The Mystery of the Perfect Condiments for Veggie Burgers

For several years we've been adjusting, changing, modifying our diet. "We" meaning my significant other and me. Had you asked me 40 years ago about “veggie burgers”, I probably would have tried to pretend not to hear the question or act like you're weren't talking to me. 

However, beginning in 2015, this is my reality check.

Veggie burgers are a real part of our nutrition plan.

Learned something about myself. Veggie burgers taste pretty good to me! Not all of them. But there is one particular brand that is inexpensive and tasty: Morningstar Farms® Garden Veggie Patties™. They have a variety of flavors: Asian, Spicy Black Bean, Mushroom, Grillers, etc. You eat them just like a regular hamburger.

(This is not affiliate advertisement.  I just like the brand.)

Made an amazing discovery. It sort of makes me feel silly because of its obviousness.

The Garden Veggie Pattie is the one that tastes the best in my opinion.  You don't have to dress it up with condiments. You don't even need to put it on a bun.

But the other ones – the mushroom, the Asian-style, the spicy bean, the chik'n or turkey grillers, etc. - are not so flavorful.  So I avoid them.

One of my daughters fixed a spicy bean burger for lunch but didn't finish the sandwich. She asked me if I wanted her leftovers; otherwise, she'd have to throw it away.

Waste food?!! Not in my house!!

So I ate what was left of her sandwich and … and … It tasted great!

Do you know why?

She put mustard and ketchup on her burger.

Duh! (O.o) That's what was missing from those veggie burgers??

The two most common under-appreciated condiments that are in homes and restaurants gave the veggie burger what it was missing. Flavor!

Why didn't I think of that??!  :)

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Marshman, Victoria. "The History of Mustard." The Nibble. Lifestyle Direct, Inc., July 2009. Web. 15 Apr 2017. © Copyright 2005-2017

Wiggins, Jasmine. "How Was Ketchup Invented?" National Geographic: About The Plate. National Geographic Society., 21 Apr. 2014. Web. 05 May 2015.

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Content also appears at Persona Paper.

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Do You Have a Favorite Condiment for Your Food? ~ Whenever I ask this question I get a wide range of responses that went way beyond mustard and ketchup. People started throwing out: salsa, soy sauce, barbecue sauce, different kinds of mustards, chutney, mint sauce, red currant jelly, pickles and paprika, garlic and chives, Chimichurri, fish sauce and shrimp paste, Thai chili, black vinegar and peri-peri.  Talk about food diversity!

Would You Eat Food Not Grown on Planet Earth?

Have you ever thought that:

“Plants grown on other planets may be tastier than Earth veggies.”

Obviously, this thought has crossed someone’s mind.

Per my non-scientific observation and logic, none of the other planets even have trees! Why would anybody think the soil on Mars or Jupiter would be good for planting and harvesting fruits and vegetables? (O.o)

Nevertheless, ignoring the obvious scientific fact about the lack of trees, according to an interesting article published by Popular Science, there are working teams of scientists exploring the possibilities of farming Mars or growing plants on Jupiter.

The article is a fascinating read. Couldn’t help but note that when discussing or even imagining the possibilities of growing plants elsewhere in the universe they used the term “Earth-like planet”.

They have already conducted some experiments utilizing soil that is similar to that of Mars and it seems that “Martian berries will be tasty”. Not only that but another experiment indicated that “fries cooked on Jupiter would be the best in the solar system”.

To me, this is all the stuff of fiction like that 2015 movie, “The Martian” which starred Matt Damon.   The most interesting (and humorous) takeaway was what was deemed a crucial focus of all of this scientific experimentation. Forget about berries and fries. This is the really important question and it’s a direct quote from the PS article.

“So how do we identify known exoplanets as potential future homes for great-tasting chocolate?”

Really?

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Reference:

• Flook, Jamie. “Could Foods Taste Better On Other Planets Than They Do On Earth?” Popular Science, Bonnier Corporation, 22 Sept. 2015

Source: Virily.com

A Large Order of Jupiter Fries, Please!

In movies, people can grow food on a planet other than earth. But it's "fiction". Not science. However, some scientists are serious about experimenting with plants growing in soil similar to the kind of dirt one would find on Mars or Jupiter.

Spices in Filipino Cuisine by Carlo Villamayor (Guest Post)

It's no secret that Filipino cuisine is one of the best in the world, but like any good food, it has to have its secrets. Few people have really mastered authentic Filipino food, not the washed-down fare you get in fast foods and diners, but real, home-made native dishes. Although most of us can whip up something when we need to, it can be hard to capture that distinct Filipino taste.

So what really goes into our food? How do you make your food taste truly Filipino? There's really no single answer because no one can define our food; we come from a hodgepodge of cultures, after all. But one thing that sets us apart from our Asian neighbors is our heavy use of spices. Whereas other cuisines prefer subtle hints of flavor, we like a big burst of it with every bite.

So that's the first rule: be generous with the spice. If you want your dish to fit in with other Filipino recipes, get to know the spices that go into them. Here are some of the most common. 

Ginger

Ginger is used in most of Asian cuisine, and Filipino food recipes. In the Philippines, it is most commonly used in soups and stews; dishes such as arroz caldo (rice porridge), and tinola (chicken stew) use garlic as their main spice. It goes particularly well with chicken and fish dishes, where it provides a nice contrast to the strong meat flavors. Ginger is used both for flavor and aroma, although the flesh of the root is not always eaten. Most people just crush the root and drop it into the dish, then take it out just before serving.

Chili

We're not as wild about spicy food as the Thais, but we do like a bit of bite in our food. Virtually every Filipino dish can be spiced up with chili peppers, from rich meat viands to everyday soups and noodles. Sauces like patis (fish sauce) and soy sauce are often mixed with crushed chili and used as dips or marinades. Bicol, a region in southeastern Luzon, is known for using chili peppers in most of its dishes. Perhaps the most popular is Bicol express, made with meat, bagoong (saut'ed shrimp paste), coconut milk, and chopped green chilies.

Garlic and onions

These two almost always go together, especially in meat and vegetable dishes. You may be more familiar with Taiwanese and Australian garlic, which have larger cloves and are easier to work with. But if you want a stronger, spicier flavor, go for native garlic. Philippine garlic comes in smaller bulbs, with cloves less than half the size of other types. This makes them hard to handle, but it's well worth the trouble.

Philippine onions are strong and pungent, making them a great source of flavor. Use native red onions for saut'ing and pickling, but use the white ones for salads and sandwiches. If you're making rice porridge, top it with chopped green onions for extra spice.

Lemongrass

Lemongrass has strong-smelling leaves and stalks commonly used in soups, teas and sauces. The leaf is slightly sweet with a hint of citrus, a perfect complement to gravy and other meat sauces. There are several ways to use lemongrass, but the most common method is cooking the fresh leaves (sometimes the entire stalk or bulb) with the food to release the flavor. If you're using the stalk, take only the soft inner part and chop it up before dropping it in. You can also use dried and powdered lemongrass, especially if you're in the city and fresh leaves are hard to find. 



Pandan

Pandan is mostly an aromatic ingredient, most commonly used with plain white rice. Just add a couple of leaves to your rice as it boils, and it comes out with a strong, inviting aroma. Some regions even weave it onto rice pots for an even stronger scent. You can do the same with rice cakes, puddings, and other Filipino desserts recipes.

Bay leaf

The strong, pungent taste of bay leaves makes them a perfect fit for Filipino cooking recipes. The leaf has a wide range of uses, from meat sauces and dips to main dishes like adobo, menudo and mechado. Dried bay leaves are traditionally used; fresh bay is seldom available in local markets. The leaf itself is not usually eaten; like ginger, you can take out the leaves once you're ready to serve. However, most people just leave them in and set them aside when eating.

About The Author:   Carlo Villamayor is a devoted cook, he makes it his personal mission to spread the joy of one of his Filipino food recipes with food lovers the world over. Bon appetit!  (Source:  ArticleCity.com)

EES shares recipes, cooking tips
and all things foodie!
 

Everyday Exotic Spices

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"Baumkuchen", tasty and historic German cake | Recipes via Foodal

The ingredients for this scrumptious guilty pleasure include apricot jam, dark and white chocolate. Plus it's traditionally served at Christmas.  But you pick any holiday or special event or just treat yourself!

How could you not want a piece of this cake?? 💟

"Baumkuchen", tasty and historic German cake

NOTE:  This content was previously published at a site that shut down because the owner passed away.  The link provided is to a copy of the archived content.  The source for the original content is a wonderful food blog named Foodal.com.  They share marvelous recipes.  Their cake recipes are divine!

Spiced Orange Saffron Warm drink | Drink Recipes from Chitra's Healthy Kitchen

Wintertime is the best time for warm drinks. Who would disagree? Even though you drink hot or warm drinks all year round, for obvious reasons they are just more soothing and comforting during the winter. That's why I am reblogging this recipe from an awesome food blogger who shares recipes for healthy living. Chitra's blog has over 3000 followers.

• Saffron, my favorite spice.  Never thought to put it in a drink though. :) 

• Love oranges. Love saffron. Can’t go wrong! :)

• Warm drinks are so soothing and comforting.   

Spiced Orange Saffron Warm Drink
| Chitra's Healthy Kitchen

EES shares recipes, cooking tips and all things foodie!

Everyday Exotic Spices

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More Warm Winter Drinks on Twitter

Almond Sugar Cookie Black Tea blend. ( Black teas, almonds, flavoring and… https://t.co/Uyy1olf1Ds #foodanddrink

— EverydayExoticSpices (@EverydaySpices) November 15, 2016

Homemade White Hot Chocolate | Gimme Some Oven https://t.co/HlRhcSzcWV #hotchocolate #chocolatelovers #foodanddrink #recipes #winter #drinks

— EverydayExoticSpices (@EverydaySpices) October 29, 2018

Comfort and Joy! Holiday drinks are warm and soothing with the right #mullingspices like peppercorns and cinnamon. https://t.co/liQfdLZWj6 #winterdrinks #warmdrinks #drinkrecipes @EverydaySpices #HappyHolidays

— Treathyl Fox (@cmoneyspinner) December 21, 2019

10 Best Cinnamon Hot Drinks Recipes sure to bring you #comfortandjoy! https://t.co/tvuee1hZ5a via @flipboard @EverydaySpices #winterdrinks #warmdrinks #drinkrecipes

— Treathyl Fox (@cmoneyspinner) December 21, 2019

Thermos Funtainer 12 Ounce Warm Beverage Bottle, Darth Vader Armour

Winterial Insulated Watter Bottle / 40oz / Double Walled HOT & COLD / Vacuum Sealed / Black

glitter-graphics.com

Health : Control Your Appetite : It's All in Your Head

Another discovery has been made in the study of food, health, and science. Credit is being given to Professor Kazuyoshi Ukena of Hiroshima University for identifying NPGL, a protein in our brain which “apparently aims to maintain body mass at a constant, come feast or famine”.

The professor's finding eliminates the excuse of not being able to lose weight and stop yourself from overeating because you don't have any willpower because the mechanisms for appetite control are literally ... all in your head. :)

• REF: "New Appetite Control Mechanism Found in Brain." ScienceBlog.com. N.p., 28 Apr. 2017. Web. 09 May 2017.

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More Interesting Links and Recommended Reading:

Frohlich, Thomas C. "25 Cities With the Healthiest Diets." 247wallst.com. AOL-HuffPost Money & Finance, 03 May 2017. Web. 09 May 2017.

Fox, Treathyl. "Do You Know What Gives You Energy?" My Shopping Channel. BlogJob.com, 06 May 2017. Web. 09 May 2017.

Kostyo, Mike. "Datassential: 15 Flavor Trends to Watch in 2017 and beyond." SmartBrief. N.p., 12 Dec. 2016. Web. 09 May 2017.

Insurance Mart and Insurance Smart shares general health info.
For general info purposes. Not to be substituted for medical advice.

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Related articles

• Overeating is killing us - so here's how to cut down on what you eat(telegraph.co.uk)

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• When you eat may be just as important as what you eat, according to a new study(businessinsider.com)

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Do You Know What Gives You Energy?

When it comes to being health and fitness conscious, making quality of life choices, and developing healthy living habits, citizens of Austin, Texas, set the example for everyone else to follow; including the Californians. { IMHO ☺} Sharing a recap of key facts to peak your interest and some information links on health, wellness, and fitness, diet, nutrition, and exercise for further reading and research.

ATTN Food Bloggers! Niume Accepts Republished Content *Strikethrough*

Niume closed its doors October 2, 2017.

Do you love food? Need a place to share the love? Do you have old blog posts you would like to re-purpose and republish?  Niume.com is looking for contributors to their Food Sphere. Below is an example of a few of my contributions ("newbie") and articles submitted by experienced food bloggers.

Food History: Cuban Sandwich | Niume | Food Sphere

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BLOGGING OPPORTUNITIES: Sites That Accept Republished Content Niume is a collaborative blogging platform with multiple spheres (or topics).  The Food Spere is just one.  But if you are a food blogger you are encouraged to share your content.  This is site accepts republished content and allows you to promote your blog.  Create a free account and start immediately.  Click the button that says "Create a Post" and a quick form will pop up.  Must have a valid eMail address.  Sign Up     Site will be closed eff Oct 2, 2017