Soda Bread An Irish Treat

Irish soda bread and St Patrick's Day go hand in hand.However it varies from the US to Ireland.Whatever yup bake now or for the year,it's still a treat.Soda bread is easy to make And very ea

Cabbage Updated For St Paddy's Day

Sunday is St Patrick's Day ,a day of a few Irish treats and many Irish brews. One of those treats is cabbage. However in the Sunday New York Times magazine section,Mark Bittman transforms it from a soggy side to something unique and tasty. Most St. Patrick's Day cabbage recipes usually requires one over boiled cabbage, usually almost white in color and a huge hunk of corned beef.Mr. Bittman opts for a better vegetable.He gives four different ways to make a tastier side dish. He recommends one not cooking it,like Cole slaw but not drowning it in sugar and mayo.The second way is braising while the third is soup .The next takes on a more Asian than Irish side. Stir fry. Mr.Bittman recommends ways that enhance the cabbage's taste and texture. There are so many different ways to enjoy this heart healthy veggie.Try it braised in curry with chicken ,cilantro and lime Indian feel(India and Ireland do have a connection.They were both part of the British Empire). you can also try the raw ,crunchy way of Thai style or aCeasar salad vibe.You can also cook it in soups ,one with ham and beans ,the others include hot and sour,Chinese style or pho another Asian soup.Stir frying involves shrimp and mushrooms ,welcome reliefs over Corned beef.There is also a ground poke one while there is a tomato and egg one. St. Patrick's Day cabbage doesn't have to be mushy, white and over boiled .It can be reinvented into tasty soups ,curries and stir fries.It can be served braised or raw for variety.Any way you serve it ,it's a good intro or even end to a fun saint's day.

Alpine Wines

Yesterday was a salute to Piedmonte, Italy where the new pope's family came from. The New York Times Dining section also welcomed Francis I with a salute to not only Piedmontese wines but to all Northern Italian wines of that area. These go well with almost everything kind of meal and are as different as the northern provinces.

Eric Asimov , who  writes  weekly for the The Pour, the weekly wine column, must have had a ball with the tasting. He got to try some of the Val' d'"Aosta's best fermentation's,.These can be strong tasting and smelling, their aromas with a large acetone odor (think opened nail polish bottle).He did enjoy the cornalon, made mostly in the Swiss Alps.Piedmonte also came in at number two with a nebbiola grape.

If you want a fruity wine then try the Maison Anselmet. A bit steeply priced at thirty dollars, it is bright with an earthy flavor.I can see this wine going well with the region's lighter cheeses.such as fontina (which is like Brie). There is also Fumin which is also bright and has a strong spiciness. If you want a drink that will match the area's hearty meals,. then try Rosso 2007,  which is a rich deep , almost ruby red wine. For funkiness try the licorice ENfer d:Anvier (translated roughly as the hell of Anvier which is a reference to how the sun hits the local vineyards.

The northwest regions of Italy produce the most interesting wines with different tastes and aromas. Try them this Spring. It's the flavor of Alpine vineyards.

The Piedmontese Influence

Our new pope Francis I may be Argentine born but his family hails from Piedmonte , Italy.It's where French cuisine also orginates and where butter is loved 24/7. Piedmontese food also has a healthy side, relying on fresh veggies  as well  along with fruit and nuts for dessert instead of heavy pastries.
Will there be Piedmontese food with an Argentine twist at the Vatican? Possibly.

Argentine food relies heavily on the beef industry.It's what made the country great back in the last century. There is grilled asado which is a kind of barbecued beef .There are also varieites of beef sausages and meat patties. Our new pope will probably also love sweets as most Argentines do. It's where that famed flavor dulce de leche a caramel like paste that's eaten on its; own  or over pancakes.It;s also used for cake filling too.

However ti''s also influenced by the Italian and Spanish communities as well. Often there will be pasta on a Sunday dinner table as well as a variety of good veggies such as Swiss chard and leeks, Bagna calda, Italian for hot bath is a favorite. This is an anchovy based sauce, mixed with butter, olive oil and garlic. Savoy cabbage is usually dipped in and cooked until it's wilted. However the Argentines will probably put cut up steak bits in it for added flavor. Zabaglione a n egg yolk based custard may even be the base for their dulce de leche.

Piedmonte's rich influence is felt both in the New and Old Worlds. It has turned Buenes Aires into a sophsiticated food town with stylish restaurants and good home cooking. It is what Piedmontese cooking is all about  - no matter where it's served

Using Your Beans

One of nature's best foods is the bean.It's tasty , nutritious and versatile.You can have it in soups or salads,hot or cold .It can be made into a main dish or a side.Best of all there are so many varieties.You could make a different bean dish every day and each one would be unique. Beans are one of the greatest sources of fiber and soluble fiber.They're also high in protein,which also makes them a good sub for meat.They're also high in iron and floats as well as complex carbs.They may give you gas and if that's the case, you could take Bean-o or Gas-X or a more natural solution would be to soak them overnight in vinegar or baking soda to neutralize them.Most beans do require an overnight soak or even a precook rinse.Beans can either come in cans or in packages.It pays to have a big variety of both around. What are some bean recipes that are both tasty and good for you.A meatless chili is always a good bet.You can use a few different types in it such as kidney ,garbanzo and black beans. of course kidney beans are good on their own, usually cooled off in a salad. Serve them in a tasty three bean with the bright yellow wax beans and green beans for color and nutrition.Some three bean salads do have a dose of sugar. Sub it with a bit of honey or a tiny bit of stevia. Add iodine rich sliced red onions cut thin and herbs too.Lentils are another great and versatile bean.Try in in a veggie laden with soup or on it's own with antioxidant rich turmeric .This is not only a delicious meal but also a great dip for whole wheat tortilla chips. Any kind of bean is good in any kind of dish.Try them hot or cold for a tasty treat. They are a worthy addition to any diet.

Start Them Young

Every little kid wants cupcakes and candy.It's hard to say no to a toddler or even a kindergartener who wants a treat.However most parents - and even grandparents are getting smart. The older folks are offering better snacks and rewards to the little ones. Hopefully that means a new generation who will have a healthier outlooks to both party foods and treats. One of the worst places for sugary snacks are birthday parties. Some school districts , especially in New Jersey have banned any kind of baked good and candy. most do this for allergies.Many kids do have milk and egg ones however some teachers believe that sugary birthday treats have no place in the classroom and just let the birthday boy or girl wear a crown or pick out the playground game of choice. as for your own you can organize a make your own pizza party using healthy toppings and whole wheat crusts. Another fun snack is kabobs, using free range chicken and small veggies like pearl onions and grape tomatoes. for sweets, try the ever popular banana chunks or orange slices (before serving , it's good to include an allergy list with the invite. you can plan accordingly then). At home, try to cut out colas and chips. If the kiss want soda think about getting a carbonator.This takes regular watervand carbonates it, giving it the desired fizz and bubble. Add fruit juice from your juicer as flavoring. also gets your tots and toddlers used to juiced fruits and veggies. There will be no unwelcome sugars and preservatives in their diets. Also ,instead of white flours , think about whole grains as lll. homemade nut butters which can be made are anotherbgood idea. Pepper strips and baby carrots are always a fun playground snack.As they get older think about giving them broccoli and cauliflower to nibble on as a snack.Sprinkle on herbs such as Rosemary or oregano for some spice. If you want healthy kids, then start them young on diets. good food ,healthy food is key to living well.The younger they know this, the better.

Kashi Goodness

Eating food that's both tasty and good for you can be tricky.It's hard to find a manufacter that can provide flavor and nutrition ,yet Kashi comes to the rescue here.From breakfast to a small snack ,this company can give you healthy and fun food. the best part is that there are a lot of choices and good ones at that too. Kashi first started in crunchy granola SouthernCalifornia byLa Jolla couple Phil andGayleTauber.They started with Kashi Breakfast Pilaf ,a morning mix of different grains and natural sweeteners.They followed it a year later with a kind of puffed cereal.Now you can buy their instant oatmeal, which unlike other instant varieties, has the added goodness of flaxseed to it.They even make waffles both in their seven grain and blueberry kinds.Kashi has also entered the main entree market as well. Their frozen foods range from Italian to Mexican to Asian. there is a three cheese penne to aMayanharvest bake.For those who want a healthier Chinese then try their lemongrass coconut or sweet and sour chicken.They laso have steamed meals which are even better for you. the ingredients are not only heart healthy but tongue tasty too.There's everything from a spinach and artichoke pasta to an Italian veggie medley pasta.They also have awiderange of all natural pizzas,ranging from Margherita to the ultra trendy BBQ chicken. Kashi also has some awesome cookies and snacks.Their dark chocolate chip cookies are not only tasty but good for you.There's the usual seven grains,along with oatmeal and evaporated cane syrup.Wildflower honey is laso added for a slight sweetness. there are laso crackers and pita chips in sorts of sweet and savory flavors.You can serve these to the kids as a between meal snack orto guests as hor d' ouevres.The flavors range from honey sesame and toasted Asiago for the crackers and the zesty salsa, and sea salt seven grain along with garlic pesto for the pita chips.There are also snack bars that look like decadent candy bars but are in fact chock full of theTauber's usual seven grains.These come in the lower calorie Golean or the regular.The first is chocolate dipped in a full of antioxidants dark chocolate.The other is plain but still delicious. if you want tasty plus healthy, then go over to the Kashi line..They offer everything from breakfast to pizzas,from cookies to crackers.Switch over to them now for a healthy and fun diet.