Food & Drink

What Are Some Mexican Spices

Mexican spices are used in many dishes found in Mexico. Some are spices you kind find anywhere, such as Garlic. Others give unique flavors. Epazote is a spice that is not as common. It is also known as "Mexican tea". It is used to flavor beans and other foods, but should be used sparingly because it can be poisonous in large amounts. Even though it is strong, it is said to be good for intestinal discomfort.

www.underconsideration.com
Chile powder is a popular spice in Mexican foods. It is used to add flavor to vegetables, and meats. Another Chile powder that is popular is Chipotle. It is made from Jalapenos that have been dried and smoked. The flavor is one of a kind and goes well with many dishes. It is gaining popularity outside of Mexico. One other type of chile pepper is Ancho. It is different from the other peppers because it has a sweet flavor similar to dried fruit.

Common spices used in Mexico are Cumin, and Oregano. Mexican dishes that include tomatoes are perfect with oregano. It gives the dish an earthy flavor. Cumin gives Mexican dishes a taste that cannot be matched. Cumin takes three to four months of a long summer to grow. Cumin is a dry seed from the herb Cuminum Cyminum which is a member of the parsley family. This spice is the key component in curry power and chili powder. Cumin can also be boiled and served as a tea which is called "cumin cider". Cumin is a spice that has been used for many centuries and will continue to be used by the people of Mexico.

hossofsauce.wordpress.com
Recado rojo is a special blend of spices that are from Mexico. It was used as long ago as the Mayans. It the spice mixture is red because of the added annatto seeds, which give food a red look to them when added. The blend contains spices such as cinnamon, clove, cumin, oregano garlic, and more. This blend is associated Mexican foods found in the Yucatan. It would be very easy to make this from your own home.

Achiote is the shrub that the annatto seeds come from which is added to the recado rojo mixture. This shrub is grown in Southeast Asia and was introduced to the Spanish in the 17th century. It is consider an inedible fruit that is used for its seeds. Long ago American Indians used the seeds to make body paints. Parts of the shrub can be used in medical remedies for health problems such as headaches and burns.         


If you want to try these spices from your home, they are available at major grocery stores. You can even make your own blend of Mexican spices. Gather a few of the mentioned spices in this article, along with paprika and salt, and blend them together for a sensational burst of flavor. This is a great blend in chili. It can be added to foods that are baked, broiled and barbequed. It is perfect on chicken and pork. It is an excellent addition for your next barbeque. Let the grilling begin!





Learn to Cook Italian Food on Vacation

It used to be that vacations were all about site seeing and relaxing.  Well, not anymore.  Today the hottest trend in travel is taking courses to learn new things while on vacation.  Nowhere is this more evident than in the cooking classes that have sprung up all over the world specifically for tourists.  Many people travel to Italy on vacation in order to enjoy Italian food.  Now though, many people not only want to enjoy Italian food while away, they want to learn how to cook it.  Instead of bringing back souvenirs tourists are bringing back skills that they can put to use in their kitchens at home to whip up authentic Italian food.

www.milanocard.it
If you like Italian food then you may want to consider taking some classes to learn how to cook Italian food while in Italy.  There are many resorts today that offer Italian food classes to their guests.  There are even whole vacation packages focused around learning how to cook Italian food.  You can take a tour through Italy and in each city or region that you stop in learn to make the local Italian food from the people who know it the best, the locals, not some tour guide or American teacher.  If you decide during your vacation that you would like to try out a cooking class then ask the concierge or front desk at your hotel.  They should be able to point you in the direction of some Italian food classes.  Often resorts will have their own world class Italian food restaurants and it's not uncommon for them to open their doors to travelers who want to learn to make a dish from the menu.  Be sure to ask the front desk at your resort about possible Italian food classes.  Resorts don't always advertise these classes because they often fill up just on word of mouth.

www.browardpalmbeach.com
If you are feeling a little nervous about learning to cook Italian food on your vacation, relax.  The classes are typically very small so you'll be able to get one on one help.  This is truly a great opportunity to expand your knowledge of preparing Italian food from actual Italian chefs.  Don't worry if you don't know the first thing about cooking.  These classes are structured to accommodate people with little to no knowledge of Italian food or even cooking for that matter.  If you would like to take a more advanced or intermediate class then ask about those options as well, but the majority of classes will be for beginners.  These Italian food classes for vacationers will teach you how to make easy dishes that look more complicated than they actually are.  They're not going try and teach you something complicated that will only end up frustrating you.  They know that it can be intimidating learning to cook Italian food from professional chefs so they will keep things simple.  On the other hand, they also understand that you probably want to go home and impress your friends with an Italian food dish that seems really fancy, so they will teach you dishes with a certain "wow" factor. 

The next time you plan a vacation to Italy, try to step off the beaten path and learn how to cook some authentic Italian food.  The skills and memories you bring home will outlast any souvenir you could buy.  Vacationing in Italy is not just about enjoying Italian food; it's about bringing Italian food home with you. 





Cake decorating can be a wonderful hobby and is a great way to express your creativity. Cake decorating is a lot of fun and very rewarding, if you feel you like it well enough you can turn it into a full time profession.

jualblogasemu.esy.es
Cake decorating does take a measure of artistic skill. Anyone can master cake making with guidance and tutoring, along with fresh, new ideas and decorating tips. Cake decorating as an art form, will help you expand your imagination and your skills. This will make you proud and the recipient of your work ecstatic.

The are of cake decorating is rewarding to both the client and the decorator of the cake. There may be a level of stress when you are on a deadline but the end result is worth the trouble. When you are able to take your time and decorate cakes in peace, you will find the entire process very enjoyable. One way to cut stress in any situation, is to keep your mind on the design itself, and not let negative thoughts get in the way of your creativity.

When you begin Cake decorating, start off with simple designs and decorations. You can even start with cupcakes and cookies. You can also use stencils and edible marker kits. A stencil will allow you to dust your cupcakes with cocoa powder or powdered sugar over the top and make a wonderful, yet simple design.
You can use buttercream, royal icing, or fondant to create your cake decorating project. You can start by topping your cakes with icing and adding icing flowers, fruit or candy. You can also make cakes that look like other foods. Hotdogs, hamburgers, pizza, and even cakes that look like fruit. You can do this by using a molded cake pan, or cutting the cake and piecing it together. You can also create character cake decorations. Make sure your cake is moist and not crumbly so it will stay together better when cut.

You need to eliminate crumbs in your cake icing, and create a smooth finish to create a beautiful cake decorating project. Icing the cake to a smooth, fine finish is considered to be one of the most important parts of cake decorating and should be fine tuned as your skills develop.

www.howtocook.com.au
The use of fondant icing will add an air of elegance to your cake decorating. Fondant can be rolled out and draped over a cake with care. It can also be modeled into shapes and characters. It is available in vanilla (white) and chocolate and the white can be colored. Fondant may be a bit more difficult to work with, but it is most beautiful when the finished product is unveiled.


When cake decorating, learn the basics and pick up other cake decorating tips as you go along. Use the internet and cake decorating books to learn all of the tips and tricks you can. You can turn any topic or desire into a cake decoration, just use your imagination.


With a large number of people being swept up into the ideas of a greener lifestyle it is no wonder that many people are turning Vegan as well.  For the vast majority of people a Vegan lifestyle is aligned to going back to the old ways, which is also considered much healthier.  If you are still not sure whether the idea of a Vegan lifestyle is perfect for you there are several things that you should thoroughly consider first.  If you are just rushing out to get a healthy lifestyle without considering all of the benefits of eating Vegan you could be in for a rather alarming surprise.

http://www.softdrinkfaceoff.com
  Many people discover Vegan eating through their quest to eat healthier.  By doing this it is possible to find a healthier lifestyle and ensure that you are getting the biggest benefits for not only yourself but also the environment.  Many environmental groups claim that Vegan is the ultimate way to go green with your eating habits.  In many ways, they are very correct and because of this, many people are turning to a Vegan lifestyle like never before.  While many people might only claim to life a truly green lifestyle those who are eating Vegan as well are really living the lifestyle instead of just talking it.

Other benefits to eating Vegan is the decrease in blood sugar levels.  This is something that is extremely beneficial for diabetics because it can substantially lower the need to use insulin and other medications to control blood sugar levels.  However, if you are being treated by a doctor for any reason you should talk to your doctor before changing your diet significantly to ensure that you are getting all of the nutrients and benefits that you really need.  Making changes without talking to your doctor could have devastating consequences and will only take a few minutes of your time to ensure that you stay as healthy as possible.

People who avoid eating meat are also often able to lose weight much faster.  Many of the reasons for this is due to the increase in carbohydrates in vegetables as well as the decrease in calories and fats.  Plus many of the fruits and vegetables that are common in a Vegan diet also assist in weight loss due to their negative calorie effect.  While this is not a huge benefit for all people, it is something that can be a massive help if you are trying to lose weight.  Of course, working to eat only fresh fruits and vegetables as opposed to highly processes foods will help to really maximize the negative calorie impact.



A Vegan diet also has a huge perk of providing a substantially lower fat content to your diet as well.  Consuming excessive amounts of dairy products as well as meats tends to be closely accompanied by fat; by omitting substantial amounts of fat from your diet, you can make some substantial differences to not only our physical health, but also make great improvements to lower your weight.  This can provide you with ample reasons to lower your intake of meat if you have been struggling to actually manage your weight.

A final benefit is that you are consuming far more carbohydrates on a Vegan diet.  This has been considered good because it provides a great source of energy all during the day.  Foods such as meats tend to be extremely low on carbohydrates, while being much higher on protein.  While protein is an essential part of your diet it can take much longer to digest, which will allow you to pack on weight faster and have lower energy levels.  If you are instead looking to increase the amount of fruits and vegetables that you consume you will find that your energy level will go up significantly.  However, you should still ensure that you are consuming ample protein to fully protect your system and receive all of the nutrition that you need.


 You need to bake a cake for a special occasion, you know you are creative, but you need a fresh idea to work with. Every celebration includes a cake to be shared among the guests and family members. It is tradition to have a cake baked by a bakery, or to have a relative bake a cake for the event. If you are the designated cake decorator, you may be looking for a new idea for your next creation.

http://trendymods.com/

 Below are a few cake decorating ideas:

·         Characters: There are hundreds of famous characters to use for cake decorating. You can make any cake special by drawing in Dora the Explorer, or Blues Clues. Or you may want to cut up the cake to make the entire cake into a favorite character.

·         Themes: Maybe you would like to go with a 50’s theme, underwater adventure, sport theme, or a roaring 20’s theme for your cake decorating. Use your creativity and find a theme that will thrill the person you are making the cake for, and the guests . You may want to have a masquerade party in that theme. Whatever you decide, have fun.

·         Motor Cakes: Boys are usually crazy about trucks, cars, fire engines, boats, tractors, helicopters, or airplanes. Again you can use your cake decorating expertise to make a farm with a 3-D tractor, a racing strip, or a scene showing a fire being put out by firemen. Of course it all depends on what the particular birthday boy is fond of.

·         Animals: You can also use an animal theme by cutting the cake to look like any animal, or draw in a scene using animals. It could be a zoo scene with several animals or choose one animal and decorate the cake with other decorations showing where it came from. Use your imagination.

·         Food: Maybe you are making a cake for the opening of an Italian restaurant. You could create a scene depicting the building, or if it is for a chef opening the restaurant, a scene of the kitchen with different Italian dishes would be fun. You can also cut the cake to look like a hamburger, hot dog, taco etc… The sky is the limit when it comes to cake decorating using a food theme.

·         Holiday Themes: I remember when bunny cakes became popular at Easter, Wilton has pans and decorating supplies for all holiday cake decorating designs. A heart on Valentine’s day, or a 4 leaf clover on St. Patrick’s day is a wonderful way to say happy holidays.

·         Your Own Creation: If you have been involved in cake decorating for quite some time, or if you are a novice with an artistic flair, you can create your own cake based on the theme or the celebration.

http://www.deliciousmagazine.co.uk
  
Whatever cake you make will be the center of attention as cakes usually are at a celebration. It has become tradition to have a outstanding cake at every celebration. Knowing that you are the one who is artistic enough to make this cake, and the praise you will receive from others, will give you a bushel of satisfaction.

There are probably hundreds of millions of people all over the world that wake up to a freshly brewed serving of a pot of coffee or espresso. If you are one of these people then you're probably going to be happy to find out that espresso is actually very good for your health. Coffee actually has some of the same benefits as well naturally, but we'll get to why some coffee drinkers are not reaping the full benefits of the coffee beverage that they love.

The Benefits


Scientists and researchers have done studies to indicate just how beneficial a cup of espresso or coffee in the morning can be. From the prevention of Parkinson's disease to lowering your chances of getting Diabetes and colon cancer, there are plenty of benefits from that caffeinated beverage in the morning. In addition, though, espresso and coffee drinkers are able to enjoy better overall mental performances as well as better immune system. But you may be wondering where all these benefits come from. After all, you've probably heard over and over that consuming too much coffee each day can actually be damaging to your heart.


The Source of the Benefits


However, there is one part of the coffee that is the best for your health as is described above and that is the fresh flavor that is derived from the coffee beans. The reason that the fresh flavor is the culprit of most of the health benefits is because the freshly brewed coffee beans contain very rich antioxidants that are great for your health. One of the reasons that espresso is even better for you than regular coffee is because that the steam that is pushed through the ground coffee beans occurs so quick that much of the flavor and antioxidants are in that single cup of espresso. 


On the other hand, regular black coffee drinkers may gain some of the benefits from the antioxidants, although the most beneficial cup of coffee to your health that you will ever have is the first cup! After the first cup of the regular coffee is squeezed out then the benefits of the coffee diminish because there are less antioxidants in the second, third, or fourth cups!


Even though many people may disbelieve that espresso is good for your health, many researchers has shown that drinking at least one serving of the espresso a day can be beneficial to your health. However, having an espresso is good on one hand, but doctoring it up with all sorts of sweeteners, creams, and cinnamon is something that will simply lessen the effects of the good benefits of espresso. This is not to say that you can't have a sweetened espresso and maybe having more than 1 serving of espresso each day wouldn't be so bad after all. In this way one will be able to have all the good benefits of a regular espresso along with the good tasting stuff in one serving as well!


No comments:

Post a Comment