My Foodie Luv First Food Experiences: Veggie Burger

Veggie burgers look like burgers but they don't contain meat. Do you remember the first time you ate a veggie burger?

Can you remember your first veggie burger experience? I can remember mine. I ran away!  Me? Eat a meatless burger? I think not!

I was working at a state hospital and there was a small restaurant open for breakfast and lunch. Most of the employees and managers ate there. On a certain day of the week, the owner’s special was soy burgers. The burgers looked delicious! I would have eaten it too if she (the owner/manager) had not casually mentioned before I was about to order that it was a meatless burger.

I’m like: No beef! It’s a hamburger with no meat! Forget about it!

She laughed at my reaction and told me that so many people would order those soy burgers that she would run out of them. She never had enough to serve all the customers. If I had not seen it with my own eyes I would have thought she was just kidding me. But she wasn’t kidding! Her customers really loved those veggie burgers. But I wasn’t convinced.

Fast forward about 10 to 15 years later and for personal reasons, major dietary changes had to be made for the sake of a certain family member. I found myself not having to choose whether I would eat a veggie burger, but what kind of veggie burger was I going to eat? Oh my! There are only thousands of recipes and several brands in the store that you can buy ready-made.

Me personally, I like veggie burgers made with mushrooms. They at least have a “meaty” taste. Several years have passed and now I’m perfectly OK with eating veggie burgers. Of course, they don’t taste like a hamburger. But they don’t taste nearly as awful as I imagined that they would. I don’t know what I was thinking when I worked at the state hospital. After all veggie burgers are made out of foods I usually eat anyway: beans, chickpeas, mushrooms, nuts, oats. The only difference is they shape those foods into a patty to make it look like a burger. Duh!

It’s so true. You eat with your mind. LOL.

Do you have a favorite veggie burger?

The 12 Best Veggie Burger Recipes | The Spruce Eats

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Like to know about some of my other “First Food Experiences”?

• Bagels

• Eggplant

• Baked Potato Topping

• Roasted Pig (Lechòn)

• Zucchini Muffins

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Content published elsewhere on the web.

Recipe Sharing: Chinese Pork Pies (Guest Post)

The Chinese do such wonderful things with pork.  Like Chinese Pork Pies.  Here's the recipe published via Taste.com.mt.  

(Apologies.  This recipe was found on Noise.Cash, a social platform that no longer exists.  After diligent research via the Internet I found the content published elsewhere and corrected the link.)

INGREDIENTS

400g pork sausages, casings removed

4 spring onions (shallots), thinly sliced

2 teaspoons Chang‘s Pure Sesame Oil

1 1/2 teaspoons ground star anise

125ml (1/2 cup) warm water

50g lard or butter

300g (2 cups) cake, biscuit & pastry plain flour (see note)

1 tablespoon warm water, extra (optional)

1 egg, lightly whisked

1 teaspoon sesame seeds

Tomato chutney, to serve

Watercress sprigs, to serve

METHOD

Step 1

Place the sausage meat, spring onion, sesame oil and star anise in a bowl. Use your hands to knead until well combined. Cover with plastic wrap. Place in the fridge for 1 hour to rest.

Step 2

Stir the water and lard or butter in a saucepan over medium-high heat for 2 minutes or until the lard or butter melts. Place the flour in a food processor. Season with salt. Add the water mixture and process until the mixture comes together, adding the extra water if necessary. Transfer to a clean surface and quickly knead until smooth.

Step 3

Preheat oven to 180oC. Divide the pastry into 2 portions, one slightly larger than the other. Roll out the larger portion until 2-3mm thick. Use an 11.5cm round pastry cutter to cut 6 discs from the pastry. Line six 80ml (1/3 cup) muffin pans with the discs. Divide the sausage mixture among the lined pans, pushing the mixture into the side of each pan. Roll out the remaining pastry until 2-3mm thick, re-rolling the excess pastry if necessary. Use a 9.5cm cutter to cut six discs from the pastry. Place the discs on top of the pork mixture and crimp the edges to seal.

Step 4

Bake the pies for 30 minutes or until they start to brown. Transfer to a baking tray. Brush the tops with egg and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Bake for a further 10 minutes or until golden. Set aside to cool. Serve with the chutney and watercress sprigs.

* * * 

Tomato, Peach and Whipped Ricotta Salad (Guest Post)

Wouldn't you love to serve this tomato, peach and whipped ricotta salad?  Here's the recipe.  Here's where you can find more awesome recipes like this one:  Everything About Food | Noise.Cash.

(Apologies.  A link to the original post was provided but the social platform (Noise.Cash) shut down and the content was unpublished.)

After a diligent search, I found the recipe republished via Taste.com.au.

* * * * *

Credit to original source: Found on https://noise.cash/.

INGREDIENTS

2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

1 1/2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

400g tomato medley mix, halved

2 medium tomatoes, thinly sliced

3 yellow peaches, stones removed and discarded, cut into thin wedges

375g fresh ricotta

3/4 cup plain Greek-style yoghurt

1 small garlic clove, crushed

1/4 cup pistachio and thyme dukkah, plus extra to serve

1/2 cup fresh basil leaves

METHOD

Step 1

Whisk vinegar and oil in a large bowl until well combined. Season. Transfer 1 tablespoon of mixture to a small bowl and reserve. Add tomatoes and peaches to large bowl. Gently toss to combine.

Step 2

Process ricotta, yoghurt, garlic and dukkah in a food processor until well combined. Season.

Step 3

Spread ricotta mixture over base of a large serving platter. Drain tomato mixture, discarding liquid. Arrange over ricotta mixture. Top with basil and extra dukkah. Drizzle with reserved vinegar mixture. Serve.

Happy Chinese New Year: My Picks for Top Four (4) Chinese TV Chefs

As my way of celebrating Chinese New Year, I am sharing a quick profile of my 4 favorite Chinese TV chefs and couple of fun facts related to Chinese New Year.  How do you know you love Chinese food? When everywhere you go, you ask for directions to the best Chinese restaurant. Not me. My late husband. But I wholly supported him in his quest. No matter which city we visited or wherever we lived, we looked for a Chinese restaurant. Once we found a good one, we were loyal customers. Sometimes we would leave the kids, sneak out of the house and go have lunch. Other times we would order take-out, go pick up the food, and then enjoy dinner at home. On rare occasions we actually got to sit down in a nice restaurant and enjoy a meal together.  In addition to dining out or enjoying take-out, we loved watching cooking shows on television. Below are four (4) of our favorite Chinese chefs.

- Martin Yan

- Ming Tsai

- Ching He Huang

- Kylie Kwong

Martin Yan ~ We loved his show because he would always teach you one Chinese word and we liked to hear him say “If Yan can cook, you can too!” He was very encouraging and got us to try some Asian recipes at home.  TV SHOWS:  Yan Can Cook; Martin Yan's Hong Kong; Martin Yan – Quick & Easy

Ming Tsai ~ Ming Tsai's parents sent him to a cooking school in France. His television show combined the cuisines from both the East and the West. I especially liked the episodes where his parents were on the show cooking with him in the kitchen. Even though he is a professional chef and owns restaurants and has received awards, he still asks his mom for directions and cooking tips.  TV SHOWS:  East Meets West; Simply Ming

Ching He Huang ~ She said that as a child, she was taught how to cook by her grandmother. When she grew up, she went to a school and received training to cook professionally. One of her teachers praised her as being the best in the class and said he knew when she left school, whatever she decided to do, she was going to be successful. She had one TV show that aired from the UK, She was so good that she was invited to have her own cooking show in the US as well, in San Francisco, California.  TV SHOWS:  Chinese Food Made Easy; Easy Chinese San Francisco

Kylie Kwong ~ This lady chef is also a food caterer. Sometimes she shows how she prepares food to serve large crowds. Other times she prepares a meal for a small group of guests in her home. No matter what she cooks, it looks fabulous and your mouth waters.  TV SHOW:  Kylie Kwong: Heart and Soul

All of these chefs have published cookbooks. As this is a global community I am not sure if these shows are available worldwide. But if you get a chance, watch either or all of these TV cooking shows listed above. If you love Chinese food, you'll be delighted!

FUN FACTS:

Chinese New Year for 2021 will be February 12th. It is the Year of the Ox. (Source)

Seven (7) Typical foods eaten on Chinese New Year are:  1. Fish — an Increase in Prosperity;  2. Chinese Dumplings — Wealth;  3. Spring Rolls — Wealth;  4. Glutinous Rice Cake — a Higher Income or Position;  5. Sweet Rice Balls — Family Togetherness; 6. Longevity Noodles — Happiness and Longevity;  7. Good Fortune Fruit — Fullness and Wealth (usually tangerines, oranges, and pomeloes).   Source)

(Image credits - ClipArtKey and Pixabay)

Original Source

Homemade Soups: Prawn Coconut Soup

Prawn Coconut Soup

Ingredients for Prawn Coconut Soup:

• Shrimps - 1/4 Kg chopped
• Yam - 1 cup
• White Pumpkin - 1 cup chopped
• Beans - 1/2 cup chopped
• Peas - 1/2 cup
• Cucumber - 1/2 cup
• Drum Stick - 1/2 cup
• Coconuts - 1 shell
• Corn Flour - 1 tablespoon
• Turmeric powder - 1/2 teaspoon
• Peppercorns - 2 teaspoon
• Cumin seeds - 1/2 teaspoon
• Ginger - 1 Inch size piece
• Green chilies - 4 no's
• Oil - 2 tablespoon
• Salt to taste

Method for Prawn Coconut Soup:

Step-01: Boil the vegetables till soft, chop shrimps.

Step-02: Extract milk from the coconut.

Step-03: Grind peppercorns, green chilies, cumin, and turmeric to paste.

Step-04: Heat oil in a pan and add paste, shrimps and fry for a minute.

Step-05: Add coconut milk and simmer cook for about 15 minutes.

Step-06: Make a lump-free mixture of corn-flour and water, and then add it to the soup.

Step-07: Once the corn mix blends well, the Prawn Coconut Soup is ready, Serve hot.

♦♦

Soup recipe from Homemade25 Soup Recipes for Nutrition and Health Benefits. Be a part of the healthy eating family at viaindiankitchen.com. 

More Prawn Soup Recipes

Mango Plus Rose Water Equal Refreshing Earthly Delight

Almost everyone loves roses. But these flowers have a special meaning to me because of my late mother's rose bush which was the centerpiece of the front yard of my childhood home. Every time I see a rose, it's impossible to disassociate them from this childhood memory. 

My Facebook friend is knowledgeable about holistic health and alternative remedies and she published a wonderful article about rose water which she refers to a Grandma’s Secret Weapon. She explains the benefits of using it for skin care and suggests it be a part of aromatherapy. That sounds fabulous. But did you also know that you can drink rose water?

Following me so far? 

You're probably thinking: 'Hurry and get to the part about the mangos!'

Mangos (or Mangoes)?  Another childhood memory is being able to go out in my backyard or my neighbor's backyard and pick a mango from the tree to enjoy. To this day, it's always a thrill find any kind recipe that includes mango as an ingredient. Sharing the recipe gives me an even bigger thrill.

Here is a link to a quick and easy recipe that is sure to delight you found in the Cooking Section of the New York Times.

• Mango Rose Water Lassi

In case you've never seen or heard of a “lassi”, here is a clear definition found in Wikipedia:

“Lassi (pronounced [ləs-siː]) (la-SEE) is a popular traditional yogurt-based drink from the Indian Subcontinent and originates from the Punjab. ... a blend of yogurt, water, spices and sometimes fruit.”

The definition does not specifically mention “rose water”. But it does say “water” and that's good enough!  :)

Rose Flower Water by Malandel (French) 16 oz

The malandel is a product of France.
Rose flower water is produced by water distillation from rose flowers.

• Not only is it great in a smoothie but can be added to a creamy tapioca or rice pudding and marries well with most ricotta cheese desserts and Italian sponge cakes, cookies and biscuits.

• Sprinkle a few drops into ice water for an amazing transformation.

• In the Middle East, it is used to flavor baklava (or filo desserts) and sherbets, and Turkish delight candies.

Mangos from The Fruit Company

Rose Flower Water by Malandel (French) 16 oz - $15.99 Add a splash of rosewater to a creamy tapioca or rice pudding and sprinkle with chopped pistachios to make a simple dessert elegant. Rose flower water also marries well with most ricotta cheese desserts and Italian sponge cakes, cookies and biscuits. The next time you dollop creme friche over your dessert, add a teaspoon of rose flower water beforehand. Sprinkle a few drops into ice water for an amazing transformation. Add some saffron threads and a couple of drops of rose water. A fantastic combination! It can also be used to flavor baklava and other filo desserts. Used widely in the Middle East especially to flavor baklava and sherbets as well as Turkish delight candies. Rose flower water is produced by water distillation from rose flowers. The malandel is a product of france.

Related articles

• Gift Baskets and Monthly Club Subscriptions(webnuggetz.com)

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• 10 International Cakes That Will Have You Embarking On A World Dessert Tour(collegecandy.com)

Homemade Soups: Not Peas and Carrots. Pea or Carrot

Green Peas Soup

Ingredients for Green Peas Soup:

• Green Peas - 2 cup

• Cabbage - 1/2 cup chopped

• Carrot - ½ cup grated

• Ajinomoto - 1/8 teaspoon

• Sugar – 1/2 teaspoon

• Black Pepper Powder - 1/2 teaspoon

• Soya sauce - 1 teaspoon

• Corn flour - 3 tablespoon

• Oil - 2 tablespoon

• Salt to taste

Method for Green Peas Soup:

Step-01: Boil the peas with water and cook till they become soft, keep aside.

Step-02: Heat oil in a pan and add vegetables and Ajinomoto and fry it on high flame for a minute.

Step-03: Add peas along with water, sugar, black pepper powder, soya sauce salt and stir it well.

Step-04: Mix corn-flour in 1/2 cup of water and add to the above soup and cook it stirring continuously till the soup thickens.

* * *

Carrot Soup

Ingredients for Carrot Soup:

• Carrots - 1/2 Kg

• Masoor dal - 2 teaspoon

• Bay leaf - 2 no's

• Brown Cardamom - 1 no's

• Cinnamon - 1 Inch size stick

• Black pepper - 1/2 teaspoon

• Onion - 1 no's grated

• Sugar - 1 teaspoon

• Milk -1 cup

• Cheese - 1 cup grated

• Oil - 1 tablespoon

• Salt to taste

Method for Carrot Soup:

Step-01: Soak dal in water for two hours and grate the carrots and the cheese meanwhile.

Step-02: Heat oil in a pressure cooker and add bay leaf, cinnamon, and cardamom, and fry.

Step-03: Fry the onions and add dal and carrots along with salt, sugar, and black pepper.

Step-04: Add milk and water together and cover it with the lid, wait for one whistle and then simmer it for 10 minutes.

Step-05: Remove from the flame and keep it aside to cool on room temperature.

♦♦

Soup recipe from Homemade25 Soup Recipes for Nutrition and Health Benefits. Be a part of the healthy eating family at viaindiankitchen.com.

Related Content:

Homemade Soups: Chicken Soup

Chicken Soup

You probably already know there are all kinds of recipe variations for chicken soup. Perhaps this is another recipe to add to your collection.

Ingredients for Chicken Soup:

• Chicken legs - 4 no's

• Butter - 1 tablespoon

• Black Pepper Powder - 1/2 teaspoon

• Ginger paste - 1/4 teaspoon

• Garlic paste - 1/4 teaspoon

• Aniseeds - 1/4 teaspoon

• Curry leaves - A few

• Corn flour- 2 tablespoon

• Turmeric powder - A pinch

• Salt to taste

Method for Chicken Soup:

Step-01: Heat butter in a pressure cooker, add aniseeds.

Step-02: Add chicken, ginger-garlic paste, curry leaves, and turmeric powder.

Step-03: Cook for 5 minutes, then add pepper powder and salt and cook for 5 mins.

Step-04: Add sufficient water. Pressure cook up to 4 whistles or “til chicken is tender.

Step-05: Mix corn-flour with 1/4 cup of water and add to the liquid into the cooker.

Step-06: Cook for 5 minutes or until thickens and serve hot.

Though not listed in the ingredients, Food Ways suggests adding carrots, potatoes, onions, and bell peppers, to make it heartier. Enjoy the chicken soup hot and hopefully it will warm your soul.

♦♦

Soup recipe from Homemade25 Soup Recipes for Nutrition and Health Benefits. Be a part of the healthy eating family at viaindiankitchen.com. 

More Chicken Soup Recipe Variations

https://foodways2017.tumblr.com/post/632271546215448577/thai-chicken-soup-recipe-bon-appetit-loosely

https://foodways2017.tumblr.com/post/632271932351528960/butter-chicken-soup-recipe-this-recipe-is

https://foodways2017.tumblr.com/post/632271120927735808/hearty-middle-eastern-chicken-soup-jeanie-and

https://foodways2017.tumblr.com/post/632272031338070016/11-best-chicken-soup-recipes-easy-soup-recipes

Homemade Soups: Carrot and Mushroom Soup

Carrot and Mushroom Soup

Ingredients for Carrot and Mushroom Soup:

• Carrot - 1 cup

• Mushroom - 1 cup

• Onion - 1 no.

• Oil - 1 tablespoon

• Black Pepper - 1/2 teaspoon

• Salt to taste

Method for Carrot and Mushroom Soup:

Step-01: Slice the vegetables.

Step-02: Sauté carrot and onion.

Step-03: Add mushroom, water, salt.

Step-04: Boil till vegetables are tender.

Step-05: Add black pepper powder and serve hot.

Enjoy Carrot and Mushroom Soup hot. 

♦♦  Soup recipe from Homemade25 Soup Recipes for Nutrition and Health Benefits. Be a part of the healthy eating family at viaindiankitchen.com.

Fresh ingredients make the best soups.

Healthy Food Trends and Eating Habits for Life!

This article (link below) was published over a year ago via Consumer Reports. I am a firm believer that what might be a food trend one year could become a regular healthy eating habit that same year and beyond.

Healthy Food Trends to Watch for in 2019

~ It's a brand new year! Why not evaluate this list and determine if you have incorporated any of these healthy food trends for 2019 into your healthy eating habits.

Non-Dairy Milks? 

CHECK! I live with family members who are lactose-intolerant. They have to drink non-dairy milks. I drink it cause I like the taste.

Mindful Eating?

Uhh … ??? It's a dietary approach. I'm going to have to do a little more research.

Mindful Eating 101 — A Beginner’s Guide | Healthline

8 steps to mindful eating - Harvard Health

Chickpeas?

CHECK! I started eating chickpeas in the 70s when my university roommate took me to my first salad bar at a restaurant. They made a great addition to a salad. I learned later that you could also put them in soups and make hummus with them. On top of that, the nutritionists say they're good for me? Score!

Chayote?

I live in Texas and our grocery store gets a lot of their produce from Mexico. It's not that expensive to buy. Chayote is a squash that is used in Mexican cuisine. We eat a lot of Mexican food in Texas. (Also used in Jamaican and Brazilian cuisine.)  My only excuse is that … Ummm? I got nothing! I don't have an excuse. I've just never tried this veggie in a recipe. Have you?

10 Impressive Benefits of Chayote Squash

Learn About Chayote Squash : Article - GourmetSleuth

Chayote with Tomato and Green Chile Recipe | SimplyRecipes.com

Sautéed Chayote Squash Recipe | The Spruce Eats

Plant 'Meat'?

CHECK! Everybody is doing it. Right? Well not everybody, but I am. To my surprise, I like the taste. In my personal case, my late husband had to change his diet because of a health condition. I wasn't going to prepare separate meals. One his way and one my way. So I started eating his way. His way was incorporating plant 'meat' into his diet. He's gone now. But I'm OK with still eating meat alternatives.

By the way, you can use chickpeas to make burgers.

Easiest Vegan Chickpea Burgers - Loving It Vegan

Foods for Sensitive Stomachs?

This is not a problem for me. My stomach is lined with iron. But I did learn an interesting food fact. “FODMAP” means fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols. Evidently FOMAP foods are big in Australia. I live in the USA. We're starting to come around.

♦

So have you incorporated any of these 2019 healthy food trends into your diet?

If not, here's another consumer report:

9 Ways to Follow a Healthier Diet in 2020

♦

I'm no food expert, dietician, nutritionist, or professional in the food industry. I just like writing about my foodie adventures. You can find some more of my writings at My Foodie Luv (my Medium publication) and Food Ways (this blog).

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Would you happen to be interested in pesto?

I’m very proud of this article. It was accepted for publication at Vocal.Media and was selected as a Vocal Staff Pick and featured.

Welcome to the Wonderful World of Pesto

♦

Original source

5 Unique Caribbean Teas and Herbal Benefits by Damian Powell (Guest Post)

The Caribbean is an idyllic paradise comprising of different countries and territories that are savored by vacation tourists, pleasure-seekers, and people looking for relaxation in exotic locations. Trinidad, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, West Indies - take your pick and be transported to whole new worlds where you wish your days of freedom are not numbered. Your experiences will be very pleasant and memorable. 

If you have visited any of these locations then there is something you won't want to forget.

When browsing the local shops, you probably noticed certain herbal tea drinks which catch your attention with names like turmeric tea, soursop tea, bissy tea, cerasee tea, and fever grass tea. They may be native to other places but they were brought here to the islands and they were given a distinctly Caribbean twist. They could be Asian, African, or Latin American in origin, but Caribbean folks everywhere made use of them extensively and many people in the islands are familiar with them since childhood. Other herbal teas that are worth mentioning are peppermint, soursop, cinnamon, lemon ginger for its digestive aiding properties, and sorrel benefits of the hibiscus flower known as roselle.

WASHOUT HERBAL DRINKS:

Most Caribbeans, locally and abroad, would remember rituals or must do's administered by their parents at the end of the holidays or summer vacation. They were to do a "washout" with a mixture of local herbal drinks bought from the store. They could include turmeric, soursop, bissy, cerasee, fever grass tea, and other herbals concocted by the elders. They are supposed to deworm or bring out the toxins from the kids' systems before they return to school.

Below you will find information regarding 5 Caribbean herbal teas that are not only good for you but are also delicious.  

1) TURMERIC TEA

Turmeric tea adds zest to your morning routine. Turmeric is sometimes mixed with other herbs and spices like ginger, lemon, honey, and cinnamon to add more flavor. There is also caffeine-free turmeric tea which helps balance and supports a healthy inflammation response. Turmeric is a popular spice made from the rhizome or root of the Curcuma longa plant. It is native to Southeast Asia and is a member of the Zingiberaceae or ginger family. It has been used as a herbal remedy for generations in Caribbean alternative medicine. A range of turmeric teas is available for purchase in health stores or online. The active ingredient in turmeric is curcumin. Curcumin gives turmeric its characteristic yellow color and is proven to have anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting properties. Curcumin has low bioavailability, which means the body has a hard time accessing and absorbing the compound. For this reason, the herbal benefits of turmeric tea, with its guaranteed high concentrations of curcumin, are in demand. Turmeric tea, brewed using grated turmeric root or pure powder, is considered one of the most effective ways to consume curcumin. Drinking turmeric tea is believed to bring about several health benefits: 

1.Reduces arthritis symptoms 

2. Boosts immune function 

3. Helps reduce cardiovascular complications 

4. Helps prevent and treat cancer 

5. Helps manage irritable bowel syndrome or IBS and other digestive conditions. 

6. Prevents and treats Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative conditions. 

7. Protects against liver damage, gallstones, and manages liver conditions. 

8. Helps prevent and manage diabetes 

9. Helps treat and manage lung conditions 

With these health benefits, wouldn't it be nice to have some turmeric tea stocked on your pantry shelves at home?

2) SOURSOP TEA

It is derived from the Graviola tree that is native to Latin America. It is used to treat stomach ailments, parasitic infections, fever, rheumatism, and hypertension. It is also a sedative and can aid in sleep problems and has an effectivity that can compete with chemotherapy when it comes to battling cancer cells. Soursop herbal tea is also a good source of vitamin C which boosts immunity. Thus, it also promotes the destruction of free radicals to protect your skin from oxidative damage.

3) BISSY TEA 

Bissy tea originated from Africa but is a staple drink in many Caribbean homes. It is an antidote for poison and aids in digestion, relieves diarrhea and inflammation, treats fever, and is considered a tonic. Bissy tea shows antioxidant properties and bissy is also used to treat fever, relieve inflammation, and diarrhea. Bissy tea is sourced from grated cola nuts which can expel toxins from your system. Its high concentration of tannic acid is the reason why it has antioxidant properties. When you're busy and you want a hot beverage, why not drink "bissy" tea and take a break from your busyness? You can buy bissy tea online on Caribbean websites tropical supermarket if it is not available at your local grocery store.

4) CERASEE TEA 

Cerasee Herbal Tea is derived from bitter melon. Bitter herbs and food are very nutritious because they contain various plant-based chemicals that are beneficial to health. Cerasee tea is full of phytochemicals like triterpenoids, polyphenols, and flavonoids that slow the growth of cancers and reduce the risk of heart disease. It also lowers blood sugar levels in diabetic people. Cerasee is also healthy for the gut because it takes care of worms and parasites. Thus, it can make you lose weight. Caribbeans are full of healthy surprises, and cerasee tea is one of the "bitter" but healthy truths.

5) FEVER GRASS TEA 

Fever grass tea, also known as lemongrass, has long been a painkilling remedy for many households, may it be in the West Indies or Guyana, or elsewhere in the Caribbean. Drinking it for one month straight can increase hemoglobin concentration and red blood cell count. It also prevents bloating. Fever grass is a perennial plant that is indigenous to Asia. It has long thin leaves and contains citral, an essential oil that has medicinal significance. Fever grass has a pleasant smell which makes it ideal as an additive when cooking rice. Fever grass tea, doesn't give you a fever, ask the locals. Instead, it heals fevers and many disorders associated with blood.

♦  ALL 5 TEAS have been part of Caribbean life and culture for generations. Their medical uses overlap each other, so each kind of tea should find its own space on your shelves. 

* * *

About the Author: Damian Powell is the CEO at Islsnac LLC.  Caribbean Dreams teas are available via the official website and also via Amazon.

Image credit: Caribbean Islands Souvenir Blue Map Embossed Ceramic Coffee Mug Tea Cup 11 oz

♦

Food Gift Baskets Are Perfect for Holiday Gift-Giving

The holiday season is upon us and I for one am very content to share a few precious moments with family and friends. It is not necessary to give me a gift. However … if you want to make me happy for the holidays, you can give me a cheese gift basket. Several years ago my brother gave my husband and me a basket for Christmas and we thoroughly enjoyed all of the tasty cheeses. 

Image credit

You can buy gift baskets that are ready-made or make a basket yourself. If you want to make a gift basket and you are not sure which cheese to pick, you can follow the advice published by Serious Eats or Taste Atlas.

REFERENCES:

• Thorpe, Liz. “Cheese Expert's Picks: 10 Essential Cheeses to Know and Love.” Serious Eats, SERIOUS EATS INC., BY DOTDASH, 31 Oct. 2019.

• “100 Best Rated Cheeses in The World.” Taste Atlas, AtlasMedia Ltd. (EU), 5 Dec. 2020, www.tasteatlas.com/100-best-rated-cheeses-in-the-world.

* * *

Me personally, I like gouda, gruyere, extra sharp cheddar, Greek feta, and Camembert. But I would be more than happy to try any of those other cheeses recommended on these lists.

Of course, I know a cheese gift basket is kind of expensive. But it's just a suggestion to get you thinking about all the various types of gift baskets you can put together and give to family and friends.

For example, do you have a friend who is a cocoa or coffee or tea lover? Or a friend who likes various sorts of jellies and jams? You can choose a theme like … chili fixings or ingredients for Italian or Mexican food. Making gift baskets is fun. They don't have to be edible gifts either. (I just like receiving gourmet food baskets!) The items don't even have to be in a straw basket. Gift baskets can be very personalized and unique. You can give one to an individual, a couple, or a family. And of course … they come from the heart.

How to Make Easy Fancy Gift Basket



Original content source

Two (2) Southern Cooking Techniques by Ken Miller

According to Wikipedia:  The cuisine of the Southern United States developed in the traditionally defined American South. Tidewater, Appalachian, Cajun, Creole, Lowcountry, and Floribbean are examples of types of Southern cuisine.

Ken Miller is a freelance writer and webmaster, and enjoys sharing cooking tips and recipes for authentic Southern cooking.  In this article he shares two (2) Southern Cooking techniques.

TECHNIQUE 1:

This first technique may sound unrelated to Southern Cooking, but you will see the connection as we proceed. Here's the first tip, which should be applied to all your recipes, not just Southern Cooking.

The Chinese figured this out long ago. Combine sweet and sour in your cooking. That is, in a dish that is intended to be sweet (desserts), add a pinch of salt, vinegar or hot spice. In a dish that is intended to be sour or savory (i.e. not sweet), such as vegetables, chili, meats, add sweet. I prefer syrup or molasses rather than regular sugar to add that sweetness.

As an example, in Southern Recipes, I add a teaspoon of molasses to greens (turnip, collards, mustard), green beans and breakfast gravy. One exception to the adding sweet to sour is in cornbread. If you want real Southern cornbread, never put sugar in it. Sorry, that's not cornbread, it's cake (or Yankee cornbread). I also add a teaspoon of regular sugar to my cole slaw and chili.

Likewise, in all desserts that I cook I add a pinch of salt. You are probably aware that most dessert recipes call for this anyway.

I have discussed the next technique at length in my other articles and on my websites, but it is so important I want to repeat it here. You must use cast iron cookware for most Southern dishes, especially cornbread. First, it is the traditional way to cook Southern. Additionally, the cast iron transfers heat unlike any other material, making it uniquely suited for Southern dishes. So, please use cast iron.


TECHNIQUE 2:

This next technique is employed in many Southern recipes. Southerners use cornmeal in many fried dishes to coat the food. This produces a crunchy texture and adds flavor. When frying chicken, coat (batter) the chicken in flour, but add cornmeal to the flour mix at a 3 to 1 ration. In other words 1/4 cup cornmeal to 1 cup flour. Also, fried okra should be coated in a pure cornmeal mix (with salt and pepper, no flour.) Here's the point...experiment a little. When a recipe calls for flour or just because you have always cooked it that way, try substituting cornmeal for flour.

Here's something I remember from my grandmother's kitchen. She was a great cook of traditional Southern food. She made the best biscuits I ever tasted. At first, I thought it was her recipe, until I found out there was nothing unusual about it (I think she got it off a bag of flour.) It wasn't the ingredients that made them so good. It was the size of the biscuits. I always knew she made bigger biscuits than I was use to but I didn't make the connection until after I found out her secret was not the ingredients. Larger biscuits will have more of the soft insides and a larger area outside for the brown crust. They are especially good with gravy or anytime you will be using a sauce. Here's what she did. She rolled out the biscuit dough to about 3/4 inch thickness. Then she used a biscuit cutter that was a little over 3 inches in diameter (who knows where she got it...it was probably a hundred years old.) A word of caution if you use this technique for your biscuits, do not make the dough over 3/4 inch thick. You may think that if 3/4 inch is good, then 1 1/2 inches should be better. Not so. The 3/4 inch rule seems to be the optimum for Fat Biscuits. If you make them much thicker the tops will crack and they will have a doughy flour taste. So, if you are one that has always made slim 2 inch biscuits, give these a try. And, try out the other techniques mentioned for real Southern Cooking.

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Rooting for Potatoes: The Spud Makes A Comeback

Forget low-carb diets and Atkins; those sweet, succulent spuds are once again finding their place among meat and vegetables at the dinner table.To celebrate its return to center stage, Kita Roberta of Girl Carnivore is recognizing the health benefits of a plant-based diet, while still including your favorite proteins.To that end, Girl Carnivore has created a recipe that is packed with carrots, beets, kale and Idaho potatoes. Add the sweetness of maple aioli and you’ve got yourself a good-for-you meal. 

Roasted Roots and Chicken Power Bowl with Maple Aioli 

* 4 Russet Idaho potatoes, chopped into 1/2-inch cubes

* 3 carrots

* 1 turnip, peeled, cut in half lengthwise, and then cut into wedges

* 1 red onion, cut into wedges

* 1 cup butternut squash, peeled and chopped

* 2 beets, rinsed, peeled, cut in half and then cut into wedges

* 4 teaspoons olive oil, divided

* Salt and pepper

* 3 sprigs fresh thyme, removed from stem

* 3 cups Swiss chard, removed from stem and chopped

* 1 garlic clove, minced

* 1 cup cooked rotisserie chicken, chopped 

For the Maple Aioli 

* 3 tablespoons fresh mayonnaise

* 1 tablespoon maple syrup

* 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

Preheat the oven to 425 degreeF. Line a baking sheet with foil and spray with cooking spray.  Toss all of the vegetables in olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.Arrange the vegetables in a single layer on the baking sheet. Sprinkle with thyme. Roast in the oven for 25-30 minutes, until golden and fork-tender, flipping once, halfway through.  Meanwhile, heat the remaining olive oil in a skillet over medium-heat. Sauté the Swiss chard with the chopped garlic until wilted, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.  Whisk the mayonnaise with the maple syrup and cinnamon until combined.  Spoon into a serving dish.  Divide the chard evenly in serving bowls. Top with the roasted vegetables and chopped rotisserie chicken. Serve with the maple aioli on the side for dipping.

For more recipes, visit the Idaho Potato Commission’s website at https://idahopotato.com. 

(NewsUSA) –

Diet and Nutrition Advice: 5 Low-Carb Swaps for A Guilt-Free Holiday Season

With the holidays upon us, you might be worrying about how to get through all the parties and cookie exchanges without derailing your healthy lifestyle. It can be a struggle to avoid temptation, particularly when you’re busy, stressed, sleep-deprived, or all three. At times, you might consider giving up and just diving into the dessert tray. But with a bit of motivation and creativity, you can whip together some festive treats that are both delicious and carb-conscious.

Courtney McCormick, Dietitian at Nutrisystem, offers five low-carb swaps to keep you healthy and happy through the holidays:

1. Try veggies when you’re craving a crunch. 

We’re all guilty of lingering too long at the chips and salsa bowl at a holiday party. If you’re craving something crunchy such as a pretzel or chips, try carb-conscious snacks with a crunch – brussel sprouts chips, kale chips, veggies such as cucumber, zucchini, and carrots – they pair wonderfully with a healthier dip such as low-fat ranch or hummus.

2. Sub in cauliflower for your favorite comfort foods. 

Do you love mashed potatoes, rice, pizza, and tater tots? If you’ve been avoiding these foods as part of your healthy lifestyle, cauliflower is here to help. This versatile veggie has recently become popular as a substitute for some of our favorite comfort foods. Mashed and steamed cauliflower have a texture and taste that is surprisingly similar to mashed potatoes – add a bit of salted butter and enjoy! And if you’re not ready to go all in on the cauliflower craze just yet, McCormick recommends swapping out at least half the potatoes for cauliflower.

3. Mix your own dressings and condiments. 

Have you taken a close look at the nutrition facts on your favorite cranberry sauce? You might be shocked by the carbs and added sugars in dressings, sauces, and condiments, even those that appear to be "healthier" options. The best way to avoid sneaky carbs in your condiments is to make them at home. That way, you can control the ingredients and ensure they taste great.

4. Bring the healthy alternative to the holiday party. 

Where everyone else is hauling sugary cookies and cakes, dare to bring the delicious low-carb snack! Get creative with the presentation – use edamame hummus, pita, and slices of red pepper to make perfectly festive "holiday trees."

5. Don’t drink your carbs. 

You’ve probably heard the saying, "don’t drink your calories," before, but you shouldn’t drink your carbs either. Toss the fruit juices and sodas for seltzer, unsweetened tea, and the original favorite, water. Light beer, spiked seltzer, or dry wines are good low-carb alcohol options if you’re celebrating.

• Low-carb non-alcoholic drinks are an even better option.

For more great tips and tricks on how to make the most of your holidays with healthy alternatives, visit leaf.nutrisystem.com.  

(NewsUSA) –