Remember the old saying : feed cold and starve a fever.It's true. What you eat can help or hinder your illness,whether it's a full-blown stomach virus or a slight sniffle.You need to be prepared since it's cold and flu season already.
One of the best elixirs I can recommend is that Jamaican classic ginger beer. It's great for taming a stomach virus along with helping to relieve gas and bloating.Many confuse it with its' milder cousin ginger ale. The beer is actually brewed and another tummy settler - lemon juice - is added in.It's much stronger than ginger ale which is nothing more than fizzy water with ginger flavor added.The first was created surprisingly not in Jamaica but in Ireland in 1851 while the other was created in 1907 by Canadian John McLaughlin. The company evolved into Canada Dry and they still make the mellow drink. Try to have one or the other (not many stores sell ginger beer,Stop &Shop has its;' own brand and Stewart's also makes it).Another must for virus season is any cola drink, whether it be Coke, Pepsi or a generic in house brand.Cola poured over crushed ice also helps soothe a troubled stomach, .All kitchen should have herbal teas, especially peppermint or chamomile.These not only help a stomach that's been ravaged by a nasty bug but great in calming a sore throat.Colds benefit from fresh pressed juices This is the time to get oranges along with apples and pears ad start juicing..
Boullion cubes should be in every kitchen. Individual cubes ca be turned into broths for one,They are a great bridge from not eating to be able to get down some food. It seems vegetable bouillon is the mildest. There's none of that slightly fatty aftertaste that you get with the chicken and beef kinds. They also make excellent bases for simple soups such as pastina, orzo and my all time favorite pompeist, the Piedmontese mix of broth, beaten egg and bread crumbs.Stay away from canned soup. They're not hat your stomach needs. Homemade is better. Have these with crackers and oysterettes.in fact these will probably be the only kinds of foods that you'll eat after a stomach virus. What about transitioning into regular food again. Think dry as in sliced chicken or turkey.If you don;t feel like cooking a whole bird, remember that diners always have these two meats . Order a plain no mayo sandwich from yours on toast.from your local one. The BRAT diet-bananas, rice, applesauce, toast is a tried and true one for diarrhea. Bananas are chock full of potassium which will be depleted thanks to it being forced out fo you. Rice with butter is another good transitional food. For more flavor cook the rice in broth as opposed to plain water. Use the applesauce if you're craving something sweet.
Be prepared this cold, flu, and virus season with the right foods. These will help you get over those nasty bugs, sniffly noses and scratchy throats.Having them is your best for a speedy recovery.
Showing posts with label crackers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label crackers. Show all posts
Monday, October 17, 2016
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
Summer Cooking Checklist
It is summer and surprisingly we should be stocking up on certain staples for the season ahead Usually this is done for fall and winter but there are also certain foods and ingredients that are vital for warm weather cooking. It makes for easy,breezy summer cooking.
One of the musts of any summer kitchen is olive oil. This can be used for salads , marinades and fries.it's perfect for making that French summer classic -bagnat-an olive oil drenched veggie and tuna sandwich. Mix it wit some hot pepper flakes , rosemary or even dried lavender for a dip for French or Italian bread. Lemon is another summer must have. Again it is great as a vinegar alternative or in a marinade. Also have plenty of it around for home made lemonade and iced tea.(it can also be used for beauty too, in lightening hair for natural highlights and as a facial astringent). Tomatoes are another summer kitchen must. Luckily some of the first harvests are coming in. It can be chopped up for bruschetta or salsa or coarsely chopped for a fresh tomato sauce. Tomatoes Provencale are an excellent side , perfect with grilled steak. The grape and cherry ones make healthy and tasty snacks for the kids too. Strawberries and bananas should also be on hand. These are great in salads, smoothies and parfaits.
Always have rice on hand.It's an easy cook up in hot weather and it's versatile with almost everything. It can be added to bolster up soup or made into an interesting salad with peas and parsley. Rice can be used to make an easy pudding too.Any macaroni is another summer basic. It can be the base of so many different salads as well as being turned into a hot ,tasty meal in one pot pasta. Combine it and broth for a quick soup on a rare chilly day. Bouillon cubes are another must They are great in making quick broths or instant homemade soups like minestrone. Every home chef should also have a box of crackers handy. These can be just plain Saltines or the more buttery Ritz. Apart from being a good snack for the beach or picnic, they can be ground into crumbs for coating veggies and fried chicken. Cracker crumbs are also good for breading shrimp and fresh caught crabs. I like to have flour too, It's great for making batters for squash flowers and crepes. Also have seltzer on hand too. Yes it's refreshing as a drink but it's superb to add to batters and dough for lightness and fluffiness.
It may be summer but you still need to stock up. Keep these basics on hand to create tasty dishes and desserts. It'll make for easy cooking, grilling and baking
One of the musts of any summer kitchen is olive oil. This can be used for salads , marinades and fries.it's perfect for making that French summer classic -bagnat-an olive oil drenched veggie and tuna sandwich. Mix it wit some hot pepper flakes , rosemary or even dried lavender for a dip for French or Italian bread. Lemon is another summer must have. Again it is great as a vinegar alternative or in a marinade. Also have plenty of it around for home made lemonade and iced tea.(it can also be used for beauty too, in lightening hair for natural highlights and as a facial astringent). Tomatoes are another summer kitchen must. Luckily some of the first harvests are coming in. It can be chopped up for bruschetta or salsa or coarsely chopped for a fresh tomato sauce. Tomatoes Provencale are an excellent side , perfect with grilled steak. The grape and cherry ones make healthy and tasty snacks for the kids too. Strawberries and bananas should also be on hand. These are great in salads, smoothies and parfaits.
Always have rice on hand.It's an easy cook up in hot weather and it's versatile with almost everything. It can be added to bolster up soup or made into an interesting salad with peas and parsley. Rice can be used to make an easy pudding too.Any macaroni is another summer basic. It can be the base of so many different salads as well as being turned into a hot ,tasty meal in one pot pasta. Combine it and broth for a quick soup on a rare chilly day. Bouillon cubes are another must They are great in making quick broths or instant homemade soups like minestrone. Every home chef should also have a box of crackers handy. These can be just plain Saltines or the more buttery Ritz. Apart from being a good snack for the beach or picnic, they can be ground into crumbs for coating veggies and fried chicken. Cracker crumbs are also good for breading shrimp and fresh caught crabs. I like to have flour too, It's great for making batters for squash flowers and crepes. Also have seltzer on hand too. Yes it's refreshing as a drink but it's superb to add to batters and dough for lightness and fluffiness.
It may be summer but you still need to stock up. Keep these basics on hand to create tasty dishes and desserts. It'll make for easy cooking, grilling and baking
Friday, November 2, 2012
Motel Eating
Thanks to Hurricane Sandy I am now lodged in a motel a mile from my house. It has heat (a blessing) and TV(even more of a blessing). However the kitchen is lacking though I'm not complaining. Yet there is a problem with eating right in situations like this.
Most of the stores in my area have been closed now for a few days. That poses a problem for anything fresh from meats to fruits to vegetables. If you're in that situation think about canned. There are enough varieties of food that can be got form a simple tin.Most motels and hotels have microwaves in them,. Buy a few containers (trust me you'll use them later at home) and heat up a veggie or beef barley soup. Having a hot meal also gives a sense of normalcy if you have kids. Sitting them down to dinner or lunch, even at a motel table brings it home for them.
As for snacking -if it makes you and your family happy then go for it. Usually drugstores like CVS Walgreen's and Rite Aid have the best and still a wide variety of snacks. Crackers are OK as are pretzels. Any kind of small cracker like goldfish or CVS/ cheddar stars are fun. There are also fruit chews that may cause th e kids to bounce off the walls, but at least they're eating (because of enormous upheavals, kids may lose their appetites and just swear off food all together)A lot of hotels and motels do have juice bars or juice machines. Keep them away from soda and iced coffee drinks.Boxed milk, whether plain or chocolate flavored ,is a better bet.
These are rough times for all of here in the tri state area. It's hard to have a normal diet, especially when you have to move to a motel or deal with closed groceries or supermarkets. Bear up.Just go with the flow and just eat to survive no matter what you eat.
Most of the stores in my area have been closed now for a few days. That poses a problem for anything fresh from meats to fruits to vegetables. If you're in that situation think about canned. There are enough varieties of food that can be got form a simple tin.Most motels and hotels have microwaves in them,. Buy a few containers (trust me you'll use them later at home) and heat up a veggie or beef barley soup. Having a hot meal also gives a sense of normalcy if you have kids. Sitting them down to dinner or lunch, even at a motel table brings it home for them.
As for snacking -if it makes you and your family happy then go for it. Usually drugstores like CVS Walgreen's and Rite Aid have the best and still a wide variety of snacks. Crackers are OK as are pretzels. Any kind of small cracker like goldfish or CVS/ cheddar stars are fun. There are also fruit chews that may cause th e kids to bounce off the walls, but at least they're eating (because of enormous upheavals, kids may lose their appetites and just swear off food all together)A lot of hotels and motels do have juice bars or juice machines. Keep them away from soda and iced coffee drinks.Boxed milk, whether plain or chocolate flavored ,is a better bet.
These are rough times for all of here in the tri state area. It's hard to have a normal diet, especially when you have to move to a motel or deal with closed groceries or supermarkets. Bear up.Just go with the flow and just eat to survive no matter what you eat.
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Hurricane Cuisine Part Two
Yesterday I wrote about hurricane cuisine - what do do during a hurricane and shortly after. That was for people who are going to ride out this catastrophe and its' aftermath at home . However there are those who are also in shelters and may be not be allowed home for a few days. What to do then? Again , just improvise but use your brains. be smart about your choices and what to do when you return home.
The first thing if you can read this or yesterday's column good. You have some power and access to the Internet. You may be reading this off your phone or IPad.Hopefully it's not in a shelter however if it is , just stay calm. Your backpack should have your favorite crackers and cookies along with bottled water and energy drinks. These are the best to take with you - after all they're portable comfort foods and feel like home. If you haven't and you still have time to shop,get some juice boxes and Gatorade for the kids.Bananas and apples are the fruits to take with you. They're not going to spoil as fast as other fruits and they're less messy too. Jello and pudding cups are another good choice. They're full of vitamins plus they're easy and fun to eat, especially for the kids.
When you get home be prepared to scour your fridge. Hopefully it was emptied before you left however if not , then clean out. Food can last up to two or three days in a closed fridge or freezer. Throw out any fresh cuts of meats and milk that smell bad. Mayo will keep twenty four hours as do some creamy salad dressings Toss those if there's an unusual or sour odor.Most cheeses will keep as some veggies. This also applies to some frozen foods and dinners. If your fridge has completely gone without power for more than tow or three days and you're not there to cook the food, then toss it. Start fresh with whatever your stores will have.
In a few days things will more or less get back to normal. In the meantime, make the best of this foodwise. Be creative but above all be smart. Make the right choices when you're in the shelter and when you return home.
The first thing if you can read this or yesterday's column good. You have some power and access to the Internet. You may be reading this off your phone or IPad.Hopefully it's not in a shelter however if it is , just stay calm. Your backpack should have your favorite crackers and cookies along with bottled water and energy drinks. These are the best to take with you - after all they're portable comfort foods and feel like home. If you haven't and you still have time to shop,get some juice boxes and Gatorade for the kids.Bananas and apples are the fruits to take with you. They're not going to spoil as fast as other fruits and they're less messy too. Jello and pudding cups are another good choice. They're full of vitamins plus they're easy and fun to eat, especially for the kids.
When you get home be prepared to scour your fridge. Hopefully it was emptied before you left however if not , then clean out. Food can last up to two or three days in a closed fridge or freezer. Throw out any fresh cuts of meats and milk that smell bad. Mayo will keep twenty four hours as do some creamy salad dressings Toss those if there's an unusual or sour odor.Most cheeses will keep as some veggies. This also applies to some frozen foods and dinners. If your fridge has completely gone without power for more than tow or three days and you're not there to cook the food, then toss it. Start fresh with whatever your stores will have.
In a few days things will more or less get back to normal. In the meantime, make the best of this foodwise. Be creative but above all be smart. Make the right choices when you're in the shelter and when you return home.
Friday, May 20, 2011
Amazing Tuna
Tuna is one of those foods that can simple or elegant. You can put it in salads or have it as steaks. It's great mixed in tomato sauce or blended with mayo. This fish is so versatile you can use it six or seven times a week and each time it will still be fresh.
Tuna has been eaten for centuries, mostly in Mediterranean countries such as Italy Greece and Spain.It's from the Latin word thunnus .It is a salt water fish mostly swimming in the warmer waters around the Equator, It' s abundant in both the Pacific and Mediterranean and most commercial tuna in the US is harvested from California. Americans eat about3.6 pounds of it a year whether in steaks ,salads, sandwiches or just straight from the can with crackers.
Tuna has several different recipes. It's now chic to throw it on the backyard grill. Tuna steak can be cooked a variety of ways and you can even make it rare. Most chefs marinate it to emphasize its' briny flavor. Canned tuna is great too. Bumblebee, that American kitchen standard, has even the yummy Italian style where the fish is preserved in oil and not water and also flavors such as lemon pepper and basil tomato. The flavored tunas are great in salads and make a neat twist on the traditional French Nicoise.
Tuna is a versatile fish that you can have as a tasty grilled steak or a salad. It always good to keep some on hand because it stretches a menu. It also adds variety to every day meals. Always plan on having it for summer dining.
Tuna has been eaten for centuries, mostly in Mediterranean countries such as Italy Greece and Spain.It's from the Latin word thunnus .It is a salt water fish mostly swimming in the warmer waters around the Equator, It' s abundant in both the Pacific and Mediterranean and most commercial tuna in the US is harvested from California. Americans eat about3.6 pounds of it a year whether in steaks ,salads, sandwiches or just straight from the can with crackers.
Tuna has several different recipes. It's now chic to throw it on the backyard grill. Tuna steak can be cooked a variety of ways and you can even make it rare. Most chefs marinate it to emphasize its' briny flavor. Canned tuna is great too. Bumblebee, that American kitchen standard, has even the yummy Italian style where the fish is preserved in oil and not water and also flavors such as lemon pepper and basil tomato. The flavored tunas are great in salads and make a neat twist on the traditional French Nicoise.
Tuna is a versatile fish that you can have as a tasty grilled steak or a salad. It always good to keep some on hand because it stretches a menu. It also adds variety to every day meals. Always plan on having it for summer dining.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Sick Day Food
Every year around this time I write about food s for a sick day. I know it becomes tedious but ther'es a reason I write an entry like this. I'm a magnet for all sorts of germs and right now I'm fighting off the double whammy of a cold and a virus. The problem for me is what to eat without upsetting the apple cart (pardon the bad analogy). The thing is I'm probably not the only one with the question of what to eat when you' re sick.
Soup is always good. It calms a restless stomach and it;s easy to make. , especially the homemade kind. I always have to boxes of bouillon on hand for my family's recipe of pompeist. it;s Piedmonte version of chicken soup - a cure all for anything. That's made for any illness .it has gotten me through a lot of colds and viruses over the years. It'sa simple recipe of making chicken or vegetable broth. adding beaten eggs and then bread crumbs. Another good soup is pastina. You can make pastina soup thick or thin . It's better when there it's thick though, it's hardier and more nutritious.
Another problem is snacking. Of course no one wants to have guacamole dip after a bout of a nasty stomach flu (ewww, looks like soemthing you just got rid of anyway) however if you're hungry nibble. Thin pretzels or dry Saltines are fine. They're not greasy and satisfy your need for crunch. Have these with Coke or ginger ale . These last are perfect for helping sooth a stomach irritated by the ravages of a virus. A sweet snack is any Social tea or Lorna Doone cookie. Stick with plain bland, short breads and some hot lightly sweetened tea.Don't munch or fruit or ice cream until you feel your stomach is up to it. Wait a few days before heading back to old favorites.
The best bet for any cold, flu or virus is eat light but nutritiously . You'll still receive your daily dose of vitamins and minerals but in a lighter form.these will help you fight whatever nasty bug you;re battling and also keep you satisfied.
Soup is always good. It calms a restless stomach and it;s easy to make. , especially the homemade kind. I always have to boxes of bouillon on hand for my family's recipe of pompeist. it;s Piedmonte version of chicken soup - a cure all for anything. That's made for any illness .it has gotten me through a lot of colds and viruses over the years. It'sa simple recipe of making chicken or vegetable broth. adding beaten eggs and then bread crumbs. Another good soup is pastina. You can make pastina soup thick or thin . It's better when there it's thick though, it's hardier and more nutritious.
Another problem is snacking. Of course no one wants to have guacamole dip after a bout of a nasty stomach flu (ewww, looks like soemthing you just got rid of anyway) however if you're hungry nibble. Thin pretzels or dry Saltines are fine. They're not greasy and satisfy your need for crunch. Have these with Coke or ginger ale . These last are perfect for helping sooth a stomach irritated by the ravages of a virus. A sweet snack is any Social tea or Lorna Doone cookie. Stick with plain bland, short breads and some hot lightly sweetened tea.Don't munch or fruit or ice cream until you feel your stomach is up to it. Wait a few days before heading back to old favorites.
The best bet for any cold, flu or virus is eat light but nutritiously . You'll still receive your daily dose of vitamins and minerals but in a lighter form.these will help you fight whatever nasty bug you;re battling and also keep you satisfied.
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