How to Get Free Gifts

Planning to visit Las Vegas or any other vacational resort where casinos are a major portion of their business? I have just the thing for you. Here, I will show you how to pass off as a High Roller and collect many complimentary items and gifts.

What is the Secret?
The Secret is that you have to make them believe you are rich and love gambling. In short you have to impersonate a High Roller.

Why?
Hotels love high rollers because these players leave behind thousands of dollars each visit. And the real cool part about this is that if you act the role, casinos will lavish you with the same gifts and complimentary items that a real High Roller would receive.

How ?
It is not that difficult to fool the hotel and resorts with some finesse and true self-confidence. It can be done.

1) The Way you Dress:
Elegant and smart is the way to go. Opt out of the baseball cap, t-shirt and jeans. Try and wear a suit or at least a regular buttoned shirt with an elegant dark jacket. It was Shakespeare who said that the clothes maketh a man, and so too, when going to a hotel resort. They judge you according to how you dress, so dress according to the role.

2) A Large Pad of Notes:
Yes. Just like in the movies. Carry a large bundle of notes with you and keep them in plain sight. You do not have to really take with you that much. Instead, take a few notes and place them at the top and at the bottom of real note-size paper cuttings. Just remember to never expose this while you are in the casino. Use other notes you're your wallet instead. But do it nonchalantly so that none of the casino personnel will notice.


3) Always Flash Your Notes Around: No matter where you go, whether its to the hotel restaurant for lunch or for to the bar. They will be watching. From time to time, use that money to play at a range of table games or video game and bet some of that money. Remember you must use some of your money to play but just do not use all of it.

4) Play Complicated Games:
This is one of the more problematic things to do and requires some training at home. Learn on your own how to lay and how to bet on the high rolling games such as roulette, baccarat and craps. You could also play poker or Texas holdem in one of the larger ante tables, but in any case stick to your plan and you will soon reap the flowers.

Conclusion:
Above, I have outlined some of the more practical methods by which one can save money by receiving gifts from the casino. These gifts range from casino comps (free money to play), room deals that can get nearly free and many others such as free drinks, clothes, coupon to stores in Las Vegas and many more. Note that what you are doing here is completely legal provided you don't take up a false name or falsify your passport card.

Alaskan Seafood For The Soul

Want Seafood? Go Alaskan!

A few miles north of mainland America is Alaska, the lone state, and the proud producer of some of the world's finest seafood. The pristine waters of Alaska are home to five different varieties of Salmon, four different varieties of Whitefish, and a myriad of jumbo-sized shellfish.

Alaska offers clean, untainted waters where its seafood can grow and develop in the wild. There is no fish farming here, only the generous bounty of the ocean. Alaska is the only state which prides itself on its fishing industry, and you can feel a bit better knowing that Alaskan fisheries only produce what is sustainable by the ecosystem- the state works hard to ensure that no over fishing takes place and that the fish populations remain at healthy and sustainable levels.

There are few regions in the world which offer a comparable variety to Alaska. This is hardly surprising, as Alaska is home to over three million lakes, three thousand rivers, and over thirty-four thousand miles of coastline. Along with being a popular tourist destination, Alaskan habitat is largely unspoiled, ensuring that the stock of fish is constantly healthy and mature.

Taste, Texture, and Health

Alaskan Salmon is of the same significance as Alberta Beef- seafood lovers everywhere know the difference between farmed Salmon and a fresh, Alaskan Salmon. The difference comes as more than just taste (though the difference is quite significant), but also in color and texture. Alaskan Salmon has a much deeper color, and is quite tender. Just as a steak lover will notice the difference between AAA, prime-cut beef and poor quality beef, a Salmon lover will immediately see, feel, and taste the difference.


But Alaskan seafood is about much more than simply tasking great. Your body needs certain essential acids, proteins, and fats in order to stay healthy- all of these are joyously provided by Alaskan seafood, which is low in saturated and trans fats, high in lean proteins and amino acids, and full of vitamins and nutrients.

In fact, many experts cite seafood as one of the most important sources of protein and amino acids, and recommend between six and ten servings of seafood per week.

Variety

Having trouble thinking of ways to incorporate seafood into your diet? Try some extra-large Alaskan Scallops, or perhaps some Alaskan Spot Prawns. Both are delicious, easy to prepare, and are high in iron and lean protein. Reducing the amount of red meat that you eat and replacing it with fresh Alaskan Seafood is a great way to increase your consumption of amino acids and essential fatty acids while reducing your cholesterol at the same time.

Alaskan Seafood – Good for the body, Great for the soul.

Chinese Recipe of Beef With Broccoli

Beef With Broccoli is a classic when it comes to chinese cooking. It makes a perfect plate for almost all occasions.


Ingredients:

3/4 lb (375 g) lean beef, sliced thinly into bite-sized pieces

Marinade for Beef:
1 egg
1/3 tsp (1.5 mL) salt
1 Tbsp (15 mL) cooking wine
1 Tbsp (15 mL) cornstarch (corn flour)
2 Tbsp water

1 1/2 Tbsp (20 mL) oil

1 1/2 lb (750 g) broccoli, flowerets removed, slice on the diagonal into thin slices
1 cup (250 mL) cooking oil
2 1/2 Tbsp (30 mL) oyster sauce
2 Tbsp (25 mL) light soy sauce
3/4 Tbsp (10 mL) dark soy sauce
1 Tbsp (15 mL) sugar
a few drops of sesame oil
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1/2 cup (125 mL) chicken broth
2 Tbsp cornstarch (if desired)

Directions:

Slice beef and mix together marinade ingredients. Add marinade to beef and marinate for thirty minutes. Add 1 1/2 tablespoons of oil to beef, mix in thoroughly, and marinate beef for another thirty minutes. While beef is marinating, prepare the vegetables.

Heat wok and add 1 cup of oil. When oil is ready, add beef and stir-fry until it is nearly cooked. Remove beef and set aside on a plate. Drain the wok and wipe clean with a paper towel.

Add 1/2 cup water to wok. Bring the water to a boil and add the broccoli. Cover and cook until broccoli is cooked through. Drain the wok.

Heat wok and add oil (about 2 tablespoons). Add the garlic and stir-fry for about 1 minute. Add vegetables and beef and mix together. Make a well in the middle of the wok and add the sauce ingredients. Add cornstarch, stirring to thicken. Mix sauce together with other ingredients. Serve hot. Serves 3 to 4

24 Inch Bar Stools and Their Uses

Bar stools that are 24 inches in height are often a good choice for a stool, 24 inch bar stools have many uses beyond the typical commercial use. These stools are good for low to medium size counters for grabbing a quick snack, or entertaining, a writing desk or a worktop for the children to do their homework. A 24 inch bar stool can even prove useful in maintain area or working environment.

If you have children, then these stools are twice as effective, as children can't always sit comfortably on the higher stools when drawing, paint or eating lunch; so having a smaller stool means the whole family can benefit. Seating of any kind is usually designed with adults in mind, so having a taller bar stool that children will find hard to sit on comfortably is just a bad idea. Bar stools of the 24 inch variety are perfect for kids between the ages of 6 and 12.

Another group of people that would benefit from the 24 inch bar stool are artists, an artist would sit for hours on end creating masterpieces and having a comfortable stool to sit on is essential.

Sculptors and painters would also benefit from smaller stools since they have to reach low down when working on a project and a swivel stool makes things all the more convenient.

Many factories and workshops have people sitting at a table or work bench, a 24 inch bar stool is ideal for those lower positions as the stool would come to just below table height allowing for ample leg room.

The kitchen is another room where a smaller bar stool would be an advantage. A 24 inch stool allows for a seated position that keeps your feet on the ground, this is good to maintain extra stability.

Choose Vegetarian Recipes

Whether you are a seasoned chef or someone who has never put together an edible meal, consider expanding your knowledge of cooking by adding vegetarian recipes. Chefs of great restaurants and moms of hungry families will enjoy having more meals to cook, and the customers and children who eat the food will be happy as well.

Exploring vegetarian recipes is great simply to spice up the kitchen with something new. No cook likes to get bored by preparing the same meals over and over. It is always fun to try new ingredients or methods of making the foods you love and it can be just as fun to experiment with vegetarian recipes you have never tried before.

Great vegetarian recipes can be found in many locations. Search online, in cookbooks, or at local health food stores for ideas. If you have friends that have been cooking great dishes try swapping vegetarian recipes with them. Sometimes restaurants will even share vegetarian recipes with their customers for little or no charge.

Stopping into a local health food store is a great way to obtain all of the ingredients and spices you will need to begin cooking vegetarian recipes to perfection. Workers at these stores are often knowledgable resources that you can utilize and learn from.


Incorporating vegetarian recipes into any diet will bring variety and give healthy eating options. Many studies suggest that switching at least some of your weekly diet to vegetarian recipes can be benefical to your health. Let your tastebuds enjoy new things that are good for your body. Vegetarian recipes will often include many of the vitamins, minerals, and sources of nutrition that every body needs. Instead of meat, vegetarian recipes are filled with healthy protein substitutes so that you do not miss out on things you need.

Take a look at your health and at the foods you've been eating. Including a few vegetarian recipes into your diet can quickly improve how you feel and can be part of an overall health plan that will improve your life. Since few things are as important as leading a healthy life, take your time in researching new ways to eat better. Vegetarian recipes are just one of many things that you can consider. And contrary to popular belief, vegetarian recipes are full of the taste and enjoyment of many other foods you eat. The biggest difference is that they are much better for you.

Using Barbecue Smokers For Added Flavor And Tenderness

Using Barbecue Smokers For Added Flavor And Tenderness Barbecue smokers add a delectable smokey flavor that at the same time makes food moist and tender every time. The slow cooking process of using barbecue smokers is perfect for fish, meat, vegetable or sausages. However most barbecue smokers are intended for small barbecues only.

1. Basics Of Barbecue Smokers

The construction of a barbecue smoker is basically the same as a standard barbecue grill. However with a barbecue smoker the closeable lid is designed to trap in smoke to cook the food. Barbecue smokers are either direct or in direct. The direct barbecue smoker is basically a unit with a closeable lid and aromatic wood chips are combined with the charcoal. The smoke produced by the chips and charcoal cooks the food placed with in the smoker. This gives the unique flavor to the food. In direct barbecue smokers is similar to the direct barbecue smoker with a single unit and closable lid, this is the grill unit. However the in direct barbecue smoker has another container, the smoker unit, that holds the woodchips and charcoal. The smoke passes into the grill unit and gives flavor to the barbecue.

Barbecue smokers may either be electric or gas and may use real wood or charcoal for smoking. Both types of barbecue smokers can be used for private and commercial settings. At the same time there are table top barbecue smokers that are transportable. Depending on the skill level of the user there are several types of barbecue smokers to choose from.

2. Water Barbecue Smokers for Beginners

- Ideal for beginners
- Vertical type barbecue smoker
- Has a bowl of water located between the base and cooking racks
- Generates moisture throughout the cooking process
- Relatively inexpensive
- Great way to get started in barbecue smoking
- Very hard to regulate heat

3. Electric Barbecue Smokers

Next to the water barbecue smokers are the electric type smokers. These models are more expensive compared to the water smokers thereby producing better-smoked food. One of the perks of using an electric smoker is that there is no need to light a fire.


However many traditionalist smokers would dislike this feature of the electric smoker. The electric barbecue smoker make for hassle-free cooking, allowing the cook to spend more time with the guests rather than tend the fire. It also involves less care and upkeep compared to traditional barbecue smokers.

4. The Charcoal or Log Barbecue Smoker

The charcoal or log burning barbecue smokers is the next step to the electric barbecue smokers. This type of barbecue smokers is reserved for the truly skilled smoker that appreciates the fine taste of quality-smoked food. The taste of food smoked in charcoal or log burning barbecue smokers is truly savored with every bite. Charcoal or log burning barbecue smokers are larger in size and heavier compared to water or electric barbecue smokers. These type of smokers are outfitted with handle-bars and wheels making transport reasonably easy. At the same time charcoal or log burning barbecue smokers have controls for thermal regulation and smoke generation providing more choices for cooking.

5. Maitenance Tips

Maintaining a barbecue smoker doesn't require a great deal of effort. For most brands of barbecue smokers sold in the market today, it is essential to fire up the unit and let it burn on the highest heat for about one hour. This process known as the burning-in method will kill any possible contamination that is already present in the unit even before it is used for cooking. The initial smoking process will in effect provide a protective covering for the barbecue smoker.

6. Safety Tips

When using a barbecue smoker be sure that there is sufficient ventilation in the area where the unit is located. This will prevent the fumes from choking family and friends. It will also limit the chances of a build-up of dangerous toxins brought about by excessive smoke.

hy Some Foods Can Help You Burn Fat!

Eating a balanced diet plan that includes the right kinds of
nutrition can truly help to lessen the threat of health connected
disorders, and assist you maintain your weight under control. Ideal
nutrition consists of eating quite a few different foods, watching your
consumption of specific food and drinks, and counting consumption of
calories. Ideal meal plans provide well balanced nutrition that cuts
down cholesterol, blood pressure, and assists with excess weight
control.

You ought to include a variety of the following
components as part of your usual every day eating plan:

Carbs are
the main source of energy in your diet. The human body utilizes
carbohydrates to create glucose which helps to provide you energy, but
bear in mind, too much glucose is going to be stored as body fat.
Proteins assist your body to grow muscle mass and other tissue. Pretty
much like carbs, any excess protein that you take in is stashed as
excess fat. Also much animal protein in the form of red meat can induce
high cholesterol owing to it's high saturated fat content.

Fat is
an additional nutrient that your body has to have. Unsaturated fat is
healthy, but saturated fats place you at risk of health related
problems.

Different vitamins are likewise necessary to perform a
wide range of roles. They can work to help with vitality levels and
normally assist your body to function correctly. There are a number of
different vitamins which each serve a particular function.

Fiber-rich
fruits, vegetables and whole grains ought to be a normal element of
one's diet, they supply a natural source of quite a lot of the
nutritional vitamins your body needs. You ought to also try and
incorporate potassium rich meals such as bananas.

Smoked London Broil With Ancho Chilli Jam And Mediterranean Salad

Ancho chillies pick up smoky tones in this recipe from the chef at
Lovells of Lake Forest in Illinois. It's great thinly sliced in a
sandwich and, paired with this salad, it's a fusion dish brimming with
flavour.

For the Ancho chilli jam:

1/2
pound dried Ancho chillies
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup red currant jelly
1
tablespoon white wine vinegar
4 cloves garlic
1 shallot,
quartered
2 London Broil steaks, about 1-1/2 pound each
Mesquite
chips, soaked in water for at least 30 minutes

For the
Mediterranean salad:

4 tomatoes, large dice
1 onion,
small dice
24 pitted Kalamata olives
Juice of 2 lemons
2
tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Salt
Freshly ground pepper

To
make the jam: Halve the chillies; remove and discard seeds. Place in a
medium glass bowl; pour enough boiling water over chillies to cover
them. Cover bowl with a plate; allow chillies to steep 30 minutes to
reconstitute. Drain chillies and cool completely in refrigerator.
Combine chillies and all other marinade ingredients in a food processor.
Purée until smooth. Chill until ready to use (jam may be made up to 3
days ahead of time).

Rub the steaks with the jam, place in a
resealable plastic bag, and marinate for one hour at room temperature.

Meanwhile,
make the salad: Combine tomatoes, onion, olives, lemon juice, and oil.
Season with salt and pepper to taste. Toss lightly and refrigerate.

Follow
the grill's instructions for using wood chips for smoking. Place steaks
in centre of cooking grate and grill for 8 to 10 for medium-rare, or
until desired doneness, turning once halfway through grilling time. Let
steaks rest for 5 minutes before serving. Slice thinly on the diagonal
against the grain. Serve warm with the salad on the side.

Makes 6
to 8 servings.

Beef buying tips:

*  The
meat needs to be dark in color - meaning it has been hung well and
mature.

* A thick covering of fat which adds flavor and prevents
the joint from drying out during cooking.

* The meat should be
marbled. Marbling is small slivers of fat running through the flesh.
Again this adds flavor and prevents drying out during cooking.

Benefits Of Garlic

Garlic not only adds essence to your food but also has many health
benefits. A few cloves of garlic add to the taste and nutritional
benefits of your food. I put garlic into the hot oil before putting
onions into it for caramelizing. Here are a few benefits of garlic that I
have known from people and through internet.

Common cold

From
ages it is said and established that garlic has the capacity to treat
cold. You may question as to how garlic flakes cure common cold. Well,
it has been noticed that garlic flakes improve the immune system. This
gives a boost to the natural defense system . Regular consumption of
garlic improves the immune system and protects the body from viral
attacks

Cancer

As I mentioned earlier, garlic improves the
immune system thus a healthy immune system has the capability to fight
cancer. Scientific researches on humans and animals have found that
garlic has the ability to reduce the formation of cancerous cells.
Garlic blocks cancer causing compounds from forming, and slow the growth
of tumor cells. Garlic is especially helpful in blocking oesophagal,
breast, stomach, prostate and bladder cancer. Studies have proved that
compounds in garlic also have the capability to reduce the size of tumor
by half.

Heart Disease

Heart diseases are caused by many
factors but the many benefits of garlic also have curative values too.
High level of cholesterol causes heart diseases and garlic has a quality
to lower the cholesterol level. Age, poor diet, smoking and some
environmental factors cause the heart's blood vessel, aorta, to stiffen.
This makes it difficult for the blood vessel to maintain the blood
pressure. Researches show that consumption of garlic helps to keep the
blood vessel flexible and hence keeps heart diseases at bay .

Hypertension

Garlic
has the ability to control your blood pressure by thinning the blood.
It also prevents forming of clots. Researches show that people who
consume garlic have fewer incidences of hypertension and heart disease.

Infection

Garlic
is said to have anti bacterial properties. It also has antiviral and
antifungal abilities. It is effective against intestinal parasites,
recurrent yeast infections and the growth of candida albicans is slowed
by garlic. Garlic can help by stimulating T-cells that help fight
infection.

Garlic is just an help to antibiotics in fighting
infections, but it is not enough to replace them. Moreover, your doctor
needs to know if you plan to begin supplementing garlic. If you are
under medication for high blood pressure or are scheduled for surgery,
garlic intake can affect due to its blood thinning and anticoagulative
properties, so it is a must to consult your physician before making any
changes in your diet.

How To Bake A Chocolate Cake

The mention of chocolate cake brings water in everyone's mouth. This
article will help you bake a chocolate cake on your own. Here are easy
and simple steps to bale a chocolate cake.

Ingredients
Dry
Ingredients:
-    1 cup Hershey's cocoa
-    2 ½ cups brown sugar
-  
 2 teaspoons baking soda
-    2 ¾ cups sifted all purpose flour
-  
 ½ teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients:
-    4 eggs
-    1 cup
softened butter
-    2 cups boiling water
-    1 ½ teaspoon
vanilla
Icing:
-    1/4 cup milk
-    1/4 cup baking cocoa
-  
 2 cups powdered icing sugar
-    1/2 cup or a stick of unsalted
butter
-    1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Procedure
Step 1:
First,
pre-heat the oven to a temperature of 177 degrees Celsius or 350
degrees Fahrenheit.

Step 2:
Grease two round layer pans of
nine inch and set aside.

Step 3:
Mix the cup of Hershey's
cocoa with 2 cups of boiling water until it becomes smooth and let it
cool.

Step 4:
Mix flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt
in a plastic bowl.

Step 5:
Cream the butter slowly. When the
butter gets softened and starts to cream, slowly add sugar and keep
creaming the butter until it appears fluffy and light.

Step 6:Now, eggs have to be added one at a time when the butter is done and
it has to be slowly mixed. Then vanilla is to be added.

Step 7:
Add
cocoa mixture fourths to the butter. Then add the mixture of dry
ingredients. Keep adding in alternates until the last mixture which
should be the dry ingredients.

Step 8:
The batter is to be
now placed in the pans to half or less the depth of the pan.

Step
9:
It has to be baked in a temperature of 350 degrees Fahrenheit
for nearly 25 to 30 minutes, check if is baked completely. It can be
done with a toothpick pierced into the center of the cake. If it comes
out clean then it means the cake is already baked.

Step 10:
Now,
take out the pans from the oven and let them cool for ten minutes on a
wire rack.

Icing Procedure
Step 1:
First, place the sugar
in the bowl and then slowly add other ingredients.

Step 2:
Slow
mixer speed will keep the sugar in the bowl. Slowly increase the speed.

Step
3:
If the frosting looks very thick, then milk can be added slowly
to make it thinner. Thick frosting will be difficult to apply on the
cake.

Step 4:
Use a spatula to top the cake with the icing.
It can also be directly piped on.

How To Involve Your Kids In Breakfast: Wacky Bran Pancakes

Doctors and nutritionists tell us that breakfast is the most
important meal of the day.  It is important that we get our children
involved in breakfast at an early age.  This pancake recipe is a good
way to let your children get involved in the kitchen and in creating
their own breakfast.  This is a fun way to enjoy weekend or holiday
breakfasts.  As the mother of two daughters who were members of the Girl
Scouts and as a former scout leader, I am passing this Girl Scout
recipe along to you to enjoy with your children or grandchildren.  The
children will become so involved with "their" pancakes, they won't even
realize they are eating healthy bran.

 

WACKY BRAN PANCAKES
This is an old Girl Scouts recipe.

2 cups milk
1/2 cups All-Bran cereal
1 egg, beaten
1 1/2
cups all-purpose flour
3 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 tbsp
sugar
3 colors of food coloring, your choice

In a medium mixing bowl, stir the milk and cereal into the beaten
egg; let mixture stand for a couple minutes or until the cereal is
softened. Sift together the flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar. Stir
the dry ingredients into the cereal mixture just until blended. This
batter will be lumpy.

Take 1/3 portions of batter and put into 3 separate small bowls. Stir
your food coloring choices into the bowls of batter.

Drizzle colored batter onto a lightly greased hot griddle to make
faces, ie eyes, nose, mouth. Cook until bubbles appear. Pour 1/4 cup
batter over each face. Cook until bubbly. Turn once.

Yield: 10 to 12 pancake faces.

Enjoy!

Reasons Why Everyone Should Buy A Peanut Butter Making Machine

Nowadays, people are looking for food that is freshly baked or cooked
or even newly ground. We know that there's a different sense of
satisfaction when you eat straightforward food fresh from the oven or,
in this case, a peanut butter machine.
This is because the delicate taste of home-produced food and the
pureness of its content remains. It's what the machine was invented for.

Actually,
it's not that clear when the peanut
butter making machine first started to exist. According to some
studies and beliefs, it was in the early part of fifteenth century that
the natives of Africa started to grind peanuts into stews. While the
soldiers of the American civil war
made peanut porridge that, as the name suggests, uses peanuts. As for
the Chinese, they use peanuts in many sauces where the peanuts would be
crushed smoothly. However, it is only in the 1900s that the peanut
butter making machine was made for the mass production of nut butters.

There's
a big difference between grinding the peanuts to make butter from its
early years of existence up to the present day. Today's versions have
evolved with different types and designs depending on the consumer's
choice. There are machines available for mass production but there are
also those designed for home use or smaller types of processing.<

Nowadays they can be found in many home kitchens these days and
there are several good reasons for this. First, the increasing use of
additives in manufactured goods may not be very good for long term
health and could lead to illness. So, in order to prevent eating more
preservatives through commercialized peanut butter, having a peanut
butter making machine in the comfort of your home is highly recommended.
Secondly, if you have these machines in your kitchen, you can have lots
of great choices of what kind of nut butter you want in your meal. You
can add some natural flavors to it, or produce butters you can't buy at
the supermarket, such as macadamia nut butter. Finally, making your own
butters can be fun and you can have bond with your children or other
members of the family or your friends.

So, what are you waiting
for?! If a peanut butter maker is not yet on your list, then it's time
to have one. It's a great kitchen
accessory which you can use in the comfort of your home.

Decanting Versus Wine Aerators: Is There A Difference?

While the process of decanting is simply a part of a long standing
tradition for many, there are others that swear by the process as it
relates to taste. Decanting adds a flair to the festivities, but there
is a touch of science behind it all, as well. However, there's a little
more to decanting than simply pouring the bottle's contents into another
container!

It All Started Way Back When . . .

Older wines
that have been stored for many years in a cellar will usaully develop a
sediment that looks and tastes rather unappealing. If decanting is done
properly, then this sediment will be tossed out with the bottle instead
of pouring into your glass. However, there is a little more to consider.

Some
people believe that simply opening your favorite bottle a couple of hours before serving will
allow it to breathe. With some of the older reds, the taste may be
masked by an astringent quality and can be rather harsh. Allowing the
bottle to breathe can expose it to oxygen, which effectively allows the
full character, bouquet, and flavor to develop.

Decanting and
Aerating Are Not the Same

Many people easily confuse the two
practices. A wine aerator may be used to weave oxygen into the liquid to
improve the taste. While decanting performs a somewhat similar act, the
main purpose is to remove the sediment. Some of the better wine aerators are set atop a glass or decanter and the liquid is slowly
poured through. This style of aerator provides the highest quality of
aeration, as the vino flows down the sides of the glass and over the "sweet spot" of the curve. The
result is simply fantastic experience in taste, character, and aroma.

Using Both Methods to Achieve Perfection

The pouring method
used in decanting would serve the wine aerator well. This would prevent
the sediment from emptying into the decanter or the glass, at least when
it's done correctly. There really is something to be said for
experience in decanting, but also in choosing the right product to
achieve perfect aeration.

It's Time to Enjoy a Glass of Fantastic
Vino

There you have it. When it comes to your favorite bottle of
red, it's time to put the wine aerator to good use, but also to use the
proper decanting technique when pouring. Imagine the perfect glass from your favorite year. Have you
looked forward to it all day? It's now closer than ever! Sit back,
relax, and enjoy!

Creating A French Country Kitchen Decor Project

French country style is one of the most
popular home decor styles out there today, and for good reason. There
are many different elements that contribute to the country kitchen home
decor style, but the resulting look no matter what way you go about it,
if you do it properly, is always about rustic, old-world, and welcoming.
French country kitchen decor is always very lovely and inviting to
friends and family who visit your home, and is a look that you will not
grow bored with.

Decorating Hints

If French country
kitchen decor is what you want to get, one of the first items that you
are going to want to work into your French country kitchen decor theme
is rusted metal furniture. No matter what colors you decide to paint or
wallpaper the walls in, make sure that you have some rustic, preferably
dark, furniture in the room.

Rusted metal furniture, as well as
lighting fixtures will help to give warm color and wonderful lines and
are perfect for the French country theme that you are going for here.

Also remember that no French country kitchen decor design is going
to be complete without a focal point in the room. Country is all about
design and pattern, so think of getting a great picture stretched on
canvas and framed to be the centerpiece of the room.

<

For the draperies in the kitchen, make sure that you get them in
traditional French country fabric. The materials used in a French
country themed room are going to make all the difference in the world.
You can tell instantly when a fabric is French country style and when it
is not.

To make sure that all the bright colors used in the room
stand out, you are going to want to throw in a bit of dark to accent
them. You have dark furniture but also think of getting dark wall decor
pieces as well just to top it all off and give it that finishing touch.

French country is becoming an increasingly popular theme in homes
everywhere because it is so friendly and inviting and the natural
materials really offer something unique and favorable to a home. If you
are ever thinking of redoing a room such as the kitchen in your home,
make sure that you at least take the idea of French country kitchen
decor into consideration because it is a style of decor that you are
sure to love.

Becoming A Chef

Becoming a pastry-cook can be accomplished with a well deliberation off map. It won't go down overnight and you'll grasp to roll up your sleeves and get ready to see to roughly rigid, exhausting piece on behalf of a total of years. You requirement love food and experimenting with poles apart ingredients. Secondly, it would help to progress a job in a restaurant as in advance as potential. If you eavesdrop to the stories of roughly famous chefs they will say their passion on behalf of this job began at what time they were offspring. It's essential to progress this kind of experience so you can progress a feel on behalf of the trade and come again? It's really like to direct a kitchen.

The primarily consistent step would be to attend a cooking educate. This will transfer you the skills compulsory to enter this competitive industry. Chefs need to think on their feet and remedy mistakes to facilitate go down all too often in a excited kitchen. A good quality education will teach you the basics, like treatment knives, callous boards, pots and pans and of stream, food. Menu planning, storeroom, sanitation and strength laws are all day by day tasks to facilitate a pastry-cook has to think nearly.

After you progress off of college, befit an novice. This will help you to master your skills if you're interested in Asian, French or Mediterranean cuisine. An apprenticeship will offer three essential pieces of experience:

1.  It allows you to apply the skill you learned in cooking educate.
2.  It provides you with a central focus or detail area of expertise.
3.  It puts you on the underneath of the ladder, so you can piece your way up in the kitchen based on your skills.

You can piece your way up the cooking series by flattering a line pastry-cook, sous pastry-cook, head pastry-cook, executive pastry-cook and in the end, master pastry-cook. The hierarchy on behalf of pastry and dessert chefs is somewhat poles apart.

Being a winning pastry-cook is much more than putting long hours in the kitchen preparing meals and supervising the remnants of the employees. Food trends are for eternity changing and chefs be obliged to be up to meeting with these trends. Make veto blunder, the life of a pastry-cook is not as exciting as the media makes it prohibited to be. There are a number of exceptions like Gordon Ramsay and Emeril Lagasse, but the majority chefs will not at all connect with the levels of fame and destiny as they suffer.

Respect will certainly be in your coming if you effect tricky and can deal in assessment. Remember to be pleasant to family too what time you're a minute ago opening prohibited. This industry is tightly-knit and making contacts with the purpose of can be of soon after help would be the smart craze to get something done.

Food Hygiene Is Your Biggest Concern As A Restaurant Owner

When you work in the restaurant business or catering industry, you'll find lots of elements to your business that need attention. The majority of people entering the business, imagine that it's simply entirely about being able to create great tasting food. This belief is a long way from the real truth!

As well as being able to cook, you'll have to hire and train your workforce, set up your supply chain, market your restaurant, handle your cash flow, provide professional front of house service and also make certain your food looks wonderful when you serve it. Each and every one of these responsibilities are of vital importance towards the success of your business. For example there's no point in being the best chef in the world if no one goes to your restaurant. You have to get the marketing correct to fill your tables. Your team need to be prepared well and be knowledgeble on the dishes you're offering, because if your service is inadequate, your client will not return even if your food is superb!

Managing a restaurant is hard work and very stressful, without doubt it is one of the most stressful industries to succeed in!

And if all of the responsibilities above were not enough to get worried about, there is one other area you truly must pay full attention too, that of food hygiene.

Your number 1 priority has got to be making certain that none of the diners are ill as a consequence of eating your food! Your restaurant's standing can be destroyed permanently if just one individual who eats with you is unwell later on. As word spreads, diners will merely not chance your establishment and will eat somewhere else. Weak food hygiene practices will without doubt mean your business is destined to fail at some time in the future, it's like a ticking time bomb waiting to blow up!

The way that you store, handle and prepare your food will determine how safe the food that you serve is. For example, foods that needs to be kept in a refridgerator must be kept at a temperature below forty one degrees fahrenheit to ensure that any bacteria that's present will not multiply. Whenever handling raw foods, you or your employees ought to also wash your hands thoroughly with an anti-bacterial soap to ensure you avoid the transfer of bacteria.

While preparing the foods, you have to prevent cross contamination. You ought to use different chopping boards for meat and poultry, to the ones you work with for fruit and vegetables for example. The same is applicable to kitchen knives. Better dining places will colour code their knives and chopping boards to ensure they are used suitably and avoid any chance of cross contamination. All food surfaces ought to be cleaned with anti-bacterial sprays and thoroughly clean cloths and sponges.

If you would like to understand more about food hygiene, you ought to have a look at the food hygiene training courses which are now accessible on the web. They offer a complete schooling for catering professionals to ensure the hygiene standards in your business are of the highest quality. No catering expert should risk jeopardizing their career for the sake of not taking the time and effort needed to learn about food hygiene best practice.

I Love Upscale Wine - A Pricey Tignanello Super Tuscan Red

After several years and considerably more than one hundred fifty wine reviews this is our first review of a nearly $100 wine. Before you say that you'll never spend so much money on a single bottle of wine, please note that $100 may get you four movie theatre tickets, popcorn, soft drinks, and maybe an order or two of nachos. A $100 bottle of wine may be quite a memorable experience. Or maybe it won't.

We start this series with an Italian red introduced in 1971 by Piero Antinori, the head of a famous Tuscany winemaking family. At that time all across Italy winemakers had to follow very strict, detailed governmental winemaking regulations, or their wine would be denied an official classification. Many winemakers felt handcuffed by such regulations, and knew they could make better wines by following their own instincts. Tuscany was a major center of dissident winemakers and the reviewed wine was known as a Super Tuscan, one that carried no official government designation. In the ensuing winemaking revolution many Super Tuscans and other such wines have become very successful and carry quite a price tag to match. And the winemaking regulations were updated.

In the interest of historical accuracy, Tignanello was not the first Super Tuscan. This honor goes to Sassicaia first produced in 1948 by Antinori's cousins who used Bordeaux Cabernet Sauvignon grapes said to have come from Chateau LaFite-Rothschild. Because Sassicaia starts at about $175 we will just have to be satisfied trying the Tignanello.

OUR WINE REVIEW POLICY All wines that we taste and review are purchased at the full retail price.

Wine Reviewed Tignatello 2006 13% alcohol about $95

Let's start with the marketing materials. Description : Consistently one of the most sought-after and collectible wines, this is a must for any cellar. 'Tig' is considered one of Tuscany's best wines, racking up numerous awards and accolades with each and every vintage. This rich and spicy blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc is loaded with blackberry, coffee, tar and truffle aromas. It should be cellared for 2-10 years, or decant it for at least two hours and match it with Beef Wellington or a roasted lamb with a wild mushroom risotto. And now let me introduce the review committee.

Larissa B. is a childhood friend of my daughter. She is a wine and food professional who works for a local, upscale Italian restaurant. Larissa has taught numerous cooking classes and has catered food events attracting several hundred participants. She recently visited Tuscany, focusing on its wine and food. Larissa says that she prefers rustic wines that are full-bodied and not sweet. For the purposes of this review my daughter asks that I call her Harriet. Harriet wrote: "I like wine, but I will drink any reds, especially boxed-wines, so I'm the last person anyone should go to for wine advice." She generally doesn't spend more than $15 on a bottle of wine.

The meal started with lentil soup made from green, yellow, and dark lentils with puffed wheat pasta and middle-eastern spices. The main dish was a rib-steak which had been marinated for two days in a homemade mixture of ketchup, mustard with mustard grains, Worchester sauce, Japanese Mirin sauce, and steak spices. The broiled steak was accompanied by potatoes and a medley of vegetables. We finished this excellent meal with homemade apple cake. I decanted the wine approximately two and a half hours before serving it.

Larissa wrote: "Fruity, full, ruby color. Slightly tannic, very smooth. Much more like a Chianti, lighter than most Super Tuscans that I have had." Harriet wrote: "Smooth, earthy, it's good!, not sweet. Woody taste? Tastes like really good wine, not a heavy wine, kind of fruity, getting more tangy the more I drink."

And now for my review. At the first sips the wine was very, very long. It had lots to it, and was chewy. With the soup, this Super Tuscan was mouth filling. When paired with the marinated steak and accompaniments the Tignatello showed fine acidity with low tannins and was very round. Now for the big question: was it worth $95? Absolutely not. Honestly, I was quite disappointed. To my mind this was a $40 wine. I agree with Larissa, it seemed like a Chianti. To be fair perhaps this wine should have aged for several more years. In any case it really did not meet my expectations. I still remember drinking an Italian Barolo a few years ago at half the price that really outclassed this Super Tuscan. Of course I can remember other Barolos that weren't nearly as good. So I guess I'll have to sacrifice and do some Barolo reviews. And maybe someday I'll review a Sassicaia.

How To Make Lower-Fat Apricot Bar Cookies

Has the doctor told you to cut back on the fat in your diet or recommended more whole grains for you? If so, this recipe for Apricot Cookie Bars may be just what you need. In this recipe, some of the fat is replaced with orange juice and there is twice as much whole-wheat flour as there is all-purpose flour. These are simple changes that will give you a healthier product without loosing flavor or texture. Give this recipe a try soon; you will be glad you did.

APRICOT BARS
1 cup + 2 tbsp whole-wheat flour
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 egg
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 tbsp canola oil
2 tbsp frozen orange juice concentrate
1 tsp vanilla
2 tsp butter

Filling:

1 3/4 cups chopped dried apricots
3/4 cup orange juice
3/4 cup water

Cook and stir the apricots, orange juice, and water together in a 1-quart saucepan. Over medium heat, heat just to boiling. Reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until the apricots are tender and the mixture has thickened. Set aside to cool.

Meanwhile, heat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9-inch square pan with nonstick cooking oil spray; set aside.

In a medium bowl, stir together 1 cup of the whole-wheat flour, the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

In a large mixing bowl, beat the egg, brown sugar, oil, orange juice concentrate, and the vanilla at medium speed until smooth. Stir in the flour mixture just until blended. Reserve 1/2 cup of this dough mixture for the topping. Pat the remaining dough into the prepared pan. Spread the apricot filling over the dough.

To the reserved dough add the remaining 2 tablespoons whole wheat flour and the butter; blend with a pastry blender or a fork until crumbly. Sprinkle over the apricot filling.

Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes or until the top is a golden brown and firm. Cool completely before cutting into 16 bars.

Note: The orange juice replaces some of the fat in this recipe plus the majority of the flour is whole-wheat, thus making this recipe healthier than most bars.

Why Are Healthy Snacks And Appetizers For Holidays So Appealing?

When it comes to snacking, you don't need to miss out just because you're eating healthy. Eating all those sugary, fat loaded foods will make you feel awful anyway. Instead, you can enjoy lots of delicious snacks and appetizers that are healthy. Serve some at your next get together and see how fast they get eaten!

One easy option that does your body good is salsa. Make a nice chunky salsa with onions, tomatoes, cilantro, and peaches. It is extremely colorful and easy to make. Serve it up in a bowl with toasted tortillas or chips as a snack. For an appetizer, just put a small spoon of salsa on a chip and set the chip on a platter. Repeat until the platter is full. No one will be able to resist this colorful dish!

If you have some experience in the kitchen, try making some California rolls. Crab is one luxury most people can't turn down. The nori, also known as the dried seaweed used for sushi, can be found at your local Asian shop. Make some for lunch or a snack in the afternoon. Make up a few rolls and slice them for a quick appetizer. This sushi is safe for everyone... there is nothing raw. Everyone will be amazed at your culinary expertise.

Bruschetta is another wonderful option. Toast some slices of French or Italian bread. Top it off with fresh chopped tomatoes, herbs and perhaps a little cheese. Enjoy it with a beverage for a delicious snack. You can also make them as appetizers that will be enjoyed at any party, large or small. Make up a healthy pizza recipe for your meal or a snack. For appetizers, just cut it up in bite size pieces. This is a great fast dish when you're on the go


If salad is a favorite, this is an easy one. Make up a healthy green salad with all the fixings. Chop everything so they are in small, easy bites. Toss it with your favorite dressing. Sit down and have your snack or meal! If you need some fast appetizers, just take several whole lettuce leaves. Spoon some salad onto each one and roll it up. Salad roll ups! Fasten it with a fancy toothpick and you are ready for the party! It's even a nice healthy dish!

Finger foods make terrific snacks. Think what you can do with a simple can of olives, some cheese and some tomatoes. Arrange some of each on a plate for a simple, healthy snack. Add a few crackers if you wish for the cheese. For a quick appetizer, get some skewers and slide on an olive, some cheese and a cherry tomato. It's the perfect appetizer... it's food on a stick! It's portable! Everyone will love these quick little kebabs.


When you're deciding on holiday appetizers you can do these same kinds of recipes. Give everyone a break from all the high calorie, sugary foods. Their stomachs will thank you! These kinds of appetizers look great on the table and taste wonderful. Some healthy choices will help your guests battle that bloated "after the holiday" feeling.


Lots of these snacks and appetizers are easy and take only minutes to make. This causes you less stress on days when you are already running late, but they let you eat the nutrients you need in a snack that tastes great. Try some and you'll find it is easy to change any unhealthy eating habits.

Cooking Tips For Cakes And Batters

Cakes are made lightly by tiny bubbles of air or gas which have been introduced into the mixture during the making. The air or gas is usually introduced by one or more of the following ways:-

• Air is incorporated into the flour during sieving or rubbing in.
• Air is beaten into the mixture as in batters, or during the creaming of fat and sugar in a creamed mixture.
• A chemical raising agent such as baking powder is used to introduce bubbles of gas into the mixture.

Most cake mixture is made light and spongy by two or all three of these methods.

The action of baking powder.

Baking powder consists of an acid such as cream of tartar and an alkali, usually bicarbonate of soda. These two substances are mixed together in the correct proportions and when moisture is added, effervescence takes place and tiny bubbles of carbon dioxide are given off. When heat is applied to the mixture, more gas is given off and at the same time the heat expands the bubbles of gas which will make the mixture well risen and spongy.

The action of baking powder is a quick one. It starts as soon as moisture is added and after a while it works itself out. It is therefore important to remember that any mixture containing a chemical raising agent should be cooked as soon as possible after mixing, otherwise the action will have worked itself out before the cake is in the oven.

Preparation of cake tins
It is necessary to grease the baking tins or patty tins to prevent sticking. This can be done by rubbing the inside of the tin with greased paper, or by brushing with melted fat until the bottom and sides are evenly coated with a thin film of fat. Remember to grease the corners and right up the sides of the tin. The tin can then be dredged with flour and any excess flour should be removed by turning the tin upside down and gently tapping all over the sides. Cakes baked in 'greased and floured' tins have nice crusts and are very easy to remove from the tins.

The high sugar and fat content makes creamed cake mixtures burn more readily than plain cake mixtures. It is therefore better to line tin for rich cakes. To line a round tin, take a strip of greaseproof paper ½" higher than the tin. So that it will be long enough to go right around it. Fold up ½"along one long edge of the strip of paper and snip the folded strip at 1" intervals. Fit this strip inside the tin so that the snipped edge lies flat on the base of the tin. Cut a round of paper the size of the base of the tin and fit this round of paper on top of the snipped edge of the paper. Sandwich tins need only be lined at the bottom. Grease the sides and lined base to prevent sticking.

Nigiri Sushi

Nigiri
sushi is a popular form of sushi where a sliver of raw fish or prawns rests on a bed of sushi rice. This
oblong shaped sushi dish is highly trendy, as it allows the full flavor
of the fish to be the star.
There are many ways to make nigiri sushi, which means that while you can
order the same style of fish many times, each time you have it, it can
be a new experience. Some chefs prefer to use nori as a way to keep the
fish on the bed of rice. Other chefs prefer a small amount of wasabi. As
there are also many diverse ways to prepare sushi rice, the rice itself
can modify the flavor of the fish. The taste of Nigiri sushi depends on
the way you adopted to eat it and there are many ways to eat it. While
eating Nigiri sushi keep that in mind that you have to eat Nigiri so
that your tongue would first taste the fish. Eating rice below the
Nigiri would not give you a delicious taste. So before eating Nigiri
make it sure that you know what is the right way of eating because sushi
chefs chiefly give importance to the fish. Many people like the flavor
of soy sauce with their nigiri sushi. However, there is a very specific
way that nigiri sushi should be dipped into soy sauce and wasabi. Unlike
maki or other forms of sushi, nigiri sushi can become extremely
complicated to eat if the rice becomes wet from soy sauce. Because of
this, nigiri sushi should be dipped in soy sauce with the fish portion.
This will ensure that the rice bed
does not break apart when you are attempting to eat it. As sushi making
is a talent, the way of eating sushi is also a skill. You can either
use your fingers or chopsticks to eat the Nigiri sushi. Be vigilant
whenever you eat a sushi meal, try not to waste anything. It would be
taken as an insult for the sushi maker if you leave anything in your
platter without eating it because they assume you will complete all your
sushi. Although if you do not take any sushi from the primary serving
dish it would not be considered offensive because it is not at all
necessary to select sushi from the main dish. Nigiri sushi must be taken
in one go. But if your Nigiri sushi is bigger than normal sushi, you
can eat it in two pieces. All the sushi
food, excluding Temaki sushi, should not be consumed by taking
more than two bites.

Gourmet Food Baskets: Gifts For All Types

Gift baskets are not a new concept, but they certainly are a great gift. They can be given all year round. It's always a safe bet to give gourmet food baskets as gifts as hardly anyone says no to food! Companies offering gift baskets range from the very large to those working out of their basement, and quality can vary between the exquisite or nightmarish. The best part of these baskets is that there are options for nearly everyone.

Buying food for a diabetic can be a dilemma sometimes. It's important to display sensitivity to their inability to regulate their blood sugar levels, yet you also want them to enjoy nice gourmet food gifts. Naturally, diabetic-friendly gift baskets offer sugar-free versions of the cakes, cookies and assorted pastries so beloved of sweet-toothed individuals everywhere. Savory food that is suitable for consumption by diabetics is also available for inclusion in these gift baskets. Best of all, a complete list of ingredients and their nutritional values can be included in the gift basket so that the recipient knows what they're getting.

Living life as a gluten-intolerant individual can be quite difficult. Yet, there's no reason to leave them out when it comes to giving out gourmet food baskets. A gift basket can be packed with gluten-free items such as pastas made from rice flour. Rice flour is also suitable to make rice chips. These are a more than adequate replacement for regular chips, as are chips made from non-GMO organic corn. What's a chip without a dip, you say? A gluten-free gift basket should include high-quality olive oil as well as tapenades. These should be made from fresh, flavorful components like olives, garlic, capers and even anchovies. Vegetarian varieties include those made from peppers, carrots, eggplant and artichokes.

Sometimes, the best gift you can give someone is something handmade. You don't have to spend a lot of money on gourmet food gifts if you make them yourself. The sheer number of gourmet recipes and tips available means you don't have to take a cooking course to put together a gift basket of your own. You can personalize it accordingly too because you know what the recipient likes.

Pregnancy Possibilities Rise With Acupuncture

The success of one's pregnancy may be influenced by several factors or treatments; one of which that has received some attention is acupuncture. Infertile couples should explore all of their treatment options with a fertility specialist to determine which is right for them. Many traditional western treatments are often used, although some couples use other methods such as acupuncture.

In many cases, acupuncture is combined with various herbal medicines. Whether this treatment is used to treat infertility may depend on the cause of infertility. While acupuncture may not help patients with more serious complications achieve a successful pregnancy, it may help to relieve stress and improve ovarian function.

Some patients may begin treatment three to four months before conception, whether through natural means or assisted reproductive technologies, such as in vitro fertilization, and other fertility treatments. Treatment typically lasts for about twelve weeks following conception, as most miscarriages occur within the first three months.

Patients suffering from a variety of fertility conditions may be considered candidates for acupuncture. Endometriosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome, low sperm count, poor egg quality, low ovarian reserve, advanced maternal age, implantation failure and a variety of other conditions may be treated with acupuncture. However, the extent of effectiveness may vary and depend on the severity of the condition. The best resource for information regarding acupuncture's effects on fertility is a physician.

The reason for acupuncture's success with pregnancy is not fully understood. The treatment helps to increase blood flow to reproductive organs, reduces stress, increases the thickness of the uterine lining, improves sperm count and improves egg quality. These benefits may help some couples achieve conception.

Those interested in acupuncture as a fertility treatment or to be used in conjunction with other fertility treatments are encouraged to speak with a medical professional at a reputable fertility clinic in their area.

Online Recipes Can Be Really Fun

If your sporting head does not allow you to fall for the same food time and again, then you recognise for certain that there is a requirement for a change.

You see a lot of options for discovering out anything new to make. There are lots of cooking books that carry complete directions but you need to buy them. There are internet sites that provide recipes that you should try out at home.

The old fashion of studying cooking
cookery books is still used among a lot of individuals. But those that have a little idea about how to make a quick search on the cyberspace, can discover recipes on online sites and not have to read through big records to find out anything interesting to cook.

If you spend some time searching for a recipe, you will may find that about any type of recipe is ready on one or more websites. There is not a single but lots of such web sites that supply data on cooking almost anything you like.

You will be stunned to discover how good it is to find any recipe you need to. Once you do a quick search, you may be able to find the recipes for yourself. It may take not more than a minute to determine what you need.

Thus it is viable to cook something new today by understanding a recipe with all the commands and also step by step video tutorials about how to do it. You are able to throw upon a pleasant surprise to your loved ones by cooking something that they will be unique and what they will love to eat.

If you have still not taken benefits of the large number of internet sites providing recipes of all types, you are really losing a lot. You have to learn that it is feasible to lay your hands on all these free information available to you.

Bilingual Legally Compliant Canadian Food Labels: Accessible With Acc Label

Food labelling is a crucial part of product development. Food products may be nutritious, delicious, and attractively packaged, but unless their labels conform to Canadian regulations, they may not be sold in Canada.

ACC Label is a team of nutritionists, food scientists and translators offering labelling expertise to companies interested in marketing food products in Canada.

They provide database and laboratory nutritional analysis to determine the nutritional composition [protein, fat, carbohydrate, etc.] of food products.

Database analysis consists of determining a product's nutritional content on the basis of the nutritional values of its ingredients. Good database analysis, however, is not just a matter of entering data into nutritional analysis software and letting the computer do the rest. Extensive food science and nutrition knowledge are necessary to ensure reliable data. ACC Label's nutritionists have perfected the database analysis methodology to provide accurate results.

Laboratory analyses consist of chemical breakdown of the actual products. ACC Label contracts with laboratories fully accredited by the Standards Council of Canada for such analyses.

Once the nutritional composition of the food product is known, ACC Label produces compliant, print-ready Nutrition Facts tables.

In addition to nutritional labelling, ACC Label provides food label regulatory analysis services. They scrutinize the labels to:

• determine whether all the mandatory labelling elements are displayed as required by regulations
•  ensure no label elements are misleading and illegal;
• ecommend appropriate value-added claims [e.g. "Organic", "Source of …", etc.];

The importance of the legal compliance of food labels cannot be overemphasized, as the consequences of inadequate labelling can be very costly in fines, seizures, label reprints, etc.

Equally important is the linguistic quality of texts. Just as poor graphic design or low quality packaging, poorly written texts convey carelessness and give the impression that the product is of inferior quality.

For outstanding linguistic quality on food labels, you want to rely on people passionate about words who can convey messages with style. Also, you want people with a good knowledge of Canadian labelling requirements who will not alter the legal compliance of your labels. Finally, you want someone familiar with the particularities of the two Canadian official languages, as Canadian French and Canadian English differ from Parisian French and US English.

To complement their nutritional and label regulatory analysis services, ACC Label's offers the linguistic services you need, whether you speak English, French, Italian or Chinese.

The production and sale of quality food products is a challenge in itself. Dealing with food labelling regulations, nutritional analysis and linguistics is a totally different matter. To food manufacturers, importers, distributors and retailers who wish to focus on what they do the best, ACC Label offers peace of mind with respect to their food labelling needs.

Make Your Parties Cool With Koozies

Everyone enjoys outdoors and outdoor parties. However keeping the drinks cool in the warm weather is very difficult. None of the guests or even the host would like to drink a warm beer. Not only on a warm day, but otherwise also you cannot keep holding your drink for long time and still enjoy it cool. The chilled cans become wet and slippery after some time and make it difficult to hold onto it. If you have koozies for your beer can or soda can, then keeping your drink cool for longer time is easily possible.

Koozies are generally made up of neoprene, a synthetic material resembling rubber, which acts as insulator and does not let your drink become warm for longer time and keep it chilled or cold for longer. Cloth and leather are also used in koozies. Apart from keeping the drink cool, the koozies also help users hold their slippery drink cans with great ease as koozies remain dry from outside.

You must have seen many companies distributing customized koozies near the beverages at the concerts and other outdoor events. This is the great advertising opportunity for those companies and the companies print their name and logos on the koozies. This way they can advertise their company or new product without spending lots of money on advertising.

Koozies is such a thing that it can be gifted to your near and dear ones if they enjoy their drinks very much. It is a perfect gift idea for any occasion. You can customize the designs on the koozies as per your liking and the need of the occasion. If it is a kids

Dark Chocolate- The Wonderful Dark Delight

Are you too like me head-over-heels in love with dark chocolate? Now you can hog them as much as you wish without feeling guilty of it affecting your health or you putting on tons of weight.

Dark chocolate is also known as healthy chocolate when compared to milk chocolate or white chocolate simply because of its health benefits. Dark chocolate has more than 65% of cocoa content in it. The taste of dark chocolate may not be as appealing as that of the other two, but it can boast of being as elegant as wine with a class that associates with a fine dinner.

Have you wondered how this wonderful edible delight is made? Cacao pods are harvested from the cacao plant. These shells are removed to obtain cacao nibs which are fermented and made a paste out of it. This paste is call cocoa liquor or chocolate liquor. This liquor can be routed to cocoa solids and cocoa butter. This cocoa solids and cocoa butter in varying proportion gives bitter chocolate.

By controlling the quantity of cocoa butter and solids in the cocoa liquor and by adding fat and other sweeteners different types of chocolates are produced. The bitter chocolate when combined with milk and sugar in varying degrees forms the very popular dark , milk and white chocolate. Similarly if other ingredients are added, chocolate of different flavours are produced.

Dark chocolate is said to be highly beneficial. Studies have signified that consuming a bar of dark chocolate everyday can lower your blood pressure and even cholesterol level.<

It is known to be good for the circulatory system, which is due to the component called epicathechin present in cocoa.

Did you know chocolate is known to be an aphrodisiac? It means an object that increases sexual desire. But there is no scientific proof for this. Another known goodness of chocolate is that consuming chocolate drinks are known to give better muscle recovery when compared to other recovery beverage of high carbohydrate.

Cocoa also plays a key role in medicine. Studies say that cocoa when used in certain types of drugs helps in the treatment of diseases like diabetes. Also cocoa is said to be a good supplement in delaying the brain function delay that happens with age. It is also effective in reducing diarrhoea and cough symptoms.

Now, lets see into a few evils of dark chocolate. Chocolates can cause obesity, by providing high level of calories. This is mostly seen in milk chocolates and white chocolate due to the fat content and sugar in it. Chocolate is known to increase acne, but it is mostly due to the cocoa content or due to the fatty substances used in chocolate. The lead content in chocolate can cause lead poisoning and is highly dangerous to animals.

It is important to buy dark chocolate from good retailers as if the cocoa beans are not handled well, it give a sour taste, making dark chocolate not so delightful.

How To Make Delicious Blueberry Breads Suitable For Diabetics

These recipes for Blueberry Corn Muffins and Light Blueberry Scones are great for anyone but especially so for the diabetic who loves bread. As long as we diabetics eat these in moderation, we can satisfy our bread craving from time to time. Enjoy with your coffee or hot tea but remember to balance with the other meals of the day to be sure you don't eat too many carbs and no protein.

DIABETIC BLUEBERRY CORN MUFFINS

• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup yellow cornmeal
• 1 1/4 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 3/4 cup Splenda granular
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/3 cup egg substitute
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 12-cup muffin pan with nonstick cooking spray or line cups with paper liners; set aside.

In a medium mixing bowl combine the flour, cornmeal, baking powder, baking soda, salt and Splenda. In a large mixing bowl, blend the butter until light and fluffy. Slowly add the egg substitute. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and continue to mix until the butter forms small lumps. Add the vanilla and buttermilk to the butter mixture; mix well. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients in three separate batches, mixing well and scraping down bowl after each addition. Gently fold the blueberries into the batter. Scoop the batter into the prepared muffin cups, filling each almost to the top. Bake in the preheated 350 degree oven for 20 to 25 minutes or until done.

LIGHT BLUEBERRY SCONES

• 3 cups reduced-fat biscuit baking mix
• 3/4 cup whole wheat pastry flour
• 1/4 cup canola oil
• 3 tbsps Splenda Blend for baking
• 3/4 cup fresh blueberries
• 1/2 cup plain low-fat yogurt
• 1/2 cup low-fat milk
• 1 to 2 tsps cinnamon/Splenda mixture/optional

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Lightly coat a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray; set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the baking mix and pastry flour. Cut the oil in with a fork or two knives until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add the Splenda Blend and blueberries; mix lightly.

Beat the yogurt and milk together in a small bowl; add to the flour mixture. Stir just until blended and a soft dough forms. Over-mixing will make the scones tough! If the dough seems too dry add a little milk, one tablespoon at a time. Flour your hands and pat the dough into a round shape or use a rolling pin and roll into a 1 1/2-inches thick circle. Score the circle into 16 wedges.

If desired, mix some Splenda Blend with some cinnamon to make 1 to 2 teaspoons of mixture. Sprinkle over the dough.

Place on the prepared pan and bake 10 to 12 minutes at 400 degrees. Remove from the oven and cut the wedges apart. Bake another 3 or 4 minutes until golden brown.

How To Make Sure You're Eating Healthy At A Restaurant

Of course dining out can be quite a disaster if you are trying to follow a diet plan. You are trying to stay put on your diet plan and then there are all those mouth watering dishes that your friends are ordering. Difficult, definitely. We can help you out perhaps. Read on to know more.

Here a few suggestions that you could follow:

• Try and get some research done on the kind of place you are going to. With online menus this is not impossible nowadays. Or you could in any case call up the concerned place. It is not a bad idea doing this and once you know the kind of stuff on the menu it is a lot easier for you to order healthier stuff when you are finally eating at the restaurant. Importantly, you will be away from all the tempting aroma and sight and this should help you make a measured choice about your food.

• Appetizers are best to be avoided when trying to eat healthy at a restaurant. They will always have some extra calories and oil. They also have some seriously loaded sauce and can have fried stuff too. Saturated fat and trans fat and calories are best avoided.

• In case you don't have any idea about the menu, it is not a bad idea to actually try and talk to the chef or the waiters before actually ordering. Menus nowadays have descriptions which will tell you which are the non-calorie or low-calorie stuff and this is helpful for dieters. You can also ask the waiter to use healthier components in the food like olive oil, margarine, etc.

• When you are ordering drinks be careful not to end up ordering cocktails or even mocktails. Sweet coffee, tea or water- you can vary your drink choices between these three options if you want to eat healthy. There is lemonade or diet soda too but soft drinks of any other kind is a strict no no. if you have to order some other fluid, go for broth soup without croutons and dressing.

• Try and control the portions being served. You can end up with huge portions but they are not that useful usually. At home you would probably eat half of what you eat at a restaurant. In fact if they have already served you bigger portions try and get some of it packed for home. Do this before you start eating to avoid over-eating.

• When you move to entrees that is where you have to be careful with massive possible calorie intake. Try and control all the chicken and fish or even the seafood or go for preparations which are baked, grilled, sauted, poached, broiled or steamed. Basically those in which there is no oil input. In case you have been enough tempted to have meat of some or the other kind, try and go for beef sirloin. Skinless chicken breasts, pork loin or turkey burgers.

• Dessert is another contentious issue. But again nowadays there are options like low carbohydrate or low fat desserts. In case this is not there you have to go for coffee. Sweet cravings have to be controlled.

The point that we are trying to make continuously is that dining out can be fun even if you are trying to eat healthy. Follow our suggestions and you will know how.

How To Make A Low-Sugar 7-Up Cake That Is Okay For Most Diabetics

If you are a severe diabetic, perhaps this cake is not okay for you. But for the majority of diabetics, those whose blood sugar is under control, or those with pre-diabetes who are watching their sugar intake, this cake is generally okay. If you have severe diabetes, instead of using the 1/2 the sugar cake mix, use a specialty sugar-free white cake mix. And a reminder to all of us diabetics, everything in moderation. Have a piece of cake, not half a cake!!

DIABETICS 7 UP CAKE

• 1 box half the sugar white cake mix
• 1 box (4-serving size) sugar-free instant lemon pudding mix
• 10 ounces diet 7 Up soda
• 3/4 cup canola oil
• 4 eggs, separated

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease and flour three 8-inch round cake pans; set aside.

In a medium mixing bowl combine the cake mix, pudding mix, 7 Up, canola oil, and the four egg yolks. Blend mixture on low speed of electric mixer until combined. Beat on medium speed for two minutes.

In a second bowl, beat the egg whites until they are stiff. Gently fold into the cake mix mixture. Pour batter into the prepared pans. Place pans in oven and bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove from oven and cool in pan for 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from pans and cool completely on wire racks.

FILLING:

• 1 cup evaporated milk
• 1 cup Splenda granular
• 3 egg yolks
• 1 stick butter
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 small can crushed pineapple in its own juice, drained
• 1 can unsweetened coconut

Combine the evaporated milk, Splenda granular, egg yolks, and butter in a 2-quart saucepan. Stir together over low heat until blended. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the mixture thickens; 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from heat and add vanilla, pineapple, and coconut. Stir to blend well. Place one cooled cake layer on serving platter. Top with one-third of the filling and spread over the top of the layer. Repeat the process with the two remaining layers and remaining filling ending with the filling.

Is Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water Safe

How safe is the water you are drinking? Although people say that any water purifier is better than no purifier, it is important to outweigh the benefits of certain systems over others. Reverse osmosis is one water filtration method that was developed about forty years ago and continues to be used today. Many families today use reverse osmosis drinking water because it is clean and safe.

How is Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water Filtered?

The goal of reverse osmosis is to remove different types of large atomic molecules from smaller molecules to purify the water. There is a semi-permeable membrane that is used during reverse osmosis through which water flows through the tiny pours. The pores do not allow certain organic compounds to pass through such as salt, various minerals, bacteria and harmful pathogens.

These molecules are larger than water molecules, so the membrane blocks them from passing through. It is also an effective way of blocking other water contaminants. For this reason, reverse osmosis is a common way of achieving mineral-free and pathogen-free water. When you include a
carbon filter with your reverse osmosis filtration system, you will get even more purified water for drinking.

Why Reverse Osmosis?
When compared to tap water and bottled water, the water that comes out of the reverse osmosis filtration system is highly pure. For anyone who is looking for a water purification system, reverse osmosis is a positive choice.Purified water for drinking is hot topic of debate and has been for many years. Technology is constantly evolving to improve the quality of the water we drink. Reverse osmosis drinking water has been around for many years and still proves to be one of the purest filtering methods out there. Some say that water stripped of too many minerals can result in mineral deficiency.

In reality, most of the minerals we get are from food and not water. For example, we need both calcium and magnesium. Studies show that food is the primary source for obtaining calcium and magnesium. Too many minerals can also result in health problems such as kidney stones. For these reasons, reverse osmosis drinking water is a safe avenue to take.

The important part is that we all need water that has been filtered and purified for drinking. Water is highly essential, but it has very little nutritional value. It is, however, necessary for hydration. The next time you decide to drink tap water, which contains more harmful chemicals than any other water, think again.

How To Start A Business In Massage Therapy

A Massage Therapist is a safe, lucrative and recession-proof business to be in these days. Your clients will consider you invaluable, and pay very nicely for it. Here are some basics to help get you started with your own private practice.

Get certified through an approved massage school. Register your massage therapist name at the courthouse then decide on your location. Consider working out of your home if it is spacious and has a soothing feel to it. You can always move your private practice to town if your house is not an option; just make sure it is a heavily populated area.

Advertise your "grand opening" and offer discounted massages. "Word of mouth" can be your greatest avenue in gaining clients the entire time you are in business. Blog on how customers can better deal with stress, headaches and fatigue; it's also a handy way to market specials. Hand out business cards while standing in line. Make flyers online and ask medical clinics if you may leave them, along with your cards.

Your lighting can go one of two ways. Do you imagine your clients prefer a more relaxed and calming experience? If so, then have soft, dim lamps and candles. If you think they expect a more clinical approach, use white paint and beige furnishings with bright lighting. You can always have several different rooms, depending on your customer's needs. Of course, adjust your sound volume and plan your music accordingly. Many Massage Therapists use background bird and water sounds. Heated oil with a soothing aroma will complete your ambiance. Atmosphere and mood is everything.

Massage Therapists have healing hands and have been blessed with a gift. You can make a great living as a Message Therapist, as well as heal people. It's a win-win for everyone!

Hangi Maori Earth Oven

What is a Hangi? A Hangi is the traditional New Zealand Maori way of steaming food underground. The technique originated from early Maori settlers and is still practiced today because of the unique flavour it gives to the food. The way that a Hangi is prepared is truly unique. The whole process can literally take a whole day to complete. This article briefly explains exactly how a Hangi is prepared in the traditional way.

There is absolutely NO taste similar to a Hangi anywhere in the World. Hangi food is steamed underground. That's right, the food is ACTUALLY buried in the ground as part of the steaming process.

If you ever visit New Zealand, experiencing a Hangi is an absolute MUST DO. You can't truly say that you've been to New Zealand if you haven't eaten a Hangi.

Here's how it's done:

• Step 1: Special volcanic stones are located as a source of heat to cook the food. Normal stones wont generally do the job because they can shatter or crack during the heating process. Finding the right classification of rocks for this job is absolute crucial to the successful outcome of ANY Hangi.
  

• Step 2: These stones are placed in a fire and heated for quite a few hours until they are white hot. The wood used can alter the taste of the Hangi for good or bad. Natural wood is best there are few special types which give a lovely smoky taste. On the other hand, treated timber or chemicals in the wood can make you sick or poison your hangi.
  

• Step 3: Dig a Hangi Pit. Have as many friends around for this step as possible.

• Step 4: Fill your Hangi basket with a combination of raw, but thoroughly defrosted, meat, vegetables, stuffing and 1-2 steamed puddings. Hangi baskets are usually constructed of wire or steel. The bottom of the basket is usually lined and the food has to be stacked in a certain manner for optimum cooking.

• Step 5: Transfer the hot stones into the hole. This job requires speed and skill. It takes place near a hot fire and is the most crucial step. Once this transfer has occurred quickly put the basket on top of the hot stones.

• Step 6: Drape the basket with moist sacking cloth.

• Step 7: Use shovels to cover the Hangi again with earth until there is no steam escaping.

• Step 8: Wait 2-3 hours and dig up the Hangi and 'Hey Presto', you've just cooked your very own Hangi!

Hangi food is typically served as a communal buffet. The food is spread out on a table and people usually help themselves as they please. Good Hangi accompaniments include Fried Bread or Rewena Bread (Traditional Maori bread).

If you want to cook your own Hangi there is a lot more specific information you need with regards to your equipment, preparation and timing. If any one of these aspects is off your Hangi could be a complete disaster. If you want more information about this truly unique cooking technique visit our website for photos, specific information and video footage.

What Crepe Should You Make?

Crepes are a wonderfully versatile food. They range from sweet to savory and can be used for just about any occasion provided you adjust them a little. They look elegant and can be folded, cut or rolled to create a tasty dish. But what crepe should you make?

For the purposes of this article, we're going to assume you can make a basic crepe, so we'll only focus on fillings.

What Crepes for Dessert?

By far the most popular of the crepe dishes, these can be done in vanilla, chocolate and everything in between.

Bananas and chocolate or Nutella is always a popular combination, but you can also use other fruit, such as strawberries with the Nutella. Try condensed milk and fruit instead of chocolate, or add some peanut butter to the mix.

Chocolate and whipped cream are always a good combo and can be paired with ice cream, jam, etc. In fact an excellent dessert is simply a crepe smeared with jam and then rolled and topped with whipped cream.

You might also want to try dulce de leche, marmalades or even syrup inside the crepes for a sweet treat.

What Crepes for Dinner?
Ah, savory crepes, perfect for a dinner or lunch. If you make a delightful white sauce, you can serve it atop the crepes to make it even more special. Add melted cheese or beer (or both!) to a white sauce to make it richer, or you can even go with a tasty wine reduction.

There are neverending combos to use with savory crepes. Most people like to try chicken in the crepe, but you can easily use fish, beef or lamb, as well, cut into small pieces.

Try adding cheese to just about anything . . . in fact a 3 cheese crepe with cream cheese, cheddar and mozzarella is delightful. Broccoli or any other vegetable (previously cooked) topped with cheese is a great filling for a dinner crepe and you can also combine Parmesan or mozzarella with ham, chicken, or pesto for a truly tasty meal.

Leftovers also work very well in crepes, so don't hesitate to use them up with a sauce and cheese, or add some favorite herbs or salsa to really spice things up. You'll be able to serve them to family and guests with pleasure.

If you're wondering what crepe to make, then these ideas should keep you cooking for a while!

Organize Your Refrigerator And De-Clutter Your House

Food And Nutrition Eat Wisely, Live Healthy!

Food is very important. FOOD AND NUTRITION, a hand book that discusses the importance of having a proper diet states that "a good diet is the most basic human need… without sufficient food we would die." That's a fundamental truth we can easily appreciate when we take a look at those emaciated figures of starving men, women, and children who are denied this "most basic human need."

There are still others who are able to meet this need to a considerable degree but who are still seriously undernourished. On the other hand, there are many others who could eat well but who end up eating wrongly—consuming large doses of junk food that provide very little nourishment. This is why it has often been said that food is one of the most abused of our possessions.

What constitutes a healthful diet? And what kind of adjustments can we make in our diet to ensure we are eating right? How can we take responsibility for our health and eat in a way that is likely to improve it?
The Essence of a Healthful Diet is basically about making good choices from the group of foods that are available where we live. For help in making healthy choices, the U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends the use of a four-tiered food guide pyramid.

At the base of this pyramid are complex carbohydrates, made up of grain foods, such as bread, cereal, rice, and pasta. These foods form the foundation of what we can call a healthful diet. Following that (tiers two and three) are two equal sections, i.e. vegetables and fruits and protein sources. These groups also include forms of complex carbohydrates. Most of your daily diet should be selected from these three food groups.

Finally, at the very top of the food pyramid is a small area that includes fats, oils, and sweets. These are categories of foods that provide very few nutrients, and so should be eaten sparingly. The recommendation is that most of your foods should be chosen from the bottom part of the pyramid, and that you choose fewer from the top. But rather than sticking to the same food items from each section of the pyramid, it is far better to experiment with a variety of foods within those sections.

This is because each food has a different combination of nutrients and fiber. Some vegetables and fruits, for example, are good sources of vitamins A and C, while others are high in folic acid, calcium, and iron. A combination of these the various types will do your body a lot of good.

Health experts advise that it is best to keep dietary-fat intake below 30 percent of total calories and saturated fat below 10 percent. You can do this without necessarily becoming a vegetarian and without having to totally abandon ALL the things you enjoy eating. How?

Substitution is the key. Yes, Substitute foods low in total fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol for foods high in these types of fats. Opt for vegetable oil and soft margarine in place of animal fat, solid shortening, or ghee (a type of clarified butter popularly used in India). Also, avoid the use of such vegetable oils as palm oil and coconut oil, since they're unusually high in saturated fats. And most importantly, you should drastically limit your consumption of commercially made bakery products, such as doughnuts, cakes, cookies, and pies, since these commonly contain saturated fats.

Meat is a very important source of protein. And no one intends to suggest that you stay off meat altogether. Meat is actually listed in the same section of the Food Pyramid as poultry and fish. But note that fish, chicken, and turkey often contain less fat per serving than such meats as beef, lamb, and pork, depending on the cuts used and the method of preparation.

In addition, hamburgers, hot dogs, bacon, and sausages are usually especially high in saturated fat. Many experts recommend limiting the amount of lean meat, fish, and poultry consumed per day to no more than six ounces. And although organ meats, such as liver, may have dietary benefits, they should however be consumed with discretion since they're known to be high in cholesterol.

Between regular meals many people delight in snacks, which often consist of potato chips, peanuts, cashews, cookies, candy bars, and the like. If you appreciate the value of a healthful diet, then you'd do well to replace these with low-fat snacks that include homemade popcorn (that has no added butter or salt), as well as fresh fruit, and raw vegetables like carrots, celery, and broccoli.

Indeed, the efforts we put into taking good care of our body is one of the best investments we can ever make. A healthy diet is very important in this regard. It could mean the difference between either living healthily or battling one health problem after another, either now or later in life.

As a Entrepreneur sometimes in our busy schedule we forget the importance of a healthy diet. So remember to eat balanced meals and exercise daily. If you would like more information on how you can prepare Healthy Meals

Food And Nutrition Eat Wisely, Live Healthy!

Food is very important. FOOD AND NUTRITION, a hand book that discusses the importance of having a proper diet states that "a good diet is the most basic human need… without sufficient food we would die." That's a fundamental truth we can easily appreciate when we take a look at those emaciated figures of starving men, women, and children who are denied this "most basic human need."

There are still others who are able to meet this need to a considerable degree but who are still seriously undernourished. On the other hand, there are many others who could eat well but who end up eating wrongly—consuming large doses of junk food that provide very little nourishment. This is why it has often been said that food is one of the most abused of our possessions.

What constitutes a healthful diet? And what kind of adjustments can we make in our diet to ensure we are eating right? How can we take responsibility for our health and eat in a way that is likely to improve it?
The Essence of a Healthful Diet is basically about making good choices from the group of foods that are available where we live. For help in making healthy choices, the U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends the use of a four-tiered food guide pyramid.

At the base of this pyramid are complex carbohydrates, made up of grain foods, such as bread, cereal, rice, and pasta. These foods form the foundation of what we can call a healthful diet. Following that (tiers two and three) are two equal sections, i.e. vegetables and fruits and protein sources. These groups also include forms of complex carbohydrates. Most of your daily diet should be selected from these three food groups.

Finally, at the very top of the food pyramid is a small area that includes fats, oils, and sweets. These are categories of foods that provide very few nutrients, and so should be eaten sparingly. The recommendation is that most of your foods should be chosen from the bottom part of the pyramid, and that you choose fewer from the top. But rather than sticking to the same food items from each section of the pyramid, it is far better to experiment with a variety of foods within those sections.

This is because each food has a different combination of nutrients and fiber. Some vegetables and fruits, for example, are good sources of vitamins A and C, while others are high in folic acid, calcium, and iron. A combination of these the various types will do your body a lot of good.

Health experts advise that it is best to keep dietary-fat intake below 30 percent of total calories and saturated fat below 10 percent. You can do this without necessarily becoming a vegetarian and without having to totally abandon ALL the things you enjoy eating. How?

Substitution is the key. Yes, Substitute foods low in total fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol for foods high in these types of fats. Opt for vegetable oil and soft margarine in place of animal fat, solid shortening, or ghee (a type of clarified butter popularly used in India). Also, avoid the use of such vegetable oils as palm oil and coconut oil, since they're unusually high in saturated fats. And most importantly, you should drastically limit your consumption of commercially made bakery products, such as doughnuts, cakes, cookies, and pies, since these commonly contain saturated fats.

Meat is a very important source of protein. And no one intends to suggest that you stay off meat altogether. Meat is actually listed in the same section of the Food Pyramid as poultry and fish. But note that fish, chicken, and turkey often contain less fat per serving than such meats as beef, lamb, and pork, depending on the cuts used and the method of preparation.

In addition, hamburgers, hot dogs, bacon, and sausages are usually especially high in saturated fat. Many experts recommend limiting the amount of lean meat, fish, and poultry consumed per day to no more than six ounces. And although organ meats, such as liver, may have dietary benefits, they should however be consumed with discretion since they're known to be high in cholesterol.

Between regular meals many people delight in snacks, which often consist of potato chips, peanuts, cashews, cookies, candy bars, and the like. If you appreciate the value of a healthful diet, then you'd do well to replace these with low-fat snacks that include homemade popcorn (that has no added butter or salt), as well as fresh fruit, and raw vegetables like carrots, celery, and broccoli.

Indeed, the efforts we put into taking good care of our body is one of the best investments we can ever make. A healthy diet is very important in this regard. It could mean the difference between either living healthily or battling one health problem after another, either now or later in life.

As a Entrepreneur sometimes in our busy schedule we forget the importance of a healthy diet. So remember to eat balanced meals and exercise daily. If you would like more information on how you can prepare Healthy Meals