Friday, January 28, 2005

TODAY IN FOOD HISTORY

* National Corn Chip Day*
UK: National Salt Awareness Day

1878 The first patent for a glass milk container was issued to George Lester.

1924 Carl R. Taylor of Cleveland, patented the first U.S. ice cream cone rolling machine.

1978 Sweden banned aerosol cans. No more Reddi-Wip!

2004 A 60 ton, 56 foot long sperm whale exploded on a busy street in Tainan, Taiwan. A buildup of gas from internal decay caused the explosion. Researchers were taking the whale by truck to the National Cheng Kung University for a necropsy. The whale had beached itself and died on January 17. No one was injured in the explosion, but blood and entrails showered cars and shops, and traffic was held up for several hours while the mess was cleaned up.

DID YOU KNOW? Food Trivia

Horehound, Marrubium vulgare, is a member or the mint family native to Eurasia. A bitter, aromatic herb that has been used as a cough remedy for thousands of years, horehound is said to take its name from Horus (son of Osiris and Isis) the Egyptian god of the sun. Juice extracted from the leaves is used to flavor liqueurs, candy, cough drops and syrups, and horehound honey used to be as popular as horehound candy.

CULINARY QUIZ
1) 30 years ago large this aquatic vertebrate might sell for a penny a pound for catfood, if it sold at all. Today, that same animal will sell for up to $50 per pound (that's $50,000 for a one!), mainly due to the popularity of two Asian food specialities. Name this animal and the Asian food specialties.

2) In the early 20th century this was considered a disgusting food by the British. Escoffier, while chef at the Carlton Hotel in London, had them accepted by no other than the Price of Wales by listing them on the menu as 'cuisses de nymphes aurore', or legs of the dawn nymphs. What is the common name of this food?

3) How did the alligator pear get its name and what is the other common name for it?

4) How much feed does it take to produce a dozen eggs?

5) What country has more varieties of crabs than anywhere else in the world?

6) What herb is used in the production of imitation maple syrup, rum and butterscotch flavors?

7) What percentage of a lemon is juice?

8) How many pounds of mustard are consumed in the world each year?

9) The East Coast and West Coast of the U.S. have differing tastes in peanut butter. What are their preferences?

10) What percentage of all pumpkins are sold for food?

answers: i have to much time on my hands:
1) Atlantic bluefin tuna (250 to over 1,000 pounds). Sushi and sashimi.
2) Frog's legs.
3) Alligator pear is another name for the avocado, so named because the trees grow in areas infested with alligators, or because their skin is rough like an alligator’s. Take your pick.
4) It takes about 4 1/2 pounds of feed to produce a dozen eggs.
5) The United States.
6) Fenugreek.
7) Lemons contain 30 to 45 percent juice depending on variety, climate, maturity when harvested, and storage conditions.
8) Over 700 million pounds of mustard are consumed worldwide each year.
9) Creamy peanut butter is prefered on the East Coast, Chunky on the West Coast.
10) 99% of all pumpkins are sold for decorations, Only 1% are sold for food.

well i hope you found this stuff interesting...it was worth chewing on for me...heheh no pun intended!!!

Tuesday, January 25, 2005

Soooo Back to Work...ack!!!

Well today was my second day back to work after being sick last week with a sinus infection...boy did that stink (not really..I couldn't smell a thing). I really felt tired by the end of today, I hadn't worked for seven days. Then i had to come back.. and stand for 9 hours 2 days in a row.. I admit i must be feeling better. I feel a wave of silliness coming through!!!

THE STRAIGHT DOPE ON FOOD, HEALTH AND EXERCISE

Q: I've heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life. Is this true?
A: Your heart is only good for so many beats and that's it. Everything wears out eventually. Speeding up your heart will not make you live longer; that's like saying you can extend the life of your car by driving it faster. Want to live longer? Take a nap.

Q: Should I cut down on meat and eat more fruits and vegetables?
A: What does a cow eat? Hay and corn. And what are these? Vegetables. So a steak is nothing more than an efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to your system. Need grain? Eat chicken. Beef is also a good source of field grass (green leafy vegetable). And a pork chop can give you 100% of your recommended daily allowance of vegetable slop

Q: Is beer or wine bad for me?
A: Look, it goes to the earlier point about fruits and vegetables. As we all know, scientists divide everything in the world into three categories: animal, mineral, and vegetable. We all know that beer and wine are not animal, and they are not on the periodic table of elements, so that only leaves one thing, right? My advice: Have a burger and a beer and enjoy your liquid vegetables

Q: How can I calculate my body/fat ratio?
A: Well, if you have a body, and you have body fat, your ratio is one to one. If you have two bodies, your ratio is two to one, etc.

Q: What are some of the advantages of participating in a regular exercise program?
A: Can't think of a single one, sorry. My philosophy is: No Pain-No Pain.

Q: Aren't fried foods bad for you?
A: You're not listening. Foods are fried these days in vegetable oil. In fact, they're permeated in it. How could getting more vegetables be bad for you?

Q: Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the middle?
A: Definitely not! When you exercise a muscle, it gets bigger. You should only be doing sit-ups if you want a bigger stomach.

any questions...believe me I have some great answers for you...my advice to you is. if you want to ask me a question...be ready for a very well thought out answer...hehehehe..

Friday, January 21, 2005

Chicken soup anyone???

Yes, i've been sick this week, and last week as well. I have not been to work since last sat. , so i am getting rid of a pretty nasty sinus infection. My boss called this morning to check up on me, to see if I was still alive. I'm not the type who gets sick very often, but when i due it is pretty nasty. I was nice of my body to wait till it was slow at work, so i would really miss anything. Speaking of chicken soup makes me think of this....

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

A Noodle by Any Other Name
The terms pasta, macaroni and noodles are often used interchangeably. But they are not the same thing. (Really no joke!) Who would think that such a simple dish could be so complicated? It's really not that complicated.... OK, I can’t resist saying it. It’s time to use your noodle.

Pasta is the general term for the wheat product derived from putting together semolina flour with liquid, usually water and/or eggs. Use water and you have macaroni, use eggs and you have noodles. (pretty simple!!!) Semolina flour, made from durum wheat, is the flour of choice because of its high protein content. This provides the pasta with structure so it will maintain its integrity during fabrication and cooking. It is resistant to water absorption, which renders it ideal for cooking pasta al dente, an Italian phrase translated as “to the tooth.” It means that the finished pasta will have some resistance to the bite and not be overly soft.

Oh, and by the way, Marco Polo did not introduce pasta to Italy. Historical evidence reveals that pasta was being made in Italy in the 11th century, 200 years before Marco Polo. The earliest known evidence of pasta production goes back to about 1000 B.C. in central Asia. Pasta is available in fresh and dried forms. (here's a little tid bit...china invented a ton of stuff...they been around for a really long time) While the dried, if left in a cool, dark place can last indefinitely; fresh pasta must be refrigerated and used within a few days. Fresh pasta also cooks much quicker than its dried counterpart. Some folks add oil to the pasta water, believing that it will prevent the pasta from sticking. This is an absolute waste of time. Oil and water are chemically incompatible. The oil floats to the surface, thus preventing any mingling with the pasta. Neither does salt prevent sticking. Salt is added to the water to season the pasta. What prevents sticking is placing the pasta in already boiling water, not overcrowding the pot, and stirring, particularly at the early stages of cooking.

Lastly, there is no reason to rinse your pasta after cooking. People who practice this usually harbor irrational beliefs about “starch.” Starch is nothing more than carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are not evil and rinsing the pasta will reduce them only minimally. Most of the carbohydrate is in the pasta. Simply draining it removes most of whatever carbohydrate has leeched out during cooking. Rinsing only serves to un-season your pasta. There are countless shapes and sizes of pasta and even more sauces that can accompany it. Here are is a recipe.
I perfer whole wheat pasta ...if you haven't tried it you should, a serving of pasta is 1/2 cup cooked!!! So if you plan on having a big bowl of pasta for dinner don't over do your complex carbs during the day....unless you have a physical day tomarrow

PASTA PROVENCAL
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 batch scallions, green and white parts chopped
1 yellow squash, chopped into a medium
dice4 cloves garlic,
chopped2 large button mushrooms,
chopped 4 plum tomatoes,
1 can tomato paste
2 cans or 28 ounces chicken broth
basil and parsley, chopped,
to taste salt and pepper to taste
1 lb angel hair
the oil in a large saucepan and add the scallions and mushrooms. Sauté for a few minutes and then add the squash. As soon as it softens add the garlic and sauté one or to minutes more. Add chicken broth, tomatoes and half of the tomato paste. Bring to a boil and then simmer uncovered for 15 minutes. You may not need all the paste. This sauce is supposed to be light so check the consistency as it’s simmering, adding more paste if necessary. Add the herbs one minute before the sauce is done cooking. Add salt and pepper to taste. Since this is a light sauce, a delicate pasta like angel hair is best. Serve with grated Parmesan cheese. Yummy!!!

Yes there's lots of humor and tasty recipes coming your way so I hope your ready!!! I must be feeling better....

Thursday, January 20, 2005

Did someone say soup???

It’s still chilli out side (no pun intended) , and will be for some time. The other day I was talking to my Mom on the the phone. And she mentioned that that she had black bean soup the other day and it was quite delicious. She wanted to know if I had a recipe, of course I do!!!! Let me search my file…it’s between my ears you know? I have a couple of choices so get your printer warmed up and your soup pot ready..

Black Bean and Salsa Soup (vegeheads) no meat
(this is so easy for a quick last minute dinner)



INGREDIENTS:
· 2 (15 ounce) cans black beans, drained and rinsed
· 1 1/2 cups vegetable broth
· 1 cup chunky salsa
· 1 teaspoon ground cumin
· 4 tablespoons sour cream
· 2 tablespoons thinly sliced green onion ( or chives or een diced white onion)

DIRECTIONS:
1. In an electric food processor or blender, combine beans, broth salsa and cumin. Blend until fairly smooth.
2. Heat the bean mixture in a medium saucepan over medium heat until thoroughly heated. To serve, ladle soup into 4 individual bowls and top each bowl with 1 tablespoon of the sour cream, and 1/2 teaspoon green onion.

Black BeanMeaty 'Cuban

INGREDIENTS:
· 2 cans black beans
· 2 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cut into 1 inch strips
· 4 (3.5 ounce) links sweet Italian sausage, or spicy
· 4 bay leaves
· 1 teaspoon ground cumin
· 2 onions, chopped
· 3 cloves garlic, minced
· 1 tablespoon sherry or dry red wine, or white
· 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste

DIRECTIONS:
1. In a large pot over med heat, combine the beans, chicken, sausage, bay leaves, cumin, onion, garlic and sherry. Add enough water to cover all ingredients.
2. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to low. . Add tomato paste to soup and stir until dissolved. Salt and pepper to tasteCover and simmer .about 30 min. salt always at the end!!! it reduces and may become to salty.


Black Bean Vegetable Soup with bacon

Half of the black beans in this spicy soup are pureed with tomatoes, the other half are simmered with carrots, onion and kernels of corn." Original recipe yield: 6 - 8 servings

INGREDIENTS:
· 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
· 1 onion, chopped
2-3 slices of bacon chopped, or a ham bone
· 1 clove garlic, minced
· 2 carrots, chopped
· 2 teaspoons chili powder
· 1 teaspoon ground cumin
· 4 cups vegetable stock ( or chicken stock)
· 2 (15 ounce) cans black beans, rinsed and drained
· 1 (8.75 ounce) can whole kernel corn
· 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
· 1 (14.5 ounce) can stewed tomatoes
DIRECTIONS:
1.In large saucepan, heat oil over medium heat; cook bacon, onion, garlic, and carrots, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes or until onion is softened. Add chili powder and cumin; cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add stock, 1 can of the beans, corn, and pepper; bring to boil.
2. Meanwhile, in food processor or blender, puree together tomatoes and remaining can of beans; add to pot. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes or until carrots are tender.

So try them out...the recipes are so easy a yummy, you won't be disappointed. It winter so warm yourself and your family with a hot bowl of soup. I think up and coming days I talk about the traditions of soup and high light a few of my favorite soup recipes as we wonder through our winter wonder land. And yes it's been cold here in jax...Karen, joe, and greg have a had to scrape the ice off there windshields quite a few times this year already. Well that's all I know..until next time...

Sunday, January 16, 2005

What have I been up to???

Well today I had the day off…thank goodness. I have been a little bit under the weather. And working in a refridgerated kitchen is not my idea of fun…on top of that we had a super nasty nor easter blow in. But I woke up today feeling much better!!!

My bro-in-law to be’s family is in town, so we been enjoying there company. This afternoon the ladies took a little trip to world golf village and went a bridal show. It was fun, and very informative to meet some of the local vendors. We saw some good ideas and we also so some pretty ugly ones too!!! Sis Karen won a few good prizes, and it was well worth the admission. Surprise to me, there were quite a few guys there and boy did they look like fish out of water!!! So guys out there…just go fishing instead…trust me!!! We saw so dresses, and most were quit unattractive. After all that we headed back home and went to grab some dinner. So that’s a wrap folks ….have a lovely day.

Thursday, January 06, 2005

A Clean kitchen is a Happy Kitchen!!!

I returned to work today after my little time off. Went in and prepared for a small party, then cleaned. It’s odd to say that there’s no better feeling than walking into a spotless kitchen where the stainless steel is sparking after being polished. It’s relaxing not to have to run around to serve a bunch of people. So people at work gripe about our after holiday deep cleaning, but I don’t mind. Maybe it will teach them to be a little less messy?? There’s always hope.

What’s cool about JANUARY 7
National Tempura Day---Yummy !!!if you don't know what tempura is i'll explain later.
1896 The Fannie Farmer Cookbook is published.1901 Alfred Packer is released from prison. He served 18 years for cannibalism after being stranded in the Rocky Mountains. (Actually he was convicted of murder, since cannibalism was not against the law).Gross!!!1958 Ant Farms go on sale. Milton Levine had the idea at a July 4th family picnic. I wonder if he had dreams of fencing them in so they would not bother him at picnics?

DUMB FOOD LAWS
Arizona: It is unlawful to refuse a person a glass of water.
Illinois: A law forbids eating in a place that is on fire.
Kentucky: By law, anyone who has been drinking is "sober" until he or she "cannot hold onto the ground."
Washington: All lollipops are banned.
Florida: It is illegal to sell peanuts after sundown on Wednesday.
Alabama: Putting salt on a railroad track may be punishable by death.

As you can see i have to much time on my hands, and i'm up to late as usual. The internet is like a time warp. I sit dow at 12 and the next time i look up at the clock it's way later.
Well that’s all folks…and have shiny happy kitchen kind of DAY!!!

Wednesday, January 05, 2005

I’m Back in Jax

That’s right folks!!! If you didn’t know already I went on holiday (that’s what the Europeans call vacation) I’m sure you already knew that. I took a little trip to the west coast, and it was lovely. Thanks for all the fun we had the last couple of days, it just wasn’t long enough. It seems like no matter how long or short my vacation is I’m never ready to go back to the old grind…oh well

Mom thanks for not taking down the Christmas tree and decorations, I really enjoyed seeing them since it’s been a number of years since I have been home around the holidays!!!

TODAY’S QUOTE“Good cooking does not depend on whether the dish is large or small, expensive or economical. If one has the art, then a piece of celery or salted cabbage can be made into a marvelous delicacy; whereas if one has not the art, not all the greatest delicacies and rarities of land, sea or sky are of any avail.”Yuan Mei

Check this out below!!!

USA: KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell offering gym membership

05 Jan 2005

Source: just-food.com


Fastfood subsidiaries of Yum! Brands are offering free gym membership to customers who request it during the next four weeks.

Fastfood establishments have for some time been under pressure to show that they can be part of the solution to the obesity time bomb and not only part of the problem. The most conventional response has been to increase the number of better-for-you options on the menu, although some companies have also taken measures to encourage customers to take exercise. McDonald’s, for example, gave away pedometers in its UK restaurants to customers who purchased the Go Active! adult Happy Meals.

Visitors to Yum! Brands subsidiaries Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and Kentucky Fried Chicken will get a four-week membership of a health club. They will be able to choose between 400 health clubs operated by Bally Total Fitness.

Launched at a time of year when many people resolve to get fit and shed the excess pounds piled on during the festive season, the offer could meet a warm reception.
Yum! Brands said in a statement on its website: “The holiday fitness gift is aimed at helping individuals lead a balanced lifestyle including: placing "Keep it Balanced" lifestyle posters in restaurants along with nutritional brochures, posting downloadable nutritional information on-line including an activity calculator and providing menu options.”

Are they admitting that there food makes you Fat?????



Tuesday, January 04, 2005

Ladies Lunch Out....

Had a fun Day with My Mom, Mom-in-law, And the grandma's ( mine and my husbands). We meet for a late lunch which was tasty , then continued the afternoon with a game of cards. There was sure some tough competition with these card sharks. Remember all is fare in love and cards!!! And you have to play the cards you were dealt. That keep us busy for the better part of the afternoon.

Speaking of games...if you ever need to find a game for anyone you should check out this site: boardgames.com , if you can't find it there it may not exist.

I also found another interesting site while surfing ...have you ever though of what your phone number could spell??? Check ot this site Phone Spell . My home phone doesn't spell anything cool , niether does my cell phone. Maybe your digits are cooler than mine!!

And on a final note:
laura has ruled the universe since Tue Jan 04 23:32:21 2005 (Central)
check it out so can you.......



Sunday, January 02, 2005

Happy New Year to all..... reporting live from my Mom and Pops!!!

That's right folks...!!!! We had an exciting weekend at our Flat, that included all the major fun groups. Oh...I know what your saying, "huh?" Okay you can stop scratching your head know. I will explain so the confusion can end. The groups include really fun people, ( alll of you who were there know who I'm talking about), yummy food, A few glasses of the following beer, wine, or even punch, a good game, and last but not least some cool music. If you put that all together you get one heck of a humdinger of a good time. So we had the chance to ring in the new year with some get family and friends!!!

Then yesterday...that would be Sunday...i got up hung out with those cool people some more. Later that afternoon I hoped in my car and carivaned southwest with those fine folks that visited us up in jax.

I have to make a quick little rant. On the back to the west coast we decided to stop and get something to eat. So we pulled off 75 at the wildwood exit at this gas station that had a sub place, a pizza joint, a fried chicken place, and one other place that was a little fake corporate family resturant. I have to say we picked the wrong
place. It was so bad that the server admitted our food was pretty bad looking. I have never been given such slop in my whole life. We had enough of this crap, we saw our food and walked out. that place sucked with a capital S. So we ended up at the sub joint, And that was fast and yummy, and the service came with a smile.

I'll be down here visiting my folks and Grandma for a few days. So if you need me...unless it's fun related activies..I'm busy!!!