Showing posts with label elderflower. Show all posts
Showing posts with label elderflower. Show all posts

Saturday, March 21, 2020

Can Supplements Save Us

There's been a lot of back and forth about different supplements halting the coronavirus. Do they work? Don't they? What to take? That's the big question.  What's the answer? Truthfully there is none.

I found this one supplement at my local Walgreen's. It's Zarbees, a black elderberry based immune booster.
The company was started by Dr. Zak Zarbok a pediatrician, who started the company with  the idea of all natural cough syrup for both his patients and his kids. The company also manufactures vitamins and supplements for good health and good sleeping.There is also all natural sinus sprays and respiratory syrup.  I thought I tried the immune support. It's not bad tasting and is full of Vitamin C and zinc.It also has elderberry which helps to lessen the effect of the virus. The last keeps the immune system strong which is what I - and everyone need right now. Of course it also helps to isolate myself and get good nutrition and rest along with constant hand washing. Will it help? l can only hope.

You'll probably heard about colloidal silver slowing or even killing the coronavirus. It's all bunk and it's dangerous too.Chronic exposure to it can lead to argyria where the skin turns a silvery blue along with being damaging to the eyes and possibly the bloodstream. Don't fall for any of the hucksters selling it on TV on on online.  There is some new research showing that turmeric helps in boosting the immune system, yet researchers aren't sure why yet. You can take turmeric supplements (Now only at Wal-Mart. GNC stores are closed) however you can also get it in your store's spice section. It has a wonderful flavor and can be used as an accent for everything from beans to veggies. Make a point to use more of it in your cooking. You could add a multivitamin to your diet if you haven't already along with Vitamin C and D tablets.  These also help in boosting the immune system.

Is there a magic bullet supplement that will help in staving off the coronavirus. There needs to be more research on this new and deadly virus. Once the research has been established then, researchers and scientists can delve further in what can prevent it from happening.

Thursday, March 17, 2016

Egg-Centric Spring Desserts

One of the allures of Spring baking is that it uses basic  ingredients to create ethereal desserts.Gone are the heavy caramel, chocolate or nut laden sweets of winter,Summer is yet to come with it;s' variety of fruits Home bakers must use what's in the cupboard and that means the basic like the egg. It's versatile . and can be used in a variety of different sweets.

Melissa Clark wrote about this kitchen must have in yesterday's New York Times Food section. as she puts it eggs can be whipped into a froth from a liquid.They can be soft and trembly or solidly set.They can also leaven a cake or lighten it up, enrich it or thicken custards. Pastry chef, Thomas Raquel of the famed Manhattan restaurant, Le Bernardin agrees.He uses them , all year round, after all they're crucial in mousses,ice creams and pastries, however it's Springtime that he lets them shine. as the main ingredient.His Spring dessert menu includes an elderflower mousse,a tres leches cake and  appropriately an egg shaped dome filled with goat's milk mousse.The season brings about a longing for lighter desserts that are more fragrant and cleaner on the palate.Adding eggs are also more beneficial to textures too. Beaten ones can add an airy feeling when eating mousses and custards. They also can sharpen other flavors by lessening the need for butter and cream. They don't coat the tongue with a layer of butterfat which can dull flavors.


The recipes given are perfect for any Easter or Spring meal as well as being appropriate .Eggs were a seasonal food  with hens slowing down  or stopping all together to lay eggs when winter came. spring came with lengthened days, signalling to the birds to start laying again. Nowadays hens can lay eggs all year round thanks to the ever glowing electric bulbs in their coops.  Yet Spring and eggs are now forever linked with Easter, Passover and the vernal equinox. They represent the rebirth of the earth and all things green.It's seen in Easter cakes and breads along with Passover 's egg leavened nut tortes. The recipes offered are eggy  and light, great for ending any holiday meal. There is chocolate pavlova with chocolate mousse. If you think this a a bit heavy, don't .The mousse is light  and airy, the cocoa just gives it somewhat of a punch, For a more custardy fare home bakers should try the Portuguese egg custard tarts, a lovely mix of a yolk rich cinnamon laced custard and buttery puff pastry (which can be bought). A great Easter dessert is the lemon angel food cake with the zing of preserved lemon curd. The sweetness is cut by the saltiness of the preserved lemon curd. This last was contributed by Samantha Kinkaid, of High On Hudson, a pastry chef known for infusing her meringues with dried carrots and beets.

Let the eggs star in this holiday season's baking line up. They will add a lightness and richness to any sweet ending, from mousse to custard tarts. It's a perfect way of welcoming Spring, with light , airy desserts