Farmers markets

April 9, 2008 | Posted by Lorena as The Facts / History at 12:37 pm | Comments »

Farmers markets are gearing for the season — and serious foodies should consider making the trip. Not only can you find fresh produce and spices, but many of them have kiosks where you can try different kinds of food. Check out this link to find one near you.

Food Network’s subliminal ads?

February 27, 2008 | Posted by Lorena as The Facts / History, Tid Bits & News at 1:17 pm | Comments »

Urban legend or a really good reason to blame the TV for your potato chip cravings? There’s a video circulating that claims to prove that Food Network uses subliminal advertising.

What do you think?

Kitchen Resolutions (Part 2)

January 1, 2008 | Posted by Lorena as The Facts / History, Weight Watchers Recipe & Handy Info at 3:01 am | (2) Comments »

Here are other simple ways of making your diet a little healthier (without resorting to eating carrot sticks and broiled chicken).

6. Buy higher omega-3 eggs if you can find them. So they’re a little cheaper, but unless you eat that many eggs, then you’ll only be shelling out (pun intended) about three dollars extra a month.

7. Switch from butter to a no- or low-trans-fat margarine with 8 grams of fat per tablespoon for cooking. Today’s brands are pretty excellent substitutes even for baking (note that they have a little more water content). Once in a while you can still use butter, especially if it’s the main source of flavor.

8. Use seasoning/spice blends instead of salt, especially in stews or casseroles.

9. Select leaner meats. This cuts back onsaturated fat, cholesterol, and calories too. Since some lean meats tend to be tough, use a meat tenderizer, pound it, or marinate it.

10. Include beans in your dishes — they’re delicious in salads, casseroles, and stews. They’re great extenders and add fiber, protein, and powerful phytochemicals.

Kitchen Resolutions Part 1

December 31, 2007 | Posted by Lorena as The Facts / History, Weight Watchers Recipe & Handy Info at 12:41 am | (2) Comments »

I hate diets. What’s the point of fitting into a smaller pair of jeans if I have to eat plain broiled chicken every day of my life? But here are some simple changes we can make that will let us cook our favorite dishes in a healthier way. (If anything, it will make us feel a little better about dessert.)

1. Use olive oil and canola oil for cooking and baking. Olive oil adds flavor, but won’t work well in high heat. If you need to fry something, use canola. It has a high smoke point.

2. Pan-fry or oven-fry. When a recipe calls for a deep fryer, try this technique instead. Instead, lightly roll the food surface in canola oil, then cook it in a nonstick frying pan or brown in the oven (set at 400 degrees).

3. Baking? Substitute whole-wheat flour for half the white flour listed in the recipe. It’s healthier, but since the mixture tends to be dryer, add a few tablespoons of low-fat milk or fruit juice (depending on the recipe). Whole-wheat flour’s rich in vitamins, minerals and fiber. (You can also substitute whole wheat pasta for any pasta dish.)

4. Substitute Splenda for half of the sugar in bakery recipes. Imagine, just half a cup of sugar saves 387 calories.

5. Use half-and-half instead of whipping cream. Great for soups, gravies, casseroles and some baking recipes. It’s fat-free!

What is Falafel?

August 29, 2006 | Posted by Allison as The Facts / History at 7:18 pm | (1) Comment »

I like Greek food. I take that back, I love Greek food. And that’s why I love hummus, tabouli & Middle-Eastern origin dish falafel.

But today as I was eating my local Greek restaurant’s fare, I wondering what is falafel? And this is what I found out & am passing the info along.

Falafel usually comes in the form of a fried ball or patty that’s been filled with a mixture of spiced fava beans and/or chickpeas. They are a very popular fast food in the Middle East and is actually the most popular daily food for Syrians. The word itself comes from an Arabic word meaning pepper.

Now for a couple falafel interesting facts. Reports from June 2006 state that some conservative Islamist groups in Iraq were proposing the banning of falafel due to its mixed heritage. And apparently political pundit Bill O’Reilly likes his falafel sexy, as he made a reference to the food during an intimate, seductive telephone call.

Make sure you stayed tuned for the Recipe of the Day- Fried Falafel Balls.

Eat well & Laugh often!

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