Summer came and the rules became lax regarding the lockdown.After months of fortifying ourselves on good home cooked food, we went wild when restrictions were lifted. We're going back to our old habits of eating junk and overly processed food. Yet that's not good. We still have Covid-19. We still need to eat healthy to be healthy and reduce our risks.
One of the best ways to eat healthy is to take advantage of summer's bounty. This is tomato season and these gems can provide us with Vitamins C and K and a good dose of needed potassium. They're also versatile.Roasted tomatoes are delicious on flatbread drizzled with another good for you ingredient olive oil. They can be a great extra in all kinds of sandwiches and great on their own in a tomato sandwich.Make salsa cruda with them,a pasta sauce that is cooked when it's mixed with freshly boiled pasta. Another great summer dish featuring fresh produce is the French Provencale ratatouille. This is a delicious mix of tomatoes, eggplant , peppers and onion sauteed in olive oil and garlic. Different herbs such as basil and thyme are added for extra flavor. Cucumbers are another summertime fave that are also a must eat. They can keep you hydrated due to their high water content as well as lowering blood sugar and weight. Think about slicing them and serving them with a mix of Greek yogurt, chopped dill and olive oil as a side salad. You can also turn them into all sorts of variations on dill pickles.
Keep in mind to eat the fruits of the season too. Blueberries are big right now. Have a bowl of them for breakfast or dessert for a sweet treat. They are also the source of the most powerful antioxidants in the plant world. Again, they high in vitamins C and K as well as manganese, the last good for improving bone health and lowering blood sugar. Don't miss out on strawberries either. They too are loaded in nutrients, especially folates. They aid in heart health as well. If you're craving a chocolate treat then think about chilled strawberries dipped in dark chocolate for a decadent snack or dessert. They're also good sliced and blended into a smoothie with bananas. Don't forget any berry is good added to a salad. Blackberries are also in abundance right now. These ebony gems are rife in Vitamin A and good for brain functioning. A lovely dessert is a cup of them drizzled with raw honey. They're also tasty in Greek yogurt that's been sweetened with maple syrup or honey. Peaches are a summertime favorite too. They're great for preventing certain kinds of cancer as well as aiding the skin and digestion. Just slice one up for a healthy snack.
Take advantage of the bounty of the season. Eat right and healthfully for better immunity. It's easy to do with so many tasty fruits and veggies out there now.
Showing posts with label smoothies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label smoothies. Show all posts
Saturday, July 11, 2020
Saturday, August 17, 2019
Are Food Courts Still A Thing
Anyone who came of age in the Seventies and Eighties had to have hung out at a mall food court. It's where you could get a burger or taco, a scoop of ice cream or a slice of pizza. However with the dwindling amount of shopping centers in this country, are they still going strong?
Shopping malls were the center of everyone's universe, thanks to cars and credit cards.Friday and Saturday nights were the most visited.If you were lucky you lived in a county that allowed shopping on Sundays.One shared aspect of all of them was the food court.this was either a circular or square area, either in the basement or roof top of the mall.They made eating convenient.There were no anchor store restaurants to deal with;they always had that stuffy, old lady vibe ,thanks to the - well - old ladies who dined there.The food court offered exciting s menu options without being too costly.Food courts gave many their first taste of Japanese or Mexican. Some may have had their first veggie burger or crepe after shopping for something.Then food court cuisine started to creep into our home menus. There were machines to make curly fries and recipes for smoothies.They even changed with the are and the growing need for better and healthier fare.We all thought they were going to last forever.That was until big box stores like Target and Wal-Mart exploded on the American shopping .The computer age happened and it was hello to at home shopping goodbye to that trip to Macy's or Sears.
There are still malls out there,especially where I live in New Jersey.Many builders however opted for a fancier outdoor type of center, reminiscent of the first shopping malls.There are the ubiquitous Starbucks along some kind of heath conscious eatery.The food is always trendy, from fish tacos to acai bowls.There's a certain amount of what's call chi-chi.These eateries may offer respite after a few hours of shopping but there's not the small town feeling that food courts surprisingly had.The chains that were once part of mall life such as McDonald's and Sbarro's are now single standing buildings on highways.If a mall has a popular chain eatery, it's usually set off to the side as In And Out Burger at New Jersey's Bridgewater Commons and Tommy Bahama 's at the state's Woodbridge Mall.They don't have kids lingering about.It 's just going in for a $15 burger.There is some hope though for food courts. Crepes du Nord is now seen in several malls, sort from the food court.Burger King has updated it's menu to include the Beyond Burger while McDonalds has restyled itself to resemble a space age bistro with table service.
Malls may be losing in popularity but they are reinventing themselves.Food courts are following too.They'll both be around, with a new updated look.
Shopping malls were the center of everyone's universe, thanks to cars and credit cards.Friday and Saturday nights were the most visited.If you were lucky you lived in a county that allowed shopping on Sundays.One shared aspect of all of them was the food court.this was either a circular or square area, either in the basement or roof top of the mall.They made eating convenient.There were no anchor store restaurants to deal with;they always had that stuffy, old lady vibe ,thanks to the - well - old ladies who dined there.The food court offered exciting s menu options without being too costly.Food courts gave many their first taste of Japanese or Mexican. Some may have had their first veggie burger or crepe after shopping for something.Then food court cuisine started to creep into our home menus. There were machines to make curly fries and recipes for smoothies.They even changed with the are and the growing need for better and healthier fare.We all thought they were going to last forever.That was until big box stores like Target and Wal-Mart exploded on the American shopping .The computer age happened and it was hello to at home shopping goodbye to that trip to Macy's or Sears.
There are still malls out there,especially where I live in New Jersey.Many builders however opted for a fancier outdoor type of center, reminiscent of the first shopping malls.There are the ubiquitous Starbucks along some kind of heath conscious eatery.The food is always trendy, from fish tacos to acai bowls.There's a certain amount of what's call chi-chi.These eateries may offer respite after a few hours of shopping but there's not the small town feeling that food courts surprisingly had.The chains that were once part of mall life such as McDonald's and Sbarro's are now single standing buildings on highways.If a mall has a popular chain eatery, it's usually set off to the side as In And Out Burger at New Jersey's Bridgewater Commons and Tommy Bahama 's at the state's Woodbridge Mall.They don't have kids lingering about.It 's just going in for a $15 burger.There is some hope though for food courts. Crepes du Nord is now seen in several malls, sort from the food court.Burger King has updated it's menu to include the Beyond Burger while McDonalds has restyled itself to resemble a space age bistro with table service.
Malls may be losing in popularity but they are reinventing themselves.Food courts are following too.They'll both be around, with a new updated look.
Monday, April 1, 2019
Livfit Super Food A Super Addition
We are always skeptical about what additives are put in our foods. However there's one addition that's can be beneficial to our lives - Livfit Superfood.It is not only chock full of good ingredients but also flavor.It's an ingredient that every home chef should have.
Livfit Superfood is one of Better Body Foods, a Utah based company that has a wide variety of healthy products. There are protein powders and superfood blends that include such interesting ingredients as baobab (!) and my favorite Super Seeds. The company also has baking products such as organic cacao powder and coconut flour for baking everything from good for you cakes to muffins. Home chefs will appreciate their array of ancient grains and natural oils to cook with on a daily basis.
Livfit Superfood is one of Better Body Foods, a Utah based company that has a wide variety of healthy products. There are protein powders and superfood blends that include such interesting ingredients as baobab (!) and my favorite Super Seeds. The company also has baking products such as organic cacao powder and coconut flour for baking everything from good for you cakes to muffins. Home chefs will appreciate their array of ancient grains and natural oils to cook with on a daily basis.
It's a mix of chia , (yes that chia that grows on clay heads and figures)flax and hemp. The last is getting a lot of publicity right now but hemp does have benefits. It's loaded with antioxidants and fatty acids.
This is what the mix looks like close up.
I've sprinkled it on my salad. It has a nutty flavor, kind of like ground walnuts.I am going to put a heaping teaspoon in my oatmeal, just to get fiber into the daily diet.It's also going to be blended into homemade banana muffins and my mammoth M&M cookies to make them a tad less decadent. The blend can also be swirled into smoothies. Those can be frozen to create healthy ice pops for the summer. Of course it would be wonderful in loaves of homemade bread and rolls as well as pizza.it Super Seeds can also be used in making fruit crumbles too.
Today's directive is eat healthy.Livfit's Super Seeds can help you achieve that goal. Try some Super Seeds, not just for the taste but for the benefits!
Saturday, January 27, 2018
The All Powerful Banana
Bananas have been a staple in kitchens for over one hundred years. It's usually the first treat we eat and one of the first fruits we use as an ingredients It's the snack we carry to school or the office.Bananas also are packed with nutrients - the perfect fruit. It even has its' own carrying case.
Surprisingly a banana is a berry growing from a large herbaceous plant.Since the plant body is large and thick, banana plants are often mistaken for trees. The leaves are comprised of a stalk and a blade. There are the dessert or Cavendish kind which are bright yellow or the plaintain. The last is usually grilled, baked or fried, usually sliced wafer thin and deep fried until they resemble potato chips. Bananas are one of the world's oldest fruit, going back to 8000 BCE. The seeds traveled westward, across the Indian Ocean to Africa, where the Wolof tribe named it banaana. The Portuguese took it to western Africa and New World where banana plantations sprang up in Brazil. The plant also thrived in Jamaica where most banana plantations began.There is the myth that bananas are high in potassium which is not true. They are packed with nutrients that aid in heart health, thanks to being high in pectin, a much needed fiber. Americans eat mostly the deep yellow Cavendish variety, named for William Cavendish, the sixth duke of Devonshire. He introduced them to England in 1834, when only the aristocracy could afford them. Now they're in every one's kitchens, Shoppers can buy them green and let them ripen in a paper bag with either a tomato or an apple.
Bananas are a baker's delight. The most common treat is banana bread. Many novice bakers usually try a banana bread as their first effort. It is an easy bake, with a tasty mix of ripe bananas, brown sugar and walnuts mixed with butter, flour , baking soda and eggs. The batter is poured into a greased loaf pan and baked for about an hour. It's the perfect brunch bread, sliced and slathered with cream cheese,For those in a hurry there are the instant mixes that only require eggs, vegetable oil and water., The flavor won't be as genuine because there's dried banana instead of fresh,. They can also be turned into tasty muffins and cakes too.Melissa Clark gave a decadent banana cake recipe in the Wednesday New York Times Food section. Hers is a rich , lush one made with roasted(!) in their skin fruit.Lime juice and coconut are also added for a tropical flavor along with sour cream for richness.It's frosted with a coconut cream cream cheese frosting. and sprinkled with a generous amount of toasted coconut flakes. Of course bananas can be turned into healthy and tasty smoothies. Try one with yogurt along with skin milk for a refreshing sip after a walk or afternoon drink to wash down veggies and dip, Honey and wheat germ give it more of a good for you boost. You can also add some strawberries and swap out the honey for chocolate syrup.Try a coffee banana one sweetened with agave nectar. Greek yogurt gives it its' creaminess
Bananas are the perfect ingredient or snack. They fun to eat as well as being a great ingredient that add rich flavor to anything from cakes to breads and muffins to smoothies.Always have this versatile fruit in the kitchen.
Surprisingly a banana is a berry growing from a large herbaceous plant.Since the plant body is large and thick, banana plants are often mistaken for trees. The leaves are comprised of a stalk and a blade. There are the dessert or Cavendish kind which are bright yellow or the plaintain. The last is usually grilled, baked or fried, usually sliced wafer thin and deep fried until they resemble potato chips. Bananas are one of the world's oldest fruit, going back to 8000 BCE. The seeds traveled westward, across the Indian Ocean to Africa, where the Wolof tribe named it banaana. The Portuguese took it to western Africa and New World where banana plantations sprang up in Brazil. The plant also thrived in Jamaica where most banana plantations began.There is the myth that bananas are high in potassium which is not true. They are packed with nutrients that aid in heart health, thanks to being high in pectin, a much needed fiber. Americans eat mostly the deep yellow Cavendish variety, named for William Cavendish, the sixth duke of Devonshire. He introduced them to England in 1834, when only the aristocracy could afford them. Now they're in every one's kitchens, Shoppers can buy them green and let them ripen in a paper bag with either a tomato or an apple.
Bananas are a baker's delight. The most common treat is banana bread. Many novice bakers usually try a banana bread as their first effort. It is an easy bake, with a tasty mix of ripe bananas, brown sugar and walnuts mixed with butter, flour , baking soda and eggs. The batter is poured into a greased loaf pan and baked for about an hour. It's the perfect brunch bread, sliced and slathered with cream cheese,For those in a hurry there are the instant mixes that only require eggs, vegetable oil and water., The flavor won't be as genuine because there's dried banana instead of fresh,. They can also be turned into tasty muffins and cakes too.Melissa Clark gave a decadent banana cake recipe in the Wednesday New York Times Food section. Hers is a rich , lush one made with roasted(!) in their skin fruit.Lime juice and coconut are also added for a tropical flavor along with sour cream for richness.It's frosted with a coconut cream cream cheese frosting. and sprinkled with a generous amount of toasted coconut flakes. Of course bananas can be turned into healthy and tasty smoothies. Try one with yogurt along with skin milk for a refreshing sip after a walk or afternoon drink to wash down veggies and dip, Honey and wheat germ give it more of a good for you boost. You can also add some strawberries and swap out the honey for chocolate syrup.Try a coffee banana one sweetened with agave nectar. Greek yogurt gives it its' creaminess
Bananas are the perfect ingredient or snack. They fun to eat as well as being a great ingredient that add rich flavor to anything from cakes to breads and muffins to smoothies.Always have this versatile fruit in the kitchen.
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Don't Cook This Summer!
Every one hates cooking and baking when the temps soar. It makes you hot, crabby and uncomfortable, Yet to have delicious meals and desserts, you do have to use a hot oven, right? Wrong! There's a new cookbook out there that begs to differ.
Matt Kady has written the perfect summer cookbook - one with stove free recipes.Yup, The No Cook, No Bake Cookbook has dozens of these that feature every meal made without the use of a burner or oven. It's a Ulysses Press book and it's a great one to have, especially if you hate any kind of cooking during the summer months or if you're staying in a summer house. Most of the recipes require all natural ingredients like rolled oats and fresh fruits and veggies (easy to get now with all the farmers markets and farms selling produce). They are easy to whip up and require really no effort.
The recipes are tasty and flavorful. You can start the morning with easy fruit wraps which is kind of like a cold blintz with a fruit coulis.There are also smoothies and even a variation of V-8 juice.Mr. Kady's lunch sandwiches would be perfect for a beach party or park picnic., There are the colorful sardine sandwiches, chopped sardines with red onions, bell peppers and celery and pizza stacks , cold made mini pies.You can definitely use some of the recipes such as the tomato cherry bruschetta and chickpea pitas. End with the no bake almond thumbprint cookies or mango fool.
You don't have to be tied to your stove to create tasty dishes and treats. Follow Matt Kady's The No Cook No Bake Cookbook and you'll have an entire cornucopia of easy to make foods. They're the perfect dishes to make during these hot, steamy days,
Matt Kady has written the perfect summer cookbook - one with stove free recipes.Yup, The No Cook, No Bake Cookbook has dozens of these that feature every meal made without the use of a burner or oven. It's a Ulysses Press book and it's a great one to have, especially if you hate any kind of cooking during the summer months or if you're staying in a summer house. Most of the recipes require all natural ingredients like rolled oats and fresh fruits and veggies (easy to get now with all the farmers markets and farms selling produce). They are easy to whip up and require really no effort.
The recipes are tasty and flavorful. You can start the morning with easy fruit wraps which is kind of like a cold blintz with a fruit coulis.There are also smoothies and even a variation of V-8 juice.Mr. Kady's lunch sandwiches would be perfect for a beach party or park picnic., There are the colorful sardine sandwiches, chopped sardines with red onions, bell peppers and celery and pizza stacks , cold made mini pies.You can definitely use some of the recipes such as the tomato cherry bruschetta and chickpea pitas. End with the no bake almond thumbprint cookies or mango fool.
You don't have to be tied to your stove to create tasty dishes and treats. Follow Matt Kady's The No Cook No Bake Cookbook and you'll have an entire cornucopia of easy to make foods. They're the perfect dishes to make during these hot, steamy days,
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Teen Rebellion Healthy Food
There's always for something for teenagers to rebel against. It's in their nature. The latest battle is over the healthy food that's now being offered high school cafeterias across America. Kids refuse to eat the good for them stuff and instead go for the bad. For now Doritos and Coke are winning out.
Is it wise to ditch the healthy stuff? After all teens can basically eat anything and get away with it, right?. Yes and no. Some teens suffer from obesity and also the complications that go with it. Little ones as young as ten are now being diagnosed with high blood pressure and weight problems.It does start with eating habits. Luckily the younger they are the more acceptable to better choices. Teens not so much so. After all they still smoke and drink, despite those warnings. Eating healthy is just another concept to be laughed at.
Cafeterias are making great commitments to creating healthier menus. Most are losing all those red meat faves and in their stead serving more turkey and soy products,. Also gone are the fries and baked mac. School administrators are advocating steamed veggies and smoothies in place of these. Yet kids refuse to bite. They head straight to vending machines where all sorts of dietary horrors await them. Some reason why pay money for fruit when they can get it at home for free. The same goes for veggie snacks and dips. Teens would rather have an unhealthy lunch of Cheese Doodles and sodas followed by Twix bars and ice cream cones. They can get these at home for free as well. Why they don't give these up is a mystery.
High schoolers will always find something to rebel against. It's in their natures. Let's hope they buck this bad food trend and start eating healthy during their college years.
Is it wise to ditch the healthy stuff? After all teens can basically eat anything and get away with it, right?. Yes and no. Some teens suffer from obesity and also the complications that go with it. Little ones as young as ten are now being diagnosed with high blood pressure and weight problems.It does start with eating habits. Luckily the younger they are the more acceptable to better choices. Teens not so much so. After all they still smoke and drink, despite those warnings. Eating healthy is just another concept to be laughed at.
Cafeterias are making great commitments to creating healthier menus. Most are losing all those red meat faves and in their stead serving more turkey and soy products,. Also gone are the fries and baked mac. School administrators are advocating steamed veggies and smoothies in place of these. Yet kids refuse to bite. They head straight to vending machines where all sorts of dietary horrors await them. Some reason why pay money for fruit when they can get it at home for free. The same goes for veggie snacks and dips. Teens would rather have an unhealthy lunch of Cheese Doodles and sodas followed by Twix bars and ice cream cones. They can get these at home for free as well. Why they don't give these up is a mystery.
High schoolers will always find something to rebel against. It's in their natures. Let's hope they buck this bad food trend and start eating healthy during their college years.
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