Wading Through The Soda Stream

 One of the best kitchen gadgets to have right now is the Soda Stream. This takes ordinary water and turns it into healthy plain or flavored seltzer as well as the base for homemade sodas. To be honest it took me a few years to actually get into mine. I'm sorry I came to the party late , wasting money on commercial sodas and seltzers.

This is the Soda Stream machine.

It's a long hollowed out canister with the charger being hooked up in the back. The machine itself ranges from $80.00 to an electric version costing $117. on sale. There's also the more deluxe version at $144.00 again on sale.  I bought mine at Target.All models come with a carbonating cylinder which lasts about three to four months, depending on how much you use it.  Bring back the empty to any store and you 'll receive a free replacement.  All come with a bottle or a carafe for the fizzy water.

You fill it with tap water and then set it into the canister.

My model has a large button on top and then it's just pressing so carbonation shoots (and I mean shoot - water does splash out of it) into it.  You can see the bubbles there. 

Afterwards it's then adding (and only adding afterwards) the flavors. 

I bought Soda Stream's cola flavor at my local Acme. I use only half a cap which give it a nice , light cola taste (and much better tasting than Coke or Pepsi.). I shake it up to mix and then pop into the fridge to chill. There are other flavors, like Dr Pete's which is a riff on Dr. Pepper along with their ginger ale. The company recently added Buble seltzer flavors - a definite must buy on my next Target trip. They also have fruit essences too - another must buy. Another plus  - I'm helping the environment by not buying all those cans and bottles. It's just one metal canister every few months.

Homemade soda is really the best. Get Soda Stream for a more refreshing take on soda and seltzer. Buy one today as an early Valentines' day gift for yourself. Then enjoy the fizz and bubbles.

A Super Pasta To Try

A bowl of pasta is not only delicious but nourishing, It's full of the good carbs and niacin, the perfect dish for a chilly fall day. Explore Cuisine has reinvented this centuries old dish and amped it up by adding beans to the recipe. The result is a super  pasta with a super taste.

Explore Cuisine has redefined pasta. They manufacture such kinds as below:

They also have rice pastas,in the fuslli,rigatoni and macaroni shape.I like the idea of red lentils and was excited to try the penne which is a favorite too.

This is what it looks like uncooked.

It's kind of a reddish  - orange in color. Would it taste bean-y. Cooking it like regular pasta will tell. I boiled it in slightly salted tap water as I would do with the wheat kind.

It only takes eight to ten minutes to cook al dente.

Did it have a beany flavor? Only slightly It' also still had a pale orange flavor. However it tasted like regular pasta with my Mom's homemade sauce recipe.

It was delicious. The only problem is that two ounce box only serves two people. You will need another box for a family of four. I did have leftovers which will be cooked with a butter sauce tomorrow.

As the temps drop, think Explore Cuisine beans and rice pastas. They are the perfect nourishment for chilly days and nights. Try them with different sauces and veggies for a total healthy treat.

The Alkaline Diet

Could a diet not only change your life but revitalize it? According to some homeopaths and nutritionists  it could. Ridding your diet of acids is supposedly beneficial . It's an interesting mix of veggies and fruits, that anyone can follow.

What is alkalinity? It's  defined as less acidity in the body, relating to pH levels.The higher the pH the lower the acidity. According to some doctors, this works in favor It supposedly can reduce the threat of cancer along with helping with arthritis and losing weight. The body should always maintain a  level of 7.4 Testing for acidity  is easy thanks to saliva strips from Hydrion (these can be bought from Micro Essential Labs).There are physical signs, too, such as shortness of breath, frequent sighing, muscle pain or cramping, especially after walking and feeling like you're not getting enough air.many people are more acidic thanks to their diets yet there are some that are purely alkaline. Like any diet, there are restrictions. The drinks everybody loves , soda and coffee are off limits dues to their high acidity along with artificial sweeteners. Surprisingly black tea is also on the list however all herbal teas are alkaline so they're a nice fall back. Tap water is neutral along with some spring waters such as Fiji and Evian.Milk also falls in this category however adding chocolate syrup or mix will amp up the acidity. Buttermilk, though, is very alkalizing so think about adding it to your drinking, baking and cooking.

The best bet for a more alkaline diet is to go completely vegan. Many meats are pure acid along with seafood. Beef, lobster and shrimp are restricted as are crab, lamb, pork and veal. Poultry, from chicken to turkey are in this category too, but not as bad as red meats. . For those who dread the idea of going cold turkey vegetarian there are slightly acidifying meats such as some breeds of  fish and liver, for those who can stand it. Salmon, sole, trout and flounder are the least and can be made into a variety of tasty dishes. The best bets for a truly alkalized diet are anything soy, namely beans , nuts and sprouts along with both navy and white beans, Red beans and chickpeas or garbanzos are slightly acidifying but allowed. Luckily there is a whole gamut of veggies to choose from, with avocados being the most alkaline.Tomatoes and sour pickles are in the strange category of being acidic but alkalizing.. Veggies that have some acidity are artichokes, Brussels sprouts, and lettuce along with cauliflower onions and peas. Most fruits are slightly acidic thanks to their fructose levels however there's no reason to give them up..The truly non acidic ones are watermelons, bananas, sour cherries and fresh coconut. Try to mix up this last to get all the health benefits they offer.

Alkaline diets are restrictive but the benefits are worth all the restrictions. It 's just eating more fish and veggies and cutting  out all the bad stuff. Doing this will drop acid levels, making for a better life.