Tuesday, March 6, 2012

What's the Difference Between Tap Water and Bottled Water?

You would be forgiven for thinking that if you buy water in a bottle it is in some way better for you than the water you get out of your tap. However that depends on the water you buy and where you live. For example I drink bottled water because even the filtered water here in Pakistan gives me very violent stomach upsets. I must say in my defense that I usually boil tap water and filtered water which is equally good, less expensive and less of an environmental problem.


There are several types of bottled water and you need to read the label to find out what is actually in the bottle you are thinking of buying. The sparkling water is natural water which contained carbon dioxide when it sprang from its underground source, this may have been removed but topped up later so that it is more or less as natural as it was before being bottled.


Mineral water should come from bore holes or a spring and a protected (both geologically and physically) source, such as an artesian well or aquifer. It should not have added minerals in it.


These are the main types of water, but there is also purified water which has been subjected to distillation, deionization or reverse osmosis and so on. It has had its natural minerals removed.


There have been several studies undertaken which have discovered that bottled water is only tap water, and these have led the public to be skeptical about buying bottled water. One of these studies was published in 1999 by the natural Resources Defense Council (USA) and the results showed that of the 1,000 samples 25% was the same as tap water, although sometimes this had been further treated. However, we should expect more than purified tap water when we pay for a bottle of water which is advertised as being natural spring water, for example.


Rather than buy bottled water, which is problematic as the bottles are plastic and not easily biodegradable, we should consider installing solid block carbon filters in our home water system. These provide us with the best purified water as most of the harmful substances, such as lead from out ancient pipes, or fluoride, which is added by the local authority which controls the water supply, as well as volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Water filters can retain trace minerals but remove chlorine, VOCs and the protozoa which can cause gastrointestinal problems.


If you are not satisfied with the water that comes out of your tap then installing a solid block carbon filter will probably solve the problem. You will not have to pay for bottled water which may, or may not be as natural as it claims to be. You may also be interested in this quotation from the US Environmental Protection Agency in their booklet "Water on Tap: What You need To Know" published in December, 2009: -


"... although required to meet the same safety standards as public water supplies, bottled water does not undergo the same testing and reporting as water from a treatment facility."


So perhaps it is safer to drink filtered tap water after all.

Monday, March 5, 2012

What Is the Pecan Scab Disease?

One of the most well-known diseases that can harm a pecan tree is a fungus known as 'pecan scab'. It is also the most damaging. The reason for this is because pecan scab can infect the shuck, or pod of the pecan, stems, and leaves. What also makes this disease particularly prevalent is the fact that it can attack anytime during the season and will lay dormant in the leaves during winter waiting to kill your crop.


The cause of pecan scab is water. Too much water will allow the fungus spores to develop and thrive. This can be particularly difficult to control in the southern states where pecan trees are common. Mid to late afternoon rains are typical and those are the worst for spore development because the leaves can stay wet overnight. The longer they're wet, the more likely it is that the spores will develop and turn into tree-killing pecan scab.


The primary indicators that your trees may be infected are splotches that appear on the leaves in various sizes. These lesions are indicative that the pecan scab has killed that part of the leaf and can lead to early drop of the stem. Also, because the splotches are dark brown to black, photosynthesis cannot occur causing the leaf to wither and eventually fall off of the tree.


To prevent pecan scab, there are a variety of fungicides to use to kill the spores. The key is to spray the tree prior to getting it. If you're expecting a heavy rainfall, that's a good time to be preventative since that's when pecan scab tends to develop. However, if you're unwilling to use a fungicide or if it's not economical for your few trees you can still prevent pecan scab by removing dead leaves, pruning infected leaves and clearing the tree and area around the tree after the harvest season.


Pecan scab can be very serious, infecting entire orchards and ruining an entire harvest season. And the fungus is particularly stingy. There are some types of pecan trees that are more resistant than others like the Oconee and Houma varieties. But these may not be the type of tree that will grow in your area so you have to be careful. The truth is that nearly all farmers who grow pecan trees will most likely have to contend with some sort of fungicide and possibly pesticide at some point. It pays to be preventative otherwise fungi and pests have the potential to ruin your entire pecan season.


This article was written by Al Pearson of Pearson Farm, a fifth-generation family-owned business dedicated to growing Georgia Peaches and Georgia Pecans on thousands of acres in Fort Valley GA.

A discussion on organic and free range meat

The population of the world eat meat is slowly but surely moving over to what is now known as ' ethical ' eating. Eating ethics means nothing more than to eat meat that comes from animals free range that have been treated humanely throughout their life.


With the news of mistreatment of cattle and poultry from all over the world, people don't want to eat meat that comes from animals that have been treated cruelly. So, how do you know that meat Purchases is in fact organic and free-range ingredients?


The terms used for the labelling of meat and poultry products can be quite mystifying. Here are some of the commonly used terms and their meanings to help you understand what exactly you are buying the next time you are at your organic butcher.


Reared outdoors:


This means that even if the animal mother was conceived and born outside the litter was raised in shelters or pens.


Human choice:


This label shows that the sheep have not undergone ' mulesing ' and pigs were given nose rings. It also means that the transport of animals to slaughter follows strict guidelines.


Organic meat:


This meat comes from animals that were allowed to graze freely in open pastures and were treated with respect. It also means that these animals were not administered growth hormones or steroids or antibiotics. You should try the logo that the product is certified as organic.


Free range meat:


' Free range ' means that the animals are not kept in cages or pens and allowed free access to sunlight and air and is also allowed to roam free and eat natural food. These animals are carried out according to the guidelines established by acts of animal welfare.


Although efforts are to implement stricter laws to curb the inhumane animal practices in factories and intensive animal farming ', there is still a long way to go. But, increasingly, people want to know where the meat is from, and have begun to check labels for meat products. Even if free-range and organic meat cost much more than factory-farmed meat, demand continues to rise.


Local butchers are also beginning to show an inclination towards organic meat. The butcher demanding normally insists on visiting local farms to witness firsthand the animal and practices of raising chickens. This self-interest is what ensures that the meat products that we sell are actually "free range" and "organic". So if you are an ethical Eater ensure that you buy the meat from a butcher and you always look for the label ' certified organic '.


Opting for meat free range means that you are buying meat that is healthier, tastier and more environment friendly. It also gives you some comfort that the meat comes from animals that have been allowed to live their lives out in their element and eat their food with the minimum interference, are treated with respect and slaughtered in a humane manner.

How to chose the wedding dinner

If you haven't yet decided on your wedding menu it may be an idea to keep it simple and concentrate on the ingredients. We've just come back from a week in France and only had one bad meal. Ironically it was the first night in the English pub. The food was bland, uninteresting, poorly presented and simply not worth going back. Even the chips (which we are supposed to be good at) were lukewarm. The pub atmosphere was great but let down hugely by the quality of the food. It was packed that night but there wasn't a Frenchman in sight!


From then on things got better.


We had a huge variety of meals throughout the week from a steaming tartiflette (potatoes, bacon, onions, cream and reblochon cheese baked in the oven) to a simple salad. Every single meal without exception was delicious. The salads were basic but the dressing was to die for, the pasta was tasty with freshly grated parmesan and the chicken just melted in your mouth (not quite the same as the insipid offerings we get over here). We had a particularly great last day, sat outside in the spring sunshine, we pushed the boat out and opted for dessert when there really wasn't any room. Here the French come into their own. A chocolate souffle with ice-cream was simply the most delicious thing I have ever tasted and the lemon meringue pie bore no resemblance in taste to its English cousins.


It's not just the meals that were in a league of their own but the shops. Every village has its own boulangerie bursting with a hundred different varieties of breads, croissants, pain au chocolat and pastries. Why would you ever make a dessert with the quality on offer? The boucheries with joints of dried ham hanging in every window and the shop owners delighted to carve you a slice before you buy. The fromageries that don't conform to our ridiculous health and safety systems over here and have the cheeses on display at room temperature rather than tastelessly cling wrapped at 4 degrees totally killing all the flavour. Next to every cheese there is a little pot with offerings that you can taste before you buy. If you want the perfect picnic don't go further than the high street. Delicious bread, slices of prosciutto, cheese and pate make the perfect lunch.


What does this have to do with weddings I hear you ask? Well its simple. Get the best ingredients, cook them simply and present them beautifully. Use the seasons to choose your meal so that the produce is at its most perfect. Obviously the occasion and atmosphere make any meal and it's not just what you eat. Fresh fish and chips in a newspaper are hard to beat when starving and walking along the seafront and this is the feeling you are trying to replicate when choosing your wedding meal. A salad can be fantastic as long as all the ingredients are at their best. Some locally smoked salmon or thinly sliced smoked duck breast are fantastic or buffalo mozzarella with some freshly grown cherry tomatoes drizzled with olive oil and fresh basil leaves takes some beating especially if you add some freshly baked bread. If you don't fancy a starter just serve bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar alongside some juicy marinated olives and dishes of hummus. If that not enough add trays of thinly sliced salami and prosciutto or pots of rich country pate for guests to nibble on before their main course. If you are having a June wedding why not have spring lamb with jersey royals and fresh asparagus and broad beans. Just get the best cut possible and it will melt in your mouth. If you are getting married in the winter its a whole different ball game.


A wedding breakfast doesn't have to be soup, chicken and profiteroles (if it does it needs to be the best they can possibly be). If you are having a winter wedding why not have pots of beef bourgignonne with buttery mash and roasted winter vegetables. They can be put on each table and everyone helps themselves. Equally if steak and chips is your favourite, have it for your wedding.


Everyone's tastes are different and if you eat at Michelen star restaurants you may want something a bit fancier. However if that's the case it may be worth finding your perfect restaurant and taking it over for the day, have a small wedding of say twenty of your closest family and friends and dine in style. Use local produce. Here in the Lakes we have the most amazing suppliers and farm shops. The Cumberland sausage is amazing, Cartmel has its own smoke house (as well as sticky toffee pudding) and can produce the best smoked salmon ever, certainly giving those French a run for their money.


If you aren't going for a sit down meal then a buffet gives you unlimited options. Seafood looks and tastes amazing and if the budget allows you can feast on fresh lobster, crab, king prawns and mussels. You can add curries, joints of meat, casseroles, stir fries to your heart's content. Salads give a buffet table colour and texture but don't go for the British version with grated carrots, hard boiled eggs and beetroot. Served roasted Mediterranean vegetables with garlic and olive oil, cous cous, rocket with freshly grated parmesan and roasted Spanish onions, feta with toasted pumpkin seeds and fresh water melon drizzled with olive oil, tastes and looks divine. Serve bowls of garlic croutons and tiny bits of crispy bacon and delicious choices of dressing. Finish the table with a 'cut your own' bread display and baskets of seasonal fruits.


If you are having a barbecue don't go with the obvious. Camenbert in wooden boxes wrapped in tinfoil and drizzled with white wine makes a fantastic starter when baked on the barbeque. Serve individual ones to each guest with big baskets of different breads to dip. Whole fillets of salmon or fillet of beef can easily be cooked on the barbeque and it makes it dead easy to serve one per table complete with hot buttered potatoes and big bowls of salad. If you are having a hogroast which is a fantastic (as well as cost effective) way to feed a lot of people make sure they use proper home-made bread buns not Warburtons best pre-cut ones. The apple sauce and stuffing should be home-made and the pig, well they should at least be able to tell you were it comes from.


Afternoon tea has made a complete comeback and is now often offered instead of canaps. Tiny finger sandwiches with crusts off served with tiny freshly baked scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam accompanied by tiny chocolate eclairs, fruit tartlets, macaroons and our new love affair, decorated fairy cakes can be a complete hit if everything is made to its very best. Serve with pots of tea and freshly brewed coffee or even better glasses of icy champagne or prosecco and you are definitely onto a winner.


What seems to let us down over here are our desserts. Very rarely have I been somewhere that does really good desserts and now very rarely order one to prevent being disappointed. However if you are looking for the perfect wedding dessert flavour should always come first. Strawberries in summer are hard to beat but have them in January and you are bound to be disappointed. If you can pick them up and they smell divine nothing can beat them when served with fresh cream. If you want to go slightly more elaborate add fresh raspberries, giant meringue nests and hot chocolate sauce for a decadent feel. If you aren't a pudding person, get big platters of your favourite cheeses on each table and give everyone a slice of wedding cake to keep the sweet toothed happy. Another simple idea is to offer fruit tarts. What can beat a delicious sugar pastry filled with a mixture of mascarpone cheese, cregraveme fraiche and vanilla, topped with an array of strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and finished with a dollop of chilled cream. If the weddings in winter simply swap for a crumble and serve custard instead of cream you really can't go wrong. Apples, pears, blackberries are fantastic in autumn and if its early spring you cant beat new season rhubarb. Just make sure its presented beautifully because however delicious it is, if it looks like school dinners it's a turn off straight away.


Don't forget the coffee. Many an amazing meal has been ruined by dodgy coffee. Ask your caterer or venue for a sachet of their coffee and try it at home. It should reflect the quality of the meal you are offering. Don't settle for second best and make sure you don't get mint imperials to go with it! Price

How to Eat Street Food Safely While Traveling

Tasting the local cuisine of a city is absolutely essential to understanding that city's identity, past and present. In most cities you will find restaurants that offer some typical foods, though if they're aimed at tourists you can expect to find higher-than-normal prices and watered-down flavors. Short of accepting an invitation to dine at a local's house, your best bet for local cuisine will often be on the street.


The street is where a city's history collides with the modern day, where old traditions exist alongside such newfangled developments as designer stores and fast-food palaces. It's where the poor mingle with the well-off over a light lunch, where tourists can interact with locals of all stripes--and often score the best food at dirt-cheap prices.


Meaningful, delicious, authentic street eats are not only found in big foreign cities with famous food cultures, like Bangkok and Mexico City: Even in a city like New York, the simple act of buying a hot dog on the street links you with a century's worth of New Yorkers who have done the same. But it's in those other cities where street food poses the bigger perceived risk, and where tourists are more likely to shy away from the street altogether for fear of getting sick. By heeding the following advice, you can drastically decrease your chances of falling ill from eating well on the street (or anywhere else, for that matter).


1. Check that your vaccinations are up-to-date before traveling, especially to developing countries. Hepatitis A, for example, can be transmitted through contaminated food or water; the full vaccine (two shots) protects you for at least 10 years.


2. Never drink the tap water, including ice. In some countries, even your average tourist restaurant may not be filtering water to make ice, so always ask, or play it safe and avoid ice altogether. If you can, bring your own water bottle from home, as many hotels offer filtered water for fill-ups--that way you'll save money and decrease plastic waste.


3. Choose established venues, or eat where lots of locals are eating--and try to visit during peak times of the day. Use websites, guidebooks, and blogs to research what street vendors have been around for a long time, are consistently visited by non-locals without issue, and are generally popular. When in doubt, follow the local crowds, as they're only going to eat where the food is good and fresh--where there are lots of customers, there will be lots of turnover behind the scenes. For the same reason, avoid street stands at odd hours when it's more likely the food has been sitting out for too long.


4. Avoid raw, unpeeled fruits and vegetables. If it has a thick skin, however--like bananas, mangoes, cucumbers-or if you can wash it off with your own filtered water (say, an apple), it's fine to eat. You can do without cold salads on your trip, but don't forgo all healthy fruits and veggies--you may end up upsetting your stomach if you limit yourself to meats and carbs! And remember: Cooked vegetables are generally just fine. Strive for a somewhat balanced diet.


5. Always wash your hands before eating. The importance of this cannot be understated. On the street you likely won't find a sink and soap, so always carry antibacterial hand gel with you.


6. Be prepared. Take care to travel with a good first-aid kit that includes, among other items, oral rehydration salts, antacids, and antidiarrheals. But don't reach for the latter at the first sign of a problem--often a bad stomach bout only requires time, rest, bland foods, and lots of fluids. It also pays to research what local food to ask for if you do fall ill, as the local remedy is often both tastier and more effective than plain toast and chicken broth! Depending on where you're going, you may want to ask your doctor about traveling with a dose of antibiotics (and instructions on when to take them) just in case.


The most memorable and delicious travel experiences often come at the hand of a street-food vendor. Don't let fear prevent you from digging in--the responsible way.

Sunday, March 4, 2012

The Importance of Health Insurance While Vacationing Abroad

Before you book your vacation, look into your travel insurance coverage. Most people assume their Credit Card companies and life insurance policies, cover them while travelling, or often people believe nothing will happen to them. It is best to research all of your options, so that you are fully informed and can make the correct choice for adequate coverage. If you have already purchased your trip, understand that purchasing insurance is a must.


There are many options to choose from before you book your trip. Shop around and find out what you already have. Only then can you make an informed decision regarding what additional insurance you may need to be fully covered. Vacationing is meant to be a stress-free enjoyable time. For instance, your insurance could reach over $1000.00 if you have a pre-existing medical condition, are over 65 and are vacationing for two weeks. If you find yourself in a pinch, there are always third party lenders that would enable you to go on that special vacation if you required a loan for your insurance protection.


What does OHIP cover if I leave the country on vacation?

Barely anything if you are travelling outside of CanadaOHIP strongly recommends purchasing additional health insurance coverage.OHIP will only contribute a portion to the cost if an accident meets certain criteria. For example your "pre-existing conditions" won't be covered.

Credit Card Coverage: Questions to ask?

If I own a credit card with health insurance provisions but do not book a trip using that card, am I still covered through them?Do I need to tell my Credit card company I am taking the trip and do I have to stipulate all of the details?Is there a deductible I have to pay should the need arise?What is the maximum amount covered? Will it cover me to be flown home if required?Do I have to be reimbursed and pay up front for medical expenses?Am I still covered if I am over 65?Is my family covered under the same card?

When choosing a Travel Insurance policy that's right for you, purchase it with the mindset that you will use it.There are numerous factors to consider in choosing a tailored insurance plan. Most plans are based on age, the number of days you will be out of the country, and your medical history.


Banks can provide you with extremely detailed policies that clearly spell out every possible scenario. They offer a variety of options from all-inclusive plans, to just emergency medical packages, to trip cancellation policies.


Things to keep in mind when shopping for the best fit through different Insurance Providers

The typical provision for Medical/Hospital Insurance is up to $5,000.000. Is that enough?Are you a resident of Canada? If you are not a resident you may not be eligible for certain plans.Take a copy of the insurance document with you and make sure you have all supporting information. Make sure you include a file of your own medical history such as a family doctor's contact info, and all medications you are currently taking.Make sure someone at home has all of your information as well, so that he or she can help you should the need arise.Find out if you are responsible for paying the Hospital or if your insurance provider directly takes care of that.

Take care of you and your family so that you can enjoy your time abroad.

What Are The Ingredients In Milk?

By drinking a glass of milk or eating a piece of cheese or some yogurt, you get your dose of B vitamins, vitamin A, vitamin D, but unfortunately you also get antibiotics, anti-inflammatory compounds and hormones.


Milk is not as white as it seems. According to the Daily Mail, a group of Spanish and Moroccan scientists has recently concluded that the average glass of milk contains more than twenty substances, including painkillers, antibiotics and growth hormones. Even breast milk is affected. From samples of cow, goat and human milk, scientists have found a host of chemicals intended to treat diseases in animals and people.


This experiment shows that the presence of chemicals has become routine in the food chain. The largest quantity of drugs was found in cow's milk. According to the researchers, the origin of such a concentrated chemical is found in any growth hormones fed to cattle in the diet or due to contamination of the farm.


The Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry found that cow's milk showed signs of anti-inflammatory drugs such as niflumic acid, ketoprofen and mefenamic, subdivision anti-inflammatory drugs, commonly used on animals or humans for its analgesic (pain-killing) and antipyretic (anti fever)properties. In addition, a form of estrogen (17-beta estradiol) was also detected. Tests have also found milk contained traces of ibuprofen and naproxen.


If you're concerned about chemicals in milk, you should know that there are some alternatives available. The first one that may come to your mind is organic milk. While this type of milk comes from cows that have not been treated with antibiotics or synthetic growth hormones, it is still processed at high temperatures to increase its life. In a regular pasteurization process, milk is heated from 145 to 160 degrees Fahrenheit, but this does not guarantee the complete elimination of all bacteria.


Organic milk needs to stay fresh for long periods of time because in many cases it is not produced locally. Milk is packed and must travel long distances to stores in different cities across the country and sometimes even across borders.


A recent study showed that organic milk is rich in essential fatty acids omega-3, vitamin E and antioxidants to help fight against infections. Omega-3 is believed to protect against coronary heart disease. The study also indicated that organic milk is very rich in beta carotene and vitamin A. A major advantage of organic milk when compared to regular milk is that the grass that feeds the cows is not sprayed with fertilizers and pesticides. Therefore, people who consume organic milk are not at risk of being exposed to these harmful chemicals.


However, the pasteurization process may seriously compromise the quality of the milk, even if it is organic. For this reason, an even better alternative to regular milk is grass-fed RAW milk, which can be purchased from conscious farmers. In most of the cases it is better than organic milk, as it has basically the same properties, minus the pasteurization process, which is known to destroy part of the vitamin C in milk and for making the calcium in milk insoluble.


Raw milk has a range of good bacteria that offer protection from some diseases and are essential for a healthy digestive system. So, if you want to get the most out of the milk you drink, you should find a raw milk farm that you trust and make a habit from buying your milk there.

Butcher Shop tips on how to buy and Store

The wide range of meat products enticingly exposed at the local butcher shop makes us want to only load our cart without looking at the labels. It is not possible to pick up meat in a hurry how could end up with the old flesh that is on its way out.


When buying pre-packed meat, you must check that the

the package is sealed properlyexpiry date is still frozen validpackage wellmeat is not purple or brown in color and the fat is not yellowed (ideally beef should be a new pink with white bones shining) package does not give out any foul odourpackage is ' certified organic ' so you are sure of where the meat is frompackage are clearly labeled with a description of the cut of meat, weight, price, packaging and expiry date

If you want your meat to last longer and also save on money, buy a roast instead of steaks. Slice the meat until you are ready to cook it for better taste. Chop the beef at home shortly before preparation as packaged beef tends to be more severe due to lack of air flow.


Carry a cooler with you when you go shopping for meat keep the meat refrigerated until you get home. Follow the recommendations of storage on the labels to make sure that the meat stays fresh and lasts longer. Store your meat separately to avoid dripping on other food in the freezer. Also, never store your meat dishes cooked with raw meat.


We recommend that you take the meat packing and divide the meat into smaller portions and transfer to smaller containers that provide some airflow. By doing this, you only have to thaw the quantity required for each meal and not thaw the whole package just to freeze again. But remember to stick a note on each portion of the expiration date.


If the meat is vacuum-sealed, then you can safely store it unopened for 4-6 weeks. Ideal storage temperatures in your refrigerator should be set at 4-5 degrees Celsius and the freezer should be maintained at 15 to 18 degrees Celsius.


The best way to thaw your meat would transfer to the refrigerator from the freezer for as long as it takes to thaw completely. This take much longer, but as it is the safest way to thaw the meat, it would be a good idea to plan ahead. Steaks can be taken at night, if you're going to cook the next day.


Do not re-freeze raw meat after thawing affects the quality of the meat; Instead, Cook the meat and then freeze it.


Paying attention to the labels and instructions for storage, can be sure to buy high-quality meat that stays fresh longer. This means that not only eat healthier but also save some money in the long run.

Saturday, March 3, 2012

Discover the All New World of Juicing With Breville 800JEXL Juicer

Having the daily dose of fresh vegetables and fruits is the best way to load up your body with the essential minerals and vitamins that you need for maintaining a healthy life. Unfortunately, not everyone is too interested in eating on these natural foods, thereby losing on a significant source of nutrients from these important sources. So, if you don't like eating them, why don't you drink them. Yes, drink your favorite fruits and vegetables with the freshly-made juices from the Breville 800JEXL juicer. Now you can make delicious healthy juices from no matter what fruit or vegetable you desire, and in the most effortless manner. This high quality professional juicer from the most popular Breville, can you get you the juice from anything and everything while retaining the essential minerals and vitamins in them.


From wheatgrass and leafy greens to ripe fruits and the most hardest of them as well, the Breville 800JEXL juicer provides the optimum power and speed for the best juices ever. This is a 1000watt powerful juicer that features two speed controls, with the highest speed setting at an exceptional 13,000RPM and the lowest at 6500RPM. This varied speed setting helps in juicing different fruits and vegetables, thereby taking the advantage of what is available to you. The stainless steel 3-inch circular feed tube of the Breville 800JEXL juicer can essentially accommodate whole vegetables and fruits without the need of cutting or dicing them into small pieces before juicing.


One of the impeccable features that make the Breville 800JEXL juicer the best in its class is the super powerful titanium cutting disc. The super-sharp juicer knives are fitted into titanium cutting disc, a die-casted steel housing, and a stainless steel micromesh filter that assures high reliability and durability even on regular usage. The cutting disc holds 155 individual blades that can effortlessly mash and grind even the hardest components into tiny particles, with more juice from lesser fruits. The parts of the juicer are dishwasher safe, and can be easily cleaned up in seconds.


No more spending several dollars over a glass of fresh juice, no more compromising with the quality, no more die-hard efforts to extract juice from all kinds of fruits and vegetables. The Breville 800JEXL juicer makes the task of juicing all the more convenient and affordable as well. Now you can make your favorite juice from the comfort of your home and whenever you desire. Investing once in this useful possession will get you the value for several years to come; thanks to the high durability features and the optimum utilization of all components to get you the most of the natural foods. Buy online if you want to enjoy great discounts on the price of the Breville 800JEXL juicer.

A Honey Extractor Can Be Built In An Easy Fashion

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

A honey extractor should be able to keep honey comb intact when extracting or harvesting honey. The radial version can get the job done by ensuring the right amount of force is used when un-capping the honey combs. The tangential variety can tend not to have as much force behind them, but the whole thing can be helpful during the packaging process. Packaging should be a safe process, but it's important that the person working in packaging is not allergic to the product.

A person who is trying to create a successful honey production company may want to hire someone to focus on the blending and stirring process while they handle working with the honey extractors themselves. The speed and force with which they can be utilized in experienced hands can be significant, so it makes sense to seek the advise of an experienced bee keeping equipment supplier or bee keeper to learn about which type of extractor is right for you. The variety that are made out of stainless steel can also help keep ants and other insects from contaminating your honey comb.

A person can make their own radial extractor with a large drum and a number of other items available from your local hardware store. A honey dryer is something that can be used to ensure that the honey is usable in all situations after the extraction process. The temperature of the honey can make a big difference during the extraction process. If a person is able to simply shake the honey out of the comb, the honey may not be at the right temperature to be stored properly.

A person who wants to pick out the best honey extractor is not likely to pick a wooden one. Some people have been able to make their own out of wood. The truth is that they are doing this to save money instead of going with the option of stainless steel. The purpose of harvesting the honey is to make sure that bees can get their work done and also fulfill their natural purpose. The pollination work that bees do is very important for the wider food chain and environment. A bee keeper not only has to work with the extractor, but they also have to wear sting resistant clothing when they are monitoring the hive.

A person who is struggling with the concept may not be wearing the right kind of gloves for the situation. Many people need to find a way to gain confidence while harvesting honey and using any honey extractor.

Matt is an aspiring bee keeper and has an interest in all things bee keeping, including honey extractors! Read more about the use and benefits of honey extractors at:

http://www.ehoneyextractor.com/

All About Spring Beer - A Refreshing Way to Welcome Back the Warmth

While winter might still be clutching your area in an icy grip, spring is here. For beer lovers, that means finding the perfect beverage to welcome back spring and all its promises of new growth and returning warmth. Of course, this begs the question - what exactly makes a beer ideal for springtime, anyway?


What's Spring Beer?


It seems like every season has brews dedicated to it - summer gets light, refreshing lagers that cool you off and revitalize you. Autumn finds folks gearing up for Oktoberfest and wintertime sees specialty winter and holiday beers galore, loaded down with cinnamon, cloves and honey. What about spring, though? Actually, the first season of the year really doesn't see the same profusion of season-specific offerings. That doesn't mean that you won't have any options once the weather begins to warm and you have to start eyeballing the front yard to prepare for the start of grass-cutting season.


Many spring beers have a specific set of characteristics, though these vary considerably with style and geographic region. With that being said, you'll find that the following qualities can often be found to some degree in "spring" brews:


• Citrus
• Light color
• Refreshing (many spring brews are lagers)
• Crisp
• Clear or cloudy (both styles are popular in spring)


Bock, Doppelbock and Maibock


While all types of beer can be served during springtime, the traditional beverage brewed is bock. Bock has a storied history, particularly surrounding religious festivals and celebrations, and was widely consumed during Lent. Bock was brewed in the winter, specifically for consumption during March. Historically, both bock and doppelbock served as staples during springtime.


Doppelbock was the traditional beer of Lent, though bock was also consumed at this time. Doppelbock offered a darker color and stronger body, as well as plenty of bite. Of course, you don't have to be a monk to appreciate the flavor and beauty of a good doppelbock.


However, there is really only one type of beer brewed specifically for drinking during spring today - maibock. Traditional bock was consumed by monks fasting during Lent and was considered "liquid bread". With today's completely altered cultural landscape, it makes sense that the traditional beer has also changed.


Maibock is brewed specifically for drinking during springtime, though it came about relatively recently in comparison with other bock styles. Technically, maibock really isn't a bock at all - it's a helles lager that is brewed to the same strength as bock (6-7% ABV). Also called May bock, maibock styles are usually associated with the month of May and the warmest portion of spring. While maibock might not be a "true" bock, it does hold to a few of the traditional characteristics of the style, including:


• Low hops flavor
• High alcohol content


It differs in that it usually has more carbonation than a traditional bock or doppelbock, and the flavor is often less malty. It's also usually lighter in color than bocks, being gold to light amber, where bock is usually copper or brown.


Another Notable Derivative


Maibock is just one popular derivative of the bock brewing style. Another option is eisbock, a much stronger brew. Where maibock might top out at just over 7% ABV, eisbock can range from 9 to 13% ABV. It's also made differently - the beer is partially frozen and then the water ice is removed from the brew, leaving a higher alcohol concentration behind. Eisbock usually has very little hops flavor and retains little to no head because of the higher alcohol content. Because of the lower hops flavor, this style is often rather sweet as well.


Other Spring Beers Worth Checking Out


Of course, you don't have to celebrate the arrival of spring with a bock or bock-derivative. There are plenty of other styles out there to tempt your palate.


Guinness - While a pint of the "black stuff" might not be your first pick for a spring beer, ask any Irish person what beer they most associate with spring and you're likely to receive this as an answer. It's largely due to the stout's association with Saint Patrick's Day, though there's never a bad time for a good pint of Guinness.


Sam Adams Alpine Spring - New for 2012, Sam Adams has produced a notable lager that will certainly wet your appetite for spring. This new lager offers many of the qualities found with traditional helles brews, but also some of the characteristics associated with bocks. It combines citrus flavors and aromas with noble hops, as well as plenty of malt and hops. It's also unfiltered and cloudy, so don't be surprised if you can't see through it.


Sierra Nevada ESB - ESB stands for Early Spring Beer (not to be confused with Extra Special Bitter) and the brewery does a remarkable job in making this a very appealing brew. It's another unfiltered spring beer, but unlike others, this brew has a significant hops presence. You'll also find that it's brewed following British tradition and even uses British hops, though a smattering of US hops is also used in the mix.


Other options might be more traditional, though. Fruit beers are very popular during springtime in Belgium and there's nothing quite as refreshing as a good wit beer. Spiced beer is also popular during spring, though they're more heavily associated with winter and Christmas in particular. Still, a lightly spiced brew can be a great thing on a warm spring day, particularly if it carries notes of citrus and ginger.


Bottoms Up


Whether spring has sprung in your corner of the nation yet, there are plenty of excellent beers out there to check out. From bock to maibock, stout to English brews, you can find plenty of options to tempt your palate. Even if winter still clutches your neighborhood in its icy fist, there's no reason not to raise a pint of spring beer in honor of warmer days around the corner. What's your preferred beverage to drink while welcoming warmth back to the world?

Friday, March 2, 2012

A Yummy Shrimp recipe easily with deep fryers

Do you want to try to cook something else in your deep friers in addition to chicken and fries? Why not try your skills of baking a seafood recipe. Deep frying shrimp is so easy to make and is so delicious that anyone would fall in love with your cooking skills on first bite.


Everything you need to collect are the shrimp, the Fryer, your batter and cooking oil. Honestly, you can use a frying pan or a pan to fry the shrimp but it is more convenient to use a deep Fryer. In addition, also cooks faster when completely submerged in oil, and every part of it is baked. If you are using a frying pan or a skillet, you would have to constantly flip the shrimp to make sure that every part of it is cooked evenly.


After you gather the ingredients, you can make your batter. You can do this before you clean your shrimp or later; Never mind. You can do a wet or dry batter. Wet batters are prepared by mixing flour and eggs and add some seasoning. Japanese Tempura is prepared using a wet batter with the newly added water (one Asian Cook used ice and has made some rare stunts on his cooking show, but they don't have that imitate). Dry batter is usually only a few corn flour or seasoned flour. You can make it fancier by adding breadcrumbs and grated coconut.


You must first Peel the shrimp cleanly and budellino them. You can start pulling off the head and legs of shrimp, then peel off the outer shell. Is not a very delicate work. I am actually a bit messy. Just make sure you don't pull the meat along with the shell.


Some people prefer to take off the tail, but it's good to leave them on for decorative purposes. (I personally like leaving them, because it is also a bit more convenient to use the tail to keep the fried shrimp). Get a small paring knife and cut along the outside edges of his back, but do not cut too deep. Just cut up to see the mood for shrimp, then lift. Now the shrimp are ready to swim into the batter and after that in deep fryers.


You can set the temperature between 350° and 375° Fahrenheit (176.6 degrees to 190.5 degrees Celsius), but a lot of cooks really doesn't matter, as long as they can make sure the temperature is not too high to cause the breaded shrimp being overcooked or too low for that matter.


Do not pour it all into the Fryer and not to cook shrimp all at once. If you do that you have a hard time making sure they stay separate from each other. Wait until the shrimp will float to the top of the oil. This means that the shrimp is done. Of course, you want them to be a golden brown. Drain the cooked shrimp on paper towels. Or you can put them on garza to take care of excess oil.


Now you are done! Serve with a smile and serve while hot. Using special delicacies such as fryers to cook these is so worth it, especially if you can see the satisfied smile of people eating the food is cooked.

Why It Is Important to Choose the Best Breakfast for You and How to Never Miss It

Good breakfast is just necessary if you want to be active and energetic through the whole day. The problem most people have with breakfast is that they commonly make up excuses for not having it every day. They either tell themselves they don't have enough time or that they can't decide how to make the best breakfast for them.


A proper breakfast charges our body with strength and energy. Nutritionists believe that if you don't have breakfast regularly, this may result in metabolism issues. While everyone might have a sense for choosing their best breakfast meals, it's always better to choose the healthy alternatives.


If you currently don't have a solid breakfast habit, then start to gradually condition the mind and body that the morning meal is really the most important one.This can be done easily and naturally.


The first step is to decide that you are willing to experiment and start eating in the morning. Then, just choose those foods which are the best for breakfast and which will make you feel good. This way, you will eventually become addicted to eating breakfast because you will immediately see the results of it- getting in good mental and physical state faster and more energy during the day.


Since many people find it hard to wake up earlier when they begin to set up their habit to have good breakfast everyday, I will give you two proven solutions for this.


Here's the first one- when you hear that horrible sound of the alarm clock, get a book (a magazine might do the work also) and start reading it right away, while you are still in bed. As long as is it something of interest to you, you will find out that your mind gets more and more awakened. This is because it doesn't have the time to start thinking things like "well, I guess I can stay in bed for 30 minutes more instead of having breakfast". Your mind focuses on the book and this helps you get out of that sleepy mental space.


And the second method is this: first, change the sound of the alarm you use to wake up in the morning. Then condition yourself to get out of bed and do something physical when you hear it. Here's how you do this: get into your bed and set the alarm to ring after 10 minutes. Then jump out of bed instantly when you hear it ringing. Start doing something physical- push-ups, jumping, breathing deeply, yoga, anything. It doesn't matter how sleepy you feel after 10 minutes of lying in your bed, you have to get up immediately. Do this at least 4 times. This conditions your mind to have the response of getting up when you hear this particular sound. And you've guessed it- the next time you hear it in the morning it will be much easier to get up and start exercising. The physical part is to wake your body up quickly.


Next, pick out some quick and healthy recipes and make the best breakfast for yourself. Here are some best breakfast recipes to check out.

Like drinking smoothies can help improve your health!

Fruits are an important part of our diet and provide our bodies with essential nutrients. They are among the best sources of vitamins and minerals and many health experts believe that regular consumption of fruit is important in order to avoid the disease. Better yet? Aim for three servings of fruit per day. While it seems impossible to eat three or four kinds of fruit every day, it is actually quite easy. You can also eat more if you want. The solution? Making smoothies every day! In this way, they are able to consume the daily requirement of fruits quickly and easily.

Making fruit juice smoothies is much better than turning them into sweets with fruit, pastries, ice cream, adding in creams or chocolates, or mixing them in everything that contains a lot of fat or cholesterol. Leaving aside the fact that you get to eat the whole fruit, except the seeds, you can also remove grease ingredients that can transform the fruits very healthy in a totally unhealthy. Smoothies are made with fresh fruit, which means no preservatives and nutrients of fruits are not decreased due to cooking, cooking or juicing.

Another reason why the milkshakes are better than any kind of fruit recipe is because it offers more than enough health benefits. Health benefits that you get from drinking regular milkshakes are very useful in both short-term and long-term. Drinking smoothies give our body a lot of nutrients that help our body function better. Allow me to introduce you to some of the health benefits that you get from drinking smoothies every day.

Drinking smoothies in the morning is a must because it moisturizes your body, keep us feeling refreshed during the morning. It also gives us energy, something we need to revive our right to day. Both of these benefits help to keep our brain focused and active, then we are ready to face the day.

Drinking smoothies help relieve stress. It gets rid of mood swings as well, helps us maintain a positive perspective in the course of the day. If you drink regularly shakes, we can lower the risk of experiencing depression.

Smoothies are known to contribute to weight loss. That's why Smoothies are very rich in fiber, which helps maintain our normal metabolism. It argues that our digestive system, working as a broom that sweeps away unwanted fat and flushing toxins out of our system regularly. Since we have a much better digestion thanks to smoothies, we also get healthy skin. If we do not wash away toxins in the proper way, that is through digestion, and leeks out of our skin, causing acne and other skin problems. But with a healthy digestive system, we can prevent these skin problems and we also have a more radiant skin.

In addition to dietary fiber, we also get antioxidants by drinking smoothies. These antioxidants help reduce the risk of some cancers and other chronic diseases. Also lowers blood sugar levels. Antioxidants are known to get rid of pathogenic substances.

Since Smoothies are made from fruit, might think that it is not a good source of protein, but that really depends on the ingredients to add to your smoothie. To make your protein-rich smoothie, you can add dairy products like yogurt or milk. You can also add whole grains that are rich in protein, such as quinoa!

Making your own shakes has many advantages. For one, you get to choose the ingredients that you add in your smoothie. There are also sure that every ingredient that is used is fresh and not pre-made. The best thing about making your own smoothie is that you have complete control over it, so you get to choose what benefits you will get from it.

To find amazing smoothie recipes or to find out why I love my Ninja Blender visit me on the web.

Hard Cider - An Ap-Peeling Addition to Big Beer?

Sidro duro è diventato uno dei segmenti piĂ¹ visibili del mestiere industria birraria e ha un spiccata appello (o che dovrebbe essere ap-buccia?) con uomini e donne. Sidro duro offre molto, da un gusto diverso immensamente da birra profonditĂ  in cultura americana radici storiche. Con quei benefici, sidro è anche guadagnando un sacco di avviso dalla birra grande in questi giorni e l'acquisto di Crispin sidro Company da MillerCoors mostra quanto attraente grande birrai stanno trovando la bevanda fermentata apple. Che cosa è da sapere sul duro sidro?


Uno sguardo al sidro duro


Se sei uno dei pochi che non ha mai provato duro sidro, sei in un vero e proprio trattamento. Gli amanti della birra confermati anche trovare un sacco di godere di questa bevanda. La bevanda è composto da succo di mela e differisce in modo significativo da sidro non fermentato (e non solo perché contiene alcol).


All'interno di Stati Uniti, sidro duro ha goduto di storia significativa. Infatti, essa precede la birra come uno delle bevande alcoliche preferite. Durante il periodo coloniale, era molto piĂ¹ comune trovare difficile sidro al tavolo di birra e sidro è stato servito solitamente perchĂ© non non c'era nessuna buona fonte di acqua potabile nelle vicinanze.


In passato, c'era un notevole bisogno di distinzione tra varietà di sidro duro e analcolici. Sidro dura solitamente appena è stato chiamato "sidro", mentre bevande analcoliche segnati con la frase "non alcolica sidro".


Sidro rimasta immensamente popolare negli Stati Uniti fino alla proibizione è stata emanata. Durante il proibizionismo quei produttori di sidro, che non hanno chiuso i battenti si rivolse a produrre succo e nonalcoholic sidro invece. Dopo che è stato abrogato il divieto, rimasero pochi produttori di sidro e la bevanda degenerati in popolarità, divenendo infine quasi impossibile trovare tranne in determinate regioni da molto piccoli produttori.


L'ascesa del sidro duro


Sidro, ancora una volta, hanno cominciato a venire alla popolaritĂ  durante gli anni 2000, quando l'industria della birra artigianale negli Stati Uniti ha cominciato davvero a decollare. Molti produttori ha preso loro indicazioni da produttori di sidro britannico, dove la popolaritĂ  della bevanda mai veramente scemato.


Oggi, troverete una gamma enorme di fabbriche di birra produce vari tipi di sidro duro. Alcune delle migliori birrerie oggi includono:


• Marmotta
• Pete malvagio
• Hornsby
• Crispin


Perché interessa le grandi aziende di birra?


Anche data la maggiore popolaritĂ  del succo di mele fermentate, cosa c'è di tentare di grandi fabbriche di birra in ricevendo in atto? In realtĂ , c'è molto da guadagnare per birra grande, in particolare nel momento in cui le loro vendite in altre zone sono piatte. Per esempio, un aumento della redditivitĂ  è certamente loro obiettivo finale (come grandi birrifici come MillerCoors davvero non si puĂ² dire di avere motivazioni altruistiche come dare ai loro clienti qualcosa di meglio da bere).


Un altro motivo che sidro è così attraente per grandi birrerie è il margine di profitto. Ci sembra di essere piĂ¹ soldi da apportare al sidro in birre tradizionali, grazie in gran parte al fatto che c'è bisogno di poco per qualcosa di piĂ¹ di mele, acqua e lievito. Sidro ha anche appello cross-genere - uomini e donne godono la bevanda. Birra, d'altra parte, è ancora in gran parte di un uomo bevanda nonostante birrerie in tutto il mondo il tentativo di disegnare i bevitori femminile per i loro prodotti con variazioni su ricette della birra, confezionamento e commercializzazione di metodi.


Come prova di appello qui, considerare il fatto che duro sidro vendite negli Stati Uniti è cresciuto di quasi 50 milioni di dollari dal 2010 al 2011 (cioè un aumento del 26%). Come tale, sidro rappresenta il segmento piĂ¹ rapida crescito all'interno della scena di birra artigianale. 50 Milioni di dollari potrebbe essere una goccia nel mare rispetto alle entrate che piĂ¹ grandi birrifici rastrellano in ogni anno, ma è un'attraente goccia per aggiungere alla loro particolare secchio. MillerCoors ha fatto proprio questo, annunciando l'acquisizione del produttore di sidro duro nazionalmente Voto 3 ° Crispin sidro Company.


Decimo e Blake prende un morso di sidro


Decimo e Blake è "Birra artigianale braccio" dei MillerCoors ed è responsabile della gestione dei possedimenti della mega-corporation in quell'area. L'elenco include marchi come luna blu e ora Crispin. Altre birre gestite dal decimo e Blake includono quanto segue:


• Leinenkugel
• Golden AC
• Birra Peroni
• Pilsner Urquell
Irlandese rosso di • killian
• Grolsch
• Sandlot
• Henry Weinhard


MillerCoors sarĂ  ora aggiunta Crispin a tale elenco piuttosto stimato, anche se la societĂ  opererĂ  ancora come una divisione indipendente all'interno del conglomerato massiccia. Finora, ci sono piani per cambiare metodi della fabbrica di birra, scaletta di prodotto o anche loro personale. In realtĂ , Crispin vede questo come una buona cosa, come il sostegno finanziario, dai MillerCoors fornirĂ  Crispin i mezzi per rampa la loro produzione e aumentare la dimensione dei loro impianti. Che sarebbe difficile e molto costoso aveva il birrificio fatto da solo.


Naturalmente, MillerCoors si trova a raccogliere alcuni piuttosto notevoli benefici in termini di redditività e una maggiore visibilità all'interno del mondo delle birre artigianali. Inoltre, dà MillerCoors punto di una voce esistente sul mercato. Anziché dover ricominciare da zero, ottengono un marchio affermato con una clientela fedele e hanno solo bisogno di apportare modifiche minori di cose piuttosto che investire tonnellate di soldi per avviare un nuovo progetto.


Non l'unico


Se pensate che MillerCoors è la societĂ  di birra globale solo cercando di fare parte di sidro duro della sua lineup, ripensateci. Anheuser-Busch è sempre in atto come bene. Tuttavia, AB non sta andando la rotta "mestiere". Invece di seguito sulla scia della MillerCoors, AB sta per aggiungere un nuovo prodotto per la sua linea Michelob, soprannominato Michelob Ultra Light sidro (in linea con il resto dei prodotti Ultra all'interno di quel particolare segmento). Esso dovrebbe per essere bassa gradazione, poco zucchero e meno dolce rispetto altri sidri ed è orientata per il palato piĂ¹ esigente, secondo la AB.


Sidro Is Here to Stay


Tutto considerato, la notizia piĂ¹ recente acquisto dei MillerCoors davvero solo conferma quello che molti hanno giĂ  conosciuto. Che è, difficile sidro è qui per rimanere.

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Why you should drink a V8

Adding more vegetables to our diet is considered one of the best things that we can do to improve our health. The problem that many of us run into is that we do not know how to cook vegetables or simply do not like eating in the first place. For many years, one of the alternatives to a full plate of broccoli is just drink a glass of V8 vegetable juice instead. While no substitute for perfect, there are actually several reasons why you might want to reach for a V8.

V8 is low in calories
When you consider that most of us reach for soft drinks and fruit juices instead of plain water, simple, it is difficult to overlook the fact that V8 is quite a bit lower in calories than many other drinks. The original V8 vegetable juice contains only 80 calories per serving of eight ounces. While this is still a bit more than you would find in the water, that nobody has any, is much better than 120-200 calories found in juice and soda.

V8 Has vitamins
The fact that it consists almost entirely of vegetable juice, it is obvious that there is going to be some solid nutrition withdrawn in those bottles. This is definitely the case as a serving of V8 will give you 80% of your daily vitamin C, 25% of your daily vitamin A, calcium and iron as well. While it may not be a multivitamin, isn't too bad either.

V8 is better than most of the juices
The problem that you encounter over and over again when it comes to fruit juices, and this is also true when it comes to online V8 Splash juices, is that they are full of sugar, usually in the form of high fructose corn syrup. Repeated studies have found that high levels of excess sugar in the diet, particularly quickly digestible forms found in drinks, contribute to weight gain and development of type 2 diabetes. Most varieties of V8 vegetable juices do not contain any added sugar.

While no means a perfect replacement vegetable that it is marketed as vegetable juice, V8 infact have several factors that have contributed to ensure giving it a second look, the next time you pass by it in the supermarket. High in vitamins, low content of sugars and low in calories, V8 can be a tasty and nutritious drink relatively for those times when the water just won't do.

Therefore, V8 healthy or not? Visit the chicken and apples to discover.

How to get the VIP service at restaurants: 7 simple tips

There is nothing quite as comfortable a pleasant evening in a gourmet restaurant, but this can be quickly ruined with poor service.


What a lot of people don't realize is that it's pretty simple to make sure you receive first-class service at your favorite restaurant.


Here are some tips to ensure that your event goes as planned.


1) make sure to make a reservation a couple days in advance. This is especially true if you are looking for a romantic evening as allows you to request a quiet table if one is available.


2) while making the request in advance, let the restaurant know about any specific needs so they can take them properly.


Whether it's access for disabled, allergy or specific you want to surprise someone for their birthday or anniversary, called forward gives the restaurant upstairs.


3) when you arrive at the restaurant (make sure it appears in time for your reservation), it is absolutely necessary to treat the waiter or waitress as would like to be treated.


While the evening out, respect goes both ways. Keeping requests to a minimum and to be polite and courteous to your server, you will find that return the favor with quality service.


4) it is also important that you are below your best behavior when around. Regardless of what type of setting of the restaurant may have, there is no room for being loud and obnoxious. All this will do is further irritate those around you and to take care of you for the evening.


5) If you find throughout the meal the server did a professional job and timely manner, feel free to congratulate them. Make it simple and gentle as this will give you a little reassurance that what they are doing is working.


In return, you will find that they put their attention on your table to make sure that the night goes as possible.


6) as the evening winds down, don't be afraid to leave a generous tip, if your server is deserving of it. If it was a pleasant dinner with quality service, chances are they will return at some point. Leave a tip above average return benefit you along the way.


7) the last thing to keep in mind when looking for quality of service during your normal restaurant experience are always rewarded.


This is especially true if you have followed all the tips listed above as the server, and the restaurant managers in General will go out of their way to accommodate all your needs.

Consider overseas wine tastings

Many customers like to go on wine tasting events because they get to taste some of the wines more recent market. If you are looking for a wine tasting event, why not mix with short break to one of the leading wine tasting destinations of Europe. There are many cities in Europe host tasting events where going to a large number of wine producers to showcase their latest wines.

For these wineries, is a great way to get in front of a new target and try to entice customers to try their products. For customers, is a great way to get a nice break and looking at some of the finest that the continent has to offer. You don't have to travel a million miles to get to one is because there are some great events in southern Europe, including Spain, Italy and Germany wine tasting.

As a visitor to one of these wine tasting events, all you need is to pay the entrance fee and you can sample as many of the wines offered as 'd. You will find a great mix of red, white and rose from around the world, all with their very own distinctive flavor. Representatives of companies will be at the booth to give you all the information you need in addition to be able to talk you through tasting notes and give you tips on the best ways to enjoy the wine.

As sensible drinking is something that is always promoted, snacks and appetizers are made available to ensure that alcohol levels are not too high. These snacks are also designed to enhance the flavors of the wines so tasting notes and using them is a good idea. Visitors can take a Notepad with them to take note of the wines that love because when they get back home can start looking online or in local stores. Many of these are new to the market so they are not widely available; That's why these companies spend money on appearing at these events.

Use these wineries wine tasting events to showcase their wines that they have just or are about to hit the market. These events are designed to promote their new products and customers that attend these events can be among the first to taste the new wines.

You can find some fantastic wines of South Africa, New Zealand and a host of other new world wines. If you would like a full bodied red wine or sparkling white wine, can be found there.

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Fun Facts About Cottage Cheese

Cottage cheese is not usually associated with boycotts, but in the summer of 2011, that produced by the Elite company was boycotted in Israel because of its high cost, in comparison to its cost in the US. Elite is an Israeli company, so it didn't seem fair that the price of its cottage cheese was higher in Israel than it was in other countries. The boycott was successful and the price was eventually lowered.


In the Indian subcontinent cottage cheese or 'paneer' is used in many savoury dishes, and goes well in a spicy dish with spinach. It is used to tame the hot spices used in traditional dishes, and these are very tasty.


Little Miss Muffet was clearly greedy and impatient. She sat on her "tuffet, eating her curds and whey" which are the precursors of cottage cheese. If she had waited a little longer she may not have had that traumatic encounter with the spider.


Cottage cheese is made by curdling pasteurized milk and draining off most of the liquid or whey, so that the only the curds are left in squishy lumps. You can curdle the milk with lemon juice, and make it from low-fat milk, so that it has fewer calories.


This type of cheese has been made for millennia and was made by the ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans. It gets its English name because it can so easily be made at home, and can be pressed into a thicker consistency to make a creamy white cheese with all the whey removed, until it becomes what is known as farmer's cheese, which is solid but crumbly rather like feta cheese.


It was a favourite of former US President, Richard Nixon, whose last meal as president was cottage cheese with a slice of pineapple. Doubtless the fresh pineapple makes for a better gourmet experience than the cottage cheese and pineapple you can buy in local supermarkets.


This type of cheese is ideal for dieters as its bland taste can be mixed with tastier things such as paprika or chilies, and eaten as a snack or in a main meal as it has only 98 calories per 100 grams, and this contains 11.1.grams of protein, and very little fat. It also contains high levels of selenium which is great for healthy skin and a general feel-good factor. It also contains vitamin D - the sunshine vitamin, and calcium, which is essential for healthy bones.


According to a USFDA report, Americans buy around 600 million pounds in weight of cottage cheese a year, although I suppose that doesn't mean they eat all that as it doesn't have a very long shelf-life. It is worth noting though that it takes a hundred pounds (weight) of milk to produce only fifteen pounds of cottage cheese.


It seems to be a favourite food, although I can't say I am a great fan, unless it is mixed into sweet pancakes or a spicy meat dish, as it tastes bland to me. However, it is this that makes it so versatile.

Upper Austria: Enjoy drinks beverages of locals

If you start to organize a holiday in Austria, once you have booked the Innsbruck airport transfers, you might want to read about the local cuisine so you know what you want to try. Plenty of opportunities to try out a number of local tasty versions too-you have a few drinks, some not so! Here is a brief summary of what you can expect.


Beer


Beer is found all over the world, but when you visit Innsbruck there are some that you should try if you enjoy a tipple. Zwicklbier is one of the most popular types of beer which you can find here, and it is a very tasty drink and cloudy. You will also find that the Märzen Lager and wheat beer, and these are all worth a try during your time here. Beer is usually served in 0.2 liter measures from 0.5 litres, but if you go to a festival, you can find a liter sizes on sale. Down the road in your town Innsbruck airport transfers, ask the driver to recommend some local haunts that serve the best beer.


Coffee


If you want yourself to wake up to go to visit the city, you should not miss out on the fantastic coffee are here-this is one of the things not to miss.


It is often said that Austria has brought coffee to Europe after the battle of Vienna, but generally this is not given. Still, drink coffee has become an important social practice in Vienna, and the common practice throughout the country. You can find the coffee in a range of styles and local blends, including Denise (which is a bit like an espresso), as well as some of the more standard styles like a cappuccino. Many locals gather together as a daily ritual in the cafes of the city as an important part of their social and business life. Once again, the Innsbruck airport transfers drivers will be able to recommend some of the best seats in the House.


Wine


The Austria has some fantastic wines to offer, so you should try as many as you can while here. Innsbruck airport transfers and can get past some vineyards on your way in, main wine region is the East of the country. One of the best wines is the GrĂ¼ner Veltliner, white if you prefer red and then Zweigelt is the most common variety.

Wisconsin Craft Brewers see the light at the end of the Tunnel despite the roadblocks

The world of artisan beer production has grown tremendously in the United States, even though Wisconsin is one of the States most heavily involved in the Union. Wisconsin has always had a strong position in the production of beer and home Brewers in the State have a tradition of creating unique, quality beers not found elsewhere. Those brewers were dealt a serious blow back in 2011, when the State Government slapped a ban on transporting beer outside the home.


2011-regulatory authorities tightening


Everything seemed fine with the scenes of beer and beer House in Wisconsin for several years. Festival of beer and beer tastings were quite common throughout the State. However, as with all good things, it was not to last. The State Government (some say spurred by lobbyists great beer) decided that it was illegal for home Brewers to transport beer outside the boundaries of their own homes. This was a decision taken by the Wisconsin Department of revenue and a reinterpretation of a current law which had been on the books for some time (during which no one made a fuss about home Brewers doing what they loved).


The immediate impact of this reinterpretation was that all beer tastings and festivals that featured the home Brewers (those who do not have licenses provided by the Distributor) were made illegal. Any Brewer taking his beer out of their own estate was suddenly a criminal-just to do the same things they had done for years before under the law itself.


Shines a ray of hope


Home brewers and craft Brewers rallied against this change in legislation and a legal battle ensued. The result was a new bill that would make it legal for them to take their beer off their property once again and share it with others. The legislation was presented to the State Senate where it was approved unanimously. The new law offers several key benefits specifically for home Brewers, including:


• Giving the Brewers legal capacity to make and serve their brews outside their domicile
• Does not require Home Brewers distributor purchase licenses or all permissions (or worrying about taxes)
• Prohibits home Brewers to sell any of their beers (thus the lack of logical taxes)
• Brew and distribute up to 100 litres for adults in a household (up to 2 adults)


Everything sounds nice enough, right? Home Brewers get to keep doing what I love and the Government gets to stay out of their business. While it might have thought that could be the end for the legal wrangling and Brewers could go back to doing their thing, it would be wrong.


Darkness and greed go down to Wisconsin


Just a few days after the Bill was voted a massive protest erupted from the people and similar agencies. The most vocal detractors of the Bill came the Alliance of Wisconsin Wisconsin beer and wine and spirit Institute. Both of these agencies are accused of being in the pocket of great beer. The General complaint by these agencies was that it made it possible for home Brewers to skirt the law. Spokesman also denounced the possibility that home Brewers could get compensation for their beer through "creative ticket sales" to wine tastings and other events throughout the State. It seems that their main claim is that the home Brewers might be able to make a profit on their cooking without being held to the same rules as great beer.


The problem is that most home Brewers have no desire to make money off their beer, at least not right away. The vast majority of home Brewers State engage in the production of beer as a hobby and a passion. Sharing their beers is a means for feedback, comments on the quality and style and the validation of their skills, besides being just plain fun. However, not greed never rests and the license/permit lobbyists and great beer to see the potential to slip out of their grasp.


Bottom line of the Bill


For those still unsure of the actual intent of the legislation, the entire purpose of the Bill is to let the little guy to do what he likes with friends, according to Dean Kaufert, one of the sponsors of the Bill in the Senate, and a representative of Wisconsin. The Bill is not about "skirting the law" or allowing private citizens to "get away with" doing things outside the bounds of the current legislation. Bottom line of the Bill is common sense. There is a point to force the home Brewers to keep their beers on their property, provided they are not selling their product.


The result is still uncertain


While the Bill might have received unanimous support from the Senate Committee, things certainly are not going well. Lobbyists across the State are stirring up trouble for home Brewers to incite other citizens and Government officials to stop this legislation from passing lobbying. The end result is not clear and no firm decision could be achieved for many more months thanks to the ongoing legal controversy. Meanwhile, Wisconsin home Brewers have few options other than sitting at home and do what they do in limited batches.


It seems strange that in an era where lighted beer laws are being enacted across the nation, one of the States best known for its heritage of beer should try to enforce those regulations ill-conceived and stifling. Suspicions about the "big boys" trying to maintain or Boost their profits are on the agenda and the hand of pundits beer big certainly seems clear. If Wisconsin adopt a benign attitude toward his home Brewers remains to be seen, though certainly it is to be hoped that the Government will not bend the power of big business, defend the rights of the small boy and leaving the home Brewers continue to do what you did for years.

Go nuts with pecans

Dice have long been part of human diet. This is because good taste and help us to stay healthy and fit.


A nut is the Pecan nut. It is native to North America and like any other nut can be eaten raw or as an ingredient in any recipe ranging from main courses to desserts.


Pecan is a term Algonquian Linguistics, which means a nut requiring a stone to crack. It has a very variable form. Some are oval, while others are round.


It is a valuable food source for native Americans, particularly during the autumn and winter as they are easy to store.


It has a huge value to this group of people that some varieties of pecans are named after Indian tribes.


Pecans are a good source of oleic acid, a monounsaturated fatty acid is considered healthy for the heart because of its ability to help reduce bad cholesterol.


Pecans contain more than 19 vitamins and minerals and a good source of vitamin e and fiber.


What makes this unique is its natural nut flavor, buttery rich which makes it a favorite ingredient in particular with dessert. The most famous of which are the pecan pie and pecan praline.


The natural taste of buttery Pecan nut blends well with the sweetness of sugar, then has a long history confectionery. Sugared pecans are a treat preferred not only by children with sweet tooth but by adults as well.


Honey is also an ingredient that can make a superb recipe of sugared pecans. Honey can improve its texture and blends well with its buttery flavor.


Any Chef or pastry chef can experiment on how to prepare a recipe of sugared pecans. Roast or bake, Toast the nuts. In both cases to prepare will improve its flavor and texture and appearance.


But even before considering preparation options, coming up with the best sugared pecans should begin before choosing the right pecans. Choose those without cracks, mold or hole. Go further, for those who are golden brown or cream color.


Sugared pecans are not the only ones that you can do with pecans. There are so many other variations that you can explore how these nuts are also good with meat, vegetables and fruit.


Pecans can add crunch and fries to your salad recipes and flavour and texture to your courses.


Instead of munching on junk food and candy, kids can nibble toasted pecans for their snacks or watching television. This is a healthy alternative.


Its not just sugar and honey can be added to the Pecans, you can also explore other spices like cinnamon, allspice, black pepper, cayenne pepper and the like.


Pecans can also be an ingredient in any dish spicy. Spicy chicken, meat or vegetable dishes can be made more interesting than Pecans.


A pecan nut fits any Cook who likes to let go of his creative character in the kitchen. This nut is flexible in terms of preparation and the kind of food that can bring to the table.


The wide variety of nut use alone makes it the most valuable species.

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

What Is Farro? An Ancient Italian Grain - Sorting Out the Confusion

Farro - a delicious slightly nutty tasting grain is enjoyed widely throughout Italy. Less known in the U.S.A. it is also a source of some confusion.


When I was first introduced to Farro in Tuscany I was told by the organic farmer offering it to me that is was called "spelt" in English. But it seemed different than the spelt I'd had in the states. I also observed that it was prepared quickly with no pre-soaking involved. It was plump, appetizing and chewy. My curiosity was piqued.


Because of my passion for this region of Italy with its glorious, pristine, Tuscan fields and long, sunny summer days, I imagined this "spelt" was different because of optimal growing conditions. Alternately, I was suspicious that perhaps this farro had been processed or pumped up with "steroid" like chemicals. Eventually, after much research, including a visit to one of the first organic farms in Italy, the confusion dissolved. But describing "what is farro?" is still not easy.


Many sources will explain that Farro is an ancient or "heirloom" grain known to have sustained the Roman Legions as they marched across Europe. First cultivated as early as 10,000 BC in Ethiopia it eventually migrated through the Mediterranean Region and into Europe. Farro is early on the evolutionary chain of wheat - beginning with Einkorn and ending with contemporary Durum Wheat. The most common claim is that the biological name for Farro is "Triticum Dicoccum" and that it's similar to what we call "Emmer" in English. Furthermore, "Triticum Dicoccum" or Farro is the precursor to "Triticum Spelta" or "spelt" which evolved centuries later.


But not so fast! Further research uncovers some dispute about the actual evolution of these ancient grains. The accurate origin and taxonomy of spelt is controversial. Different varieties of T. Dicoccum or Emmer are grown throughout Italy including some wild, non-domesticated versions. Further, it turns out that Italians actually refer to any hulled wheat (with a husk) as "Farro". And the literal translation of the word "farro" into English is "spelt". So emmer or spelt or einkorn are all interchangeably called "farro" in Italy. Thus the confusion!


However - rest assured! As Farro becomes better known in the U.S. we can be confident that most product sold here is actually "Triticum Diccocum". Sold both as "whole grain farro" which retains its outer husk and "Farro Perlato" - which is the plump, chewy grain I first enjoyed in Tuscany. The word "perlato" refers to the removal of some of the tough, outside husk as in "semi-pearled". Despite the removal process Farro Perlato retains its highly nutritious properties. And grain sold as "Spelt" is a harder, smaller grain that needs to be pre-soaked before cooking and is preferably used for breads, flour and pastas.


The distinguishing feature of these hulled grains is the tough husk that needs to be partially removed or pre-soaked to be edible. The Tuscan farmers I know say "even the cinghiale (wild boar) won't eat farro because of the tough husks". As a result, farro lost favor over the centuries due to the development of modern wheat - without the husks - which required less processing and produced higher yields. Unfortunately the cultivation of modern wheats also culled out many of the nutritious properties of the ancient grains and increased the amount of gluten now present in today's durum wheat.


Now it's our good fortune that organic Farro Perlato is available in America semi-pearled making it very quick and easy to cook. It has high protein, high fiber, is non-GMO, highly nutritious and has a low glycemic index of 40 when compared to other grains. Because it retains many of its ancient properties its gluten content is low and is often tolerated by people with wheat allergies. Versatile and delicious it can be served as an entrée, side dish, salad or even as a hot breakfast cereal. It's now easy to cook delectable farro dishes like those served in homes all over Italy and to enjoy the taste of Farro in fine restaurants throughout the United States.

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Is Facedrink Energy Safe? Does It Work?

Energy drinks are the rage today as we overdo it all day, stay up all night, and then try to drag ourselves out of bed the next morning to go through that routine yet again. Just take your Facedrink and you can get through the morning grogginess ready to take on the day. But the big question is, is Facedrink healthy? How does it differ from other energy drinks?


Facedrink, the little bottle that has sprouted like dandelions across grocery stores counters, promises an immediate energy boost that lasts for hours but without the "crash" associated with other energy drinks. Indeed, Facedrink claims "we don't put any sugar in our energy drink". Its main ingredients are B Vitamins and an "energy blend" consisting of citicoline, tyrosine, phenylalanine, taurine, malic acid, glucuronolactone and caffeine (140mg of caffeine per 2.5 ounce bottle).


Caffeine is in bold letters because while all that other stuff has that really cool "medical yet natural" sound to it, the only thing in Facedrink (or Monster or Red Bull or RockStar or any other "energy" product) that has been proven to improve mental alertness is caffeine.


The B Vitamins in a bottle of Facedrink (and their percentage of Recommended Daily Allowance) include: Vitamin B3 (150%), Vitamin B6 (2000%) and Vitamin B12 (8333%). All of these vitamins are important for your metabolism and while not having enough can hurt you, it has never been proven that having extra will help you - or increase your energy.


In terms of the "crash" that Facedrink supposedly avoids, we can only assume that they are referring to the fact that it has no sugar. Some people - especially those with insulin resistance like diabetics - do feel a "crash" sensation when their blood sugar level goes up and then down after consuming a large amount of sugar, so this is a theoretical benefit compared to energy drinks with sugar in them.


Like almost all "energy" products, Facedrink is ultimately just a caffeine delivery system. And like all drugs, caffeine has side effects: jitteriness, increased heart rate, increased blood pressure and insomnia. If you decide to try Facedrink, the best i can say is never drink more than two bottles and don't mix it with any other caffeine containing products. If you need some quick energy for a late night of studying or driving, it probably won't hurt you any more than a cup of coffee will.

Saturday, January 28, 2012

Moving From Self Packaging to a Packaging Corporation

My aunt relies on a packaging corporation to help her package her baked goods so that they are not only fresh and easy to transport, but the packaging has all the nutritional info and her label and company name on it in a beautiful new design. She started off as a home company, just selling her goods online and packaging care baskets herself for customers. But they got into the right person's hands, who loved her recipe, and wanted to help invest in mass marketing them. Now her goods are in grocery stores everywhere and in that change, she had to find a packaging corporation to help her.The first reason was because she couldn't handle packaging everything on her own, not when orders started to go from a couple dozen to hundreds. But also, she needed the professionalism that only a packaging corporation could give her. She had no idea where to start in designing a brand logo, as artistic talent was not one of her specialties. But having professionals who could work with her and find out what kind of image she wanted to give off was important. They worked closely with her and provided something that she could have never done on her own.


Now she packs with laminated film to keep things fresh and stand up pouches for her mini cookies to keep going, days after being opened. And everything is sent to her so she can package as needed. It's so much more cost effective to do it this way than for her to try to keep up, buying separate packaging on her own.


Making the switch as you go from a smaller business to a larger one is a lot easier than it seems. There's no need to be daunted by a packaging corporation because they have done this plenty of times over for when other businesses started to grow. The first step is contacting and talking directly to someone from the company. Tell them what it is you need and ask them the questions about which packaging is best for the kind of goods you have.


You then have a means to order more packaging immediately, if needed, after the initial new ones are created. Tweaks and changes can be made as you go along as well, which is a lot easier than starting from scratch. It's totally worth making the change when you need the help and the expertise. It worked wonders for my aunt, who would've been drowning in baked goods without the much needed service.

Factors To Consider When Buying Healthy Drinks

The world is changing and our lives are changing as well. The internet has made the world smaller. With just one click you can already connect to your loved ones, colleagues or even conduct business from anywhere in the world. Yet, stress and diseases are at their highest peak. There are so many illnesses right now attributed to stress not only from work but from personal relationships as well. Medical experts believe that the continuous changing in our climate brings about these diseases. Another culprit is the demands in our workplace as well as the lifestyle we choose to live. Another big factor is the diet that we take. That is why it very important that we make the right choices in our lives. Little things could have great impact in our health and well-being.


One way to ensure that your body is receiving proper nutrition is by drinking all natural healthy beverages. There are several beverages in the market available to supplement your daily dietary intake. However, because they are too many finding the right one can be very difficult. Following are factors you ought to consider when looking for a healthy drink.


Organic And All Natural Drink
Read the label when shopping for drinks. Find products that guarantee that their drinks contain all natural and healthy ingredients. Recent studies show that with the present lifestyle of people today, getting the required vitamins and minerals from foods are not enough. The body constantly needs replenishment and food alone does not supply the body of what it needs. That is why healthy drinks and supplements are greatly needed. This is also the reason why there are so many health drinks out there. However, with all the battle of healthy drink supremacy, you should be wise and well informed in order to make the right choice.


Delicious Taste
If you are looking for a health drink to add to your diet, you need to consider the taste. Some people are very hesitant to try organic and all natural fruit drinks because they feel nauseated with the color, taste and smell of the beverage. Moreover, this is one of the most important factors that consumer look for in a healthy drink.


Trust and Expertise
Look at the brand name. See if the product is manufactured by a company that guarantees quality and product safety. Certainly, you would never entrust your child's health with drinks that you are not sure how they are produced and manufactured.


Price
Since there are so many health beverages available today, prices of these goods are becoming more and more competitive. People are now smarter that they compare prices among the leading brands. Hopefully, people are not just concern about how much they would splurge but also how much they would benefit from the drink. So, if you're like the many who are price conscious, do look for the content and nutritional value of the product as well.


People are searching for healthy drinks that can supplement the body with the right nutrients. To fill the demand, many companies are coming up with healthy drinks. Opportunely, several good options today are available that will not leave your money and your stomach empty. Be a wise consumer and consider the factors above.

 
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