generally, the difference is all in the protein but not in the way you think. Protein is generally high in fat unless you stick to chicken or shrimp.

Deep Fried, no-no or yes-yes?

While you would think deep-fried is a no-no, this isn't that bad of a choice. They are just blanched in hot oil making the oil content small. However, the stir-fried veggies, that is a different story. Steer clear of those bad boys.

Family Style Dining is Tempting to Dieters

This is a tough one to handle. It is way too easy to pile up the plate. If you must go there, try your hardest to start with small portions and only go back for seconds if you are really hungry. Those second portions are diet killers.

When in China Eat Like the Chinese

The Chinese are thin for a reason. Rice is the focus of the meal. Meat is only a side dish to be eaten one bit at a time. Take their lead and eat this way and you will see the pounds drop off. In addition, if you must have a fatty side dish, combine it with much leaner ones as well.

Fill Your Plate With:
· Bean Curds, Not Fried
· Fish
· Shrimp
· Scallops
· Hot and Spicy Soup
· Veggies
· Velvet Sauce

Limit Your Plate With:
· Batter Fried Foods
· Breaded Fried Foods
· Crispy Noodles
· Sweet and Sour Anything
· Sweet Duck Sauce
· Twice-Cooked Anything
· Anything on a Birds Nest

Follow these tips and you will find eating Chinese is easy, even on a diet. You won't have to avoid the lure of the Chinese restaurant or the Chinese take-out. Weight loss is about living and you can't live if you can't eat. So, sit back and enjoy your life. Chinese take-out is only one-step. You just got one-step closer to your ultimate goal of losing weight and getting healthy.

Mexican Corn Recipe - Hot and Spicy Mexican Corn

You can substitute 2 cans of mild green chili peppers and a dash of hot sauce for the jalapeno peppers.

2 (15.25 oz.) cans whole kernel corn, drained

1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese

1/4 cup butter

10 jalapeno peppers, chopped

1 teaspoon garlic salt

Directions

In a medium saucepan, combine the corn, cream cheese, butter, jalapeno peppers and garlic salt. Cook over medium heat for about 10 minutes or until heated through. After the cream cheese begins to melt, stir constantly.

=> Mexican Corn Recipe: Rich Mexican Corn

This corn is very creamy and delicious.

1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup milk

1 (16 oz.) pkg. frozen corn

1 red bell pepper, diced

4 to 8 fresh jalapeno peppers, diced

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a saucepan, melt the cream cheese and the butter over medium low heat. Mix in the milk and stir until smooth and bubbly.

In a medium casserole dish, mix in the frozen corn, red bell pepper, and jalapeno peppers. Pour in the cream cheese mixture and toss to coat.

Bake for 35 to 45 minutes until bubbly and lightly brown.

=> Mexican Corn Recipe: Mexican Corn on the Cob

Look for Cotija cheese in your local supermarket. If you can't find it then substitute the cotija cheese with any cheese of your liking.

4 ears corn, shucked

1/4 cup melted butter

1/4 cup mayonnaise

1/2 cup cotija cheese, grated

4 wedges lime (optional)

Directions

Preheat an outdoor grill for medium high heat.

Grill the corn until hot and lightly charred all over (for about 7 to 10 minutes) depending on the temperature of the grill.

Roll the ears in the melted butter, spread evenly with mayonnaise. Sprinkle with cotija cheese and serve with a lime wedge.

Goa Food and Cuisine

The fine blend of Portuguese, Indian and Arabian has rendered a special flavour in the cuisine of Goa. The identity of Gao is rooted in the deep involvement of food, drink and merriment. Fish and rice are the staple food of Goa and the main occupation is tourism. Food of Goa is simple but the uses of spices and chillies provide special flavour and identity to the dishes that remain intact in visitors memory and enticing for the other parts of the world.

Salads, curries, soup and fries are prepared from the variety of crabs, lobsters and jumbo pomphrets which is known throughout the world for its delectable taste. Rice, fish and coconut are the integral constituents of Goan food. Coconut milk, tamarind and kokum (a sour deep purple fruit) are the other important elements that provide distinct flavours and taste to Goan cuisine. Dishes of this place ranges from prawns to sausages, chicken to beef and numerous vegetarian dishes. Some of the appetizing culinary delicacies of Goa are:

Fish Curry:
This is other prominent menu of Goan cuisine. Ambot-Tik which means Sour-Spicy is the most popular fish curry of Goa. Petals of the 'Kokum solam' are used that provides sour taste to this curry. The red coloured 'Kokum' fruit is also known for medicinal value used in this menu. This is prepared from grounded coconut mixed with turmeric powder, ginger, red chillies, coriander seeds, peppercorns and cumin seeds. The mixture is cooked and dried. After that fish, mango and kokum are added in process and again cooked till it is ready to eat. It is known for its aromatic flavour and hot favourite dish among seafood lovers.

Seafood:
Goa is among the best place where can have the best varieties of seafood. According to the taste one can demand seafood here. Though the main diet of this place is fish curry and rice yet one can choose its varieties from Goan menu. Kingfish is the most common seafood item but shark, mackerel, pomfret, tuna and doumer are favourite among tourists. Here one can also enjoy the fine taste of shellfish like lobster, crabs, tiger prawns and prawns. Among the seafood one can also taste squid and mussels. The varieties of seafood menu and their distinctive tastes are the centre of attractions for tourists who visit this place.

Goa is the hub of non-vegetarian because it cater the appetizing need that ranges from meat, seafood and varieties of chicken menu. Some of the other popular menus are Prawn Balchao, Chicken Cafreal, Fish Recheado, Pork, Pork Vindaloo and many more.

How to Live and Work as a Teacher in Thailand : Determine What to Buy at a Supermarket in Bangkok

Crackers, noodles, milk, sugar, yogurt and butter are a few of the items that you can cheaply and easily obtain at a supermarket in Bangkok. Learn more in this free video series. Expert: Sean Graham Bio: Sean Graham is an expert in hair re-placement design. He has worked in South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, teaching and designing new hair pieces. Filmmaker: Sean Graham



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUeO1ono9Ig&hl=en

Gaya Street Sunday Market Part 2 Malaysia 08

Gaya Street Sunday Market, fruits and vegetables.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thhRQIgyiY8&hl=en

From Sweet to Spicy - Gourmet Popcorn Flavors to Excite Your Taste Buds

Shopping online has made finding anything remarkably easy. From clothes to cars and ground coffee to gourmet flavored popcorn, it seems that anything you can imagine is for sale on the Internet. In the popcorn world, the Internet has opened up the doors of flavor to people who at one time were only familiar with the four basic flavors of popcorn, butter, kettle corn, caramel, and yellow cheddar. Now with e-commerce, people from all over the world can enjoy flavors of popcorn as far out as jalapeno, as classic as cinnamon, or as tangy as white cheddar.

There are many outstanding popcorn merchant websites on the Internet offering many types of different popcorn flavors and tins. Gourmet flavored popcorn tins make a great gift for any occasion. By ordering online, you are sure to find the flavors and tin that perfectly matches your gift recipient's taste (or your taste when ordering for yourself).

Consider the many flavors available and don't be afraid to try something new and different. Some of the most delicious popcorn flavors are the ones that may sound a little unusual at first, but after that first handful, you'll understand how these flavors can come together to make one tin of delicious popcorn. This article looks at a few favorite gourmet flavored popcorn tins.

Jalapeno, Caution Extreme Heat

Jalapeno gourmet flavored popcorn is perfect for anyone who wishes to add a lot of heat to his or her popcorn eating experience. It combines the delicious fluffy crunch of plain and buttered popcorn and throws in a completely delicious southwestern twist. It is perfect for the popcorn eater who is tired of traditional flavors and wants to blaze a territory of spice all their own.

On the heat scale, jalapeno peppers don't rank too high. But don't tell that to your taste buds! You'll be searching for the nearest source of water after taking a few bites of these pepper dusted kernels.

The Traditional Flavors

If you are making a gourmet flavored popcorn purchase, it never hurts to take a look at the four main traditional flavors; kettle corn, butter, caramel, and yellow cheddar. There is a reason why these are the most popular popcorn flavors and there is a reason why they made it onto this list of popcorns to buy. The reason is simple. They are delicious. It is hard for other flavors to even approach the flavor and crunch of these popcorn varieties.

You can either buy these flavors separately, in a 3-way tin (which includes everything except kettle corn), or you can mix and match the four flavors into your own 3-way tin.

The Sweet And The Heat

Another great group of options when considering gourmet flavored popcorn are the sweeter flavors like cinnamon, chocolate, and almond pecan popcorns. These popcorns are all known for being on the sweeter side of the taste spectrum. They are the perfect choice for relaxing nights taking in a film or hanging out with friends. However, don't expect all of these three flavors to be tame on the taste buds as cinnamon is known to pack quite the punch.

When deciding which popcorn flavors are right for you and your family, mix it up a bit by choosing a divided tin. This way you can choose flavors that you already know you like along side one or two new varieties.

Healthy Cooking Video: Thai Peanut Noodle Salad

Devin Alexander, using an Infinite Circulon nonstick cookware straining stockpot, cooks a Thai Peanut Noodle Salad with Grilled Chicken with reduced calories, which is great for weight loss.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qT3WmJE-1NE&hl=en

The Benefits of a Natural Gas Grills

It would be a waste of your summer if you are not having at least one or two outdoor barbecues. With that said, having a good grill is always a must in spicing up your barbecue pleasure. The most conventional type of grill nowadays is the natural gas grill. It provides you the feasibility in integrating directly to the gas line in your home without the need of additional fuel source. It also provides you the ability in controlling the temperature on different areas of the gas grill. This allows you to cook different foods in different areas with different temperatures. There are generally three types of cooking surfaces available, this includes flat surface, BBQ surface and ribbed surface. The wide selections of grill surface give you the full flexibility in cooking variety of foods at any time.

Some of the natural gas grills do come with a non-sticky surface, this feature allows you to perform the cleaning without any hassle. Most of these are heavy in weight, but i would say this should not be a problem since it has to work by hooking it to your home's natural gas line. If you have a very limited space in your home, this type of grill might not be suitable for you, as it normally occupies much more space as compared to a propane or charcoal grill. Furthermore, it is not a portable type of grill where you can move around.

If space allows, a natural gas grill is a good choice for your grilling pleasure. Get a good grill and start the BBQ cooking with your family today.

Orecchiette With Sausage & Tomatoes

A delicious classic Italian recipe of orecchiette pasta with sausage and tomatoes. Cook dinner tonight like an authentic Italian chef and impress your family and friends with this easy to make Italian recipe!

Ingredients:

2 pounds small, sweet tomatoes

1 pound spicy Italian sausage

4 tbsp butter

1 onion, chopped

1 garlic clove, crushed

4 fresh oregano sprigs, finely chopped

4 cups dried orecchiette

1 tbsp olive oil

salt and pepper

freshly grated Pecorino cheese, to serve

Preparation:

1 - Blanch the tomatoes in boiling water. Drain, skin, and seed the tomatoes, then roughly chop the flesh. Chop the sausage into small pieces. (squeeze the meat out of the skins)

2 - Melt the butter in a saucepan and fry the sausage until it is golden. Add the onion and garlic and fry over a medium heat until softened.

3 - Add the tomatoes and oregano to the saucepan and season to taste. Lower the heat and simmer for about 10 to 12 minutes.

4 - Bring a pan of salted water to a boil. Add the orecchiette and oil and cook for 12 minutes, until just tender. Drain the pasta and transfer to a warm serving dish. Spoon the sausage and tomato sauce over the pasta, toss to coat, and serve with the cheese.

Servings: 4

Enjoy with classic Italian recipe tonight with family and friends and with your favorite bottle of Italian red wine!

Mini Meals - Small Meals Made Easy

When you are in a real hurry, need a quick-fix meal or just want something on the smaller side, mini-meals are a great idea.

The variety is endless and can include just simple foods that you have in your fridge or cupboard.

These simple meals can take the edge off if you get really hungry but don't have time for a full meal. Some people also tend to be grazers and eat several smaller meals throughout the day instead of the standard three bigger meals and that's when having a variety of mini-meal ideas ready to go comes in handy.

Here are some ideas for quick and easy mini-meals that are not only delicious but are budget-friendly too.

Cottage Cheese: low-fat cottage cheese is a good base and can be combined with any of the following fruits or veggies (cut into bite-sized pieces) and a sprinkling of chopped nuts like almonds, walnuts, pecans, or hazelnuts.

Here are is a suggested list of fruits and vegetables to add to your cottage cheese.

- Fruit:
blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, apples or applesauce, banana, mandarin oranges, diced mango, peaches or pineapple

spices and sweeteners for fruit: agave syrup, cinnamon, honey, maple syrup, nutmeg

- Veggies:
carrots, celery, chayote squash, cucumber,green beans, jicama, leeks, mushrooms,onions or scallions, frozen, thawed and drained peas, radishes or tomatoes

herbs for veggies: basil, cilantro, dill, oregano, thyme, rosemary

Soup: Soup is a great way to get more vegetables in your diet and if you take a good vegetable soup (either homemade or a store bought variety with natural ingredients) and add a little something extra to it you can have a meal in a bowl in minutes.

Here are some easy additions to try:

-cooked and cubed white or sweet potatoes
-cooked brown or basmati rice
-canned beans (rinsed and drained)
-grilled chicken, grilled salmon
-canned salmon or tuna (drained)
-baked tofu (cut into cubes and add to soup)

Fresh spinach is a nice addition, just stir it into the hot soup and the leaves will wilt into it. You might also like to try fresh chopped herbs like cilantro or basil for a nice topping for the soup. You could also add a small handful of grated fresh cheese.

Pita Sandwich: Here's a simple idea that is so quick and can be made with practically anything you have on hand. I usually mix a few ingredients together, stuff the pita and then add a flavorful topping. Here are some of my favorite stuffings.

- mix together: tuna, a little mayonnaise, celery, tomatoes
topping: chopped fresh basil

- mix together: cooked chicken, low-fat Greek style plain yogurt, cucumbers, sweet red peppers
topping: sprinkling of chopped green olives

- mix together: Oriental style baked tofu, mustard, sliced scallions, water chestnuts
topping: alfalfa or radish sprouts

- mix together: spread some almond butter in the pita on one or both sides and add some diced strawberries or bananas
topping: a sprinkling of cinnamon or drizzle of honey

- mix together: cottage cheese, sliced leeks, capers, tomatoes
topping: walnut pieces

- mix together: cooked ham (diced), mustard, low-fat Swiss cheese cubes, shredded lettuce
topping: a sprinkling of diced apple

- mix together: spread a layer of whipped low-fat cream cheese inside one or both sides of the pita and add a mixture of diced apple and diced celery
topping: a sprinkling of cinnamon

- mix together: canned salmon (drained), thinly sliced red onion, low-fat Greek style plain yogurt, diced sun-dried tomatoes (no oil variety - softened in warm water)
topping: sprinkling of dried dill or chopped fresh dill

- mix together: diced hard-cooked egg, mayonnaise and spicy mustard, diced celery
topping: radish sprouts and grated parmesan cheese

- mix together: basil pesto, sun-dried tomatoes (in oil, drained and chopped), diced black olives, shredded cabbage
topping: crumbled goat cheese

Simple Fruit Combos: Use these combinations and simply place in a bowl and enjoy or place in a container to take to work for a light lunch.

- cantaloupe, honeydew and watermelon cubes combined with crumbled blue or feta cheese

- apples chunks with grapes and gouda cheese

- red and green grapes, celery chunks and goat cheese crumbles

- mango, papaya and sliced almonds

- nectarine and peach slices or chunks tossed in a little low-fat plain or vanilla yogurt topped with crumbled cinnamon graham crackers

- strawberries and blueberries tossed in lemon yogurt with whole grain crackers on the side

Mini Sandwiches (Open-Faced) - whole grain English muffins topped with:

- marinara sauce, thin sliced mushrooms, low-fat cheese slice

- thin layer of tomato paste, basil leaves, cooked chopped shrimp, grated parmesan cheese

- mashed black beans topped with salsa and grated soy cheese

- hummus topped with baby spinach leaves, thin slices of zucchini squash or yellow summer squash, thin slice of beefsteak tomato and salt and pepper to taste

- vegetarian refried beans, thinly sliced tomatoes, thinly sliced cucumbers, vegetarian pepper jack cheese slice

- mashed banana, chopped dates and chopped walnuts

- low-fat mayonnaise, deli turkey slices, romaine lettuce and sweet red pepper slices

Other Quick Mini-Meal Options:

- String Cheese: another simple and quick idea and can be eaten with either sliced or cubed fruit of choice or vegetable sticks using carrots, celery, jicama, sweet peppers, cucumbers or chayote squash

- Fruit or Veggie Skewers: a simple idea and easy to make

For fruit skewers: try apple and pear cubes with green or red grapes skewered on small wooden skewers alternating with cubes of sharp cheddar cheese or choose your favorite fruit and cheese combos

For veggie skewers: try chunks of sweet peppers, cherry or grape tomatoes, mushrooms, zucchini or even summer squash and your favorite cheese

Give these simple ideas a try when you need a quick mini-meal in a hurry.

How to Make Great Tasting Homemade Salsa

One of my favorite appetizers is salsa and I always enjoy having a good bowl of it as a pre dinner snack for the big game or at a friend's house for a dinner party. One of the ways that you can make this happen is by making your own homemade salsa that you can bring along for everyone to enjoy. Making you own salsa is easy to do and can be done in just a few simple steps.

The first step naturally is to make sure you have all the right ingredients that your salsa recipe calls for. For this process we will be using the following ingredients: 1 white onion, 2 15 oz cans of tomato sauce, 1 serrano pepper, 4 cloves of garlic, 1 juiced lime, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, a pinch of ground black pepper, and 1/2 bunch of cilantro.

The recipe is pretty simple in that all you need to do is dump the onion into a mixing bowl and set it aside. Next, add the tomato sauce, pepper, garlic, lime, salt, and black pepper into a mini food processor or a normal size food processor if you've got a larger amount of ingredients, and the mix these items together. You'll want to get a pretty good blend and once you have achieved this, add the cilantro and pulse the mini food process a few times to chop the cilantro and blend it into the mix.

When you have completed this step, pour the tomato sauce mixture into the mixing bowl with the onions and stir everything together. Once you have all of the ingredients blended together, place the end product into the refrigerator and let it chill for a couple hours before serving. After it has cooled it can be served with your favorite tortilla chips.

When finished, you'll have a great tasting batch of homemade salsa that you and your friends will enjoy and you'll be proud of the work that you have done with just a little bit of time spent.

Protein Powder - Egg White Protein Powder

If you've followed any diet, or tried to lose weight and build muscle at the same time, then you are familiar with egg whites and egg white protein powder. But you probably do not know why egg whites are so special and used so often by bodybuilders. Egg White is composed of 40 different types of proteins and is almost pure protein. Hence its popularity as egg white protein powder.

The egg white is known as the albumen, which comes from albus, the Latin word for white. The egg white is low in carbs, calories, and fat and contains almost all of the protein available in the egg. Now you understand how egg white protein powder came to be. The egg white is often called the albumen because that is the main protein in egg white. Since all of the cholesterol of an egg is in the yolk, the egg white is an excellent source of protein, free of cholesterol. The egg white is made of protein only and it has only 15 calories. Each egg white is presumed to be 1 ounce of protein.

When using fresh egg whites, if the egg white is watery instead of gel-like, don't consume the egg. A cloudy egg white is a sign of freshness, not age, because of the high carbon dioxide content when the egg is laid. One egg white is one liquid ounce and may be kept in the refrigerator for several days or may be frozen. Newer eggs are harder to peel because the egg white is higher in acid when first laid, making the white adhere to the shell. A clear egg white is an indication the egg is aging. That thick, white ropy substance in the egg white is not an indication of an embryo or a malformation of the egg. Egg white is also a good source of riboflavin. Dried egg white protein powder is not as messy as what comes out of the egg.