Four More Years Of Good Eating

It'll be four more years of good and healthy eating with Michelle Obama in the White House. Our First Lady is one of the chief fighters against childhood obesity and better nutrition.We may even see some reforms thanks to her. in the meantime here are some of her tips and how she makes sure the First Daughters eat well. Mrs. Obama is a firm believer in veggies and fruits.She has even created a working garden on the White House grounds. kids today should be weaned away from some fast food places .It's always fun to have a hamburger however try to make it a rare treat.Get the little ones hooked on chicken and fish more. The meat is actually tastier than red meat and there's more to do with it.You can also get them to experiment with soy products too.As for snacks ,think pretzels dipped in mustards or veggies in dressing.Let them go shopping with you so that they can be acclimated with what to buy for your meals. Sugary drinks and sweets are two other enemies that Mrs. Obama wants to suppress.Too many parents easily acquiesce to buying colas and over processed juices. Instead try flavored seltzer or just water.Another good idea is buying a juicer. This let's the kids customize their juices along with drinking healthy.You don't have to worry about them adding extra sugar or even poisons such as arsenic sometimes found in apple juice. For fun nibbles sub in blueberries and strawberries instead of chocolate pieces and lollipops.If they do clamor for cookies ,get them natural based brands such as Nature's Own. We are lucky to have a First Lady who cares about what our children eat.Hopefully through her advice and cheering on ,there will be an end to this problem?There will be a healthier America in our future ,thanks to her.

The Goodness Of German Sausage

There's nothing like good German sausage on rye bread for a winter's meal.There's so many different types though it's hard to choose. You can try the slightly spicy but smooth teewurst or the tasty knackwurst along with several other kinds too.Each is yummy in it's own right and perfect for lunch or dinner.

Germany has anywhere from 1200 to 1500 sausages. Yes, you read that right. There are over one thousand fresh and sliced/spreading sausages.Most of them are classified in the wurst category are usually made of pork, veal or beef. These tend to be regional and with thousands of varieties.Most American know frankfurters. This is where the American hot dog derives them. They're great grilled at tailgaters but also good lightly fried with sauerkraut and potatoes.bratwurst is also an American favorite from the Germans.These are a tad longer than the regular frankfurter and always eaten with potato salad and hot mustard. Another treat is the knackwurst, a plump .Cook it and you'll hear where it's name comes from, Knack means to pop in German and that's what it;s skin does crackles, pops and explodes, exposing tender meat.

There are some other sausages that are also heavenly.Neophytes and even connoisseurs should try  teewurst.This is more of a creamy, smooth spread in a casing. Just tear off the little tie and squeeze onto crackers or dark bread. It's made of raw pork and bacon smoked over beechwood.It's name comes from it being served at tea time. For a richer, chewier one, try landjaeger, This is similar to our beef jerky,It's a dried beef or pork sausage mixed with red wine, lard and spices.Sugar is even added for more taste.Hikers still love it because it's great to bring along on a country walk.

If you're craving good and flavorful food then try German sausage. They 're rich in both variety and flavor. You'll find a favorite and fall for it.

Holding Onto Tradition:Vietnamese Cooking

For those who love bot the exotic and traditional Vietnamese cooking hits the mark. It has the flavors of Southeast Asia  combined with century old recipes.Best of all it can be made at home thanks to a new cookbook. For those who love  Vietnamese, it;s time to make it at home instead of searching for the rare restaurant featuring it.

The cookbook is Vietnamese Home Cooking by Charles Phan,the famed San Francisco chef who has a string of six restaurants around the city. The book has come out from Ten Speed Press and an interview with him was in the Wednesday's New York Times Dining section. He is a devoted father and cook ,making his famed dishes for his three kids at their apartment above his one restaurant,Out The Door.They are the dishes that are also in the book and easy to make for American audiences.

The Phan family came to the US two years  after the fall of Saigon in 1977 when Mr Phan himself was only sixteen. He and his mother who still cooks for the family make the  wonderful dishes that they brought with them. One is a mix of tomatoes, chard and squid over rice. Most Vietnamese dishes are either steamed,braised or stir fried dishes.He makes his kids  the traditional steamed chicken with lily buds and dried shiitake mushrooms. His wife is his sous chef helping him cut and dice, His mother cuts up persimmons and peeled longan fruit for dessert. Despite it all his three kids still want American fare every now and then despite being surrounded by their  father's masterpieces,

If you love the exotic and traditional then buy Mr. Phan's book. If you're a fan of his restaurants, then definitely purchase it .You can bring the flavor and the fun home with you.

Immersion Blender Dangerous But Fun

Want to have some absolute bloody fun in the kitchen? Get an immersion blender.It's that kitchen instrument that Dan Akroyd ,uproarious as Julia Child onSaturday Night Live used in "The French Chef" parody that turned deliciously gory.However it's now almost required in some of the world's top restaurants and also gourmet home kitchens. It was the subject of an article in yesterday's New York Times Dining section.The writer,Alexandra Jacob not only explained what this kitchen whiz does but tried it too.Like the old SNL skit it did not end well. it's basically a hand held blender with exposed blades.The button on it goes from gentle to wicked in seconds.For any inexperienced cook this can be both messy and scary.For experienced cooks it can create some extraordinary masterpieces.It 's sometimes called SmartStick Blender however it was Swiss Inventor Roget Perrinjaquet who created this in the late Fifties.It was a mix of a long beater with blades. It does take some learning to use it.Many new owners wind up in the ER with sliced fingers and coming home with stitches.Some of the more less confident usually exchange them for the safer and easier to use traditional blenders.However ,most Ers usually report more incidents with knives and even the more popular mandoline.If you don't know what you're doing with any sharp or potentially dangerous kitchenware, then there will be blood .Read the instructions.Study the machine.Look at the blogs featuring them.Then use it. A Batmix is a fun yet potentially scary introduction to whipping and beating free handedly.Use it with prudence if you're uneasy with it.Like any kit hen instrument it can be an excellent addition or a vicious one.

Time For Blood Oranges

Nothing beats a dreary Day than a sweet piece of citrus.January is the time of and for oranges.This includes the very juicy blood orange.This lovely globe is not only healthy but also very tasty too. It was the star of Melissa Clark's A Good Appetite column in today's New York Times Dining section. blood oranges are always a good fruit choice because they 're so versatile. You can add the wedges to a salad or try it with black bass and roasted fennel as Ms. Clark suggests.She also recommends a yummy looking upside down cake with them .It includes the orange rind along with cornmeal for a denser texture.You can also make a rich tasting juice with them as they do in Rome. Blood oranges originated in Italy in the ash rich soil of Sicily.There are several kinds.The Italians love the Tarocco with it's sweet berry like taste.Unfortunately it's a hard sell here. Americans like Moros because of their rich, red color. They're used in both restaurants and bars,adding to dinners and fancy cocktails. these are the best for juicing.They produce an almost cranberry hue , unlike regular oranges which give their juice a carrot like color. Some Moros as well as other blood oranges are grown in the Italian like climate of California.Other blood oranges are coming from Texas and Arizona. This is the time to chase those winter blues away.Have a blood orange to do that.It's sweet, rich taste will surely make you smile.

Snow Fun A Day Off Cooking And Baking

This is January and that means there will be snow days.With parts of the country under as much as two to three feet of snow,there will be more kids off with nothing to do.Well, if you're home with them ,then you can introduce them to cooking and baking.It's a chance to let them find their inner chef as well as learning about health. And nutrition. Start with simple dishes.Rice or mashed potatoes.These are easy as pie to whip up and also you and the kids can create variations.Add some garlic and/ or herbs for extra flavor.Another fun dish is a Dagwood sandwich or a hero Subway style.Kids can add healthy pre sliced tomatoes and peppers along with turkey or chicken slices(or last night's leftovers ).You can also have your Tweens and teens help in making more sophisticated dinners such as spaghetti or even risotto. As far as baking what better to bake on a snowy day than a pizza.Use whole wheat instead of white flour.Of course use tomatoes ,but try fresh ,organic ones instead of annex sauce although that one is good for you too. let them have fun with toppings.If they want to add pineapple or even barbecue sauce, let them(however don't throw those two together).Also baking wholesome oatmeal raisin cookies is a fun way to pass the time. you can also make a yummy chocolate chip too with brown sugar and walnuts. A snow day can also be a learning factor too.Show your kids how to cook and bake.It's better than them trooping in slush all day.

Flu Foods

Everyone is suffering from the flu these days.It goes after everyone from celebrities to your grocery clerk.The problem is that it can take away your appetite.This means a lack of nourishment which means trouble. Doctors and nutritionists suggest plenty of fluids and this is true. kids should have either juice or Pedialite. Adults should think about a soothing cup of herbal tea too.Try peppermint or chamomile to sooth cramps and anything else that goes with it. Even Coke , Pepsi or Ginger ale with ice also helps, especially if you have nausea.Take small sips. foods should be simple yet nourishing, Broth is good, Espcially if you addq beaten egg for protein. You can also add rice for nutrition too. when you feel like having more solid foods, think buttered noodles along with a simple grilled chicke. Don 't have any gassy veggies.Think mashed potatoes or even mashed squash as a simple yet tasty side. don't go for any lush desserts .Again bland is better.Think simple butter cookies like Lorna Doones or better yet Graham crackers and again with tea. keep eating and drinking if you catch the flu. get plenty of rest but also food as well. it'll help you bounce back.